Guild Wars 2

The absorb still works for a couple of seconds after you burst it too…. ho well

Shield skills have, like most guardian’s utility and 4/5th skill slot a very simple issue: CDs are absurdly long.
Especially compared to actual skill effect.
Shield 4 wouldn’t be too kittenkill: a conal AoE with Protection for allies and dmg. Now, aside that it could use a bump in utility (weakness/cripple to foes over simple raw dmg) , you’re looking at 3 sec Protection for a 30 (!) sec CD. 5th skill have same issue, but on top of that it’s static, reinforcing the low mobility issue.

So, either buff them (example: more dmg/offensive utility on 4) or cut off CDs.

First off it’d be better to have both shield and focus good rather than having to nerf focus just to make shield almost good. Focus 5 should stay where it is.

Guardian’s shield is relatively useless based on the recharge times and effectiveness of the skills. Shield of judgment should be more easily able to provide protection to allies. The damage is neglible (it should be increased by at least 50%) and a further effect should be added. The cone effect is garbage to be honest and should never have been programmed to be a cone.

Shield 5 should have no cast time and no root. However a 1/4-1/2 cast time could still work. Then instead of a second skill just make the skill heal for the same amount over the 4 seconds its active.

I would prefer if the shield was at least able to give aegis as there are too many traits that use it and almost no way to get it.

WonderfulCT.6278:

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Shield 5 should have no cast time and no root. However a 1/4-1/2 cast time could still work. Then instead of a second skill just make the skill heal for the same amount over the 4 seconds its active…

No root would be OP, unless you somehow nerfed or at least modified the kb

The Detonation should be merged into the skill itself. Everyone sensible detonates it every time – detonation doesn’t interrupt it as is implied. It also is absolutely a bug that you can move out of the channel + root and it continues functioning. No other skill intentionally works that way. It would be like canceling Whirling Wrath’s channel but having it still do damage to everyone nearby, while still allowing you to attack and do other things. Or casting Line of Warding, breaking the channel to attack, and having the line still appear after a second.

The cooldowns are indeed obnoxious, I think everyone can agree to that part. I also like the bit about putting a short daze on #4, giving us an on-demand interrupt on a shorter cooldown than the knockback from the bubble.

I also agree that cone skills are horrible, and both Healing Breeze and Shield of Judgement should be made into spheres and not cones.

I only got a chance to skim a lot of these, but am I the only one that would like shield 5 to have both reflect and impassable barrier (like the hammer skill)? This way I can justify that CD on it and have it be something that can delay an attacker while i revving someone, etc.

WonderfulCT.6278:

First off it’d be better to have both shield and focus good rather than having to nerf focus just to make shield almost good. Focus 5 should stay where it is.

Guardian’s shield is relatively useless based on the recharge times and effectiveness of the skills. Shield of judgment should be more easily able to provide protection to allies. The damage is neglible (it should be increased by at least 50%) and a further effect should be added. The cone effect is garbage to be honest and should never have been programmed to be a cone.

Shield 5 should have no cast time and no root. However a 1/4-1/2 cast time could still work. Then instead of a second skill just make the skill heal for the same amount over the 4 seconds its active.

I would prefer if the shield was at least able to give aegis as there are too many traits that use it and almost no way to get it.

I dont think that switching skill 5 between shield and focus would make the focus weaker but actually rather stronger for what its real use should be. Ideally a shield is a weapon for close quarter combats ( unless its a tower shield) and the focus is a weapon for casters at long range. Thus giving the shield a better skill for melee fights would encourage its use with swords and maces and giving the focus a bubble that blocks projectiles would encourage its use at range with the scpeter. This way both weapons become better at what they are supposed to do

Arenanet should change the Guardian symbol. We’re nothing to do with shields OR healing (the Ankh is a symbol representing life). It’s disingenuous and misleading to continue fooling new players into rolling guardians for these reasons.

My suggestions:

• Reduce the cooldown of #4 to 25 sec and also applies 1/2 sec Daze or 5 sec of Weakness to enemies. As alternative they can just reduce the cooldown to 20 sec;
• Reduce the cooldown of #5 to 35 sec and also increases the dome duration to 6 sec (up from 4 sec) and the detonation scales to 80% of healing power (up from 20%).

I really don’t think they need to change the shield that much to be more viable, the shield just need some adjustments.

Not only the shield, but the Focus #5 also have a too long CD. It should be 35 sec. Yes, it can absorb 3 hits and do a burst dmg, but only do the burst if not take 3 hits.

I just want button 4 to be a sphere centered on the guardian instead of a cone. I should not be at the back of my group to buff them, and I should be in the midst of the enemy smashing them, not lining up a shot in front of me…

A bit lower base cooldown time for 4 & 5 wouldn’t suck either.

I would like to see more trait synergy with weapons and not the currant model of +5% damage or 20% lower cd.
Example, trait what would cause you to instead of knocking back with shield 5 to pull enemy(s?) to you, Scorpion GET OVER HERE style and/or another trait that would cause shield 5 throw Capt. America style shield knocking back enemy(s?).

I put (s?) for plural because i don’t know if doing that to multiple enemies would be op.

I really like the idea of giving traits an added effect, rather than just percentages. However, I don’t really think Guardians need another pull and, personally, I don’t consider shields a very good projectile in any scenario, ever, regardless of fantasy settings and superheroes and what-not. Just me, though.

Silver.8023:

I don’t consider shields a very good projectile in any scenario, ever, regardless of fantasy settings and superheroes and what-not.

What does this mean?

It has been said many time, but I do believe Focus 5 and shield 5 should be switched. We could even have a Legendary animation change for the shield of wrath, where the shield are the flameseeker prophecies instead of the regular animation :P.

Also #4 really need something to make it worth, cripple, knockdown, confuse, daze, anything really And It makes me really frustrated that Anet has been ignoring this for so long.

Shield is an iconic guardian weapon, it should be worth using either in PvP or PvE. I’m not asking to make this the best weapon, but I’d like to be tempted to use my shield once in a while.

Svarty.8019:

What does this mean?

I’m referring to the suggestion of throwing the shield. A wise man once said, “Only a fool throws his weapon away.”