Condition Virtuoso

July 2023

Introduction

Low-Intensity Condition Virtuoso is a powerful DPS build that is perfect for players struggling with high APM (actions per minute). Since this build’s damage is almost exclusively ranged, it can sustain high damage uptime, even on mobile enemies.

It is difficult to min-max this build due to the rare combination of Precision and Bleeding duration, but it’s really not that sensitive to gear shifts. You will perform adequately with full Viper’s as well as with multiple combinations of Sinister/Rampager’s/Viper’s gear.

Note: The downside of the Chaos variant is the fact it requires Regeneration for highest DPS due to bonuses from Chaotic Persistence and Illusionary Membrane. Make sure you are in a subgroup with a healer that can maintain this buff.

Build Fundamentals

Stock up Blades by applying Bleeding with Dagger skills. Once 5 Blades are ready, alternate between using Bladesong Sorrow and Bladesong Harmony to deal more damage. Use Bladeturn Requiem if the other Shatters are on cooldown while you have 5 Blades.

Build Specifics

Dagger doesn’t have Auto-attack chains, which means you can use everything off-cooldown. Keep generating your blades with Bladecall and Unstable Bladestorm, and when available, with Thousand Cuts and Rain of Swords.

Timing your Shatters carefully can increase damage. Space them out to keep Deadly Blades up at all times. A good way to learn how to do this is to align your shatters with Bladecall, which has the same 5-second cooldown.

To lower the stress and APM of this build, you don’t have to use any offhand skills, but having Focus and Sword are good choices for some utility and CC. As a default though, we recommend Torch for a small DPS increase from The Prestige.

Bladesong Distortion can also be used as another way to upkeep Deadly Blades, but it is also a fantastic emergency button that makes you invulnerable, granting you the ability to ignore many high-damage abilities.

Crowd Control

CC lies in your offhand weapons: We strongly recommend bringing at least Focus as Temporal Curtain also has huge utility potential.

• Bladesong Dissonance
• Illusionary Riposte (Sword offhand)
• Temporal Curtain (Focus offhand)
• Phantasmal Mage (Torch offhand)
• Signet of Humility – replace Thousand Cuts with this if you want more CC.
• Signet of Domination – lowest priority, as it results in a decent DPS loss.

Alternatives

Traits

This variant has some freedom when it comes to trait choices in the Chaos trait line which makes it possible to pick Master of Manipulation or Bountiful Disillusionment.

Weapons

Phantasms are not improved by any traits and are not worth using. That makes your offhand almost optional, so choose whatever benefits you most in the current fight. If you need or want to, you can swap out both offhands, as losing The Prestige won’t affect your DPS much.

• Sword: for block and CC from Illusionary Riposte
• Focus: for ranged pull with Temporal Curtain
• Pistol: for bouncing CC from Magic Bullet
• Torch: if you need Stealth, condition cleanse, or a blast finisher from The Prestige with a small CC from Phantasmal Mage

Skills

Rain of Swords is your weakest skill and can be swapped out for:

• Blink – for personal mobility
• Portal Entre – for group mobility
• Feedback – for projectile reflection
• Mantra of Concentration – if your group is lacking Stability

If you absolutely need to replace a second utility skill, replace Signet of Domination before Signet of Midnight.