Guild Wars 2

Who is the best support class in pvp?

Who is the best support class in pve?

Those are really broad questions to ask as ‘support’ can be defined in many different ways.

Generally, support will run into three different categories:

-Offensive
-Defensive
-Utility

Offense and defense are fairly straight forward. The first is concerned about aiding allies deal as much damage as possible while the latter focuses on mitigating (if not preventing) damage.

Utility support is more or less the catch-all of the rest of the type of support skills such as portals, stealth, etc.

What exactly do you mean by support?

savacli.8172:

Those are really broad questions to ask as ‘support’ can be defined in many different ways.

Generally, support will run into three different categories:

-Offensive
-Defensive
-Utility

Offense and defense are fairly straight forward. The first is concerned about aiding allies deal as much damage as possible while the latter focuses on mitigating (if not preventing) damage.

Utility support is more or less the catch-all of the rest of the type of support skills such as portals, stealth, etc.

What exactly do you mean by support?

I like to be wanted in terms of protecting people.
Think of things like pulling a target from or to someone, stopping/lowering/reflecting dmg, healing, removing dangerous stuff from people, stun/knock/rooting, . Things like that.

I dont mind being able to give dmg buffs, stealth and speed increases and such, but those are not on top of my wanted list.

I guess when groups look for support professions I am curious who they usually want to pick. Maybe I should have reworded it like that?

What kind of support is wanted? Which professions and weapons?
Than I can see if I would like to play that.

For PvE
- Offensive support : Warrior
- Defensive support : Guardian
- Utility support : Mesmer/Thief

For PvP it’s less clear since usually build are more self sufficient since you never know if you will be alone or with which teamate in a fight. Bunker Guardian and Cele Elementalist both have more offensive and defensive support than most other build. You also have the Thief that pack a good amount of utility skill.

It look that Guardian for PvE and Guardian/Elementalist for PvP would be your best shot according to your description.

Technically, most classes can spec to fill the role of the protector/defender one way or another, but I would argue that Guardians fill this role the best as far as raw defense is concerned in PvE. You’re generally more concerned with slower but harder hits from mobs in bosses in this aspect of the game. Thus, the best defense in this game mode is proactive defense.

• Boons: Aegis, Protection, Regen, Stability
• Buffs: Strength in Numbers (+armor to group), Reduced incoming conditions (33%), extended boons (20%)
• Conditions: Blinds, Immobilize
• Utility: Blocks (melee and ranged), Condition clear, Healing (passive and active), Reflects, Stun Break (group), Warding

Those are just a few of the items off the top of my head. While a Guardian can be a fully defensive bot machine I would advise against falling into that trap. Based on your team composition and the instance you’ll want to make changes accordingly. Other member on your team can cover one aspect of defense leaving you a free slot/trait to shift to something else (preferably offensive).

For PvP it’s really hard to say for reason Thad mentioned; unless you know you’ll have someone watching your back you’re going to build you toon based on self-sustain.

Ventari/staff revenant is going to offer substantial healing.