Guild Wars 2

I’ve been working pretty kitten finding an optimal build since the big patch, and I think I’ve found a pretty good balance, so I’ve decided to share.

There are two variants. One build is very offensive. It sacrifices sustain through healing power for massive power. The second variant also has high damage, but it has a lot more sustain. In my opinion the second build is stronger, as it’s more well balanced, and you need that extra sustain to stay alive if you find yourself getting focused often. The damage build can survive fine inside a blob, but it can have trouble with condi pressure etc in smaller fights because it lacks sustain.

Pick the first build if you enjoy hitting like a truck, the second build if you want something more balanced.

Also keep in mind that the only ascended gear in the build editor are a few trinkets, this is because they are the only ascended available too me. The numbers on this build have potential to be even higher with better gear.

Beau’s Power Bruiser:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQJASWlsApVodDxQI8DRBABljdBAzYE+r7QKyAA-T1yDwAKOCAxUXhnSMXqU8U5BATcTuEAf0FgQJYgHAgs9HIEggFA-w

0/3/6/4/1

2.3k power (3.5k fully stacked!)
3.2k toughness
19-22k hp
35% precision

This build basically stacks power and might in order to hit like a truck. With 3.2k toughness and around 22k hp with guard stacks (must have), it’s actually a very tanky build, but the damage potential is ridiculous.
With sigil of battle + empower + hoelbrak runes + your trait combo, you can instantly stack 25 stacks of might by yourself, before even engaging in a fight. Assuming you have fully stacked your bloodlust and guard buffs, with 25 stacks of might your effective power will be 3.5k! This combined with your 35% precision makes your dps insane, and you can maintain at least 10 stacks of might throughout a fight due to your hoelbrak runes.

You also have the reset on VoJ in your traits, so once an enemy zerg starts dying, you can spam VoJ, which also stacks might, and you will keep perma 25 stacks and aoe blind at the end of a fight.

This build is honestly ridiculously strong. The one weakness as I mentioned earlier is the sustain. There’s basically no healing power, but you can generally stay alive quite easily due to AH, and your high toughness, but you may have trouble if focused hard in skirmishes or under heavy condi pressure.

Beau’s Healing Bruiser:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fVAQJASRlsApVodDxQI8DNhDRl57VfYXBF3WeZA0AA-TlCEABEpEbQlgwo+jVKPEwEjEPCAP0FAwFA4hjAQM7PQIAWLAA-w

0/0/4/6/4

2k power (3.3k stacked)
3.1k toughness
19-22k hp
35% prec
850 healing power

This build is similar but very different. Still running Hoelbrak because they are so strong. I seriously recommend these runes right now.
The most obvious difference in this build is the healing power. I dropped a few hundred points in power for a whopping 850 healing power. This massively boosts your ability to stay alive. I dropped 10 points from valor, as I don’t think AH is necesarry with such high healing power. IT doesn’t scale very well with your stats, and your various other sources of healing are more than enoguh to keep you alive without AH once your healing power is over 800.
I decided to instead put another 10 points in virtues, for the virtue of resolve trait. This triat is awesome because it not only strengthens your passive heal, which is kind of needed now since healing signet is so much stronger than virtue of resolve, but it also cures 3 condis on active. Used with Renewed Focus, you can instantly cleanse 6 condis whilst healing 5k+.
This build still relies on stacking might to hit hard. You can still stack 25 stacks by yourself, and sustain around 10 stacks, but you no longer have the voj spam in your traits to give you free might.

This build hits like a truck (however not compared to the build above), but also has a kittenload of durability. You really couldn’t get much tankier than this build without going full bunker, and that’s quite impressive considering how much damage this build can do.

As mentioned earlier, I believe this variant is the strongest, as I’m only sacrificing a smallish amount of power for a kittenload of healing, but if you want to be hitting as hard as possible, and you have faith in your ability to stay alive, you may prefer the first build.

Feedback encouraged

hey is this build effective in zergs or in smaller groups? or both? (want to pick up my guardian again after months and i`m looking for a build that isnt only focussed on big zergs

I’m liking the idea of this build, been looking for a new roaming build(leaning toward your second one). Has anybody tried this build or a similar one? Or do you happen to have any video OP?

1st build:

I think conditions would be a big issue, as you only have purity and CoP which is on a long cooldown. Hoelbrak is nice though. So conditions over time aren’t too big of an issue but if you get something like immobo on you that would be problematic.

The other problem is that you really don’t have any mobility. No leaps or teleports though I guess you have 2 immobilizes. Personally, I would want JI instead of the signet.

Finally, Renewed Justice is a somewhat dubious investment outside of zergs since that’s the main situation where you will be able to take advantage of it. It’s solid, and I like it a lot, but it’s also expendable.

As for the healing build, I like it a lot more. I would ditch COP. It just has no real place here; you’d be better off with a traited purging flames which is better for your group. This also allows you to do something useful with the first virtues slot— Unscathed Contender on a melee build is pretty worthless outside of fighting dolyaks and sentries.

For zerg play, I’d take signet of judgement instead— the aoe weakness will have a bigger impact, it’ll make you harder to kill, and most importantly it’s a stunbreak with a low cooldown.

This build on the other hand has the luxury of taking Strength in Numbers over Purity because absolute resolution+renewed focus+ purging flames is more than enough condi clear especially since you take Hoelbrak. Strength in Numbers brings also group support.

I mean 3300+ armor with the occasional judgement signet for another -10% plus + 2000 power, 30% crit chance, 19k base health, close to 1k dodge heals, mass condi clear and support? I think it’s a great idea!

Also take power food over precision food. Power gets more damage out and you’re not proccing anything significant that needs good crit.

BuddyChrist.4961:

I’m liking the idea of this build, been looking for a new roaming build(leaning toward your second one). Has anybody tried this build or a similar one? Or do you happen to have any video OP?

This is my “bruiser” build, so it’s mainly an all rounder. Super effective inside zergs because of the high DPS and high survivability. Solo roaming you might have issues due to lack of escapes etc. Works extremely well in a 4-5 man roaming party though.

If you’re purely a roamer, a stronger build is probably full zerker meditation, and traveller runes. 2/2/6/4
With sword JI and travelers, you can escape from basically everything. It’s also very much possible to land 20k+ opening combos.
Here’s a video of my and a friend running full zerker. I’m the hammer.

ArchonWing.9480:

1st build:

I think conditions would be a big issue, as you only have purity and CoP which is on a long cooldown. Hoelbrak is nice though. So conditions over time aren’t too big of an issue but if you get something like immobo on you that would be problematic.

The other problem is that you really don’t have any mobility. No leaps or teleports though I guess you have 2 immobilizes. Personally, I would want JI instead of the signet.

Finally, Renewed Justice is a somewhat dubious investment outside of zergs since that’s the main situation where you will be able to take advantage of it. It’s solid, and I like it a lot, but it’s also expendable.

As for the healing build, I like it a lot more. I would ditch COP. It just has no real place here; you’d be better off with a traited purging flames which is better for your group. This also allows you to do something useful with the first virtues slot— Unscathed Contender on a melee build is pretty worthless outside of fighting dolyaks and sentries.

For zerg play, I’d take signet of judgement instead— the aoe weakness will have a bigger impact, it’ll make you harder to kill, and most importantly it’s a stunbreak with a low cooldown.

This build on the other hand has the luxury of taking Strength in Numbers over Purity because absolute resolution+renewed focus+ purging flames is more than enough condi clear especially since you take Hoelbrak. Strength in Numbers brings also group support.

I mean 3300+ armor with the occasional judgement signet for another -10% plus + 2000 power, 30% crit chance, 19k base health, close to 1k dodge heals, mass condi clear and support? I think it’s a great idea!

Also take power food over precision food. Power gets more damage out and you’re not proccing anything significant that needs good crit.

Conditions are only an issue in much smaller skirmishes. With proper rotation of CoP and and VoR you can counter that pretty easily. I agree with a few things you said, disagree with a few other things. It’s a bruiser build, so mobility isn’t a key factor. Ypur goal should beto pull aggro and stay alive whilst dropping as much damage as possible, while the rest of your party melts them. Very different playstyle to say a zerker gaurd who would rely on high mobility to stay alive. Renewed Focus is ALWAYS useful, especially outside of zergs. Why you think it’s dubious I honestly have no idea. Definately not ditching COP. Without it, I only have one skill to remove condi bombs. I hate having to pop my renewed focus solely for the condi cleanse. It’s aslo a great stunbreaker.
Unscathed contender shouldn’t really be there. It’s a trait I’ve never tried and I saw it while theorycrafting so thought I’d try it out. Forgot to swap it. (However in saying that, I’ve been using it on my zerker gaurd and it’s AWESOME for engagement.) Bane signet is only there FOR zerg fighting. I prefer it over judgement because I have no issue staying alive as it is, and the straight power boost means that I can sacrifice sharpening stones for oil, which is important because my crit chance is pretty low on the second build. I like to get as close to 40% as possible, and without oil im in the 20’s. 10% crit chance is a serious damage boost when your crit chance is already quite low. Better than power, especially when my power is already so high through stacks.
Roaming I wouldn’t run any signets. Either a shout or meditation.

I appreciate your input though

I’m referring to Renewed Justice, not Renewed Focus as being dubious. While it’s certainly a good trait to have, I feel that it sometimes relies too much of a snowball effect to maintain. In general I like it on dps builds that go deeper into the tree which have to take it anyways.

You do bring up a good point about the purpose, and mobility isn’t the primary use esp in big fights, so bringing stuff up like JI would be out of place.

I still think Purging is a better way to fight conditions because it has almost half the cooldown and works on more than yourself. I do understand that COP is instant, gets off all conditions off you, and breaks stun, but I haven’t really liked it outside of a dedicated meditation build where you also get perks like heals and fury. However it’s possible to use it as a clutch button to get yourself out of a pinch, though I guess that’s just not my style

As for the whole power vs precision debate, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scenario where precision could beat power for guardians, especially with the ferocity hit though I can be proven wrong. For your first build of AH/EM, oil is a good idea because you need it to power altruistic healing. The second build is only proccing off Vigorous Precision of which minimal crit is needed to maintain that.

Anyhow, I think I’ll have to try something similar. My feeling is that these builds sacrifice very little yet maintain rather good damage, which makes zerg surfing a lot less boring. The main perk is seeing a build that takes advantage of Force of Will too.

ArchonWing.9480:

I’m referring to Renewed Justice, not Renewed Focus as being dubious. While it’s certainly a good trait to have, I feel that it sometimes relies too much of a snowball effect to maintain. In general I like it on dps builds that go deeper into the tree which have to take it anyways.

I still think Purging is a better way to fight conditions because it has almost half the cooldown and works on more than yourself. I do understand that COP is instant and breaks stun, but I haven’t really liked it outside of a dedicated meditation build where you also get perks like heals and fury.

As for the whole power vs precision debate, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scenario where precision could beat power for guardians, especially with the ferocity hit though I can be proven wrong. For your first build of AH/EM, oil is a good idea because you need it to power altruistic healing. The second build is only proccing off Vigorous Precision of which minimal crit is needed to maintain that.

Anyhow, I think I’ll have to try something similar. My feeling is that these builds sacrifice very little yet maintain rather good damage, which makes zerg surfing a lot less boring.

Ahh yes, sorry for the misunderstanding. Yes you’re right, that’s one of the traits I would have no issue swapping around. It’s only really there for the might stacks, but It’s not entirely necessary. Once it starts doing it’s job, the fight is usually over.

I personally just hate purging flames. Always feels so clunky and unreliable to me, but again that’s personal preference.

The oil really isn’t for the procs (although it is nice), it’s mainly just to boost DPS. As I said, if your crit chance is already low, you’re probably gonna get more damage through an extra 10% crit chance as opposed to 100 or so power. Especially when I’m already sitting on 2.4kish power when I’m stacked, not including might.

I only run sharpening stones if my crit chance is already at a satisfactory level

Well, I guess if you feel like you don’t need survival, than it’s a good place to put it in radiance. It would be hard to place the lone point anyways elsewhere.

Purging flames is pretty reliable for me, however hardly perfect, and I will concede that 3/4s cast time is not insignificant and sometimes a more “clutch” skill is more important. Sometimes, you may be dead anyways in 30 seconds so having an extra cast might not even matter. An interesting note about guardians is that our skills generally activate fast outside of consecrations and this is why guardians can put out reliable dps. Even our “slow” hammer still has things like Mighty Blow to just shoot out and overwhelm enemies. So in a number of ways, I can see why you wouldn’t really want skills with activation times to ruin the flow, so to speak.

ArchonWing.9480:

Well, I guess if you feel like you don’t need survival, than it’s a good place to put it in radiance. It would be hard to place the lone point anyways elsewhere.

Purging flames is pretty reliable for me, however hardly perfect, and I will concede that 3/4s cast time is not insignificant and sometimes a more “clutch” skill is more important. Sometimes, you may be dead anyways in 30 seconds so having an extra cast might not even matter. An interesting note about guardians is that our skills generally activate fast outside of consecrations and this is why guardians can put out reliable dps. Even our “slow” hammer still has things like Mighty Blow to just shoot out and overwhelm enemies. So in a number of ways, I can see why you wouldn’t really want skills with activation times to ruin the flow, so to speak.

Exactly. I play a fast paced style and anything (especially a defensive skill) that doesn’t cast instantly just ends up kittening me off.