Okay! I know right now that the shield for Guardian is bad.. BUT! I think I found some FAIR improvements Anet can do. I would LOVE feedback from my fellow Guardians to see if these improvements are both reasonable and would make you actually use the Shield.
Shield of Judgement – Create a shielding wave in front of you that damages foes and gives protection to yourself and up to five allies. Cooldown = 30 Seconds
IMPROVEMENT – The Damage should be increased by 30% and the shielding wave gives Might, Regeneration, AND Protection to your allies.
Shield of Absorption – Create a Dome around you that pushes foes back and absorbs projectiles. Detonate the Dome to heal nearby allies. Cooldown = 40 seconds
IMPROVEMENT – The time on the dome should be increased from 4 seconds to 8 seconds giving your allies time to get inside of it. Detonating the Dome grants allies inside it Aegis AND/OR heals them.
I do agree that the shield needs some modification. It’s too much of a weak weapon.
What I would change to make it an efficient weapon:
Shield of judgement: Create a shielding wave in front of you that grants aegis up to five allies. The cooldown could be longer than 30sec.
Shield of Absorption [Reflection]: Create a dome around you that pushes foes back and REFLECTS projectiles.
That way it will make more damage and be a better support to the team; compared to the focus (blocks + condition cleaning) and the torch (condition cleaning + burning).
I think Anet just randomly puts Paladin-y names together. “Shield of Judgment” sounds way too hardcore for a tiny weak wave and 4 seconds of Protection. I think the wave should push back enemies.
I’d really like it if #5 just straight did Blocks instead of absorbing projectiles, so you can block attacks for allies in the radius.
It’s weird that our block is on focus. I feel like a block and a blind/small heal would be a much better fit for Shield. Honestly they could just switch the abilities with no change whatsoever and I’d be happy.
I think Anet just randomly puts Paladin-y names together. “Shield of Judgment” sounds way too hardcore for a tiny weak wave and 4 seconds of Protection. I think the wave should push back enemies.
I’d really like it if #5 just straight did Blocks instead of absorbing projectiles, so you can block attacks for allies in the radius.
Shield of Judgement was a Guild Wars 1 elite skill. Plenty of GW2 skills are named after GW1 skills.
I aggre. Shield is one of the weapons I would love to use in PvE and WvW. But I can only do it in PvP and be viable. Although I think your improvements would be OP. Shield of Judgement giving those 3 boons would make the first trait of Virtues less needed, but giving those with a 30% more damage? Not going to happen. I think that skill need is a damage increase (smaller one, not 30%) and coldown redution (like 20 seconds).
Shield of Absorption imo need also a coldown redution and bigger heal. That or take the heal and once allies get in it give them either protection or aegis. That or just switch for a AOE Block, like the focus block but AOE (this could become OP too, so maybe not)
At this point, anything that can make Shield viable I’m okay with.
Meh, works well for me but admittedly I wouldn’t mind if they buffed it. Mostly in a duration or cooldown sense. Increase durations of protection and dome, or decrease the cooldowns.
I think that the main problem is the cooldown. Especially with Shield of Judgement: 30 sec cd for 3 secs of protection (pvp) (+ boon duration) isn’t worth it. Shield of Absoption needs some changes, whether on its cooldown or maybe healing without having to detonate the bubble so fast.
Yes. Either this or add more boons to the skills as suggested by the OP. I hate shield at the moment. It’s only helpful in some PvE sitatuations and is pretty much garbage in PvP and WvW :P
Honorable Shield. As a person who uses shield and always gets cooldown reduction traits for everything, I say shield cooldowns are not a problem.
Regeneration for #4 is probably too much, considering #4 is the only weapon skill in the game that gives on-demand Protection. Might won’t be too bad, but I think if a condition such as torment added to it, it’d be better. A quick daze would also be nice.
I’m not sure 8 seconds for #5 would be useful at all honestly.
You are silly. The devs don’t read the Guardian forums. Sadly.
Also if (I said if) they play Guardian on WvW/PvP, they only use GS/Sword/Staff builds. None of them use mace, shield or torch.
I use Mace & Shield as my secondary set along with GS as primary. I dropped Staff (as a healing weapon) for them, and it was one of the best decision I’ve made in my build. I did not even hesitate to make ascended Mace & Shield shortly after giving the set a try.
Bloo Foefire [RAM]
Yak’s Bend
Why bother being a Guardian if you don’t guard anyone?
Shorter base cooldowns by 2-4 secs to be balanced well with the mastery. Remove the 4 skill and replace it with a block skill like engi and warrior. Guard is the only class that can use a shield that doesnt have a block. Combine 4 and 5 skill together. Done.
Shorter base cooldowns by 2-4 secs to be balanced well with the mastery. Remove the 4 skill and replace it with a block skill like engi and warrior. Guard is the only class that can use a shield that doesnt have a block. Combine 4 and 5 skill together. Done.
And get rid of the only on-demand Protection weapon skill in the game? No, thank you. I prefer 5s party Protection than a channeling 3s blocks. We have a shelter for that. And hello, #5 blocks.
Bloo Foefire [RAM]
Yak’s Bend
Why bother being a Guardian if you don’t guard anyone?
I think the shield needs minor improvements, not to be a must-have weapon for all guardians, what you are trying to make that is.
Shield provides you with extra 64 toughness(Defense=toughness), so it’s skills are supposed to be slightly worse off than of other’s off-hands. While I do agree cooldowns could be cut(especially on 4), it’s pretty balanced all around, providing AOE protection(very bad in PvP though, that duration cut, eww..) with somewhat decent damage and good animation(damage seems to be 100% fine actually, did you expect shield to do 100500 damage?), and the last spell knocks back, absorbs all projectiles and heals.
Also, is it just me or the dome actually doesn’t get detonated when I press the 2nd time to get healing? Because that’s mine impression of a skill, that is.
Honorable Shield. As a person who uses shield and always gets cooldown reduction traits for everything, I say shield cooldowns are not a problem.
Regeneration for #4 is probably too much, considering #4 is the only weapon skill in the game that gives on-demand Protection. Might won’t be too bad, but I think if a condition such as torment added to it, it’d be better. A quick daze would also be nice.
I’m not sure 8 seconds for #5 would be useful at all honestly.
You are silly. The devs don’t read the Guardian forums. Sadly.
Also if (I said if) they play Guardian on WvW/PvP, they only use GS/Sword/Staff builds. None of them use mace, shield or torch.
I use Mace & Shield as my secondary set along with GS as primary. I dropped Staff (as a healing weapon) for them, and it was one of the best decision I’ve made in my build. I did not even hesitate to make ascended Mace & Shield shortly after giving the set a try.
I use a build that focus on support and DPS (half zealot half cleric) and the mace is just too weak. I use sword/scepter instead becouse when you finally can finish the cast of mace skills the enemy is miles away. Even on Zergs the sword is best than mace. Every time I try mace, I go back to sword or scepter.
I use shield as well on WvW and it oly works on a heavily focused boon duration build (or sort of). The real problem of the shield is the low duration of its skills combined with insane cooldowns.
And the torch not even needs to mentioned. Its lackluster. Only #4 works.
A very easy fix to both mace and shield would be to the mace, reduce the cast time from last hit of #1 and the #2 and add cripple on #3. To shield add 5 sec cripple on #4 and increase the bubble duration on #5 by 2 sec. This change wouldn’t make OP and would help support guardians to keep the fight.
Shorter base cooldowns by 2-4 secs to be balanced well with the mastery. Remove the 4 skill and replace it with a block skill like engi and warrior. Guard is the only class that can use a shield that doesnt have a block. Combine 4 and 5 skill together. Done.
And get rid of the only on-demand Protection weapon skill in the game? No, thank you. I prefer 5s party Protection than a channeling 3s blocks. We have a shelter for that. And hello, #5 blocks.
Might want to read the whole post before replying. Give the bubble protection so its not going anywhere + the shield only blocks projectiles not melee hits. Shield is totally unviable in WvW or PvP even with 100% boon duration the cooldowns dont make it worth it. The block will atleast give it some viability without having to waste your heal skill for the blocks.
I agree Mace and Shield set is far from the best, offensive wise. That is the reason I pair it with GS. As a second set, it gives soooo much self-heal. Cripple on#3 would be nice tho, but I doubt they will add that haha.
So you wanted #4 to block melee and #5 to give Protection AND block projectiles? Yikes. -_-
It’s viable for me with +5% boon duration and 200 healing point. Adding some CC or Condition to shield would be nice, but defensive wise, they already do a fine job.
Bloo Foefire [RAM]
Yak’s Bend
Why bother being a Guardian if you don’t guard anyone?
its an old topic, that was discussed from December 2012
shield 4 will be viable if the effect (damage and protection) will be in radius and not cone.
shield 5 will be viable if the bubble will reflect projectiles or if it will move with the guardian.
but rooting the guardian for 4 seconds while doing absolutely nothing is a waste of weapon.
(not “absolutely” nothing, in the EOTM if you can catch an enemy with no stability on a rope bridge , you can push him down once in 40 seconds)
To be honest, #4 needs overhauled. The shield needs to become a viable weapon. I have the flameseeker prophecies and I keep it in my bag 95% of the time. :’(
Here is my drastic idea for changing skills:
Skill #4 Shield of Judgement
- Send out a wave of energy knocking down foes in front of you (much like warrior mace) keep the same cooldown
Comment: HOLY CRAP THE SHIELD IS NOW USEFUL! I CAN FIGHT WITH IT!! OMGWTFBBQ!
Skill #5
Extend the duration 1-2 seconds and maybe buff the heal 5%, reduce cooldown by 5 seconds. (40 sec is pretty brutal, even traited)
Remember back when you first started playing. You walked into WvW for the first time with your shield thinking you were going to protect people. Your staff can’t reach people on the walls and the scepter is slow, but you’ve got your shield ready.
Now the enemy starts firing arrow carts at your group. “Awesome!” you say as you think it’s time for you to shine! You use Shield of Absorption and your allies huddle inside where it’s “safe”.
Wait what’s happening … my health is still lowing and my allies are dieing … WTF THIS SKILL SUCKS … [rage quit]
I’m not saying that SoA should completely nullify arrow carts or other types of AOE projectiles (Meteor Shower, Barrage, Volley), but it should at least do something to them, and not just let them pass through like nothing happened.
edit:
Personally, I would like to see AOE projectiles that pass through SoA have a weakness effect added to them, make them Glancing Blows.
I usually roam with the shield in WvW ( I’m bored of the focus and find it too predictable ).
I think it’s a tactical weapon ( on-demand 0-cast interrupt, healing, protection and protectile absorption ), but does suffer from high CD compared to alternatives.
Having to cancel the root on #5 is a major gripe and I’d love to see a 3-person daze on #4’s cone which I think would fit the animation quite well.
[…] on-demand 0-cast interrupt […] Having to cancel the root on #5 is a major gripe […]
Yup, nowadays I find myself mostly using SoA for its knockback. I’ve gotten so used to backstep canceling that I end up canceling it on accident when I want to actually absorb projectiles xD
However, I find that the projectile absorption to be a crappy trade off for being rooted in the first place. I won’t ask for reflection, but blocking would be good for synergy with our traits, even if it was a percentage chance.
Wishful thinking:
Valorous Defense (Valor 5pts minor trait)
– When an Aegis you applied is removed, it grants Protection (5s).
Shield of Judgment (shield #4)
– reduce cooldown to 20s
– gives Aegis (20s)
– stuns foes (2s)
Shield of Absorption (shield #5)
– reduce cooldown to 30s
– gives 5 triggers of block to you and up to 4 allies (10s) in 600 range around you
Shield of Absorption sequence (shield #5)
– detonate all remaining blocks to heal for 300+0.5xHP per detonated block
Now we suddenly have a useful shield that actually blocks.
Do you guys still remember the Guardian Skills Trailer? Wow, it’s so cool! After I got the game and played it, I realized that the brightened point is not the skills themselves, but the animation, as the skills aren’t practical.
As a guardian we supposed to be have the greatest block technique, skill 5 should block all damage at least 4 sec and can move with guardian, in this period he/she is invulnerable to control effects.
Thats what A guardian who wearing a shield can do at least.
get rid of shield of absorption completely.
move shield of judgement to skill 5 make it full circle instead of cone.
make shield 4 protectors strike exactly as current mace 3 is . ( AOE block that damages if you hit it, or cast protection when you are not hit)
now there is a coherent theme to the shield, party support via blocks and protection boons.
make mace 3 stun / daze / attack on 15 sec CD in line for a defensive weapon.
Guardians using a shield could have an unique thing, a buckler.
Like a mini retaliation, but permanent. Every time someone attacks you while you are holding a shield, they get damaged. It should not be as strong as retaliation.
I’m not sure if retaliation should overwrite or stack together with this buckler thing.
