Part 15

A discussion about the Frostmaw Auraway build in Guild Wars 2, covering skill interactions like GDW and Grenth's Aura, damage calculations, and team play.

Hey there! So, you've stumbled upon the talk page for the Frostmaw Auraway build. This is where players discuss the ins and outs of this specific setup, and it can get pretty technical. Let's break down some of the key points you'll see here, like a couple of friends chatting about the game. GDW & Grenth's Aura: Do they cancel each other out? This is a big question that comes up. Basically, some players are wondering if Great Dwarf Weapon (GDW) and Grenth's Aura cancel each other out, making one of them useless. The short answer, after a lot of discussion, is no, they don't completely cancel each other out. Here's the lowdown: * The Interaction: Grenth's Aura applies a -21 life steal effect. GDW, on its own, adds damage. When combined with other skills like Honor, it can bring the damage back up. Skills like Order of Pain can further boost this to hit the Shadow Form damage cap (which is 26 damage per hit, multiplied by 3 for scythe hits). * Why GDW is still useful: Even though Wurms (the main target in this scenario) are resistant to Knockdown (KD), GDW still provides damage. Plus, it can help with other enemies like Incubi, which don't remove enchantments when they're knocked down. * Knockdown (KD) on Wurms: It's a bit of a grey area. While the wiki might say Wurms have stun immunity, some players observe that KD can still affect them, though it might not be as reliable as on other mobs. It's not a guaranteed stun like you might see on Jotuns (who are immune to stuns anyway). * Damage Calculation Example: One player breaks it down like this: Scythe damage (around 11) + EBSoH (+15) + GDW (+20, plus KD vs. non-wurms) - Grenth's Aura (-21) = a base damage calculation. With the Shadow Form cap and life steal, the total damage per hit can be around 47. Without GDW, it drops significantly. Armor Stacking and IAU There's also a discussion about how armor stacking works, specifically with skills like Inner Artery Updraft (IAU). It seems IAU might be bugged in a way that benefits the player, as the armor calculation might happen *after* the maximum armor stacking is calculated, giving you extra armor. It's noted that IAU stacks with pretty much any armor boost. Build Adjustments Someone mentions moving EBSoH onto the 'caller' (likely a support role) to have it ready before the team engages. GDW was moved to the 'shouter' role, though SYG (Shadow of the Void?) is suggested as a possible alternative. Team Play vs. Solo Play This section gets a bit heated! Some players express frustration with others who only want to solo content, even in a game like Guild Wars 2 which is an MMORPG. The argument is that while solo play is great, a core part of the game is playing together. There's a strong sentiment against players who can solo content but then struggle or cause wipes in team-based scenarios like Frostmaw Supercharged (F/mawSC) or Sorrow's Embrace Supercharged (SoOSC). Build Viability Ultimately, the discussion circles back to whether a build works. One player emphasizes that if a build is effective, it opens up opportunities for more players to enjoy speed clears. They express a desire for more diverse speed clear options beyond just the common SoOSC runs, and a bit of frustration with what they see as narrow-minded thinking that might be holding back the game's potential. It's a lot to take in, but that's the nature of deep-dive build discussions! Don't be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you and your team.