Guild Wars 2

So I am going to attempt to make a guardian that is decently powerful (and use burning to accomplish that), but can also support. Obviously the build won’t be as powerful as a more focused build, and I know that I can re-trait if I’m not in the middle of something, but being able to do both at once is the kind of play style that appeals to me.

I don’t have much to say right now but am making the thread to see if anybody has suggestions or criticisms.

What I believe will be a problem is that I will need some support skills, but having support skills means I can’t have as many skills that cause burning. Having multiple skills that cause burning is important for a burn build though, because people remove conditions. I can’t decide how I want to split up my skill bar.

Continuing with discussing skills, It doesn’t seem to me like I will be able to do much with healing (GW2, imo, doesn’t really seem to lend itself to healing), which means my support will need to be boons or condition removal. I plan on having “Stand your ground” for this . I should probably have a second support skill, though, so any suggestions? (Wall of reflection, sanctuary, hold the line…).

Perhaps I can get runes, weapons, or traits that can help me support my party, but I’m not very familiar with what effects are possible. I’ll look into this, but suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, I am planning on using a great sword as my main weapon (it will help cause damage), but am willing to use a 1h sword if it’s better (tbh I’m fond of the great sword though. And it’s powerful. And with stand your ground I can attack quickly). For my alternate weapon I’m not sure, but probably scepter/focus or scepter/torch. I plan on looking into that as well, and suggestions are welcome.

The other issue that has come to mind, and the one that I believe will give me the most trouble, is how I should trait. I want zeal because it gives me power, and kindled zeal or amplified wrath (which tends to be better for doing more damage? I have yet to look at their specific effects) So I will probably put 6 traits in zeal.

I figure the rest of the points should go into radiance and valor. Radiance is good because it helps with burning, and has some nice traits. Is radiant retaliation any good? Seems not too great to me. Shimmering defense and searing flame are, imo, powerful and important for a burning build though.

For valor… I figure I should have it because it seems healing oriented. It doesn’t seem too great to me though. If I want to be decent at support should I put some points into valor?. I’ll use symbols and shouts, so it may come in handy.

I’ll make a prototype build sometime in the coming weeks and put it on gw2skills website and post a link here. For now, I’m looking for suggestions on how to get a good combination of offense and support, with the offense coming from burning. Preferred main weapon is a great sword. The build I figure will be more focused on offense then on support, but I want it to have decent support capability.

well the meta is berserker gear using greatsword, sword/sceptor and torch.

So at least you can use torch. But 99% of the people use focus instead. I think only those pro players in pro group use torch.

most of your dps is still going to come from direct damage. But for max dps you’ll need to use torch.

laokoko.7403:

So at least you can use torch. But 99% of the people use focus instead. I think only those pro players in pro group use torch.

Nope. Torch have a better dps than Focus only in longer fight, something that almost never happen with a good speed run group. Torch is mostly use by solo/duo when you need more fire to trigger trait that give 10% dmg when foes have fire on them.

But for pugs in general Focus or Torch, choice whatever you prefer.

Thaddeus.4891:

laokoko.7403:

So at least you can use torch. But 99% of the people use focus instead. I think only those pro players in pro group use torch.

Nope. Torch have a better dps than Focus only in longer fight, something that almost never happen with a good speed run group. Torch is mostly use by solo/duo when you need more fire to trigger trait that give 10% dmg when foes have fire on them.

But for pugs in general Focus or Torch, choice whatever you prefer.

is it even true? was watching a 20 minutes full fractal speed run and the guardian use torch. I’m pretty sure those speed run people are quite pro. I can’t find the video. I think it’s from rq or qt.

I dotn’ know if it’s true, I just assume that’s the best build because the pro people use it.

edit: base on my very unaccurate test, I would say it’s roughly the same. you need to wait for focus 5 to explode which take a few second with 45 second cooldown. Torch is 12 second cool down where you throw it. sceptor also have 4 skill which on single target hit 2 times(4 bounce), torch have some burning after.

Like I said Torch is better for longer fight. That’s why you will usually see Focus in dungeon (shorter fight), while torch will be use in fractal (longer fight). They are both really good offhand weapons.

I just dont’ see the difference and I actually tested it. You need to throw your torch to do the damage.

I’m not sure where you reach the conclusion.

torch 4 1909+2109(3.5 sec burning)

focus 5 2121 damage
focus 4 424 + 424

I’m not sure how focus 5 works. Does it always explode at 4 second or if it block 3 times?

anyway I dont’ think it really matter. focus have block that’s way better than torch most of the time for average player.

I prefer to talk about Coefficient, because damage are highly variable depending on your build.

Focus 4 can do dmg between 0.5 and 2.0 coefficient.
Focus 5 can do dmg of 2.5 coefficient but only if the shield is not destroyed.

Torch 4 can do dmg of 2.25 coefficient + burning.

So overall the focus will either protect you or do more dmg than torch. The thing is that you count the fire from the torch. It’s ok to count it if your group can’t maintain perma burning, but that happen rather rarely in a good group composition. You usually always want 1-2 Elementalist and if you have a guardian with that, you pretty much have perma burning with or without a torch. So even if the torch give burning, it don’t add any addition damage.

In short fight, Focus is usually the best choice because either it will do more dmg than Torch or it will protect you.

In longer fight where you don’t need to the protection from the focus, then yes Torch would be a better choice.

If you can’t maintain perma burning then torch can also be a good option, especially if you have some elementalist with you (they also have a 10% dmg modifier against foe with burning).

If you are in solo/dou, torch might be a good idea to keep burning higher. The fight are longer too.

I’m kind of confused on focus. If all 3 block is used up, it won’t do any damage?

I’m just curious.

laokoko.7403:

I’m kind of confused on focus. If all 3 block is used up, it won’t do any damage?

I’m just curious.

Exact. If he block 3 times, the skill don’t do damage.