Guild Wars 2

Hey guys

I played guardian a lot in WvW for roaming, but each time… I return back to a meditation build using Judge’s Intervention, Smite Condition and Contemplation of Purity. Usually I run it with GS + S/F (either sword or scepter). I know shout builds are also being used for roaming (and I ran them myself some times), but they really don’t do as well as medi builds because they lack movement skills.

Now my question is: are there any alternatives, or am I stuck with meditation meta? Signets, consecrations and spirit weapons all seem awfully weak compared to meditations, so I really am desperate for something new…

Sincerely,
Divinaris

There are only 2 viable builds for the guard right now, meditations and shouts.

Everything else is trash.

If you haven’t done so already, you can try a burn hybrid meditation guardian, but you will need to change all your gear to carrion or dire depending how condi heavy you wanna go. Keep in mind most people will use condi reduction food so you need to account for that.

Consecrations are unfortunately not that good for roaming most of the time, save perhaps purging flames. They’re definitely tailored more towards sPvP or zerging. Spirit weapons have a similar problem. Much more useful in sPvP than they are in a roaming situation. For either of these, you need to really force your opponent to stay in the area to maximize their usefulness, but roaming (and WvW in general) has such highly mobile combat that it maxes them tough to use effectively. Not to mention you never know when a group is gonna come around the corner and attack you.

I’ve tried making a signet build before… let’s just say I scrapped that quickly. Those things need some serious love.

That just leaves us with meditations and shouts, of which the former is generally more preferable (aside from litany of wrath, which is mostly bad). They’re much easier to utilize given the mobile nature of the combat (all are instant cast), and they provide some of the best stun breakers, stability, and condition clears that the guardian has.

I don’t really see this changing until they make further balance adjustments in the game. The specialization stuff in HoT will of course bring in some new stuff, but that’s still a ways off.

EDIT: For reference, I think my signet build was something like this… http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAsdRl0ApQoNCxSI8DRR8QlZK+iWfCvQKUVAgVSA-T1SBAB3p+DXKJqTfDDPAAzUCGxhA4KlZdpUY79H04EAAwRAgUARsMC-w

Like I implied, it’s crap.

Hunter.4783:

There are only 2 viable builds for the guard right now, meditations and shouts.

Everything else is trash.

If you haven’t done so already, you can try a burn hybrid meditation guardian, but you will need to change all your gear to carrion or dire depending how condi heavy you wanna go. Keep in mind most people will use condi reduction food so you need to account for that.

Pretty much this. Hybrid builds is a nice alternative from your average meta. It’s not uncommon to 1v2 baddies like Rangers and Thieves simultaneously. Especially if you Shelter a Ranger’s Rapid Fire, adding 12s work of 1k burn ticks usually does the trick.

Try the 62600 with sword/torch sc/focus, full carrion.
-Koi Cakes
-Tunning Crystals

Hey guys, thanks a lot for your responses!

First off, I am rather interested in a build that works around burns. I had a friend who ran that really long ago and it was really awesome (I think that must have been january 2013), I also ran it after that but haven’t touched it much since that time. The gear I still have is rabid though, would that work as well as carrion?

Also; is it possible to try play on both direct damage and burning?’

For the other suggestions here;

• signets need some love indeed, they lack the sustain on the other two skill sets, maybe useable in a combo with shouts?
• spirit weapons: not sure, I might try to run something new with them, i’ll post results later.
• consecrations: maybe they can get a spot with WoR?

Hope to get more suggestions!

Greetings and happy gaming.

Quick edit: just roamed with rabid/zerk guardian and it seems viable. Still utilizing meditations, but at least it’s something else and I can use torch for this. ;D Killed couple of other roamers with this, no horrible deaths yet (except from getting ran over by a zerg).

Sirendor.1394:

Hey guys, thanks a lot for your responses!

First off, I am rather interested in a build that works around burns. I had a friend who ran that really long ago and it was really awesome (I think that must have been january 2013), I also ran it after that but haven’t touched it much since that time. The gear I still have is rabid though, would that work as well as carrion?

Also; is it possible to try play on both direct damage and burning?’

For the other suggestions here;

• signets need some love indeed, they lack the sustain on the other two skill sets, maybe useable in a combo with shouts?
• spirit weapons: not sure, I might try to run something new with them, i’ll post results later.
• consecrations: maybe they can get a spot with WoR?

Hope to get more suggestions!

Greetings and happy gaming.

Quick edit: just roamed with rabid/zerk guardian and it seems viable. Still utilizing meditations, but at least it’s something else and I can use torch for this. ;D Killed couple of other roamers with this, no horrible deaths yet (except from getting ran over by a zerg).

You’ll actually lose raw damage potential because Guardians lack proc on crit effects. Unless you absolutely like Sigil of Earth, Carrion would be better suited for your hybrid purposes. Carrion also does better against condi thieves . They are abundant in WvW.

This is what i use in small fights depending what you are up against it sometimes will struggle in a 1 on 1 if they are a skilled player with a lot of buffs if they are unskilled you will take them down as you have over 2k power 2.5k with bloodlust stacks and 24k health. conditions are sometimes a problem but you can remove 8 conditions within 10 seconds from traits and skills this build can also help in zergs too.

GS for DPS
scepter/ Shield for cc (immobilize and knock back) and keeping targets at range while hiding behind wall of reflection. Wall of reflection to be used so other zerkers (mainly rangers and sometimes eles) kill themselves.

Quite a simple and effective build if you ask me, Does everything it needs too but no its not zerker DPS or cleric support and doesnt follow the meta. it just gets the job done to stay alive and have fun.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAR7el0ApVo9CxZI8DRR8Ql5Y8iVFAY/ERRle1OA-T1RBABVq+DN7PklyvFuIAnpEMPdDA8EAAA-w

Hey thanks Smidy! Looks nice, will try it out shortly.