Build:Team - The Deep 5 Man Manly Spike

This team build focuses on speed clearing the elite mission The Deep in Hard Mode. It utilizes just enough party members to stand on the five pressure plates in room 6 (Aspect of Pain), which is necessary in order to warp the party past the gate to room 7 (Aspect of Depletion). Doing this mission will reward the players with a Demonic Summoning Stone each, Jadeite Shard's and a nice amount Luxon faction points. Two Vow of Strength Dervishes are used as the main damage source to quickly spike groups of foes. Teams are usually formed in the American district of The Deep, which can be reached by using a Passage Scroll from Cavalon or Embark Beach. At least one character on each account must have finished the Factions campaign to be able to join the mission in Hard Mode.

Overview
1x / Shadow Form Tank

1x / UA Monk Buffer

2x / VoS Dervish

1x / Paragon Support

A/D Shadow Form Tank
[build prof=A/D sha=12+1+3 dagger=11 wind=6][Shadow Form][Shroud of Distress]["I Am Unstoppable!"][Signet of Mystic Speed][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor][Shadow Walk]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Dark Escape][/build]

Equipment
Armor:
 * 5x Blessed Insignia
 * 1x Rune of Superior Vigor
 * 3x Rune of Attunement

Extra equipment:
 * Superior Rune of Dagger Mastery - bring an extra piece of armor, like gloves, and equip for extra damage when spiking solo targets.

Weapons:
 * Spear of Enchanting with an "I have the power!" inscription paired with a shield of Devotion with a "The Riddle of Steel" inscription.
 * Insightful staff of Enchanting with a "Have Faith" inscription - for high energy.
 * Zealous daggers of Enchanting with a "Strength and Honor!" inscription - for solo targets.
 * Zealous scythe of Enchanting with a "Strength and Honor!" inscription - for grouped targets.

PCons:
 * Birthday Cupcake - for easier and faster tanking use them only after clearing room 7.
 * Candy Apple
 * Candy Corn
 * Golden Egg
 * Lunar Fortune
 * Pumpkin Pie
 * War Supplies

Usage

 * This is the hardest job and largely determines the speed of the whole run. Make sure you know what you are doing.
 * To maintain your enchantments, always use "I Am Unstoppable!" before using Signet of Mystic Speed. Then you will be able to instantly cast Shadow Form and Shroud of Distress
 * Cast Ebon Battle Standard of Honor whenever you can. In some rooms like room 5 and 10 most likely, you won't be able to get Ebon Battle Standard of Honor up because of interrupting. But you can try to time it, in combination with knockdowns or in the short time that you see that foes not hitting you
 * After clear room 1, wait "patiently" until you see the patrols in room 5 all on the left side of the room (at least all down that hill) before you grab their aggro. If you grab their aggro at the right moment, all you have to do is sidestep to the right side of the room, so the (casters) Irukandji's and Manta's are in 1 tight group down that hill. Side step to that tight group, so they not scatter. When the casters and (melee) Ripper Carp are in 1 tight group. Then the Dervishes can spike them.
 * If you clear room 1 too slow, the patrols in room 5 are probably more spread out. A possible way to make a tight group of them, is to run all the way to the left side of the room, to get all the (casters) Irukandji's and Manta's down that hill. Run back to the right side to group them. Be careful, not to get stuck by the (melee) Ripper Carp and the knockdowns. If you lose Shadow Form, it's not a problem. Losing Shroud of Distress most likely you are going to get killed.
 * Only a couple (monks) Blessed Manta stay on their spot. Spike them after you kill the main group. The Dervishes should focus their damage on the (ritualist) Darkened Irukandji, since they can cast Restoration. Restoration spirits causes all defeated foes to resurrect. The current team setup does not have room to swap in skills to get rid of the Restoration spirit.
 * To tank room 6, you have to time the moment that you go in the room. When you see that the patrol of Leviathan Minds (mesmer) and Leviathan Arm (warriors), that is moving between the middle pressure plate and gate, is coming back toward your direction, you can walk into the room (time your skill casting).If you grab their aggro when they are standing still during their patrol routes, they won't follow you far enough to decently ball them.
 * After the (warrior) Leviathan Arms are killed at the gate/corner, the whole team should walk backwards into room 5, until the (mesmer) Leviathan Minds are all in a tight group.
 * The team does not have to clear room 6, though it is better as it helps with killing Kanaxai.
 * As tank you have the middle plate. You run to the gate and (Flatbow/Longbow) cast Shadow Walk on one of the foes behind that gate. Run back to your pressure plate. Cancel Shadow Walk with Dark Escape or just wait until the stance timer runs out. The rest of the team Should be standing on a pressure plate, that is not taken by someone else, so all pressure plates are taken (only then will the gate open). All must have Recall on the tank. As soon the tank is warped "back" behind the gate. The rest of the team Should fast cancel their Recall by double click on that icon, to get warped to the tank behind the gate in to room 7, Before it close again.
 * After killed the 2 groups foes at the begin of room 7. Run with only "I Am Unstoppable!" Up to the Kanaxai to aggro him. Than run back to the team. The Kanaxai will follow you, wile the Outcast's will break aggro. Kill the Kanaxai Before you start tank the outcast's. This makes it way easier to survive.
 * Cast Shadow Form and Shroud of Distress, walk to the right wall and hug the middle of it. Cast "I Am Unstoppable!" and Signet of Mystic Speed. By time you have cast that, the Golems are in your touch range. Start walking backwards toward that gate (this way you not get stuck), sidestep (walk if not have a Cupcake on) to the left side. Keep hugging the wall on the right side, or the group outcast on the right hill will break aggro. Also don't sidestep to far back. Just enough so the outcast on the right hill are in a tight group. now cast Dark Escape to survive, and sidestep (or walk backwards to not get stuck) to the right side hill. Keep hugging the wall, so the left side not break aggro. Sidestep all the way up the right hill until all caster Outcast's are in 1 tight group. Not forget use "I Am Unstoppable!" Before Signet of Mystic Speed or when that is still up Shadow Form and Shroud of Distress. Sidestep back to the main ball and ping Ebon Battle Standard of Honor. Big explosion and they should all be dead.
 * During the running part use "You Move like a Dwarf!" for knockdowns to help other members to not get stuck. Use "You Move like a Dwarf!" on the Outcast Ritualist versus Binding Chains.
 * In the boss room "You Move like a Dwarf!" Kanaxai on one side so the Sapping Nightmare pop. Pull them back on a safe Shadow Walk distance and cast it on a Sapping Nightmare . Walk back and stand still at the point where you want to have all Sapping Nightmare's. When you stand still Kanaxai will come to you. "You Move like a Dwarf!" him, to pop the maximum amount Sapping Nightmare's and cancel out with Dark Escape or wait till the stance timer is up. Go to the other side of the room and kill Kanaxai there. "You Move like a Dwarf!" him to interrupt him from cast any skill, or when you see he gets 0 damage from hits.
 * Ball up the Sapping Nightmares again, cast Ebon Battle Standard of Honor so the Dervish can spike them. Get the chest and resign.

Variants

 * - instead of "You Move like a Dwarf!" or Ebon Battle Standard of Honor when you have a bigger team than 5 members.
 * A permanent Dash with Viper's Defense can speed up the run (but requires an experienced team).

Mo/A UA Monk Buffer
[build prof=Mo/A div=12+1+3 smit=12 heal=3+1][Unyielding Aura][Blessed Signet][Healing Breeze][Strength of Honor@16][Seed of Life][Great Dwarf Weapon][Recall][Ebon Escape][/build]

Equipment
Armor:
 * 3x Radiant Insignia
 * 2x Survivor Insignia
 * 1x Rune of Superior Vigor
 * 2x Rune of Vitae

Extra equipment:
 * 1x Rune of Superior Smiting Prayers - bring on an extra headpiece and equip before casting Strength of Honor.
 * 1x Rune of Minor Divine Favor - bring on an extra headpiece and equip while running for less health reduction.

Weapons:
 * Sword/Axe/Spear of Enchanting with an "I have the power!" inscription paired with a shield of Devotion with a "The Riddle of Steel" inscription.
 * Insightful staff of Enchanting with a "Have Faith" inscription - for high energy and longer enchantments.

PCons:
 * Birthday Cupcake
 * Candy Apple
 * Candy Corn
 * Golden Egg
 * Lunar Fortune
 * Pumpkin Pie
 * War Supplies

Usage

 * Try to get Strength of Honor on the tank as soon you are in room 1(this is not a "must do" to clear this room), and don't steal his aggro with it.
 * Use Strength of Honor and Great Dwarf Weapon on the Dervish. This makes a real big change in how fast you clear room 1 and 5.
 * Maintain your energy with Blessed Signet by spam it. The more enchants you have on you, Unyielding Aura included. The more energy you get back from Blessed Signet.
 * Swap your headpiece to gain the maximum amount of attribute points before you cast your enchantments or Blessed Signet.
 * Keep Great Dwarf Weapon and Strength of Honor as much possible on all team members, but focus that skills on the 2 Dervish to maintain energy.
 * Keep yourself and team members alive with Ebon Escape, Healing Breeze and Seed of Life.
 * Use Seed of Life on recharge, especially in room 11 during the run part.

Variants

 * - instead of Healing Breeze if Healing Breeze is an issue for you.

VoS Dervish
[build prof=D/A earthp=12+1+3 scy=10+1 mys=8+1][Sand Shards][Vow of Strength][Staggering Force][Eremite's Attack][Mirage Cloak][Mystic Regeneration][Recall][Ebon Escape][/build]

Equipment
Armor:
 * 5x Windwalker Insignia
 * 1x Rune of Superior Vigor
 * 1x Rune of Vitae

Extra equipment:
 * 1x Rune of Minor Earth Prayers - bring on an extra headpiece and equip while running for less health reduction.

Weapons:
 * Vampiric scythe of Enchanting
 * Zealous scythe of Enchanting - use when energy is low during fights.
 * Non-vampiric, non-zealous martial weapon of Enchanting paired with a shield of Devotion with a "The Riddle of Steel" inscription - use while running.

PCons:
 * Birthday Cupcake
 * Candy Apple
 * Candy Corn
 * Golden Egg
 * Lunar Fortune
 * Pumpkin Pie
 * War Supplies

Usage

 * Use the Vampiric scythe of Enchanting for maximum damage.
 * Cast your enchantments in the right order before you jump in to a group of foes.
 * Start with Mystic Regeneration followed by Mirage Cloak. Then cast Sand Shards, Vow of Strength and Staggering Force in that order. Jump in with Ebon Escape and quickly position yourself so your scythe hits 3 foes. Spike with Eremite's Attack.
 * In room 6, the Dervishes should take the left and right pressure plates in the front.

Variant

 * - instead of Recall if you have more than 5 team members.
 * - instead of Recall if you have more than 5 team members.

P/A Paragon Support
[build prof=P/A comma=12+3+1 lea=12+1]["Incoming!"]["Fall Back!"]["There's Nothing to Fear!"]["Never Surrender!"]["Don't Trip!"]["We Shall Return!"][Recall][Ebon Escape][/build]

Equipment
Armor:
 * 3x Radiant Insignia
 * 2x Survivor Insignia
 * 1x Rune of Superior Vigor
 * 2x Rune of Vitae

Extra equipment:
 * 1x Rune of Minor Command - bring an extra headpiece and equip while running for less health reduction.

Weapons:
 * Spear of Enchanting with an "I have the power!" inscription paired with a shield of Devotion with a "The Riddle of Steel" inscription.
 * Insightful staff of Enchanting with a "Have Faith" inscription - for high energy.
 * Zealous daggers of Enchanting with a "Strength and Honor!" inscription - for solo targets.
 * Zealous scythe of Enchanting with a "Strength and Honor!" inscription - for grouped targets.

PCons:
 * Birthday Cupcake
 * Candy Apple
 * Candy Corn
 * Golden Egg
 * Pumpkin Pie
 * War Supplies

Usage

 * Use the shouts in a chain to keep the team alive during the run.
 * Provide shouts in room 6 to the tank to make him move faster versus the environment effect.
 * In room 6, as a Paragon you put Recall on the tank, and take a left or right pressure plate in the front. The rest of the team Should be standing on a pressure plate, that is not taken by someone else, so all pressure plates are taken (only then will the gate open). Watch the tank cast Shadow Walk and run back to the middle pressure plate. Soon The tank his Stance run out, or he cancels it with Dark Escape. As soon you see him warped back to the gate, fast cancel Recall by double click on that icon to get warped to the tank behind the gate in to room 7, Before it close again.
 * Use "Don't Trip!" to help the team members versus knockdowns. Especially in Room 10, members still get teleported by the environment effect, but the knockdowns can be prevented a bit.

Variant

 * - instead of Recall or "Don't Trip!" if there are more than 5 team members.
 * - instead of Recall or "Don't Trip!" if there are more than 5 team members.
 * - instead of Recall or "Don't Trip!" if there are more than 5 team members.
 * - instead of Recall or "Don't Trip!" if there are more than 5 team members.

Team Usage

 * Keep yourself and team members alive with Ebon Escape.
 * The Shadow Form tank, one VoS Dervish and the UA Monk buffer go into room 1 and clear it.
 * The other VoS Dervish and the Paragon support go into room 2. They can sit back and wait until rooms 1 and 5 are cleared. After that, the gate in room 2 will automatically open and they can proceed without fighting. Alternatively, they can attempt to clear the room but this has a high risk of failure if the VoS Dervish player is not skilled enough.
 * The run is loosely divided into two parts. The first "half" of the run is all about fast grouping and spiking of foes, while the other "half" is all about running/skipping foes and spamming Ebon Escape.
 * In room 6, the non-tanks should cast Recall on the tank. Everyone except the tank should spread out and take one pressure plate each except the middle one. Watch the tank cast Shadow Walk and run from the gate to the middle pressure plate. When the stance runs out or is cancelled with Dark Escape, the tank will shadowstep back to the now-open gate. The others should then quickly cancel Recall by double-clicking the buff icon so that they shadowstep to the tank in room 7, before the gate closes again.
 * After clearing room 7, the tank should suicide-pull all foes in room 8 to one side so that the team can safely run past. The Unyielding Aura monk then resurrects the tank back to the team.
 * In room 10, the team should use the Paragon's speed boosting shouts to run to the far hill in the southeast corner. The tank stays so the Onis all gather close together. Proceed to spike the foes, and then run as fast as possible to the boss room.

Mission Map
See this map for a layout of the mission area: Map of The Deep

Additional party members
If more than 5 players join the run, skills such as Swap, Signet of Binding, Edge of Extinction, Viper's Defense, "You Move like a Dwarf!" and Dash are great to bring on these. Depending on your primary profession, consider bringing one of the following builds to assist the run.

Assassin
/ Dagger Spam [build prof=A/R name="Dagger Spam" dag=12+1+3 cri=10 bea=8]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Ebon Escape]["I Am the Strongest!"][Locust's Fury][Critical Eye][Critical Defenses][Recall][Edge of Extinction][/build]

Elementalist
/ Starburst [build prof=E/A name="Starburst" fir=12+1+3 ene=12+1 sha=3][Ebon Escape][Flame Burst][Star Burst][Death's Charge]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Inferno][Glyph of Sacrifice][Meteor Shower][/build]

Mesmer
/ Energy Surge [build prof=Me/A name="Energy Surge" dom=12+1+3 fas=12+3][Arcane Echo][Energy Surge][Mistrust][Cry of Pain][Unnatural Signet]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Recall][Ebon Escape][/build]

Necromancer
/ SS EoE [build prof=N/R name="SS EoE" cur=12+1+3 sou=6+1 bea=11][Spiteful Spirit][Mark of Pain][Barbs]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Necrosis][Insidious Parasite][Edge of Extinction][Ebon Escape][/build]

/ SV Viper's [build prof=N/A name="SV Vipers" blo=12+1+3 sou=12+1 sha=3][Spoil Victor][Order of Pain]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"]["I Am Unstoppable!"][Dwarven Stability][Dash][Viper's Defense][Recall][/build]

Ritualist
/ Shouter [build prof=Rt/P name="Shouter" cha=11+1+3 command=12 spa=5+1 res=4 ]["Incoming!"]["Fall Back!"][Splinter Weapon]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"]["Don't Trip!"][Signet of Binding]["We Shall Return!"][Ebon Escape][/build]

/ Splinter Barrage  [build prof=Rt/R name="Splinter Barrage" cha=12+1+3 spa=2 mar=10 bea=8][Barrage][Splinter Weapon][Ancestor's Rage]["I Am the Strongest!"]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Signet of Binding][Edge of Extinction][Ebon Escape][/build]

Exemplary Video
Tank PoV: