Guild Wars 2

Hi all,

I recently got to lvl 80 with my Guardian, exclusively through PvE. I’ve only run two dungeons (AC and CM, each once). Up to now I’ve been assigning my skills and traits to maximize the best weapons I’ve been able to collect through drops(scepter/torch and mace/shield), but I’d like to start really customizing my guardian for how I’d like to play.

I’d like to throw together a build that can (in order of priority)
1) minimize damage
2) crit
3) heal as necessary

I’ve been toying with the idea of maxing valor for Monk’s Focus, 20 points in honor for the 2 handed mastery (for use with hammer), 15 in radiance for Blind Exposure, 5 in Virtues. As for weapons, using mace/focus and hammer. Finally, using the weapon, armor, and equipment bonuses to increase Power and Precision.

The mace, focus, Shelter, and maybe Renewed Focus would each provide blocks. Judge’s Intervention to close with the enemy, Comtemplation of Purity for cures, and Signet of Judgement for the passive damage reduction.

I don’t need the best build, just a general purpose build that will boost survivability in PvE and make me not a liability if I decide to start WvW.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Well, for minimizing damage the best thing I can think of is the chain in the hammer auto attack. That is something like 70% uptime of protection if you can stay in the field. Though critting on the hammer isn’t ideal as it attacks very slow (though powerful) so you won’t get as much benefit out of empowering might (my personal favorite on crit heavy builds with the GS). Sadly mace isn’t all that great as it’s damage/protection comparison is pretty weak. It is great to block attacks but it doesn’t matter in the long run if it takes forever to slowly grind the enemy down to zero health. The best defense is a suitable offense; one that can destroy your enemy before you run out of protection skills to reduce damage.

The guardian doesn’t have a lot of group wide heals but if you are looking for self heals and crit then I’d say definitely go down Valor and get Altruistic Healing and then go 20 down Honor and get Empowering Might. That build works perfectly in pve with a GS and a 0/15/30/20/5 build. In large groups of enemies you can take a beating and go straight up to full health, tons of might stacks (20 or so), super blind, and tons of vulnerability stacks (with trait choice) the entire group of enemies. That build isn’t QUITE as effective in fights against single opponents but it is still quite effective.

Monk’s focus is ok, but I’ve never really cared for it and it’s weaker heals but a lot of people like it so I’m sure there are ways to make it work.

Well this is my build. Boons are geting duration boost and making boons last over 10s. Im using 2 superior runes of water and 4 superior runs of altruism for boon duration. Using knight armor/jewlery. Jewlery are enchanted with ruby orbs. And using berserker GS.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUIQFARlUgyC33xKEf4ES2jVCBXQsHYUG1RXFoIA;TQAKvMdJ6y5F