gww>SabSparrow: /* Monk */ Probably too convoluted after all

2026-04-26T05:51:02Z

Monk: Probably too convoluted after all

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==The Doppelganger==
{{main|Doppelganger}}
The Doppelganger is level 20 (Normal mode) or level 30 (Hard mode); it equips the same skills as you, and has rank 12 in each [[attribute]] of your primary and secondary [[profession]]s, excluding the primary attribute of your secondary profession, and uses maximum damage weapons: a [[spear]] at distance, a [[Shocking]] [[axe]] in melee [[range]]. It can use any [[melee attack]] skill with its axe and any [[ranged attack]] skill with its spear.

Both you and the Doppelganger are under the effects of the [[Divine Fire]] enchantment for the duration of the mission.

The Doppelganger will outperform you in most situations, especially pure damage, and [[heal]] itself and [[interrupt]] more effectively than you can, but:
*Most importantly, you can use skills more intelligently than the AI.
**It uses "maintainable" skills even if they have no benefit (e.g. [[Air Attunement]] despite lacking other Air Magic spells, or [[point blank area of effect]] skills even if you fight at distance), wasting energy and time during which you can simply attack.
*** The most notable of those are [[Nature Ritual]]s, as the Doppelganger will always prioritize them, they have a long activation time and their effect affect both sides.
**It rarely [[Line of sight|dodges]].
**It tends to prioritize the [[skill bar]] from left to right, so you can benefit by arranging sequences or chains oddly.
**It does not execute sensible skill combos.
**It does not [[spam]] skills.
**It will foolishly use skills that remove useful enchantments, stances or preparations.
*It cannot use [[PvE-only skills]], excluding the [[List of Anniversary Celebration elite skills|10 Anniversary elite skills]].
*The Doppelganger does not have a [[pet]] or a [[shield]], and cannot benefit from certain skills that require a specific weapon (such as [[Riposte]] or [[Grenth's Aura]]).
*You can pre-cast enchantments before being taken to the arena.
*You can increase attribute ranks beyond 12 using [[rune]]s and the +1 attribute rank from headgear.

===General Tips===
Make sure you adjust your build to this mission, general purpose builds and techniques will not work. Ensure also that you have [[max armor]]. If you do not have it yet, you can obtain it quickly through [[List of armor collectors in Crystal Desert|collectors in the Crystal Desert]].

Regarding your skills:
*'''Do not bring [[healing skill]]s'''! They only delay the fight as the Doppelganger will also use those skills.
*The easiest way to deal with the Doppelganger is [[Punish|attack punishment]]. Many professions have some form of punishment. Just using the skills and letting the Doppelganger kill himself from it will work most of the time (Bear in mind that you can also employ most of these skills if that profession is your ''secondary'' profession):
** [[Empathy]] (Mesmers). You can [[Line of sight|dodge]] the Doppelganger's attacks.
** [[Insidious Parasite]] or [[Price of Failure]], and/or [[Spiteful Spirit]]. (Necromancers). If using Insidious Parasite, you must take the damage.
** [[Flashing Blades]] (Assassins).
** [[Sliver Armor]] (Elementalists).
** [[Riposte]] and [[Deadly Riposte]] (Warriors). [[Gladiator's Defense]] can be used as well, but the skill is usually available in the next mission.
** [[Retribution]], [[Shield of Judgment]] (Monks).
*Other punishments can work as well, notably anti-spells ([[Backfire]]), anti-enchantments ([[Shatter Enchantment]], [[Scourge Enchantment]]), anti-block ([[Defile Defenses]]), providing you bring the corresponding skills.
*Many builds take advantage of your opponent's inability to use [[List of PvE-only skills|PvE-only skills]]. See also: [https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/Build:Any/N_Augury_Rock_HM PvX]. Some examples:
**Bring [[Ursan Blessing]], [[Pain Inverter]], and an [[Asura summon]].
**Use a melee weapon and bring [[Sneak Attack]] to render the Doppelganger harmless.
**Bring [[Ebon Vanguard Sniper Support]], [[Signet of Infection]], and [[Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support]] to kill the Doppelganger within seconds.
**Bring [[Asuran Scan]] with a blocking effect to counter block on the Doppelganger while letting you benefit from the block effect.
*In Normal mode, [[Frenzy]] will allow you to deal double damage against the Doppelganger (don't use the skill yourself).
*Skills with health sacrifice (from the Necromancer's attributes or [[Offering of Spirit]]) can work well. [[Scourge Sacrifice]] or [[Awaken the Blood]] will double the sacrifice.
*[[Nature Ritual]]s, even useless ones, will allow you benefit from their effects (notably [[Favorable Winds]], [[Winnowing]], but also [[Lacerate]] and [[Toxicity]]) while keeping the Doppelganger busy activating them.
*You can leave skill slots empty.
*Non-casters can rely on bringing [[spam]]mable attack skills as the Doppelganger will use these less frequently than you.
*If fighting at distance, bring equipment or skills that protect against [[piercing damage]]. For melee, bring protection against [[lightning damage]].
*Use a ranged weapon and bring ranged attack skills for it, but move to melee range. The Doppelganger will switch to axe and be unable to use the ranged attack skills.

==Additional Profession-specific tactics==
====Warrior ====
*Bring [[Wild Blow]] and a number of [[adrenal skill]]s with high adrenaline cost. Use only adrenal skills and let the Doppelganger lose its adrenaline everytime it uses Wild Blow.
**You can increase your advantage through [[List of adrenaline-related skills|adrenaline-building skills]], such as [[Enraging Charge]].

====Ranger====
*A [[beast master]] build works exceptionally well against the doppelganger, often defeating it in under 30 seconds. Bring [[Comfort Animal]], [[Call of Protection]], and [[Otyugh's Cry]], and then fill all other skill slots with pet buffs or pet attacks. The doppelganger does not have a pet, so they are useless to the doppelganger.
**Don't bring [["Together as One!"]] or [[Heal as One]], as the doppelganger can use those skills without a pet.
*Bring [[Troll Unguent]] and [[Savage Shot]]; the Doppelganger will only use Savage Shot to interrupt spells, while you can easily prevent it from healing.
*Use a [[preparation]] before the cinematic.
*Bring [[trap]]s and plant them along the side walkways. Avoid and lure the Doppelganger into them, and it will eventually die.
* With Nature Rituals:
** Use an [[area damage over time]] spell to destroy Nature Rituals, forcing the Doppelganger to recreate them. [[Quickening Zephyr]] will allow you to do this quicker.
** Bring [[Melandru's Arrows]] as the Doppelganger has an enchantment on it ([[Divine Fire]]), so your attacks will inflict constant bleeding and deal +damage.
*Bring only [[bow attack]]s and skills that benefit bow attacks (such as a [[preparation]] or [[Favorable Winds]]). Move within melee range of the Doppelganger. It will change to a melee weapon and be unable to use any skill.

====Monk====
*In Normal mode, the Doppelganger will only use [[Healing Breeze]] to counter [[health degeneration]], not [[health loss]]. Bring this as the only skill and [[Wanding|wand]] it to death.
*A [[55 Monk]] build works well in Normal mode.
*Bring four useless [[maintained enchantment]]s (such as [[Blessed Aura]], [[Divine Boon]], [[Holy Veil]], and [[Life Attunement]]) and four damaging skills from [[Smiting Prayers]]. Use only the Smiting Prayers skills, while the Doppelganger wastes its energy on maintained enchantments it cannot benefit from.
*The AI does not consider [[Ray of Judgment]] as an [[area of effect]] skill and will not run. Evade the incoming rays and you should eventually be the one left standing. Combine with [[Arcane Echo]] for a faster fight.
*Use [[Dismiss Condition]] and ensure you inflict no conditions. The AI will not use this just for healing, but you can, as you are enchanted with [[Divine Fire]].

====Necromancer====
* Take only two skills - [[Insidious Parasite]] and [[Enfeebling Blood]], then just wait until the Doppelganger kills itself. You will need to recast them once.
* Weakness from [[Enfeeble]] or [[Enfeebling Blood]] will reduce the damage taken from the Doppelganger's attacks.
* Bring health sacrifice skills. The Doppelganger will sacrifice itself to death. [[Awaken the Blood]] can help boost the health sacrifice cost, but do not use it yourself.

====Mesmer====
*Use only [[Empathy]]. Do not attack. You can [[Line of sight|dodge]] its attacks, but just maintain the hex and wait for the Doppelganger to kill itself.
**This works even better if you bring an [[IAS]] (especially [[Frenzy]]) or in Hard Mode, as the increased attack speed will result in quicker deaths.
**[[Distortion]], [[Mantra of Lightning]] (exploiting its lightning axe in melee), [[Spirit of Failure]] can be used if defense is required.

====Elementalist====
*Use your secondary class to damage the Doppelganger when it attacks (e.g. Empathy for Mesmers, [[Insidious Parasite]] for Necromancers).
** For defense you can protect yourself with [[Blinding Flash]], [[Armor of Earth]], [[Armor of Frost]] or [[Ward Against Melee]]/[[Ward Against Elements]].
*Use [[Blinding Flash]] to maintain Blind. Bring a [[wand]] or [[staff]] and attack the doppelganger. The AI will not Blind you unless you use a [[martial weapon]].
** Bringing a weapon dealing [[fire damage|fire]], [[cold damage|cold]] or [[lightning damage]] along with [[Conjure Flame]], [[Conjure Frost]] or [[Conjure Lightning]]. respectively will increase your damage without affecting the Doppelganger's.
*** When using Conjure Lightning, stay out of melee range of the doppelganger so it doesn't switch to its shocking axe.
*** [[Mark of Rodgort]] with a weapon dealing fire damage can be used to inflict [[Burning]].

====Assassin====
*You can rely on finishing a strong dagger combo faster than the Doppelganger. Bring "maintainables" from your secondary profession to occupy the Doppelganger while you begin your combo.
**Bring any lead and off-hand attack with [[Death Blossom]] and [[Moebius Strike]]. Repeat the latter two until dead.
**[[Golden Lotus Strike]], [[Fox Fangs]], [[Death Blossom]], [[Flourish]], then start again.
*Bring a PvE-only skill that allows you to skip the lead attack. Any off-hand and dual attack combination will then be available to you but not the Doppelganger. [[Repeating Strike]] is especially worth mentioning.
** [[Sneak Attack]] is a PvE-only lead attack. Sneak Attack is especially effective as it also applies Blind.
** [["You Move Like A Dwarf!"]] or [[Brawling Headbutt]] will cause [[knock down]], and two off-hand attacks ([[Falling Lotus Strike]] and [[Falling Spider]]) require a knocked down foe.
** [[Asuran Scan]] or [[Pain Inverter]] are PvE-only hexes and [[Black Spider Strike]] requires a hexed foe.
*[[Critical Agility]] provides strong defensive and offensive effects.

====Ritualist====
*Using spirits, after the cinematic, immediately ''fallback'' up the ramp. The Doppelganger will cast its spirits in the middle of the map, so you will be outside of their detection and attack range. Cast there your own spirits. The Doppelganger will run to you, getting easily killed by the spirits. [[Shadowsong]], [[Painful Bond]] or [[Signet of Spirits]] are particularly effective.

====Paragon====
*Bring only [[chant]]s ''except'' [[Ballad of Restoration]], [[Chorus of Restoration]], [[Defensive Anthem]] and [[Song of Restoration]]. Do not use any skills, just attack the Doppelganger while it wastes time activating chants it cannot benefit from.
*Bring only [[spear attack]]s (such as [[Disrupting Throw]], [[Cruel Spear]], [[Harrier's Toss]], and [[Slayer's Spear]]) and chants (such as [[Anthem of Flame]]). Move within melee range of the Doppelganger. It will change to a melee weapon and be unable to use any skill.

====Dervish====
*If you have a form up before activating the final glyph, it will be removed before entering the hall with the Doppelganger.
** Interrupting the Doppelganger's form (with "You Move Like a Dwarf!" for instance) can be effective.
*[[Grenth's Aura]] can provide healing. The Doppelganger receives no healing because it does not use a scythe.
*[[Mirage Cloak]] can help attack punishment strategies.

==External links==
*[https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/Build:Any/Rt_Signet_of_Spirits_Solo_Content Any/Rt Signet of Spirits Solo Content at PvXwiki]
*[https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/Build:Any/N_Augury_Rock_HM Any/N Augury Rock HM at PvXwiki]
[[Category:Quest guides]]
[[Category:Solo builds]]

Augury Rock/Guide - Revision history

gww>SabSparrow: /* Monk */ Probably too convoluted after all