Guild Wars 2

With the recent changes to movement signets other classes received (necro, ele, and ranger) I’m starting to really feel the lack of speed when I run my guardian alt. Even before the patch, my ele had some combination tricks to run with swiftness on almost all the time, but I don’t know of any equivalent on the guardian.

So my question is, do my fellow guardians have any tricks they use to get moving across the map faster? Granted, my guardian is only level 28, so maybe I’m missing a few things (I use the odd greatsword leap skill every so often , and there is the staff swiftness buff but that seems so short comparatively…)

Try to :
- use Staff#3 then Retreat!
- wait until the end of swiftness
- use Staff#3 then Save Yourselves!
- wait until the end of swiftness
- go to step 1

You need a Staff, or take reduced Shout cooldowns and take Retreat and Save Yourselves. If you do the latter, you’ll have about 38s/48s. If you take the Staff you’ll have about 8/12 or 8/15, but you won’t be able to use this in combat without sacrificing your melee since it doesn’t last long enough for you to switch back to a melee weapon.

Using Judge’s Intervention on critters helps. Find a bunny really far away and go 1200.

Overall, it’s asinine. We’re bad at giving ourselves swiftness because 2/3 of our methods are balanced around those skills affecting allies, and the 3rd is balanced around all those other boons it gives.

Just get used to being slow now. I ran retreat from the first chance i could to 80. Had to drop it for my build and it was horrible at first. You get used to it after a while though and as alarox said using attacks k. Critters and neutral mobs will get you places quickly.

For just getting around the map, I’ll equip Retreat. I’ve also got the GS leap and “Save Yourselves!” Obviously I’ll try to swap Retreat out for something else before entering combat, though…

Christos de Soufre.3802:

For just getting around the map, I’ll equip Retreat. I’ve also got the GS leap and “Save Yourselves!” Obviously I’ll try to swap Retreat out for something else before entering combat, though…

exactly, you try, but it not work always, and most of the time you are locked with a skill that you dont need in combat.

It’s not like we can’t win with Retreat on our bar. It’s still a mid-combat swiftness, aegis, and condition removal (traited). Just an annoyingly long cooldown.

Christos de Soufre.3802:

It’s not like we can’t win with Retreat on our bar. It’s still a mid-combat swiftness, aegis, and condition removal (traited). Just an annoyingly long cooldown.

Retreat, swiftiness can last (20)27 seconds with 48 reload, imo is acceptable.

Staff is good enough to get you from point A to B, but it gets repetitive having to slow down for a few seconds.

Rune of Centaur, Food, Traited Shouts.

But yeah, we’re turtles if you don’t want to change your entire setup for mobility.

Oh, and LOL at having to equip staff just to get around the map. Staff is horrible for roaming by yourself.

Amins.3710:

Oh, and LOL at having to equip staff just to get around the map. Staff is horrible for roaming by yourself.

Why do people always make statements without getting their facts straight?

Staff = 10-11.5s of swiftness (depends on rune+boon trait). 12s cooldown if traited.

Well enough to get you across the map.

ComeAndSee.1356:

Amins.3710:

Oh, and LOL at having to equip staff just to get around the map. Staff is horrible for roaming by yourself.

Why do people always make statements without getting their facts straight?

Staff = 10-11.5s of swiftness (depends on rune+boon trait). 12s cooldown if traited.

Well enough to get you across the map.

Iv’e suprised many mesmers or thiefs with "Retreat " plus 2nd sword skill wich teleports and blinds target , the 20sec 33% faster helps by alot.
…and i feel im teling to much here.

Aeolus.3615:

ComeAndSee.1356:

Amins.3710:

Oh, and LOL at having to equip staff just to get around the map. Staff is horrible for roaming by yourself.

Why do people always make statements without getting their facts straight?

Staff = 10-11.5s of swiftness (depends on rune+boon trait). 12s cooldown if traited.

Well enough to get you across the map.

Iv’e suprised many mesmers or thiefs with "Retreat " plus 2nd sword skill wich teleports and blinds target , the 20sec 33% faster helps by alot.
…and i feel im teling to much here.

Well, nothing matches my thiefs mobility atm… Perma 25% speed bonus and Short Bow teleport.

ComeAndSee.1356:

Aeolus.3615:

ComeAndSee.1356:

Amins.3710:

Oh, and LOL at having to equip staff just to get around the map. Staff is horrible for roaming by yourself.

Why do people always make statements without getting their facts straight?

Staff = 10-11.5s of swiftness (depends on rune+boon trait). 12s cooldown if traited.

Well enough to get you across the map.

Iv’e suprised many mesmers or thiefs with "Retreat " plus 2nd sword skill wich teleports and blinds target , the 20sec 33% faster helps by alot.
…and i feel im teling to much here.

Well, nothing matches my thiefs mobility atm… Perma 25% speed bonus and Short Bow teleport.

My minions play in similiar role :] and you didnt mention the stealth, atm thief is all good and i support your stealth.

Ganzo.5079:

Christos de Soufre.3802:

For just getting around the map, I’ll equip Retreat. I’ve also got the GS leap and “Save Yourselves!” Obviously I’ll try to swap Retreat out for something else before entering combat, though…

exactly, you try, but it not work always, and most of the time you are locked with a skill that you dont need in combat.

Retreat is one of my faviroute shouts/utilities in combat, i know there are more poweful/potentialy useful abilities, but nearly 30 secs of swiftness in combat can be real handy (esp group fights). Odd how it’s called retreat as 9/10 i use it running into a fight

War Dad KISS Guardian

I use “Retreat” with +100% speed duration mods and 20% reduction on shout recharge = 40 seconds of group wide IMS with an 8 second CD.

I don’t think its acceptable to equip a weapon for 1 skill. Its not so bad with an offhand like warhorn but if you are using a 2her you have to buy into the general design of the weapon. Let’s face it the staff does not really fit with a lot of our playstyles and beyond speed, is a waste of a weapon slot.

Be nice if we had a speed signet like everyone else.

I am finding it unnecessarily hard work to run around WvW and I don’t really think it is fair.

Agrees with Relentliss. It aint fair at all that we didnt get any passive speed boost.
Since patch i’ve spotted so manu roamers that if they are 1200 + range gain so much distance in such short time i cant keep up lol.

So i replaced my rune of melandru with rune of speed and traited 2h mastery. It put me on 23k hp and 40% speed almost constantly. I find this rune perfect for us since in kombat you get 36 seconds of 40% mobility for sure and a ton o vitality that we lack.

The 3 seconds downtime to mobility between symbols is however anoying and the fact we have to manualy reapply it all the kittenime -.-

Hostility.4961:

So i replaced my rune of melandru with rune of speed and traited 2h mastery.

Swapped out my soldier runes for runes of speed. Pretty nice. Going to stick with them.

It does suck always getting left behind. So many times today I was fighting someone only to have them runaway before I could finish them, or just simply kite me to death. I also noticed that ranged classes can spam their autoattack and still be able to keep up with me if I’m running away…..

Maybe its just me, but in my experience with MMOs its usually the melee that has the speed advantage to counter the “kitability” of the ranged classes. Seems kind of backwards to do it the other way around

Edit: Though I will say that I’ve been trying out a different build that focuses more on CCs and mobility. I think I like it and I think it alleviates some of the frustration of just being outclassed in fights. Have to do some more testing with it though.

Vitu.3580:

It does suck always getting left behind. So many times today I was fighting someone only to have them runaway before I could finish them, or just simply kite me to death. I also noticed that ranged classes can spam their autoattack and still be able to keep up with me if I’m running away…..

Maybe its just me, but in my experience with MMOs its usually the melee that has the speed advantage to counter the “kitability” of the ranged classes. Seems kind of backwards to do it the other way around

I have few problems with people running away while using a hammer as my main weapon. JI + RoW is amazing… and hillarious to watch people go “ kitten ” as they try to cross it and fall down. The only class I have issues with some times are eles… that mist form…

Aberrant.6749:

Vitu.3580:

It does suck always getting left behind. So many times today I was fighting someone only to have them runaway before I could finish them, or just simply kite me to death. I also noticed that ranged classes can spam their autoattack and still be able to keep up with me if I’m running away…..

Maybe its just me, but in my experience with MMOs its usually the melee that has the speed advantage to counter the “kitability” of the ranged classes. Seems kind of backwards to do it the other way around

I have few problems with people running away while using a hammer as my main weapon. JI + RoW is amazing… and hillarious to watch people go kitten " as they try to cross it and fall down. The only class I have issues with some times are eles… that mist form…

Same here. I just recently started using hammer, so some of my issues has to do with inexperience, but I do sometimes just feel like I’d do better playing a different class or going back to Greatsword. I just need to play around with it a little more I think

Aberrant.6749:

I have few problems with people running away while using a hammer as my main weapon. JI + RoW is amazing… and hillarious to watch people go kitten " as they try to cross it and fall down. The only class I have issues with some times are eles… that mist form…

Only problem is if they’re smart enough to counter it. A teleport, invulnerability, or Stability will get right passed it. There’s also the issue of people getting lucky and bouncing out of the ring. (However, I’ve seen cases where people bounce into the ring.

I agree with you that people do have trouble escaping when I use the Hammer, but a 2s immobilize and a 5s ring aren’t enough to hold down any kind of mobility build, especially when that person is skilled and/or using perma-swiftness. That’s why I use Scepter/Hammer with Signet of Wrath and Superior Sigil of Ice.

Anyone find themselves punting people out of the Ring these days.

Typically, I try to trap the person in the ring then MB and punt them into the walls. Lately, most people have been flying right out. This has never happened before.

Is there a change I am not aware of?

vhelvet.2816:

With the recent changes to movement signets other classes received (necro, ele, and ranger) I’m starting to really feel the lack of speed when I run my guardian.

The recent changes have been very painful. I certainly feel significantly weaker. That being said, speed is one of my lesser concerns.

Given that Guardian’s are wearing heavy armor much like the Warrior class but having significantly reduced health make little sense. Armor values really seem to have little effect on the game. I could be wrong, but I find myself leaning more towards glass canon builds as I feel it is best to get my hits in and hope I can survive via casting boons and meditations for heals than feeling like I can survive because I am wearing heavy armor, which is also why assumed we moved so slow.

They should remove the passive condition damage from Signet of Wrath and give it passive movement speed. All classes should have it if only to allow teams to run together without losing each other. If this game is supposed to be about grouping together to complete an objective why is movement speed one of the most selfish stats in the game?

I am not as concerned about Swiftness as passive movement speed. I have no issues with some classes having greater movement speed due to certain situations. In-combat Engineers, Stealthed Thieves etc. Mesmers have many of the same issues we do and suffer from even less Swiftness application.

They could improve our weapon traits also. Scepter Power could give 10% increased movement speed along with +5% damage. Two-Handed Mastery could cause two-handed weapons to cripple either on critical hit or when attacking enemies under 50% health or even when hitting enemies from behind when below 30% health.

This lack of speed has been compounded by the fact that you can no longer weapon swap in SPvP. Which is a pain for our Bunker guardians!

Papaganoosh (SPvP Officer, The Unnamed EU)

http://www.the-unnamed.com/spvpapp – recruiting skilled players for TPvP

Tobeyeus has the right idea. Nice.

If we are to be that slow kitten beheamoth of a class, GIVE US SNARES.

How about this?

Virtue of Alacrity (Or Fervor, Vigilance, Zeal, whatever) (F4) -

Passive: Grants 25% movement speed out of combat, and 5 seconds of swiftness when Disabled. (Knocked down, immobilized, feared, stunned, dazed, etc… But not crippled or chilled. Basically, get back in the fight, but not negating the slowing conditions.)

Active: Grants allies 5 seconds of Vigor and Swiftness, while curing Immobilize, Crippled, and Chilled.

30 Second Cooldown?

Highly doubt they’d give us another Virtue… but if they did… and along those same lines.

Active – Sprint for 3s (same speed as warrior charge/ride the lightning).

Amins.3710:

Highly doubt they’d give us another Virtue… but if they did… and along those same lines.

Active – Sprint for 3s (same speed as warrior charge/ride the lightning).

If they did make a new Virtue so we can have speed, the active wouldn’t be a selfish charge attack. As cool as it’d be, it doesn’t spread the love, so to speak, like the others do. Justice makes everyone burn somebody, Resolve heals, and Courage grants Aegis. So it’s have to be something buff-tacular.

Theys should just remove passive speed buff from every class. It’s getting ridiculous tbh.

who said anything about being self only? =]

Sabyne.6329:

Theys should just remove passive speed buff from every class. It’s getting ridiculous tbh.

i have no problem at all, Retreat -teleports – KD – can root target should i continue?

yes but imagine how much work you have to put into that speed.
pickign proper skills, weapons etc. while other classes just pick up 1 signet and bam ! +25% speed.

I’ve simply given up on the speed race. Any class to come within range of my hammer is a dead one. Those that can get away will never come back because they know they will simply die (thieves are laughable as retaliation and stability go on the first time they attack followed by wild swinging and MB). Now the other thing you have to consider is Guardians are more powerful within a group or party.

Travel in pairs or with a ranged speedy class. We can dish out the most damage and let the other class finish off the target and we will still get the kill.

Guardian Ranger is supremely good for this. As well as Guardian thief. Never paired with Guardian Ele before so can’t comment.

We actually have an arsenal of ranged CC skills that can be used in conjunction with snares but the problem is most people do not use it in their builds.

Having spent most of my GW2 time thus far on my Ranger and some on my Thief, I was accustomed to a high level of mobility and getting around both in and out of combat fairly quickly. Completing maps and working toward world completion with a passive speed buff active was definitely useful. Now working on my Guardian everything feels a lot slower. Granted I don’t expect my Guardian to move around as fast as my Ranger or Thief, especially in combat. But for out of combat world exploration, I would really love to be able to pick up the pace a bit without needing to build around using the staff or shouts for swiftness. A passive speed increase at least for out of combat would be great.

guardians run INTO the fight. not away. yo man, you COULD be a mesmer. you get one single swiftness skill and its on an offhand weapon so if you dont wanna use that weapon… too bad you better have it on your weapon set or your team is gonna be half a map away from you 99% of the time in wvw.

Guards have poor mobility even if you have near 100% swiftness uptime because the only reliable movement skill we have is greatsword leap, 600 range on a 15 sec cooldown. Guards are made for group fights; they aren’t good at roaming.

If it’s fast map negotiation you want then nothing beats the medipack consumable from a karma vendor:

http://www.gw2db.com/items/53856-medical-pack

It gives you about 70% uptime of 33% speed and fury.

I wouldn’t risk it in a fight though ( it replaces your weapon skills ), although perhaps you could use it for a fast escape.

At least we have utilities with swiftness, LOL at Mesmer being slower than a dolyak escort.