User:Dark Defender Dex/Guide for making your own solo dervish

Introduction
This guide will show you how to make a Dervish build for killing the Smite Crawlers in the Underworld solo.

Generally, the build you're going to make is going to look like this:

The rest of your skills vary from build to build, but those are the most important pieces of the build.

Armor Increase
The normal 70 Armor from the Dervish is not enough to withstand the attacks from the Grasping Darkness and Smite Crawlers you will have to kill, so armor increasing skills are a must.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - This not only increases your AL by 40, but also increases your movement speed (meaning you won't need Pious Haste) and changes your damage type to Holy Damage, which doubles the damage against the Grasping Darkness. It requires you to bring Eternal Aura to maintain though.


 * - This might be a good choice if either the elite or the secondary profession is used for something else. The armor increase is only 24 though, so you will still recieve more damage than with most other Armor-increasing skills. It only increases armor while under and enchanted, but being enchanted generally isn't a problem, as you will have Mystic Vigor up at all times during the fights.

[[Image:Mesmer-icon-small.png]] Mesmer

 * - Often used in builds where the secondary profession isn't needed, and Avatar of Balthazar isn't used, mainly because of the large armor increase (+40), but also because of the minimal attribute spending required to maintain.

Any Deldrimor

 * - This is a good choice if you either need your Elite or your stance for something else. Note that it should be pre-casted against the Grasping Darkness as they will interrupt it, and generally, fights with them last longer than 30 seconds, so a high Deldrimor Rank is advised when taking this.

Increased Movement Speed (IMS)
An Increased movement speed is very important when farming in the Underworld, and you are not killing the Bladed Aatxe. This is because you need to be able to get past the Aatxe to get to the Smite Crawlers, and because you need to aggro and kill the Grasping Darkness (and only them) to open the gates to the Ice Wastes. They have a habit of staying within range of the Bladed Aatxe, causing them to come too when you aggro the Grasping Darkness. Fortunately, the Bladed Aatxe break aggro quickly when under the effects of an IMS, and the Grasping Darkness don't, meaning they can be separated.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - As mentioned above, Avatar of Balthazar serves the dual purpose of armor and speed boost, and is very good for pulling Grasping Darkness and performing the run to the Ice Wastes.


 * - Being maintainable even at low levels of Mysticism, this is perfect for non-Balthazar builds. Note that this skill removes an enchantment upon ending, so cover with a short recharge enchantment when pulling if you're using Enchantments.

Attack Skills
The majority of your damage output is going to come from your attack skills. Which skills you choose to bring should depend on what build you're using.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - High damage, semi spammable attack skill that doubles as self healing.


 * - Fast attack speed means increased DPS. Augmented by many enchants.


 * - Same as above, but augmented by many foes.


 * - Very spammable bonus damage, but it will most likely be interrupted alot by the Grasping Darkness.


 * - Self healing when using conditions and bonus damage. Note the high energy cost.

Self Healing
For obvious reasons, you will need self healing to survive in the Underworld.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - As Dervish usually have an abundance of enchantments on them, and have spent a good part of their attributes in Mysticism, Mystic Vigor is often the best and only choice of self heal. Especially true for builds with a +40 AL skill.


 * - Often used by newer players in need of an extra layer of self protection, as Mystic Vigor can be enough for more experienced players.


 * - This skill can prove very helpfull when not using many enchantments to fuel Mystic Vigor, as at high levels of Mystisicm, this heals over 50 health each time you use a skill. The Hex removal effect is not needed, exept maybe for escaping the Coldfire Nights when they are accidentally aggro'ed. And like Avatar of Balthazar, this also requires you to bring Eternal Aura to maintain.


 * - Generally unnecessary, but has decent synergy with Victorious Sweep and the delayed healing can prove usefull to bypass the Grasping Darkness interrupt.


 * - Doubling as an attack skill, Victorious Sweep is almost guaranteed to keep you alive once you get a bit more health than your opponents.


 * - Useful if you're using conditions. Note the high energy cost.

[[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]] Monk

 * - Can be used to augment your healing-on-hit rate, especially when combined with Mystic Vigor.


 * - Same as above.

Shield of Judgment Countermeasures
The bane of many melee farming builds is the Smite Crawlers' elite skill, Shield of Judgment, which not only deals hefty damage, but also knocks you down and thus renders your healing-on-hit useless.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - Removes enchantments when hit, so it's ideal for dealing with Shield of Judgment.

[[Image:Mesmer-icon-small.png]] Mesmer

 * / - Drains energy and adrenaline when hit, so not only good for dealing with Smite Crawlers, but also prevents Grasping Darkness from interrupting and draining your energy.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - As an IAS, it not only increases your damage output, but also your energy gain from Zealous weapons, and healing from Mystic Vigor.


 * - Recharges all your Dervish skills. A must when using Avatars.


 * - Even at low rank, this skill increases your damage greatly. Though not in the skill description, this also changes your damage type to Holy, meaning more damage against the Grasping Darkness.


 * - Useful when using conditions.


 * - The Deep Wound allows for quicker killing against both the Grasping Darkness and the Smite Crawlers while the Bleeding also deals minor damage, but the conditions also act as a form of self protection, as the Smite Crawlers will spend more time removing conditions than they will attacking you. The Bleeding also covers the Deep Wound, so it will be removed before it. Keep in mind though, that the condition removal from the Smite Crawlers also heals quite a bit.


 * - Increases your damage by quite a bit, especially when combined with Aura of Holy Might. Allows for use of more non-attack skills.

[[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]] Monk

 * - The boosted damage can prove usefull.


 * - Good for energy management, so when you use this you won't need a Zealous weapon.