Guide:Starting HA

Starting a Heroes Ascent and get r6 rank to HoM seems nigh impossible today for new players. Party search is full of GLF r9/12+ and there's really nothing that they can do about it. Here's a quick guide how to achieve your first ranks of Hero Title.

Setting up
If you are sure that you have unlocked all the equipment & skills that you will need, download the appropriate codes on this Equipment Template code page.


 * 1) First, create a PvP character - this allows easy access to all your unlocked skills and free equipment. Then the first question usually is: but what profession? ...Basically create an Elementalist since they're pretty easy to learn. What next?
 * 2) Obtain voice communication. Go to google and then download and install Teamspeak 3 and Ventrilo. This will prepare you for later on where every team will ask you to have one of them. You don't need a microphone at this point - headphones should be more than enough.
 * 3) Equipment:
 * 4) Caster Sets:
 * 5) * Unlock the following modifiers: "Aptitude not Attitude" inscription and a wrapping of memory for wands. "Forget Me Not" and a focus core of swiftness for focii. A focus and wand set with those modifiers is called a "40/40" set (because you have two chances for each 20% to trigger).
 * 6) * Unlock the "Serenity Now" inscription for wands and "Live for Today" incription for focii. Use the wand wrapping and focus core from the previous weaponset. This new set is called a "30/-2" or "High energy" set. You will need it to switch to whenever your energy is close to 0 - switch back to another weaponset after casting so that you will regain your usual energy regeneration.
 * 7) Defensive Sets:
 * 8) *Use a Spear with a furious head, +5 energy inscription and either armor + 5 or health +30 grip. To go with the spear we will use a variety of shields.
 * 9) *Create a r9 command +30hp inscription +10armor vs slashing damage shield. It's the most important shield. Dye it grey. Then, untick the box "Equip now" in the left down corner of your equipment-creating window, and create these shields (all r9 command +30hp):
 * 10) *#+10 vs piercing damage (dye it purple)
 * 11) *#+10 vs Blunt (dye it orange)
 * 12) *#+10vsFire (dye it red)
 * 13) *#+10vsLightning (dye it yellow)
 * 14) *#+ 10 vs Earth (dye it brown)
 * 15) *Now open your equipment. You will see nice set of shields. With colors you should quickly and easily judge which shield has what type of damage protection.
 * 16) Armor:
 * 17) *Unlock all runes (minor, major and superior) for all elementalist atributes. Then make sure you have unlocked the Superior Vigor Rune - its the most important one! Make sure you have unlocked the Survivor and Blessed Insignias.
 * 18) *Begin with a Fire Eye headpiece with a Minor Fire Magic rune and a Blessed Insignia. Then, chest armor with Minor Energy Storage and a Blessed Insignia. Then gloves with the +50hp Superior Vigor rune and Blessed Insignia. The other armor pieces are just +10hp Vitae Runes and Blessed Insignias. Now let's get some bar to play.
 * 19) Skills:
 * Heres an easy to use first bar. Basically, probably the best way to start with is the Star Burst "spike". It's easy to find, pug friendly, and will let you learn some maps and get your first fame points. So, here's the bar: Here is the bar template code: AGIgyMPHRextosCWpF4CBA. Remember that this is only a basic code and sometimes other people may want you to bring some specific skills. We will talk about it in next section.

Usage of the build

 * Finding a group. Star burst is often refered as "sb" so watch party search for "GLF sb eles". If no-one is forming, create your own group with: GLF 3 SB eles, shockwave, mes, monks. We will talk about shockwave build in the next section.
 * On the battle field. First of all, enchant yourself with Fire Attunement and Aura of Restoration in that order. It's important in case of enchantment stripping - Aura of Restoration will get stripped first protecting your important enchantment. It's called a "cover enchantment". Then, just use your glyph of restoration a lot to help your backline and spam spam spam spam your damage spells on called target.

Role of Ele in PvP
Let's talk about role of Ele in PvP. Elementalist are midliners,what means that they are supposed to deal damage like frontliners but! have some utility too. We will now talk about utility spells in HA that in later play people can ask you.


 * Command support/shouts. Firstly,command support.It is the most popular demand on ele. That's why we are wielding command shields,right? Would be easier to add command to your bar and have already done shield sets. Command support usually means "Make Haste!" shout and "Song of Concentration" skill. Song of Concentration requires adrenaline,so you must auto attack with your spear with furious head to have it ready. Basically,Song of Concentration is used to get some caster spikes or resurrection skills up safely. Also,it's a must have skill for some type of plays like "King of The Hill" mode in Hall of Heroes and on "The Courtyard" map. You have to make sure that just before the other team ghostly hero dies,you cast Song of Concentration so your Ghostly hero can use "Claim Resources" safely. Let's talk about "Make Haste!" now. It's basically used for helping kiting allies in the basic maps. However,there are some maps that requires specific use. In "Unholy Temples" map you cast it on your relic runner. In "The Courtyard" you have to cast it on your Ghostly hero on recharge. In "Hall of Heroes",mode "Relic Run" you have to stand back just before downstairs,in your base,and make haste the relic runners as they pick up relics. Some teams may want you to bring "Fall Back!" shout,and you usually use it at the start of the battle. Lower your energy storage and take 9 points in command.
 * Snare. It's the task of shockwave in your sbway. Snares are second most popular demand on ele. By "snares"term we usually understand a "Grasping Earth" and "Ward against Foes". Ward Against Foes is more important than grasping earth. Why? Cause if it's up,noone can remove it. In the basic maps you are just snaring a "choke points" - points where there is little room to move, f.e. Place under the bridge in Underworld. You use it in open spaces too to help your backline kites. The most important tactic for snares are relic run tactics. You will meet it on Unholy Temples and Hall of Heroes. In the Unholy temples you are trying to use grasping earth near the runner and ward against foes next to your relic or under the bridge if they managed to take your relic. In the Hall of Heroes you are trying to put wards on the enemy team stairs and bodyblock the relic runner. Those tactics will be expanded in the "Tactics" section.Take minor earth magic rune instead of one the vitaes and make sure you have at least 9 in earth magic.
 * Necro support. Popular in caster spikes like Invoke Spike or Searing Flames Spike. It often means "Weaken Armor" spell and some kind of Enchantment removal like Rend Enchantments or Well of Profane. Well of Profane is the most important necromancer spell you want to take.Make sure you have 5 in death magic! Lower your energy storage to acomplish that.
 * Deadly arts support. Popular in caster-only teams. By it we mean "Augury of Death". REMEMBER THAT THIS IS HALF RANGE SPELL. Throw it on your spike target to achieve a deep wound and effectively help killing. Don't lower your energy storage,3 in deadly arts is fine.
 * Wards support. Popular in BBway meta. By this we usually mean "Ward of Stability" and "Ward against Melee". Effectively disables BBway and lowering pressure on your team.Take minor earth magic rune instead of one the vitaes and make sure you have at least 9 in earth magic.

In the basic star burst way there is one person with shockwave build, here it is: As you can see it carries a Snare support and KD from Ebon Hawk->Stoning combination. It's task is to KD the prot monk and assist in spikes with shockwave. Also it can play tactic role on tactic maps with snares. Here is the code: AWKAzJPpOv6qIW0KoFpCBA. With a free secondary profession you may want to use asassin skill Dash instead of res sig.

Maps & Tactics

 * Zaishen. It's level 0. Your task is to kill NPCs as fast as possible. The first target is always an Elementalist,cause if you attack Ele,other NPCs are balling and you can easily spike them with your AoE. Do it in <30sec time to achieve 10% Morale Boost for whole party. Ok,so we rezone to zaishen. Now cast your enchantments. Often there will be countdown before going in. On 1 throw "Make Haste!" on the mesmer,so he can rupt Ward Against Harm(and in later playing ward against melee). Run up with your teammates and destroy NPCs with your AoE.
 * Underworld. It's level 1 and first map that allows you to gain Fame for your title. At the beginning you will see 2 bridges. People usually run under them. If playing shockwave put a nice snare under one of them,but do not run too far from your backline. Watch the radar. Follow your caller on the spikes/pressure. If playing shockwave KD the prot and assist in spiking with shockwave.
 * Fetid River. It's second map. You will quickly spot the priest behind you. That NPC resurrects team members every 2minutes if he is alive. Follow caller on spikes.
 * Burial Mounds. It's third map. It's basicly fetid river with flag. Do not care about flag,noone cares except some GvG guilds playing casually HA. Notice that there is a lot of choke points and use it to your advantage. Follow caller on spikes.
 * Unholy Temples. It's fourth map and first more tactic. There are 2 relics. Your's and obviously foe's. The goal of match is to carry opponent's relic to your ghostly hero. It requires your ghostly hero to be alive so watchout for him. The basic tactics are standing on your stairs,2 ppl on every side,so opponents cannot carry your relic from your base. However,this puts you in the danger of AoE spells. Some team like spike teams often just wipe their opponents first and then carry the relics. Remember to boost your relic runner and snare the opposing one.
 * Forgotten Shrines. The goal of it is to cap shrines fast and effectively. Capping works like in Alliance Battles. The most teams just dedicate the prot to take Ghostly Hero and cap the bottom one while rest of the team run up to the upper ones. Usually Snarer goes with the prot monk to aid in killing/snaring. Rest of party members just go from one altar to another and cap shrines. The Upper one is the place when fighting begins. Often you will encounter splits there,which are meaning you have numerous advantage. Use it to quickly kill the opponents and move to the another shrines. If fighting takes too long(>2min)dedicate half of your team to run to another shrines. Without voice communication it is the hardest map to manage.
 * Golden Gates. It's like fetid river,but a little bit more tactic. The most popular tactic is a "Priest Trade". Every team is running with their right way to the opposing base and kill priest. Then, it is like Underworld. However, some teams prefer just fighting with priests like on fetid river. There are a lot of choke points too so make use of your AoE damage to wipe oponents. Also,snaring works good here,especially on the bridge.
 * The Courtyard. First King of the Hill (KotH) map. The goal is to kill currently holding ghostly hero and allow yours to cap shrine with "Claim Resources". Note that Claim Resources is very long casting spell and opponents will try to rupt it. Prevent it with your Song of Concentration which basically means you are spear auto-attacking to charge Song of Conetration. Use it just before opponent's ghostly hero dies. If playing shockwaves try to knock down opponent's ghostly for disruption of Claim Resources.Person with song of concentration is the most important one. Resurrect him fast and make sure you have always charges SoC before killing opponents ghostly.
 * The Antechamber. The most tactic map apart from Hall of Heroes. There are 3 altars to cap. Capping works here like in Alliance Battles and Forgotting Shrines. However,to go to the center altar you have to unlock doors from both sides which means you are splitting. Again,snares are really important here. You will often encounter a 3 man bridge blocking. Try to do it yourself too. With touch spell Star Burst it will be a little hard to break your lines and cap the altar. To stay alive split monks too.
 * The Vault. It is basically a waiting room for Hall of Heroes. Just run around and enjoy your time.
 * The Hall of Heroes. There are 3 game types here:
 * Relic Run If playing Command support stand back in your base and spam make haste on runners when they pick up the relic. If playing 1vs1vs1 and having shockwave with Dash,dedicate him to run relics at the beginning,later send him to snare opponents and dedicate another ele to run relics. If playing shockwave watch out for interrupts. Fake casting your snares could potentially be really useful. To do it just cast and cancel your spells with escape key to trick opponents into wasting their interrupts. Dedicate a monk to split with a shockwave to keep him alive. If playing 1v1 Shockwave is only snaring and other people run relics. In 1v1 duel there are 2 situations. First: you are blue. That means you can go straight to the opponents base and bodyblock their relic with four man on the upper stairs. Notice that this is putting you into AoE! Again, have someone run relic, but not a shockwave. Shockwave should stand on stairs to blind melees to lower pressure. While playing Red kick the opponents with your Star burst spam ,cause they will try to bodyblock you on stairs, snare their runners and run your own relic. At first it will be very tricky and in 99% you will lose, but remember: in the hall of heroes it is the game experience that counts the most.
 * King of the Hill (KotH) King of the hill map. Kill opponent's ghostly and again,always have Song of Concentration charged and use it just before oponnent's ghostly dies. If playing shockwaves try to knock down opponent's ghostly for disruption of Claim Resources.
 * Capture points Most difficult in general. Capping points works like in Alliance Battles. Generally the 90% of fighting is in the center altar. Watch out for NINJAS. By that term I mean players splitting sneaky into your base to cap your altar. Dedicate a character or two to counter it and try do it yourself. If splitting ask for "Make Haste!" to quickly go to your or opponent's altar.

General Informations

 * Dedicate one person in your team to be the caller. In later games in balanced teams it will be frontliners. When hearing a "ping" press T and spam your spells. That is called spike.
 * Ghostly Hero adds 4 arrows of capping on the capping maps.
 * Killing Ghostly hero gives your party morale boost that recharge your skills. Kill the opponent's ghostly to refresh resurrection skills when needed.
 * Kill ghostly at the end of won game to aid with death penalty for party members that died in the battle.
 * Generally in Underworld don't take ghostly hero with you, do not help your opponent refreshing their signets and achieving morale boosts
 * After some time you can get bored for Star Burst and wanting to run something harder. The next step is usually invoke spike or some kind of balanced. For balanced ele builds go to the Mind Blast page or Savannah Heat page.
 * Join every randomway you can. It's not unusual for people with higher ranks to go with randoms just because they are bored. Going with randomways can yeld you an experience on maps and more importantly some friends to play with. Always be nice to other players. It's good way to find a HA guild too. Beating the hero title in HA guilds is a lot easier.
 * Do not react to the flaming of opponents team. Just local chat off on the battles.
 * Sometimes you are expected to carry a "Hard res". Hard resses are resurrection skills from restoration magic,Ritualist secondary. Lower your energy storage by one point and raise restoration magic to take Death Pact Signet or Flesh from my Flesh.

Dictionary

 * Spike: high amount of dmg in short time,generally it means that party members focuses on one target.
 * Pressure: quite the opposing of spike. Just spaming spells on different targets switching their fast to drop the opponents. Makes prots more harder and basically good way to win.
 * Caller: a person in your team that is calling targets. To call targets hold your left ctrl and click space on target foe. But it will be better for the beginning if you dedicate other person in your team to do that. For following calls press T and spam the spells on your target.