Guild Wars 2

Looking for advice on my role as a guardian in HOTW. I’ve typically spent all my time in wvwvw, but my guild has recently decided to run some dungeons for new gear + skins. I cant say I really know what Im supposed to be doing.

We ran the butcher path last night and I went down VERY quickly… or I simply dodged rolled for the entire dungeon as I kept drawing aggro b/c couldn’t take the hits; I had carpel tunnel by the end. Our dps output was also a major problem (guard, 2x mesmer, element, thief. We spent alot of the time dying and rezzing and running. maybe this is why dps was slow…..)

I ran it with a 0/10/30/30/0 spec using greatsword, sceptor + shield. Full knights armor + accesorries. That is 3k+ armor and around 15k+ HP and 50%-ish crit.

After the dungeon I changed my spec to 10/30/30/0/0 for RvR using sword+focus, greatsword. I was able to survive longer so I am wondering if this type of setu kitten omething that can carry over to HOTW?

My questions:
1) What is my role supposed to be? I have always played greatsowrd/hammer very offensively in oRvR. This doesn’t work in PvE, expecially at the spec I listed above. Is my role supposed to be support? Should I dps?
2) I felt like paper. Butcher takes 45% of my health per hit. Another time we pulled alot of wolves upstairs path and they dropped me almost immediately.
3) Recomendations on spec/weapons and gear would also be appreciated. I figure range like a sceptor with at least a shield in both scenarios is required.

Ive seen videos of encounters where everyone stacks on the boss and drops him without ever moving. Perhaps it’s great group synergy but I am hoping to find a spec that allows me to be a better “tank” for dungeons.

Any help is appreciated. Will check back in a bit if something needs clarification.

To start out in PvE I’d suggest 0/0/30/30/10 using Hammer with larger symbols and longer symbols. I run Zerker gear with 4 pcs of Soldiers and sit around 16k hp and 2.7k Armor. Get that third Hammer auto for Protection then your melee has a lot of staying power. Altruistic Healing works great here, you’ll take hits and regen quickly.

The biggest thing in PvE is to just observe what each mob does. There is a learning curve but after you know that different things do you’ll have a much easier time. Dungeons that took 3 hrs when the group wasn’t familiar with them now take as little as 12 mins to complete with an experience group.

1. You can ‘face tank’ better than most classes and you can remove conditions very well. You can also heal yourself very well. The above build can be adjusted to do different things.

2. Not sure what the question here is, HotW is not one I run alot. Some encounters simply shouldn’t be melee’d.

3. See above, if I want to easily complete a dungeon that is the build I run. Gotta keep things in your Symbols to be most effective.

GL out there,

Blood~

Adding to the above:

2) Wolves have to be kited – use wards to keep them off you and your group and keep the blocks and blinds up as much as possible.

For the butcher – he’s slow so either kite him around the room if you have agro, or dodge in and out of melee range making sure you dodge his hits ( if he does his axe frenzy skill dodge out of hit range immediately or pop shelter/renewed focus and stroll away casually ).

The most important thing is to destroy the protection totem whenever it spawns, otherwise the fight lasts forever.

Don’t be disheartened if you get wiped the first few times you run a dungeon – it’s all about learning each encounter and knowing which utilities to bring to the table.

2.) The butcher will take the ramps when moving around the different shallow levels of his room. If you have a full group you can simply ranged dps the boss w/o touching the totems. To do this have your group move to the back of the room on the far left corner. Agro the boss and watch him take the ramp up to you. When he gets close simply move 2 ‘levels’ down and he will path back to the center ramp then path back in to the group. All you have to do is hop between the two ‘levels’ and you can keep him on the run. Without killing the totems he will have protection and regen but your group should be able to out dps it, longer fight but very simple. He will reflect projectiles when he is ‘whirling’ but just ground target or beam him. I have 3 man’d him this way with all totems intact.

You can completely avoid the wolf packs. Let them path away, drop down to the troll and have the whole group hug the door as you kill the troll. If you move away from the door there is potential that the pack will agro.

GL
Blood~