Dragonhunter CM guides

MAMA

Siax

Ensolyss

Skorvald

Artsariiv

Arkk

Tooltip Language

English

• Please check the CC distribution to contribute your share of the necessary CC!
• Please also read through the fractal pages for general encounter information!

General Knowledge

Common tips to improve on Guardian

Mistlock precasts

• If playing Radiance, always precast

  and

  for Resolution uptime. Blasts can we done with two abilities,

  and

  or

  . Precast

  .
• If playing Virtues, make sure to also cast

  Over

  , or both if you can afford to do so on your precasting template.
• Tip for Virtues: casting "Save Yourselves!" and pressing the Singularity at the same Time will allow for multiple casts of the ability.

Trap Precasts

• All traps but

  and

  remain on the ground upon switching between Dragonhunter templates only. Sometimes, you may want to precast

  on a boss' location, in which case you will have to have

  both on your precasting template (if you have one), and on your actual template you want to use during the fight. Make sure to always have the same exact traits on both templates, otherwise you will be struck by the infamous Status Reset.

A reminder on Symbol Precasts

• Switching from a weapon to another weapon will always interrupt any ongoing action. Make sure to always finish casting your symbols before changing to a different weapon. The best way to achieve symbol precasting is to switch from weapon to weapon using an opened Inventory.
• In the Inventory, position the weapons you need in a straight line or in a square shape at the very top of it; find something practical for you for frequent use. Make sure you have a fifth slot for the focus as well, so it always drops down in the right place every time you equip and unequip it. The use of Ascended weapons is an absolute must. Do NOT share any ascended weapons between templates. Make sure to have unique ascended weapons for each template you need.
• The priority when passing through different weapons to precast symbols is: Scepter → Sword + Focus → Staff → Longbow. If starting the boss on Greatsword, you can replace Longbow with it in this priority list.
• To make things easier, always equip your Scepter and Focus beforehand, over the weapon you would usually start the encounter with. Scepter always comes first. If you wish to add a fifth symbol, you can equip a Mace instead, and it can be cast as you traverse a portal to the boss. Switch to Scepter, cast as

  , then switch to Sword, cast

  and

  as it goes off, then Staff (

  ), Longbow (

  ), and finally your weapon of choice and its symbol for the start of the encounter.

MAMA 5,200,519 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

• This fight gets very messy if the adds are not immediately CCed. It is recommended to use extra CC skills to make up for the potential lack of CC of your team mates, such as

  .
• It is possible to precast a

  on the second Knight, if a portal to go back is available.
• is recommended.

Synopsis

• Start the boss on Longbow. It is recommended not to precast more than 2 symbols on MAMA (aim for the edge of the hitbox, to the left of the boss upon walking to it), preferably Sword and Scepter.
• Try to use your full burst in each phase after the defiance bar is broken.
• Don't forget that you can not expect to see the highest numbers without the breakbar being frequently broken: to make that happen use

  .
• Do not use traps on the adds.
• Use

  inside the first knight's hitbox, and then in MAMA's hitbox during fight, when the small adds are coming close.
• Feel free to use

  and

  for faster movement.

Phase 1

Overview

Phase 1 rotation: make sure to CC the boss and maximize your burst damage.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb3)
5. (Lb5)
6. (Lb2)
7. Swap
8. (Gs2)

Knight 1

Overview

While on Greatsword, CC the first knight and damage it with your

, a

, and auto attacks.

Ideal Rotation

2. (Gs4)
3. →

   (Gs5)
4. →

   →

   (Gs1)

Phase 2

Overview

Come back to the boss while precasting a

, and damage MAMA with your available abilities.

Ideal Rotation

2. (Gs3)
3. →

   (Gs1, Gs2)
4. →

   →

   (Gs1)
5. (Gs4)
6. Swap
7. (Lb4)
8. (Gs2)
9. Fill with

   s (Lb1)

Knight 2

Overview

While on Longbow, CC the second knight with

, and damage it with your

, a

, and auto attacks.

Ideal Rotation

1. (Lb3)
4. 2×

   s

Phase 3

Overview

Switch back to Greatsword as soon as possible, after casting

,

and

.

Ideal Rotation

2. (Lb5)
3. (Lb4)
4. Swap
5. (Gs4)
6. ↔

   (Gs5, Gs2) depending on when the adds are creeping in
7. (Gs4)

Knight 3

Overview

While on Greatsword, CC the third knight with

→

and

, and damage it with your auto attacks.

Ideal Rotation

2. →

   (F1)
3. →

   →

   (Gs1)

Phase 4

Overview

Finish the boss with whatever CC is left and use all of your skills to burst it down.

Ideal Rotation

2. (F3) as MAMA leaps out onto you
5. Swap
6. (Gs4)
7. (Gs2)
8. Swap
9. (Lb4)
10. (Lb3)
11. (Lb5)
12. (Lb2)

SIAX 6,138,797 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

• Use your

  inside Siax' hitbox to get 5 additional hits. This is the reason why Guardian is very strong on this boss.
• Use

  to navigate around and keep your HP up.
• Use

  to help with CC if necessary.
• can be used to block the expanding AoE.
• All traps can be precasted easily, including

  on one of the adds' location for easy Vulnerability stacks.
• is recommended.

Phase 1

Overview

Standard burst window. Start of Longbow. Delay

and

for CC if needed. Supposedly, party damage in P1 should be enough not to require any CC at all.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb3)
5. (Lb5)
6. (Lb2)
7. Swap
9. (Gs4)
10. (Gs2)

Echo 1

Overview

Leap to the add with

after having casted

on it from a distance.

Phase 2

Overview

As soon as you come back you can start precasting

and

. Try to time

with Siax becoming vulnerable. Keep an eye on the adds that might be tethered to you; make sure you stand on the opposite side of the boss so they will get cleaved before exploding. When these adds are close, use

inside Siax's hitbox to get 5 hits in. Continue the phase with

and

. Swap to Longbow again and use all of your burst. Use

to give your team Aegis for the expanding AoE attack at the end of the phase.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Gs4)
5. (Gs2)
6. (Gs5)
7. Swap
8. (Lb4)
9. (Lb3)
10. (Lb5)
11. (Lb2)

Echo 2

Overview

Kill your add on longbow from afar, or flank it on Mistlock Instability: Outflanked.

Phase 3

Overview

During the final phase, stay on Longbow for as little as possible. Use your remaining abilities then swap to Greatsword.

is used to regain

and

on time for P3. That sigil is not used in the provided PoV.

should be available again for another use, as the adds creeping in get close. Position yourself properly so as not to have the ones tethered to you explode.

1. (Lb3)
2. (F1)
3. (Lb2)
4. (Lb4)
5. (Lb5)
6. Swap
9. (Gs4)
10. (Gs5)
11. (Gs2)
13. (Gs3)

ENSOLYSS 14,059,890 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

• can be abused here. After Ensolyss body slams the party, a bunch of shadow echos will appear on every player, locking them with a delayed damaging AoE. These echos act just like adds and can be bound by

  . They stay up for a short period of time. The following rotation does not take this into account and uses binding blade earlier, in order not to delay the second round of Longbow abilities.
• Both

  and

  can be used here, but the latter should be slightly worse, as Ensolyss is a tanky boss which doesn't easily spend most of its time CCd.

Synopsis

• Start on Longbow.
• Breakbar should be broken at the start of the fight, use

  and then

  to help to make it happen.
• Try to fit every single skill you have into Exposed
• After you used your full opener, continue with your usual rotation until you phase.
• Repeat this every single phase.

All phases

Overview

Standard dps phases.

1. (P1: before the boss is vulnerable)
2. (P1: before the boss is vulnerable)
3. (P1: as the boss becomes vulnerable)
4. (F1) (P2, P3: can be cast much earlier with no invulnerability constraints)
5. (Lb3)
6. (Lb4)
7. (Lb5)
8. (Lb2)
9. Swap
10. (Gs4)
12. (Gs2)
13. (Gs3)
14. (Gs5)
16. 2×

    s →

    s →

    s
17. (Gs4)
18. (Gs2)
19. (Gs3)
21. Swap
22. (Lb4)
23. (In P1 only, to avoid Ensolyss' body slam)
24. (Lb3) use immediately to proc
26. (Lb2)
28. or Dodge
29. (Lb5)
31. (Lb2)

SKORVALD 5,551,340 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

• is recommended.
• Start on Longbow.
• Use

  slightly left of the updrafts and push into them to travel quickly between islands.
• Use

  to get to island#1 faster, either through the first updraft or to get in front of it.
• Use

  and

  to help with CC in P1.

Phase 1

Overview

Standard burst window. Delay

and

for CC if needed. Supposedly.

Ideal Rotation

5. (Lb3)
6. (Lb5)
7. (Lb2)
8. Swap
9. (Gs4)
10. (Gs2)
11. (Gs5)
12. (Gs3)

Islands Split 1

Overview

Tips:

• can be used towards the first updraft, or on the edge of the main platform to reach for island#1, as it will make the updraft transition faster.
• Stay on Greatsword until island#3, then switch to Longbow. Cast

  on island#2.
• Use

  and

  as often as possible on islands.
• (Advanced) 4-way strat: Precast a

  on island#2 if needed for the second split.

Phase 2

Overview

Standard burst window. You should switch to Longbow as island#3 finishes.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb4)
5. (Lb2)
6. (Lb3)
7. (Lb5)
8. Swap
9. (Gs4)
11. (Gs2)
12. (optional)

    (Gs3)
13. (optional)

    (Gs5)

Islands Split 2

Overview

• (Advanced) 4-way strat: kill your add on Greatsword with someone else’s help.
• Regular split: repeat the same rotation as the first split, following the same tips. Go back to Longbow at the end of island#3.

Phase 3

Overview

Use up all of your available burst.

4. (Lb4)
5. (Lb2)
6. (Lb3)
7. (Lb5)
8. Swap
9. (Gs4)
12. (Gs2)
13. (Gs5)
14. (Gs3)

ARTSARIIV 5,962,266 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

• It is recommended to play with the Major Adept trait

  over

  , for additional CC with

  . If you play with multiple templates, make sure you make the change on all of them to prevent Status Reset upon a template swap.
• Play with

  , as you will be using

  (F1) for CC but reseting your

  (F1) with

  .
• Using

  will allow you to get more CC out of your virtues

  (F2) and

  (F1).
• Save your

  (F3) for the expanding AoE, so you and your party can deal continued damage during the mid burn phase.
• Start the boss on Greatsword for P1.

Specific Precasts

With a portal at your disposal: precast two traps on Artsariiv’s add locations for CC:

and

, in which case, you will want to run with the usual trait

. The Slow

applies is valuable, too (200 CC over 4 seconds, 275 CC if traited), and so is the Blinded from

, (as well as the Slow if traited). You can keep

and

for damage on Artsariiv. Cast those on her usual path to the north-west corner. If a custom CC distribution without

is used, it can also be cast for damage on the same spot as

and

as it is a strong damaging ability. In that case, double-proc it with an additional

cast, while on Longbow, to proc

and triple the damage from

.

can also be precasted on the edge of Artsariiv’s hitbox. Artsariiv will also walk through your

's damaging ring, for additional burst.

Phase 1

Overview

Tips:

• Cancel the

  aftercast with

  in P1, while going through Artsariiv’s hitbox. Try to stand within it, as close as you can to the west-most edge of the platform, as your

  healing will proc much more easily on this side (Agony from Artsariiv's beam is avoided).
• Use

  whenever it is off cooldown, for additional Resolution uptime (usually before P2 and P3).
• precasts: three to four symbols (Scepter, Sword + Focus, Staff, Longbow) before Artsariiv spawns (start casting them shortly after the marble is triggered).

Ideal Rotation

4. (Gs4)
5. (Gs5)
7. (Gs2)
8. Swap
9. (Lb5)
10. (Lb2)
11. 3×

    (Lb1)
12. (Lb2)

Split 1

Overview

Use

as soon as it is off cooldown on one of the adds, for

uptime (a 10% additive damage coefficient).

should be used immediately on your dedicated add (150 CC + 80 CC from Blinded uptime). Use either

for Immobile uptime (150 CC) if traited, or

(150 CC), as you won't be using your

during damaging phases. Use

on the add that was assigned to you (300 CC). All three of those abilities should be enough to CC your add.

can be replaced with a precasted

(150 CC + 200 from Slow). The video shown above displays a kill with no precasted traps on the platform.

Ideal Rotation

1. (Lb4) for

   uptime
2. (Lb3) (230 CC over 4s)
3. ↔

   (150 CC over 3s ↔ 150CC)
4. ↔ (precasted)

   (300 CC ↔ 350 CC over 4s)
5. Remain on Longbow

Phase 2

Overview

Tips:

• It's best to start casting a couple of skills just before Artsariiv becomes vulnerable to steal some time, allowing you to fit more skills in. Start with

  and

  .
• actually hits twice on Artsariiv during mid burn phases, so make sure to cast it inside the boss' hitbox.
• Press

  for Resolution uptime.
• If done correctly, you should be able to fit in all of the listed abilities in the rotation.
• Make sure to switch back again to Longbow as the second split begins, to avoid cooldown issues on your weapon swap.
• can be kept in favor of CC, and used at the start of the split between two adds, before switching back to Longbow.
• allows the whole party to avoid Artsariiv's slam to the ground, a huge expanding AoE as the phase begins. It is important to position properly, behind Artsariiv, on the very edge of her red hitbox indicator.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb2)
5. (Lb4)
6. (Lb3), allowing for a

   proc
7. (F3), to protect your party from Artsariiv's slam
8. (Lb5)
9. Swap
10. (Gs4)
12. (Gs2)
13. (Gs5)

Split 2

Overview

will allow you to reset all of your virtues. You can use

again to block Artsariiv's slam in Phase 3.

and

, if traited, can be used again for CC. A CC distribution is available on the per-boss CC distribution guide page.

can be used for Blinded (60 CC over 3s). You can wait for

and cast it as soon as possible on an add for

uptime, before switching back to Longbow and using

immediately wherever it is needed.

,

and

(for additional Crippled) can be used on two adjacent adds. Combining all three attacks will CC two adds easily. If traited, use

can be used again for Immobile on a third add, helping other players.

Ideal Rotation

1. for

   uptime
2. Swap
3. (Lb3) (230 CC over 4s twice)
4. (150 CC twice)
5. (Lb1) (40 CC over 2s: must be used on two adds to pierce through the first one, to benefit from the Crippled condition on both adds)
6. Use

   to reset all of your virtues
7. Remain on Longbow

Phase 3

Overview

The final phase is very straight-forward, and similar to the second one.

will be up again.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb2)
6. (Lb3), allowing for a

   proc
7. (Lb4)
8. (F3), to protect your party from Artsariiv's slam
9. (Lb5)
10. Swap
11. (Gs4)
13. (Gs2)
14. (Gs5)
15. (Gs3)

ARKK 9,942,250 HP

by Magic

DPS Statistics by gw2wingman

Weapons

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

• Berserker

  
  

  2x

Skills

Heal

Utilities

Elite

Notes

Arkk is a very machinal and straight-forward boss. The efficiency of every phase DPS check is heavily dependent on solid individual DPS rotations. This is why it requires some experience over time, in order to master it.

It is especially important to learn a good rotation and stick to it. In the following guide section, one rotation is described. Here are some import tips:

• Place markers down for the blooms.
• Precast your traps (

  and

  ) on the boss.
• You can easily push blooms using

  from afar, or going in with a

  followed by a

  . Come back to the center of the platform using your special action key, for an additional Might blast and quick repositioning.
• (Gs3) can have its leap effect cancelled using the special action key on your position.
• Do not wait for the boss to target it. In fact, it is preferred not to target it at all in P1, and throw all of your burst without aim, facing down and pointing your cursor to the boss' location, as shown in the video; as if you were playing with Action Camera! All of your abilities, including the Longbow projectiles, should hit.
• and

  are both viable options, although

  is much easier to play. For the purposes of the guide, the rotation with

  is presented. It should be noted that playing with the trait

  theoretically allows for a bigger damage output. The same rotation without the use of

  is to be used if playing with

  .

Specific Precasts

Advanced tips, with a portal at your disposal: precast two to three traps on connected sides for orb pushing: two on your ledge (

left,

right) and

on the furthest side of the ledge to your left. In other words, picture 8 possible trap locations, two on each side of every platform ledge. The right-most location, facing your own ledge, is location 1. From there, rotate counterclockwise and place one trap on locations 1, 2 and 4). Traps are cast about midway between orb locations and tower locations, slightly closer to the edge than inside the platform. Preferably, you should be assigned West or East. Precast

and

on Arkk's location. If possible, precast three to four symbols.

Phase 1

Overview

Open on Longbow to proc

with

.

Ideal Rotation

1. (Lb4)
5. (Lb5)
6. (Lb3), used for

   proc
7. (Lb2)
8. Swap
9. (Gs4)
11. (Gs2)
12. (Gs5)

Phase 2

Ideal Rotation

4. (Gs4)
5. (Gs2)
6. Swap

Archdiviner

can be used to pull two cultists.

Ideal Rotation

1. (precasted down)

   (Lb4) (do not use on Mistlock Instability: Outflanked days)
2. (Lb2)
3. s (Lb1) as fillers

Phase 3

Overview

Open on Longbow to proc

with

.

Precast

and

on Arkk's location. Time

and aim for its location before it ports back.

Switch back to Longbow at the end of the phase to push the orb.

Ideal Rotation

3. (Lb4)
4. (Lb5)
5. (Lb3), used for

   proc
6. (Lb2)
7. Swap
8. (Gs4)
11. (Gs2)
12. Swap

Phase 4

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb4)
5. (Lb3)
6. (Lb2)
7. Swap
8. (Gs4)
9. (Gs2)

Gladiator

should be used to pull two golems.

Ideal Rotation

1. (precasted down)
2. →

   →

   (Gs1) as fillers

Phase 5

Push the orb on Longbow.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Gs4)
5. (Gs2)
6. Swap
7. (Lb4)
8. (Lb3), used for

   proc
9. (Lb2)

Phase 6

Try and proc

one last time using

before the boss' defiance bar is broken by the Renegade; then burst it down.

Ideal Rotation

4. (Lb3), used for

   proc
5. (Lb4)
6. (Lb5)
7. (Lb2)
8. Swap
9. (Gs4)
12. (Gs2)
13. (Gs5)
14. if any are remaining
15. (Gs3)