Guild Wars 2

I had a thought about why the ele has such a hard time being viable. It’s a sum of multiple reasons. They’ve been documented, weak auto attack, locked out of appropriate skills fitting a situation, telegraphed attacks, long chanelling attacks, low health + low armor.

The biggest thing I notice when playing the ele, is that hard CC hurts BAD. The combination of offense being tied to telegraphed skills, channeled skills, and defense being so weak and on long cool downs… it’s out of whack when compared to the other professions.

I’ve got enough experience with Guardian, Warrior, Mesmer, and Thief to know that out of these 5 professions ele has the weakest capacity to hold up against hard CCs.
I’m going to break it down as much as I can.

Guardian: Overall CC defense is on medium cooldowns, can be used rapidly, and readily available regardless of build. Naturally high armor also helps survivability during CC

Blind: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blinds can be used against immobilize
Virtue of Resolve (21-30s cd), leap of faith (12||15s cd)[precast/immob only], flashing blade (8||10s cd), ray of judgement (20||25s cd)[precast/immob only], judges intervention (36||45s cd)

Block: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
virtue of courage (63-90s cd), shield of wrath (36||45s cd), protector’s strike (12||15s cd)[precast/immob only], shield of absorption (32||40s cd -- melee knockback/projectile absorb but counting as a block)[precast/immob only], shelter (30s cd)[precast/immob only], retreat (48||60s cd), "save yourselves" (48||60s cd)

Invincibility: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
renewed focus (90s cd)[precast/immob only],

Stability: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
hallowed ground (aoe, 10s duration, 64||80s cd), “stand your ground!” (aoe, 5s duration, 24||30s cd), indomitable courage (aoe, 3 second duration, 63-90s cd)

Stun break: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
“save yourselves!” (48||60s cd), “stand your ground!” (24||30s cd), contemplation of purity (48||60s cd)[immob too], judge’s intervention (36||45s cd), signet of judgement (24||30s cd), shield of the avenger (60||15s cd)

Warrior: Overall CC defense is on medium cooldowns, can be used rapidly, and readily available

Blind: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blinds can be used against immobilize
smoldering arrow (15s cd)[precast/immob only]

Block: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
counterblow (10||8s cd)[precast/immob only], riposte (15||12s cd)[precast/immob only], shield stance (30||24s cd)[precast/immob only],

Invincibility: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
endure pain (4-5s duration, 60||48s cd), defy pain (4-5s duration, 60||48s cd)

Stability: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
balanced stance (8s duration, 0||32s cd), dolyak signet (8s duration, 60||48s cd), lyssa + signet of rage (5s duration, 60||48s cd)[immobilize too]

Stun break: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
“shaky it off!” (25||22s cd)[immob too], balanced stance (40||32s cd), endure pain (4-5s duration, 60||48s cd), defy pain (4-5s duration, 60||48s cd), frenzy (60||48s cd), stomp (45||36s cd),

Berserker Stance (8||10s duraiton, 60||48s cd): Immunity to immobilize and soft CCs

Healing Signet: This skill?/trait? allows for signifcant healing during and after surviving CC while continuing combat

Mesmer: Overall CC defense is on medium to low cooldowns, and can be used rapidly, and are fairly readily available

Blind: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blinds can be used against immobilize
Illusionary Counter (12||9.6s cd)[precast/immob only], The Prestige (30||24s cd), Signet of Midnight (30||24s cd)

Block: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
Illusionary Counter[precast/immob only], Illusionary Riposte(15||12s cd)[precast/immob only], Aegis (Prysmatic Understanding)

Distortion: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
Distortion (1-4s duration, 60||42s cd)

Evade: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time evades can be used against immobilize
Blurred Frenzy (2.5s duration, 12||9.6s cd)[precast/immob only]

Stability: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
Power Break (2-3 uses, 2s duration, 25||20s cd)

Stun break: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
Power Break (2-3 uses, 25||20s cd), Blink (30||24s cd), Decoy (40||32s cd), Mirror Images (45||36s cd), Signet of Midnight (30||24s cd), Swap (12||9.6s cd)

Elementalist Overall CC defense is on high cooldowns, can be used rapidly, and are somewhat readily available.

Note that skills with an upper range cooldown less than 13 seconds will be marked with a 13s upper range cooldown due to attunement swapping maximum cooldown duration

Blind: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blinds can be used against immobilize
Blinding Flash (13-4s cd), Lightning Surge (AoE, 13-8s cd)[precast/immob only], Dust Devil (15-12s cd)[precast/immob only]

Block: instant casts offer protection during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
Arcane Shield (3 blocks, 75||60s cd)

Evade: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time evades can be used against immobilize
Burning Retreat (1s duration, 20||16s cd)[precast/immob only], Updraft (1s duration, 40||32s cd)[precast/immob only], *upcoming patch* Burning Speed (1s? duration, 15-12s cd)

Invincibility: instant casts offer damage immunity during all CCs and cast time blocks can be used against immobilize
Mist Form (3s duration, 75||60s cd), Obsidian Flesh (5s duration, 40||32s cd)

Stability: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
Armor or Earth (6s duraiton, upcoming patch 75||60s cd), Earth’s Embrace (@50% hp, 6s duraiton, upcoming patch 75||60s cd)

Stun break: effective against hard CC’s like knocks, stun, daze, and fear (mostly not immobilize)
Arcane Shield (75||60s cd), Armor of Earth (upcoming patch 75||60s cd), Armor of Earth (@50% hp, upcoming patch 75||60s cd), Mist Form (75||60s cd), Glyph of Elemental Power (45||36s cd), Signet of Air (30||24s cd)

I think this belongs in the ElE or spvp.

I didn’t do an analysis of the thief like I wanted to. I got exhausted from the other 4 professions, I might come back to it.

Can a mod please move this? I meant to put this in the ele subforum..