Guild Wars 2

Hi all, I was just wondering whether Altruistic Healing builds are still viable for Guardians who just approached the world of dungeons and fractals (all dungeons and fractals 1-19)?

I read that the schools of thought are either Sword/Focus + GS or Hammer (for more protection). Is it worth it to start with an AH to learn the ropes or the difference is so big that it is better to simply go for S/F?

Any updated builds with Ah worth checking?

Thank you for your advice.

If you’re really new, AH + Knights.

If you at least know a little bit of the game, Knights with the standard DPS Build set ups.

Slowly transition from Knight’s to Zerker.

The DPS loss is extremely noticeable in PvE.

I am not new at all, but I am new to Guardian (since I leveled it here and there until 80 and then parked the toon).
Your suggestion would be then to leave AH when I start to get accustomed a bit with the mechanics? or give it a try, let’s say, to a AH full zerk gear?

Manuelito.6081:

I am not new at all, but I am new to Guardian (since I leveled it here and there until 80 and then parked the toon).
Your suggestion would be then to leave AH when I start to get accustomed a bit with the mechanics? or give it a try, let’s say, to a AH full zerk gear?

If you’re not new to the game, don’t go AH. It’s basically for when you’re still learning to dodge.

Since you’re not new, I’d probably just go to the normal DPS build (Maybe with Knight’s armor to start) and just learn the DPS rotation/what to reflect, and you should be good.

I play AH and I’ve been playing for quite some time now. Mix and match PVT with zerk gear, Ah traited along with 15 in Radiance, 20 Honor and 5 Virtues. I heal a ton, apply 100% uptime to nearby allies, Might on crits and able to spam VoJ for Might stacks on kills. It’s great DPS, tanky and gives good group buffs.

Learn to guardian on hammer, 15 / 15/ 0 /20 / 20 in knights if you need it, zerk if you don’t.

Lots of room for error and still gives you the basics of what a guard should be doing.

I don’t agree. When I first reached L80 I used rare Knights gear with Ruby orbs. Once I had enough money to buy exotic I switched to Berserker.

You have to remember that AH is still a selfish trait that doesn’t contribute to a party. There are other survivability builds (such as hammer builds) that do.

I suggest using Knight’s gear with Beryl orbs, slap Signet of Judgement on your tool bar, and run one of these builds with Hammer as your primary weapon:
15/15/0/20/20
15/15/0/30/10, or
15/25/0/30/0

Changing traits is easy and cheap, changing gear is not. At least not for everyone. Maybe you’re better off playing AH with zerker for starters.

Or just go all dps and get a good group that picks you up once in a while. Learning by doing. I’d rather play with a zerk guard who dies but is actually trying and rezz him a few times more then a pvt wannabe tank who is deadweight the whole run.

Zach.3264:

I play AH and I’ve been playing for quite some time now. Mix and match PVT with zerk gear, Ah traited along with 15 in Radiance, 20 Honor and 5 Virtues. I heal a ton, apply 100% uptime to nearby allies, Might on crits and able to spam VoJ for Might stacks on kills. It’s great DPS, tanky and gives good group buffs.

Nope. AH DPS with full zerker is already mediocre, with a mix of useless PVT it will be outright bad.

To the OP, it’s in essence what Molch said. However, one additional warning: Once you go full DPS after playing AH for some time, it can be really difficult to get rid of the bad habits an AH build promotes. So going directly for a hammer DPS build is quite a good idea.

Thanks for the tips guys.
Can you please specify which talents/utilities (the usual suspected shouts?) to pick in 15/15/0/20/20 (since it seems the most agreed upon)?
Also with hammer should I use Staff or Scepter/Shield for ranged if needed?

CptAurellian.9537:

Zach.3264:

I play AH and I’ve been playing for quite some time now. Mix and match PVT with zerk gear, Ah traited along with 15 in Radiance, 20 Honor and 5 Virtues. I heal a ton, apply 100% uptime to nearby allies, Might on crits and able to spam VoJ for Might stacks on kills. It’s great DPS, tanky and gives good group buffs.

Nope. AH DPS with full zerker is already mediocre, with a mix of useless PVT it will be outright bad.

To the OP, it’s in essence what Molch said. However, one additional warning: Once you go full DPS after playing AH for some time, it can be really difficult to get rid of the bad habits an AH build promotes. So going directly for a hammer DPS build is quite a good idea.

What do you mean no?
I said what gear I use, how can that be “no”?

Manuelito.6081:

Thanks for the tips guys.
Can you please specify which talents/utilities (the usual suspected shouts?) to pick in 15/15/0/20/20 (since it seems the most agreed upon)?
Also with hammer should I use Staff or Scepter/Shield for ranged if needed?

Obal’s guide has the hammer build in detail, and also outlines which utilities you should be taking. https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guide-DPS-Guardian-for-PVE/first

If you aren’t already, you’ll need to be swapping your utilities based on the upcoming encounters. If you don’t know what will be needed, Stand Your Ground, Wall of Reflection + whatever.

Zach.3264:

What do you mean no?
I said what gear I use, how can that be “no”?

The No refers to your claim about great DPS.

I recommend you start zerker AH; investing in another set will just be too much of a cost for a new player especially for one that will go obsolete, unless you plan on doing wvw. On the other hand, it is cheap to retrait. Once you get more comfortable you can retrait to more offensive builds and if need be just do so immediately. Your damage also won’t be completely kitten compared to most other random pugs either.

Honestly, I’ve found I’ve have better results putting points into Honor (Vitality line) rather than Valor (Toughness, with AH). On my own, I basically morphed my build from the “DPS centric” AH version (0/15/30/20/5), to a shout supporter (10/25/0/30/5), to what is now a variant of the Hammer dungeon build (10/25/0/20/10). I felt I gained much more survivability from shouting support than I did from AH. I wouldn’t attribute my perceived increase in playing ability, but purely based on traits. I’ve kept my same armor since first gearing for AH back in Oct-ish 2012.

Best advice I could give you is grab some zerker gear, but supplement some parts if necessary with Cavaliers or Valkeries, (or if you need more defense, I’d take Soldiers over Knights). Then, look into the Honor and Virtue trait lines for good supporting traits and go from there. Hammer is always a nice choice for a weapon.

Zach.3264:

I heal a ton

That always makes me cringe……