Build:Team - 7 Hero Dual Ritualist Melee Support

7 Hero team composition to support a melee player suitable for general HM content. Intended for players without access to Mercenary Heroes or Zei Ri. Blood is Power fuels the mesmer midline while a Soul Twisting ritualist provides party-wide protection. A second ritualist instead of a third mesmer (due to hero limitations) provides more powerful melee support capabilities.

ESurge (2)
[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][Optional][Power Drain][Flesh of My Flesh][/build] Variable Skill Slot Equipment
 * on one mesmer
 * on the other
 * Rune of Superior Vigor
 * Rune of Attunement
 * 5 Prodigy's Insignias
 * 40/40 Domination Magic

BSurge Command
[build prof=e/p Air=12+1+3 Energy=9+1 Command=9][Blinding Surge][Chain Lightning][Lightning Strike][Shock Arrow][Shell Shock][Air Attunement]["Stand Your Ground!"]["Fall Back!"][/build] Variant Equipment
 * over
 * Rune of Superior Vigor
 * Two runes of Vitae
 * 5 Blessed Insignias
 * 40/40 Air Magic

Variable Hero
Minion masters provide more direct damage through a minion army, and are thus preferred for general gameplay:

However, in areas devoid of corpses, or if one prefers to play without minions, a Thunderclap elementalist can be run instead:

Soul Twisting Prot
[build prof=rt/mo commun=12+1+3 spawn=10+3 smiting=8][soul twisting][shelter][union][displacement][armor of unfeeling][boon of creation][Smite Hex][Strength of Honor][/build] Equipment
 * Rune of Superior Vigor
 * 2 Runes of Vitae
 * 5 Blessed Insignias
 * +60 HP staff

BiP Resto
[build prof=N/Rt resto=12 blood=10+1+2 soul=8+2][blood is power][blood bond][signet of lost souls][spirit transfer][mend body and soul][spirit light][protective was kaolai][life][/build] Equipment
 * Rune of Superior Vigor
 * Rune of Attunement
 * 5 Tormentor's Insignias
 * 40/20/20 Restoration Magic staff

SoS
The decision to run two Restoration Magic healers versus one Resto and one Prot is up to player preference. Restoration magic provides more direct and party healing, and is thus favorable in areas with heavy degeneration or area of effect damage. Protection prayers is preferred in scenarios in which the player is expected to tank a large share of the damage, such as with aggressive playstyles or when frequently employing tactics such as cornerblocking.

Usage

 * Hero AI mode:
 * Set backline heroes to guard Guard.png
 * Set midline heroes to fight Fight.png
 * Micro the Soul Twisting Prot to maintain [[Strength of Honor@8] on you.
 * 1) Invite the hero to your party.
 * 2) Click on the number next to the hero in the party window. This opens the hero control panel.
 * 3) Hold down left shift and left click once on strength of honour. A red crossed circle shows that it is disabled.
 * 4) Target yourself (standard hotkey: F) and left click once on strength of honour. The hero will now cast the enchantment on you and maintain it.
 * 5) Repeat step 4 if the enchantment gets removed in combat.
 * Advanced users can set a custom hotkey for Action: Order Hero # to use Skill # in the controls options to force heroes to use certain skills. If playing a melee frequently it is recommended to make such hotkeys for both strength of honour and [[Splinter Weapon@16].


 * Before starting a particularly difficult fight, you can force the communing prot to use [[Shelter@16]↦[[Union@16]→[[Displacement@16]⇥[[Armor of Unfeeling@16] so your team is fully protected right away.
 * If you're afraid of area damage, you can also flag the heroes apart. It is recommended to place them in a single line, so heroes won't push forward to get into casting range of foes and thus ball with the heroes in front of them again.
 * Natively only the first three heroes can be commanded individually. For the remaining four heroes you need to set up custom hotkeys in the controls option for Action: Command Hero #.

Exemplary Video
Test run of Vloxen Excavations