Guild Wars 2

Hello!

I recently started doing solo queues recently after earning over 9000 achievements almost exclusively from PvE. I figured I’d do something about that and start doing some structured solo-queue matches … but since PvP is very dynamic of how the playing field changes, I’m usually left a little bit confused regardless if I win or lose. And after 70+ matches, I’m still a little confused … but I guess I made some progress towards my Champion Genius title, right?!

Seriously, the part I’m having a hard time with is trying to find my “niche” into this strange new world for me.

Currently, I’m running some sort of bomb-bunker build but I’ve always felt kind of bored holding a control point for so long that I find myself wandering elsewhere … or just simply dozing off to the point that my opponent simply gets a free kill.

I’d like to use Grenades since that’s what I use in PvE … are there any interesting grenade builds that work well in Structured? I guess that means I would have to be some kind of Roamer then— as a roamer should I stick with someone like glue and help them capture points?

At the end of the day, I guess I’m a bit noobish when it comes to PvP. Any insight would be appreciated.

First 10 levels in sPvP don’t feel very good, after that though you should hit your stride. I personally run a Rifle/SD because its easy to work with, does good burst and has a bunch of control. HGH Grenades is another that a lot of people run. It can be quite effective if you can land your grenades. Really, grab a build you think you’ll like and just practice with it. Its all about adapting to the situation and knowing what your build can and can’t do. When roaming try to stick with as many people as you can unless you need to secure points.

GL out there
Blood~

Right, easy build to start off with is 30/10/0/30/0.
Grab incendiary powder, bleed on explosion or explosive cooldown, and grenadier in explosives traitline, Pistol cooldown or swiftness on crit in firearms, and then elixir cooldown, cleansing formula, and autoimmune in alchemy.

Weapons are p/p with geomancer and corruption sigils, heal is elixir h, utilities are grenades, elixir b, elixir s, and supply crate. For your amulet, rabid, and runes, I personally prefer runes of the undead for extra condition damage and toughness, but whatever you find works for you is good.

There’re more complex and more entertaining builds out there, but condi spam grenades is a good starting point.

It depends on what you want to do. Engineers are a well-put-together class given that they have three primary options from which to choose from when it comes to play-styles:

Conditions
Power
Tempo

Conditions are your pistol main-hand builds. They often use a traited [Grenade Kit] for range and for stacking bleeds and vulnerability, and focus on dumping most conditions under the sun onto an opponent as an opener and spend the rest of the fight kiting while pinging bits of raw damage.

Power is typically personified by the Static Discharge build and normally runs rifle. A Power engineer is characterized by big hit burst skills such as [Jump Shot], the [Tool Kit]‘s [Prybar] and rapid burst as one gets with the Static Discharge trait. This sort of build often runs [Tool Kit] not simply because its tool-belt skill provides a reliable projectile for Static Discharge, but it also grants the engineer [Gear Shield] which is pretty cheesy with its 3-second block. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for CC in this build, though. The rifle provides plenty of CC as well as things such as [Personal Battering Ram] that is sometimes swapped out for the more common utility option: [Rifle Turret].

Tempo engineers are control engineers. These sorts of builds are typically much more varied than Power or Condition engineers because of the control and zoning options available to the profession. That said, Tempo builds typically run rifle or pistol/shield. [Bomb Kit] is an ideal skill for this build given that it zones out areas very well with PBAoEs—especially Big Ol’ Bomb. [Bomb Kit] also provides a great smoke field for stealth combos. In general, the Tempo Engineer takes advantage of combo fields more than other builds that I’ve seen. Furthermore, while Tempo can take down enemies alone, it truly excels when in the company of teammates. Tempo players ruin the efforts of other players with counter-play of their own so that it’s a minus 1 for the other team while also zoning away attackers that could maybe sweep in and wreck a teammate.

Personally I play a rifle/healing turret/rifle turret/elixir gun/bomb kit Tempo-style build with Static Discharge to round out the range difference between [Bomb Kit] and rifle. It’s all about controlling your opponent’s movement, line-of-sighting them when it proves advantageous and notching up damage when they can’t fight back either because they’re blind, knocked down, or running in the opposite direction.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQJAqalspSXHxSfF17ICoC5loHPGlNZfe8WsFEC-TsAAzCpI+S9l7LzXyvsfNE5EwcBA

Here is my HgH build. Only noticeable difference from other HgH builds is that I use full nightmare set. The 1 sec fear is OP in duels.

Very easy to get the hang of. Start with your duel pistols. Before or during a fight use elixir B. Barrage them with #2 and 4. Use 3 whenever its off CD. After you throw all your conditions, try to hand #5 glue to snare them. Immediately switch to grenades and cast #2 right next to them. If you can land all your shrapnel grenades, you have done your job. All the bleeds will destroy them. They shouldn’t last long. Continue throwing all your grenades or switch to pistols to finish them off. Elixir S, H and supply crate are life savers. Don’t forget to cast your tool kit potions on yourself to remove enemy conditions on yourself.

GOOD LUCK!