Guild Wars 2

Update: COPYRIGHTED VIDEO fixed!
RE-UPLOADED LATEST VID LINK HERE.

Thanks to everyone who reached out to let me know their region is blocked.
Apparently 1 song that i used made the video unavailable for US, Brazil, South Korea and 2 other countries, I had to remake the vid from scratch, hopefully this time they only monetize me. The old video will be deleted, i did not add any new clips on the new one just different audio.

Got a few request of more Sword/focus + Scepter/Shield clips, so here it is.
Figured ill just recycle this with all the old links rather than making a new thread.
And Luckily, this build is virtually unaffected after the 5/16/2017 patch, i was worried that all the clips i gathered til now would go to waste.

Hammer Version

Build here, gear is full celes.

Parody:
me vs Lag and OBS

Hi Krino, nice video., could you please share your build?

Bheowulf.4572:

Hi Krino, nice video., could you please share your build?

link is up, was pretty late when i posted i headed straight to bed hehe

Big thanks for the swift reply but i am more enclined to run sw/fc & sc/sh, what do you tje change in your traits?

Bheowulf.4572:

Big thanks for the swift reply but i am more enclined to run sw/fc & sc/sh, what do you tje change in your traits?

nothing much really, putting on absolute resolution instead of glacial heart and i just switch between smiter’s boon and focus mastery depending on the kind of classes i keep encountering on a day. The 1st clip was actually using these weapon sets. the only downside is that you will do significantly less damage against builds with a lot of projectile blocking like a scrapper and lose access to the lightfield+blast combo.

Awesome build and videos. I have been wanting to see a celestial guard in WvW actually perform. I might take mine off the shelf after seeing this.

Siphon.8405:

Awesome build and videos. I have been wanting to see a celestial guard in WvW actually perform. I might take mine off the shelf after seeing this.

thanks!, it was alot of fun figuring out this strange build

It is definitely out of meta, which is what I like about it most. Seeing people play builds that they like, that fit there own personal play style and they take ownership over there own success.

I forget where in the video it is but I especially like how you are able to use Permeating wrath with a hammer to nullify that necros minions which removed his “Protection” buff making it easier for you to finish him.

Siphon.8405:

It is definitely out of meta, which is what I like about it most. Seeing people play builds that they like, that fit there own personal play style and they take ownership over there own success.

I forget where in the video it is but I especially like how you are able to use Permeating wrath with a hammer to nullify that necros minions which removed his “Protection” buff making it easier for you to finish him.

i appreciate the kind words and i share the sentiment, one of the few things that still keep me playing the game is when i see unique builds while roaming.

made a parody of the process i had to deal with making the vid.
i am glad it’s all over now lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIjWDD8fypM

Nice build + video. Liked the music choices as well.

ArchonWing.9480:

Nice build + video. Liked the music choices as well.

Thanks! at first i was tempted to put a bunch of pop songs for giggles but i learnt from my 1st attempt that it can be distracting and annoying. figured ill try doing it properly this time heh.

What are your thoughts on….

Sword/shield & Scepter/focus (set 1)

vs.

Sword/focus & Sc/shield (set 2)?

I understand you have different priorities for a burn or celestial guardian. As a power DH though, I very much prefer set 1. Set 1 balances your blinds/blocks for both weapon sets giving you better sustain. Set 2 gives you slightly more burst potential (if you’re not using traps) and slightly more kiting potential on Sc/sh but I believe you also really lose out on taking advantage of either focus’ burst potential or sword’s high melee dps if you pair sword and focus.

Edit: typo

Thanks for this question!, this is something that i’ve always pondered alot every now and then ever since roaming.
I know that the norm is set1 and it is a completely reasonable playstyle because of the strong combos

shield#5 > sword#2 and/or J.I. > sword#3

sword#2 and/or J.I. > switch to Scepter/Focus >scepter#2 > scepter#3

And how can we forget the main reason people go for set1: focus#5 cast > scepter#2 > scepter#3 > switch > sword#2 and/or J.I. > focus#5 pop >sword#3

However the demand for how inexperienced your opponents are to pull of these combos specially the 3rd one is very high, the game has been around for a long time now and the average wvw player skill level can only get better (atleast that’s how id like to see it). Even if you disregard the average zerging player, most of the people who are active in roaming nowadays have a general understanding that when a guardian activates it’s focus#5 it will more likely be used as an offensive rather than a defensive skill.

The synergy between the weapons on set1 is too extreme both in a good and bad way, for example:

1. Sword#3 can deliver alot of damage if all of the projectile hits, so it’s reasonable to knock them off with shield#5, but if they have a breakstun or can simply recover from knockback faster and dodgeroll backwards once the shield knockback will actually help them escape the projectiles.

2.Using Shield#5 1st then going Sword#2 > Sword#3 def looks better than the 1st example but that means you need to close the gap while reserving Sword#2 until after Shield#5, which means getting close by walking with Scepter/Focus then switch to Sword/Shield or use J.I. using 2 out of your 3 mobility skills to land a good sword#3

3. Scepter/Focus always loses to other range classes specially Longbow Ranger. You’re basically an open target with nothing to retaliate or protect you with.
Scepter#1 can be strifed
Scepter#2 alone doesnt work against any mobile class
Scepter#3 is useless in a projectile battle
Focus #4 is too slow to pay off being casted at a long range
Focus#5 will simply break.

Even a thief would feel less pressure and be delighted when you are in Scepter/Focus.

4. Shield vs Focus on a sword/melee state:
Shield#5 is very handy for getting close to range classes, but how about fighting melee classes? knocking them back isn’t really an advantage since you will be waiting or walking after them to get into range again anyway. if anything it just bought both side cooldown time but with your lost because it was your skill that was used to buy that time. In contrast, Sword/Focus with Blinds, Sword#3, “Focus Mastery”, And Focus#5 being available even while stunned will give you longer protection boon and overall defense against both melee and range classes.

Getting pinned down in melee is less scary when you know you have Focus#5 you can use anytime for the blocks and Protection Boon.

Set2 may look like it doesnt have any combo but it does and it is harder to read than Set1

Holding Scepter/Shield: Shield#5 > Scepter #2 > Scepter #3 > switch > Sword#2 > Sword#3 (Sure they may have breakstun or less stun duration for the knockback but then there is still the immobilize that they will have to deal with, so in most cases even Sword#3 will land atleast 70% of its projectile.)

If i want to use focus#5 offensively, i do it like this:

Holding Sword/Focus: Focus#5 > Switch > Shield#5(protecting Focus#5 from range attacks) > 1sec before Focus#5 pops Scepter#3 > J.I. or wings of resolve > Scepter#2 > Focus#5 pop

Keep in mind about the combo above, when while i am on my sword state, before switch. I can still freely use skills 1 to 4 for escape, defense, or to apply pressure.

there is more to say but i’m reaching my length limit.

Lastly the build is meant to have a fighting chance against every build in the game. it is meant to be played by countering rather than preemptive combos. Technically if people lay down the spreadsheets. the popular Set1 combo with focus will probably be unbeatable in damage but that is to say you are attacking static targets.

Also the build doesn’t actually do much condition damage, the permeating wrath is there for the constant cripple for clinging, damage bonus, and vulnerability stacks. The burn damage can vary between to 15-50% of my overall damage depending on how good i can land my combos and/or the number of enemies around, the condi damage is not consistent enough to be a reliable main damage. The build is actually very viable and will def do more damage in power stats.

I’m not saying that playing a 1trick or 1killer combo builds is bad or worse, it is actually quite fun!, but i personally prefer having flexibility in almost all scenarios.

TLDR: set2 is more fluid on switching between defensive and offensive play. and uses less cooldowns with less risk while doing good damage.

You are very good krino. impressive skills!

New Video Above.

Got a few request of more Sword/focus+Scepter/Shield. Sorry it took awhile, i don’t play much these days.

This time without Hammer, more sustain but slower damage build up and not flashy.

Also, i tried really hard to keep the vid around 15mins lol.

I’m returning to the game and I used my token on my old low lvl guardian.

I’ve watched your video and your build interests me, however, since I did not play gw2 for a very long time, I’m a bit lost and would very much appreciate if you could give me some advice on what gear I need to get first (more specifically, armor & accessories stats).

Thank you for your time, have fun.

Kheta.7381:

I’m returning to the game …

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQRAsd7OWqHK5+v+//rAYHihsR8EXRA-T1CEwAHUCaf/hGPEAYqD44EAYVpHUlBjVxJnKBAOCAg0PQKARXGB-w

Since getting pink accessories is fairly easy, i went ahead and used pinks.
what’s nice about this build is that all stats are being used, i picked those armor pieces just so you have a reasonable amount on each stats and as you play you can adjust certain stats to your playstyle.

In the end whichever you feel comfortable with will work, you can go extreme in either normal or condi damage and the respective cons and pros will magnify accordingly, as for me i decided for an even spread of damage output.

few things to keep in mind tho:
*always have atleast 500 condi damage
*400-500 healing power atleast to justify your meditation trait.
*Sharpening stone pulls 2% more from toughness than vitality, and toughness goes better with healing power, so a more toughness than vitality oriented build is good
*the only reason to go for high vitality is if your match-ups are heavy of condi-build playerbase
*don’t over commit on precision, remember that you have easy access to “Fury” boon through Medi trait.
*don’t invest on condi and boon duration stats, this build heavily relies on instant cast/reaction playstyle and barely any boons and very short condis, getting pinned downed is your worst nightmare because you have no access to stability. you have to constantly check your position.

-your utilities are multi-purpose, there are often times i cast them just for the sake of healing myself to buy some cooldown time.
-you fight CC with dodge, block, mobility,2 stunbreaks, and smart use of terrain.

i’ll edit this when i wake up if i remember anything, for now imma hit the sack, oh and yes those are the foods that i use.

Update: COPYRIGHTED VIDEO fixed!
RE-UPLOADED LATEST VID LINK HERE.

Thanks to everyone who reached out to let me know their region is blocked.
Apparently 1 song that i used made the video unavailable for US, Brazil, South Korea and 2 other countries, I had to remake the vid from scratch, hopefully this time they only monetize me. The old video will be deleted, i did not add any new clips on the new one just different audio.