Guild Wars 2

Goodmorning,

it’s been more than a year since I logged in the last time on GW2.
I always loved the game, but the lack of variety of builds (full berserker each class) in PVE, forced me to take a break and go play elsewhere.

Now after a year, I’m asking you:
- is every class building full berserk yet in PVE?
- are other builds like Healing Power based viable?
- is WvW still worth playing?

Thanks in advance.

is every class building full berserk yet in PVE?

• the “As much damage as possible, as little utility as needed” meta is still in-place in a lot of locations. Condition damage is however more viable in the meta (meaning: less Berserker’s, more Viper’s)
• Raids have also been introduced making place for more dedicated healers (druids, tempests for example) and tanks (mesmers are a great tank!)
• Dungeons, Fractals etc. often have groups that accept non-meta builds. If you like non-meta gameplay, don’t worry. Most people aren’t that stuck-up with the Meta anymore unless the stakes are high.

are other builds like Healing Power based viable?

• Answered in the above section, but yes!

is WvW still worth playing?

• It totally is, WvW now has reward tracks, better rewards, and continues to get support. WvW isn’t perfect yet but it’s getting a lot of attention (especially compared since before.)

Lack of builds only exists for those only logging into Metabattle for builds, instead of concepts…..
Bringing your own ideas and buids tends to be fun. Variants on the basic concept will catch people offguard in PvP and WvW.

In PvE Berserker will stay Meta for DPS builds as the stat combination is optimal for DPS builds
In PvE Viper’s surpassed Sinister as the main DOT solution.
In PvE Commanders and several other types of gear found their way into tanking

In PvE Zealots tends to work nicely for healing support builds with DPS
Magi’s (no offensive stats) became meta for maxed out healing with no DPS, in group content. Healing contributes now to paticipation.
Healing in combination with condition builds is now a viable option though condition main /healing main /precision and concentration would be a worthwhile addition.

CC has gained performance, and lost performance…. CC’s are usefull for breakbar’s but interupts tend to be diificult if not impossible on champions now.

I haven’t been as active in WvW but it’s very much ALIVE… with th expected influx of new and returning players for LS S3 this will get a minor boost

HoT added a lot of other interesting options though…. GL.

Why do everyone misstake optimal=viable…. every build in gw2 is viable

We also have Marauder’s stats now, for those unwilling to go full glass berzerker. It gives less power and ferocity than Berzerker, but more Precision and Vitality.

Aron.8429:

the lack of variety of builds (full berserker each class) in PVE,

It’s never been the case that you can only play zerker.

Aron.8429:

forced me to take a break and go play elsewhere.

Forced you? You didn’t like anything in the game if you played zerker?

Aron.8429:

- is every class building full berserk yet in PVE?

No, condition classes are desired in raids, certain high level fractals, and are very useful in open world.

Aron.8429:

- are other builds like Healing Power based viable?

Yes

Aron.8429:

- is WvW still worth playing?

If you liked it before, you probably will like it again. Your mileage will vary, though — not sure anyone can tell you for sure.

Linken.6345:

Why do everyone misstake optimal=viable…. every build in gw2 is viable

It’s more insidious than that. People mistake ‘optimal for experienced speed run teams doing speed runs’ for ‘optimal for everyone everywhere’.

Optimal speed run builds are not optimal for most players, even players trying to do the same content. They could be decidedly sub-optimal in a different environment – aka, if you’re not trying to raid, stop copying raid builds.

Ensign.2189:

Linken.6345:

Why do everyone misstake optimal=viable…. every build in gw2 is viable

It’s more insidious than that. People mistake ‘optimal for experienced speed run teams doing speed runs’ for ‘optimal for everyone everywhere’.

Optimal speed run builds are not optimal for most players, even players trying to do the same content. They could be decidedly sub-optimal in a different environment – aka, if you’re not trying to raid, stop copying raid builds.

And even that can be expanded upon; far too many people copy the build and then don’t play it as intended or to its fullest potential.

There will always be a meta. The trinity system that so many people who hate the “full zerk” parties want so much is just the same; you’re forced into a role or style of play for optimization. The reasons the optimization exist are different; trinity demands it by game design, in GW2, it’s by player choice. The benefit to GW2 is that any build can complete the content. The pure-berserker ideology just came from the fact people got bored of running the same dungeon a million times and wanted to get it over with for their gold to go an enjoy playing the aspect of the game they really liked.

Frankly, I’ve never joined an all-zerk party for any dungeon, ever, despite the fact I play with such heavy damage. All-welcome parties were typically similarly efficient.

There will always be a meta. Always. There will be something mathematically superior at the highest echelon of play, and people in that category will use it, and then their habits will become famous and the sheep who want to walk in their footsteps will flock to it.

Myth: zerker is meta because speed runs and perfect optimization are the only way high profile / veteran players have fun, and use it to keep out n00bs

Fact: zerker is meta because toughness and vitality investment is functionally useless. the way damage works in high end PvE, a zerker investment means enemies will kill you in two hits. A tanky invested character dies in three hits. Even support characters (revenant, mesmer, druid, healer ele) often run full zerker because investing in different stats just doesnt go anywhere. Also if you raid, investing in a lot of toughness makes it awkward for doing VG, because it messes up the party dynamic

Alex Shatter.7956:

a zerker investment means enemies will kill you in two hits. A tanky invested character dies in three hits.

This is not true. I don’t have math but my Necro is full Knight. I can take waaay more hits than a Zerker. I usually do fractals with randoms and I’m often the only alive person reviving others while the boss is tickling my back. In fact, I don’t think I ever died on my Necro (in PvE) and I don’t even remember the last time I was downed… Toughness is underrated. :c

On topic: F—k the meta, play the way YOU want.

Mea.5491:

Alex Shatter.7956:

a zerker investment means enemies will kill you in two hits. A tanky invested character dies in three hits.

This is not true. I don’t have math but my Necro is full Knight.

All you needed to say was necro. They by default have the highest EHP out of all classes and naturally giving them toughness does more.

TexZero.7910:

All you needed to say was necro. They by default have the highest EHP out of all classes and naturally giving them toughness does more.

And that’s why they are the best! I love my immortal Necro build so much.

Well, this answers a lot of my question. Thank you very much all of you.