Guild Wars 2

I read a sticky at the top of the page with different pvp specs listed. It described a symbol fps build, but didn’t include the traits. I’m new to guardians and want to try it in a hot join match or two to get a feel for the class at 80. Does anyone have suggestions for traits etc?

Most people that talk about symbols builds are talking about a Hammer build with 15 in Zeal. That’s the basics of any symbol build. Beyond that I can’t tell you.

Neither, but you’re going to have to go deep in Honor as that is where most of the symbol traits are located. Symbol duration increase and radius increase.

EDIT; Just realised what I’ve said. You probably already know.

Hey I guess u mean Silvens Symbol DPS Build… I think it was something like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR5dlUgKD33xKEf4ERVh4h9Qjf0jXPcIFZIA-TsAA1CqIqRVjrGTNyas1M+Y9xGCA

It is indeed very strong on points…

cheers

That’s the build I was looking for. Thank you.

you got your build, but i frigging looove symbols builds lol so i’m going to chime in lol
and yes, very strong on points.

i want to say the basis for a DPS symbol build, at least for me, is x/x/30/20/x
and Honor III and X are staples. that gives you 20 points to play with, be it more power, more crit, vuln on blinds, buffing your virtues a little bit, etc

i used to play a meditation variation and recently came up with this. haven’t sPvP-ed in a while but will probs jump back in with this and see how it goes:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR5dlUgaDnGSOEfIFRug6DxDThG/41DIGxGC-TsAg0CtIuSdl7KzVyrs1MAZByGCA

my version compared to valyrianhero’s is a bit more crit chance but less defensive stats obviously. though i feel with the sustain a symbol build gives you, i can usually go a little more DPS oriented. i get fury from meditation use as well which can bump my crit chance up to 50%+ which allows for a little more burst (focus 5 + mace 2 + JI, mace 3 + smite condition —> swap to gs 2).

thinking out loud now. thought of mayeb trying 15 in Zeal for the vuln on symbols and see how that goes. the first 5 in Zeal also gives you an opportunity to potentially drop 3 symbols on any given enemy. i suspect in PvP it can get hard keeping people in your symbols depending on who you’re playing against so the vuln on symbol mgiht not be the most effective.. i used to run with 5/10/30/20/5 which is very nice as well and i pick up Radiance VI for vuln on blind since you get blinds from F1, GS3 and Focus 4.

if you do try out a medi symbol build, for utilities, if you’re in a matchup where conditions aren’t much of a threat, you can switch out contemplation of purity to Merciful Intervention (which allows for nice bigger heal and or if your allies near you need some healing). if not, i’d go with Stand Your Ground (though that does mean one less mini heal but makes it easier to secure stomps). and if i feel like having a little more fun, Bane Signet

but of course, the AH version is very strong as well since you get boons from your symbols and will perform better if you run with at least one other person most of the time.

This is my symbol dps build, being playing with this for a while. Enjoy:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR5dlUgiDnGyNEf4ER1j4dv6hVQjXPgYEbIA-TsAg0CnIYSxkjJDTSmsMNIYRw2CA

@Fjandi – that looks really fun actually. the 20% CD on focus skills may not seem much, but i’ve used it before with something similar and it’s nice to ahev the shorter CDs.

hmm scratch the build i posted above. i might give the 20/0/30/20/0 build and see how that goes.

akamon.2769:

@Fjandi – that looks really fun actually. the 20% CD on focus skills may not seem much, but i’ve used it before with something similar and it’s nice to ahev the shorter CDs.

Thanks m8. Yea I love focus mastery, focus 5 is extremely good for burst as well, so shorter cd is always welcome. Anyway the main reason why I use that trait is cos I’m too lazy to respec completely every time, so when I am playing with a scepter all I have to do is swapping focus mastery for scepter power. Runes of speed are amazing, I’m so happy they have fixed them. Runes of the traveler are probably the best option, but we can’t use those runes in pvp…

ah, i was going to ask actually. i run Traveler for WvW right now. very nice on my symbol build i sometimes use in there as well when roaming. so they aren’t in sPvP huh. o well. : ))

i went with the vitality runes to give myself a little buffer, especially with all the conditions flying around. but i’ll have to give speed a shot too.

I run 25/0/20/25/0, celestial trinkets and pvt/knight divinity rune armor, cavalier mace of accuracy/knight focus of energy, though I will probably switch out for berserk gear because I’m starting to get use to guard again~ =D

Go big or go home!

Symbol builds are fun because nobody really expects it. They don’t understand that a majority of the damage is coming from them, and they continue to stand in them. This is the one I’m fond of:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAR5elUgyCXFyMEf4ESmCRCBrUEP3D2DNyj+IA-TsAA1CnIySllLLTWyssZN+Y9xGCA