Warrior / Monk PvP Build?

[Torm Shadowbane]

Hello guys,

I'm working on trying to figure out what build would be best for my Warrior / Monk. I currently use a Sword (as does everyone and their grandmother) but I am trying out different things. Last night I lead a group to the Hall of Heroes for the first time, and I am doing a lot of PvPing testing my character to find a good "balance" for him. (And for the record: We held the altar in HoH for anywhere between 3 to 5 min and we lost it to the Red Team at the 50 second mark as our three monks died as both red and yellow assaulted us.. heh.)

Anyway! I am thinking about switching to Axe. Sword damage just isn't cutting it, unfortunately. I tried Hammer for awhile but I don't like it. I play my Warrior / Monk as the guy who goes in, disables the enemy (keeps them from fleeing), sticks to the Monk and casters to take them out. Also, I play the guy who saves the party from a near wipe if things go badly. If I do my job well I can pull us from a near wipe to victory... or simply prolong the inevitable. Heh.

Here is what I am thinking:
12 Strength
12 Axe
3 Healing

Skills:
Dismember
Axe Twist
Executioners Strike
Axe Rake
Disrupting Chop
Balthazar's Spirit
Protective Bond
Restore Life

Here is how he will be played:
I will cast both Balthazar's Spirit and Protective Bond at the beginning of the fight. That will give me no energy regeneration, but in truth I really won't need it as none of my warrior skills use energy. Protective Bond and Balthazar's Spirit go nicely together, as the Bond takes -1 energy each time I take damage and Balthazar gains +1 energy and +1 adrenaline each time I am attacked. If they are shattered or removed from me, I can still live with that and it won't hinder my purpose in combat greatly.

I'll build up enough adrenaline to dismember, then axe rake the enemy to keep them from running. Use Axe Twist against Warriors (causes Weakness) and Executioners Strike to finish off an enemy, Disrupting Chop will be used to disrupt spells (especially those trying to resurrect the fallen). Restore Life will be used if I have the energy to spare. Generally speaking, though, if I have to raise the fallen things aren't going well.

When I get Eviscerate I will use that instead of Dismember. I realize that Cyclone is used often by Axe users, but generally speaking I'm going after caster types who run around and end up straying from their party. Cyclone would only be useful if I'm surrounded -- which is generally only at the beginning of the battle. If I am surrounded by melees it isn't going to help me, so I don't see the real use for it unless it's used at the beginning by a warrior / ranger with apply poison.

Thoughts? What I mainly want to know is if I am using my Monk skills effectively and if I should swap out any of my Warrior skills for something else. I could certainly use Rush, for example.

I do a lot of Tombs and this build isn’t for random 4v4 matches. This build is for Tombs.

[showme]

It seems to me that Balthazar's Spirit and Protective bond cancel eachothers usefullness out. With Protective bond and no points in protection you are going to be losing 6 energy when you take damage, and gain 1 energy from Balthazar's Spirit. I think you will always be at 0 energy, so restore life is kinda wasted if you will never have the energy to use it. I notice on Protective Bond it says "or the spell ends", does that mean the spell could randomly end any time you take damage?

What is the 3 in healing for as you don't seem to carry any healing spells?

If your goal with Balthazar's spririt is adrenaline, I think you could get more bang for the buck using For Great Justice. Seems like with as high of strength as you have you could pick up some strength skills.

[Torm Shadowbane]

I thought Protective Bond was -1 energy every time you were hit?

Protective Bond 10 energy -1 energy regeneration, 2 sec casting time, 0 recharge. "While you maintain Protective Bond, target ally cannot take more than 5% damage at one time. When Protective Bond prevents damage, you lose -1 energy or the spell ends."

That's from the Guild Wars Character Builder created by GWFreaks.com.

I can't tell you what it says in game because I don't have the skill yet (need to find it) but so far the information I've gotten from the Character Builder has been pretty accurate (and it gets updates from time to time to update the information).

However, if it does cost that much... it's useless to me. No way I'd be able to maintain it. I'd rather use Bonetti's Defense if that's the case.

As for why I put points into healing -- it was for Restore Life so it would have a higher percentage of health and energy when raised. I'm gonna knock that out and just use a signet instead.

I'm probably going to go with axe. I've been testing it with a Pre-Made and I really enjoy axe. I miss the ability to breeze myself, though. I feel almost... naked. LOL. ;) Nothing sucks more than to sit there and watch your health drain away from a poison arrow and know there is nothing you can do but stand and fight. :p

HOWEVER, nothing is more satisfying than the ability to take out two casters before that poison arrow finishes you off. ;)

[showme]

Here is the description for Protective Bond from this site at least, I have never used it in game so don't know for sure.

While you maintain this enchantment, target ally cannot take more than 5% damage at one time. When Protective Bond prevents damage, you lose 6-3 energy or the spell ends.

Protection Prayers. Reduces energy lost.

[Torm Shadowbane]

I decided to go get it today and find out, and this site is correct. It does cost 6 to 3 energy depending on skill in prayers. That makes it useless to me. *sighs*

Oh well, toss that idea out the window. :p