Guild Wars 2

How does dodging work in GW2? Are there red telegraphs on the ground to be avoided? Or do you have to watch mobs to determine when they’re going to do an attack that should be dodged?

Thanks!

Yes, to both. Although the telegraphs might be orange, as well.

Depends on the mob. World bosses tend to use a telegraph while your average enemy will just require you to notice their movements. Now that can get a little difficult with the particle effects so watch as well as you can.

Here are 3 short videos to demonstrate how dodging is important and how it works in combat:

Elementalist Combat:

Thief Combat:

Guardian Combat:

Thanks! Do regular, landscape mobs require that much dodging? I’m not sure if I will run dungeons or not, might just farm landscape to get enough gold to buy gear off the AH, if that’s viable.

Dodging is always required if you don’t plan to die…

You can create Tanky characters but you’re never a tank.
It might help if you are not good at dodging but still dodge from incoming attacks whatever you do. Make dodging and moving a habbit.

OK. Do you mostly have to dodge straight back from the mob? Looked like it from the videos. If so, can you set up a hotkey that only takes one key stroke to work?

Depends what direction you need to dodge…
Sometimes best to dodge back.
Sometimes best to dodge right or left.
Sometimes best to dodge forward towards an enemy attk while chasing enemy…

Dodge in the direction you need to dodge in the situation given

It should be fine as long as your ok with exotics (orange) gear and to be completely honest that will do just fine in 90% of the games content.

Make sure when you sell stuff to use the Black Lion and sell to lowest seller NOT highest buyer. However, if you do ever decide to do dungeons you can make a lot of coin. Also world boss runs are pretty profitable. They will give you a chance to practice your dodging ability too.

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.
http://gw2timer.com/

I just sent you a Private message. If you have any questions regarding combat or professions then feel free to PM me and I’ll do my best to help out.

Cheers <3

OK, thanks for all the help! I’m afraid GW2 may not be for me. I’m pretty bad at dodging, historically.

Just check out the guide I PMed you and check it out.
I think you’ll do fine honestly. =)

GW2 isn’t for everyone but don’t let dodging be what keep you out. I just think about it like an extra skill. Playing as an Elementalist was what taught me to do it. Lots of power but pretty much requires you to doge to do really well in combat. Plus several of the skills have a dodge built into them.

I was terrible at it when I started. It’s not that important at first. The best way to learn is to do the Daily Dodge Achievement in the starter zones. It really depends on the situation, there are lots of places where a missed dodge won’t kill you.

I wouldn’t let dodging turn you away from GW2, truly. And, there is already a key set for dodge (V), or you can double tap the movement keys or click the dodge bar.

Lol, I rarely use a dedicated key, and I don’t die that much, so it can’t be that difficult.

What is the dodge bar??

Victros.8154:

What is the dodge bar??

The yellow bar above your hp

Not to be mean, but doesn’t the game have newbie tutorials?

Victros.8154:

OK, thanks for all the help! I’m afraid GW2 may not be for me. I’m pretty bad at dodging, historically.

I turned off the ‘auto-dodge’ got fed up of dodging with normal movement … if you do get downed, and even die, the good people around you will probably assist in healing you again.

I have, since the game launched, been able to, somewhat, dodge … but it has to be a very conscious effort on my part to do so. I usually just, RUN!

Solus.3926:

Victros.8154:

OK, thanks for all the help! I’m afraid GW2 may not be for me. I’m pretty bad at dodging, historically.

I turned off the ‘auto-dodge’ got fed up of dodging with normal movement … if you do get downed, and even die, the good people around you will probably assist in healing you again.

I have, since the game launched, been able to, somewhat, dodge … but it has to be a very conscious effort on my part to do so. I usually just, RUN!

I was the same way when I first started. Then I mapped the dodge key to a thumb button on my mouse. Makes for significantly easier dodging. And now it’s just second nature to dodge.

Arzo.8671:

Solus.3926:

Victros.8154:

OK, thanks for all the help! I’m afraid GW2 may not be for me. I’m pretty bad at dodging, historically.

I turned off the ‘auto-dodge’ got fed up of dodging with normal movement … if you do get downed, and even die, the good people around you will probably assist in healing you again.

I have, since the game launched, been able to, somewhat, dodge … but it has to be a very conscious effort on my part to do so. I usually just, RUN!

I was the same way when I first started. Then I mapped the dodge key to a thumb button on my mouse. Makes for significantly easier dodging. And now it’s just second nature to dodge.

I was going to suggest this as well, but was beaten to the punch. Most mice these days will have at least 2 buttons for thumb control. Unless you have a Razr mouse where you can your entire utility bar. Mine has 2 and I’ve mapped a dodge on one and the number 7 skill onto the other. On this button I’ve mapped a cleanse, so for a warr it’s “Shake it Off!” which has saved me so many times from knock backs, stuns and CC’s.

Go to Caledon or Wayfarer and practice on archers. You’ll be dodging in your sleep in no time.

zenleto.6179:

Go to Caledon or Wayfarer and practice on archers. You’ll be dodging in your sleep in no time.

Great advice. I use the archers at Shaemoor Garrison. They telegraph their attacks so it’s a lot easier when you’re learning the mechanic.

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

Yes, to both. Although the telegraphs might be orange, as well.

Orange seems to be the new red.

Victros.8154:

Thanks! Do regular, landscape mobs require that much dodging? I’m not sure if I will run dungeons or not, might just farm landscape to get enough gold to buy gear off the AH, if that’s viable.

Nay. Regular open world mobs have at most 1 or 2 really strong attacks, sure you could theoretically dodge all of their attacks but since you’re limited to only 2 dodges in a row dodging every attack becomes impossible. So you’re at most looking out for those strong attacks and even if you don’t dodge it’s not a big deal.

Victros.8154:

OK. Do you mostly have to dodge straight back from the mob? Looked like it from the videos. If so, can you set up a hotkey that only takes one key stroke to work?

Well dodging back from a charging abomination won’t be in your favor.

Blix.8021:

Victros.8154:

What is the dodge bar??

The yellow bar above your hp

Not to be mean, but doesn’t the game have newbie tutorials?

Not really. A couple of tips here and there.

Contrary to common sense, dodge in GW2 is not just a movement tool. When you dodge, for that short second you are “evading” all attacks, including Area Effects. Incidently you only progress in Daily Dodger if you actually avoided damage by evasion.

On the other hand, most PvE mob skills can be avoided by simple positioning. It takes just a little bit of experience to learn if an attack telegraphed by red rings require you to dodge out of the AoE, or if you can just run/walk out of them without using up a dodge (or even just soak up the little damage). Even some normal attacks from monsters only take effect if you are standing right in front of them, with a long enough activation time for you to just strafe to the side (see drake breaths for example).

Take that with the fact that you can use 99.8% of your skills while moving (but not while dodging), and you will realize that while dodging is useful as just another tool, it is mostly positioning that you need to master for your defense.

Victros.8154:

OK, thanks for all the help! I’m afraid GW2 may not be for me. I’m pretty bad at dodging, historically.

I played this game for at least half a year (including a couple of characters to level 80) thinking myself totally incapable of dodging. Then, when the daily dodger achievement first came out, I finally started to take a look at what attacks are actually dodgeable, how to notice them, and how to react in time. I played around with my key bindings and options, and before I knew it, dodging had become second nature to me. But as long as you don’t plan to play high-end dungeon content, you can really get along fine without dodging, just by moving out of the way if you see anything nasty coming your way. Give it a try, the game is a ton of fun, and while dodging does make some things easier, you can very much enjoy the game without it.

OK, thanks for all the help. I’ll give it a shot.

What about kiting? Do you have to kite much if you go with a melee build?

Further to DreamyAbaddon’s post, here is another video highlighting telegraphs, AoE indicators, positioning, combo-fields, cleaves and dodges during the Modniir Ulgoth boss fight.

As you can see, everything is clearly telegraphed so that the players always have a variety of options in combat.