Guild Wars 2

Hey, i’m a budding guardian, hoping to be in the 80s soon, with that said, i’m mostly looking for the playstyle in which i can focus more on supporting my allies instead of focusing entirely on damage and supporting myself, i like to be that type of person who can either change the course of a battle with my supportive roles, or take the full blunt of the enemy force by standing right in front of them and making sure everything goes for me, of course with the removal of the holy trinity in GW2, the latter isn’t really possible.

With that said, is it possible to get a highly supportive role out of the guardian? If so, how would i go about doing so? The only weapons that i’ve assumed would be good for a supportive role are the staff for the 4 ability, and the Hammer for the short protection buff it offers, or am i missing something entirely?

At first i thought an AH build would be what i was after, but then i realized that i had misread the description, and that AH healed me and not the allies i applied the boon to.

Try looking at the Honor and Virtue lines

A 0/10/0/30/30 build would help your team out a lot. It would rely on using your Virtues a lot, Symbols, Shouts and Dodge Roll to Heal.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAW5dlYgqCHFSLEf4ES2jVCBTQrCEE2DM6j2IA

I would go 2 Monks, 2 Dwayna and 2 Water Runes for Massive Boon Duration. You would want to get a set of PVT and Cleric gear with Sapphire Jewellery. Cleric Weapons. Your main weapon will be the Staff, but you can chuck down the Mace Healing Symbol for your Mates to Stand in and Use the Focus to apply Vulnerability. You might consider the Scepter instead of the Mace and use the 2 skill to root your target in place for your group. I would use the Focus for the Blind and Healing and because I hate shield without the -20% CD trait.

Between your Shouts and your Virtues you are helping your group out a lot.

You might experiment with different healing abilities. I always run the Signet but I can see why others might be effective.

i play a support guardian in FoTM. i use staff (primarily for offense buff and speed buff for my allies – 15 stacks on might X 5 is a lot of dps increase) and scepter + shield for stalling strong melee targets and shield skills for prot and projectile repellant.

i have all clerics gear (armor, weapons and trinkets (with exception of 2rings and a backpiece which has power, vita and toughness for +25 AR)). my traits are 10/0/10/30/20, 10 in zeal to get the spirit weapon recharge shortened, 10 in Valor to get Strength in numbers. 30 in Honor to get battle presence, Superior Aria, the trait that shortens recharge for shouts, and resolute healer (coz sometimes people die), 20 in virtues – absolute resolution and (master of consecration or vengeful or improved spirit weapon duration [but most of the time i use improved spirit weapon duration]). I can equip wall of reflection or spirit weapons with no problems, i just adjust my trait value by clicking and no need to retrait. works for me so far.

i started to do Ascalonian Catacombs with my setup and it works for me too.

My utilites are Hold the Line and Shield of the Avenger. I modify the last spot with a Spirit weapon (defense Arrow for condi removal or heal or offense Sword for additional dps) or Stand your ground or Wall of Reflection or Retreat, depends on the map. For my Heal I use Healing Breeze. That support heal and regen helps a lot (i am a support guardian anyway). For my elite i use Renewed Focus. Tome of Courage is too cumbersome for me to use.

Runes – 3 Water and 3 Monk (you need that +150 healing power). Sigils – Life on Staff, Spear and Trident and Scepter, Energy on Shield.

eating food also helps. either +MF while booned with increase in boon duration food or + healing power and + vitality food. the grawl shaman is my only kryptonite map with pugs so i usually take the powerful potion of elemental slaying.

Brilliant, just the sorts of replies i was hoping for, thank you very much guys, i’ll try both these build to great effect and see if they’re what i’m after, thanks greatly!

I run 0/0/30/30/10 and it is working amazingly for me.

Mace/Shield primarily, spamming the symbol on 2 which ticks 2 different heals with the right trait, keeping myself and anyone else in melee up. Mace 1, third attack ae heals for 650 health as well, and popping the shield bubble if anyone else needs heals. Spam F1 every time it’s up for the damage, might, and heals from Altruistic Healing and F2/F3 if anyone gets a little low has saved uncountable teammates. Secondary greatsword gets used to drop a second symbol and to gather enemies up using 5, great for getting them close for AEs.

As for utilites, the 10% DR signet is always on my bar, and then I generally have wall of reflection and sanctuary, although those are swapped out as needed generally for the spirit bow (immediately used for heals) or whatever else is necessary for the fight.

Using this build, not only am I able to keep my team alive most of the time, but if I’m good at timing my walls and bubbles, I can completely negate some mobs, block agony, give safe pockets for rezzing, etc.

I do, however, have absolutely terrible damage. You will not be killing much on your own if you go this route.