This build is consisted from skills that leave effect on somewhere.
I think, The build is easy for newbie warden players to GUARD during trying vet contents, IA and so on.
Warden is fun.
Flow
- If necessary, Living Trellis and Heavy attack(for damage shield).
- Elemental Susceptibility to boss(an enemy having high HP).
- Set AoE skills.( Winter's Revenge , Subterranean Assault , Arctic Blast )
- Kiting boss slowly for gathering mobs toward your AoE range( especially tether of Wrath of Elements ).
Arctic Blast is spammable.
If you already have set all AoE skills, If you don't need to guard, If you don't need to HA, you can spam it for more damage.
In case PT, It's main AoE direct damage skill for trash.
Living Vines (to Leeching Vines or Living trellis )
The skill is most effective heal for solo. Low cost, High heal value.
Living trellis is a better choice for numerous adds contents (e.g IA) and PT. The skill's 2nd cast forces the first cast to expire. It means, 2nd Living trellis cast is insta-heal, also can heal your PT members. Keep the thorn. It could be a complement to Arctic Blast nerf.
Sleet Storm(to Northern Storm or Permafrost )
Northern Storm has, 7000 damage per sec + Chill damage(AoE DoT .. about 4%?) + spell damage 50-450, 8 sec.
Permafrost has 600 damage per sec + 100% Chill damage(about 6000 damage), 13 sec.
I recommend Permafrost because of its escapability from common dangerous situations. (and, If you need more damage, you would better to Wild Guardian )
Healing Ticket
Sometimes, possibly, you need to heal the whole PT (e.g. no healer 3 dps PT). This spam-able heal ULT is suitable for it.
This ULT lasts 6 sec. And, HoT continues for an additional 4 sec. Your PT can receive HoT for about 10 sec. If you can cast it per about 10 sec, Always HoT.
Concentrated Force or Wrath of Elements with Decisive trait (and Baron Zaudrus if you have) can generate ultimate most quickly.
※Against dummies, I confirmed I can cast Healing Ticket per 9 sec about. Destructive Impact with non-decisive trait and Iceheart is about 18-20 sec.
※Importance : Baron Zaudrus > Decisive Trait , Weapon : WofE(no magicka cost, 3 statuses per 1 cast) ≥ C-Force(3 statuses per 2cast) > DI
※Baron Zaudrus and Master Architect or War Machine combo is good for trials. It's not this build. FYI.
※If your PT needs off-tank (e.g. vDSA final boss), try to Tri-Role( Silver Leash(taunt) & WofE & Baron Zaudrus & Healing Ticket).
DPS(3Mdummy)
flame staff 38.4k, Ice staff about 37k.
※I wrote down minimum elements at "passives" section. In contrast, the score is created on maximum passive skills. I guess it had effected a little.
※One of the warden's property is that DPS is not too drop even if you equip frost staff. I think you don't need to carry another Wrath of Elements.
Alternative Set(Weapon)
This build's concept is 5 sets + Monster + Weapon + Trainee*2. Weapon Set can be converted. Both Concentrated Force and Destructive Impact are strong. It's good to keep 2 inventory space for these weapons.
I think, Concentrated Force is for the case interrupt-able-skill required, Destructive Impact is for ranged DPS and PT. (so, morph skills are Crushing Shock and Destructive Reach.)
For instance, Messy WBs Runemaster Xiomara required an interrupt skill and WB Vro-Kuul-Sha required a ranging skill. If you don't bring these sets staff, it's too difficult for you to defeat them by your own hand. (I had swapped weapon and defeat them solo.)
Alternative Set(5set)
Heartland Conqueror with Charged Trait is almost same dps. Chills are triggered about 80-100times per 60sec against 3M dummy.(If Frostbite, 60times per 60sec.)
If you need to spare heavy gears(e.g. for IA), remember the set. It's non-HP boost set.
Alternative Set(Monster Set)
Monster sets are hard to get to newbies and this build is for newbies. In most of contents, Iceheart is enough.
If Maelstrom Arena, you need another long-ranged sets for fxxx reptiles stage. So, you would better spare easy to get long-ranged sets(Shadowrend, Maw of the Infernal , and so on any base-game monster sets)
Baron Zaudrus is suitable for warden ULT builds. Warden can get the bonus more efficiently. It's very flexible(dps is not high). Maybe you can try to get it.
Nunatak is important set but not for solo players.( PT combo with Nazaray is strong. Major Brittle is strong. Frost damage isn't.) Considering Arctic Blast , this build would better keep staying at melee range even if you wear this set. And, the set is hard to get for beginners. I don't recommend eager to get it.
Enchant
I suppose Frost is acceptable. Glacial Presence works on it. Chilled status effect doesn't have cooldown and is insta-damage, so you don't need to worry about other Chilled status.
If your weapon's trait is charged, if you want to be DPS, possibly check other enchants.
5th skill
4 skills are almost fixed. Winter's Revenge , Subterranean Assault , Arctic Blast , Weapon Skill.
It's a skill list once I had used in some situations. I think, Living Trellis and Blue Betty are enough. If Vet Arenas, Nature's Embrace just in case.
Defensive, solo
↑
- Living Vines (If need heal. Living trellis is better if PT ) ※recommended for Solo.
- Nature's Embrace (Heal and Moving pt and solo, vDSA, vBRP. You can become to move to PT members and restore resouces constantly by Nature's Gift . if solo, you also need your bear. )
- Blue Betty (5% DPS bonus, restore magicka, spam it for heal(Bond With Nature) ) ※recommended for DPS. In most cases, it's enough.
- Swarm (DPS(Trial, Minor Vulnerability) ※ Theoretically, you can earn high DPS in a long battle like trials(Fetcher Infection). but you would better consider graduating from Oaken beginner build if you need trial groups.
- Screaming Cliff Racer (Ranged spammable) ※ I think that you can earn highest dps in real group(not dummy) because your PT will create so many OffBalanced emeies.
↓
Offensive, PT
Not Recommended
- Wall of Elements(Frost) ※The skill does not trigger Chilled enough. Even though precious weapon set be assigned, Wall of Elements's DPS is not decisive. Because Chilled are not triggered enough. (Unstable Wall of Frost with Maelstrom 2 Chilled / 58 hit, DPS is about 4k(without Maelstrom, about 2.2k), DoT only Arctic Blast 24 Chilled / 41hit, DPS is about 1.6k. )
Guard is important.(in veteran contents)
Warden DPS can equip Ice staff. So, you can add guard to your weaving action more easily than other classes.
※ LA(M1 click) → Skill(Number key, normal weaving) → Guard(M2 press, cancel skill animation)
It's a great advantage to survive. remember Warden can easily use Low-costing-guard.