Druid has long been hailed as one of the most potent support classes in Guild Wars 2, but what if you want to deal significant damage as well? In this guide, we'll delve into the world of Condition DPS Druid, a build that combines healing and damage-dealing abilities. Recent updates have made this build viable, and we're here to show you the ropes.

 

• Gearing Up
• Weapon Sets
• Trait Choices
• Utility Skills
• Pets
• Rotation
• Real-World Play

 

↖ Gearing Up

To optimize the Condition DPS Druid, we recommend full Viper stats with the Rune of the Krait. Viper gear provides the ideal balance of Precision, Condition Damage, and Condition Duration. Since bleeding is our primary condition, the Krait Rune enhances its effectiveness. Additionally, equip the Relic of the Fractal for bonus condition damage without the need for complex management.

 

↖ Weapon Sets

Your weapon sets consist of an Axe and Dagger, alongside another Dagger and Torch set. Both sets utilize an Earth Sigil. For the Axe, use a Doom Sigil, and for the other Dagger set, equip a Geomancy Sigil. This combination complements the build's playstyle by offering versatility in both melee and ranged situations.

 

↖ Trait Choices

In the Skirmishing and Wilderness Survival trait lines, prioritize sharpened edges over Trapper's Expertise for additional bleeding damage. Hidden Barbs further enhances your bleeding potential, and traits like Hunter's Tactics and Vicious Quarry boost your critical chance, making every critical hit inflict bleeding.

 

 

In Wilderness Survival, opt for Taste for Danger to extend condition duration, Ambidexterity for more condition damage, and Poison Master to amplify your poison effects.

 

Finally, as a Druid, select Blood Moon to transform your CC and immobilizes into bleeding. Natural Balance enhances your condition damage and duration upon entering and exiting Celestial Avatar, while Eclipse adds conditions to your Celestial Avatar abilities, notably the immobilize from skill three.

 

↖ Utility Skills

Your utility skills can vary depending on the situation, but some options to consider are:

 

• Entangle: Your highest priority skill, as it applies a significant amount of bleeding.
• Glyph of Alignment: Adds bleeding and helps with CC.
• Spike Trap: Applies bleeding and has some CC potential.
• Sharpening Stone: Inflicts bleeding and provides a damage boost.
• Glyph of Rejuvenation: Offers group healing and cleanses conditions.

 

↖ Pets

The recommended pets for this build are the Iguana (Iboga) and the Jacaranda:

 

• Iboga: Offers CC with its F2 skill and some additional poison damage.
• Jacaranda: Provides a pulsing immobilize with its F2 skill, which is a valuable source of damage and crowd control.

 

↖ Rotation

The rotation for the Condition DPS Druid doesn't have a strict set order but follows a priority system. Here's a simplified rotation to follow:

 

1. Start with Entangle to apply significant bleeding.
2. Use Glyph of Alignment and Sharpening Stone to apply bleeding and provide CC.
3. Activate Celestial Avatar (CA) and use the 2 and 3 skills for condition cleanse and healing.
4. While in CA, use CA 5, 2, and 3 skills to apply conditions and healing.
5. After leaving CA, swap weapons to trigger the swap sigils.
6. Use weapon skills, prioritizing Axe 2 and 3 for damage.
7. Utilize utility skills for additional bleeding and CC.
8. Keep going in and out of CA as often as possible to maximize your condition damage.

 

Remember, the key is to maintain Celestial Avatar to trigger weapon sigils and apply conditions. Use weapon skills off cooldown, and prioritize Celestial Avatar skills that apply poison and immobilize.

 

↖ Real-World Play

In real PvE scenarios, this build not only provides damage but also significant support to the team. Healing spring and CA skills help cleanse conditions and heal allies. This build also offers valuable CC, although you'll need to use some of these abilities within your damage rotation, so timing is crucial.

 

Consider this build as a secondary healer in situations where you have two healers in your group, and extra support is needed. In the final phase of a fight with intense pressure, the DPS Druid can temporarily switch to a healing role to ensure the group's survival.

 

This build may not have ranged damage and can be challenging to land its damage consistently, but it makes up for it with its excellent support capabilities.

 

Conclusion:

The Condition DPS Druid may not be the most straightforward damage dealer, but its unique combination of damage and support capabilities makes it a valuable addition to any PvE team. Mastering this build requires practice, but the rewards are well worth it.