[GW2 WvW] Support Firebrand in World vs. World -- An Intro Build Primer (Updates in Comments)

-- Many of Firebrand's traits shifted around a bit as a result of the June 27th balance patch, and as a result Firebrand has gotten some pretty significant buffs to its healing output at very little cost. Take a look at this guide to see the basics of playing Support Firebrand!
-- Some notes on minmaxing with Force of Will -- you only get the bump to healing power every 100 vitality, which means that if you're very close to crossing that threshold it can be worth it to add or swap out a few vitality infusions to get over the next 100 breakpoint.
-- Some other notes elsewhere in the video. If you look really closely, you'll see that I have Indomitable Courage on for some of the fights with Soul, and that's because we needed the additional stability from opening Courage more than the additional healing from spreading your Resolve passive to allies for those specific fights. These are the kinds of decisions that you can make on the fly as Firebrand, and being able to know when to swap between these builds will be very useful to you in the long run.
Build: gw2skills.net/editor/?PW0AYl7l...
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-- Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:22 Weapons, Armor, Sigils, and Runes
01:09 Skills
02:10 Honor Traitline
02:52 Virtues Traitline
03:27 Firebrand Traitline
04:15 Outro

[@sheffplaysgames]

2023-Nov-12: Relic of Febe is my suggestion for this build currently, for two reasons. First, it adds an extra cover boon to your Stability applications, burying your important boons even deeper in the stack. Second, it cleanses Immobilization specifically, which is a problem condition during fights. Unless your guild tells you otherwise, I think it's the strongest option for Firebrand currently. 2023-Aug-22: With Secrets of the Obscure now out, we have Relics and revised Runes to play around with for these builds. If you really feel like you need more cleanses, use Relic of Antitoxin, but there's some super interesting options that are tied to elite skill usage that also look very good. Because your heal and elite are both an ammo skill, it's relatively easy to find opportunities to use them, with Relic of the Pack and Relic of the Flock being the most promising. For your Runes, Durability's boons were the main reason that we took Durability at all, so now something like Rune of the Monk or Rune of the Water are going to be your go-to choices.

[@TrinityUser]

I like this. Thank you for the content.

[@Krescento]

Last Firebrand video was a different build focusing on resistance... Is this now your preference over that one?

[@sheffplaysgames]

I think so. The heal synergies between your traits and Tome of Resolve are really strong now. There's *a* Resistance build that I'll put together in a week or two, but that's mostly just for if you really want to up your Resistance uptime.

[@azureavocado8463]

How come no sanctuary?

[@sheffplaysgames]

It got nerfed in the balance patch on the 27th -- it only strikes 10 times now instead of 20, and when those charges are consumed, the entire field goes away, so you no longer benefit from the field or projectile destruction either. I think if you're going to run Stoic Demeanor for Resistance triggers you'd still run Sanctuary instead (over Signet of Mercy probably), but I don't think Stoic Demeanor is what you want to be running if you're starting to learn Firebrand. Look for an advanced build later that will lean more into that.

[@CuvelierPhilippe]

I'll try you're build but as i don't have enough cleanse with me (i'm an open tag com) we keep my mantra of cleansing and my reflection wall. I was using the consecration aoe but i sacrified it because reflection is wonderful when a zerg attack ^^. Thanks for this video.

[@sheffplaysgames]

If you really want the reflects, you could try running 8 pages instead of 5 (giving up quickness on your heal) so that you can use Courage 3 as a reflect. That frees up your utility skills.

[@CuvelierPhilippe]

@@sheffplaysgames good idea

[@Grr8xtc]

need a video for dps ranger

[@sheffplaysgames]

I'm waiting for that buff to Barrage on the 30th. :)

[@Grr8xtc]

Nice

[@theclaw8698]

What's the Armour Stat, what's the type

[@sheffplaysgames]

Armor, weapons, runes, and sigils are 22 seconds into the video -- I've also added a build link to the description, now that GW2skills has been updated.

[@theclaw8698]

@@sheffplaysgames What is the relic of monk runes? What relic are you using right now?

[@sheffplaysgames]

@@theclaw8698 I added a pinned comment a few days ago, check that. It depends a lot on what your guild wants you to do. If you're not in a guild, and join public squads, just use Monk as the safest option. :)

[@Dark_Wizard_of_Mu]

I know you are a legit FB WvW player because you run Mace Shield as alternative to Staff. Sadly, there are couple content creators promoting Axe instead of Mace in WvW and I tell them Axe is poor choice in Zerg v Zerg. Well, whatever it's their choice..

[@sheffplaysgames]

If you don't need the Protection uptime, Axe is fine -- Axe 3 is a good enabler for Resistance from Stoic Demeanor. So there's cases where you would definitely want to run it. But I try and keep builds on the channel relatively "general".

[@Dark_Wizard_of_Mu]

@@sheffplaysgames Yeah fair but I will take Mace 3 anyday vs resistance. And healing damage with Mace 2 in tight melee spots.

[@Fynation]

You mainly take axe for pulls and fun imo. With hfb kit it really doesn't matter overall unless u r in some high end try hard gwg fight

[@sheffplaysgames]

@@Fynation Technically speaking, you take Hammer to have fun, but Axe is also a good time. :)