Guild Wars 2

Hi Made a similar post in a thread I created in Players helping Players but thought I should post here to. So I’m new to Guardians and I’m having a hard time trying to come up with a decent build for what I want to do and hoping someone here can help point me in the right direction.

What I’m looking for is something I can basically solo the map with while leveling and for at level 80. Good survivability and decent damage. The Great Sword seems pretty neat and the Torch is pretty wicked with the flame stuff! For utilities I was sorta hoping I could just use signets. And for gear I was thinking the Clerics would work because of the healing?

Any suggestions or pointers to a few different builds would be appreciated! Thanks

Hmm, I would first advise against clerics gear. I’m not a fan of it, though some enjoy it when playing a support role in WvW… otherwise, it’s not very effective. I personally used pvt until I got comfortable with the class and now use a mix of knights and berserker. If you want to keep signets, then going 30 into the Radiance traitline is very nice for the trait that doubles the passive effect of all our signets. This is ok for soloing but also consider using meditations. Meditations are actually our most selfish skills but they are quite good. They won’t dispense boons to teammates but they will help you out a lot.

As far as leveling, putting 15 into radiance lets you hit Virtue of Justice (burning) every time you kill a foe. And when traited, VoJ gives 3 stacks of might and blinds nearby foes. It’s one of my favorite minor traits. I often run 0/15/30/20/5, which is a variation of the AH builds that centers a lot on VoJ. I love taking a group into a mass of mobs and spamming VoJ each time a mob dies, which, because of my traits, aoe blinds, stacks vulnerability, gives might to allies, and heals me.

It works well with GS because that’s our great aoe potential. Torch is cool but I find I don’t use it very much personally.

Thanks for the reply!

Ok so I took another go at the build with your suggestions and I’m a tad less confused then before but I still feel like my brain is going to explode What does pvt stand for? From looking at the major traits I’m assuming AH stands for the Altruistic Healing but how am I applying boons to allies and then healing me if I’m normally by myself and if I only use signets or the meditations?

I’m still very confused about Guardian builds even after looking at this stuff most of the day. Can anyone put this in like a Guardians for Dummy type of thing please? lol

PVT – Power Toughness Vitality
It’s the armor stats. Also, AH works on your self. Meaning, when you apply boons to your self, you heal your self as well. Cookie Cutter AH build goes 0/0/30/30/10 or at least that’s what I first started with. AH works well with shouts since you are always applying boons. If you are looking to use only signets, I’m not sure what kind of build would work since I personally do not like using signets.

Well, I always think of my guardian as greatest in group settings because of out group boon capabilities. I don’t solo roam with mine very often but suppose I would run something like x/30/x/20/x. Radiance is a somewhat selfish traitline but also very good imo, so would be good for solo content. Going 30 into Radiance would give you your signet buff or a buff to one-handed weapons.

Again, though, for solo content, I think meditation builds are probably your best bet. The one inthis forum post seems pretty solid (greatsword, sword/focus and specced into improving meditation abilities): https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/PvE-WvW-Roamer-Meditation-Build

Give it a shot.

Starts with PVT gear familiar yourself with Guardian, and then starts using all Zerker if you are confident enough.

The best defense is always the best offense. What selfish this and that, IMO if a person could not contribute to killing player at all with your boon build, support build, that isn’t selfish?

Everyone got their own playing style, so everyone is selfish? L O L

Knights Gear / Berryl Jewelry / Zerker Weapons.

Greatsword + either Sword/Focus or Mace/Focus

Go for Dwanya Runes @ lvl 39 (at least 4) and Sigil of Restoration for each mainhand wpn.

Utilities (in order of open slot): Hold the Line, Save Yourself, Retreat (for getting around the map).

First 5 pts in Virtues.

Next 15 in Honor (Reduce Shout Duration).

Next go 10 points into Zeal (More dmg on burning)

Valor to 30.

After that, you should know what you’re doing.

In order for leveling:

1. 10 Zeal, Fiery Wrath
2. 10 Radiance, Signet Mastery
3. 10 Valor/Honor until reset
<reset at 40>
1. 20 Zeal, Fiery Wrath, Greatsword Power
2. 20 Honor, Writ of Exaltation, Two Handed Mastery
3. Valor/Radiance until next reset
<reset at 60>
1. 20 Zeal, Fiery Wrath, Greatsword Power
2. 30 Honor, Writ of Exaltation, Writ of the Merciful, Two Handed Mastery
3. Max Zeal, Zealous Blade
4. Either Valor or Virtue.

Final build is: 30/0/10/30/0 (I prefer Valor than Virtue)

You get self healing from (values without any Healing Power) Writ of the Merciful (130~), Selfless Daring (450~), Virtue of Resolve (105~), Zealous Blade (25~).

Preferably pick a Gear that focuses on Power (Soldier, Berserker, Valkyrie), or Knights (less Power but it’s still better damage than most), same for trinkets, but always use either Exquisite Rubys or Beryls for gems. Runes up to you.

Utilities are up to you, you have the option of enhancing Shouts (at the cost of 2 Handers goodness), Spirit Weapons (great for WvW, not so good for PvE unless it’s specific content and only the Shield is good) and Meditations.

Weapons are always Greatsword & Staff, any Sigil you want.

Then learn practice this until you learn your character’s/player limitations:
Pick the Staff, run around trying to engage in combat with as many monsters as possible (make sure they don’t stun you, if they do, do have “Stand Your Ground” equipped) by auto-attacking (wide area), Orb of Light (long range), and occasionally dodging (don’t waste both at once) and dropping the Line of Warding to block the mobs (don’t go too far away from their area or they’ll run away).
Right after your Line of Warding, still close to it, start casting Empower, after it’s done, Symbol of Swiftness, swap to Greatsword, Symbol of Wrath, Leap of Faith (for extra Retaliation, optional) and Whirling Wrath.

Causes 2x Symbol damage, stacks up to 8 Vulnerabilities, heals you twice for 130ish each second, triggers Zealous Blade for an extra 25 healing per target inside, plus the Whirling Wrath damage, and an average of 350~ Retaliation damage.

This is the AoE farming build.
I pull as much as I can (except some overpowered, unbalanced, and badly designed mobs such as Risen Nobles) and with the low cooldown of these skills, you can do this pretty often, and it’s great for tagging and killing packs of mobs on events.

It also serves well as support in WvW and part-time healer, while having a good damage potential, but it lacks survivability of Valor builds (0/0/30/30/0 + 10) and it’s not a good roaming build (builds more suited for 1v1s and 2v2s for example).