GW2. Best Open World Build. Celestial Harbinger Open World. Necromancer PvE.
- Boon for group events: Quickness
(Optional)
The Celestial Harbinger Open World build has the perfect balance of stats to compensate for the health loss from the Blight mechanic, which makes this specialization the riskiest version of the necromancer.
Harbingers become extremely powerful over time due to the damage modifiers that blight gives. While it is risky to have low maximum health, the tradeoff is getting incredible health regeneration, so with good positioning you can survive high-pressure situations.
The quickness provided by the elixirs does not share with allies, but with one trait change, you can passively pulse quickness to nearby players. This results in a high-value playstyle that is great for solo play for those who have their agenda but also for group content.
Because harbinger shroud is so powerful you want to spend as much time as possible in it. Using the 3 and 4 skills in Shroud while you have blight will make them do plenty of damage. Blight is generated over time while in shroud, but also by using elixirs at your feet.
Weapon Rotation:
- Pistol 2/3 > Dagger 5
- Torch 4/5 > Scepter 2/3
- Toss all Elixirs at feet
- Enter Shroud
Shroud Priority:
- Shroud 2
- Shroud 3/4
- Shroud 1
| Item | Stat | Rune / Sigil |
|---|---|---|
| Helm Celestial | ||
| Shoulders Celestial | ||
| Coat Celestial | ||
| Gloves Celestial | ||
| Leggings Celestial | ||
| Boots Celestial |
| Pistol Celestial | ||
| Dagger Celestial |
| Scepter Celestial | ||
| Torch Celestial |
| Item | Stat |
|---|---|
| Amulet Celestial | |
| Ring Celestial | |
| Ring Celestial | |
| Accessory Celestial | |
| Accessory Celestial | |
| Backpiece Celestial |
| Optional x18 |
Alternatives
- Jade Bot Core: for extra vitality
- Rune: easy option
- Food: cheap option
| Scepter / Torch | Heal / Utility / Elite |
| Pistol / Dagger | Harbinger Shroud |
Alternatives
- Harbinger: for Quickness for group events
Chat Code: (copy/paste into in-game chat)
[&DQgnPTI1QD/nGgAA+gAAAOwaAADUGgAA6BoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]Gameplay:
Credit to Lord Hizen for the video.
29 Comments
This build just makes harbinger very unappealing to play. I like the non-pet build you had up first way more!
Will add more alternatives later, after more testing
I love the look of this build! Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!
Would appreciate a non-minion build also. I find all minion builds to be over reliant on pets. It’s not a lot of fun having to constantly re-summoning pets and letting them do all the work.
Pet builds would be nicer if they looked more like zombies or something like that. Something undead rather than the strange things we summon.
Thank you, I see I’m one of the few really liking the minion build, loved the reaper days with minions, this build feels kinda the same, only this one is stronger because it’s not a melee build. But I love the mellow play style.
you’re not alone, the ones who enjoy it do so silently and the ones who are unhappy speak up, no problem though
dont listen to the people complaining about a “non-minion” build. Minions are perfectly fine, that’s the point of necro in some playstyles, u want to have pets do some work for you. Its a lazy build intentionally.
I get it they want a little more action, cuz they action junky, i mean sure a build without is ok but why not just play thief or engie if u want action am-i-rite?
Hello Vallun. Thank you for interesting build. I like it a lot, but because I am kinda new into gw2, it is hard for me to get the celestial set. I would probably try to mix some set piecies together – is there some recommendation for the stat order for pet build? Thank you.
Me personally, I love minion builds. 🙂
I love this build! I searched for days with various builds on various classes with everything feeling not quite right. This one is just a blast to play. Furthermore, my first character from those few early access days before the game went officially live is back. It’s like coming home. Thanks!
Thank you for the post. I personally enjoy minion build and during the open world, you want to be a little lazy.
Thank you for this build. I have been having so much fun running around with this clearing the maps and doing events.
I love love love this build! Minions are where it’s at for me and this makes it really fun!
Sometimes i like minions, sometimes i don’t. But i do like this minion harbinger!
i like the pet build for what it’s worth :p
Great build for open world. I have had success slamming down some champs solo with this one so it is much appreciated!
Personally for me, I’ve never played a minion build and I dont mind the change of pace with so many alts. Thanks for this!
I love GW2 but have a really hard time using my hands as well as other people. I love Minion builds as I can kind of play them well enough to enjoy a lot of the game. I’m looking forward to trying the Harbinger! Thank you!
Did the build change? I thought this was a minion harbinger build which now has no minions nor traits to support minion?
yes it changed, the original minion master harbinger was based off of a misinformed idea that quickness on minions makes them attack faster, it only does so to a minimal effect. In reality a minion reaper is a much better choice for that kind of playstyle, so we offer that build instead. If you want a minion harbinger you can just copy the minion reaper and add the harbinger componenets to it
Is there a certain reason why you chose cele gear?
Really liking this build. I’m still transitioning all my gear to celestial and I don’t have the right runes yet (tormenting are 6g each!), but even then it’s nice. It feels like a bit less damage than a pure power or condi build, even with my odd mismatched gear, but the damage seems to be more even and realistically attainable in actual scenarios.
And, the survivability compared to those two, even without the runes of tormenting, is an insane plus.
too squishy (no armor or shields), no vigor at all (so no evades), no teleport skills, complicated rotation (constant swaps + form), if there is lots of adds (in DLC areas especially) – you are dead, because even 5% leech from DOTs aint enough when everyone starts shooting at you. Sometimes even several vets are danger to you! And still worse than power Mech with 1 button spam. It seems it’s not build is bad, it’s class is meh atm.
You can’t use Torch with Harbinger, Torch requires Scourge.
You need Secrets of the Obscure expansion to obtain Weapon Master and you will be able to use weapons from other specialization.
What would be the alternative if you dont own Secrets of the Obscure? Weapon and also Relic are exclusive…
You can take Warhorn or Dagger off-hand instead Torch, and as relic not many are good alternative so maybe try Aristocracy.
I run celestial gear harbinger bbm
Blood bbt
Curses bbb
With spear and sword sword
Rune of the trapper.
You end up with 15k shield almost all the time survivability is insane damage is still real good