Guild Wars 2

Hello everyone. This is my first post here in the Guardian forum and I’ve been considering making a switch to this class because the Ranger is really in a bad place atm. Not to mention, their Spirit build is pretty much worthless.

My question – is playing a fully spec’d Spirit build viable? If there are any spirit build players here, I would love to hear your insights into playing this spec. Pros & cons, etc.

Thanks!

I use 20/20/0/20/10 all the time in spvp with hammer and gs. It has nice burst, maybe our highest, and the interrupts from the spirit hammer make opponents sad.

I used to run probably the same build Relentliss is talking about. I used it in PVE as well, where it was just fantastic. I had a lot of success with it in dungeons despite lacking two utility slots.

Pros: Aggressive, high damage build with a very solid knockdown. Really impressive visually and not all that common.

Cons: Rigid and restrictive build. 20 Zeal 20 Radiance and 10 Virtues is mandatory, leaving you with just 20 points to put where you like. It also eats two Utility Slots, but they are well worth it.

Edit: This refers to an aggressive Spirit Sword/Hammer build, which is very different from a defensive Shield/Bow build. I haven’t tried Shield/Bow, but I imagine the trait spread is similar but less restrictive (you don’t need 20 Radiance)

I did a weapon master build http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WafaJURXgY. It was hands down the easiest build I ever made. I think spirit weapons are fine in the place they are now. You have alot of controlled CC/burst.Seems abit defensively challenged. But the damage makes up for it get in get out no ramboing.

I’ve been running around with a Spirit Weapon Guardian and I am having a lot of fun with it in PvE. For WvW I tend to swap some stuff around so I am more into shouts and Wall of Reflection there though.

When doing dungeons it depends on the boss. For instance Lt.Kohler in AC is not really impressed by spirit weapons, so I have to change my loadout to include abilities to avoid his pull. But bosses for without instakill gimmicks I can just let my spirit weapons bash away.

As to my build… I’m guessing it’s a bit unconventional as I try to squeeze something of everything in. That’s just how I (dodge)roll.

So here’s the traits loadout:
30 Zeal: V – X – XII
10 Valor: VI
20 Honor: II – IX
10 Virtues: V

For gear:
Full Cleric set with Dolyak runes
AC Greatsword Power-Toughness-Vitality and Water signet
Scepter/Focus (no clue what I slapped on there)
Staff (situational uses only)
Knight’s amulet
Valkyrie rings + earrings
Soldier backpack with a Soldier ‘mark’(?)

Should have about 17k health with 2850 armor and 500+ healing power. Crit may be a bit on the low side for you crit-monkeys who drool over big numbers (j/k), but it feels that I crit often enough for Vigorous Precision to activate on a steady basis. And I’m not really in it for the big hits. :P

Overall it’s a pretty mobile setup that has me kiting and dodgerolling a little here and there after ‘up close and personal’ encounters. I seem to hold my own pretty well against groups of mobs as well as bosses/champions and love the passive regeneration from the Dolyak runes and the active healing from the Greatsword. 25 health may not look like much, but it really adds up if your mowing your lawn through a pack of mobs.

I’m running with the Hammer and Sword; combined with ‘Stand Your Ground’ as my cc-breaker. My heal skill is the Signet of Resolve and my Elite is … the Mistfire Wolf!!!

You can’t be a proper Spirit Guardian without your trusty spirit wolf (and her cubs) in my opinion

Anyways, hope this gave you some insight into the land of the insane … uh noble Guardian that is Aveneo Lightbringer…

I went into the game thinking i would use spirit weapons. Instead I use everything but. Their usefulness is lacking and require a large devotion to traits to be good. Unlike most skills, such as shouts or meditations, their traits are spread across different branches. Bane Signet seems to outclass hammer, bow is useless, I still have no idea what shield does and sword is the only decent one.

The main problem with spirit weapons i feel, is their wonky activations. I can use a spirit weapon and never activate it. At the same time, I can activate it instantly after I summon it. What they should do, is instead of disappearing once their CD is up, perform their activation skill-THEN disappear. Let players have the ability to activate it at any time, but I shouldn’t have to start a mental eggtimer to ensure I get the most out of the spirit.

Kita.7819:

I went into the game thinking i would use spirit weapons. Instead I use everything but. Their usefulness is lacking and require a large devotion to traits to be good. Unlike most skills, such as shouts or meditations, their traits are spread across different branches. Bane Signet seems to outclass hammer, bow is useless, I still have no idea what shield does and sword is the only decent one.

The main problem with spirit weapons i feel, is their wonky activations. I can use a spirit weapon and never activate it. At the same time, I can activate it instantly after I summon it. What they should do, is instead of disappearing once their CD is up, perform their activation skill-THEN disappear. Let players have the ability to activate it at any time, but I shouldn’t have to start a mental eggtimer to ensure I get the most out of the spirit.

It’d be even better if they’d add some kind of timer for them on the HUD, whether it be in the corner of the skill icon, or adding a “buff” icon (and hopefully adding an option to display time on buff icons like the option to display time on cooldowns), whatever. I’d like to see timers added for so many things in this game, though spirit weapons are definately one of the worst offenders because wasting ability activations sucks.

Bow is definately lackluster. Duration is too low, firing speed is too slow, and it would help a lot if the bow would actually wait to fire until you or an ally nearby actually has a condition, rather than just firing on a timer and wasting the shot a half a second before you get slammed with a major Poison effect and really want some curing. Heck, just implementing that last bit without changing anything else would probably be a huge boost.

I’m like you, I came into the class expecting to use Spirit Weapons. Its what made me roll this class over a Necromancer. But I’m determined to use the Spirit Weapons regardless, effectiveness be darned. I will kitten myself if need be but darnit they’re cool and I’m using them. Thankfully it doesn’t sound like they’re too bad.

I also tried 20/0/30/10/10 and it worked fine as well. The healing from Valor more than made up for the lost damage in Radiance.

I am not quite getting the complaints with activating it… take the 20 pt zeal talent so you can activate them and they won’t disappear… its well worth it.

Jon I feel your pain. I too have jumped from a ranger to a guardian. FYI Spirit weapons aren’t that great, more a lvling thing then a dungeon thing.

As for my jump to a guardian…. I haven’t regretted a single moment. Highly recommend this class,