Build:Herald - Power DPS (2024)

This build was last updated on April 30, 2024 and is up to date for the March 19, 2024 patch.

Overview

A power DPS build for Herald. One of the very first raid DPS builds in the Heart of Thorns era, this build has now returned to viability. Its ability to provide good sustained damage, very good CC and Vulnerability, while supporting your whole squad with a variety of boons, life-siphon and extra boon duration makes Power Herald an extremely helpful addition for every encounter.

While not being the best choice in most encounters, this build is easy to play and is able to sustain itself very well, making it a good build for beginners.

Skill Bar

• Bring a Staff instead of a Greatsword to provide access to incredible CC.

Template Code

Specializations

Trait Variants

• Use Incensed Response if your other supports are unable to keep your might uptime capped.
• Use Rapid Flow if you have another party member providing protection.
• Consider using Draconic Echo instead of Forceful Persistence if your party is desperate for extra might and fury generation. Making this change will significantly reduce your personal damage output but is better for the group if there are no better sources of boons.
• Use Core Value if extra boon removal is needed.

Equipment

Equipment Variants

• Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar is a tiny DPS loss.
• The Dragon stats piece is entirely optional and could be replaced with Berserker stats.
• You can swap the Sigil of Superior Sigil of Air for a Sigil of Superior Sigil of Impact if playing an encounter where the boss can be Stunned.

Consumables

Food

• or ascended versions
• Recommended Budget-Food: or

Utility

Usage

• You will spend most of the time in Sword/Sword as it is by far your strongest damaging weapon set.
• Try to maintain Facet of Nature as long as possible.
• In the order that you should use them, CC-Skills are: Chaotic Release, Surge of the Mists and Jade Winds.
  • Jade Winds should only be used as a last resort as the large energy cost will heavily impact your ability to do damage.

Greatsword Rotation

Opener

Start on Greatsword and Legendary Dragon Stance with Facet of Nature active.

1. Activate Facet of Strength + Facet of Elements + Facet of Darkness
2. Eternity's Requiem
3. Burst of Strength
4. Activate Facet of Chaos
5. Elemental Blast
6. Mist Unleashed
7. Phantom's Onslaught
8. Chaotic Release
9. Legendary Assassin Stance

Legendary Assassin Stance

1. Impossible Odds
2. Auto-attack while using Mist Unleashed off cooldown. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
3. If Eternity's Requiem will come off cooldown while you're on Legendary Assassin Stance, only use Mist Unleashed once and use Eternity's Requiem when it's available.
4. Legendary Dragon Stance as soon as it's available

Legendary Dragon Stance

1. Activate Facet of Strength, Facet of Elements and Facet of Darkness
2. Burst of Strength
3. Elemental Blast
4. Auto-attack while using Mist Unleashed, Phantom's Onslaught and Eternity's Requiem off cooldown. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
5. Activate Facet of Chaos as soon as its available
6. Chaotic Release after the next use of Mist Unleashed
7. Continue Auto-attacking until Facet of Strength and Facet of Elements are available. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
8. Facet of Strength ⇒ Burst of Strength
9. Facet of Elements ⇒ Elemental Blast
10. Legendary Assassin Stance
11. Return to start of Legendary Assassin Stance

Video example

Sword Rotation

Opener

Start on Sword/Sword and Legendary Dragon Stance with Facet of Nature active.

1. Activate Facet of Strength + Facet of Elements + Facet of Darkness
2. Elemental Blast
3. Burst of Strength
4. Activate Facet of Chaos
5. Chilling Isolation
6. Shackling Wave
7. Deathstrike
8. Chaotic Release
9. Legendary Assassin Stance

Legendary Assassin Stance

1. Impossible Odds
2. Auto-attack while using Chilling Isolation off cooldown. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
3. Legendary Dragon Stance as soon as it's available

Legendary Dragon Stance

1. Activate Facet of Strength, Facet of Elements and Facet of Darkness
2. Elemental Blast
3. Burst of Strength
4. Auto-attack while using Chilling Isolation off cooldown. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
5. Activate Facet of Chaos as soon as its available
6. Continue Auto-attacking until Facet of Strength and Facet of Elements are nearly available. Make sure to finish your auto chains.
7. Shackling Wave
8. Deathstrike
9. Chaotic Release
10. Facet of Elements ⇒ Elemental Blast
11. Facet of Strength ⇒ Burst of Strength
12. Legendary Assassin Stance
13. Return to start of Legendary Assassin Stance

Video example

Notes

• Try to not interrupt your auto-attack chain - much of the damage from it is loaded onto the final strike.
• Only swap to staff if breakbar contribution is needed - staff has no strong damaging skills so swapping to it is a major damage loss.
• Facet of Nature should always be maintained, so make sure to swap legends before your energy drains completely.
  • If boon strip is required, you can activate it while in Assassin stance for the boon strip from True Nature (Assassin).