"Watch Yourself!" or Anthem of Flame?

[Shi]

Lots of people like using "Watch Yourself!" as their echo shout because it can be recast faster than Anthem. However, when you're on the move and you want to keep up other echoes, Anthem of Flame seems to be the way to go. However, in battle, it takes 5 seconds longer to run out unless you use an attack skill. Which do you think is better to use in a build (don't think about what they do, just what I've mentioned so far)?

[SilentMoon]

I use both. :)
But, yes, to maintain echos generally I use anthem of flame, as adrenaline is not always available.

[Necromas]

Well it depends, if it's a refrain, anthem of flame would be better.

But if it's a finale, you'll want both.

[Khaunshar]

I assume its meant for PvE. Several mobs (Ibogas early on, Margonites later) hex you with a "no adrenaline for j00" skill.

So when you plan on fighting lots of these guys, either stock up on hex removal, or use anthem.

Watch Yourself is a sweet energy refill too.

[Hlub Koj]

I use both also, watch yourself for when i'm in battle, and anthem of flame for when i'm not in battle to maintain echos.

[Aiiane]

If using a majority of adrenaline attacks, Anthem most definitely, since Watch Yourself! will slow down the rate at which you can use your other attack skills.

If wanting to keep it up for more than one fight in a row, Anthem, because WY! can't be used out of battle.

If using mostly energy-based attacks, WY! is a great way to keep it up during a battle, but I personally prefer Go for the Eyes! in any form of damage build.

[Protege]

I also prefer go for the eyes over watch yourself. Anthem of flame is unquestionally better for maintaining refrains while for triggering finale I would have to also say anthem is superior to watch yourself because if with an attack skill they get it off sooner so the finale triggers sooner. However finales are the exact reason i pack go for the eyes. it is 4 adren just like watch yourself and the second they attack it comes off triggering the finale. I let the warriors worry about watch yourself.

[silikone]

I use song of purification
For 4 adrenalin strikes i get
-a usefull group buff(remove 1-3 condition)
-another chant that will trigger blazzing finale on whoever i cast it
-a not bad energy management

[COmmander Freyr]

I have to agree that Anthem of Fire is usually a better choice.

[Spoil of War]

I use both Anthem and Shields Up. Leaves my adrenaline free for spear attacks.

[requinox]

Watch Yourself! is very good against Kournans since the rangers use the double-adrenaline spirit. Personally I use both :grin:

[Forbiddian]

Watch Yourself! is good to have up anyway. It turns Elementalist Armor into Warrior Armor (and Warrior armor into stone-wall), it's ridiculously cheap, spammable, true-instant cast, and it falls off in 5 seconds.

There's no reason not to play Watch Yourself!

Anthem of Flame is good to have up anyway. It gives a very large amount of raw damage (even just burning two separate targets for 4 seconds each gives you 112 unmitigatable damage... and realistically, Anthem of Flame burns people for as much as 400 or so for 5 energy and instant cast), it's cheap and always available, it also grants cover conditions, protecting more important hexes like Blind, Weakness, Deep Wound, Crippled, and even bad conditions like Poison and Bleeding can be a hassle when they're constantly re-covered and reapplied randomly.

There's no reason not to play Anthem of Flame.


They're really your two core skills. You should be playing both in your standard Bard build. I can't think of any reasons to switch out of Warrior, but if there's a different secondary you want to try, you can keep up all of your shouts with Anthem of Flame alone.

[TadaceAce]

I use watch yourself because its awsome and gives good energy. As far as like maintaining my agressive refrain I use they're on fire and incoming. I was using anthem of flame for a while but stopping to cast that is just plain annoying. Help Me works well also for maintain agressive refrain.

[Calynda Danyciar]

I like to use them both, when i have spear/dmg build i always have Anthem of flame, and upkeeping mending refrain i have them both; Watch yourself if i can use some energy while fighting ,and it gives some nice armor bonus!