Guild Wars 2

The Virtuous Blade

“Guardians are devoted fighters who protect their allies and smite their enemies by drawing from the power of their virtues.”

The main idea of the Virtuous Blade build is to focus on the two things that are supposed to make the Guardian class unique to other classes: Virtues and to an extent Boons. Obviously, there is a concentration on Virtues, thus Virtuous in the name, and the Blade part comes in part from my preference for the Greatsword and Sword/Focus but also because of the dependence from some of the outlined traits. As a note, I play PvE and WvW only, so I don’t know how well this would do in PvP.

I. The build and ratiocination of its specific traits:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR8dlYg67mFyIEfIFSOjCEBrUEP3D+BM6qQCB-e
I left the equipment stats blank (see Gear selection for reason).

Zeal:
-Zealot’s Speed (5): symbol damage, and provides Retaliation, which is both damage to attackers and gives you a boon, and a bonus Light Field.
-Fiery Wrath (10): 10% on burning foe. You’ll be doling out a lot of burning, along with the possibility of the burning condition from teammates.
-Symbolic Exposure (15): with this build, you’ll have access to a couple symbols, and this applies vulnerability to the target, and vulnerability equates to more damage.
-Zealous Blade (20): 5% extra damage with greatswords, and healing for each attack. Couple the healing from this plus from the other sources, it becomes important to have.

Valor:
-Valorous Defense (5): aegis provides another block plus it’s a boon while it is up.
-The Valor Adept Major (10) trait slot can really use any of the traits, depending on your preference, and what you may be doing. I use Strength in Numbers because it’s 150 toughness points for you and teammates, and it helps when trying to crunch your stat numbers into the minimums you’re trying to get to.

Honor:
-Vigorous Precision (5): vigor is important for dodging, but it also provides you with another boon. You’ll need a decent critical chance to take advantage of this.
-Superior Aria (10): You’ll use most of your shouts, and recharge reduction is important.
-Selfless Daring (15): dodging equals healing. Couple the healing from this plus from the other sources, it becomes important to have.

Virtues:
-Inspired Virtue (5): boons for Virtue activation.
-The Virtues Adept Major (10): trait slot can really use any of the traits, depending on your preference, and what you may be doing. If you’re pushing high boon duration, I’d advise against using Vengeful because duration caps at 100% and if you’re already that close, you’re wasting a trait slot. If you aren’t close to the cap, then it’s a nice trait to use. I personally use Unscathed Contender for the 20% extra potential burst damage and also because I’m close to the duration cap.
-Virtue of Retribution: Retal on activated Virtues. Provides a boon that damages attackers.
-Absolute Resolution (20): removes 3 conditions from you and allies and passive heal is increased. Couple the healing from this plus from the other sources, it becomes important to have. The other traits are subjective for use, but could be used in place, which again depends on preference. However, AR is almost completely necessary in this build for the dual benefits it provides.
-Power of the Virtuous (25): 1% extra damage per boon you have. Since you’re producing so many boons, this helps your damage output.

II. Gear:
1. Weapons: Greatsword is needed to take advantage of Zealous Blade. You’re secondary set can be anything. I use Sword/Focus because I like how they work. Stats can be what you need them to be (see Armor). I use my secondary set, S/F, as a defensive set, with Cleric stats. Again, Sigils can be what you want them to be. If you have a decent Crit. Chance, a Sigil that activates from critical hits might be ideal for you. If not, Energy, Force, or a stat stacker is always a good choice. Also considering condition meta, Generosity would be a good defensive/offensive choice as well.

2. Armor: what you use for gear really depends on your tastes. I personally prefer the hybrid type. That is, a mix of gear. I have one main set that I use for everything, which consists of a mix of everything. Along with that, I have two sub-sets which consist of parts that get exchanged with parts of the main. One consists of berserker stats, and the other is cleric. What you should do is figure out what stats you want at a minimum and gear up for those first as a goal before you start tweaking it. Runes, again, depends on you, but Boon Duration is something to keep in mind. As noted above with the condition meta, runes of the Soldier would be great for condition cleansing.

My personal stat goals consists of:
3,000 Attack (yes I know, it’s a useless stat, but I use it anyways)
3,000 Armor
15,000 Health
40% Critical Chance
80% Boon Duration
400 Healing Power

3. Consumables: again, this depends on what stats you’re wanting.

III. Skills:
The skill list on the build is the skills I typically run. However, the skills can be quite flexible to what you need/want. One of the points of the build though is boons, so shouts will need to occupy most of your skill bar. Save Yourselves! is a skill that stays on my bar because it provides you with a quick spread of boons, and boons equal damage. I tend to play tanky because I’m slow with the reflexes, thus why the Hold the Line! and Signet of Judgment . I like HTL! because it gives you the protection and regen boons, which are defensive, but also offensive because of Virtues 25. I use it coupled with Virtue activation for boons (Virtues 5). Which healing skill you use is also subjective. Shelter is great because it blocks attacks, but I like Signet of Resolve for the passive condition cleanse and the larger healing ratio.

IV. Pro’s to the build:
1. Potential decent burst damage. You can get up to 44% extra damage just from traits alone, not including Might stacks, Vulnerability stacks (mostly from other party members), Symbols, and Sigils. Remember that each boon on you, you get 1% damage increase, so you want to have boons on you all the time if you can help it.
2. You’re getting passive healing from Zealous Blade, Selfless Daring, and Virtue of Resolution, as well as the Regeneration boon, that by themselves are rather weak, but together make a nice passive healing combo.
3. On top of passive bonuses from traits and Virtues, you’re getting boon bonuses, and this becomes even more powerful when coupled with boon duration.
4. You’ve got several sources for passive condition cleansing as well as a couple options for active cleansing.
5. The play style is very active, yet not completely demanding since there are both passive and active options to the build.
6. It has the potential to do it all.
7. Every single trait is used during play and a lot of them sync very well together where as some of the other builds have traits in them that may not. I especially felt this way with some of the x/x/30/x/x builds.

V. Con’s to the build:
1. Conditions can be problematic, but honestly, what build doesn’t have this issue nowadays? There are several skills, traits, and gear choices that could fortify you to fight off conditions however, and they should work well with this build.
2. Missing opportunities from the other trait lines, namely Radiance. Radiance does have its merits with this build, especially with the burning options, and is debatable. A 10/10/10/15/25 build might be something to explore, although that’s very spread out. I personally don’t like losing the Zealous Blade trait, which means losing a part of your healing.
3. Not quite the same healing bursts or sustain potential from the x/x/30/x/x builds.
4. There’s more effective builds out there that do PvX better. This is debatable and perhaps true, but sometimes the effectiveness of a build is not enough or what makes it the best. I personally put fun before math facts, and a game is supposed to be fun, not a job.
5. The Virtues line is rather weak, especially for putting 25 points in, and on top of that, the offensive options in it are also very weak! I concur with this and believe this should be changed, but without destroying its intent. However, I find the line fun, and thoroughly enjoy it. Hopefully, Anet will make the offensive side of the line better.

Virtues and boons are supposed to be the epitome of the Guardian. This build focuses on both. It closely resembles what the original concept for the Guardian was, that is to feel more powerful with their boons [and Virtues] and feel less without, and matches what the Guardian description at the beginning of this guide states. This build is defensive, yet offensive, and you can push that line to either side with gear choice.

I encourage any discussion or ideas about this build, but please refrain from statements like “this sucks” or “build X is better.”

Reserved****

This looks very promising and close for what I’ve searching.

I may have the wrong mentality, though why use Signets if you’re not going to invest in Radiance? Personally I try to stick to utilities which I can get less cooldown or bonus on them.
Also I see you invest into Virtues. What about consecrations?

Thanks in advance.

Here is my change to the build for PVE dungeons and Fractals. Just moved 15 point around, into radiance. The blind spam is way to strong for dungeon stacking, that I wouldn’t go without it. And added my armor preference. (and added master of consecrations because that is too strong IMO to leave out)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR8dlUg6CHFSLEfIFSODRCBtPAQVKin7BrAGB-jAyAYfBZiQgpCQJvioxWcLiGriBT5SEV7NwAA-e

Sorry for the late replies. Had a busy weekend.

Tamuraki.3851:

This looks very promising and close for what I’ve searching.

I may have the wrong mentality, though why use Signets if you’re not going to invest in Radiance? Personally I try to stick to utilities which I can get less cooldown or bonus on them.
Also I see you invest into Virtues. What about consecrations?

Thanks in advance.

I use the signets mostly for their passives and only use their actives if I have to. You don’t necessarily have to use signets either. The build is very open to skill changes, with the exception of SY! and more or less HTL! because you want to have constant boons on to take advantage of that Virtues 25 trait.

Consecrations can be used too. Just change the Virtues Adept Major to the Masters of Consectrations (VI). I do this sometimes when I know I have to use them.

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

Here is my change to the build for PVE dungeons and Fractals. Just moved 15 point around, into radiance. The blind spam is way to strong for dungeon stacking, that I wouldn’t go without it. And added my armor preference. (and added master of consecrations because that is too strong IMO to leave out)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR8dlUg6CHFSLEfIFSODRCBtPAQVKin7BrAGB-jAyAYfBZiQgpCQJvioxWcLiGriBT5SEV7NwAA-e

That’s not a bad spin on the build. Radiance definately has it’s merits, especially 5 and 10. I’ve never been a fan of 15 though, especially when it comes to bosses.

Some issues I have with the change is that you’d be losing Selfless Daring, Valorous Defense, and the Adept Majors. These of course are mostly for a more defensive orientation however, so it’s more of a personal preference.

15/10/20/25 tweaks the build a little bit more.

Mainly removes the dependency for using the greatsword and opens up the possibility for large symbols, longer symbols, or faster recharge on all 2hand weapons.

Not bad flexability for a “does it all” build.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I encourage any discussion or ideas about this build, but please refrain from statements like “this sucks” or “build X is better.”

When I read this, I looked through your post to see what your purpose for this build was (so I could offer helpful criticism).

Here it is:

The main idea of the Virtuous Blade build is to focus on the two things… Virtues and to an extent Boons.

So you want (1) to go into the Virtue trait-line, and (2) to emphasize boons. You mainly do PvE and WvW content.

1. My first criticism is to ask why did you pick the Greatsword? The Greatsword is a burst-damage weapon. The auto-atack gives you Might stacks for doing extra damage with skill 2 and 4, but it doesn’t give boons to your party. An alternative would be the Hammer, which gives the party protection stacks during the auto-attack chain. With enough boon-duration you could give the party perpetual protection as long as you’re auto-attacking.
2. Your build has no reliable source of Might stacks. You could take 5 points from Zeal or Valor and put them in Honor instead to get Empowering Might (which gives your party Might stacks on a critical hit). Since you already have 5 in virtues, you could also go 15 in Radiance and get might stacks when spamming Virtue of Justice (that trait wouldn’t work well in WvW though).
3. I was trying to find some runes that might synergize well with this build. You might try (all Superior runes) Rune of the Pack, Rune of Dwayna, Rune of Water, or Rune of Altruism. Altruism is probably the best option, and it would solve your Might problem.
4. I don’t know if Save Yourselves gives boons to Party members. If it doesn’t, then picking that over Retreat or Stand Your Ground contradicts what you want this build to accomplish.

This link implements some of the changes I suggested.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Pro’s to the build:
1. Great potential burst damage.

My only other criticism is with this statement (I might be a little bit more critical here). The three things you want in a burst damage build are (1) Critical-Hits (aka Precision) (2) high Power (3) Vulnerability.
In my opinion, this build lacks critical hits and vulnerability. So I wouldn’t say it has burst damage potential.

This effort (thanks for all your work Kai – wow, I remember those books) highlights the massive problem with HPs on Guardians.

When will we get our fix?

a full medi build with sigils of generosity has little problems with keeping condi off.

if i wasn’t so happy with my current build, i’d give this a try. perhaps in the next few months

Zerole.7306:

15/10/20/25 tweaks the build a little bit more.

Mainly removes the dependency for using the greatsword and opens up the possibility for large symbols, longer symbols, or faster recharge on all 2hand weapons.

Not bad flexability for a “does it all” build.

True, not too bad. You sort of completely changed the build though. There were several points to this build. One is Virtues and Boons, the other is the GS. But I can understand the want to get away from GS because not everyone likes the weapon.

Svarty.8019:

This effort (thanks for all your work Kai – wow, I remember those books) highlights the massive problem with HPs on Guardians.

When will we get our fix?

For Magnamund!!! That’s awesome that you know where my name comes from! I still have the originals and am getting the new ones that are being republished.

Health per second, correct? Yeah, I still think that VoR needs a bit more of a increase, even with all the extra healing from traits, skills, and boons being thrown in the mix.

kiba.2768:

a full medi build with sigils of generosity has little problems with keeping condi off.

if i wasn’t so happy with my current build, i’d give this a try. perhaps in the next few months

I had a lot of fun with the medi build before the changes in the recent patch so I can imagine it’s quite nice now.

When you give it a try, let me know how you like it.

Finnway.2183:

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I encourage any discussion or ideas about this build, but please refrain from statements like “this sucks” or “build X is better.”

When I read this, I looked through your post to see what your purpose for this build was (so I could offer helpful criticism).

Here it is:

The main idea of the Virtuous Blade build is to focus on the two things… Virtues and to an extent Boons.

So you want (1) to go into the Virtue trait-line, and (2) to emphasize boons. You mainly do PvE and WvW content.

1. My first criticism is to ask why did you pick the Greatsword? The Greatsword is a burst-damage weapon. The auto-atack gives you Might stacks for doing extra damage with skill 2 and 4, but it doesn’t give boons to your party. An alternative would be the Hammer, which gives the party protection stacks during the auto-attack chain. With enough boon-duration you could give the party perpetual protection as long as you’re auto-attacking.
2. Your build has no reliable source of Might stacks. You could take 5 points from Zeal or Valor and put them in Honor instead to get Empowering Might (which gives your party Might stacks on a critical hit). Since you already have 5 in virtues, you could also go 15 in Radiance and get might stacks when spamming Virtue of Justice (that trait wouldn’t work well in WvW though).
3. I was trying to find some runes that might synergize well with this build. You might try (all Superior runes) Rune of the Pack, Rune of Dwayna, Rune of Water, or Rune of Altruism. Altruism is probably the best option, and it would solve your Might problem.
4. I don’t know if Save Yourselves gives boons to Party members. If it doesn’t, then picking that over Retreat or Stand Your Ground contradicts what you want this build to accomplish.

This link implements some of the changes I suggested.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Pro’s to the build:
1. Great potential burst damage.

My only other criticism is with this statement (I might be a little bit more critical here). The three things you want in a burst damage build are (1) Critical-Hits (aka Precision) (2) high Power (3) Vulnerability.
In my opinion, this build lacks critical hits and vulnerability. So I wouldn’t say it has burst damage potential.

This build isn’t just a support build, but does give the option for some support through some of the shouts and Virtues. Support is absolutely not the point of the build. If you think it is, you need to look over it again.

The GS is my favorite weapon, mostly because of asethtics, but it’s also pretty obvious as to the mechanics of why it’s used in the build. Having an hammer could be used for party support, but that requires the hammer auto chain which is rather long, but also requires your party to stay put in one place. This doesn’t translate too well in WvW. You could always just use the hammer as your secondary weapon.

Also, GS auto chain = reliable source of might stacking. You also get might from your skills, Virtue activation, and other weapons (Staff #4 for example). See the reply to Cat Has Ducks above for my view of the Radiance trait line.

Rune choices are up to you. I personally use Boon Duration runes.

SY! does not spread boons to other party members. It also does not contradict what the build is trying to do. I’m not sure why you think otherwise. As I said before, this is not a support-only build.

Critical hits can easily be fit into the build. I myself have 42% critical hit chance, and that’s not including the fury boon from SY! You can also get some vulnerability from the build, but it does depend on symbols. This is where Radiance 15 outshines the build, but you do have to trade off some of the utilities from other traitlines for it. You are right though: the build has decent burst damage but not great or the best. I will change that in the guide.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Zerole.7306:

15/10/20/25 tweaks the build a little bit more.

Mainly removes the dependency for using the greatsword and opens up the possibility for large symbols, longer symbols, or faster recharge on all 2hand weapons.

Not bad flexability for a “does it all” build.

True, not too bad. You sort of completely changed the build though. There were several points to this build. One is Virtues and Boons, the other is the GS. But I can understand the want to get away from GS because not everyone likes the weapon.

Actually, I meant Hit Points in general, but if a regen guardian was made more viable, then the issue we have with max HPs would perhaps be mitigated.

Svarty.8019:

This effort (thanks for all your work Kai – wow, I remember those books) highlights the massive problem with HPs on Guardians.

When will we get our fix?

For Magnamund!!! That’s awesome that you know where my name comes from! I still have the originals and am getting the new ones that are being republished.

Health per second, correct? Yeah, I still think that VoR needs a bit more of a increase, even with all the extra healing from traits, skills, and boons being thrown in the mix.

kiba.2768:

a full medi build with sigils of generosity has little problems with keeping condi off.

if i wasn’t so happy with my current build, i’d give this a try. perhaps in the next few months

I had a lot of fun with the medi build before the changes in the recent patch so I can imagine it’s quite nice now.

When you give it a try, let me know how you like it.

Svarty.8019:

Actually, I meant Hit Points in general, but if a regen guardian was made more viable, then the issue we have with max HPs would perhaps be mitigated.

I’m on the fence with buffing Hit Points, but I do feel the VoR needs a bit more of a bump, before Virtues traits benefits. I also feel strongly that the Virtues line in general needs more than …. well, more than what it is today.

Of course, I wouldn’t mind seeing a buff at all thrown in the way of survivability, so I wouldn’t complain with either way!

I feel it will play as a rather strong build in a focused, group environment. Conditions might be an issue, but you’ll mitigate direct damage like a champ.

The problem with Zealous Blade Builds is that it mirrors this build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR8dlYg67mFyIEf4ESOjCEBxPgRXPSIKihA-e

You lose:
Zealot’s Speed: With this build the expectation is to sit at 90% health and without honor traits to buff the symbol the benefits are minor.
Fiery Wrath: 10% damage to burning targets. This is a great sustain ability, but without effort it does not help with burst.
Symbolic Exposure: vulnerability to foes – 1% per tick
Zealous Blade: 5% damage and 25 healing on almost every hit

Summary of loss:
10% dmg during periodic burning
3% dmg from periodic vulnerability
5% dmg from one of your weapon sets
25 health on attack
200 power
20% condition duration (burning, blind and vulnerability)

What you gain:
Retributive armor: Optional 5% crit
Might of the Protector: Running Focus this will grant you might on 5 – also Optional run shelter for more blocks to set up burst
Altruistic Healing: 69 + .01 *400 = 73 health on applying boon – with vig precision this occurs on crit, symbols, shouts and virtues
20% crit damage
200 toughness

Merril.7620:

I feel it will play as a rather strong build in a focused, group environment. Conditions might be an issue, but you’ll mitigate direct damage like a champ.

The problem with Zealous Defender is that it mirrors this build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR8dlYg67mFyIEf4ESOjCEBxPgRXPSIKihA-e

You lose:
Zealot’s Speed: With this build the expectation is to sit at 90% health and without honor traits to buff the symbol the benefits are minor.
Fiery Wrath: 10% damage to burning targets. This is a great sustain ability, but without effort it does not help with burst.
Symbolic Exposure: vulnerability to foes – 1% per tick
Zealous Blade: 5% damage and 25 healing on almost every hit

Summary of loss:
10% dmg during periodic burning
3% dmg from periodic vulnerability
5% dmg from one of your weapon sets
25 health on attack
200 power
20% condition duration (burning, blind and vulnerability)

What you gain:
Retributive armor: Optional 5% crit
Might of the Protector: Running Focus this will grant you might on 5 – also Optional run shelter for more blocks to set up burst
Altruistic Healing: 69 + .01 *400 = 73 health on applying boon – with vig precision this occurs on crit, symbols, shouts and virtues
20% crit damage
200 toughness

I’m not sure what the Zealous Defender build is. I’m taking it that someone else has described my build with a different name? If that’s the case, I didn’t know about it. I only really frequent this forum for GW2.

But the build you linked to was a similar build to waht I used to run with before the Virtuous Blade build but with Meditations rather than AH. It was great. Had extremely high survivability! But as you put it, I always felt I lacked decent damage. And that’s when I came up with the VB build, and haven’t changed it since.

I was actually going to put that build up as a more tanky alternative in the Reserved Post I had put up after this build, but wasn’t sure if I was going to guide it.

Zealous Defender(all credit to Amins): https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/external?l=http%3A%2F%2Fintothemists.com%2Fguides%2F1538-zealous_defender

I used ZD as the basis to create my own build. The traits and skills are clutch. I just changed weapons, armor, food, and trinkets.

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

I’m not sure what the Zealous Defender build is. I’m taking it that someone else has described my build with a different name? If that’s the case, I didn’t know about it. I only really frequent this forum for GW2.

But the build you linked to was a similar build to waht I used to run with before the Virtuous Blade build but with Meditations rather than AH. It was great. Had extremely high survivability! But as you put it, I always felt I lacked decent damage. And that’s when I came up with the VB build, and haven’t changed it since.

I was actually going to put that build up as a more tanky alternative in the Reserved Post I had put up after this build, but wasn’t sure if I was going to guide it.

I actually meant zealous blade :X

I had just read the zealous defender post

I like it good job Lone. I have to redo berserker it’s dead. I may just use this instead and not bother. And direct people your post when they ask.

Not sure what to do about my other build. Or if I even need to change it.

Cat Has Ducks.1982:

Zealous Defender(all credit to Amins): https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/external?l=http%3A%2F%2Fintothemists.com%2Fguides%2F1538-zealous_defender

I used ZD as the basis to create my own build. The traits and skills are clutch. I just changed weapons, armor, food, and trinkets.

Ahh okay. I kept thinking the name was familiar. That’s actually an interesting build. I might have to try that one day.

Merril.7620:

I actually meant zealous blade :X

I had just read the zealous defender post

Makes perfect sense to me. Easy to confuse the names since my build uses the Zeal traitline and that Zealous Blade is a keystone to the build.

Silentstorm.7531:

I like it good job Lone. I have to redo berserker it’s dead. I may just use this instead and not bother. And direct people your post when they ask.

Not sure what to do about my other build. Or if I even need to change it.

Thanks Silentstorm. I am quite honored by your praise. I consider most of your guides as part of the foundation of my understanding of the Guardian. Leave the Bezerker guide up there. I think it should be required reading for new Guardians.

Well I never delete guides. I did mention however in the Bezerker guide that it’s old. I’m going to alter 3.0 and paladin 2.5. But I have to deal with Korean BNS this weekend. I’ll sit down and think about GW2 monday no interuptions. Or mmosite’s editor in my ear.

But I do like the build think I’ll roll with it. I still want them to do more with Zeal

Looks like this build will be getting a boost in Dec. according to the early patch notes released.

Zealous Blade will be getting a 2% healing power increase. So that means more sustain for the Virtous Blade.

I was hoping for an increase to Power of the Virtous though….

After reading through some of the recent suggestions that Christo is making towards his Healway build, which I keep up with, and considering the condition meta, Runes of Soldiers would make a good set since this build does use shouts quite often. Add in a sigil of Generosity, and you’ve got a pretty good defense against conditions.

Will add this note to the build guide.

As stated before, I was hoping to see some improvement from Zealous Blade with this build. And while there was a slight change in healing, the extra heals from it still aren’t that great and you need to pair up the other heals in the build still to make it viable.

I was hoping to get rid of the dependence on dodge heal through this patch, but unless you run super high healing power, you won’t be able to.

I run with 400 some odd healing power myself, and it still doesn’t make that much of a difference alone.