MatticusFinch Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) So I have played a tank spec on vanguard since I started and just switched to DPS for fun. I decided to make a build based entirely on getting really hard High Impact Bolt hits and developed this spec: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801hMhZMsZfhrbzGhMM.1 In short, it wreaks havoc! I am consistently getting the highest DPS in warzones (and raids, incidentally) by a hefty amount in full battlemaster combat tech (I switched the mods of four pieces to cheap tionese armor to get the 8% bonus damage to HIB from the PvE set bonus). The mechanic is built entirely around procing free high impact bolts, which have 90% armor penetration and hurt even very well-geared tanks. I always start with incendiary round followed by a normal HIB. Then, I'm ion pulsing them to DOT plasma cell and stockstriking when it cools down to keep proccing more free HIBs. I pop Battle Focus everytime its ready along with a power relic and rakata power adrenal. I don't even bother with hammer shot, unless I need to hit from more than 10 m away, otherwise ion pulse is my best friend. I rarely run out of ammo, because every stun, immobilize, or knockdown (which happens all the time in PvP) generates ammo. When I do, I just pop recharge cells, which has reduced cooldown. So I just wanted to put this out there to the vanguard community because, let's face it, we rock. I'm going to try new specs in tactics and probably try to create a tanky hybrid with tactics. The downside of this spec is a severe drop off in survivability, but you can melt people's faces off with it. Hope y'all enjoy! Edited May 10, 2012 by MatticusFinch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floegens Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 inb4 you totally did not develop one of the most standard Specs, but yeah, it wrecks face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuschell Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 You totally did not develop one of the most standard specs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatticusFinch Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) You totally did not develop one of the most standard specs! Didn't mean to make it sound like I was God creating Adam here, I'm just sharing my excitement about it, because it really is putting out glorious amounts of damage. When I say I developed it, what I mean is I didn't look around on the forums for it (which I have done since and have only seen similar specs, since most AS trees include AP, but not this same one). Rather, I looked at the tree and reasoned out why it would have the best HIB. I'm sure anyone trying to maximize HIB would end up in the same place as me on this. That being said, I just hope that it helps anybody out there looking for a high DPS spec for the vanguard! Edited May 10, 2012 by MatticusFinch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATango Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Whenever I see AS specced VG's topping meters I sometimes think that could be me but we IF specced guys give up that to be on the frontline. We compromise damage for survivability so that you can do your job in peace. Even last night in Novare Coast, which we lost I was on d with a healer at the western node. An operative and sorcerer tried to take it, but in vain. They tried to CC me and take the healer down and the other way around. It just didn't work for them. On top of that they cross healed each other which made it even more difficult for me to kill them. When the game ended I see a say message "Why can't you just ********* die" from the operative. Priceless imho. I am glad your enjoying that spec and I definitely have my eyes on the spec and any variants for when I want to switch to pure dps but I honestly don't know when that'll be as I love storming around. The only beef I have with your spec is the lack of your reactive shield trinket and the necessary talents to reduce that cd for pvp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerinth Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Isn't Assault Plastique the highest dmg attack for that build? What's the general consensus on which is higher dps, builds with it or builds without it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floegens Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 (edited) Using AP/TD in your 10m rotation should be a slight dmg decrease actually (i think i saw math and parses by others and my dummy tests showed the same), but having a) the option to put some more pressure at range and b) i at least feel you burst down targets so much faster when opened with AP - IR - (popping Adrenal/Relic/BF) - HIB - SS/IP - HIB, and finishing someone with AP when he does not expect that burst is so much fun. Furthermore, look at this thread by Exphryl, "Section H" in particular. Its Pyro PT, but its the mirror class. Edited May 11, 2012 by Floegens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyoro Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 I don't think I could live without assault plastique, especially considering dropping it only gives you a few passive buffs. Don't forget that it also benefits from the critdamage boost tactic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuschell Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Didn't mean to make it sound like I was God creating Adam here, I'm just sharing my excitement about it, because it really is putting out glorious amounts of damage. When I say I developed it, what I mean is I didn't look around on the forums for it (which I have done since and have only seen similar specs, since most AS trees include AP, but not this same one). Rather, I looked at the tree and reasoned out why it would have the best HIB. I'm sure anyone trying to maximize HIB would end up in the same place as me on this. That being said, I just hope that it helps anybody out there looking for a high DPS spec for the vanguard! I was making a joke based upon what the second poster said. That said I like AP and my build incorporates it, its pretty awesome for timing that burst with an HiB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jachen Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Isn't the 4 piece pvp eliminator bonus of 15% extra crit for HIB better for any pvp build that is built around HIB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatticusFinch Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 I don't think I could live without assault plastique, especially considering dropping it only gives you a few passive buffs. Don't forget that it also benefits from the critdamage boost tactic. Leaving AP off the build was definitely the hardest part, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice the passive abilities that improve the damage of HIB and Ion Pulse for it as I would need to re-allocate 4 points for that. This build lives and dies by Ion Pulse/Stockstrike proccing of HIB so you usually have to be in that 10m radius. I would definitely agree that you cannot pass on AP if you plan on staying out of that range, but I almost feel like us vanguards were always meant to be in the fray. As mentioned before, the loss of survivability from the tank spec to this one is significant, so you have to be a little tricky to avoid becoming a focus target (especially in a zone like Voidstar or fighting for the middle turret in Civil War). We hold an intrinsic advantage in that the vanguard class doesn't usually attract that kind of focus attention, which can be exploited to put out max damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatticusFinch Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 I am glad your enjoying that spec and I definitely have my eyes on the spec and any variants for when I want to switch to pure dps but I honestly don't know when that'll be as I love storming around. The only beef I have with your spec is the lack of your reactive shield trinket and the necessary talents to reduce that cd for pvp. Is this the kind of tree you're talking about? http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801hMhZMsZfhMrzGGM.1 If so, you don't lose too much except the extra burn damage and tech critical chance from burnout (which, for PvP, I think the tech critical is more useful than the extra burn damage anyway) along with some ammo regenerating ability (which I could see swapping those two points with Sweltering Heat depending on play-style). I think this could be quite viable, actually. Definitely worth a look to increase survivability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatticusFinch Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) Isn't the 4 piece pvp eliminator bonus of 15% extra crit for HIB better for any pvp build that is built around HIB? I think the Battle Focus bonus to crit chance is good enough for those purposes and I love the extra 8% damage from the Tionese Combat Tech, which is guaranteed with every HIB. Also, you have a wasted ability in the the 2-piece bonus from the eliminator set while the PvE Combat Tech 2-piece gives you reduced cooldown on Battle Focus. This is why I go with the PvE set bonus over the Eliminator, I feel you get the best of both worlds. It will be worth taking a second look once War Hero gear is acquired, since those bonuses supercede the intrinsic armor ones. So you may have a good point in that case, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there . Edited May 14, 2012 by MatticusFinch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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