Guild Wars 2

So my guardian is approaching 80 and I’m wondering what best fits my play style based on a few circumstances.

I play PvE almost exclusively. I play with a small group often (3-5) but I’m also interested in farming in cursed shore effectively.

So I’ve got a DPS-ey build here:
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mmcz0czMzmonLmmhnLmGp0GVMkoVcs

The goal with this is to keep them on fire as often as possible and for as long as possible to rack up damage based on the condition and burning damage bonuses. There isn’t really an “Oh kitten!” button here you either win or you don’t that is however why the mace is there with the focus that does offer some limited survivability.

The tankier build I ran earlier is:
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mccM0V0M0moRgMmoRgm0x0xaosbckaM

Most everything on this one should explain itself. The staff is for the speed buff and limited range.

So a few questions:
1. What do you think of the builds? Is there something I should change in either?
2. A lot of people seem to think 1h sword is great. Can someone explain to me why?

I will comment because I do a lot of solo farming around Orr and have maximized a burning build for it as well, so your desire to have an effective build is similar to my game voyage.

1. Orr farming doesn’t actually require alot of defense (your heal, VoR and some other skill is usually enough). That means you can get away with using any weapon you want, typically something with a higher damage output like GS or Sword. I like to go with hammer because it does allow you to take on 3-4 mobs without healing because of protection (I’m lazy like that when farming). If you are going to push builds where you actively use VoJ and get the most from that burning, you need a 10/15/X/X/X and you have it. I would suggest the following changes (these aren’t dungeon-friendly suggestions keep in mind)

- If you are going to push Radiance to 25, I would go all the way to 30 for more 1H crit (dumping the Zeal 20 to do it)
- I would drop GS for sword and make Honour 20 into Empowering might
- I would change Radiance 20 to X for more sword damage
- I wouldn’t use mace but swap between focus and torch instead (torch #4 is great for burning builds and focus 5 is amazing when being swarmed by mobs in farming mode)

2. Not sure I get the second build or what it’s for. It’s obviously symbol heavy for healing people but I don’t find that’s effective for farming so you must intend on using it for dungeons? Assuming its primarily for tanking dungeons, it’s still weird to me.

- I find it really hard to not go at least into 5 for Valour. Aegis at 50% health is awesome.
- I find more retaliation time from Virtue 10 a waste and not inline with the theme of your build. I would consider 20% longer consecrations and swapping a signet for a consecration.
- I would be interested in seeing what gear you plan to use with this. Are you going for a balance of all stats?

3. Sword is great because it gives you a teleport (not a leap) with a blind on a fast cool down, has good damage and fast recharge on #1 (nice to couple with crits and sigils that proc on crit) with a decent damage and many chances to hit, bursty attack on #3. I’m sad that you can’t get a symbol or a boon with it.

The hammer build was more of a longevity build.
The retaliation is for the symbol + #2 combo with the hammer.