Guild Wars 2

Is there really a difference between the two in regards to damage and combo? It’s pretty much trading one utility for another and one pretty good damage phantasm for another. I am trying to decide between the two for PvP use, a lot of WvW I think. I’d imagine the focus be better for the run speed and the skill can also yank people off walls if done properly.

Opinions, suggestions? Also, I plan on using this for a shatter burst build unless someone can provide a build that is equally in my liking. Thanks.

Pistol is better for duels, Focus is better for group support. In WvW Focus is pretty much the only choice, group Swiftness/Pull and group projectile block/reflect are just too good.

I run around in WvW with a full set of weapons, Staff, GS, S, P, F and Torch. Each one has viability in WvW, and can be situation dependent (easy enough to swap out if you get used to doing it before a combat or tac strike)
I’d suggest getting a full set, and having them there, as you’ll end up otherwise in a situation one day saying “I wish I had XYZ”
:)

Oh yes, definitely bring all weapons with you (I always do), but you’ll still find yourself sticking to certain sets instead of switching out every other battle.

Some people, when using a non-Focus weapon, like to quickly switch to the Focus for Temporal Curtain and switch back to their normal weapon before battle. Personally I find that too much hassle, but YMMV.

No love for the Sword offhand? Sad.

@ Kel, haha sorry. I’m sure it’s a great weapon but I just don’t think the block skill supports my play style. I generally would use a pistol, as Embolism said, for duels. However, with so much running needed in WvW, might as well use focus. It’s not like you use lose any damage from going pistol → focus since the warden does a fair amount as well.

The Warden only does damage if something walks into it. Seeing as it thinks it has scepter range, but doesn’t, really is not helping its cause.

I’d run Sword/Sword (or in your case, Sword/Pistol) for the increased offensive pressure that can be used on the move. Duelist’s burst can force early dodges, leaving would-be attackers open to other things, and it hurts quite a bit on its own right. For Movement, yeah sure no Swiftness sucks, but Blink remedies a bit of that on its own.

If you’re running with the zerg, it doesn’t matter which one you’re using, but if you’re a striker, a scout, a caravan escort, a camp defender, etc, anything that would put you (and maybe 1-2 others) against a single or a few small opponents, especially with lots of room to move around in, the Warden falls short. The Pistol (or Sword) Phantasms don’t, and the additional skill offers much better control (or survivability, lol backstab thieves eating riposte every single time).