Guild Wars 2

UPDATED – 11-20-2012
The Legendary Defender
Traits 0/0/30/30/10
Race : Charr

The Legendary Defender is just that. A legendary defender, If you are a DPS fanatic, this build is not for you. Neither is it useless, nor is it boring. It’s a very active member of the group. Contributing to DPS / Survivability via Buffs, and Keeping everyone up and alive without much effort on their part.

My Gear Set-Up
Regeneration Formula This gives you the ratio for healing power to regeneration
Mace/Shield Vs. Mace/Focus
Trait Bonuses/Breakdown
Utility Skills
Sources of Damage/Heals/Mitigation
Boon Durations, How to effecively Increase W/o Spending 10+ Points in Virtues
30 Valor vs 30 Virtue
Elite Skills
Why Use A Staff?

THE REASON:
The reason i like this build is because it grants massive amounts of buffs, while at the same time provding an adequate damage source, by granting you and your team stacks of might as well as fury.

This is a Promoted Thread. Please keep all bashing and negative comments to yourself. Any questions/comments/concerns you can PM me. Keep trashtalking to a minimal. IF you have anything to add, or anything that would make it better, suggestions are always welcome.

Weapons/Stats Used
Runes and Armor Sets

Draconic Cleric Gear 6/6
Toughness/Power/Healing Power
Rune of the Water 6/6

Ascalonian Catacombs Gear 6/6
Vitality/Precision/Healing Power

• Rune of the monk 2/6
• Rune of the water 2/6
• Rune of Dwayna 2/6

Weapon Sets/ Sigils

• Staff (Of Superior Energy)
• Mace(Of Superior Energy)
• Shield(Of Superior Life)

Exotic Glyphic Mace

• Healing Power
• Vitality
• Precision

Exotic Ascalonian Shield

• Healing Power
• Precision
• Toughness

Exotic Ascalonian Staff

• Healing Power
• Precision
• Toughness

JEWLERY

Exotic Oricalchum Sapphire Ring of The shaman

• Toughness
• Power
• Healing Power
  Secondary Stats
• Vitality
• Healing Power
• Condition Damage

Ancient Karka Shell

• +25 Power
• +25 Precision
• +25 Toughness
• +25 Vitality
• +3% Critical Damage
• +25 Healing Power
• +25 Condition Damage
• +3% Magic Find

Oricalchum Sapphire Earrings of The Shaman

• Toughness
• Power
• Healing Power
  Secondary Stats
• Vitality
• Healing Power
• Condition Damage

[Back Piece]
Back Peice of the Magi w/ Crest of the Shaman

• Healing Power
• Precision
• Vitality
  Secondary Stats
• Vitality
• Condition Damage
• Healing Power

For my weapon sets, I use runes of superior energy on both sets of weapons because that is an additional heal every weapon swap. Every dodge roll is healing being done.

Back to Top

very nice post OP, good job!

seithan.4823:

very nice post OP, good job!

Thank you. I’ve put alot of time and effort into thinking of that build. And while it may not be the best, or even MY build, It is what has allowed me to play the game how I like it to be played. It fits my playstyle 100%.

very nice build what trinkets/bonus and weapon stats do you use?

5 trait points in zeal is a big waste if you ask me. A better spot for it would be in virtues for improved consecrations (higher uptime/lower cd on wall of reflection is great for support/dungeons)

I understand that you like MI but it is currently one of our worst utilities. Nothing like being blinked to a friendly turret or full health NPC even though you’re standing right next to a low health player.

I’m not sure what you want out of this thread if you’re pretty much unwilling to accept advice about your build. There’s already a sticky for simply posting builds.

Cool build here. Was wondering what your opinion on the Honorable Shield trait is? Was thinking about getting that one because I use mace and shield a lot and it doubles as a toughness boost as well as a quicker recharge trait.

5 points in zeal is very situational, and you have little control over when it triggers. Often, the symbol created will be rendered useless by whatever brought you to 25% in the first place. Virtues 10 has a couple attractive options that can be switched out at will. Even radiance 5 is arguably more useful, because you can choose when to deploy it.

Just a few comments on the format. You should put Battle roar at the begining in the utility skills you use and precise that it’s a racial chaar skill imo.
It seems to be an interesting build, good job.

Kashien,

Do you use the mace & shield with cleric stat’s? Reason, I’m asking because I was thinking of getting a mace & shield with Prec, Vit & Healing. I’m currently using Knight’s Mace & Shield.

Weapon Stats updated in Second Post.

Aw man, I thought we were gonna talk about how to kill those legendary defenders in WvW XD but that seems like a very well done build! What’s the damage output on say…a gs though? jw

bunker builds are really hard to break. they should be nerfed imo.

@ ArchTheFallen. I wouldnt know, I’ve never picked up a greatsword. Ever. Except to test zealous blade. I played my guardian with the Mace/Shield + Staff combo all the way to 80. I’ve never used anything else. I’ve already found what i love.

@Dan Why would you nerf this? Its for PvE. So a guardian is durable, nerf them? Isnt that what they are supposed to be? Durable?

Great job!
Could you give me an idea of the effectiveness of healing level scaling the healing power value? I mean, if you use only weapons and trinkets healing oriented, how much do you lose?

Thx

Regeneration Formula

• 5 + (1.5625 * Level) + (0.125 * Healing Power) per second

Back to Top

Kashien,

How did you get a Glyphic Mace because I can’t find that on the TP? Did you use <name> Glyphic Mace skin? I’ve been trying to find a healing mace with a skin that I like. Since, I’m Asuran I would love to use a similar skin to the Glyphic Mace.

Ok, thanks & keep up the good work. Guess, it’s time to head to Sylari area to find that mace skin.

True but I’m being anal in not wanting <name_type> Glyphic Mace. I would just prefer Glyphic Mace of <sigl_name>.

I found the GLyphic Mace skin in MLeap called: Hidden Mace for 427 karma

http://www.gw2db.com/items/64485-hidden-mace#

You can find that at:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Nessa

This YT video will show you the location:

thanks & keep up the good work

Mace/Shield Vs. Mace/Focus

Thank you all for the support, and the PM’s. I just wanted to Address a question that has been asked several times in the PM’s.

Why do you use Mace/Shield Vs. Mace/Focus?.

First. Lets talk about Mace/Focus before I talk about Mace/Shield.

Benefits to Mace/Focus
A 45 Second CD for Shield of Wrath

• This grants you 3 Blocks
• A Blast Finisher (Which activates upon Activation of Shield of Wrath)

And a Blind attack That can either jump from foes to allies and grant allies regeneration

These all seem like great benefits for using a Focus versus a Shield. So now lets talk about the cons

The Cons of using A Focus

• 45 Second cooldown on the 3x Block ability Shield of Wrath
• Less Armor
• The Regeneration Buff/Blindness Debuff is too random to be of any real use

Lets talk about the shield.

Benefits of using a shield
Slighty More Defensive Options

• An AoE Protection Buff/ Damage Spell
• An AoE Knockback + AoE Heal
• More Armor

Cons of using a shield

• Long cooldowns on abilities
• Knockback can sometimes hurt the team instead of help.

Back To Top

Trait Bonuses

Bonuses for Symbols

• Writ of the Merciful – at 1551 Healing Power, Heals 283 Per Tick for Each Symbol, Meaning for a 7 Second Symbol (Because of Writ of Persistence), it heals for 1281 Healing over the duration for a single symbol. This will not only contribute to damage, but help the survivability of your team with proper placement.
• Writ of Persistence- Adds a supposed 50% duration on symbols

Attribute Bonuses

• 300 Toughness
• 300 Healing power
• 300 Vitality

% Duration Increase/CDR/% DMG Increase

• 10% boon Duration
• 10% Virture Recharge Rate
• 30% Critical Damage

Automatic Bonuses/Abilities at % HP
50% HP*- Gain Aegis

[Trait Breakdown]

Valor

• Meditation Master—20% meditation cooldown reduction
• Retributive Armor – 5% Toughness is added to precision

Purity

• – Lose a condition every 10 seconds
  
  Altruistic healing.
• – Heals for 83 for each boon applied to allies. This includes multiple stacks of boons, such as 12 stacks of might from “Empower” for Staff. Provides 249 Healing Per pulse, per ally nearby.
  
  Honor

Superior Aria

• – Shouts recharge 20% faster
  Writ of Persistence
• - 50% increase in symbol duration
  Writ of the merciful
• - Allies healed by symbols (283 per tick)
  Back To Top

Utility skills I Use

Signet of Resolve

• This is not only a major heal, but a major condition removal on yourself as well, save this for when it is absolutely necessary to use it. Just because you are at 3k HP does not mean you are going to die. Check the area around you, survey the landscape, if there are no mobs, and you are in no immediate danger, throw down a symbol and regenerate your hit points, pick out a staff and heal/Deal Damage at a range with Orb of Light, and your shouts.

Hold The Line

• Hold the line is a great ability, not only does it provide protection ,but it provides the regeneration buff as well, it is often best to use this in conjunction with Stand your Ground at the beginning of the fight, not only to provide protection/regeneration, but to provide your team with survivability

Stand Your Ground

• Stand your ground Stand your ground is another great ability, not only does it provide stability, but it provides the buff Retaliation as well, granting a 7 second damage return capability, when used in conjunction with Hold the Line, it provides the team with major survivability.

Merciful Intevention This SKILL Is Currently WORTHLESS

• lots of people do not like merciful intervention. I personally do. It provides a 5-6k Heal on allies, sometimes it works as it should, and sometimes it doesn’t. Right now, it targets the ally closest to you, So I just manage to watch and survey the area around me, and if a teammate is in major trouble, I will just stand by him and cast this, healing him for a lot of hit points, generally enough to last the fight.

Battle Roar

• Depending on the situation, I will either use battle roar, or Merciful Intervention, not only will battle roar provide 2 stacks of might, but it will also grant fury, which increases the teams critical strike chance by 20%.

Back To Top

[Sources]

Regeneration Sources
(With the Ascolonian armor set, the boon duration bonuses are increased tremendously, without having to sacrifice trait points into spec’ing “Virtues”)

• Activating “Hold the Line”
• Activating “Symbol of Faith”
• Activating “Virtue of Resolve”

[Moderate amounts of retaliation]

• Activating “Stand your Ground”
• Activating “Shield of Wraith” In Combo Field “light”

[Massive amounts of Protection]

• Activating “Hold The Line”
• Activating “Virtue of Courage”
• Activating #4 Shield Skill

[Grants Aegis]

• Activating “Virtue of Courage”

[Grants Burning/Might]

• Activating “Virtue of Justice”

[Grants massive amounts of might]

• Activating “Empower” On staff”
• Activating “Battle Roar”
• Activating “Virtue of Justice”

[Massive Amounts of Healing]

• Dodge Rolling
• Symbols
• Shouts
• Staff: Skills 2/4
• Mace: Chain 3 on Skill 1/ Skill 2
• Shield: Activating 5 skillX2

Back To Top

Thanks guys for your support and messages.

This is an interesting take on Altruistic Healing, in which you aren’t focusing on Crits to get you a steady stream of healing, but just having a lot of boons and healing available to you via Mace and Staff.

I like the concept a lot, and I think you strike a pretty solid balance between aggressive melee and boon support. You’re obviously not built for damage, but with enough Power and Precision, it looks like you’re set. I feel like Mace doesn’t get nearly enough credit with Hammer being so popular in the PVE meta, but it really is an outstanding weapon. It actually does hit pretty hard, and it provides some very solid utilities.

So, overall this seems like a fun and defensive build, but without really feeling like a classical midline healer. I do have a few quick questions:

1. What’s your crit in Draconic Cleric?
2. Are you comfortable being without much toughness in your Ascalonian gear? Do you find yourself staying close to or above 100% health in that gear?
3. Why 5 Zeal and 5 Virtues? I’m skeptical about the choice of 5 Zeal. Yes, the Symbol at 25% health does benefit from your other traits, but how often does that symbol come up? You could move those 5 points in Virtues and get a bit more versatility.
4. What Dungeons do you run with this build? Which paths give you the most trouble?
5. I don’t know how much mileage you get out of Meditation Mastery, seeing how it applies to just one Meditation. If that suits your playstyle—cool, don’t change a thing. However, I’m curious about one thing:

What about Retributive Armor? Presumably, you don’t need THAT much Precision. Just enough to give you a decent crit value to take advantage of 30 Valor. Retributive Armor would reward you for dipping into the Toughness stat, which your Ascalonian set lacks. You’d get more survivability, and more toughness = more efficient heals. However, I really don’t know the math since I don’t know your stats. I have no idea where the breaking point for Precision is for you.

Anyway, good stuff. I like the build. Looks pretty effective. I might do something similar in the future, since I’m looking for a good way to mix aggressive melee with strong boon support.

jboynton.7894:

I understand that you like MI but it is currently one of our worst utilities. Nothing like being blinked to a friendly turret or full health NPC even though you’re standing right next to a low health player.

I’m not sure what you want out of this thread if you’re pretty much unwilling to accept advice about your build. There’s already a sticky for simply posting builds.

I second this post, for the unwillingness to take criticisms. As a fellow guardian I am looking at the build and see it not as a pure defender but an in between type of defender to consider that the staff bearers role and majority of skills for a defender is already questionable. Build is pretty good, playable and for new guardians it would be an advisable base build, it has the utility to survive and support.

@Barricade. Its not Unwillingness to take criticisms, Its just that this build has done all the high level and high tier content, whatever needs to be done to change the build will be done by me, for me. Because this game is all about playstyle, there is no “Optimal” build, some are obviously better than others, but then again, so are players.

Skill is a major factor in this game, as is map awareness, and the ability to pay attention.

The build is solid, and teams really appreciate having a dedicated support. I wish i screenshotted all the times that people have said that the dungeon was made extremely easier by me.

This is merely a guideline on how to build a supportive/tanky style guardian.

I’ve really reconsidered taking the 5 points out of zeal and moving it to virtues, but I rarely use concecrations. I never have to reflect/protect allies because im too busy keeping them buffed up and at full hit points .

I’ve gotten the rotation down to where I can keep protection on allies for 36 seconds straight. with only a 4 second delay till the next 10 3/4 duration of protection. Regeneration buffs I can get on allies for almost full minute.

I see, so what’s the point showing this build if people can’t put their opion on this one? As you earlier said its done by you and for you, but when you post it we can see it and we can put our suggestions on anyway we can. It’s a good build just that I have a feeling that it could be better on my opinion, and feel free to answer or just whisper me for reasons like this. If its an exclusive post, I would move to close the thread and let no one answer or suggest anymore.

Just to show my playstyle. I never said, “JUDGE THIS BUILD”. I was just showing my build. I know it works, and thats all that matters.

I’m just showing the build to give other people options. I’ve seen alot of threads of people wanting support style guardian. And… well…. thats my build through and through.

Kashien.6278:

Just to show my playstyle. I never said, “JUDGE THIS BUILD”. I was just showing my build. I know it works, and thats all that matters.

I’m just showing the build to give other people options. I’ve seen alot of threads of people wanting support style guardian. And… well…. thats my build through and through.

There’s a thread for “look at my build” posts in the stickies, where you can describe your playstyle.

The point of opening a new thread is to discuss said build and ways in which it can be improved with the community.

Apart from pricing disparity, I would also recommend Heal/Power/Tough over Vit/Heal/Condi jewels on the basis that 240 power converts to roughly 120 more damage EVERY HIT while 240 condi damage converts only to 60 extra damage per second on your burning which is only applied so infrequently through Virtue of Justice and other means. Retaliation damage returns are also scaled based on power. Sorry to say but your 50g getting those jewels kinda made you weaker than cheaper options :<

zen, the rings/jewlery is for vitatlity, which this build lacks when wearing a certain armor set. I have a second set of exotic jewlery thats labled oricalchum sapphire of the cleric.

Reserved for “Boon Durations: Why I use 3 Different Sets of Runes”

Sourses of boon duration

• Rune of Water – 15%
• Rune of Monk – 15%
• Rune of Dwayna- 20% (REGENERATION)
• 10 points in Virtue= 10% Boon Duration

All in all

• Regeneration =60% increased Duration
• Regular Boons= 40% Increased Duration

I have Less healing because of the rune set up, but that can easily be compensated with a OmnomBerry Cookie, which gives +100 healing power and +70 vitality.

Back To Top

Great guide. I found out about the Precision/Vit/Healing Power gear just this weekend, and immediately thought of a very similar build (I’d emphasize Protection instead, and carry Staff/Hammer, but did seriously debate Mace/Shield as well). Now to run Twilight Arbor a lot to get both the skin and stats I want…

this is such a good thread. Thanks so much for keeping it updated with your thoughts.

Eveningstar.6940:

This is an interesting take on Altruistic Healing, in which you aren’t focusing on Crits to get you a steady stream of healing, but just having a lot of boons and healing available to you via Mace and Staff.

Yep. I love Altruistic Healing. It doesnt just help increase the parties survivability, but it also helps with my tanking ability as well, since it heals 1-2k a pulse..

Eveningstar.6940:

I like the concept a lot, and I think you strike a pretty solid balance between aggressive melee and boon support. You’re obviously not built for damage, but with enough Power and Precision, it looks like you’re set.

Thats correct, with enough power and precision, the 30 points into valor allow me a 30% increased crit damage. Like i said, this build is not for DPS fanatics, but its not useless in that department either.

Eveningstar.6940:

I feel like Mace doesn’t get nearly enough credit. It actually does hit pretty hard, and it provides some very solid utilities.

I Agree, i see very few guardians wielding maces. When people see me wielding a mace, they think, “OMG, why isnt he using a greatsword or hammer”. The truth is, symbol of faith is a major healing ability. Not only granting regeneration, but granting an additional 370/odd healing just by standing INSIDE the circle. Which is great on Tank/spank bosses.

Eveningstar.6940:

Anyway, good stuff. I like the build. Looks pretty effective. I might do something similar in the future, since I’m looking for a good way to mix aggressive melee with strong boon support.

Thanks, I’ve put alot of thought and effort into the build, and have even taken your suggestion and moved 5 points from zeal into virtues, and got the 25% retaliation increase duration.

Xynn.2748:

this is such a good thread. Thanks so much for keeping it updated with your thoughts.

No problem, Again, this just shows how I play the game, there’s no “BEST or OPTIMAL” build, because everyone has thier different playstyle. Mine just happens to be more of a mid-line support.

Concecrations VS Shouts for Support/Midline Guardians

I’m going to adress another question I’ve been asked constantly in the PM’s.

Q: What is the Viability of using Hold your Ground/ Stand Your Ground Vs. Consecrations for support?

Hold The Line

• Hold the line is a great ability, not only does it provide protection ,but it provides the regeneration buff as well, it is often best to use this in conjunction with Stand your Ground at the beginning of the fight, not only to provide protection/regeneration, but to provide your team with survivability
  
  Stand Your Ground
• Stand your ground Stand your ground is another great ability, not only does it provide stability, but it provides the buff Retaliation as well, granting a 7 second damage return capability, when used in conjunction with Hold the Line, it provides the team with major survivability.
  
  Pros’ Of Shouts
• Short Cooldowns
• Can Affect Whole Party (and then some)
• Affected by Boon Duration
• Significantly larger range than concecrations
• Can Be used while /Stunned/Held/Immobilized/Dazed
  
  Cons of shouts
• If cast out of range, the shout is rendered useless on various party members not in range
• Grants many boons that can be stripped by various enemies, rendering them useless, or worse, end up on the enemy themselves.
  
  Now, Those are the reasons i use Shouts, lets move onto concecrations.
  
  Concecrations
• Consecrations are a type of utility skill exclusive to guardians, involving the placement of helpful effects on the ground.
  
  Pros’ of Concecrations
• Extremely Powerfull/ Long buffs that last on the ground, providing a multitude of benefits. From stability to condition removal, to invulnerability(somewhat) to reflecting projectiles
• Creates Various Combo Fields, which, if used properly, can turn the tide of a battle.
• If specced properly, concecrations become ground targeted.
  
  Cons Of Consecrations
• Extremely long cooldowns, even when specced into the 20% reduced cooldown, the shortest cooldown is 32 seconds on wall of reflection. Hallowed ground is 64 seconds. And Purging Flames is 48 seconds.
• Stationary buffs, requiring you to stay in a given area. If a boss throws a serious AoE down in that area, that concecration is now rendered useless because you cant stand there, and the AoE probably lasts longer than the duration of the concecration.
  
  That is just my take on concecration vs shouts.

Back To Top

30 Valor Vs. 30 Virtue Altruistic Healing Vs. Absolute Resolution

I’m also going to address the 30 Valor vs 30 Virtue. Since I’ve been asked many times as to why I do not use 30 virtues.

Q: Why do you use 30 valor over 30 virtue, would it not be better to use 30 virtue for increased boon duration and virtue recharge rate? As well as doubling the healing from Virtue of resolves passive?

30 Valor grants Altruistic Healing, as well as a 250 healing bonus while using a mace, as well as an increase in armor and defensive utilities.

30 Virtues would grant a significant increase to boon duration, and would also allow your virtue of resolve to heal for almost twice as much, the only problem with using 30 virtues is that it gives really no benefit to the party. Where valor can give toughness to allies just by being near you, virtues can give no such buff.

Back to Top

Gonna give this a try and see how it plays out in higher FotM levels

Character has been deleted and remade into an engineer. After numerous hours of number crunching. Engineers provide much better utility and support and better suit my playstyle. Please close this forum. Thanks.

Character is being re-made after taking several month break from gaming to finish up school.

Character is Re-Made as a Human Guardian. I’ll be reposting pretty much everything.

How to effectively increase your boon durations without spending many points in virtues.

Runes

• Superior Rune of Water 2 of 6
• Superior Rune of Dwayna 2 of 6
• Superior Rune of The Monk 2 of 6

This rune set up will grand you a 30% boon duration increase for all other boons, as well as a 50% duration for regeneration. Which is a huge bonus, making your protection, might, regeneration, and retaliation buffs last longer.

Top that off with 10 points in virtues and you have a total of 40% boon duration, as well as a 60% duration for regeneration.

Elite Skills I Use

Any Race-

• Renewed Focus
  -This ability is one of the best guardian elites. It provides a 3 second invulnerability while simultaneously recharging your virtues after its completion. This is the primary elite skill I use. I primarily use this one in Dungeons.

• Tome of Courage
  – This ability is also a really good guardian ability. Providing massive healing to allies, as well as protection and regeneration in a large area of affect. I primarily use this one in world vs world.

Back To Top

Why a staff?

A Staff Provides Many Utility Skills That Benefit the Party
Skills

• Orb Of Light/ Detonation
  -This ability is a quick 1.4k heal with my current gear. It provides a quick burst of healing as well as damage to any enemies in the area. The 10 second cooldown is nice, because it can be used again on the next weapon swap.

• Empower
  -This ability grants 12 Stacks of Might, as well as a nice 3.45k heal at the end of the channel. The short cooldown is nice, because it can be used again on the next weapon slot.

• Symbol of Swiftness
  -I personally use this ability not for a speed increase, but for a damage increase as well as another boon that can be placed on allies, and a symbol that will heal allies when they stand in it.

• Line of Warding
  – An awesome defensive ability. When used, this keeps enemy mobs from reaching the party, which when combined with some utility skills, you can keep enemies away from allies for 10+ seconds, allowing them to heal and regenerate thier wounds from your buffs.

welcome back. : ))

quick note, why not Writ of Exaltation over Writ of Persistance?
Larger symbols make for more AoE, give some buffer as to where your allies can be.

though, agreed, longer lasting symbols add more boons, which are beneficial to your build. as well as do more DPS given your enemies stay in the symbols.

i just find untraited symbols to be too small if i can afford to go for larger.

The larger symbols are for allies that lack communication and need a larger area of effect to stand in. I like the longer duration because it is more useful than a larger area.