Guild Wars 2

Hi, I’m new to the game but not to mmorpgs. I decided to go with a Sylvari engy using a pistol and shield combo. I simply like the entire irony of the race and prof. I went looking for builds and many are 5months old +. Most seem tailored to rifle as well.

I’m looking for a competitive pistol/shield build mostly for pve. I may get into WvW once I learn more of the game and its workings. I’m not concerned with top dps, I’d rather just be able to survive and have fun and hold my own in a group.

Is a pistol/shield build good idea for me? What builds are suggested for pve or pvp or WvW currently?

Also for crafting I decided on leather working and huntsman, did I choose well?

Any builds, advice, insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Zuras.5394:

I’m looking for a competitive pistol/shield build mostly for pve. I may get into WvW once I learn more of the game and its workings. I’m not concerned with top dps, I’d rather just be able to survive and have fun and hold my own in a group.

you can get 95% of an optimal toons dps without really trying hard. its more important to learn when to dodge, when to cc, when to stunbreak, etc. all you have to do is buy berserker (or assassin) exotics instead of whatever other stat combos youre looking at that cost about the same price anyways.

defensive stats just dont really help you in pve.

Shalom there.
To answer one of the questions: For PvE"full zerker" (highest dps possible) builds are suggested while for WvW builds that have balance between dealing decent amount of damage while staying alive/tanking (items with deffensive stats, traits to increase survivability, deffensive/offensive utilities). So for PvE mostly it’s “the faster you kill the mob, the less damage you take” while for WvW it’s more like “you can’t deal any damage when you’re dead”.
I’d suggest you running direct damage builds (knight/berskerer/evetually calestial items), but with nothing really premade. We don’t know whether you might rather bombs, granades or even flamethrower. P/S is just nice boost to survivability, additional conditions and even blast.
And don’t be in hurry with crafting items (unlike you rather so) – buying them of TP or dungeon vendors is several times cheaper.

My little imput would be 2-0-0-4-2 for bombs (still 6 points left) or 6-0-0-4-2 (2points left) for granades. For survivability I wouldn’t run both together if you’re still not familiar with the proffession. And perma swiftness, often vigor, passive healing while using kit is really nice.

OK thanks for the replies! You both are talking about terms that I’m going to have to go research on. lol

It will be a long while before I can buy gear…if that is what you mean by zerker and assassin gear.

“2-0-0-4-2 for bombs (still 6 points left) or 6-0-0-4-2 (2points "….. I’m not sure what that means.

Again I just started this game on friday with only a few hours of play here and there, So layman’s terms would be best in advice.

As a shield/pistol player should I invest in turrets? Or go with bombs, grenades or even flamethrower?

Zuras.5394:

OK thanks for the replies! You both are talking about terms that I’m going to have to go research on. lol

It will be a long while before I can buy gear…if that is what you mean by zerker and assassin gear.

“2-0-0-4-2 for bombs (still 6 points left) or 6-0-0-4-2 (2points "….. I’m not sure what that means.

Again I just started this game on friday with only a few hours of play here and there, So layman’s terms would be best in advice.

As a shield/pistol player should I invest in turrets? Or go with bombs, grenades or even flamethrower?

2-0-0-4-2 means put two points in the first trait line, 0 in second and third, 4 in the fourth and 2 in the last, with 6 points still left. This really only matters now once you get to at least level 30 (since thats when you unlock traits now). Also, the numbers they gave you is for a level 80 character (which has 14 trait points).
You can find more info about traits here. As a new character I don’t think you can even look at the trait panel till you unlock it at level 30.

I was able to get a turret gun but yea I can’t see the other traits until lvl 30.

Thanks again for the info!!