Guild Wars 2

Ok guys, I’m new with GW2 and I’m playing as a Guardian. And now that I’m lv 31 and I unlocked my first Elite skill, after reading about the class, traits and utilities, I still can’t have a clear vision of my build to the role that I aim in the future (80). So I think and I hope you, experienced Guardians, might give me a hand on this and correct me on any misunderstood.

Well…I’m soloing all the time for now but my goal is to get in a guild and use my Guardian in the most defensive way in PvE (Dungeons) and PvP (sPvP / WvW). With that on mind, my final build will look something like this: 30 Valor / 30 Honor / 10 Virtues (or 5 / 30 / 30 / 5), but my main question for now I think it’s about the skills: what skills to have that will fill that role in the best possible way (tank and give my allies protection and heals)?

Should I spend 30 points and get Tome of Courage? Or should I get Renewed Focus? Tome of Courage seems to be a pretty good skill to use with your party in a defensive way (what I want to do), but it is needed the triple of points.

Contemplation of Purity, Merciful Intervention, Sanctuary and Signet of Mercy are worth to get?

I’m playing during the Halloween event and the levels are comming real quickly for me, so I think I will be lv40 (when the world for Guardians starts to shine, right?!) by this weekend and I don’t wanna mess up with my character (I hope I havent done it yet lol).

*Side note: I did read something about that Guardians should do dmg and not go in def mode, but why we get those other defensive skills available? Those def skills don’t work at all or ppl just don’t wanna work with them?

Thanks in advance, I’ll appreciate any help and sry for my bad english and this wall of text! =p

A hammer build, focusing on protection from your symbol on auto attack chain will be good. Plus using blocks with Retreat and your Virtue will save teammates. Going 15 in Radiance will allow you to spam blinds, which will completely negate an entire hit from a mob.

As far as elite skills, when you get to 80 you will rarely not use Renewed Focused. It is our best and our only real option.

Check out Brazil’s Hammer Guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZTPyt1BknU

EDIT:

List of skills I use for various dungeons:
Wall of Reflect
Retreat
Purging Flames
Stand Your Ground
Hallowed Ground <—Very situational
Hold the Line
Shield of the Avenger <— Also situational

Elite Skill:
Renewed Focuse

Healing Skill:
Prayer to Dwayna or Shelter(really depends, and if you are not human no dwayna for you)

Hello,
Just to clarify, you cant mess a class up. The traits you get are not permanent and you can reset them when you go to your trainer.
As far as what skills to get it really does vary especially if youre going with a organised group.
I personally preffer meditation oriented builds for PVE content, but a shout and concentration builds are nice from time to time too.

As far as elites go my favorite is renewed focus ( right behind Bear Form if you’re a norn ). Its actually usefull now because back in the day it was a stationary channel and you couldnt really do anything with it. You would get a lot more use out of it in sPVP and WvW than pve, but its nice to pop it to reset your virtues for that moment when you really need that extra block or extra little heal for the party.

Overall no real way to screw your character up, try different things and see what works best for you.

I should add too. For leveling do whatever the heck you want. Only when you start doing dungeons should you start trying to get an idea of where you should be headed. Until then, experiment.

@Countzu what is a Dungeon Mediation build these days?

Guardian can still maintain core defensive capabilities while doing damage, Hammer is a great weapon. Going full defensive in this game doesn’t really work, aim for a more balanced build that can pull its own weight in damage.

Tips. Going over 900 Healpower is overkill, Please never go full scepter DPS, Wall of reflection is extremely OP in PvE, use it; Don’t let berzerker elitist discourage you, there is Truth in the “damage is king” idea, but that doesn’t mean you can add some personal touch to your builds.

Experiment. (but never go full scepter dps plz) :P

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

I should add too. For leveling do whatever the heck you want. Only when you start doing dungeons should you start trying to get an idea of where you should be headed. Until then, experiment.

@Countzu what is a Dungeon Mediation build these days?

I just run a standard build focused around the trait “Monk’s Focus” and a tripple Meditations depending on who the party/mobs are.

Usually something like Judge’s Intervention, Merciful Intervention and Contemplation of Purity.

Ah I see. So I’m guessing this like a pure damage build? like a 10/30/30 build?

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

Ah I see. So I’m guessing this like a pure damage build? like a 10/30/30 build?

Not quite,
I’m a firm believer in supporting my team through offense as much as defense. So i put 15 in Radiance (Fav guardian Trait).
ATM its 0/15/30/20/5
I haven’t had a chance to play the guardian since the last patch and am unsure as to how it changed ‘em (busy with college and work). So not sure if it’s viable at all anymore.