Blades and Bladesongs

As a Virtuoso, we instead of clones have blades as a resource and the typical cap of three is increased to five.

In this build, you have only two skills that directly stock blades:

Blades, if unused, will stay around indefinitely as long as you don't swap instances or swap elite specializations.

Out of combat you gain one blade every ten seconds, upon entering combat with a raid boss and most strike mission bosses you immediately get five blades.

Additionally, our profession skills are now Bladesongs instead of Shatters.

Bladesongs are unique to Virtuoso, they inherit all traits that affect Shatters. Bladesongs unlike Shatters have a small cast time. Our Bladesongs are...

1. shoots up to five blades, deals increasing damage per blade and pierces. This is our typical power-focused F1. In this build, it does substantial condition damage as well.
2. shoots up to five blades, inflicting one stack of per blade and pierces. This is our typical condition-focused F2 while still dealing notable power damage.
3. combines all your blades into one, dealing increased damage per blade spent. This is our typical crowd control F3, we will only use it sparingly for damage when we know we don't need the CC.
4. blocks incoming attacks for two seconds, its damage scales per blade. This is our typical defensive F4, but with 5 blades its damage is high enough to be a part of our damage rotation.

All Bladesongs are blade attacks, and as such, will apply 1 stack of and 1 stack of per blade fired (that is usually 5 for each Bladesong except , which only ever throws 1 blade), due to the traits and .

Phantasms and Blades

You have two skills that summon phantasms:

Phantasms carry out an attack and then will transform into blades. The attack can be completed or interrupted, either will cause the phantasm to become a blade. Phantasms play an integral part in our rotation as they deal a good amount of damage and are responsible for a large part of our blade generation. Most notable is the interaction between and , converting the 9 (or 12) stacks of from a single Phantasm into 2 to 3 blades. This leads to a near constant stream of available blades. traitline reducing cooldowns helps us be able to spend all the blades we generate.

Situational Weapon Skills

In our offhand weapons, we have two very powerful but situational skills:

, our Sword 4 skill, can be used at any time to block an incoming attack. After the block, you get a short evade frame, allowing you to effectively block large attacks that technically hit multiple times (where might fail to protect you). Proper use of this skill allows us to conserve our dodges and keep great DPS uptime even in dangerous situations.

, our Focus 4 skill, gives to allies, cripples enemies, and can be reactivated to up to five enemies within 600 range. This skill can be put to great use in many raid encounters with smaller enemies that need to be cleaved down.

The reactivation of both skills does a sizeable amount of CC (200 and 150, respectively), although can only ever be used either as a block or as a CC skill, but not both.

General Virtuoso Tips

Every virtuoso skills can be launched at 1200 range, so don't be afraid to move out for mechanics !

Due to the insane cleave of this class, you can easily attack a boss and any adds at the same time.

Don't be afraid to swap utility skills if it helps your squad or even yourself while dealing with mechanics !

Spirit Vale

Vale Guardian

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can block with and .

You can start attacking Vale Guardian immediately while he is walking toward the tank if you are doing a side tanking strategy.

Avoid using any phantasms or Bladesong skill is Vale Guardian is about to phase.

If you struggle to deal with Seeker you can use instead of

Split Phase

You should go to the Red Guardian during the split phase.

Use -> to pull out the Seeker if needed.

You can CC the Red Guardian with -> , and .

Gorseval the Multifarious

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can cast while walking toward Gorseval and start directly your rotation.

You should use or to block the slam attack to avoid getting Knocked Back.

When the CC is over you can pull the adds using -> inside the boss.

During split you should continue your rotation on the adds but do not use any Bladesong skill when the last add is about to die.

Since many Virtuoso attacks count as multiple hit, Retaliation during Gorseval could surprise you, be careful not to die during this phase.

Breakbar Phase

You should use -> , and to CC.

Sabetha the Saboteur

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can cast while walking toward Sabetha and start directly your rotation.

You can use if a time bomb is about to explode on you (because of a teammate not paying attention or having the attack on yourself).

When Sabetha is about to phase, do not use any Blondsong skills as they will most likely be wasted in the Invulnerable buff.

You should continue your rotation normally as soon as a champion spawn, and when Sabetha comes back you can continue your rotation by targetting her since Virtuoso has a lot of cleave you will dps them both.

Whenever you can you should pull the adds using -> closer to the squad.

When Knuckles spawns, use to CC him, you can also use -> if you are on sword and the spell is off-cd.

When Karde spawns his turret you should focus them with your normal dagger attacks while still casting phantasms on either Karde or Sabetha if she came back.

If you need to do a cannon by any chance, you can take instead of to make your life easier while going to the launch pad.

Salvation Pass

Slothasor

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can use to give Slothasor Swiftness if you are doing shroom 1.

Be careful not to kill your shroom 1 if you are not the one doing it.

You can equip instead of to deal with .

Use -> to pull slubs when they spawns.

Slothasor cleanses himself at the beginning of the CC animation and when the breakbar appears it is possible to apply condition again.

Use -> and to CC and then keep doing your rotation since you still can apply condition while the breakbar is up.

You should use on the first breakbar and then keep it for the last 10% since most of unorganized group tends to over-cc at 20%.

Matthias Gabrel

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

Matthias is a tricky encounter for beginner on Condition Virtuoso, you need to be extra careful not to use while Blood Shield is up since the skill absorb projectile, it will mess with the reflect.

An easier solution would be to not use at all if you don't feel confident enough to not mess up.

You can take instead of to deal easily with mechanics.

Remember to use on the sacrifice to help your squad.

Stronghold of the Faithful

Xera

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

While doing the Pre-event you can easily go on a button and still deals a decent dps on the shards because all skills have 1200 Range.

You should use to help CC Xera.

Use -> to pull adds when they spawns.

Other than that you should follow the rotation as close as you can !

Bastion of the Penitent

Cairn the Indomitable

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

Do not start your rotation too early if you start on the platform to avoid throwing phantasms into Invulnerable buff.

Use or to avoid the circles.

Stack as close as possible to Cairn to avoid getting hit by .

Pretty much a DPS Golem, so practice your rotation !

Mursaat Overseer

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

One of the strong aspect of Virtuoso is the insane cleave it provides. On this encounter you have the ability to carry your squad by cleaving every Jade Scout.

You'll want to follow the rotation as close as you can focusing Jade Scout but still cast phantasms on Mursaat Overseer.

Your placement should ensure that Mursaat Overseer is always between you and your target, to ensure every blade skills hit both.

Samarog

Skills	Weaponset

Ideally for every Breakbar you want to use either -> if you are on sword set or -> if you are on focus set.

Use and for CC when available.

Since you can't apply condition on Samarog while the Breakbar is up you should delay your rotation until the Breakbar is done.

You can use or to block .

You can use -> to pull Rigom during the split phase.

Deimos

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

While killing the chains in the pre-event make sure to not use or more than 2 Charges of since you want to keep them to maximize your DPS when deimos spawn with the signet.

If you don't have Aegis use or to block the .

While going down on 75-50-25% phase keep doing your rotation but don't use any Bladesong skills or phantasms when the Saul is below 55% HP.

For Saul the Thief and Saul the Drunkard you should use -> to cc if you are on sword and the spell is off-cd.

While coming back up from the 75-50-25% phase it is very important to target Deimos if you stay at a far range, but still position yourself in a way that every spells hit the Saul add alive at that time.

If your whole party is already at melee range you might find easier to go to deimos and then target the add to focus it (this time cleaving Deimos).

Hall of Chains

Soulless Horror

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can use and to block most of Soulless Horror attacks.

You can move very early if there is a wall due to the high attack range of Virtuoso.

You can help cleave the wurms by not losing much dps.

Breakbar Phase

You must use to CC !

You should continue your rotation even during the breakbar because you can still inflict conditions during it. Make sure to add to your rotation and -> if you are on sword set.

If the CC is definetly too slow it is imperative to use to finish the CC.

Dhuum

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

If you need to do a green by any chance, you can take instead of to make your life easier while going to the reaper. It can still be interesting to take in case you need to back up any mechanics, can be a real life saver !

You can use keep doing your rotation during the attack.

You can use and to block most of Dhuum attacks.

While dealing with mechanic you should move slowly out of the squad while still continue doing your rotation and when is about to explode, run a bit faster then come back. Make sure to not kill your whole squad in the process !

Final 10%

If you have use it to interact with the seal and when Dhuum can be attacked, start immediately your rotation !

Mythwright Gambit

Twin Largos

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can use and to block most of Nikare and Kenut attacks.

If a boss is about to phase you should not use any phantasms or Bladesong skills.

Other than that, try to start your rotation ASAP each phase !

Nikare

If you get hit by , keep doing your rotation while slowly moving out to place the mechanic on the ground.

Be careful of your phantasms timing while Nikare is doing .

Kenut

Be careful to not waste phantasms or Bladesong skill when Kenut is doing .

Breakbar Phases

You must use to CC !

You should continue your rotation even during the breakbar because you can still inflict conditions during it. Make sure to add to your rotation and -> if you are on sword set.

The Key of Ahdashim

Cardinal Adina

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can precast while hiding behind the first pillar by going slitghly to the side to get a line of sight on Cardinal Adina and then starting the rotation directly as the pillar is down.

Be very careful when Cardinal Adina is doing to not use or as the blades will be reflected to you.

During splits you can keep doing your rotation but there is no need to cast phantasms or Bladesongs skills when the last hand is below 25% HP.

Cardinal Sabir

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You can take instead of to carry your team during the little jumping phase (if you know how to place it).

You can cast while walking toward Cardinal Sabir and start directly your rotation for each phase.

When Cardinal Sabir's breakbar appears you should keep doing your rotation while adding -> , -> , and to CC.

During last phase you can clear the wisp very easily by pressing the special action key to teleport to the platform where the wisp is and then using either -> , -> or to finish the CC and then killing it by continuing your rotation.

Qadim The Peerless

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

On this encounter it is possible to play 2 distinct roles : either you can play normal DPS or you can play the Pylon role.

You can use or to block most of the attacks.

Use to CC Qadim the Peerless or to CC an anomaly in case of an emergency !

Pylon

You should change for in the Illusions trait line to avoid giving self Might, so the pylon can buff you.

You should take the food.

You should swap for and instead of .

Then you should just do your rotation as perfectly as you can to get enough sustain.

EOD Strikes

Aetherblade Hideout

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

Do not immediately use skills because the boss will do an evade first thing in the fight !

Try to not use any Bladesong skills or phantasms when the boss is evading.

You can block the Mai Trin triangle AOE or the Echo's wave with or .

You should use , -> and to CC the add with a Breakbar while still being able to hit the add that needs to be damaged.

You should include as part of the rotation since there is a lot of Breakbar in this fight.

Xunlai Jade Junkyard

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

You should keep to CC during the 3 add split phase. By using all your CC skill you are almost able to solo break an add.

You should continue your rotation when Ankka is channeling in her AOE while pulling you toward her.

Remember to block the poison AOE with or .

Kaineng Overlook

Skills	Weaponset

General Virtuoso Tips

While attacking Minister Li you should simply follow the rotation as close as you can while still dealing with mechanics.

If you are on sword and Minister Li is about to dash you want to delay a tiny bit your , if you miss the timing, the phantasms wont attack the boss.

Enforcer, Mindblade and Ritualist

During this phase you want to maximise the cleave that you can get, in ordrer to do that, you should start by focusing the Ritualist and cleaving the Mindblade while the Enforcer is doing is attack.

When the Enforcer is set in middle and channeling his Red AOE attack, you should swap your target to him and then you'll cleave all 3 and maximise your dps output.

Other than that, try to follow the rotation as close as you can during this phase.

Mech and Sniper

It is the same idea as the last phase with the 3 adds, you want to cleave both and because Sniper has the lowest Health pool you want to target the Mech to cast phantasms on him and cleave the Sniper with every other attacks.