User:Houroftheowl/NewMeleeSupport

This is a balanced setup for use with melee players. It provides very strong spikes and decent ability to push kills thanks to a mesmer midline. Blood is Power is used to consolidate the energy management of the team, freeing up skill slots to be used for more offense and support. Note that this team is intended to comfortably and efficiently complete missions, dungeons, and vanquishes - for elite areas, it is highly recommended to modify the builds.

Player

 * Should be a melee build; Dagger spammer is a solid build that can be easily translated to any profession.
 * If you prefer to play ranged, try the caster variant.
 * Since these heroes have no source of Deep Wound, such a skill can be a valuable addition to the player bar.

ESurge 1
[build prof=me/Mo dom=12+1+3 fast=8+2 smiting=10][energy surge][cry of frustration][mistrust][unnatural signet][shatter hex][Spiritual Pain][Strength of Honor][Resurrection Signet][/build] Equipment
 * Insignias: Full Radiant. Prodigy's if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Domination set.

ESurge Inspiration
[build prof=me/rt dom=12+1+3 fast=11+2 insp=6+1 resto=2][energy surge][cry of frustration][mistrust][unnatural signet][shatter hex][Drain Enchantment][Power Drain][Flesh of my Flesh][/build] Equipment
 * Swap in for really difficult areas/quests that may need more enemy shutdown. (DoA/UW/WoC for example)
 * Insignias: Full Radiant. Prodigy's if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Domination set.

ESurge Illusion
[build prof=me dom=12+1+3 illusion=9+1 fast=9+1][Energy Surge][Cry of Frustration][mistrust][Unnatural Signet][Shatter Hex][signet of clumsiness][Wandering Eye][Arcane Conundrum][/build] Equipment Variant
 * Insignias: Full Radiant. Prodigy's if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Domination set.
 * For a more aggressive setup, change Illusion to 10+2 and Fast Casting to 8+2. This improves the Illusion skills by ~15% at the cost of 70 health.

BiP Resto
[build prof=N/Rt resto=12 blood=9+1+3 soul=8+1 curses=5+1][blood is power][signet of lost souls][blood bond][life][mend body and soul][protective was kaolai][spirit light][Enfeebling Blood][/build] Equipment
 * Insignias: Full Radiant. Herald's if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Restoration set is optimal, though the hero will be holding PwK the majority of the time.

ST Ritualist
[build prof=rt/p commun=12+1+3 spawn=10+3 channeling=8+2][soul twisting][shelter][displacement][union][armor of unfeeling][spirit's gift][Splinter Weapon][boon of creation][/build] Equipment
 * Insignias: Full Radiant. Blessed if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection. Blessed over Shaman's because the additional protection provided by the insignias is insignificant while the defensive spirits are active.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 60 HP/20% HCT Spawning Power Staff. Using a spear will cause the hero to run closer to enemies than the rest of the heroes due to lower range and "Avoid Combat" may also cause it to run closer to enemies when trying to kite melee.

BSurge
[build prof=E/Rt air=12+1+3 energy=8+1 restoration=10][Blinding Surge][Chain Lightning][Lightning Strike][Air Attunement][mend body and soul][protective was kaolai][spirit light][Shell Shock][/build] Equipment
 * Replace with  for areas where more healing is required.
 * Insignias: Full Survivor.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Vitae on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Air Magic set.

MM Command
[build prof=n/P death=12+1+3 soul=9+1 Command=9][Masochism@12][Signet of Lost Souls@12][animate bone fiend@18][putrid explosion@18][Putrid Bile@18]["Incoming!"]["Fall Back!"][Resurrection Signet][/build] Equipment


 * Insignias: 1x Bloodstained on head/gloves/shoes, Radiant on rest. Minion Master's if more defense is preferred, but normally unneeded with ST Ritualist protection.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Attunement on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Death Magic set.

Invoke Command
In the handful of areas with very few available corpses or extreme counters to minions, you can replace the MM with another elementalist: [build prof=E/P air=12+1+3 energy=9+1 command=9][Invoke Lightning][Arc Lightning][Lightning Strike][Air Attunement][Glyph of Elemental Power]["Find Their Weakness!"]["Fall Back!"]["We Shall Return!"][/build] Equipment
 * Insignias: Full Survivor.
 * Runes: Appropriate attribute runes, best Vigor affordable, Vitae on rest.
 * Weapons: 40/40 Air Magic set.

Usage

 * Disable Strength of Honor and micro it on yourself, as well as a melee summon if you have one.
 * Micro the ST to place spirits ahead of dangerous encounters.
 * Micro the ST to place spirits ahead of dangerous encounters.

6-man areas
In areas with a smaller party size, kick the BSurge and MM. Change the Me/Rt to this: [build prof=me/p dom=12+1+3 fast=8+2 command=9 inspiration=5+1][Energy Surge][Cry of Frustration][mistrust][Unnatural Signet][Shatter Hex][Drain Enchantment]["Fall Back!"][Power Drain][/build]

Change the BiP to this: [build prof=N/Rt resto=12 blood=9+1+3 soul=9+1][blood is power][signet of lost souls][blood bond][life][mend body and soul][protective was kaolai][spirit light][Death Pact Signet][/build]

If you prefer to keep 2 copies of "Fall Back!", also change the Me/Mo to this: [build prof=me/p dom=12+1+3 fast=9+2 command=9][Energy Surge][Cry of Frustration][mistrust][Unnatural Signet][Shatter Hex][Spiritual Pain]["Fall Back!"][Resurrection Signet][/build]

Nightfall Mission Heroes
People often ask what heroes they should swap out when a mission requires a specific hero, and which build to run on that hero. The following builds are made specifically for those missions, while also keeping in mind that people usually don't bother with equipping them and that the other bars don't need any change. Unless otherwise noted, these heroes can replace the MM.

Koss
[build prof=W/A Tactics=12+1+3 Sword=10+1 Strength=8+1]["Charge!"]["Watch Yourself!"][Barbarous Slice][Gash][Savage Slash][To the Limit!][Sun and Moon Slash][Resurrection Signet][/build]

Melonni
[build prof=D/? Scythe=10+1 EarthP=12+1+3 Mysti=8+1][Vow of Strength][Sand Shards][Radiant Scythe][Heart of Fury][Mystic Regeneration][Lyssa's Assault][Heart of Holy Flame][Reap Impurities][/build]

Margrid the Sly
[build prof=R/Me Inspiration=12 Domination=12 Wild=3+1+1][Tease][Cry of Frustration][Leech Signet][Unnatural Signet][Power Drain][Power Spike][Serpent's Quickness][Resurrection Signet][/build]


 * Replaces the Me/Rt ESurge

General Morgahn
[build prof=P/N Spear=8+1 Leadership=9+1 Command=11+1+3 Blood=8][Aggressive Refrain][Blood is Power]["Help Me!"]["Go for the Eyes!"][Hexbreaker Aria]["Stand Your Ground!"]["Never Surrender!"]["We Shall Return!"][/build]
 * Bring on the necro BiP.

Dunkoro/Tahlkora
[build prof=Mo/P Smiting=12+4 Divine=3+1 Command=12]["Stand Your Ground!"][Smite Condition][Judge's Intervention][Castigation Signet][Smite Hex]["Incoming!"]["Fall Back!"][Resurrection Signet][/build]
 * If you don't mind manually tweaking a hero, replace with, and replace that on the mesmer with , putting all the spare attribute points into Fast Casting. Such a minor change is probably not worth the effort for those few missions, though.