Power Soulbeast PVE Build Guide - Guild Wars 2

[@cherylp714]

This was the best and most easily understood guide I have watched. It was well-paced and succinct. Can’t wait to try it out. Thank you. ❤

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@JinjaJiang]

I had no idea you could switch the hammer skills as a soulbeast! This is a game changer, thanks mate!

[@connorconcarne]

The Weaponmaster system has been an absolute god-tier boost for a lot of classes.

[@Thorrnn]

I think this is the best build video I've ever seen. I love the ranger class, and I really enjoy the soulbeast, but I've never seen such a comprehensive and clearly articulated build, explanation of skills, traits, and rotation. Thank you!

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks so much :-) I really appreciate that. I've always loved Soulbeast and I'm glad you enjoyed the guide.

[@robertstehouwer9110]

Totally agree, excellent and well put together video, thanks

[@loneliberation3483]

I'd love to make this class my main, but as someone who enjoys farming metas, for me nothing beats the engineer when it comes to being able to tag everything.

[@Xarbic]

Thank you for the detailed guide. I was having trouble with my soulbeast, but I am going to try this build. Nice elevator music during the long skills.

[@connorconcarne]

Haha glad you enjoyed the soothing sounds of elevators everywhere.

[@Godfather_Al]

The most professionalism of gw2 guide creators

[@connorconcarne]

Why thank you Al!

[@Godfather_Al]

@@connorconcarne it's very easy to cancel axe 4 and the trap so i like how you mentioned those little details to look out for heh

[@moethejester1793]

thank you so much man, I have been using this build for a while but all the guides I watched didn't explain the skill rotation like you did, so thank you so much again enjoy your day. 😘

[@connorconcarne]

You're most welcome. So glad you found the video and the rotation guide useful. You have a great day.

[@dorukhangumus5098]

Best class guide i ever seen for a while. Thanks man!

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks so much mate, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Vietcongster]

Not even 1 minute in the video and I'm already liking it for the LOTR scenes!! Also thanks for making me understand Soulbeast a bit more. I always heard about it but never really pulled it off. Might give a try later.

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks so much! Always good to meet another LOTR enjoyer :-). Soulbeast feels incredibly satisfying when you can line up all your burst skills perfectly.

[@shr779]

Thank you for such detail in your explanations, this made it so much easier to understand this class.

[@connorconcarne]

You're most welcome :) Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@ReinaDia]

HOLY SHIT!!! THATS THE MOST USEFUL GUIDE I'VE SEEN SO FAR! THANKS SO MUCH!

[@cptoak]

Dude the entrance made me laugh hard, i had to comment for LOTR references 😂😂

[@connorconcarne]

Haha glad you enjoyed that. I chucked hard in the editing phase.

[@Judgement_Kazzy]

Thanks for the guide, man. Been having a blast with this build, except that I took a longbow instead of the hammer. Not because it's better in any way, just because a ranger without a bow doesn't feel right. (Also because I don't have SOTO yet)

[@connorconcarne]

You're so welcome. Glad you're enjoying the build. No shame in running Longbow. I run that all the time in Open World for just how good it is at tagging mobs.

[@kurokokoro8472]

what would you recommand running instead of hammer for those with no soto?@@connorconcarne

[@connorconcarne]

@@kurokokoro8472 If you don't have Hammer then Longbow is your next best option.

[@lethaltouch5629]

Is it as good with no hammer ? I don’t have that expansion yet and I just started playing gw2 and picked ranger

[@bailz5277]

I run this build in WvW and it slaps too!!

[@connorconcarne]

Glad to hear this build transcends all game modes.

[@jun-rose]

Thank you! Just dusted off my ranger and didn't have a clue lol

[@zohmbie1579]

when i first played soulbeast and geared it up with exotics i was so surprised it did 30k+ dps on training dummy. it was 4k dps more than my main reaper with full ascended

[@connorconcarne]

Power Soulbeast has absolutely crazy levels of burst damage despite how simple it is to play. Once you nail the timing of the skills (to make sure you don't cancel the casts) you're golden.

[@indorr]

Nice dmg ,class,video...aaaand back to mechanist and keep on enjoying none existing finger spasm

[@LabernetCA]

Love the Video!!!

[@connorconcarne]

Why thank you :-), I really appreciate that.

[@KimeraJin]

Didn't noticed also in the build but, we can go even more for power using infusions with +power no? thanks for the guide! many friends going appreciate it!

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the guide :). You can include some Power Infusions for an extra boost. Gotta get that burst as high as possible haha.

[@donfolstar]

Having a ranged option with mainhand ax > slight DPS gain from sword

[@connorconcarne]

I tend to agree, plus less animation locks.

[@AustinB1024]

would going with dual maces for self heals be viable? also what armor would you suggest if I wanted to have some more durability? i know it'll cost some damage in the process

[@Amascut]

Thankfully I mostly play Condi Druid so I don’t feel as dumb, but I genuinely never noticed you could choose to unleash your Hammer skills! No wonder Power SB hammer didn’t feel as good! Just changed them over and tried it out and it felt noticeably stronger.

[@connorconcarne]

Haha nice, glad you got it sorted. It took me longer than I care to admit to figure out I could unleash the skills as well. Was happy as a clam when I figured it out.

[@TabibosNachos]

thnks for the amazing guide! how much is important to mangae the exact order of the rotation cause my mechanics are lacking :) also ranger is my favorite class so I dont mind trying and improving I do have some wrist problems and the ranger is pretty easy on the wrist so that's good

[@БорисАнікін]

ty

[@connorconcarne]

You're very welcome!

[@biomagic8959]

by the time you cast axe 5 your one wolf pack is over. since that's your hardest-hitting ability you should use it under one wolf pack.

[@connorconcarne]

There's a limit to how much you can stack One Wolf Pack and it also has an internal cooldown of one second. So as long as you're using your skills fairly quickly it shouldn't matter that One Wolf Pack is finished by then. Definitely want to get Axe 5 under Sic Em though.

[@edens6831]

Hey connor thanks for the amazing guide! , The double axe is the same rotation?

[@connorconcarne]

Totally, Axe/Axe has the same rotation compared to Sword/Axe. I really prefer the lack of forced movement from Axe/Axe

[@beckywilsontx]

Thank you. I will be giving this a try on my ranger. I was wondering what add-ons are you using?

[@connorconcarne]

For seeing everyone's DPS I'm using ArcDPS (which I have a separate guide for if you're interested).

[@StArFuRyZz]

I'd put my Soulbeast on the shelf - the condi damage was fine in the base maps but once you got into the expansions it wasn't nearly as good. I did the switch and in EOD I'm obliterating mobs and not even using a real rotation.

[@SoulOfTech]

Great build! Can I use LB & Hammer for general open world PvE?

[@connorconcarne]

Absolutely, both of those are great options for Open World PVE.

[@freedoms9961]

I run basically the same build but I prefer sword warhorn /hammer

[@connorconcarne]

Glad you've changed it up to suit you. The extra boons from Warhorn will be very handy.

[@albertovb88]

This is an awesome guide, thank you! How would you say it performs now after patches? Any significant change to it? Ty in advance!

[@Vaaltory]

Great Video! May i ask you what kind of Outfit you used in this Video? Looked really good

[@NewYorkRipper77]

where you got so much life from? Got all zerk gear and i runes exactly the same and i just got only 16462 life. Also my whole Accessoires are Zerk.

[@michaeldmckenzie]

I'm confused because the build page shows hammer as secondary weapon and that's Untamed weapon.

[@connorconcarne]

Once you unlock Weaponmaster Training through Secrets of the Obscure you can equip any Elite Spec weapon your class has access to.

[@KodyRain]

How are your hammer skills green? Mine are a different color?

[@connorconcarne]

You can right click on them to change them between their normal and unleashed mode.

[@tomasgartner3769]

Hello 🙂. Could you please advise me where I am doing wrong? I only have exotic gear on soulbeast, all berserker. I have everything like you, but I can't get to more than 2600 requests. You have 3,278 on the video, I just can't do it. Thanks for the great videos.

[@nohea44]

What do I use until I unlock weapon master for the hammer? I am guessing GS?

[@connorconcarne]

If you don't have weaponmaster unlocked then Longbow is a great choice. Greatsword might be ok after some of the recent buffs as well.

[@Patsoor]

Someone who saw the light, made a video. noice. Providing all needed info and selling the class like an experienced salesman. And now its time to shut up pls.(we don t want anet to find out) Powersoulbeast has indeed an amazing burst, and I love it. But seriously, no need to advertise it so hard imo. I love it the way it is. Unplayed is something still have not touched bc slb is just OP. We don't need anet to find out this build works.. they will change it if they know :p selling it as easy, is a different story, its somewhat easy to hit decent numbers and be in the top of your arc dps meter in open world. More of an open world issue where ppl don't always seem to know what buttons to press. The moment you start changing yr build to benefit your subgroup burst as good as gone. Other than that I can only agree on most things you said, I sometimes wonder why not eveyone is playing slb :) About the axe vs sword main hand, I do prefer the sword just because of the movement and the damagedodge skill. It is fairly easy to use the sword 3 evade when you need to dodge, and you can make it line up with deimos pizza or Q1 aoe knockback so you just keep bursting instead of dodgedpsloss :) Also axe 2 is important and so easy to interrupt. Rotation I just don't hit my hammer3 in the opener as I swap and hit my axe4 as first followed by sw3 then 2 and then spin4win If y want, hitmeup in game patsoor.6425

[@connorconcarne]

Haha I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Looks like it's basically untouched (even made slightly better) from the next balance patch.

[@OwlskiTV]

"Do you wanna play an easy build where you just mash a couple of keys?" * later proceed to tell people do a 20+ combo during their rotation before their buffs expire * Maybe I'm just not cut out for GW2.. .-.

[@Mictyan9]

Wish I could get PoF expansion on a discount at least :)

[@henryvikingr]

Just got back to gw2 left at lvl 77 warrior. Going to create a ranger to start all over and will play this build then. Any tips for a returning player? Level with map completion and take it slow?

[@connorconcarne]

Welcome back :) I recommend working your way through the story (core, living world and expansions). You get access to all the maps, mastery points and completing the Return To Achievements (for living world) gives you access to a free legendary amulet. Definitely the best way to get reacquainted with the game.

[@henryvikingr]

wich build can i use for ranger leveling? what weapon combo@@connorconcarne

[@arcanespirit6001]

I am new to the game and wanna know how you set your camera the right way I am having a hard time getting used to the movement and free camera

[@connorconcarne]

I'll definitely have to do a video at some point on my settings. Feel free to pop into my Discord and ask and I can give you a much quicker answer as well if you prefer.

[@RasmusKudahl]

Hello! Is it possible to get the rotation with dual axes in mind? I know you said it is mostly the same, but for some reason I have a hard time knowing what to do. Cheers :)

[@connorconcarne]

Hey there, basically where it says to use a specific sword skill (sword 2 or 3), just replace it with the same axe skill. The cooldowns are super similar so there's basically no change. You may just have one less auto attack between Axe 5 and Axe 2 compared to Axe 5 and Sword 2.

[@strucla]

Hi, was wondering if the build is playable in open world and fractals with full celestial gear. Is the dps loss very noticeable?

[@connorconcarne]

Hi there :) The build would work somewhat OK with Celestial gear but you would definitely notice a large DPS drop. Power builds don't like using Celestial compared to Condition builds. It would be good to test if you like how the build plays but swapping to Beserker would give you much better results.

[@KeViNaNoViC]

hey im 30days playing the game and i started with soulbeast how much dmg loss we talk about with double Axe? the movement lockdown is sometimes realy tilting. Also why is Bow not a option? And what are combofields 😂

[@sebastian5742]

It's probably like 1-2k so if you are doing 50% of the benchmark it's half of that. Not a big deal sincie 18k is usually more then enough for most of the content and bechamarks nowdays are like 37k. Long bow was an option before soto and it still is, hammer is just better due to LB weak moment when you need to wait for cooldowns after swaping, but mele. You can go with LB and nobody will say anything. Combo for LB is 5->4->2->swap when you swap back from axes it's 2 and then you auto to wait for all of the cd for another burst. Combo fields are a mechanic in a game, where some skills create a combo field like Frost Trap, and some skills when casted in combo fields have additional effect to it's basic version. Eg "combo finisher blast" when used in frost field will apply chill or smth. You can see that when you hover over the skill eg. Axe5 or worldy impact F3 when merged with red moa. You need to google the effect for each field and finisher, tho :/

[@connorconcarne]

Welcome to the game! Sebastian has you covered down below. Axe is a super small DPS loss and you probably won't even notice it in actual combat.

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks mate! You're a legend.

[@KeViNaNoViC]

@@sebastian5742 Thanks my Friend for explaining hope we see us one day ingame 😄

[@hayk401]

Am I the only one confused by this build? How is it possible to run hammer on a Soulbeast Spec when hammer is locked to Untamed Spec, i currently have your build set up on my ranger and all my hammer skills are greyed out lol

[@lnSorteDiaboli]

Unlock weapon mastery in the SoTo campaign.

[@hayk401]

I have the skills fully unlocked, i guess SotO campaign has some new weapon mastery@@sligityslone4710

[@hayk401]

oh okay thanks for the tip@@lnSorteDiaboli

[@connorconcarne]

Like everyone else here mentioned, you need to unlock weapon mastery through SotO and then you can equip hammer.

[@t-string9524]

Does power soulbeast work with. Greatsword longbow? I really want a good endgame now build

[@connorconcarne]

Longbow is a decent option instead of Hammer. Greatsword is more of a defensive weapon so for this type of build, Sword/Axe or Axe/Axe are your best options for DPS. It would still be usable with greatsword though.

[@MarkReyes-d6n]

Hello. If I switch frost trap with a stance skill, do I just replace frost trap with the stance skill in the rotation?

[@connorconcarne]

Depends on what stance skill you use. If you use Dolyak Stance, just use it whenever you need stability. If I was using Moa stance, I'd use it mostly off cooldown because of how often your team mates will be pulsing boons.

[@gerardroldan9092]

do i need to have SOTO expansion to use this build ?

[@connorconcarne]

SotO is ideal so you can use Hammer. The build will work just fine with Longbow instead of Hammer through so if you don't have SotO the build is still amazing.

[@jozseftott3352]

How is the new mace/mace? Is it better than 2h hammer?

[@connorconcarne]

I believe after some recent nerfs, Hammer is once again a better option than Mace/Mace.

[@linuslindberg4495]

Is it better with hammer then longbow? i've never played gw2 before and started out 3 days ago,i reached 80 yesterday

[@connorconcarne]

Welcome to GW2 and congrats on reaching level 80. The build is better with Hammer (in terms of pure damage) but longbow is a totally fine alternative. I run it over hammer all the time when I'm in Open World.

[@linuslindberg4495]

@@connorconcarne thank you! Oh i see,thank you alot for the answer! But i feel like axe/axe is the way in the beginning,then i can kite some mobs rather then tanking em with sword/axe

[@kurokokoro8472]

is there a no soto version of the build?

[@Snarawrawr]

Does this build apply if I want to use a longbow instead of hammer?

[@sebastian5742]

Yes, this is basically how it worked before the SoTO. You had either Greatsword or Longbow. You start combo with LB 5 then 4 then 2 ,and the rest is the same as in the video. When you swap back you go for LB 2 and autoattack/wait for sick em cd to go with the full burst starting from LB 5 again then 4, then 2 etc

[@connorconcarne]

Yep you can if you prefer, I sometimes use longbow when farming in Open World for the AoE. @sebastian5742 has you covered.

[@connorconcarne]

Thanks mate, that's really helpful :)

[@Snarawrawr]

Oooh! Runes and sigils in the vid still applies to longbow?

[@charityhoax]

@@Snarawrawr yes. every power sb build that has comes out in like the last 5 years have used that same rune/sigil/armor stat setup.

[@ophiuchus3267]

What should i use if i dont have the expansion for the hammer?

[@connorconcarne]

You can easily replace Hammer for Longbow if you don't have SotO :)

[@ophiuchus3267]

@connorconcarne okay I'll try it out. Thanks 😊

[@bluedots2212]

Hello could you tell me what outfit that is? thanks :)

[@connorconcarne]

Sure thing :) the skins are: - Arcane Spellweaver's Hat - Sanctified Shoulders - Luminous Medium Brigandine - Viper's Armguard - Requiem Leggings - Illustrious Striders

[@차피아랰시]

Use hammer in soulbeast how did you do that?

[@connorconcarne]

With the Secrets of the Obscure expansion you can unlock Weaponmaster Training (very early in the expansion) that lets you use other Elite Spec weapons on your build.

[@차피아랰시]

thx man@@connorconcarne

[@monarcaauriga4353]

Hi bro, what config you PC ?

[@connorconcarne]

Hey mate! If you check my about section on my Twitch page I've got my entire setup listed there www.twitch.tv/connorconcarne/about

[@Ra1dMaX]

newbie question here, do i need to put 1 point into untamed to actually unlock the ability to use hammer?

[@connorconcarne]

I don't believe you need to. I've got multiple characters that only have the single elite spec unlocked and I don't believe I had to place any points in the other specs to use their weapons.

[@Ra1dMaX]

@@connorconcarne found out from a friend i need the newest expansion and go talk to some NPC name Frode to learn the weapon skill for hammer

[@alishaheen3465]

why my hammer skills is not like u it have alot of cc not more dps like u the icons of hammer skills is purple not green idk why ?

[@connorconcarne]

You can right click on your Hammer skills when out of combat to choose between the regular and unleased versions.

[@Wuju.5418]

Dolyak op

[@connorconcarne]

Dolyak Stance is amazing! Any chance to give AoE stability is insane value.

[@bochup87]

if i wanna use longbow, shld i pair it with axe/axe or hammer? which one has higher dps?

[@connorconcarne]

I'd go Axe/Axe + Longbow. Axe contributes more towards your damage than Hammer so keep that one.

[@Titanokun]

Hi im new on GW 2. How i can get those gear? is the only one i can do is buy it from item mall? Or i should craft it? And if i should craft it, can i get the material from WvW?

[@Korpik666]

more easy is power reaper...... condi reaper........

[@Ashenwolf888]

Not to rain on your parade or disrepsect you but you are barely making 20k dps on your arc dps meter. Thats not "topping the charts", not even close. 😉 If you were over 30k dps then you are "topping the charts".

[@glittergoat91]

I don't think you watched the video properly then.

[@Ashenwolf888]

He makes 40k for a brief moment on the golem. On the golem thats easy..... Means nothing. For the other actual fights i barely see him over 20k. @@glittergoat91

[@meowmageddon]

Good breakdown. I would only add if youre open worlding or just need/want ranged burst, staff is a really great option for soulbeast now.

[@s_nkei]

Isnt staff bad for dps wouldnt lb be better

[@MarcLombart]

oh darn, I can't get Hammer, long bow it is then