Guild Wars 2

Mace is more of a supportive weapon, but it has pretty good dps.
Sword has a much faster attack speed but I’m not sure about the dps compared to mace.
I’m thinking that mace is the better option overall.

Mace is for defense and healing. The block is incredibly useful and underrated.

Also, keep in mind the third attack of Sword #1 combo creates projectiles, so you wouldn’t use Sword in a place where projectiles are reflected.

It’s common thought that sword is the highest sustained DPS weapon the guardian has.
Many tests have been done and everyone agrees that no other weapon can outdamage sword, some others have better burst but in the long ride sword still wins.

mace is a static weapon with very slow swings it brings some support in dungeons and spvp but thats all.
sword has nice mobilty and more damage and its a weapon that will want to use mmore often than a mace

Sword full auto-attack chain does a little bit more dps than the mace. But it does it in 30% less time.

Also in trait the sword have access to a 10% dmg increase in a trait line that also give you good DPS trait with Precision and Condition Damage.

While on the other end the Mace only have access to a 5% dmg increase in a trait line that give you no other DPS increase.

With all that, the Sword have a good 50-60% more DPS than the Mace can give you. Or course the mace give you more support, so it can be a good weapon for some role in sPvP, but otherwise the Sword win without question.

Mace is always dismissed as a defensive weapon, It’s one of the best burst weapons we have. Mace/Torch has incredible spike damage, however this is for PvP/WvW. If you’re talking about PvE, you’re just better off going with sword. For the most part if you want sustain dps go sword, if you want burst go mace. Again this is for PvP/WvW.

Harbinger.8637:

Mace is always dismissed as a defensive weapon, It’s one of the best burst weapons we have. Mace/Torch has incredible spike damage, however this is for PvP/WvW. If you’re talking about PvE, you’re just better off going with sword. For the most part if you want sustain dps go sword, if you want burst go mace. Again this is for PvP/WvW.

i like sword for wvw for its extra mobilty but i never tried mace

jihm.2315:

Harbinger.8637:

Mace is always dismissed as a defensive weapon, It’s one of the best burst weapons we have. Mace/Torch has incredible spike damage, however this is for PvP/WvW. If you’re talking about PvE, you’re just better off going with sword. For the most part if you want sustain dps go sword, if you want burst go mace. Again this is for PvP/WvW.

i like sword for wvw for its extra mobilty but i never tried mace

I also like sword for that same reason. However I recommend people try out mace/torch if you’re running a dps build. It’s a lot of fun, and people don’t expect it. Protector’s Strike immediately followed up by a Zealot’s Fire is insane damage. It’s easily over +10k worth of damage with the right gear. It also all happens in the blink of an eye.

stemare.2578:

It’s common thought that sword is the highest sustained DPS weapon the guardian has.
Many tests have been done and everyone agrees that no other weapon can outdamage sword, some others have better burst but in the long ride sword still wins.

That’s a rumor. Sword has top DPS only if you take RHS – with other builds, greatsword or hammer will deal more sustained DPS. Have a look at the numbers in fade’s DPS comparison.

Depends on what you’re going to use it for. Even a mace can be traited to deliver good sustained DPS as well as burst. Mace tends to get the thumbs down because you HAVE to put 20 into Valour to get the most from it and it’s special abilities are focused on the no-so-effective healing in PVE. That’s quite a bit of commitment in that line for any PVE build right now. For what it’s worth, I would take a Mace over Sword for open world PVE anytime.

lets say i wanted to use Litany of Wrath. Which weapon sets would i benefit from the most? (also, would I gain healing from outgoing retaliation and condition damage?)

GS has highest burst. So i would use that if you are hellbent on using that god awful heal.

Litany of Wrath is probably only useful in zerg content like WvW or some dungeons, using a staff or greatsword.