Guild Wars 2

I’m looking at making my guardian my fractal toon and am wondering what people use for high lvl 38 fractals? I keep seeing zerker builds but when I talk with guild members and friends who run high lvl fractals they mention most people get removed from groups who are full zerker andd don’t have some PVT gear.

So I’m curious on a fractal build trait setup, Are we expected to run the wall of reflection and do we trait for it? are we also expected to run AH?

I have 2 sets of gear 1 healway setup from months ago and my current setup is for what I run in wvw which is http://tinyurl.com/nnspgpo

I was curious if the build would be alright for fractals if i tossed that 5 into virtues for wall of reflection and swapped out save yourselves? Or if there is a better setup out there most people stick with for fractals.

Full zerker is the way to go, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s easy to run in full zerker. You may have to run some more defensive traits, but honestly the higher levels you go, the more important damage becomes and the less useful defensive stats become.

I don’t know what guild you’re in, or who your friends are, but the better fractal groups IN THEORY are the ones that run full berserker. People who get removed for wearing zerker, probably lacked the skill to play that way.

As for the build, I would recommend a base of 10/25/0/5/20. This leaves you with 10 trait points to use where you like. Common variants are 15/25/0/5/25, 10/30/0/5/25, 10/25/0/10/25, etc etc. 10/30/0/20/10 is also an option, if you feel that you need more defense. Full berserker gear, offensive runes (preferably scholar, ruby/ranger work). 10 in virtues is a MUST, wall of reflection is just so amazingly awesome in fractals, that it will almost never leave your bar. 5 in honor is also a must, permanent vigor is too good to pass up on. 10 in Zeal is essentially a permanent 10% extra damage, you should probably always have 10 in zeal.

Alternatively, there is the hammer build. The hammer build is very, very powerful in fractals due to the constant protection uptime, but is less useful if you are playing in parties filled with people who range (try and avoid these). The traits for a hammer build look like 15/15/0/20/20, again in full zerker.

If you feel that you just can’t get used to playing in berserker, swap in a few knights pieces, but do give zerker a good try before you do that. If you want some more in-depth advice/help, feel free to PM me ingame at ‘Cookie’.

Great info hybrid, I’d also suggest checking out obal’s guide here which has great info and video guides to the encounters – https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guardian-Video-Guide-for-Fractals-Shown-at-48/

Thanks Dagoth that was a good read. And I appreciate the help cookie

I’ll admit I’ll be learning to play fractals since I missed when they we’re released for 2 months and after than it was difficult to find a group since it was locked at YOUR lvl and not groups. I pretty much stopped any interest in trying fractals until recently when wvw has had hour+ long queues. I only have personal skill upto 8 atm and still learning the fractals as I go a long, i’m sure there are tricks to learn as well since it’s all new to fractal players at this level.

I will work towards getting some zerker gear in the mean time I do have this knights gear to use atm and might be helpful to be a little tanky while learning. I really appreciate the help/advice for what to work towards and I’m sure by end of week I’ll have full set of zerker gear.

The reason why ptv is useless is because if you go facetank mobs you will die whatever your stats are. You need to use yor blocks, reflects and blinds to negate damage. And if you dont have enough dps your blocks etc will run out. Therefore the reason to go zerker.

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

skeppi.9750:

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

I’ve been pugging fractals forever and do 48s regularly in a 0/30/30/0/10 setup, i’ve done them with the assortment of popular builds without valor and I just find in full zerk valor helps me alot to stay alive supporting everyone in all the problematic situations that arise in pugs, the 10 in virtues helps alot I switch between master of consecrations and unscathed contender depending on things.

Without a really high crit% you wont get much out of the crit damage and without full zerk you probably dont need the toughness/survival..

I recommend trying it out, just remember, keeping up unscathed defender is a big deal on alot of the boss fights, have +endurance food ready for the lava boss in case you have to tank him(not having vigor procs is one of the real challenges of the build esp if you dont know the boss attack routines), try having a 2h with sigil of stamina to deal with the trash.

Alot of pve high level Guardians as you probably know think full valor is the most useless thing in the world, the build is far from optimal, to me it’s versatile and if you work it right can do nice damage and keep you up which in my experience is what supporting is all about in pug land, my reflects and blocks are all I need. It is working wonderfully for me, runs are often smooth and consistent and I feel like my valor just barely keeps me up all the time to save the day with our utility.

skeppi.9750:

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

I find hammer guard the most useful for high fractals. Run 15/15/0/20/20. The traited virtue and purging flames should be enough removal. Perma prot will make it more forgiving for you and your group. You will also have access to ring of warding and staff line of warding on swap (start out as this then immediately swap after line) for ccing mobs at los spots so they won’t do anything to you for a bit while you put down prot fields and blind them with virtue. Use greatsword on swap if you need to group stuff up instead.

Hi

I use 10 10 30 10 10 for 48+ fractals with a mix of gear which I switch out depending on the group comp and boss we get to fight. For example i’ll go consecrations, staff / scepter focus on the grawl shaman, shouts sword torch / scepter focus on ascalon, GS / Hammer in all melee groups, scepter torch in ice elemental, etc.

I usually run a zerk armor set with traveller’s runes and then swap out my rings, and amulet as necessary. Also swap out my traits and utilities.

As posters above me, I do not do max DPS or max anything, but do everything good enough and can switch back and forth between majority DPS or support with relative ease.

obal.3218:

skeppi.9750:

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

I find hammer guard the most useful for high fractals. Run 15/15/0/20/20. The traited virtue and purging flames should be enough removal. Perma prot will make it more forgiving for you and your group. You will also have access to ring of warding and staff line of warding on swap (start out as this then immediately swap after line) for ccing mobs at los spots so they won’t do anything to you for a bit while you put down prot fields and blind them with virtue. Use greatsword on swap if you need to group stuff up instead.

Hello Obal I am using your build from youtube with the 5 point modification I mentioned(thinking about it now it might have been a poor change since vulnerability would be 5 people getting bonus x%). It does great damage and the perma prot is helpful in keeping myself alive & other melee(I try and avoid joining groups with2-3 ranged). I just bought myself a zerk staff w/perception tonight as it was only weapon I didn’t have in my bags. Every other weapon has sigil of nights except for my shield which i have sigil of generosity & focus with sigil of force.

Thank you everyone for helping me out Like I mentioned I’m completely new at fractals and today have finally reached personal lvl 12. I’ve seen most of the fights now although some of them I’m still not sure for timing to drop reflection or when to swap out to hallowed ground but ‘m sure that’ll come as I see the fights more(It’s difficult to see some fights as pug groups restart until then find easy fight to start with).

<- uses mixed knights and berserker for fotm 50+ And ranger +1 lyssa

10/0/0/30/30 – all for skill cooldowns (conse/spirit/shouts)

(knights on armor)
cavalier backpiece
knights rings – berserker everything else.

I would highly recommend just using obals advice, and not the others.

Yea, +1 to what Obal said, although I’ve also seen viable variants of that build where 10 points are taken from Virtues for either Radiance (increases dps) or Honor (Strength in Numbers for group dmg reduction).

skeppi.9750:

obal.3218:

skeppi.9750:

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

I find hammer guard the most useful for high fractals. Run 15/15/0/20/20. The traited virtue and purging flames should be enough removal. Perma prot will make it more forgiving for you and your group. You will also have access to ring of warding and staff line of warding on swap (start out as this then immediately swap after line) for ccing mobs at los spots so they won’t do anything to you for a bit while you put down prot fields and blind them with virtue. Use greatsword on swap if you need to group stuff up instead.

Hello Obal I am using your build from youtube with the 5 point modification I mentioned(thinking about it now it might have been a poor change since vulnerability would be 5 people getting bonus x%). It does great damage and the perma prot is helpful in keeping myself alive & other melee(I try and avoid joining groups with2-3 ranged). I just bought myself a zerk staff w/perception tonight as it was only weapon I didn’t have in my bags. Every other weapon has sigil of nights except for my shield which i have sigil of generosity & focus with sigil of force.

Thank you everyone for helping me out Like I mentioned I’m completely new at fractals and today have finally reached personal lvl 12. I’ve seen most of the fights now although some of them I’m still not sure for timing to drop reflection or when to swap out to hallowed ground but ‘m sure that’ll come as I see the fights more(It’s difficult to see some fights as pug groups restart until then find easy fight to start with).

I’ve been following Obal for a while now. He’s been very helpful and I’ve improved a ton over the past few months. Still nowhere near the DnT craziness :P

I find when pugging 48s, yes I PUG 48s, depending on the group, I’ll mix in some Knights. This is mostly while doing trash to survive a extra hit or two. This makes up for less group DPS, but not that much. When I run with some of his cohorts, I go full zerker and do just fine.

obal.3218:

skeppi.9750:

I’ve got the full zerk setup now and find a lot of deaths happening now usually from condi as groups tend to lack condi removal. I do die from missing a dodge as I’m still learning whats to be avoided on bosses I haven’t fought often enough.

I have another question which is what build do you suggest when running fotm with pugs? is it better to have a tanky setup for these groups and any suggestions.

PS I did try a S/F build but found myself dying a lot in pugs so switched to a 10/15/0/25/20 and find I survive longer but condi’s >_<

I find hammer guard the most useful for high fractals. Run 15/15/0/20/20. The traited virtue and purging flames should be enough removal. Perma prot will make it more forgiving for you and your group. You will also have access to ring of warding and staff line of warding on swap (start out as this then immediately swap after line) for ccing mobs at los spots so they won’t do anything to you for a bit while you put down prot fields and blind them with virtue. Use greatsword on swap if you need to group stuff up instead.

Hi Obal,

What traits for 15/15/0/20/20?

Xavi.6591:

Hi Obal,

What traits for 15/15/0/20/20?

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fUEQJARSlUg6CHFyMEfIFSmCRCBtPAQ1HiHMFYkHB-jgxAY/ARFCUyrIasF3ioxqrxUuER1A-e

Those

15 II
15 VI
0
20 II VII (change to IX for underwater fractal)
20 VI IX (can change to I where conditions aren’t a problem)

If you have someone else that has decent condition removal you can take only 10 in virtues and put the other 10 to valor for strength in numbers or 10 in radiance for the +10% damage trait and put the major into the sword or burning duration trait.

Awesome thanks!