Condition Harbinger

October 2024

Introduction

Condition Harbinger is a strong -based DPS build.

Unlike Death Shroud, Harbinger Shroud does not protect the Harbinger’s health pool while it is active. Harbinger benefits from self-inflicted stacks by utilizing Shroud skills that consume in exchange for more damage.

This build uses a Jade Bot Core: Tier 10 to gain extra Expertise via Dark Gunslinger. If you are not using a Jade Bot Core: Tier 10, you will see a small DPS loss.

Build Fundamentals

Use Harbinger Shroud, Elixir of Promise and Elixir of Anguish to gain stacks of . You gain 2 stacks of every second while in Harbinger Shroud.

To utilize your stacks, use Voracious Arc and Devouring Cut in Harbinger Shroud. If you have more than 5 stacks of , these skills will consume that to apply extra .

Use Deathly Swarm to transfer the self-inflicted conditions from Blood Is Power. Be quick, or else your teammates will cleanse your conditions before you can transfer them to the enemy. In some encounters, like Xunlai Jade Junkyard, it’s better to delay using Plague Signet until you receive multiple damaging conditions from the enemy to increase DPS.

Always use Elixir of Ambition while above 10 stacks of , as this doubles the duration of the conditions it applies to enemies! Generally, Harbinger Shroud and your basic Elixirs generate enough  that meeting this threshold isn’t an issue, but be careful during your opener and any phase transitions.

Build Specifics

On Pistol, use Weeping Shots twice before weapon swapping or re-entering Harbinger Shroud; once at the start of the loop and once at the end.

If you have 2 charges of Blood Is Power, use both charges before transferring the conditions to maximize DPS. You can typically fill the downtime between casts with another skill by following this sequence: Blood Is Power Vile Blast Blood Is Power Plague Signet.

Elixir of Ambition gives you every boon in the game, including , , and . While it’s never worth delaying this skill for this benefit, sometimes it will align nicely with a mechanic and allow you to block or ignore an important attack.

Tainted Bolts shoots 2 projectiles per skill use, and can be canceled resulting in a small DPS loss. When you want to do 4 Auto-attack chains in your Shroud loop, you should see 8 projectiles.

While in Harbinger Shroud, your life bar decreases for each stack of . At 25 stacks you lose 37.5% of your maximum health (level 80 stats), making you much more vulnerable to dangerous attacks from multiple bosses. Sometimes may not be enough to prevent you from going down, so you might want to consider delaying or adapting the rotation to the fight by using Voracious Arc and Devouring Cut to consume and gain back a portion of your maximum health.

Crowd Control

• Vile Blast
• Voracious Arc
• Vital Draw
• Wail of Doom

Alternatives

Skills

Elixir of Anguish and Plague Signet can be replaced with the following skills, supporting your team when needed. If you replace Plague Signet, use Deathly Swarm to send conditions to your enemies.

• Spectral Grasp – for CC or add control.
• Epidemic – for cleave.
• Corrosive Poison Cloud – to block projectiles.
• Corrupt Boon – for boonstrips on demand.
• Summon Flesh Wurm – for some niche cases. For example, this can help defend a friendly Reaper from adds while fighting Dhuum.