Guild Wars 2

Has anyone been able to fit this trait into an okay build for WvW?

I tried to tweak my traits to fit 20 points into zeal without gimping my build, but the 0/0/30/30/10 is still sovereign and I find it to luxurious too give up essential traits like AH , Empowering Might and Pure of Voice for Zealing Blade because the Zeal trait line is still lackluster in comparison to Valor and Honor and a one wonder trait cannot change that, but then I’m not an avid GS user so my opinion may not be the best to base any assumptions on.

There might be some decent builds around this trait, just needs more digging and experimentation. AH would surely work nicely along with Zealing Blades, the problem is making up for what you’re giving up for having those two working together, the answer might rely on a tankier gear setup.

i use 20/0/30/20/0 with zealous blade in pve and wvw

Just a general note: It takes a lot of adjusting going to any non-AH build if you’re used to one, so give it time. AH is good for un-focused builds, but the Valor trait line doesn’t offer anything enticing besides AH for most builds.

I’m using the following right now, though still experimenting:
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7g-Bx;0NFF3093RG-90;9;4J9-JJ16-3;329-58-L-V45;1JF04JF046BV
In PvE/WvW, I shift to a better balance between Soldier and Berserker gear and use a different rune set. Also, change Inner Fire to Blind Exposure for PvE. I’m playing around with different weapons right now, since mace is a bit too immobile, looking at staff or hammer right now.

For condition removal (from a PvP/WvW perspective), I find Purging Flames for light condition removal and Absolute Resolution for heavy condition removal works much better than just Pure of Voice in an offensive or balanced build. Pure of Voice doesn’t do well against heavy condition stacking and because you’re often using shouts for the base skill, you can’t take good advantage of the condition removal. Purging Flames also puts up Burning, which helps Fiery Wrath and it’s a Fire combo field. Also, if you exit and re-enter, it can cleanse additional conditions (likewise for applying the burning).

Random thought, what if they made Zealous Blade proc off retaliation and other periodic effects as well (burning).

That would enhance it’s already interesting offensive sustain dynamic with ZB.

As it stands now though, the more people around you the more you heal for, but the more damage you take as well, so it doesn’t equal out.

Popular opinion says it needs to heal more than 25 or maybe scale with healing power…or both.

For a master level trait, 25 feels about right. Any more and it would be too good when combined with other healing traits. It should definitely scale a little bit with healing power.

i use a 0/0/30/30/10 so there is no chance for that trait because is almost useless in my build but you can try for a 20/0/30/20/0 and ofc use rune of soldier on equip… and maybe sacrifice some serker trinket for a soldier/knight-knight one… but i don’t see the utility of this trait and 20 points in zeal are only a waste of points:
1) you get 2 minor trait which are really useless
2) you get 10% damage… only on burning foes… good for bust… but useless
3) you get 5% more gs damage… good one but… you get 26hp per attack -.-’’ … really? useless!

Cellar.7523:

Has anyone been able to fit this trait into an okay build for WvW?

Most of the answers here are for the healing/support builds. That’s the most common form of guardian. There are some of us that play offensively, but it’s a minority.

The thing about zb is that you will get a 5% increase in damage, and a useless heal. For those same 10 points you could easily get a full 10% damage increase in other trees. If you are going for a kill build you will end up with 10 in radiance, or 10 in zeal. Radiance is the more reliable and gives a bigger boost to damage with IV because it’s a reliable (sort of) way for guardians to gain fury.

Then of course 30 in valor for focus, and you will n eed at least 5 in honor. That doesn’t leave many points to play around with. Comparing the gain you get will show that zeal is a waste. They would need to buff it in order for it to be meaningful at all to a kill oriented build. For bunker builds I just don’t see how it could be viable at all. Their points are all in the lower half valor/honor/virtues leaving nothing for more offensive trees.

You should consider looking at some of stunningstyles videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP4b-zaMCJo

He’s got an interesting bunker build that deals damage. It can’t hold out as good as a regular bunker, but it has kill pressure that regular bunkers lack. He’s also very good, so I wouldn’t expect to play just like that.

tldr: It’s best to avoid in our most common builds for wvw/pvp. In PvE anything will work so go ahead.

2) you get 10% damage… only on burning foes… good for bust… but useless

While true, as explained above and show in videos those 10 points can net you more burst in other trees. Radiance primarily.