Non-Conformist Build Wars

This is a Warrior build using Illusionary Weaponry and Signet of Stamina to make a very survivable, high damage attacker. I specifically made this build for Alliance Battles, but I plan to make a version of it for Random Arena. If I like the result I’ll post that too.

Signet of Stamina normally ends whenever you hit with an attack, but Illusionary Weaponry essentially makes all of your attacks not hit, your target just takes damage. This means that Signet of Stamina will give you a permanent 283 extra health that can’t be removed in any way. As long as you keep Illusionary Weaponry up, it won’t ever drop.

I use Burst of Aggression in this build for an attack speed increase. You can also use Flurry, which is permanent unlike Burst of Aggression. I prefer Burst of Aggression because even though it isn’t up all the time, it lasts for 9 seconds instead of 5, which means I don’t have to use it as often. It’s also only down for 3 seconds, which isn’t a big deal. Use whichever one you prefer for your play style.

Another thing I should note is that the key skills in this build are Illusionary Weaponry, Signet of Stamina, Burst of Aggression, Sprint and Ether Feast. The other skills can be easily replaced. I use I Will Avenge You! because of the large number of corpses in Alliance Battles. In other formats it would not be as useful.

Usage:
Always maintain Signet of Stamina. Once cast it will not have to be recast unless you hit with an attack or die. Keep Illusionary Weaponry up at all times while in combat. If someone has enchantment strip, just retreat until someone else deals with them. Use Burst of Aggression as much as possible while fighting, it will vastly increase your damage output.

Use Sprint to get around the map and catch fleeing opponents. Make sure to keep in mind that Sprint and Burst of Aggression are both stances, so you can’t use them at the same time.

Ether Feast is your heal. Use I Will Survive! if you’re getting a lot of condition pressure and I Will Avenge You! if there are a large number of allied corpses around you. Use Shield Bash when dealing with melee attackers, especially Assassins. This is a very simple build to play, as you will do all of your damage by just auto-attacking.

Items:
Use a sword or an axe because of their high attack speeds. The damage of your weapon and it’s requirements do not matter because Illusionary Weaponry replaces all of that while it’s active.

For weapon modifiers, use things that do not have to do with the weapon actually hitting as IW will negate this as well. I Have The Power! is a good choice for an inscription. There really isn’t a sword hilt that’s useful for this build, but there are two that are negative. Do not use zealous of vampiric sword hilts as they will only give you their negative effect. For a sword pommel I would suggest a Sword Pommel of Enchanting, as this will allow you to go longer without recasting Illusionary Weaponry.

Use a strength shield with a Shield Handle of Devotion. There isn’t a shield inscription that I really like for this build, so I would suggest one of the ones that reduce condition length. Blind will not affect you and Weakness will only reduce your attributes by 1, it won't affect your damage, so I’d suggest Cripple or Deep Wound.

Your armor should have a Strength head piece with a Superior Strength Rune (The benefit this gives to Signet of Stamina will actually outweigh the -75 hp). All pieces should have Survivor Insignias and Runes of Attunement. Swap one Rune of Attunement for a Rune of Superior Vigor if you have it. I would suggest doing this swap on your chest armor and giving it a Radiant Insignia to make up for the lost Rune of Attunement.

IW Warrior
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Warrior/Mesmer
Level: 20
Strength: 14 (10+4)
Illusion Magic: 12
Inspiration Magic: 8

- Illusionary Weaponry [Elite] (Illusion Magic)
For 30 seconds, you deal no damage in melee, but whenever you attack in melee, target foe takes 34 damage.
Energy:15 Cast:1 Recharge:25

- Signet of Stamina (Strength)
You have +283 maximum Health. This Signet ends if you successfully hit with an attack.
Energy:0 Cast:0.25 Recharge:20

- Burst of Aggression (Strength)
For 9 seconds, you attack 33% faster. When this Stance ends, you lose all adrenaline.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:12

- Sprint (Strength)
For 14 seconds, you move 25% faster.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:15

- “I Will Avenge You!” (Strength)
For each dead ally, you gain 10 seconds of +7 Health regeneration and your attack speed increases by 25%.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:45

- “I Will Survive!” (Strength)
You gain +3 Health regeneration for each condition you are suffering. This regeneration expires after 11 seconds.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:30

- Ether Feast (Inspiration Magic)
Target foe loses 3 Energy. You are healed 36 for each point of Energy lost.
Energy:5 Cast:1 Recharge:8

- Shield Bash (Strength)
For 11 seconds, while wielding a shield, the next attack skill used against you is blocked. If it was a melee skill, your attacker is knocked down and that skill is disabled for an additional 15 seconds.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:20