Guild Wars 2

Hey guys, just to clarify, this isn’t an “I quit” thread but rather a transition.

I’ve played Guardian since beta with over 3.6k hours on that profession alone. I’ve transitioned from bunker, to hybrid dps(support), to full meditation-dps. I’m tired of bunkering and since the release of this patch, i’m getting hammered even more by conditions with little recourse. I’m taking a break for a while from my Guard and picking up another profession to master until I feel things even out(if they ever do).

Not asking for buffs, just the overall transition towards a more tanky meta without having to sacrifice is getting to me. To this day I feel the Guardian is still the most balanced profession since there’s almost zero gimmicks or rng attached. Everything done by this profession(at least from a dps standpoint) isn’t triggered randomly. For me to do any meaningful damage, sacrifices must be made in other areas. I feel this is balanced and should be how all professions should have to utilize. If you want to do damage, sacrifice defense and vice versa. It’s really a simple concept that just isn’t realized in this game.

I really enjoy this game so i’ll keep playing but more than likely as something else. I still haven’t figured it out quite yet. I do love the QOL changes though.

If your MMR is tanked its a good time to roll a thief and kitten all over the PvErs

Myst.5783:

If your MMR is tanked its a good time to roll a thief and kitten all over the PvErs

I has nothing to do with MMR. To me, this indicates nothing in terms of a players skill but rather what profession is utilized to exploit it.

If you want to re-roll, play necromancer as everyone seems to be rolling engineer now and necros destroy then without effort.

Lol my direct damage guard has facerolled everything since the patch (including Engis)

Might just be a build issue dude

Chase.8415:

If you want to re-roll, play necromancer as everyone seems to be rolling engineer now and necros destroy then without effort.

I don’t think I want to fall into the category of conditions. I still enjoy power so i’ll see if I can find something a little more fun.

well you can play a tanky ele with stable dps…. dont ask me bout build coz i wont share it dont want it to be nerf by lots of player playing it.

Arken.3725:

Chase.8415:

If you want to re-roll, play necromancer as everyone seems to be rolling engineer now and necros destroy then without effort.

I don’t think I want to fall into the category of conditions. I still enjoy power so i’ll see if I can find something a little more fun.

Power necro is always fun.

Power necro could be fun.

Just play everything.

Not a fan of all the professions playstyles honestly.

Arken, X_Ravenfire here. I know you enjoy support and dps, a la your old Dervish. I didn’t play GW1, but you it seems similar to a d/d ele playstyle.

While 0/0/2/6/6 with signet of restoration heal can be pretty faceroll nowadays (with tons of condi clear), 0/0/6/2/6 (with stone-heart and ether renewal heal and celestial ammy) does pretty well and feels more balanced. It is also a much higher skill-cap as you have to use your attunements very effectively to make use of your protection, stability (for stomps, covering your heal), and crit-blocks (so you don’t get destroyed by thief, also to slow down fresh-air eles, etc) do well. Also, stone-heart isn’t a hard-counter in this build, as you really don’t want to sit in earth any longer than necessary or it slows down your dps. Dps classes can also pressure you out of earth (to water for some heals, for instance), so it makes the matchup much more engaging.

With strength runes, battle-sigils and lots of combo fields you can also stack up 25 might for yourself (and about 15 for your friends) if you play it right. It will probably be more balanced once they get around to nerfing strength runes or battle sigil (at least 1 needs it), but still seems reasonable in this new meta atm. You have a shot against almost anyone and don’t really have auto-wins, but condi engie can give you a bad time.

I’m willing to help you out when you stream if you want to learn some of the rotational elements and tricks.

I really appreciate it Raven, that looks like something i’d be interested in. But i’m going to miss my Guard. If only we didn’t delve so deep into conditions this wouldn’t be such an issue.

Chase.8415:

If you want to re-roll, play necromancer as everyone seems to be rolling engineer now and necros destroy then without effort.

My necro is leveling fast my Thief is shelved. Not they it is bad or UP or any thing like that, it’s just that in the current meta there is no place for thieves unfortunately…

Just be aware that it may be a bit of an uphill transition, depending on the profession you move to. Guardian may be balanced, but it’s also a relatively simple profession to play (particularly as bunker). I’ve been transitioning off my bunker guard lately to put more focus on thief and it’s had a pretty heavy impact on my win ratio while I get back in the swing of being a total squishy role with a very heavy active defense, lol.

Dahkeus.8243:

Just be aware that it may be a bit of an uphill transition, depending on the profession you move to. Guardian may be balanced, but it’s also a relatively simple profession to play (particularly as bunker). I’ve been transitioning off my bunker guard lately to put more focus on thief and it’s had a pretty heavy impact on my win ratio while I get back in the swing of being a total squishy role with a very heavy active defense, lol.

I don’t entirely agree with this only because as I’ve stated before, without any sort of meaningful rng/passive defenses, it’s very difficult to play the Guardian properly since you can’t rely on rng. Screwing up a long cd skill really takes its toll. Now I do agree it’ll be an uphill transition due to the change in mechanics.

Lord Hammer Hand.4815:

well you can play a tanky ele with stable dps…. dont ask me bout build coz i wont share it dont want it to be nerf by lots of player playing it.

Wow such special, it’s the 6/2/0/4/2 with rifle celestial and strength + might stacking sigil amiright?

Ugruk.4069:

Lord Hammer Hand.4815:

well you can play a tanky ele with stable dps…. dont ask me bout build coz i wont share it dont want it to be nerf by lots of player playing it.

Wow such special, it’s the 6/2/0/4/2 with rifle celestial and strength + might stacking sigil amiright?

Rifle ele FTW

Arken.3725:

Dahkeus.8243:

Just be aware that it may be a bit of an uphill transition, depending on the profession you move to. Guardian may be balanced, but it’s also a relatively simple profession to play (particularly as bunker). I’ve been transitioning off my bunker guard lately to put more focus on thief and it’s had a pretty heavy impact on my win ratio while I get back in the swing of being a total squishy role with a very heavy active defense, lol.

I don’t entirely agree with this only because as I’ve stated before, without any sort of meaningful rng/passive defenses, it’s very difficult to play the Guardian properly since you can’t rely on rng. Screwing up a long cd skill really takes its toll. Now I do agree it’ll be an uphill transition due to the change in mechanics.

Eh, you have a much larger room for error on when you activate those cooldowns. Yea, blowing SYG at the wrong time will screw you over, but missing a single blind on thief will do the same and that’s something that can happen many times over the course of a short fight. You also don’t need to be nearly as nimble with your character movement since you don’t need to worry about landing attacks on the back of enemies and you don’t have to aim teleports.

Either way, I wish you luck on your transition. =)

It could but if were using a thief’s blind for example, it can be applied very frequently. Also, while I agree you don’t have to be as nimble as those with ground-targeted ports, it’s a double-edged sword since you can’t retreat/reset if you’re knee deep in.

Thank you sir, I appreciate it.

Chaith.8256:

Ugruk.4069:

Lord Hammer Hand.4815:

well you can play a tanky ele with stable dps…. dont ask me bout build coz i wont share it dont want it to be nerf by lots of player playing it.

Wow such special, it’s the 6/2/0/4/2 with rifle celestial and strength + might stacking sigil amiright?

Rifle ele FTW

Shh much secret, very power

Arken.3725:

I really appreciate it Raven, that looks like something i’d be interested in. But i’m going to miss my Guard. If only we didn’t delve so deep into conditions this wouldn’t be such an issue.

Yea, condis have me down too. The meta is clearly going to be heavy condi, and only those that can partake or stand-up to it will have a place.

Phantaram was even saying team-comps will just be engies and necros, with maybe a staff ele providing cleanses (although necros might just do that better) and probably a thief to run decaps. Kind of joking, but also kind of true in a sad way.

Ugruk.4069:

Chaith.8256:

Rifle ele FTW

Shh much secret, very power

Waw, that would be great! Running around in Water Attunement with a Water-gun

Pew pew

The interesting thing is I don’t believe this patch was meant for heavy balancing. I’d say close to 90% of the changes were QoL. I have no issue with this but I don’t think ignoring what a lot of us believe to be a constant issue ever since the power-meta fell out of place is going to hurt in the long run.

Sorry reread that and it was a bit harsh.

Basically I feel that the matchup vs condi is very good if playing at skillcap , which is what the OP seems to be about. My suggestion would be to play something like s/f ele to get your burst plays/key evasions up to scratch, then return to dps guard. It’s very viable from what I have seen so far.

DD ele. Has not RNG traits other then the vigor and arcane precision(a really bad minor). All play is active and you get to faceroll over most classes.

If you want more burst go SD and even then it is not RNG based. ele may be OP but it is fun as hell to play.

Perdix.8641:

Sorry reread that and it was a bit harsh.

Basically I feel that the matchup vs condi is very good if playing at skillcap , which is what the OP seems to be about. My suggestion would be to play something like s/f ele to get your burst plays/key evasions up to scratch, then return to dps guard. It’s very viable from what I have seen so far.

I disagree. Those two professions(Necromancer especially) are huge counters to Guardians. I won’t go in depth the reasons behind what I believe you should already know. I’ll give S/D ele a shot.

Perdix.8641:

Sorry reread that and it was a bit harsh.

Basically I feel that the matchup vs condi is very good if playing at skillcap , which is what the OP seems to be about. My suggestion would be to play something like s/f ele to get your burst plays/key evasions up to scratch, then return to dps guard. It’s very viable from what I have seen so far.

It’s easy to do in hotjoins but in tournaments it can be sometimes difficult to kill an equally skilled engineer considering how mobile they are. You have to burst them when they are not expecting it. It’s not faceroll like necromancer is

They want more build diversity, but they’re pushing over and over towards the condition meta. They said Critical Damage wouldn’t be nerferd on pvp, but here we are.
I’m in the same boat as you. I find playing a condition build extremely boring nowadays, but i’m feeling tempted to run it as i have never felt before.

Why? Because it’s just ridiculous an engineer who can inflict 3~4 conditions, maybe more, with a single auto attack (yes, #1 skill) of its pistol, downing the HP of my thief by half. With only one auto attack.

I’m a thief only player and right now I’d advise against starting a thief. The worsening of conditions and removal of a useful lyssa rune has us down quite a bit.

Hype.8032:

I’m a thief only player and right now I’d advise against starting a thief. The worsening of conditions and removal of a useful lyssa rune has us down quite a bit.

So you are saying that thief requires more skill than before to be effective?

Thief was definitely on my list but after playing a bit of Ranger/Ele, it’s a tossup between the two.

gogo ranger! I gotta say dueling dps guards has always been a fun challenge. Feels like true pvp as opposed to build v build. on a separate note: kitten you hammer 5 bubble!

I’m really frustrated as a guardian too. Or as any power damage build for that matter. I can’t play offensive support because I’m either way too squishy or too tanky with not enough damage due to the amulet limitations.

Power necro is fun in a team fight against mediocre players, but any good team will train you down and then you can’t do much.

I played condi engi as an alt for a while back when the game was new, but it got boring pretty fast. It was too easy to do good enough, but you had to play it religiously to know what abilities to use against which combinations of opponents in which sequence. With the latest patch, it’s even easier to be good enough.