Guild Wars 2

There’s just one thing I wanted for the holidays in GW2. An off-hand sword for the guardian. Just imagine how bad kitten it could be. The mainhand sword is a really great weapon, the problem being that it doesn’t hit more than one mob with its skills (other than the auto attack). An off-hand sword could fix this in the most stylish way possible.

The first skill could be a spinning move much like the axe spin on warrior offhand. The second skill could be something like an explosion of fire as you do an evasive retreat or something. Really as long as they add some AoE damage it would be an amazing, and I would say much needed, addition to the guardians one handed repertoire.

An offhand sword that gave AoE damage capabilities would go well with pretty much any of the guardians mainhand weapons, scepter included. Although I do think there needs to be a trait that gives CD reduction to sword skills since atm I end up auto attacking with the sword too much (it’s not entertaining).

This is a serious request, so if anyone agrees that they would like to see an offhand guardian sword please voice your opinions and perhaps we’ll get Anet’s attention.

thieves ask first, wait your turn. :P

I’d rather they fix main hand sword before adding more swords….

That sword would need to be really good…focus is an awesome weapon and it will be hard to give up on it for something other ^^

I’m not sure about this…

Sure it looks awesome to be dual wielding swords, but is it necessary?

Focus provides Blind and Regen with it’s 4 (Coupled with the Blind Exposure trait it also provides Vulnerability) and a decent block with it’s 5 (Doesn’t need to be channeled) for support/defence.

Shield provides Protection with it’s 4 and projectile block and AoE heal with it’s 5 allowing for high defence.

Torch (Guardians are one of the three professions that can actually use Torches) provides a multi-target burn that can be thrown for high direct damage on a single target with it’s 4 (Also can be cast at any time, in the middle of other attacks or while stunned/knocked down) and a large cone attack that also removes conditions from allies with it’s 5.

With these as the off-hand options for Guardians they fill in all the roles that are needed: Support, Defence, Single target damage (Can achieve permanent burn with Torch 4) and AoE damage.

What would the off-hand sword bring? More single target damage? More AoE damage? Are any of these necessary especially when the Torch provides them?

Well yes the focus shield skills are good, albeit they’re on a long CD even when traited. But that’s how it should be, as it’s a more defensive weapon giving blinds and shields. The Torch fire breathing skill looks cool and all, but unfortunately it does less damage than auto attacking with the sword over the duration.
I was hoping for an off hand sword that would bring more immediate (and good) AoE damage. The current offhand weapons don’t offer much in that respect. The focus shield skill has too long a CD to be used in an effective offensive manner, the torch flamethrower is less effective than auto attacking, and the shield’s wave skill suffers from both those problems.
But than again none of these weapons were designed to do AoE damage, aside from the torch which is less effective than auto attacking. What other offhand AoE options do we have as guardians? Also, I really want to run around with dual swords as a Guardian.

My vote is to keep main hand sword only but give IT the improved aoe damage, it sure needs it.

Am I really the only one who wants to have a dual blade wielding magic warrior badas?

No, I would like to have an off hand sword too. Mostly for the asethetics value, since it looks pretty freaking awesome.

Other than that, we don’t really have a decent single target damage offhand weapon. It could fill that role.

torch is decent for single target damage, atleast the #4 skill
also the main hand sword is great for single target damage

FWB.1704:

torch is decent for single target damage, atleast the #4 skill
also the main hand sword is great for single target damage

It’s okay damage, nothing to write home about. Torch is mostly used for #5.

All mains have at least one decent single target damage.

Thought I’d try and come up with some possible abilities of an off-hand sword based off what the reasons for wanting it seem to be:

Zealot’s Offence
Block melee attacks whilst throwing magical projectiles
Damage (10x)
Block duration: 3
Cooldown: 15

Similar to Sword 3, except it blocks melee (Handy for surviving, should “Block” in the same way as Zealot’s Defence to not make it mandatory for any build that picks up the “On block” traits) make the projectiles something like Spirit Swords (1 hand size, not greatswords) spinning horizontally outwards in a line or a cone these should also penetrate targets rather than being stopped by the first thing they hit.

Avenger’s Strike
Perform two powerful off-hand strikes against your foe, provides Might if both of the attacks hit.
Damage (2x)
Might: 3
Cooldown: 10

Something that should do significant damage and provide a damage boost whilst also being quick enough recharge that it can help maintain somewhat of a rotation without needing to resort to auto-attacking as much.

Symbol of Vitality
Pierce the ground with a mystic symbol that damages enemies and provides Vigor to allies.
Duration: 3
Cooldown: 10
Vigor: 1

For a build that focuses on Symbols, currently there are no off-hand weapons that provide a symbol. This would allow a Mace/Sword character have access to 2 short cooldown symbols. The Vigor also would allow for more saftey when in melee range as it would be possible to dodge more frequently.

Avenger’s Flurry
Strike foes infront of you with a flurry of blows.
Damage (15x)
Duration: 2
Range: 300
Cooldown: 15

A combination of Spear 2 and Sword 1 (Third combo) a flurry of attacks that fires off the penetrating swords that the third part of the Sword 1 combo fires off dealing decent damage in a short area infront.

Damage dealt and such would have to be adjusted to be balanced between other items but I’m starting to see a opening for a more selfish and offensive off-hand (Torch almost fills that role but the 5 does infact help allies a lot with the condition removal)

Only the Torch’s ‘4’ skill is good. The 5 skill is only good for a burn build by activating VoJ procs. The actual DPS of the 5 skill itself is very low compared the auto attack, and compared to what skills like Mighty Blow or Whirling Wrath bring to the table, it’s just bad.

The Sword’s auto attack can be used about 3x in the time it takes to use Torch 5. Torch 5 deals 720 damage, Sword auto deals 755. That means if you just auto attacked, you would deal 2265 base damage, versus a 720 base damage with the Torch.

Compare that to Mighty Blow or Whirling Wrath. Whirling Wrath deals 819 Base damage for a 1s cast time, and can go right back to auto-attacking. Mighty Blow deals 469 base damage for a 1s cast time, and is on a 4s cooldown. Both skills hit more targets as well due to a 360 degree effect, while the torch is a cone.

Edit: Mighty Blow can actually hit harder instantly than Torch 5 because when it crits, ALL of the base damage gets the multiplier while Torch 5 only recieves about your critical chance % of it’s damage as multiplied. You hit 10x with the Torch, if you have 30% critcal chance, then it’s likely only 3 hits will crit.

Regarding the off-hand sword, I would love that. I would even use it with the Mace or Scepter. However, I agree that the 1h Sword needs a bit of work first (Zealots Defense is just bad).

There are tonnes of things a guardian could wish for in an off hand:

• A long range single target pull skill
• A quick daze skill
• A long term movement hindering skill
• A pulsing blind aoe skill
• A hard hitting spike skill

The list goes on.