Guild Wars 2

Ok, before I ask my questions I’ll explain my build and how I use it. This is my hammer sword/warhorn build that I run with in WvW, the premise is to be a heavily armored tank that revolves around buffing, healing, and simultaneously removing/converting conditions from my allies and myself. I use my warhammer for stun-locking and dps while using the sword/warhorn for buffs and condition conversion into boons. The warbanner is used for when poo hits the fan and several people go down. I use this build and tactics in the fractals(lvl 5 atm) and so far I can park my kitten in front of either of the molten alliance bosses and ignore almost everything they throw in front of me as I passively regenerate/ and pop shout heals quicker than they can damage me.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNBiYDbk0J5t5RGCHOggeohVhAaK8DpHiBbkGA-j0yAY/khtEkpGA0HIiAc2rIasV2ioxqXw0lLqW9C4NY0qlBwcBA-w

So I have to ask, will running up smacking things with my hammer continue to work in the fractals? Will these tactics stops working altogether or become ineffective enough to the point where there are better options than melee ? What lvl of fractals is the cut-off point? Should I even bother going for an ascended hammer or is melee completely boned like it is in the Thaumanova Reactor?

Off topic: What’s with replacing everything with “kitten” as a censor?

At the lower levels I don’t see people having a problem with it. However, at higher levels I can see people having an issue.

The main thing I see here is the build seems to have a lot of knockdown and knockback, which is nice for PvP, but it’s not so great for PvE. First, Bosses have defiant which makes control skills less effective, and second, people like to keep trash mobs close together for AoE/Cleave. People who push mobs back is the single most annoying thing someone can do in a dungeon. Mesmers will use their Focus Skill 4 to pull mobs, but only if it’s to gather them up. Other than that, you’re hammer will have little use.

Actually, let’s look at each of your three weapons individually.

Hammer: It’s really good a crowd controlling mobs, but with defiant is useless during boss fights, and the knockback skill shouldn’t be used at all. Overall, this weapons isn’t a good choice for fractals.

Sword: This is a condition based weapon, IIRC. It’s really good at mobility and sticking to enemies like glue. However, most mobs don’t run away, so the leap is really only useful for the leap finisher.

Warhorn: Only really useful for applying weakness, but keep in mind it’s duration is reduced so much that it’s not that great. Sure it can be used as a blast finisher, but even blasting it’s not worth it. You also don’t get crippled or immobilized as much to make it worth taking.

However, I do have a Warhorn in my inventory just in case I want to AOE swiftness, plus it’s useful for when you do get immobilized while flipping a switch such as in the harpy fractal or the new asura fractal.

What I generally see Warriors run fractals in, as well as my alt Warrior, is Axe/Mace – greatsword, with warhorn, shield, longbow as backup for certain areas where it might be needed. The longbow isn’t needed as much if you’re in a steady group that melees him, but for PuGging, you’ll want to have a longbow.

I’m not logged on so I can tell you the build, but I’m sure it’s floating around the Warrior forums somewhere.

Will you be able to play with it? Yeah probably. But most people prefer warriors with high damage and banners over that. If they need support-ish builds they tend to pick guardians, so don’t be too surprised if people kick you at 30+.