Guild Wars 2

This is for mostly PvP, in PvE I cant get out enough damage but that doesnt really matter to me that much.

I have tried several builds, right now Im going for a more aggressive build, DPS, 0/30/30/5/5 on shouts, tried one on triple meditation as well, different traits of course, but right now I cant chase, cant scape, cant deal enough damage, cant tank anyone, I feel like a burden except for the occasional boon sharing and virtue, Im failing hardcore and cant find a way to make it work.

I know that they are supposed to be durable and to some extent I can survive, but the survive/DPS ratio is weird for me, I cant seem to get anything done. Im getting really frustrated with the class, i want to make it work somehow but I just cant.

Is there any DPS build that can secure kills?

So this is going to sound really obvious and you’ll probably hate me for it, but: practice.

I feel your pain.
I play mostly WvW (well OK – I only play WvW). In a group setting, the Guardian is superb, I can slice through swathes of enemies wreaking havoc and shrugging off no end of damage.

But 1v1 is a completely different story. I seem to have no way to prevent kiting. I can’t get at anything to hit it, can’t even run away. No amount of tougness and armour is any use when you are hit over and over by a glass cannon you can’t even touch.

Of course, PvE is a different story, stupid AI constructs that stand still while you hit them are no problem. It’s the pesky humans.

Oh – and ‘practice’? How very helpful.

2 words: crowd control. Try using hammer-sword/focus. You can dish out good damage while being able to pursuit your opponent despite them kiting. You don’t always have to use GS and frankly, I find hammer a lot more reliable.

In tPvP a dps guardian is a bit of an uphill battle. The 0/30/30/5/5 trait set up you mentioned with meditations will be your most offensive option, but as you noted lacks chase and escape options. A symbol dps build can have a bit more survivability and group support but will not have burst like the meditation build, as it is more sustained aoe damage/support. A bunker role is by far the most effective as guardian but it doesn’t sound like you are interested in playing a bunker. If you want to play a dps guardian in tPvP I would suggest a symbol build but, as Christos mentioned, it will take practice.

in 1v1 it’s all about positioning. PvE mobs don’t really care about this sort of thing.

Sword / Focus = gap close, block, blind, block x3. With the right consecration you can combo off yourself.
Hammer = gap close, KB, KD, Immob and lock-in-place. With the right consecrations, you can combo off yourself.

See the patterns here?
In my experience, a 1v1 fight in PvP for a guardian means annoying the kitten out of someone until someone else can come by and finish them off with you. So help you if you want to take someone out at range: make good friends with an ele who will take pity on you.

I’m still getting the hang of my new guard as well, but I’ve been discovering some interesting combos. Your first goal, as Roach states, should not be damage. It should be to lock that squirmy glass cannon down. Hammer is great for this. I discovered recently that Glacial Heart works well with Zealot’s embrace. If you crit, your foe will be immobilized and chilled. Get close to them and lay down Ring of Warding. If you can trap them in ring of warding it’s all over. You can bounce them off the walls of that thing while they try to dodge away and knock themselves down. Also, make sure you use retaliation. They should be a bit scared to unleash onto you. JI also helps close gaps. Also you can use GS 5 to pull them towards you. Use GS 3 and Hammer 2 to leap at them as well. I’m digging Hammer/Greatsword right now. Truth is though that guardians are much stronger with a crowd. There’s no shame in this. Get near your allies, even just a few around you will significantly boost your power.

I agree with Entropy. I use Hammer/Greatsword with Judge’s Intervention and Retreat/Save Yourselves and I tend to keep people where I want them.

Judge’s Intervention + Ring of Warding is fantastic. I save my greatsword’s pull for when people stealth since it can still find them. I’ve caught so many mesmers and thieves that way.