Guild Wars 2

Note: This is in regards to competitive sPvP NOT WvW or PvE.
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Has anyone found any viable and competitive DPS Guardian builds in sPvP since the meta has flipped?

I spent prior hours fiddling around with builds of my own… alas to no avail. I’m looking for fresh suggestions and data which wont be contaminated with my own theories and failed devices.

I would really appreciate some feedback with some solid theorycrafting behind it.

Here is a calculator:
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7E

Well to make guardian DPS build viable, skill and experience is required. Personally I would suggest sword-focus/scepter-shield weapon combo.

Traitwise I would use something like this: http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7Fc3x;0NFF30I3RG-90;9;49TT;01;059A04B;4Lw05U;1sV2DsV2D5Bo

This is strongly a 1v1 build so I would not suggest going in the middle of a fray with it. MF gives you some survivability and the chill sigil on scepter makes kiting situations easier. You can also use damage sigils but this is just my preference. You can also switch “stand your ground” to contemplation of purity for more healing and condition removal.

Try to land focus #5 because that is your highest single hit burst skill. I would not recommend torch because it doesn’t have any defense skills. You can tweak it how you want but that’s basically what you are looking for.

Yeah the build Hicci posted has been and remains one of the best DPS builds we can get. I would recommend scepter/torch because the fireball on torch 4 is absurd (from pressing 4 twice). Also to max the DPS on sword/focus, use a +5% dmg sigil and a fire sigil, with bloodlust and fire on your offset.

Focus 5 is an amazing defensive skill, wasting it on offense is the difference between getting gutted by a random thief and smashing him with 90% health left.

The build also works well with soldier amulet, though most condition builds like ranger/necro fall much more reliably to glass cannons with blind/block backup. You typically won’t survive long enough for your CD’s to refresh, so all out pressure makes the most of your invulnerability.

Every time I come back to this build after testing others I am always amazed at how solidly it performs; I’ve used everything from air runes to mercy runes, it seems like anything you do with it just works out well.

if you want to run something slightly more “sustainable” for tPvP, you could make a quick switch to:

0/30/30/5/5

still does massive damage and with the extra vigor, sometimes you get that extra dodge in the nick of time when needed.

i used to take Stand Your Ground as well but i actually enjoy having Contemplation more as it serves as nother mini heal, another stun break as well as mass condition conversion.

though it doesn’t seem like much, the 5 in both Honor and Virtues really does help keep you in the fight if they someone survive your burst or someone else joins into the fray.

also, the Guardian is very strong intrinsically with blocks, blinds, which you have a ton of here. also use the scepter’s immob defensively, if you need to get some breathing room.

i like playing a mace/torch + scepter/focus variant started by Silven ( he has a thread here somewhere with a bunch of PvP builds, however, he’s taking some time off the game and don’t think he’s updated it since the patch).

one of your best bursts is focus 5 —> time it + immob + JI along with Zealot’s Flame and Fire (Torch 4) and then ---> Mace 3 protector’s strike. i’ve never NOT landed Protector’s Strike since most people will instinctively hit you, OR you jump on someone who’kittenting one of your allies. when both shields and zealot’s fire hits, it’s MASSIVE damage. not to mention AoE. if you want, you can take Focused Mind for instant Smtie Conditions and throw that into the mix for more AoE. don’t forget to hit F1 as well for some might and AoE blind.

[added: when i run mace/torch over sword, i take Signet Mastery and use Signet of Resolve (another 10s condition remover) and also Radiant Fire for torch recharge reduction]

but of course you don’t always have to run the same burst. you can mix it up and someties, your skills will be on CD’s so just stay mobile and have fun.

(i replied to ur thread in the sPvP section, but we can talk here : )) )

OP, this is the build I’ve been running and I’ve had good success with it:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7Fc3x;0RFk30E3RG-90;9;49TT;01;019A09B;4LNV45;1KJG4KJG45Bc

If you’re just starting off, you might want to take Akamon’s advice and swap out the 10 Zeal for 5 Honor + 5 Virtues, as those are always great choices. I just prefer having that extra bit of pressure, as DPS builds work best when you force enemies on the defensive early. Sometimes I’ll swap one of my offhands for torch, because it synergizes well, but often times I like the extra defensive capabilities of focus + shield.

I started running this primarily to combat the current surge of Necros, as you’re going to need some solid condi removal + good pressure AND stability if you want to survive these guys and this build does all of those well. Renewed Focus in this build not only recharges virtues, but also clears all condis, and gives you all boons for a short period. This lets you pretty much negate an entire condi burst rotation if necessary.

As for offense, you’ve got plenty. Sword is the real killer in this build, but I usually open in scepter to put a little pre-skirmish pressure on a dangerous target. Also useful to get enemies to blow dodges on this set before you swap sword, since then you’re not just constantly chasing them around.

As for Sword / Focus, as others said the shield popping hurts pretty bad, and few enemies see it coming. Since you don’t have JI with this build, I just use Flashing Blade instead for the same effect. Zealot’s Defense HURTS, I’ve seen it crit for up to like 7k when it fully connects, so make sure your target has used their dodges before you pop that as it’s best to land all hits as close as possible. Other than that, Sword auto hits like a truck and procs Justice burn a lot.