Guild Wars 2

I’m having more success with this particular condi build than the others that I’ve tried, though; it could just be my lucky matchmaking.
revised build – removed Honor for Radiance and added Air/Fire sigs + Fire runes.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQRAsf7dnkICNDhlDBeDB8DhD/hyGAdbdeD3L4DyJxEmhA-TJBFwACeCAAOJAm2fIaZAA

Double Ele Comps With Diamond Skin
Outrotate the Ele and avoid 1v1’s, or last long enough to get a +1 who can get him below the 90% health threshold. There after, it’s usually pretty easy for you to burst him down assuming you have the health and cds to do so. Condi Burst around his Water attunement.

Viper Rev Meta
This build pretty much counters the glassy zerk revs. You shouldn’t even have issues with 2 revs on you if they’re skill level is mediocre. You’ll output just as much damage (if not more) while also having CoP + Purging Flames to cleanse conditions.
Editor’s Note: Cast PF or JI Burst attacks at the very start of a Rev engagement. Force him to use his heals early on for your unexpected burst so you can have the advantage later on in the fight. Save your two dodges + Focus for his Sword Teleport bursts and save Renewed Focus for his second teleport bursts. Do that and you should win every time.

Druids
You simply won’t beat a good Druid 1v1 unless you engage them while they’re already in a fight. You’ll do a good job downing Druids in a team fight, just don’t condi burst around their invulnerable skills.

Reapers
Are a 50/50 matchup. Either you’ll cleanse that 10+ stacks of burns they transfered back to you, or you fail to cleanse early and die miserably. Reapers are easier to outplay than Scrapper.

Scrappers
The more difficult comp 1v1. It’s a 4/6 or 6/4 matchup that could go either way. You have to be very careful to not throw your Torch when he has his reflects up. Remember to burst with PF/JI after he uses his turret water splash cleanse. Another fight that’s better to burst early on rather than later.

Skill Rotations
Start out with Scepter in group fights and auto + Scepter#2 as long as you can before you condi burst. Choose who you target carefully, never an Ele unless you’re in a group and others are also attacking him. Once you see his health drop to <90%, instantly JI + PF and/or + Torch#4 him and he should melt like butter. You

_Use Scepter#3 for Condi Coverages, preferably right after casting PF or JI. Don’t auto attack at all after you condi burst or you’ll apply a burn and ruin the cleanse priority.

Litany of Wrath Heal
It heals more when you do large AoE Damages. PF + JI + Permeating Wrath in a group pretty much guarantee you an extra 8k-10k heal. Just time your LoW very carefully as your JI can easily get blocked or ur PF bursts gets cleansed. I usually pop LoW when I know i’m going to take heavy damages, so that the heal will come back on CD when i’m near 20% health.

Everything else requires a learning curve, knowing other classes mechanics; knowing when to burst, when to cleanse condis and when to use LoW. More importantly, learning how to survive in high pressured scenarios. For example, you can Stunbreak out of a Mesmer’s CC Well if you time it at the very start of the Well effect. Since you don’t have any Stability, you could get Stun locked so be careful.

You can use Shield in replace of Torch on Khylo to knock people off of Mid. It’s also useful when peeling under the middle node, then retargeting a player above you to teleport back up – allowing players who were following you to waste time and run back up middle node.

Feedback Welcome!

Hi Saiyan!

I have a few questions if you don’t mind…

So currently DH has some issues with Tempest/Druid/Scrapper/Revenant/Reaper… It is nice that you addressed one namely the Revenant but this build is still underperforming against the OP classes. So as a Gua a DS Tempest won’t kill you with reflect but you still have no chance against it unless +1.

So why don’t you use FlameLegion to break that DS? Maybe supported by a Leeching sigil? Do you think 65% burn duration is a must have?

I see this is a sort of bunker build with Honor… Loads of self heal with Aegis and Selfless dodges… Did you just try to circumvent that Dire does not exists in PvP?

If it is a bunker it should have a chance against popular bunkers like Druid and Tempest. But it does not (you said).

Please can you explain the role of your build a bit better?

(Sorry I do not want to be a d-head. I’m absolutely open for new builds and ideas… But you said Feedback Welcome! Also please note: “Ay duo not ewan engrish”. My apologises again if I was too harsh…).

Happy Guardin’!

Aggrostemma.1703:

Hi Saiyan!

I have a few questions if you don’t mind…

So currently DH has some issues with Tempest/Druid/Scrapper/Revenant/Reaper… It is nice that you addressed one namely the Revenant but this build is still underperforming against the OP classes. So as a Gua a DS Tempest won’t kill you with reflect but you still have no chance against it unless +1.

So why don’t you use FlameLegion to break that DS? Maybe supported by a Leeching sigil? Do you think 65% burn duration is a must have?

The 65% burn duration and 150 extra condi power from Bal runes may not seem like much of a difference on a single target, but that 82 dmg increase per F1 proc suddenly increases condi DPS exponentially when hitting multiple targets. The increased burn duration means these burn procs stack up quicker and stay on the target longer, forcing players to waste a condi cleanse so you can set up PF, JI & Torch#4.

What’s funny is that once the Ele’s health is below 90%… they melt like butter. It’s why Double Ele on a team comp isn’t as big of an issue. You either out rotate them, sustain long enough with valor/honor to get a +1 or join a group fight and choose another target. Either ways, your Permeating Wrath will grab the Ele once he’s below the threshold and then you can retarget him.

To me, the huge AoE damage potential in a group skirmish fight isn’t worth trying to better your 1v1 odds class against a class that has always countered Guardian since day one. If Flame Legion actually guarantees you a win against a Diamond Skin Ele then i’m all for it… but it doesn’t unfortunately, not even close

Aggrostemma.1703:

I see this is a sort of bunker build with Honor… Loads of self heal with Aegis and Selfless dodges… Did you just try to circumvent that Dire does not exists in PvP?

If it is a bunker it should have a chance against popular bunkers like Druid and Tempest. But it does not (you said).

Please can you explain the role of your build a bit better?

(Sorry I do not want to be a d-head. I’m absolutely open for new builds and ideas… But you said Feedback Welcome! Also please note: “Ay duo not ewan engrish”. My apologises again if I was too harsh…).

Happy Guardin’!

The build is definitely not a bunker build by any means, nor is it meant to be.

Honor was chosen over Radiance due to the lack of sustains and team support utilities core burn guard has. Radiance’s 20% increased burn duration and 20% increased burn damage doesn’t make up for Honor’s 6k extra health in a course of a fight.

Thanks to the current meta, we’re needing more sustains. I’ve been at a ridiculously low health threshold right when I received a +1, got a lucky stomp, etc. Force of Will as made a bigger impact than how it performed prepatch, most definitely.

This build is definitely a bruiser style of play. It provides excellent AoE damages that could potentially wipe an entire group if they’re not careful. You typically want to go far or home at start and enter mid fight thereafter so that you can effortlessly condi burst on a focus’d target.

Tough criticism is the best kind!
I hope I answered all your questions. Now that it’s the weekend, I’m going to stress test the build further. For all I know, it’s only working because people have poor condi cleanses in this meta – or – just the matches i’ve been in. Either ways, it’s killing Revs, Scrappers, and Reapers and that’s all I need going for me.

I actually went back to the burn build as well, though I kept it where it was with valor/radiance/virtues. and use Sword/torch + GS. Honestly I think the big thing is that people forgot how to deal with the original burn guards because everyone is a DH now. The only class that I pretty much refuse to fight is any type of MM necro. Considering I WWed into one before and literally got instant downed by 20+ stacks of my own burning coming back on me…

Ring of flame isnt a meditation you know? Taking a spammable condi cleanse instead will vastly improve your survivability vs mono condi classes.

Valor Line:
Yeah, same here.

Virtue Line :
Master Consecration is a mandatory requirement for Burn Guard, not sure why u didnt choose it. Indomitable Courage is a must for me =/. Too many CC nowadays.

My build is slightly different from yours. Mine is more bursting with Radiance double torch throw, block to burn is very stronk and it synergies with Focus5. I’m still doubting the potential of Lithany of Wrath =/, does the burn tick return health to us?

When VS Diamond skin ele, i just walk the opposite direction with my build.
Will try out your build for sure. =D

So I wanted to give another update since I said i’ll stress test the build after receiving a few successful ranked wins prior to the weekend. Turns out my initial hype of the build was simply because of the current meta; you’ll melt certain classes given your burn burst engagements. I was just watching the burn build work naturally on classes that were already weak against conditions.

Honor is only really helpful if you’re getting focused down and you’re needing to survive that extra 5s of burst damages. Aside from that, it doesn’t better your odds in 1v1 or any other situation compared to Radiance

I got this particular build from Lazarus.4105 This Build can actually break a DS Ele’s health threshold with the use of Fire and Air sigils thanks to the 15% crit and any fury you get from medis. You can actually break the Ele’s health with just Sword#3 and the right procs. The moment you see that health pass 90%, JI/PF/Torch/Auto Attacks him. If your burst cds are down, then you may not be able to.

yLoon.5289:

I’m still doubting the potential of Lithany of Wrath =/, does the burn tick return health to us?

Yup, burns count as damages done! The main reason I don’t use Shelter is because of all the Stuns in the game… between Necro’s Fear, DH’s Traps and Mesmer’s Wells… your Shelter Will get interrupted quite frequently. With Litany, it’s a quick heal that can potentially heal you to full health.

I share my builds, good or embarrassing, is so I can get feedback that leads to something that works :) That and I want the meta to change lol.. a bit bored of DH myself. Let me know if y’all have any questions.

I prefer on-swap sigils on Carrion builds even with traited Right-Hand Strength and Meditations.

You won’t use your Medis to get Fury (with the exception of Litany) and they are on a long CD. So if I don’t have Smite Condition I do not rely on Fury for Sigil procs.

Leeching is superior for breaking DS. It is on-demand, bypasses Protection and it also heals you. You may laugh but my current build has Mischief on Sword….

You have a good point on Shelter I will give Litany a go next time I bother to play PvP.

Thank you for testing this build in the current meta and sharing your experience with us!

(hopefully they will rework some of the DH traits so a burn DH becomes reality…)

Happy Guardin’!

Saiyan.1704:

I’m having more success with this particular condi build than the others that I’ve tried, though; it could just be my lucky matchmaking.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQRAsf7dnkICNDhlDBeDB8DhjEi6usBQCk3v+bAxbQGUmA-TJhAwAAeCAcOJAjLDAb/BA

Double Ele Comps With Diamond Skin
Outrotate the Ele and avoid 1v1’s, or last long enough to get a +1 who can get him below the 90% health threshold. There after, it’s usually pretty easy for you to burst him down assuming you have the health and cds to do so. Condi Burst around his Water attunement.

This works until the Tempest Ele knows your build and swaps one trait from their meta build and hard counters you (AND what is more infuriating is it affects all allies around the Tempest as well)…so gg

Necros/Reapers running meta also destroys you thanks to Plague Signet which pretty much every Necro now runs

Revenants use Pain Absorption which takes it from all allies as well (and Glint heal) so yeah.

G’luck

Artaz.3819:

Saiyan.1704:

I’m having more success with this particular condi build than the others that I’ve tried, though; it could just be my lucky matchmaking.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQRAsf7dnkICNDhlDBeDB8DhjEi6usBQCk3v+bAxbQGUmA-TJhAwAAeCAcOJAjLDAb/BA

Double Ele Comps With Diamond Skin
Outrotate the Ele and avoid 1v1’s, or last long enough to get a +1 who can get him below the 90% health threshold. There after, it’s usually pretty easy for you to burst him down assuming you have the health and cds to do so. Condi Burst around his Water attunement.

This works until the Tempest Ele knows your build and swaps one trait from their meta build and hard counters you (AND what is more infuriating is it affects all allies around the Tempest as well)…so gg

Necros/Reapers running meta also destroys you thanks to Plague Signet which pretty much every Necro now runs :(

Revenants use Pain Absorption which takes it from all allies as well (and Glint heal) so yeah.

G’luck

Haven’t had a comp matchup like that but i’ve definitely have had double signet Necro and Ele comps running DS. I had to rotate and moderate my burn bursts very carefully. In most cases, not bursting until the very last second.

Reapers are still a 50/50 win chance. You’ll either cleanse that burn transfer and/or Elite focus their melee bursts or you don’t and die :o

Can’t vouche all too much in the higher diamond+ premade leagues but i’m not having many issues in Sapphire pug/premade matches.

Lithany of Wrath is indeed good for Burn Guard. Help me to sustain much longer fight.

However, still would choose Indomitable Courage over Permeating Wrath, it works great against Mesmer Gravity Well. Im too used to burn burst=/, Radiance still over Honor trait line.

Often i find myself in mid. I’ve been thinking of using Shield (Stalwart Defender over Strength in Number) + Scepter instead of Focus, its good for gang fight specially mid in Khylo, some CC to avoid team mate being stomp. Go try it and tell me what you think.

Out of all the builds, burn Guardian is always most fun. The strategy is to never stomp. Scepter#2 + Torch#5 on a downed with their fellow teammtes trying to revive, VoJ will just trigger like crazy.

mambastik.8735:

Out of all the builds, burn Guardian is always most fun. The strategy is to never stomp. Scepter#2 + Torch#5 on a downed with their fellow teammtes trying to revive, VoJ will just trigger like crazy.

I agree, a burn Guardian is super fun! There are other themes and builds that I really think Guardians should be all about: Burn Guardian, Spirit Weapon Guardian, and a sort of Bunker type Guardian all about the highest level of survivability mitigation and buffs.
However I don’t believe a lot of these builds are viable. Hope some of these builds can get their traits and weapons reworked. Otherwise super fun builds that I so far have enjoyed the most. Oh and I cannot forget to mention DragonHunter is a fun theme as well!

River Strider.9860:

mambastik.8735:

Out of all the builds, burn Guardian is always most fun. The strategy is to never stomp. Scepter#2 + Torch#5 on a downed with their fellow teammtes trying to revive, VoJ will just trigger like crazy.

I agree, a burn Guardian is super fun! There are other themes and builds that I really think Guardians should be all about: Burn Guardian, Spirit Weapon Guardian, and a sort of Bunker type Guardian all about the highest level of survivability mitigation and buffs.
However I don’t believe a lot of these builds are viable. Hope some of these builds can get their traits and weapons reworked. Otherwise super fun builds that I so far have enjoyed the most. Oh and I cannot forget to mention DragonHunter is a fun theme as well!

I also like to add that, from a duelist perspective, the Burn Burst build do better against certain classes when DH underperforms, and vice versa.

For example, DH does best against non-bunker Mesmers, Engineers and Warriors but Burn Burst does not. However, Burn burst performs better against certain bunker classes like Bunker Mesmers glassy and nonglassy Revs, even Diamond Skin Elementalists; assuming you have no issues getting past their health threshold (I haven’t lately, glad DS is getting a rework though!)

I got second place in a pug dueling tournament by utilizing Burn Burst and Power DH both. It’s good to know exactly what build works best against a comp or individual player!

Hi.

I still donest’ get why do you use honor instead of radiance or even dragonhunter instead. The only good think that honor provides is 3k of health and nothing more. All other traits of honor doesn’t bring much.

I used to play as burning before HoT, but it is not viable as used to be and the Power play recieved a lot of buffs via DH. You lose too much sustain to build up a burning build, where a Power build does not. Hopefully there are positive changes on condition to Guardian on the next balance patch. (I don’t really believe so lol)

Mikau.6920:

Hi.

I still donest’ get why do you use honor instead of radiance or even dragonhunter instead. The only good think that honor provides is 3k of health and nothing more. All other traits of honor doesn’t bring much.

I used to play as burning before HoT, but it is not viable as used to be and the Power play recieved a lot of buffs via DH. You lose too much sustain to build up a burning build, where a Power build does not. Hopefully there are positive changes on condition to Guardian on the next balance patch. (I don’t really believe so lol)

Oh, thought I updated the original post to reflect the Radiance line change from my other post about it.. but didn’t >.<… I’ll modify the op.

Idk, it’s definitely a fun alternative to power DH. Especially when you down 3 players by joining in a fight after everyone used up their cds.

As for the higher division leagues, i’ve actually had better luck downing bunker Mesmers and Eles with burn guardian than DH… where you’ll just barely sustain with DH compared to the bunker metas and do little to nothing against certain team comps. That said, burn guardian is still dependant on your team lowering that ele’s health threshold and/or surviving long enough to out damage your opponents.

I unfortunately don’t have the friend list resources to test DH Power vs Burn Guardian in a 3v3 skirmish fight on a node (non middle) territory

Better rune: Rune of the Flame Legion.
LET IT ALL BURN!!!

This build is old. Played it on Supahotfire for quite some time but with balth runes. Is nice but does not stand up atm. We will see what happens after changes. Bring the burn back.

Build isn’t anything new by any means. I’ve ran it for over a year prepatch, just wanted to showcase the burn burst build again. I’ve had success with it so far, at least, enough to win games in Ruby and Diamond team comps.