Guild Wars 2

I have rolled a guardian and I am curious as to what weapon sets/utility skills/ and traits are best for a leveling PvE build. I have played the first few levels thus far and so far I am enjoying the idea of having a build that would give me support through my combat actions and not specifically through heals and buffs… I would like to find a build that is interactive in this way..

if you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

-The Griz

I’m PVE levelling a Guardian right now, using a primarily Zeal and Radiance build, and Mace/Shield for melee and Scepter/Torch for ranged. Works really well at level. When things get above level, then it get dicey, but that’s an armor upgrade issue for me (not an issue because I can make better than I can use for now…)

Use Greatsword it has a great combo for leveling, just press 5 , 5 , 4 , 3 , 2..

Also if you need to kite use szepter + focus. For group support through your actions you need a bit more Traitpoints, but for starters put 15 points into radiance and just use Virtue of Justice every time its up (when a mob dies) and heal everyone with Virtue of Resolve.

Zeal trait is also nice to have while leveling i think, later there are few builds that still need it. Give 5 points into Virtues and divide the rest into honor and zeal, that should get you to 80.

Then respec and go full valor instead of zeal at 80

For leveling, you have to play many events, so sword and torch are your first choice to get gold medal every time.

In addition, radiance build can do a lot to help this weapon set.

I leveled two guardians with Hammer and enough points in Honor for Writ of Persistence. You can shotgun the rest of your trait points across the board and it won’t matter, you’ll never die.

I’m currently 75 and have used GS/Scepter+Focus for most of the way. Around now, Staff is really starting to come into its own in big group play, but I keep the GS for its blind/AOE/multi-target damage ability. I’m starting to use Mace as well.

I used a version of this build, raising traits in Radiance first, then Honor, then Zeal. Having access to stringer, larger symbols + additional damage when you’re low on endurance, also Virtue of Justice is up quite often as well so use it as soon as something dies and it recharges for burning+vulnerability. Lots of other damage avoidance here – the trick is knowing when to pop GS 3 (blind), F3 (Aegis) and the variety of shouts available that give damage mitigation (Save Yourselves, Retreat, etc.).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUIQJARWlYgiC33RFEgIFRuA7DAsSR8uH2DN6xPC-jgCBoNBiaAgcAKLqIasltht6KalXBRNjIqWZDzIuIa1iAYGD-e

I leveled and map explored mainly using greatsword and sword/shield, with scepter/focus when range combat was required.

As for traits, I focused on radiance, valor and honor, with the mandatory 5 in virtues. I stayed away from zeal.

Levelling is a great opportunity to test out and become familiar with all of your weapons.

The guardian is rare in that pretty much all its weapons are very viable end-game – so it pays to be comfortable with them all. We also have enough innate survivability to be experimental without overly endangering yourself.

…and even when you screw up while leveling, the only real consequence is a few coppers or silver in repairs and a trip back from the nearest waypoint. Tarsius is right that Guardians have lots of good, viable weapons choices at end-game – what really matters most is your play style, so the advice to try out as many weapons combos as possible while leveling up is a very good one IMHO. Good luck and happy hunting!