Overview
| Up-to-date | updated for the 4/15/2025 patch |
|---|---|
| Template Code | [&DQEQPyo6GzkmDyYPihJIAUgBLQH+ALkBtRI3AQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACMgAjAAA=] |
| Conditions |
|
| Role |
|
| Synergy | average |
|---|---|
| DPS | high |
| Independence | average |
| Acquiring basics | easy |
| Achieving mastery | difficult |
Power Dragonhunter is a high-burst DPS class for fractals. It provides medium defiance bar damage (CC), high amounts of vulnerability through , and good defensive capabilities through and . At the cost of personal DPS, it can access Guardian's strong supportive utilities, such as , , and .
It also has a decent toolkit for skips in Tier 4 fractals with multiple leaps and teleports (, , , ).
Due to its bursty nature, Power Dragonhunter is reliant on fast CC and short phases in order to reach its full potential. The build benefits from slaying potions and slaying sigils such as and .
Before progressing to the advanced version of this page, we recommend acquiring an in-depth understanding of your CC skills and when to use them efficiently. You should be able to hit consistently high DPS, which you can verify with arc-dps. And finally, you should be able to execute the basic step-by-step rotation provided below without spending too much thought on it.
The advanced page provides a more complete overview of all the utilities the Guardian has to offer. If you ever feel like you are missing information feel free to already swap to the advanced page!
Although this build lists 150 Agony Resistance, it is not a strict requirement! We recommend getting started with this build anyway - even if it might be suboptimal while being in Tier 1 or 2 fractals. Keep upgrading your Agony Resistance until you reach the suggested variant. In the beginning, it is much more important to learn about fractal mechanics and your skills rather than equipping optimal gear.
Equipment
Check the gear optimizer for more gear variants!
Build
Traits
Radiance
Zeal
Dragonhunter
CC Skills
| Skill | Damage |
|---|---|
| 150 damage | |
| (Hunters Mark effect) | 200 damage |
| 150 damage | |
| 300 damage | |
| (after ) | 150 damage |
| (after ) | 150 damage |
| 150 damage | |
| 200 damage |
Weapon Variations
Dragonhunter has a choice between using Spear or Longbow in fights, with each having benefits and drawbacks in certain situations.
- Spear - Offers high burst and is typically your standard choice for most fractal encounters. Its downside is having less CC than Longbow and it also requires you to permanently be in melee distance from bosses.
- Longbow - Offers ranged abilities with more CC. Over a long phase it will deal more damage than spear.
Situational Skills
You should drop first.
| When Stability or a stunbreak is needed. | |
| Deals an additional 200 defiance bar damage. | |
| When Aegis is needed. | |
| A stationary reflect lasting for 8 seconds. | |
| When extra Quickness or Fury is needed. | |
| Huge CC and projectile destruction. |
Rotation / Skill Usage
Golem rotations out of the raid builds are generally suboptimal in fractals due to Exposed and phases being much shorter compared to raids. The raid rotations are optimized for sustained DPS while in fractals a player needs the ability to adapt their rotation to the amount of time a group needs to finish a phase.
For that reason, you will find some general notes for skill usage here.
For that reason, you will find some general notes for skill usage here.
Step-by-Step Rotation
Step 1: Sword of Justice + Trap
Start with and .
- and both have a wind up time before dealing all their damage. Use them at the start of your opener to maximize your burst.
- has 3 charges. The other charges can be used later in the rotation as filler.
Step 2: Longbow skills
Next, use (LB4), (LB5), and (LB2).
- is easy to cancel by queuing your next skill too early. Be careful not to cancel it with .
- (LB3) is a CC skill. Use it to deal breakbar damage to bosses or when knockback is needed.
The opener should now look like this:
Step 3: Greatsword Skills
From here on, cast (GS4) and (GS2) off-cooldown.
- has a very long aftercast which can be cancelled to save time. This can be done by moving or stowing weapon after the symbol is placed.
- fires additional damaging projectiles outwards. Try to stand inside the boss' hitbox so that these projectiles don't miss.
The opener should now look like this:
- Swap to Greatsword
Step 4: Additional Greatsword Skills
(GS5) and (GS3) can add additional damage or utility depending on the context.
- fires projectiles at up to 5 nearby enemies. The skill can be recast to pull in hit enemies, or to deal breakbar damage to bosses.
- If standing inside a boss' hitbox, additional projectiles from will all hit the boss, dealing massive single-target damage.
- can be saved for mobility in fights with movement.
- If no above situations apply, and provide a moderate dps increase over auto attacking. Weave them in after and .
The opener should now look like this:
- Swap to Greatsword
Step-by-Step Video
This video shows the step-by-step approach to the rotation.
Improving Further
Once you are comfortable with the above steps, you will have the general concept down. Additional tips can be found on the advanced page if you wish to improve further.
For now, try to:
- Employ weapon swap in fights with long phases, usually after using / twice on their respective weapon sets.
- Make use of your CC skills to break boss bars faster
- Start thinking about phase times and how to fit the maximum amount of damage in before the boss dies/goes invulnerable
Underwater combat
It is very much recommended to play Condi Firebrand since it provides much better DPS underwater compared to Power Dragonhunter. If you still want to play Power Dragonhunter for whatever reason follow these rough guidelines.
- Open with for Resolution
- Cast and swap to spear. Camp spear now.
- Priority list:
- (Spear 2)
- (Spear 4)
- (Spear 3)