[GW2 WvW] Support Firebrand in World vs. World -- Rotation and Skill Combos (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!
-- The Discord is listed in socials, and I encourage you to check it out. When we've achieved critical mass, I'd like to start doing some vod review-style community content there, to help people improve at different classes and different builds. Check it out if that's your kind of thing.
-- Socials:
twitch.tv/sheffplaysgames
VoDs @ / @sheffplaysgamesvods
Discord @ / discord
-- Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:40 Example Fight
01:19 Initial Stability and Cover Boons
02:00 Tome of Courage Priorities // Secondary Stability
03:00 Tome of Resolve Priorities // Healing and Cleanses
04:23 Outro
-- Housekeeping:
Attentive viewers (most viewers) will know that the last two videos have not been perfect. It's a consequence of patch season -- I didn't take my due diligence because I had a lot of videos that I wanted to make, and as a result, information was wrong. I took my time with this one, and I'm hoping that those issues have been corrected as a result. Fingers crossed.

[@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]

Thank you for the content!

[@lucasfarinhabosio6306]

Great explanation of the role each skill plays. Even after playing Firebrand for years I still find new things

[@sheffplaysgames]

And there's even more that I didn't have time to touch on here, like good use of Courage 3, or using Staff 5 and Shield 5 as hard CC during a fight. I try and cover the most important 80% or so of the class, and then leave it up to someone's individual guild to fill in the rest of the gaps, because people play specs in a lot of different ways. :)

[@dennis01234]

Great guide!

[@EruElpidus]

Nice and concise guide!

[@sheffplaysgames]

Thanks Eru! Enjoyed your VIndicator build earlier this week. How much of that do you think is Vindicator itself, versus Greatsword? I've been thinking about GS Herald for the expansion, when Weaponmaster training comes out.

[@Oxbivious]

@@sheffplaysgames Vindi will always be the better choice unless you really want the boons that herald provides (which are all spammed pretty hard already). Vindi has a 25% damage modifier just from dodging and scavenger burst is just too powerful compared to anything you get on herald.

[@EruElpidus]

​@@sheffplaysgames Glad you liked it! That is a good question and is also one I have, I will have to experiment more with greatsword to reach a conclusion but my initial impression is that greatsword carries vindicator 70% of the way through. I think greatsword is flat out numerically superior to sword/sword. The things that immediately stand out is losing access to the 25% modifier and the dmg from the dodge itself, the slow but hard hitting nomad's advance and the spammable scavenger's burst (made even more spammable with the recent increased access to general alacrity) which gives a very reliable source of self quickness in exchange for some cover boons, the trait that gives you 1% for each boon on you, facet of elements and burst of strength. In the current meta where secondary supports can pump out so much offensive boons, I think the role that was once filled by herald can already be occupied by the secondary support. Moreover, the greatsword kit tends to put you right into the middle of the enemy group (as opposed to something like reaper or berserker where you not only have the range but have more control over where your damage lands but their skills do not explicitly require a target) and herald might not have the dodges to mitigate against some of the inevitable boon strips. Also, greatsword is extremely hungry meaning you most likely won't be able to upkeep forceful persistence if you cast roads which you will pretty much want to. Therefore, draconic echo will probably be the standard but burst of strength is pretty slow for a melee skill and has some significant aftercast if I remember correctly which will delay your opening burst more than one might initially think.

[@sheffplaysgames]

I think you and Ox definitely have the right of it -- seems like it comes down to whether your squad wants a Herald for boon support and damage, or Vindi for pure damage. But there's a lot of good secondary boon spam right now, especially some of the new quickness sources on Chrono. Interesting to think about!

[@wirur]

Thanks for the firebrand videos! A quick question - if I want to invest into a full set of WvW infusions for my firebrand, should I pick a full set of concentration or healing power infusions? Or some kind of mix?

[@sheffplaysgames]

Concentration is going to be your safest option -- your most important job is always to give boons, and you won't be totally capped on boon duration even with a full set of infusions. If you're *really* close to the healing power breakpoint on Force of Will (say, within 10-15 vitality) it may be better to reach that breakpoint first and then stack Concentration, though.