When I returned to the game a while back, fractals showed me that I definitely needed work on my opener. When a fight/phase is only 30 seconds long, your opener is HUGE. Not just doing it well, but doing it right when the fight starts. Also sometimes modifying the opener if it's a VERY quick fight/phase.
Yeah it's true. A good opener trivialises a lot of the story mode or open world encounters - and makes you feel like a god when you drop a full room of mobs in seconds.
This is good advice, you're right that it isn't posted about on the subreddit or anywhere really. I didn't know the opener alone could make such a big difference in DPS across all the whole fight, but it makes sense.
Thank you for posting this! I was asking some guild members about my dps last week and they asked about my opener. I went back and actually learned the opener which increased my dps by about 5k consistently
I feel called out. This is something that was really intuitive for me over the years. The importance of burst in Fractals is really high so I definitely took it for granted, but yeah, you're right Nike. It's really difficult to recover from a mediocre or botched opener.
I like this idea a lot. Thanks dude. For the most part when I pug fractal cms/ t4s and I play quick healbrand for ease of grouping and carry potential.
I personally play all classes in all game modes on all sorts of builds meta or of my own making. boon dps, power condi dps, heal support or whacky stuff to adapt to the group or my own fun. I cannot get the rotations perfectly for all of these but I try to learn the logic behind the build and skill order so I could simplify it in my head and operate the build to a desirable level. This is why I love video guides that explain the logic behind the build and skill order. There are also many times where I default in my skill usage and positioning to muscle memory from pvp and wvw since these moments there can be very intense such as how I use full counter or the range from which i like to use my skills. This is how I feel about the matter personally. I am sure your advice will work for many people regardless.
Even as a half-good veteran player getting similar burst as benchmarks is super difficult, but so much of your overall dps is dependent on a good opener. Super solid advice! Will go back to the golem and practice my openers 😁🙏
yep. worth remembering that the opening burst numbers in benchmarks are INSANELY grinded. The benchmarker will reset if his opening burst isnt good, so you know every benchmark you see is the best opening burst they got out of dozens of attempts.
An important aspect of dps in a fight is also knowing the mechanics of that fight. A lot of times pugs don't really know the mechanics. At that point having a good rotation/opener means nothing. Before ANet nerfed signet trait, on reaper i was able to outdps most pugs using signet build for almost infinite shroud and 2 buttons because I would never die. While they spent a good majority of their time in down state, I was using that time to chop away at the boss avoiding all attacks in the process.
Yep, if you go to Snow Crows they show the opener in the written guide and you can see the first number at 75% on the golem that they hit. That generally gets you there.
Hi Nike, I don't know if you read all comments, but I was wondering if if you're doing any 1 on 1 coaching? For context, I'd like to go over a couple of builds to figure out why am I not able to reach the benchmark (usually I'm somewhere around 32k-35k if the benchmark is 40-42k). I have the correct gear and build, I am following the rotation, but obviously I'm not doing something right, so I would like to get some pointers. I've been playing GW2 since launch (with breaks in-between expansions), I've played enough raids to get a full legendary armor set and coalescence, and I can do all fractal, raid and strike CMs (although I can't do all roles in all of them). I'd say my boss mechanics understanding and general playing skill is average, or perhaps a bit above average (depending on the encounter). I also know my skill isn't good enough to hit max DPS all the time in most encounters, however I feel that understanding what I'm missing in perfect conditions with the golem to hit the benchmark would carry over to real encounters. I would need perhaps one hour of your time, to discuss some specific points. In case 1 on 1 coaching is not something you would be interested in, would you be able to recommend someone who does it? Thanks in advance.
This! I see too many players hoping to catch up on longer fights. Some do in strikes & raids, some don’t. None do in fractals. Everything else just hit the boss once, so little incentive to upskill. But for higher end content, this isn’t just skill or practice. Recent rapid changes to skills & associated gearing for “meta” builds is fine for those with full legos, but for casual players it’s a chore / not fun - unless your just rift chasing or meta farming. Upskilling power holo atm, because I like doing well on non meta classes 🤪
Noob trap = veterans, look for better sources of info don't listen to gw 2 community vet shitheads.
When I returned to the game a while back, fractals showed me that I definitely needed work on my opener. When a fight/phase is only 30 seconds long, your opener is HUGE. Not just doing it well, but doing it right when the fight starts. Also sometimes modifying the opener if it's a VERY quick fight/phase.
yep its definitely obvious in fractals especially when you're with a pug who doesnt know his opener
fractals is a good practice for burst/opener, especially timing it with breakbars!
Been listening to that nike intro music forever haha!
Is there a longer version somewhere? It's really catchy.
@@rgentry9 not that I know of but maybe big Nike can answer that. It’s probably custom made intro so it doesn’t violate copyright rules on youtube
Its a chiptunes from a no-cd game crack from 2005. No idea what its called if it even has a name.@@rgentry9
Did you find intro music name ?
@@Arctrus97 It's intro number 33 by WOTW ua-cam.com/video/wyyAobq59n4/v-deo.html
Yeah it's true. A good opener trivialises a lot of the story mode or open world encounters - and makes you feel like a god when you drop a full room of mobs in seconds.
This is good advice, you're right that it isn't posted about on the subreddit or anywhere really. I didn't know the opener alone could make such a big difference in DPS across all the whole fight, but it makes sense.
Thank you for posting this! I was asking some guild members about my dps last week and they asked about my opener. I went back and actually learned the opener which increased my dps by about 5k consistently
Laughs in pSlb. Openers are essential.
Nice vid, Nike. Hopefully, this idea spreads around.
I feel called out. This is something that was really intuitive for me over the years. The importance of burst in Fractals is really high so I definitely took it for granted, but yeah, you're right Nike. It's really difficult to recover from a mediocre or botched opener.
Good info! Thanks big Nike
And here I am hoping people recognize the four Sabetha bursts as Sabetha, Kernan, Knuckles, and Karde - not as Sabetha, Sabetha, Sabetha, and Sabetha
no way, GREED for the meter
I like this idea a lot. Thanks dude.
For the most part when I pug fractal cms/ t4s and I play quick healbrand for ease of grouping and carry potential.
I personally play all classes in all game modes on all sorts of builds meta or of my own making. boon dps, power condi dps, heal support or whacky stuff to adapt to the group or my own fun. I cannot get the rotations perfectly for all of these but I try to learn the logic behind the build and skill order so I could simplify it in my head and operate the build to a desirable level. This is why I love video guides that explain the logic behind the build and skill order. There are also many times where I default in my skill usage and positioning to muscle memory from pvp and wvw since these moments there can be very intense such as how I use full counter or the range from which i like to use my skills. This is how I feel about the matter personally. I am sure your advice will work for many people regardless.
Amazing tip.. just started the game so i'm miles away from even average, but will keep it in mind learning my class thx! GGs
I never thought about that ... but you are absolutely right! Thank you for the reminder! :)
... This is actually sensible, TO THE GOLEM
Even as a half-good veteran player getting similar burst as benchmarks is super difficult, but so much of your overall dps is dependent on a good opener. Super solid advice! Will go back to the golem and practice my openers 😁🙏
yep. worth remembering that the opening burst numbers in benchmarks are INSANELY grinded. The benchmarker will reset if his opening burst isnt good, so you know every benchmark you see is the best opening burst they got out of dozens of attempts.
Oh somebody's mic got buffed in the last patch!!!
Nice timing I have been grinding power chrono opener this entire week
An important aspect of dps in a fight is also knowing the mechanics of that fight. A lot of times pugs don't really know the mechanics. At that point having a good rotation/opener means nothing. Before ANet nerfed signet trait, on reaper i was able to outdps most pugs using signet build for almost infinite shroud and 2 buttons because I would never die. While they spent a good majority of their time in down state, I was using that time to chop away at the boss avoiding all attacks in the process.
Is there a way to know how much damage your opener should be doing?
Watching the video of players performing the "benchmark" for your build.
Yep, if you go to Snow Crows they show the opener in the written guide and you can see the first number at 75% on the golem that they hit. That generally gets you there.
In PUGs sometimes boons are very slow to come out. Would you advise to delay your opener in this case?
Hi Nike,
I don't know if you read all comments, but I was wondering if if you're doing any 1 on 1 coaching? For context, I'd like to go over a couple of builds to figure out why am I not able to reach the benchmark (usually I'm somewhere around 32k-35k if the benchmark is 40-42k). I have the correct gear and build, I am following the rotation, but obviously I'm not doing something right, so I would like to get some pointers. I've been playing GW2 since launch (with breaks in-between expansions), I've played enough raids to get a full legendary armor set and coalescence, and I can do all fractal, raid and strike CMs (although I can't do all roles in all of them). I'd say my boss mechanics understanding and general playing skill is average, or perhaps a bit above average (depending on the encounter). I also know my skill isn't good enough to hit max DPS all the time in most encounters, however I feel that understanding what I'm missing in perfect conditions with the golem to hit the benchmark would carry over to real encounters.
I would need perhaps one hour of your time, to discuss some specific points. In case 1 on 1 coaching is not something you would be interested in, would you be able to recommend someone who does it? Thanks in advance.
If you hit me up on discord id be happy to give you feedback
I'm new to gw2 matter of fact i've just installed the game and I too want to be an above averge player but my potato laptop says "no"
This! I see too many players hoping to catch up on longer fights. Some do in strikes & raids, some don’t. None do in fractals. Everything else just hit the boss once, so little incentive to upskill.
But for higher end content, this isn’t just skill or practice. Recent rapid changes to skills & associated gearing for “meta” builds is fine for those with full legos, but for casual players it’s a chore / not fun - unless your just rift chasing or meta farming. Upskilling power holo atm, because I like doing well on non meta classes 🤪
a perfect example why dps meters are toxic
You mean trying to encourage people to improve in a helpful way is toxic?
The real trap here is to download the game on your ssd.