Guild Wars 2

I have a few ideas that might make shields worth using on Guardians.

1) There should be a trait (instead of the +150 toughness while wielding a shield) that blocks attacks while wielding a shield. This would be an automatic effect that would obviously have an interval (say 10-15 seconds). OR, a trait that grants the wielder Aegis while wielding a shield. This would also have an interval. I think this be a nice addition to F3’s passive and can supplement it when that Virtue is used actively.

2) “detonate bubble” on Shield #5 should be a blast finisher and guards should have longer to detonate it. Sometimes when I pop #5, it ends before I get a chance to detonate it again.

3) This has been said plenty of times I’m sure, but #4 needs a damage increase and maybe just a complete rework. Please feel free to suggest things below.

Thanks for reading!

PS – Please be constructive about my suggestions. I certainly have not considered all of the consequences of implementing my aforementioned changes so if you think that any of them would pose a problem in the game just comment below.

Guard have enough blocks as is. And with block being as powerful as they are now, I’d rather see the Shield get better synergy with its group utility role, being its intended design and all.

Right now the shield’s utility has 2 extremes between PvP and PvE. Some PvP players like the push effect of Absorption being omni-directional. But for most PvE players, it runs into major design conflict by being a back line support weapon whose strongest functions (projectile block) would be more useful in a front line configuration. But with the push effect knocking all the target out of melee range, its more disruptive then helpful in its current from.

There are 2 simple changes that could majorly improve this without heavily impacting its utility. Swap the push effect between 5 and 4, OR have the push effect on detonate.

As for baseline, Absorption needs to last longer, considering it roots the player, and doesn’t stop melee opponents from simply walking in and wacking you.

These are my suggestions:

Mikau.6920:

The weapon doesn’t need a complete revamp, just a few tweaks. What they need to do to this weapon become viable, in my opinion:

• Add a new effect on #4. In my personal opinion, it should be 5 seconds of cripple, which is the weakest control skill, but will help a lot with the weapon nature (one of main problems using shield with mace is keeping the opponents in melee). It would make to use shield more viable with sword and scepter as well. With this addition, also wouldn’t be necessary to increase the cooldown of this skill, unlike other effects like daze or knockdown;
• Remove the split between PvP and PvE of #4. This skill is already weak in PvE/WvW, this split only make this skill worthless in PvP;
• Fix the long date bug on #5 dome. It should last 4 seconds instead of 2 seconds if you finish the channel;
• Remove the root on #5. This skill really doesn’t need to root;
• Increase the healing scaling on dome detonation. Healing power is worthless with this skill. It should be from 1300 to 2500 with 1k healing power;
• Add a new effect on the shield trait. I would say 5 seconds of regeneration. This would push this trait to be more viable to use with shield as support weapon, but won’t be really powerful with other type of build. Now there is no reason to use the trait over Strength in Numbers (add almost the same amount of defense, but to nearby allies as well), or maybe even Communal Defenses.

In that way:

• The shield would become more viable to use outside support, but its main role would still be support. You could finally use shield with sword, for example, using as control weapon and relevant comparation with focus in terms of defense, but a whole different application;
• The shield would finally have bigger impact as support than focus. Right now, focus have a beter role supporting than shield because how wonky their skills are;
• The shield would be finally descent. This is what we all want.

About your suggestions:
1 – Like starlinvf said, the weapon doesn’t need blocks (strangely as it looks). It is mainly a support weapon in nature and the Focus is already here for blocks (self blocks). But I agree the trait needs a revamp, now it is useless.
2 – I think that the main problem of #5 is the bug (it lasts only 2 seconds instead of 4), the root and the insanely bad healing power scaling. With these problems fixed, this skill would be much better. I don’t have problem with “too fast detonation”.
3 – Yes, the #4 is lackluster, it needs a secondary effect. Considering the nature of the weapon (control), and the hard time to keep in range of your foes as guardian, 5 seconds of cripple would be the best addition to this skill. This also would make Sword, Mace and even Scepter to have better synergy with the shield. I don’t believe this change would require to increase the Cooldown of this skill.

What about this:

Shield #4 gets the Knockback as its additional effect, instead of #5.

Shield #5 no longer knocks opponents back and instead grants regeneration to allies standing within the bubble

Thoughts?

Shield #4 Enemies hit by it get Weakness, so improved incoming damage reduction combined with the protection (increase duration btw)

Or allies get Aegis
Or enemy gets blind
just something :/