Build:N/Me SS Nuker

From PvXwiki

The PvXwiki community finds this to be an excellent build. Through the PvX vetting system, it has reached an overall rating in the range from 4.75 to 5.0 and thus qualifies for the highest category of working builds: Great. This build has been designed for the following use: PvE general

This build is part of the current PvE meta. Remove this tag if it is no longer used in the current PvE meta.

The SS Nuker is a popular PvE build, used in both farming groups and storyline progression. With proper aggro control, an SS Nuker is a devastating weapon against computer-controlled groups.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

[edit] Hard Mode

Necromancer / Mesmer 12 + 1 + 3 Curses 12 + 1 Soul Reaping Arcane Echo Core Mesmer. Unlinked Arcane Echo Enchantment Spell If you cast a Spell in the next 20 seconds, Arcane Echo is replaced with that Spell for 20 seconds. Arcane Echo ends prematurely if you use a non-Spell skill. 20 2 15 Spiteful Spirit Prophecies Necromancer. Curses 16 Spiteful Spirit Elite Hex Spell For 21 seconds, whenever target foe attacks or uses a skill, Spiteful Spirit deals 37 shadow damage to that foe and all adjacent allies of that foe. 10 2 15 Necrosis Nightfall Necromancer. Sunspear rank Necrosis Spell If target foe is suffering from a Condition or Hex, that foe suffers 40..90 damage. 2 1 5 Enfeebling Blood Core Necromancer. Curses 16 Enfeebling Blood Spell Target foe and all nearby foes suffer from Weakness for 21 seconds. 8 1 1 Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Signet of Lost Souls Nightfall Necromancer. Soul Reaping 13 Signet of Lost Souls Signet If target foe is below 50% Health, you gain 88 Health and 9 Energy. 8 ¼ Template code

[edit] Normal Mode

Necromancer / Mesmer 12 + 1 + 3 Curses 12 + 1 Soul Reaping Arcane Echo Core Mesmer. Unlinked Arcane Echo Enchantment Spell If you cast a Spell in the next 20 seconds, Arcane Echo is replaced with that Spell for 20 seconds. Arcane Echo ends prematurely if you use a non-Spell skill. 20 2 15 Spiteful Spirit Prophecies Necromancer. Curses 16 Spiteful Spirit Elite Hex Spell For 21 seconds, whenever target foe attacks or uses a skill, Spiteful Spirit deals 37 shadow damage to that foe and all adjacent allies of that foe. 10 2 15 Necrosis Nightfall Necromancer. Sunspear rank Necrosis Spell If target foe is suffering from a Condition or Hex, that foe suffers 40..90 damage. 2 1 5 Reckless Haste Factions Necromancer. Curses 16 Reckless Haste Hex Spell For 12 seconds, target foe and all adjacent foes are Hexed with Reckless Haste. While Hexed, they attack 25% faster but have a 50% chance to miss with attacks. 12 1 15 Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Signet of Lost Souls Nightfall Necromancer. Soul Reaping 13 Signet of Lost Souls Signet If target foe is below 50% Health, you gain 88 Health and 9 Energy. 8 ¼ Template code

[edit] Optionals

Can be a combination of any of these skills, depending on what is most suitable for the area you are at.

[edit] Damage

Desecrate Enchantments extra AoE damage, useful if facing many Dervish
Defile Enchantments, same as above
Insidious Parasite additional damage for melee and bosses
Barbs if there is a Minion Master or many physicals in your party
Price of Failure extremely effective if you have a perma or stance tank
Cry of Pain with Web of Disruption for strong AoE damage and interrupts.
Pain Inverter for more single-target damage, especially bosses.
"Finish Him!" can be used with Epidemic
Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support for more single-target damage.
Mark of Pain again for massive damage with Minions in the party.

[edit] Utility

Weaken Armor useful in Hard Mode
Reckless Haste in Hard Mode if noone in the party has Aegis or Wards
Blood Ritual if the party is energy hungry
Great Dwarf Weapon if there are no other weapon spells present in the party.
Technobabble for caster hate, make interrupts easier, useful for Hard Mode
"You Move Like a Dwarf!" can be used with Epidemic, for AoE snare

[edit] Other

"By Ural's Hammer!" to boost the damage of SS to 46.
Mindbender useful faster casting for Arcane Echo + Spiteful Spirit combo
Signet of Corruption if high ranks.
Sunspear Rebirth Signet if your party is bad
Resurrection Signet if your party is worse

[edit] Equipment

• Radiant insignia on all armor.
• 2x Runes of Vitae.
• Superior Curses Rune.
• Minor Soul Reaping Rune.
• Best Rune of Vigor you can afford.
• 40/40 Curses set.
• High Energy set.

You can get a 20/20 focus from either of these collectors:

• Cinder Linnwood
• Goran Grimyak

[edit] Usage

• Be conscious of the aggro distribution around the tanking characters. The success of this build relies on proper placement of Spiteful Spirit, and poor placement can be the difference between eliminating the group and a wasted spell.
• Before battle, cast Arcane Echo.
• Choose a target and cast Spiteful Spirit. Assassins are ideal targets, due to their higher attack speed.
• Select a second nearby target and cast a second Spiteful Spirit.
• In Normal Mode, cast Reckless Haste so things attack quicker.
• In Hard Mode, cast Enfeebling Blood on mobs to reduce their damage.
• Use Signet of Lost Souls on recharge.