Guild Wars 2

There are so many good looking shields in the game, I would like to create a character that uses a shield.
Three classes can carry a shield: warrior, guardian and engineer.
Which of the classes I should choose?
Warrior has a defence against projectiles with the right trait, but is it worth the points?
Guardian can grant protection and absorb projectiles, but with a hammer and wall of reflection one can reach the same.
Engineer has good abilities with a shield, but since you can than only carry a pistol in the other hand this would have to be a condition damage build.
What to do?

I had a shield on each of those professions when I started out, really nice looking ones too. Ended up salvaging them.

The engie, mostly uses kits anyway so the weapons they hold are more for the stats.
Guardian, I used a shield for a while. Didn’t find it particularly useful.
Warrior, except for learning the skills, again, not particularly useful.

Make the profession you like and just take the shield. It is bad for every profession, so just use it in PvE when you are on your own and no one can annoy/insult you (So, not in dungeons).

Go with the engie. Shield skills are ok and you still get kits.

Eng is by far the best class to use a shield, both skills are good, even using kits a good eng can use a well timed knockback or a block.

Warrior with Shield is the way to go, especially if you pair it with a sword. What I like to do is interrupt/stun with shield bash then release Flurry (if adrenaline is full) for a massive amount of damage, even more if you talent so that every crit is an extra bleed effect (Stacking with the bleeds the burst puts on). Helped me a LOT in Arah.

This is even better when paired with another setup that has a huge amount of damage on a single ability like GS with 100Blades or OH Axe with Whirling Axe. Since neither one are Burst abilities, you can hit them at full adrenaline then swap to SwordnBoard and let Flurry off. Usually Vets are all that is left standing, and even then they are down a lot of health (a lot more if your weapons are Zerkers save for the shield.. I always do Soldier’s or Knight’s shield)

@Swag Captain: Can you link me a build for this?

Engi shield is actually really good. But it’s rarely used unless you’re running a defensive WvW/PvP setup. Most condition specs use pistol/pistol. The other problem is that using kits you’ll lose the visible shield often.

Guardian’s and Warrior’s shield isn’t that bad, it’s just that the other options are generally better.

You have to make the choice of more useful and covered up by kits vs less useful but always visible.

Here’s a working that’s more damaging than my current build, but loses a good bit of survivability (doesn’t get as many regen procs)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAR8ejMd0FalHOewJaAgAxYjAnncKjy2pB-TBSAwAF8EAJVeoUJGP1fqoEEgLC/9XLNCs0FAA-e

You’re doing less damage with flurry (as far as I know, maybe unless you’re running full condition gear) than you are with the auto-attack. Also Off-hand Axe 5 is a massive damage loss compared to the Axe auto-attack.

Hundred blades is good but would never go with Sword if you’re focusing on bleeds. Better off with Longbow.

However, in the open world. You’re pretty much free to use whatever you want. In dungeons though, you don’t really want to use conditions or a shield.

Out of all the Shield classes, I’d say Engineer is the best. While you’d be using a kit 90% of the time, there is a blast finisher and some nice stuns on the Engineer Shield, making it the most useful in my opinion

The fact that NOBODY has mentioned the possibility of a shield on a Guardian proves how much that weapon needs to be tweaked…..

Engineer has some valid uses for a shield between Kit swaps.

Never liked the Warrior Shield skills….too many other valuable off-hand possibilities in my opinion.

Since the OP was asking about the looks, when it comes to the Guardian I’ll only say one thing:

Beware the Aegis.

For pve, engineer shield is one of, if not the best choice.

Unfortunately if you’re looking to see your shield often, you won’t with an engineer. Hobosacks take precedence over your shield.

You won’t have to run a condi build either as your damage comes from kits (bomb/grenades) not from pistol which is terrible for damage.

Rouven.7409:

Since the OP was asking about the looks, when it comes to the Guardian I’ll only say one thing:

Beware the Aegis.

There are a few shields that the Aegis symbol actually looks good over, but it is functionally sub-par to just about every other off-hand and 2 handed choice.

Trust me, I wish shields would be functional and useful (in PvE).

Last game I liked for shields was Lotro – and there you could not chose your skin – grrr.

Grok Krog.9581:

You’re doing less damage with flurry (as far as I know, maybe unless you’re running full condition gear) than you are with the auto-attack. Also Off-hand Axe 5 is a massive damage loss compared to the Axe auto-attack.

Hundred blades is good but would never go with Sword if you’re focusing on bleeds. Better off with Longbow.

However, in the open world. You’re pretty much free to use whatever you want. In dungeons though, you don’t really want to use conditions or a shield.

Out of all the Shield classes, I’d say Engineer is the best. While you’d be using a kit 90% of the time, there is a blast finisher and some nice stuns on the Engineer Shield, making it the most useful in my opinion

:P I suppose I should preface every post I make with a build with “This player does builds most might consider unorthodox. He values concept and fun over functionality. Be warned.”