Guild Wars 2

I’ve wanted to make a thread like this for a while, after testing out a bunch of silly gimmick decks. Since recent discussion touched on this subject, I’m gonna go ahead and create it without my notes. (Meaning I’ll post my builds later.)

This thread is for posting builds that might not be optimal, but set out to accomplish a specific goal. Maybe you’ve created a build for exploring all the maps, maybe you’ve created a build that’s intended to have as many interrupts as possible… This is the place to post your build, explain what you wanted to do with it and how well it works.

The issue with the guardian is that unorthodox builds accomplish specific goals worse than the standard builds. (Wvw and pvp)

Neither zeal or radiance offers anything specific that you cant do by traiting in the other lines. Ofc pure damage excluded.

Trying to accomplish specific goals just makes you less effective.

I know, but some builds can fill specific niches that can fill holes in your team, or they’re more fun to play for certain people, or sometimes you just want to play along a certain gimmick. I figured we could use a place to discuss those sort of builds.

My point was mere that the gimmickbuilds are more or less found in choice of sigils, runes, food and utilities (spirit weapons) than the actually traits.

For instance if you go for lifestealing as choice of survivability its about sigils, runes and food and not the build it self.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAS7dlsApcoVDxbI8DRR8QZTVBAuTxWc9P8k5AA-TZxFwAJeCAFuAAr2fAwBBQaZAA

Maybe anything with Meditations is still too mainstream for some people but I think this belongs here.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAW7fl8ApMoFBxeI0ENh8Ql9YcGtYlTQAgZV8EA-TpRGABAcACU4ABs7FAwpyAFt/gBPAAA

Heavy support with a few spirit weapons. I had intended it to be a squishy, heavily supportive, longer ranged build which provided a lot of healing, condition removal, and decent damage. Turns out it’s capable of 1v1’ing. I’m able to deal substantial damage (for a Cleric build) via my weapon rotations and Hammer of Wisdom (it deals a lot of damage, believe it or not), while also dishing out huge amounts of healing via the staff, Healing Breeze, Bow of Truth, and so forth.
Incidental healing tends to keep the spirit weapons alive. Tbh, they almost never die on me.

The build is fairly squishy and selfless, so it’s fairly easy to take down if badly positioned, or its utilities/healing are down, at which point focusing it ends it pretty fast. I’m fine with that though, since it does what I want it to do quite nicely (support and damage).
Also, poison screws it over if no condition removal is available.

I switch out the torch for a focus in certain match-ups.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAS7dlsApco1BxaI8DRR8QZ5H8CV/ABwjiVSc1MA-TZhAwAw2fQzFAozBBAwTAQcZAA

This is an effective burning and vulnerability build. Can use GS instead of hammer if you prefer. I felt it was a bit squishy but my friend loves it.

I have a build that is designed for pure wvw speed revivals. It uses runes, shield and mace to do fast, protected resses. Posting via mobile so can’t link but I wanted to try and force myself to play a very certain way and it really is a ton of fun.. If you’re ever knocked down and I’m around I’ll try and get you back in the fight.

I certainly have a few of these.

Burning and Retaliation

Used to be 4016 Condi damage I don’t know what happened to that last little bit, but with full stacks, 3.8k is still impressive.

I couldn’t afford to actually create these builds, but I really want to run a condi guard soon, once I have a character slot for it.

And one I do run. Party Healer

For warrior, I’ve really wanted to combine Runes of Mercy and their Vitality line for mostly stacking effects (assuming they still work that way), but I don’t have enough slots yet, certainly not for a 3rd warrior. That 3rd Guardian comes first.

Ghotistyx.6942:

I certainly have a few of these.

Burning and Retaliation

Used to be 4016 Condi damage I don’t know what happened to that last little bit, but with full stacks, 3.8k is still impressive.

This build is made for Tome of Wrath (even if Human race). Also take Superior Sigil of Smoldering or run Giver weapons (and then you don’t have to run torch)

Oh, how this would be competitive if Guardian has one/two more cover conditions.

I run a build very similar to the one fashion Mage posted

My build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQJAWRl8ApKoFBxeI8DNx+gkd0njrKw1dONC-TJRGwAAOABKOQAOLDQc/BA

The main difference is 6 points in valor for altruistic healing which goes very well with the spirits. I like running the sword of justice because it stays up the longest for more use of boon application. It is a squishy build if you are being burst down, but it actually has a lot of sustainability otherwise. staff 4 acts like another heal with both spirits up. GS is nice for the retaliation if you get it on your spirits as well, but I think mace and shield/focus would work as well.

When the spirits go down I drop pretty fast with no allies to apply boons to, but with sanctuary you can sit and bunker for a while till the spirits come off CD. I run the same build in wvw with “Warband support” for more boon dummies and knock-backs, would work with the hounds too I suppose.

It’s a fun build, I enjoy it

Recently, I made this build: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/BBB-Blasino-Burning-Build-WWW/first#post4421618

Its been pretty dang strong 1v1 against any profession and some 1v2 in WWW. I just use it for solo roaming. It’s surprised a lot of people that I run into. People don’t expect to get 20 seconds of burning stacked on them quickly and ignore clearing it, until its too late.

http://de.gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAR8dlsApZo9CxVI8DNBARlbREh2GAPAmxQ4B-T1RGABA8EAGS5XCXEAQ2fgMdDAq+jUKBFCgJ-w

Well I did this when the Strength Runes came out reworked and my boon duration build died off so I wanted to test them out on a build based on the “Max Utility = 4/5/0/0/5” from Obals guide, ending up moving the 4 points from Zeal to Honor instead for Empowering Allies. Aiming on keeping might up easily thanks to the long duration and the ability to spam blind and vulnerability with Virtue of Justice while still being able to remove conditions partywide and switch quickly between Consecrations and Shouts keeping me only switching stuff in utilities for each encounter so I don’t need to mess around with traits in middle of dungeons since I every freaking time forget to switch them back. So now I can easily switch between WoR, Hallowed Ground, SyG and Retreat without getting increased cooldowns, only the rare encounters for Spirit Shield needs to swap 1 trait.

Blast on Purging Flames with Focus and picking up a Warriors banner for skill #5 gives iirc 6 stacks of ~37 seconds of might to start the stack with

The idea of this was to bring support/condi cleanse without losing too much DPS while not being totally reliant on other classes to be the ones who bring all the Might, I felt like I wanted to participate in the Might stacks too.

Was never a serious thing, just had some fun while creating and testing it even though the joy of getting to test the runes cost me 87g

Is this considered non-standard?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQJASRl0ApboVDxcI8DNBBRZVAgdLsCv51ZQFMBA-TJBHwAEeAAAuAAm2foZZAA

It’s a hybrid meditation build but despite a year of playing I cannot get myself to take shelter over signet of resolve. I’ve traited such that I get that heal every 32 seconds and have 2 passive condition clears. I also love the hammer/GS combo for its aoe damage and control, but yes I do get kited more easily.

The standard medi dps build probably works better, but I like this.

Brutaly.6257:

The issue with the guardian is that unorthodox builds accomplish specific goals worse than the standard builds. (Wvw and pvp)
(…)

But that is the balanced guardian.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQNAR7dlsApZolCxVI8DRR8Ql5Y8i29BVGANAePBA-TJxHwADuCAn3fAwDBoYZAA

Full ascended celestial for WvW solo/small group roaming. Keeps your survivability up, dps up, and provides good utility. Also trying out the new cleansing sigils in place of battle for both swaps. It’s just a good time build that works well, try it out.

x/focus hammer with JI 10/25/x/x/10 in pvp. . . blow people up not paying attention.

funniest thing ever was a 5k shield of wrath and 4k mighty blow on some thief.

sorrychief.2563:

x/focus hammer with JI 10/25/x/x/10 in pvp. . . blow people up not paying attention.

funniest thing ever was a 5k shield of wrath and 4k mighty blow on some thief.

you know by putting 0 points in valor you lose 30% crit dmg(= 30% extra dps when critting) right?

Fun support build

You do not lose 30% dps on crit if you don’t put points into valor.

Who likes perma burning and direct damage? Spirit weapons + supreme justice for constant burning; unpopular superior rune of flame legion + fiery wrath for 17% damage multipliers. I choose -40% condi duration over +40% condi duration because burn duration is already near the cap (85%) and condition builds may eat this guard alive.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQRAsf7dl0ApKoFBxbI8DNR8Ql5d0iWeCZQ1BwA8oA-TFCEABIqEMS1fM4EAwy+DV8EAoT/AAHEAoU+FAABw4Fv4Fv4FP38m38m38mlCgJpRA-w

Amins.3710:

Fun support build

Off topic: Your latest Necro video – well done.

On topic: Anyone try either of the new runes (Evasion or Radiance)? What about the new Superior Sigil of Incapacitation?

I’ve used the trapper set on my Ranger. Making both evasion and radiance to try on my Guardian.

Crapgame.6519:

Amins.3710:

Fun support build

Off topic: Your latest Necro video – well done.

On topic: Anyone try either of the new runes (Evasion or Radiance)? What about the new Superior Sigil of Incapacitation?

I’ve used the trapper set on my Ranger. Making both evasion and radiance to try on my Guardian.

Radiance seems really weak to me (or rather Light Aura) because of the 1s ICD on retaliation and 1 stack of Vulnerability per hit taken (not given) is not major in any means.

Evasion has potential but the ICD on the on dodge is really prohibitive to making this really useful. If it was 5s though instead of 10s …

Trapper = best with Ranger/Remorseless (but Thief can abuse well too)
Evasion = best with Thief (glass cannon/roaming)
Radiance = best with Ele Aura spam

Superior Sigil of Incap does work well with Guard though – just wish it was 60% on hit and not on crit ;p