User:Silvynx/Guide to Budget Raid Builds

WIP

The purpose of this guide is to provide cheaper alternatives to the meta builds for raids that are easier for newer players to acquire. These builds were created using the following rules:

• No crafting required
• Stat selectable ascended trinkets may be used
• Anything other than trinkets is limited to exotic rarity and can be found on the trading post (with the exception of dungeon runes)
• Stay similar to the meta build when possible for ease of upgrading
• No writs
• Final build will cost less than 15g total

Gearing

These are a few recommendations for obtaining cheap gear and finding stat selectable options. If you want a more comprehensive overview consider checking out Tanetris's gear guide, or using the Equipment query.

Trinkets

The easiest and most repeatable method of acquiring trinkets is purchasing ascended versions with living world currency and unbound magic/volatile magic, and this is the method that the guide will use by default. If you don't have living world but do have End of Dragons, you can also get one exotic amulet, ring, and accessory per elite specialization you unlock. The amulet requires roughly 8g worth of materials, the ring 3.5g of research notes, and the accessory is functionally free. If you can complete a collection and then complete the Harvest Temple strike with that class you can purchase an ascended ring and accessory for 1g and 30 green prophet shards, and after a second clear you can purchase an amulet for the same. Core stats (most notably berserker) can also be purchased for laurels. Some stats can also be found on the trading post or from particular achievements.

Armor

When looking for core stats on the TP, be sure to search by stats rather than using the search bar. The former will show you cheap Named armor (such as Zhed's Mask for …), while the latter will show the more expensive crafted versions (Berserker's Exalted Masque for …).

For non-core stats you will generally want to look for stat-selectable items. Bladed armor is farmable for airship parts, you can purchase all but the chest piece from the Itzel vendor. Runic armor from Icebrood Saga strikes can be purchased for karma and blue prophet shards if you have cleared the strikes at least once. Purchasable options include the Ice Golem's Maw Box for helms (or Blood Legion Soldier Helm Box for Charr characters), and the Shoulders of the Ebon Vanguard Choice Chest. There are also several stat selectable items available through achievements and WvW/PvP rewards.

Benchmarks

Each build will have an estimated benchmark so it can be compared against the meta build. Keep in mind these benchmarks are just that, estimates, and have not been physically Benched. The estimates are generated using Discretize's Gear Optimizer. If you are using exotic trinkets instead of ascended, you can expect a roughly 4% decrease in benchmark.

Builds

Engineer

Power Holosmith
Weapons
Prefix	Type	Item	TP	Sigil	TP
Berserker	Sword	Twin Sisters	…	Superior Sigil of Force	*
	Shield	Kryta's Embrace	…	Superior Sigil of Serpent Slaying	…
Armor
Prefix	Type	Item	TP	Rune	TP
Berserker	Helm	Nika's Mask	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
	Shoulders	Nika's Pauldrons	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
	Chest	Nika's Coat	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
	Gloves	Nika's Gloves	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
	Leggings	Nika's Leggings	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
	Boots	Nika's Boots	…	Superior Rune of the Flame Legion	…
Trinkets				Consumables
Prefix	Type	Prefix	Type	Food	TP
Berserker	Backpack	Berserker	Accessory	Plate of Spicy Moa Wings	…

Snowcrows Build

Beginner rotation guide

Notes

• Twin Sisters comes slotted with a Force sigil

How to upgrade

If you have spare cash, the following steps will have the greatest dps boost for their cost

• Replace Flame Legion runes with Scholar
• Replace Slaying Sigil with Impact
• Upgrade the sword to ascended
  • The Cutting Edge, Warpblade, and Purifier are cheap collection options