Guild Wars 2

I finally finished getting 100% ES unlocked on my guard and now it’s map completion time in both core tyria and HoT maps! My guy is decked out in all zerker fractal running gear but this is not necessarily ideal for map completion. Of course, zerker gear is fine for map completion too but not as efficient. And it’s fun theorycrafting!

Anyone have any gear or build in mind?

Btw to narrow the scope a little bit, I think an “ideal PvE map completion build” should have the following:
1. Ability to get from point A to B quickly.
There are some built in weapons and utility skills that help a little with that like GS 3, Staff 3 for swiftness, retreat, F2, but that’s not really enough for perma swiftness. Maybe superior runes of the traveller needed?
2. Getting from point A to B with the ability to run past things that you dont want to waste time killing.
Meaning, access to lots of stability and multiple condi cleanse to deal with mobs that immob, knock you down, etc. Esp in HoT maps and Orr — quite annoying.
3. Ability to quickly complete heart quests.
Which means basically ability to 1-2 shot everything as the majority of heart quests is “look for x and kill them.”

I’m just picking up the guardian class so I don’t have an innate knowledge of all their skills and abilities but with these things in mind, anyone have ideas on build and gear?

So:

GreatSword+Sword/x: Leap+teleport on short CD

Sup Runes of Speed is much cheaper and it’s fine for Exotic gear. But if you have ascended armour I suggest to get a full set of Travellers. It has boon duration also which helps a bit with Retreat!….

Judge’s Intervention (1200 teleport + stunbreak)
Retreat! (swiftness)
SmiteCondititon (gets rid of those pesky immobs casted by spiders or hyenas)

FeelMyWrath! (if facing veteran-elite mobs)

Traits? whatever but you have 2 meditations so Valor is adviced. Do not trait for Shouts! Honor has no DPS support so the faster moving-around (shout trait) would mean slower killing witch is bad in this case.

GS+Sw/F maybe virtues/valor/radiance
LB+GS DH/virtues/valor

My 2 c

Happy Guardin’!

Superior runes of Speed + Honor trait line will give you practically 100% uptime of swiftness with just Retreat. Pure of Voice + Honorable staff + runes will give your Retreat a 32s cooldown and a 30s uptime of swiftness (as long as you have staff out while traveling). Centaur runes which are even cheaper will give you the same duration, more power, and the ability to use your heal to get swiftness (10s) during retreat’s cooldown. Mix in staff’s Symbol and your good to go.

You’ll take a hit on your damage, but 33% movement speed is better than 25%.

I personally use sigil of Swiftness because it is super cheap and I kill enough mobs during hearts that I have 40-120s of swiftness built up before moving to a new location.

Tiggers.3890:

Btw to narrow the scope a little bit, I think an “ideal PvE map completion build” should have the following:
1. Ability to get from point A to B quickly.
There are some built in weapons and utility skills that help a little with that like GS 3, Staff 3 for swiftness, retreat, F2, but that’s not really enough for perma swiftness. Maybe superior runes of the traveller needed?
2. Getting from point A to B with the ability to run past things that you dont want to waste time killing.
Meaning, access to lots of stability and multiple condi cleanse to deal with mobs that immob, knock you down, etc. Esp in HoT maps and Orr — quite annoying.
3. Ability to quickly complete heart quests.
Which means basically ability to 1-2 shot everything as the majority of heart quests is “look for x and kill them.”

I’m just picking up the guardian class so I don’t have an innate knowledge of all their skills and abilities but with these things in mind, anyone have ideas on build and gear?

I’ve put much thought into this as well. My essential list of requirements for what you are looking for are similar:

1. Frequent, high Burst damage – this is the best way to deal with trash mobs for obvious reasons
2. Permanent Runspeed buff – You recognize this
3. Good ‘opening’ move – so mobs don’t interrupt your activities when you engage them
4. Frequent access to ‘closing’ moves – so you can move on with no negative conditions or bypass

Guardian has ways to address all those. This is close to what I use

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQRApe7dl0AhChY1QwbIQTEHxDVOFfxY0uB5bKUDgHoeB-TBSBABLcEAwT/Qg7PQp6PmpE8KlfRcCAA4hAAA-e

Mace gives the most frequent, highest burst damage for trash and shield gives you more Aegis uptime for Unscathed trait because you WILL get hit and lose your aegis at some point. The opening move is F1 for the blind … this avoids most nasty effects from mobs that interrupt your attacks.

Travelers is a personal preference though Sigil of Swiftness is good too.
The Meditations are for ‘closing’ fights. I believe the most effective map completion builds will have whatever passive effects so the signets fit the bill; I know it’s popular to use retreat and staff but I dislike the micro management needed with that approach.

I think the traits are self explanatory.

Now, this is not the build I would NOT recommend for HoT. This is strictly for the dumb mobs you see in core. HoT needs a little more of an active skill use than Core does and more use of ranged effects.