Guild Wars 2

I’ve been doing some searching and I’m not having any luck finding someone else asking this, so…

I’ve been enjoying the game for about a year now and currently I’ve gotten 3 characters to lvl 80 – a Ranger, a Warrior, and a Thief. All 3 were leveled through regular world PvE, personal storyline, quests, etc. I’ve ventured into WvW with each of them a few times though and just really haven’t loved my time in there.

I’d like to start focusing more on WvW now though because I really love the idea of it, but I think I’d enjoy it a lot more if I went in as a dedicated healer/support role. I know each profession can be built to lean more towards healing/support, but unless I’m missing something, I don’t believe any of the characters I’ve leveled are properly suited to excel at it.

So, that being said, I’m looking for some recommendations on which profession, when traited and geared with the sole purpose of WvW healing/support would be “the best”, the preferred, the most valuable to have around, the one you’d want by your side during a huge battle and so on…?

Thanks much for any and all input!

Large group support: Ele with staff

Small group support: guardian

Captian obvi.. Guardian!

Not sure there is a ‘best’ and it really depends on what your group needs the most and group synergy.

Our roaming group runs typically 1 guardian and 1 elementalist as support.

In big battles, a lot of healing goes through water fields + blast finishers – that means, that you would need either ele to put these fields or hammer guardian to blast them (guardian adds more support with shouts and virtues on top of that).

Hi there,

as you have a ranger: ranger has the longest (duration) waterfield ig that I know of on a very decent cooldown.
which is perfect to blast away on for good healing
team up with a thief or be the thief yourself ..(stealth, smoke field, loads of blast finishers) and engi (more smokefield and blastfinishers) and you have a very valid roaming group.
You need to check your pet though in some situations.
I absolutley like running with a ranger as company.

as you have a warrior: good survivability on its own and can be traited well for battle support. but you would be in the heat of battle there.

there is no class solely used for support, but I guess you know that.

Hello and GL in WvW. First thing to realize is that there is no dedicated healing/support play style. You are still expected to keep yourself alive and bring some sort of damage or control to the table. Guardian is about as close as you can get to heal/support but they can still pack a punch.

First thing I would do is learn about blast finishers, the previous posters have talked about them, so learn how they function. If you are on a server that uses TS jump on and follow the commander and watch when and why he calls for water fields. Also check the class forums for specific builds.

As for the 3 classes you listed here is briefly what I know about them playing support.

Warrior: Shout healer, brings good offense and healing to zerg, banners are also a good option. Shouts are getting buffed today as well.

Ranger: Has a really great water field and support pets if you can keep them alive. Spirits are getting a health boost so maybe they will be viable in WvW as well.

Thief: Mostly through blind and AoE stealth. I am not sure the best way to play support as a thief in a zerg, they seem to fit better in small fights and skirmishes.

My engi heals with carpet bombs.

Anyone that can blast a water field.

Anyone who blasts a water field is the one who applies the boon, so Guardian is probably the strongest though they are weaker without eles.

combination of guardian ele ranger and warrior – healing fields and blasts and shouts and empower

Xibir.5467:

- a Ranger, a Warrior, and a Thief.

I know each profession can be built to lean more towards healing/support

LOL

… roll a guardian or ele dude. Didn’t need a thread for this

Warrior is a neat hybrid of a punching bag and a support totem if you want to. Especially now when you can trait shouts and warhorn at the same time. Take a hammer on swap and you get:

Two blast finishers with horn and hammer. Active condition cleaning with 2 skills from horn + 2-3 shouts, depends how many you want ( I would go two ). And pretty neat healing from shouts, you can easily bump the shout heal to 2k now. You can give your party 4 different boons ( might, fury, swiftness, vigor ) and your horn converts conditions in to boons as well, nice!

Of course you can’t give stability and protection like Guardians, but when it comes to cleaning conditions and giving fury, swiftness and vigor I bet warrior wins here.

Haters might hate, but if I can cleanse 8 conditions with one go and wait 20s for the next cleanse, I don’t mind. Also I don’t have to blow all up at once, which makes it even more better

Liquid.9672:

Anyone that can blast a water field.

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Haven t read up in a while but what about Banner Regen warriors? Useful at the moment for zerging?

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Two things, its not reliable and can be hard to place. So not practical in a fight.

Also No WvW build uses Flesh wurm in the core build. Switching it out for one blast is unrealistic. MM builds in WvW are bad…can be fun, but bad.

As you said since this is the internet, be careful calling some one wrong, there is always going to be some one that disagrees with you.

Alex.6483:

Haven t read up in a while but what about Banner Regen warriors? Useful at the moment for zerging?

Banners are tough to use in the Zerg. Most fights are too mobile for the buffs to be reliable and the Warrior is forced to give up too much (loss of all Weapon Skills/Swaps) if carrying it around.

There are also plenty of sources for Regen while Burst Healing and (especially) Condition Clearing tends to be much more important in WvW.

You got a warrior at level 80 i see, so you can go with that to make it a shout build.
Use like atleast 2 shouts such as “shake it off”, “For great justice” these 2 got the shortest cooldown. and for the 3 utillity skill i would use stability skill.
If you use a warhorn, the warhorn skills will also remove a condition and turn it into a boon.
Use 6 Superior rune of the soldier on your armor so shouts will remove a condition from you and allies.
And if you then put 30 trait points into tactics you need to choose XII vigorous shouts, so shouts will heal the health that you will get about 1700 health.
They increased this from 1300-1400 to 1700 now.

goodluck with it.

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

This is technically true, but you’d be insane to waste a flesh wurm on a blast finish. Plus, for many fields, you don’t even have enough time to cast and blast it before the field expires.

Anyway, don’t rangers have even fewer blasts?

Lord Kuru.3685:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

This is technically true, but you’d be insane to waste a flesh wurm on a blast finish. Plus, for many fields, you don’t even have enough time to cast and blast it before the field expires.

Anyway, don’t rangers have even fewer blasts?

One of their warhorn skills is a blast. Very convenient, comes with free buffs.

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Florgknight.1589:

My engi heals with carpet bombs.

Pretty much this. Bomb heals, elixir gun #5, healing turret for cleanse and burst heal. Engi is my favorite to run WvW with.

boondocksaint.6529:

Hello and GL in WvW. First thing to realize is that there is no dedicated healing/support play style. You are still expected to keep yourself alive and bring some sort of damage or control to the table. Guardian is about as close as you can get to heal/support but they can still pack a punch.

First thing I would do is learn about blast finishers, the previous posters have talked about them, so learn how they function. If you are on a server that uses TS jump on and follow the commander and watch when and why he calls for water fields. Also check the class forums for specific builds.

As for the 3 classes you listed here is briefly what I know about them playing support.

Warrior: Shout healer, brings good offense and healing to zerg, banners are also a good option. Shouts are getting buffed today as well.

Ranger: Has a really great water field and support pets if you can keep them alive. Spirits are getting a health boost so maybe they will be viable in WvW as well.

Thief: Mostly through blind and AoE stealth. I am not sure the best way to play support as a thief in a zerg, they seem to fit better in small fights and skirmishes.

Health boost does not apply in wvw, sadly.

Regarding OPs question, in theory, ranger’s have good traits for healing but in practice they are clunky and underwhelming. Healer’s celerity is decent, I guess, but would be better if it applied stealth to the ranger upon resurrection. The spirit elite, of course, is good for this, and trapper’s defense has some potential. Obviously, search and rescue. In reality, ranger could be a medic type profession, or played that way.

In practice, thieves, I think, are really good. They can lay shadow refuge and safely get people out of danger.

As far as guardians go, they are very good as well and I often see them doing a great job. But usually they are busy on the front lines making sure warriors have boon duration and stability among other things. So I’d say the best healers in practice are thieves and to a much lesser extent rangers.

Water Ele or Guardian for the closest ‘active playstyle’ to healer (focusing your attention on allies). But other classes like Ranger, Warrior, and Engi can put out alot of passive healing numbers while focusing on killing

While you could level a guardian or ele to 80, why?

You have a warrior, I would suggest simply work with that. You may find WvW not as great as you hoped and save yourself hours and hours of levelling something else. Unless you simply want a new toon.

Warrior Priest or maybe a Warden

boondocksaint.6529:

First thing to realize is that there is no dedicated healing/support play style.

Sure there is, what a silly statement.

Unless you’re planning on zerg busting with 1 kill / sec and endurance refill on kill sigils – guardian is not the best healer. It’s most likely 3 (+1) shout warrior or bomb engi if you want consistant heals. You can do AoE heals of 2.2k with each shout in a cleric’s setup. If you want boon support just roll a guardian.

boondocksaint.6529:

Thief: Mostly through blind and AoE stealth. I am not sure the best way to play support as a thief in a zerg, they seem to fit better in small fights and skirmishes.

It’s remarkably simple to support a zerg as a thief, just put on a bit of PVT gear and equip your shortbow. On demand blast finishers are always welcome in the big blobs and if the team is short on fields, you bring your own poison/weakness combo.

It’s not as glamorous or exciting as being able to weave in and out of the shadows to dismantle a small group like a ninja… but it works :p

Halcyon.7352:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Necro 101: Staff 4 doesn’t have to be triggered to blast.

Warthog.6870:

Halcyon.7352:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Necro 101: Staff 4 doesn’t have to be triggered to blast.

yeap necro staff 4 is a blast finisher when you place the mark, just wish it worked 100% of the time

Ranger has the best healing field in game, and can run decent support builds

Warrior is great frontline with good condi removal with shouts and banner rez

Thief is probably the best class for blast finishers with shortbow (spam that water field) plus has stealth

there is more i can put, but what style of play do you prefer, do you want to run with the zerg, group or solo? do you prefer melee combat or range? do you want to grant boons or strip conditions? do you want to run with the pack or snipe key targets?

Find a group to run with and find out what they need may also help you make a decision

Warriors since god knows they will be buffed for that >.>
2.5k healing shouts wearing soldier my kitten.

Warthog.6870:

Halcyon.7352:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Necro 101: Staff 4 doesn’t have to be triggered to blast.

You are wrong, It does NEED to be triggered to blast. Here is a discussion on how the mark works.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Necromancer-Blast-Finished/first#post3005140

Guardian or Engi

I don’t want anyone just trying to heal me. There are no healers in this game and someone traited just for heals aren’t that valuable. I’m much rather have smart uses of water fields and the blast combos.

Warrior boon duration healing shouts. 2500-2800 Aoe heal per shout, perma 6 might, vigor and speed, furry 75% of the time for 5 people. 12 might furry ,
Speed, vigor all perma on self

Me

fifteenchars.

Engi/ele/guard, in that order.

Zikory.6871:

Warthog.6870:

Halcyon.7352:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Necro 101: Staff 4 doesn’t have to be triggered to blast.

You are wrong, It does NEED to be triggered to blast. Here is a discussion on how the mark works.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Necromancer-Blast-Finished/first#post3005140

You didn’t actually read what you linked, did you?

1. As some here have mentioned allready: double finisher, one when you place the mark and one when it’s triggered

The cooldown is a bit high but I sure as hell blast every static I run through…

Warthog.6870:

Zikory.6871:

Warthog.6870:

Halcyon.7352:

kurath.9406:

Lord Kuru.3685:

Necros have zero reliable blast finishers.

While they are certainly not good for blast finishers this is the internet and since you’re wrong it must be pointed out.

Necrotic Traversal (flesh wurm secondary activation) is a reliable blast finisher.

Putrid Explosion. One of the lowest CD blast finishers in the game, and you get two of them.

Staff #4, Putrid Mark (granted this must be triggered by a hostile)

Necro 101: Staff 4 doesn’t have to be triggered to blast.

You are wrong, It does NEED to be triggered to blast. Here is a discussion on how the mark works.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Necromancer-Blast-Finished/first#post3005140

You didn’t actually read what you linked, did you?

1. As some here have mentioned allready: double finisher, one when you place the mark and one when it’s triggered

The cooldown is a bit high but I sure as hell blast every static I run through…

You should probably not post things out of context to try to make your point when you are wrong. Test it out your self, have someone put down a static field, stand in it and place your mark. The text will come up but you will not receive the boon until the mark is triggered.

To clarify your quote you pulled from it. It’s saying that when you place the mark in a combo field it “stores” said combo. If you were to place a second combo field on the mark then it gets triggered you will benefit from both. But no matter what the mark has to be triggered for the blast to go off.

Holy crap! the game has lied to me all that time! I stand corrected.