Guild Wars 2

Hello,

Can someone please help me understand this game? I’m so frustrated right now. Leveled a guardian to 80, built it to ‘tank’ (no holy trinity is kind of mistake, imo, so far!) so i can run around with my gf and kill stuff. Every time we fight a veteran or champion mob, it ignores me completely and chases her around the freaking map until she’s dead. I can’t heal (she’s running, my healing is static on the ground with Mace/symbols/etc), I can’t soak damage. . .I switch to GS and beat on it a bit but the end result is always the same. She’s dead, then I stand there fighting for a minutes on end (with a champ), the surrounding mobs respawn, and I’m dead too.

Another champion I run in with triple block up, all ready to tank….then I’m dead. I have no idea what happened, just died. I’m trying to stack toughness, use the ‘survivability’ cooldowns and traits and it just doesn’t work. I’m wearing some exotics.

I did search on ‘agro table’ and someone said that the only way to play is to build DPS characters, and that’s it. It would seem this is right (at least for PvE).

Very frustrated and ready to throw this game away. A real shame, I enjoyed it until I hit 80.

Thanks for your input and thoughts.

Well, aggro is much smarter in this game, and is likely targeting your GF because the AI sees her as a bigger threat, probably because she’s putting out more damage or something.

Second, there is no way that two people are going to take down a level 80 champion. It simply isn’t done. Veterans can be taken down by two, but the point is that as far as “tank” etc, this game is designed for you to take care of yourself – i.e. you can’t have one of you specializing in taking damage and one of you in dealing it. The AI of the enemies is smarter than that.

In other words, it sounds like your gf needs to up her survivability, and you need to up your damage. You don’t have to “spec for damage”, but focusing entirely on damage or on survivabilty will kill you. The idea is to balance your character based on your build. Use more control (immobilize, cripple, etc) abilities to keep an enemy away from your wounded allies. And get more people before trying to take down a level 80 champ.

Tanks really don’t exist in this game. There is no class that can spec for ultimate survivability. This game is all about specing to meet your build, and achieving a balance between damage and surviving.

The only benefit of being tanky is being able to take on multiple mobs and live (say, ac path 2 on the spikes part). Other than that, you’re pretty much ignored in boss fights. Which is why I love power/tough/vit armor stats, as it makes you kinda tanky, but respectable dmg output.

My boyfriend and I take on veterans pretty frequently, but champions are designed for 5+ people. Best to stay out of their way if it’s just the two of you!

There is no taunt (‘push this button to make the monster hit you’) so aggro control is less of a clear thing. I play elementalist and my bf plays guardian, and most of the time it works because he gets there first and I move around the edges. Everyone has to be ready to deal with the mob if it turns its attention to them, though, whether it be through careful dodging, stealth, armour, teleport, whatever. The only advice I can offer you is to try and make sure your tank hits first (attempt to tie it up) and make sure your partner has a trick or two to keep herself alive until you can get its attention again.

Haha you so can’t solo level 80 champions. You can only solo level 80 veterans. It’s possible to do lower level champions with 2 people but you really need to know what you’re doing.

Guardian also has quite a few ways to generate health so just spam those constantly.
The staff for example even has an attack that heals people.

As for your gf she should learn to evade attacks more it seems.

And you should look more into what your class is capable off.

Aside from the two of you trying to defeat something that requires a large group, you are trying to force a play style that the game was not built to support IE tanking.

The only reliable tanking I have seen is when I play my Ranger and use my bears, even then it’s not 100% but it’s pretty kitten good most of the time but, I am built for pets being awesome though.

i want to say you can perhaps try building for more support (giving out boons like no other, AoE retal, heals, protection, all things a Guardian can do). that being said, the Guard shines most, at least for me, when there are other melee users. when i am paird with people who range from super far, i don’t do as well – in a sense where i can’t support as well. perhaps can try a different tactic, and have your partner kite in circles? so in that sense she’s always near you. instead of dragging the mob far, and you having to chase them. also could aggro other nearby mobs, making the fight all the more tough.

how are you specced? or what traits are you using? if your gf needs more healing, keep a constant eye on her health. if she needs the little boost, hit F2 near her. hold the line offers regen as well. if you’re specced right, you can dodgeroll towards her and she’ll get a large boost. staff empower (#4) gives a decent heal after the charge-up. mace auto attack #3 or the symbols, which can also be specced for healing. so if she’s circle kiting / strafing, she’s more likely to benefit from you. if she’s far away and you’re not nearby, staff #2 can heal as well, hard to aim, but doable. and if you REALLY need giant heals, Tome of Courage works wonders. constant buffs and heals and the #5? a long charge, but it’s a full heal even if you had 1 HP left. just time it right. (and i THINK you can’t move, or if u move, it cancels so terst it out before actual combat). and i assume you two are communicating? via voice, and so let her know before you’r eusing moves or call out and plan how to approach and attack.

actually, even before healing, use dmg mitigation! you have a plethora of blocks. AoE aegis on F3 and retreat. blinds if you spec for them, sure they’re less effective but if timed right, can still negate big attacks. protection boons can help a lot. throw them out whenver you can. learn the big tells of specific champs and learn to dodge the big hitters. also, as a Guard you have a lot of CC so use them your best against champs and use them in crucial situations. : )))

usually in any given group, as a Guard, i’m not specced for super high dmg. though maybe i’ve just come across mobs that were attracted to high toughness. i had full knight’s gear and jewelry and some weps that were knight’s too so pretty high toughness and more often than not, mobs will chase me. unless if your gf has REALLy high dmg. the aggro table is not as intuitive, which i think makes for more interesting fights and keeps you on your toes.

hope these few ideas help. and that you two can rekindle the joy you had while leveling. when you hit 80, i think it’s even MORE fun as you have full arsenal of abilities and gear to choose from. know what you can and cannot handle. some things just aren’t meant to be taken on by two people. though i will want to say that you can take on some champs with just 2 – 3 people. everyone just needs to know what they are doing.