Guild Wars 2

My next plan is to level up an alt for dungeon and fractal running. I don’t care as much about DPS (though it would be nice). The focus would be more on support and solo survivability when necessary.

What’s your recommendation?

Mesmer.

I have 4 level 80s, all exotic/ascended gear (Mes, Guard, Thief, and Warrior), and from my experience I like mesmer the best for a blend of damage, support and self sustainability. While the others are certainly useful (and arguably, equally survivable with good utility), I always find myself coming back to my mesmer to do dungeons and fractals because with the build I have I can still be very useful and do good damage while staying alive. Alternatively, there are many occasions where I do reroll my guardian or warrior to achieve a different purpose, but overall I prefer my mesmer. The utility skills are unique, as well as fun, and I just don’t get the same feeling on other professions. Guardian would be my second recommendation, if you would prefer to survive more and give greater group support over damage and utility. And again, you can run different builds on both of these professions to do similar things, it’s all about the play-style you prefer!

Mesmers are nice, but nothing beats a properly traited and geared elementalist. Sadly it outperforms my warrior by far.

In terms of survival Guardians hail above all; I would consider mesmer is your for damage and survival mix. Ele’s have dps but almost no survival really, 3 mobs on you and you’re in trouble and those boss AOEs, best not be out of position.
If you’re going for unique you could go with a dodge-thief, I personally don’t recommend it but its all about style.

This is now becoming a fascinating discussion for me. I honestly hadn’t even considered Mesmer a possibility.

I did level an elementalist up to 22, but found him to be entirely too squishy for my liking. King of AoE though.

How do you deal damage as a Mesmer though? I’m not terribly familiar with the profession, but thought it was more about illusion. I actually assumed a guardian could do more damage.

Mesmer uses illusions to soak damage; essentially your clones take agro and being so easily created you can sustain by sending fodder clones constantly.
Mesmers don’t have crazy high damage but still get by; thus they are a mix of survival and damage. If you’re intending to solo play a lot, beware of your numbers, mesmers can’t handle many at once (you’re clones will die faster than you can make); dungeons aren’t Mesmers focus really. Unfortunately most bosses have and spam AOE attacks wiping out your clones all at once this losing your defense. I’ve heard mix on this, some say AOE bosses ruin mesmers where I’ve also heard clones can’t be overcome by most bosses.
True survival is within the Guardian; I expect sooner than later Necromancers will get buffed and be able to life steal more and eventually utilize that for sustain however as of now I have not heard truth to this.

Warriors can tank of course! They have great damage with mild survival when made correctly and personally are a very fun class.

I think different chars got better chance to stay alive in different areas/dungeons but guardian and mesmer is my guess with mesmer slightly ahead. Mesmer got a huge number of interrupts, blocks, inv skills and blinds. Mesmer got more then 1 way to apply vigor also for more endurance. In a way all confusion helps protect the mesmer in wvw and pvp and all clones and stealth if used right can confuse other players beyond belief.

Actually mesmers handle clone production very well with just one trait. So useful it’s I would consider it mandatory.

In fact I consider mesmer good against multiple mobs, it’s just a matter of learning the class and skills and knowing how strong of control mesmer has.

ranger. why? 1500 range with longbow, AoE Heal which removes conditions, a pet as a short little additional aggro distraction, lightning reflexes, mass tourettes elite skill which grants 3 seconds invulnerability, a knockback bow skill, a evading sword skill, similiar to lightning reflexes…not to mention all the nice supportive/aggressive mishmash style of gameplay which can help keep your group alive a little longer.
for example: one of your mates is in downed state? np: quickening zephyr before trying to help him up

…
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ok, you guys got me… it is because it’s my main char…any problem with that?

I just finished leveling a guardian to 80 and kitting her out, mainly for dungeons. So, far, only did AC story at lvl 43, so have yet to try her at her best. From what I have experienced leveling the guardian, it has a shed load of survivability and group buffing/healing skills.

As for a ranger in dungeons, I agree with wauwi. More often the ranger is the last toon standing, still sending out a steady stream of ranged DPS. while the so called survival or DPS classes are running back from wp’s .. It is the most over-looked class for dungeons because many players. both playing rangers and not playing them, do not understand the class, nor it’s role in dungeons.

One of the best dungeon runs I have ever done was Arah story (one of the most difficult runs in the game – before the recent nerf ..) with a guild PUG of 3 rangers, 1 thief, and 1 engineer. We got through it without a single party wipe because we knew our classes and rolls.

I might get flamed for this, but it irks me when someone asks “what is the best class for X”, and you can replace “X” with “PvE”, “WvW”, “Dungeons” or “courting the opposite sex”. Rather than play a class that is best suited to a task, why not play one you enjoy – settle on a build you enjoy, and then learn it to the point that you are efficient at all tasks with it?

there are three classes in the dungeon/fractals game.
guardian, warrior, mesmer.

because these classes are good of what they do and they are not selfish, i.e. empower other players in the group without loosing dps/survivability/support etc which is very important.

I’d say warrior, why?

- huge amounts of dogdes
- endure pain
- shield block, mace blocks (if you use it which I don’t)
- high hp pool
- access to aoe weakness

Skills and training make you live longer. not your class

Ice of Dragons and Fiennes, I completely understand what you’re saying and I wish the game really did work like that. Unfortunately, I spent a lot of my time getting an Engineer up to level 80 and have been really disappointed by the constant nerfing I’ve had to endure. I’m still hopeful that Engineers will one day be great again, but until then I want to pick a new profession that will work and not follow the same downward path the engineer did.

Looks like I’m going Mesmer. Thanks everyone!

GUARDIAN

They have tons of survival skills. You can make your Healing Signet a 32 Sec Cooldown instead of 40. Heals a good 9-10k. Along with that you have your Virture of Resolve (Your Passive Regen ###/3 sec) You can get Dolyak Runes which means you can heal 300+ Every 3 seconds. Dolyak I believe is every second (40? maybe) You improve your Virtue of Resolve with The Virtue (20 Trait Points) Trait. This will also allow your Virtue of Resolve to Cure 3 conditions on use. Which takes out your need for a Condition Curing skill. (Helps even more if you get the Trait that cures a condition every 10 seconds. This does stack with your Healing signet. (Cure 2 conditions every 10 seconds so far) Get Tank stats and accessories. Vitality, Healing Power (Must have over 700) and toughness (You should have no prob hitting 3k toughness or more)

You have tons more skills including Aegis. Options for more healing skills. and A dodge that healsin 300+ per roll. When you crit you get vigor, vigor helps you roll more often. Healing more being tankier.

Guardian is by far the best Survival class in game, I believe Anet should improve their tankiness though and make them tougher. Maybe a trade off… Tougher but lil less damage.

They are “Guardians” after all…

Fiennes.9568:

I might get flamed for this, but it irks me when someone asks “what is the best class for X”, and you can replace “X” with “PvE”, “WvW”, “Dungeons” or “courting the opposite sex”. Rather than play a class that is best suited to a task, why not play one you enjoy – settle on a build you enjoy, and then learn it to the point that you are efficient at all tasks with it?

You’re a human after my own heart.

@Dezarys: I’ve also started a Guardian, but am having issues with their lack of solid ranged abilities. I’m not sure I could get used to being in the thick of the mob when playing. At least, that’s been my impression up to level 10. =P

if you have not tried engineer with flamethrower, power/tough/vit armor, zerker trickets, traited for flamethrower i.e juggernaut, also backpack regen. eqip elixer S and R and then add omono pie (this is enssential), just give it a shot. quite simply, you will not die as long as you have targets to hit. of course if there are no enemies around, you mostly likely not going to die anyways.

Elias.3204:

@Dezarys: I’ve also started a Guardian, but am having issues with their lack of solid ranged abilities. I’m not sure I could get used to being in the thick of the mob when playing. At least, that’s been my impression up to level 10. =P

Sorry to break this news, but Guardian ranged attack does not get any better after lvl 10…

I just finished leveling an alt guardian to lvl 80. After playing a ranger for months, guardian range attack is terrible.

Staff is a defensive/group support weapon, so has uses in specific situations in dungeons and some big boss PvE events if partied up.

Scepter is pathetic, never used it outside of a starter map. Focus is ok when using a mace for a more bunker style of play, but I usually go with shield instead.

Apart from the staff, I can see no reason why a guardian would ever go ranged over all the excellent melee options. Get used to being in the front-line, cos guardians do this well, and there really is no viable alternative.