Guild Wars 2

As the title says, are hammerbuilds still viable?

I like doing both pve and pvp but everywhere I see links to GS and one hand + focus builds. The other day I was doing my first spvp match since the patch, playing with my hammer, my preferred weapon, but I seemed to be burned down by other classes in a matter of seconds.
So I was just wondering…

I would say it is still viable, however hammer is slow weapon and the damage that is flying around at the moment doesnt really work well with a slow weapon.

everyone is burned down really fast at the moment.

However a JI + Ringof Warding + Feel my wrath and hammer chain does hurt quite a bit.

In PvE; absolutely! It’s even stronger for me.

yup..I am using hammer build (in pvp). Pve is different story.
Hammer + mace/focus
Honor: 3,1,2
Valor: 2,2,2,
Virtues: 2,2,1
shelter + all meditations. It’s okish but you must be carefull using marauder amulet. Using traveler runes.

Its good against thieves, guardians, warriors, mesmers.
It’s not good vs skilled eles, necros, engies and condi rangers. (you must play all or nothing on those)

For PVE, well just look at this chart: http://imgur.com/a/ncGxx#0

Seems to have 2 hammer builds that are quite close to everything, the only standout is scepter on large targets.

Not in PvP, unfortunately. Not by a long mile.

You’re looking at an incredibly slow weapon vs a majority of targets that will laugh circles around you. The minority that is slow will bludgeon you to death if you get too close. The very valuable chill is competing with a team wide cleanse, which is far more valuable if you consider how powerful burn has become (among other condition related things).

SlayerSixx: you are right the GH trait is almost never considered if you (we) take Virtues. AR is far superior.

But if you play for being a +1 mostly (with sw or sc focus and hammer) than you are a nice welcome to that fight. I think a Hammer-wielding Guardian with FeelMyWrath is like a rabid dog… You know it goes for the throat and if you do not shoot it down within seconds you going to die…

Pairing it with GS or staff is a very big NO however…

Just my two coppers…

I cant see a reason why it shouldn’t be viable in PvE, considering perma symbol, %10 damage to foes in symbols, %10 more damage to symbols and burning on symbols. Even though you don’t have Unscathed in a hammer build, you will have more damage in mace and you dont have to stay in the enemy hitbox to do max damage.

Playing around with this hybrid build currently in sPvP:

Hammer (doom/intelligence) / Sceptre-Focus (doom/intelligence)
Shelter + 4 meditations
Pack (or Mercy in Courtyard)/Crusader
Honor: 2-2-3
Virtues: 1-2-3
Valor: 2-2-2

You get insane sustain, decent damage every 9 secs, perma -33% heal on your target, lots of CC and group utility. You need to weapon swap on CD to make full use of the build.

I’m actually performing way better with this build than with the typical glass canon mediguard build.

Aggrostemma.1703:

SlayerSixx: you are right the GH trait is almost never considered if you (we) take Virtues. AR is far superior.

But if you play for being a +1 mostly (with sw or sc focus and hammer) than you are a nice welcome to that fight. I think a Hammer-wielding Guardian with FeelMyWrath is like a rabid dog… You know it goes for the throat and if you do not shoot it down within seconds you going to die…

Pairing it with GS or staff is a very big NO however…

Just my two coppers…

+1 is a role that is muuuuuuch better filled by mesmers and thieves, now more than ever. You’re stuck roaming very slowly, doing good damage, only to see theives and mesmers roll in at the speed of light (or faster, since they’re usually invisible) and instantly nuke their target and quickly move onto another one.

So basically if I were to choose a hammerbuild it would have to be medition or otherwise go GS I supposed. Too bad I don’t like GS as much.

What is everybody using for pve, say for fractals?

fractal / dungeon
Hammer mace/? support/damage
Zeal : 2-1-3
Honor :1(?)-3-2
Virtues : 1or3-2-2

More damage, or second guard and if you fear you won’t keep aegis (unscathed contender)
Zeal : 2-1-3
Honor :1(?)-3-2
Radiance : 2-2-2

I play this, and hammer has never been so strong !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCX_ZnXBxs