Guild Wars 2

Hey everyone, I took the plunge and am enjoying GW2 more than any game in long time. I started a necro and made it to 19 before trying out the guardian. I’m really enjoying the guardian, although I’m only level 11.

I’ve read many topics on builds, playing, etc and there is alot of information here that has helped me. But I still feel a bit overwhelmed with amount of skills to learn so early. I love playing with all the weapons, but its a pain to switch them out quickly… other then the two sets you can have equipped of course.

So back to my main question. I have the most problems when I encounter a group of MOBs in PVE that include a couple of ranged and say a warrior. What is the best tactic to handle this situation? I try to take out the ranged first and keep moving, but I still feel I could be handling it better. I appreciate your suggestions!

GSword is nice for leveling, the 5 ability will hit up to five targets with a dot, if you activate it a second time it pulls everything you hit with the dot into a tight group. These are Projectiles and iirc can be blocked by LoS. This helps to bunch everything up and aoe it down which GSword is very good at. Line of Sight works too. As you level try out each weapon and look akittens strengths. Most weapons have similar damage output so even if something feels slow its not necessarily low damage, other than staff. Staff is just great utility though.

I carry at least one of each weapon and rarely finish a dungeon with the same weapons and skills as I started with. Pay attention to what each ability on each weapon will do, almost everything has a use. Things get considerably better at 20, 40, 60 and 80 as new traits and builds open up.

Blood~

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I do find that I always want to change out my weapons, but when many of the looted weapon’ s icons look like your main set, it takes some time to swap out… I wish there was an easier way!

What is up with all the kitten references on the forums? (although your comment with the word akittens must be a typo?)

Anyway, I have tried the 5 ability, but it usually only groups the ranged Mobs for a brief moment before they all spread out again. But it does help…. I’m thinking that perhaps a utility to block projectiles might help as well after they spread out.

Wall of Reflection and Shield of the Avenger are IMHO two of our best skills, they stop or reflect Projectiles. May be a while before you can grab them though.

Your pull should look like GSword 5>5>4>3>2>autoattack. 4>3 deals damage and uses combo field n finisher to give you Retaliation boon.

Forums use ‘kitten’ as a language filter with people type things like kitten, kitten, kittenhead, and especially kittenkitten…

Run to the ranged mob so the melee mobs follow you and then just AOE them all down. Alternately, pull/push the ranged mobs together with something like Binding Blade or Banish.

You don’t need to worry about this as much in open world but in dungeons you can also LOS (line of sight) mobs. If you stand just around a corner so ranged attacks are obstructed, both melee and ranged mobs will move to said corner so they can hit you. This results in everything being bunched up together.

Lol, I didnt realize kitten was the substitute word of choice! Ha, that explains alot.

Thanks for the tips, I look forward to trying them out.

Use Greatsword & Scepter/Focus as your weapon sets. Or anything you want, really, but I like these because the GS is great for everything, but you can switch to Scepter/Focus when you are in low health or overwhelmed. You can have some distance to mobs while continuing to hit them, and the Focus has great defensive abilities.

Use food. I have found that regen food, in particular, is extremely useful in pre-80 levels. It stacks nicely with Signet of Resolve’s passive, too. It is also very cheap food. It’s not something you can rely on entirely but I always found it helpful to the point where I would notice right away if it wore off. You can find a list of them at http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Food#Regeneration. Use the highest regen you can use at whatever level you are. Once you reach 80, or maybe 60 even, there will be better food options (arguably even now +power food may help more depending on your playing style, but I thought I’d throw that out there).

Food, I started using a bit with xp boost, but will look into the regeneration options. Thanks for the suggestion!

Omnom Pie works very well also if you get a good crit rate. I never run without it while using any glassy builds, heals are noticeable.

Blood~