Guild Wars 2

Eir Jordan.2156:

… but where were you guys when Strife was posting his anchor nonsense? Yeah…

Working on burn bui-

:[

Eir Jordan.2156:

As Guang stated above, this is still better than Strife’s anchor guardian build which he created after 1000+ hours, a build DnT members defended on Guru against numerous critics that pointed out that full zerker Guardian specced for damage was far superior. I understand that plenty of people came to trash Nemesis for his build which he made with 0 prior experience with Guardian but where were you guys when Strife was posting his anchor nonsense? Yeah…

The game was far from ‘solved’ at that point. It should also be noted that many DnT players were using full zerker guardians at the time as well, and Strife’s build was not the consensus even within our guild.

Mistakes made over a year ago are water under the bridge, anyway. Whats the excuse for this build now?

I agree with Nike. With regard to the general state of game and community, comparing strife’s to this nonsense is like comparing apples and oranges.

Agreed. The past does not rationalize the present.

That was during the Pure of Voice meta and when people still thought anchoring worked though. Also pre purging flames buff. Back then the best condition removal and support (reflects, aegis) we could get was 0/0/0/30/10 (possibly 0/0/0/30/20). The dps difference between 30 in valor and 15 zeal 15 radiance would have been within several percent, the real question would have been around virtue/blind spam vs the points in valor. Back in anchor days I guess that’s why he went with AH – the tankyness. The real gamechanger was a nerf to pure of voice and a buff to purging flames, leading to our consecrations being top pick for both reflects and condition removal and pure honor no longer needed.

Not sure why a damage build would put 5 in Valour over Virtue. I’ve watched his necro vids. His approach to designing builds was a little radical.

My guess with the 5 in Valor is that it is a relic from sPVP, wherein being hit at 50% health meant a player is trying to burst you down. In those circumstances, that Aegis is a lifesaver, so what Nemesis might have done is carry that trait over from PVP to PVE, assuming that it’ll save the life of a zerker guardian who gets in way over their head.

You gotta remember that, at base, the smiting build he posted doesn’t have as many blocks that other guardians do. The presence of Valorous Defense is much more important here than it is on Obal’s balanced 10/30/0/5/25 build, since that build has focus off-hand alongside of shelter, retreat, wall of reflection, and shield of the avenger. With none of those and a full berserker build, it is understandable why he’d take that extra aegis when low.

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Eir Jordan.2156:

As Guang stated above, this is still better than Strife’s anchor guardian build which he created after 1000+ hours, a build DnT members defended on Guru against numerous critics that pointed out that full zerker Guardian specced for damage was far superior. I understand that plenty of people came to trash Nemesis for his build which he made with 0 prior experience with Guardian but where were you guys when Strife was posting his anchor nonsense? Yeah…

The game was far from ‘solved’ at that point. It should also be noted that many DnT players were using full zerker guardians at the time as well, and Strife’s build was not the consensus even within our guild.

Mistakes made over a year ago are water under the bridge, anyway. Whats the excuse for this build now?

I could name a few good excuses to still use it. :p

However, you do make a good point in your other statement. The Strife build and it’s various varients was meta for a LONG time. What hasn’t change is the elitest attitude people have with using the meta builds. (That comment btw is not aimed at anyone in particular). I recall back then a lot of people were ridiculed for not using the anchor build, much akin to how people are scoffed at for not using Obal’s and its varients.

If your intent is to range bosses down with 0 chance of ever being hit, why spend any trait points on defense at all?

@Kai: And when a better build than the current meta makes itself apparent, we will all change to that too. When presented with new facts, we change our minds, what do you do?

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

If your intent is to range bosses down with 0 chance of ever being hit, why spend any trait points on defense at all?

@Kai: And when a better build than the current meta makes itself apparent, we will all change to that too. When presented with new facts, we change our minds, what do you do?

Ignore the crowds. I’m like the black sheep of the sheeple. For example, back when the AH was THE build, I never used it except for about 10 minutes, just to try it out and saw it didn’t work for me and saw its many flaws waaaaay before the Zerker/DPS eltiest started crying foul. But to specifically answer your question, I play the game for fun, not for math stats. I don’t blindly follow the meta, unless I find it fun.

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

It’s not really an issue of whether it follows the meta or not. My guardian spread doesn’t follow “meta” either but you don’t see complaints about that. It’s just that objectively speaking in this case, he’s got traits and weapons that really don’t make sense.

- 30 in Zeal is pointless unless you really want both Scepter Power and Zealous Blade, and he’s taking Kindled Zeal instead.
- Scepter/GS is a weird combo because he’s using two weapons that rely heavily on cooldowns. That means he can’t take advantage of the GS burst then switch to hammer our sword for a better auto, which is why guardian DPS tends to be so good in the first place.

Before it was an issue of building DPS versus building tank, and people weren’t ready for a DPS meta yet (don’t pretend it didn’t exist, I for one was pushing it for months before w/g/m fell out of favor). That’s fine and all but in this case he’s not proposing a new strategy, just a different trait spread. His build aims at the same thing but doesn’t do it as well.

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

I see two problems in this build.
1)When you do the single target ratation, you neet to fix your target. If target leave smite field you lost dps. That is mean you need a “tank” who will fix your target or something else.
2)Guardian have very usefull abilities to help your teammates. But you choose signets. If u use signet, you lost dps for a long time. And benefits are not so impressive like the wall of reflection. Your help is very small. You buff only yourself. This is build is just glass cannon.
But i like this idea. Very interesting point of veiw.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

If we are talking about attitude, well I’m sick and tired of people joining my group with ‘play how you want builds’ wasting everyone’s time because the meta is ‘too mainstream’.

They really should release a fedora skin in the cash shop, they would sell like hotcakes.

J Eberle.9312:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

If we are talking about attitude, well I’m sick and tired of people joining my group with ‘play how you want builds’ wasting everyone’s time because the meta is ‘too mainstream’.

They really should release a fedora skin in the cash shop, they would sell like hotcakes.

Then form a dedicated group that share the same mind set and stop wasting your time. That is what guilds are for.

J Eberle.9312:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

If we are talking about attitude, well I’m sick and tired of people joining my group with ‘play how you want builds’ wasting everyone’s time because the meta is ‘too mainstream’.

They really should release a fedora skin in the cash shop, they would sell like hotcakes.

>plays with pugs
>gets mad that they aren’t organized

There’s a difference between organized and just not being bad.

Guanglai Kangyi.4318:

There’s a difference between organized and just not being bad.

Okay, let me rephrase. He plays with pugs, and then gets mad that they don’t play the way he wants.

Guanglai Kangyi.4318:

There’s a difference between organized and just not being bad.

Welcome to the dangers of pugging?

foofad.5162:

Guanglai Kangyi.4318:

There’s a difference between organized and just not being bad.

Okay, let me rephrase. He plays with pugs, and then gets mad that they don’t play the way he wants.

- writes zerk
- writes scholar runes
- writes experienced only

~ gets non-zerk
~ lack of scholar runes
~ even when people pass the gear check, some still suck

Do we have to ask for numbers of trait spreads too? The overall intention is right there in the lfg, we shouldn’t have to fill all of the gaps. “Be zerk! and scholar runes! and experienced! and don’t suck! and …”

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

The key piece you’re missing is the definition of the word ‘irony.’ A real example of irony similar to what you proposed would be people saying “DIAF GTFO” because the warrior didn’t run Shout Heals or the Guardian didn’t camp staff. The irony would be that players are acting exlcusionary elitist about known bad builds. In your example, players are acting exlusionary elitist about known good builds, which isn’t ironic at all and is exactly what you’d expect actually.

Getting what you expect from a situation is the exact opposite of irony.

foofad.5162:

>plays with pugs
>gets mad that they aren’t organized

foofad.5162:

Okay, let me rephrase. He plays with pugs, and then gets mad that they don’t play the way he wants.

People really are quick to make assumptions. Reading forum posts is much like pugging as well. Can’t expect much I suppose.

I actually make my own group and specify what I want in the description. However people have trouble reading so I have to gear check them which is really just sad. I often receive verbal abuse and people trying to break my party up for running the dungeon the way they don’t like. Funny how it works.

My argument is basically this:

mahariel.4981:

- writes zerk
- writes scholar runes
- writes experienced only

~ gets non-zerk
~ lack of scholar runes
~ even when people pass the gear check, some still suck

Do we have to ask for numbers of trait spreads too? The overall intention is right there in the lfg, we shouldn’t have to fill all of the gaps. “Be zerk! and scholar runes! and experienced! and don’t suck! and …”

I say I want these things. People ignore me. Join anyway. Rage at me what I ask them to read the description or think they can sneak by and get carried with their hipster builds.

Perhaps I need to be more specific in my comment description so I don’t get people quoting me and saying ridiculous things. It would almost make sense if I just jumped in any old pug and expected them to be good. But I don’t. And if I did it’s pretty much assumption they are going to be bad and I wouldn’t complain.

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Nike Porphyrogenita.8137:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I just find it ironic how its 10/25/0/10/25, or the like, or “it’s DIAF you n00b!!!!!!!!!!1!!11!!1111111111” when it was the same way with AH and how it’ll be the same when the future builds change the current meta.

I don’t see anything ironic about that. People want to run the most effective builds, and they hope that other people in their team run effective builds. Just because the perception of “effective” changes over time doesn’t mean people were necessarily wrong at the time for requesting people run the most effective build at the time. You seem to think that because in the future there will be a different meta build that we are stupid for advocating the current meta build. That seems like a drastic misunderstanding of how and why these builds are even run in the first place.

You’re missing the key piece there. It’s the attitude that’s the irony. Simple as that. You’re putting extra meaning in. If what you said is what you think, I’d suggest re-reading what you quoted.

The key piece you’re missing is the definition of the word ‘irony.’ A real example of irony similar to what you proposed would be people saying “DIAF GTFO” because the warrior didn’t run Shout Heals or the Guardian didn’t camp staff. The irony would be that players are acting exlcusionary elitist about known bad builds. In your example, players are acting exlusionary elitist about known good builds, which isn’t ironic at all and is exactly what you’d expect actually.

Getting what you expect from a situation is the exact opposite of irony.

You’re still missing the point, but whatever. If that’s what you got out of it, that’s what you got, even if it isn’t the point.

@J Eberle, That’s a bit different than what you started with Bub. You went from “I wish people would stop playing the builds they want when joining my group” to “I wish people would learn to read the LFG tags.”

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

You’re still missing the point, but whatever. If that’s what you got out of it, that’s what you got, even if it isn’t the point.

@J Eberle, That’s a bit different than what you started with Bub. You went from “I wish people would stop playing the builds they want when joining my group” to “I wish people would learn to read the LFG tags.”

Yeh you know, the lfg tags I post when I make my groups that they join. I know its hard to put things together but dw I got patience.

J Eberle.9312:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

You’re still missing the point, but whatever. If that’s what you got out of it, that’s what you got, even if it isn’t the point.

@J Eberle, That’s a bit different than what you started with Bub. You went from “I wish people would stop playing the builds they want when joining my group” to “I wish people would learn to read the LFG tags.”

Yeh you know, the lfg tags I post when I make my groups that they join. I know its hard to put things together but dw I got patience.

dw? Anwyays, what’s your point? Not everyone uses LFG tags/descriptives when pugging so when you said you did, that made a bit of a difference to your complaint. As you said, it’s hard to put things together sometimes I guess.

Which is why I elaborated in the next post. People are quick to make assumptions, I need to be more descriptive in my first post I suppose -.-

Lol why would you assume he didnt put his requirements in the lfg description. Wtf is this logic.

spoj.9672:

Lol why would you assume he didnt put his requirements in the lfg description. Wtf is this logic.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

….Not everyone uses LFG tags/descriptives when pugging…

Read much?

Yeah but anyone who wants something specific does. Id actually find it insulting if you thought i didnt and it was me in his situation. Common sense really.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

spoj.9672:

Lol why would you assume he didnt put his requirements in the lfg description. Wtf is this logic.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

….Not everyone uses LFG tags/descriptives when pugging…

Read much?

I’m going to wager if someone spends time posting on forums about disliking bads, then they probably spend time to be descriptive in LFG. But maybe that’s just too radical to assume.

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

spoj.9672:

Lol why would you assume he didnt put his requirements in the lfg description. Wtf is this logic.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

….Not everyone uses LFG tags/descriptives when pugging…

Read much?

I’m going to wager if someone spends time posting on forums about disliking bads, then they probably spend time to be descriptive in LFG. But maybe that’s just too radical to assume.

I’ve learned in life never to assume anything, especially when you break down the word and especially when it comes to forumites.

Well you did assume something though. You assumed he didnt put up a description. And i know exactly what you mean when you say break the word down.

spoj.9672:

Well you did assume something though. You assumed he didnt put up a description. And i know exactly what you mean when you say break the word down.

Touche

I don’t really see the point in a discussion where this build is so obviously bad. If you can’t see it please refrain from playing guard

“If you can’t see it please refrain from playing guard”

This might be the attitude referenced above. And most of this last page has nothing to do with discussing the build at hand.

Many thanks to those that were able to point out perceived short comings of the build.

“I don’t really see the point in a discussion where this build is so obviously bad. "

Clearly not everyone can see it. If someone was new to the game, or had switched characters to try guardian out and were inexperienced they should not even play the class? Why?

I spent some significant time going through the video. I get his approach; the best survival AND DPS will be with a Scepter. Other than that, I question alot of what’s being done here:

1. 10 trait points are unoptimized in Zeal. I would not do this, even if I were to consider using torch/burning.
2. I get that he’s stacking burning (our burning values are actually very high) with the auto attack and Smite. I get that he’s maximizing survival (or claiming to) by avoiding melee. He’s also making significant AOE. It’s what he says the build does so I don’t feel he’s trying to be misleading.
3. You can quote me on this:

“This is a selfish build”

Team support is LOW. VoC, VoR and Torch 5. I think this build actually has the lowest support you can get from any combination of traits/skills/weapons.

4. I think there is TOO much focus on survival with this build or more specifically, the wrong kinds. He’s already playing at range, he crits tons for dodge …. and he’s playing ranged. He’s procing Aegis at 50% HP .. unlikely to happen while dodging a lot …. at range. The choice of Valour 5 is too conditional for my tastes with this ranged strategy.

5. Knowing the issue with Scepter auto attack potential to miss, I would be concerned about his strategy in the first place.

If I was to consider a ranged DPS/survival strategy, 20/30/5/5/10 and Purging Flames over Condition Damage Signet. I fixed the major shortcoming of this build (conditions), made it less selfish and maintained the ranged/DPS concept.

The main problem stems from the fact that you will run scepter + 1h for ranged bosses, gs + 1h for melee bosses, and gs + 1h (mostly gs) for trash. None of these scenarios require scepter +10% AND greatsword +5%.
20/30/0/5/5 +10 caters for all the above scenarios just as well as 30/30/5/5/0, just gotta swap around the zeal traits every now and again.

I’d say these would be the best choices if you don’t want to go deep into virtues. There really is no reason to not put 10 in it though given how great of support you get and are supposed to be doing. The gain of a small amount of power and wasted traits isn’t worth it.

• Balanced 20/30/0/10/10
• Balance with Extra DPS 20/30/5/5/10
• Max DPS 20/30/10/0/10

You actually lose EP by filling in the last 10 points to zeal instead of valor based on the raw stat points. The traits are really unappealing other than the gs and scepter and the damage multiplier. You can just run sword + scepter if you feel like you need to range and swap traits. I’d still prefer virtues since pugs will be all over and probably won’t be doing condi cleanse and in organized groups you can keep the unscathed buff up a decent amount of the time.

Smite really is deceiving. The skill coefficient looks insanely good, until you realize that the skill just wont hit a lot of times. Scepter autoattacks are horrible compared to sword, also beeing at range wont guarantee you doing damage in a lot of occasions. Hell, it can sometimes even make the fight harder for you since you have to watch out for additional threats.
If there is a boss you really have to range (mossman if your group isn’t up there, cof p3 endboss etc. , melandru in arah p4) scepter is fine, however the benefits you lose by going all range often times get overlooked. You are very likely to spread out, therefore a lot of “support” by your teammates wont reach you due to range limitations. The same would go for your support, but oh well, this build has pretty much nothing worth noting. If you don’t have might stacking/fury/banners/spotter/etc. a dps strategy will become a time wasting strategy quite fast, granted you were aiming for something along the lines of efficiency in the first place (if not why bother surviving at all? I mean just let the team do the job, sure it makes their job harder, but we don’t bother with that, right?…).
I’m really sad about how these “guides” actually get more attention than real guides with actual information apart from reading the skill description and saying “wow so strong very dps much useness”. Along the same line people will also run and defend these builds to the teeth, even though these builds (not just the guardian one) really are far from beeing optimal. They don’t even hold what they promise, boon duration and high damage does not mix, the traits are suboptimal etc. I was thinking of making an excel sheet displaying the effective power values of different trait/armor/rune setups, seeing as these arguments still get droped so often I might actually do that.

J Eberle.9312:

Which is why I elaborated in the next post. People are quick to make assumptions, I need to be more descriptive in my first post I suppose -.-

Yes, actually. Because “people join my group with bad builds” is a completely different situation from “people join my group with builds that do not meet the specifications I outlined in the LFG tags.”

On the one hand, the fault is with you for having little justification for being upset when it’s pugging with total randoms to begin with. On the other, people are idiots for not reading.

Specificity is good. =]

foofad.5162:

J Eberle.9312:

Which is why I elaborated in the next post. People are quick to make assumptions, I need to be more descriptive in my first post I suppose -.-

Yes, actually. Because “people join my group with bad builds” is a completely different situation from “people join my group with builds that do not meet the specifications I outlined in the LFG tags.”

On the one hand, the fault is with you for having little justification for being upset when it’s pugging with total randoms to begin with. On the other, people are idiots for not reading.

Specificity is good. =]

The best part of all is assuming I would be upset to begin with. I guess you could say the fault is with you for making those assumptions. :P

While it may be tiring to have players continually ignore my posts and join, I find it actually pretty funny. The most satisfying part is knowing it’s another awful player I just skipped

In my circle we call it the pug roulette. I plan to make a video with commentary sometime, hilarity always ensues when I get the angry whispers.

J Eberle.9312:

In my circle we call it the pug roulette. I plan to make a video with commentary sometime, hilarity always ensues when I get the angry whispers.

I think all circles call it that. Then you get angry person telling me how they have over 500 arah tokens and I’m dumb for kicking them!

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

J Eberle.9312:

In my circle we call it the pug roulette. I plan to make a video with commentary sometime, hilarity always ensues when I get the angry whispers.

I think all circles call it that. Then you get angry person telling me how they have over 500 arah tokens and I’m dumb for kicking them!

XD I had an excellent one today. ’You’re what’s wrong with this community!’ haha

Ah this is getting away from the main topic but I suppose what really needs to be said here is that these people look up these builds, think they are good and then get upset and confused when they don’t make the cut to my super mean scummy leetist runs.

Gotta say, the video was entertaining. Build…not so much.

50% in dungeons……..
You hav speed running …and skipping mobs everywhere~and stacking
and id like to know how you are going to skip mobs with tat build in arah path 1-2-3 in a pug group? Yes…. you’ll probably survive…but is it worth it? not sure

J Eberle.9312:

The best part of all is assuming I would be upset to begin with. I guess you could say the fault is with you for making those assumptions. :P

Probably because of the tone of your writing to begin with. “Sick and tired” usually denotes being upset. But then that’s the dangers of forum writing and the loss of true intended tone I suppose.

I’m by no means new to the game but I’m very new to guardian, so any specific analysis about how to improve upon Nemesis’s build would be very helpful and appreciated. Even with my limited experience with guardians I’m seeing some ways I think would improve the build but I could be way off.

It seems the intention with the build is to maximize pure DPS without regard to support, so I’d be very interested in specific ways in which to accomplish this.

One problem I see with the theory of the build is overlooking the fact that supplying an entire party with Might and Vulnerability on the target constitutes a far greater overall DPS boost than some of the traits or skills Nemesis chose. One stack of Vulnerability on a target being hit by 5 players increases overall damage by 5%. The same can be said of Might that is shared. If we are trying to push the overall DPS to the max this needs to be considered.

Here is one specific way in which I think would improve the damage output while still maintaining a ranged option, which I posted on Nemesis’s video.

Swap Torch for Focus & Take Blind Exposure Trait
Specifically I’m finding a really interesting synergy with the traits in Radiance, Justice is Blind & Blind Exposure and how this works in practice with the focus skill Ray of Judgement. With one skill (Ray of Judgement) the target receives 6 stacks of vulnerability & blind (4 bounces). If Virtue of Justice is also popped another 3 stacks are added. So that’s a 9% damage increase that is shared by the entire party, so needs to be multiplied by the number of attackers (9%x5=45% overall DPS boost). That’s just by switching to focus and changing out that first Adept trait, and using one skill.

Take Inspired Virtue Trait
Another point about the focus that I think was overlooked is that Shield of Wrath is a blast finisher. If the minor trait Inspired Virtue (Virtues) is taken and one of the signets is switched out to a fire field like Purging Flames (which would compensate for the loss of burning up-time) and blasted followed by Virtue of Justice with only a couple of clicks and combined with the above you’ve:

Applied 9 stacks of vulnerability to the target (3 stacks AoE).
Applied Blind to the target as well as AoE blind around you.
Party members stack burning.
Regeneration is given to at least one party member.
You clear 3 conditions for allies and apply more burning to targets AoE.
Give 6 stacks of AoE Might to party members.
You block the next 3 attacks and then do AoE damage when Shield of Wrath ends.

Since you’re taking Renewed Justice this would be refreshed every time an enemy goes down.

And the focus being a ranged weapon makes a lot more sense to me than the torch which is only beneficial if you’re in melee range, and the last skill in the focus rotation would be Shield of Wrath which protects you as you get back into melee range and switch to GS.

Please let me know if this makes sense and if anyone else has any other specific ways to maximize guardian DPS in a glass cannon build like this.

There is a whole sticky on that topic …

CptAurellian.9537:

There is a whole sticky on that topic …

Wait…what now? There’s already a sticky discussing Nemesis’s Smite build? Then what’s…??…now I’m confused. I guess I somehow misread the title of this thread…my bad.

Even though I guess it’s off-topic could someone please link the thread discussing Nemesis’s smite build so I can post there?