What would warden want?
For the damage, the fact that the warden takes quite a lot of time to do its damage while standing in place means that this is definitely not the best damaging phantasm. Personally, I think in terms of damage, the pistol is the highest, and greatsword if you want a more AOE component.
But then there is the utility part… The warden already has projectile destruction baseline. It is true that positioning is particularly difficult with this weapon. You basically would need to cast the warden on a nearby enemy, and while he moves away from it, you move towards it to get protected by its reflection. The focus 4 is also a bit difficult because often, ranged class will play from a higher ground (typically ranger) and may go over the reflection wall.
Overall, a great PvE weapon, but difficult in PvP setting.
…But then there is the utility part… The warden already has projectile destruction baseline. It is true that positioning is particularly difficult with this weapon. You basically would need to cast the warden on a nearby enemy, and while he moves away from it, you move towards it to get protected by its reflection. The focus 4 is also a bit difficult because often, ranged class will play from a higher ground (typically ranger) and may go over the reflection wall.
Overall, a great PvE weapon, but difficult in PvP setting.
Those are even more reason why warden needs a bit a love. his Defensive capabilities are very limited and the offensive options are nigh inexistent.
making the Iwarden (and Idefender for that matter) spawn directly next to the caster seems like the simplest solution to these issues. Casting it could still require a target to be targeted, and the phantasm would position itself between the caster and the attacker, at proximity of the former, to actually Defend it. the warden should then act more like a “Warden” to its master rather than an in your face reflector. We already have feedback for that.
Focus takes a great deal of time to master in PvP. There is a lot that goes into getting the most out of it though.
- Whether reflection is baseline or not, warden still has the projectile destruction capability. Adding reflect baseline will not keep it around longer.
- The proper build/gear goes a lot into how effective it will be. I find tankier (celestial or higher) gear will enable it to spin long enough to reflect/absorb, even under heavy fire while getting at least 1/2 to 3/4 of it’s attack off. This is decent AoE damage on a point even in a tankier amulet.
- I wouldn’t necessarily want the warden to spawn next to the mesmer. One of the best ways to use the reflect feature is to cast it on a ranger right as they rapid fire, or engi spamming nades (those typically just absorb traited or not). This can shut them down, at least taking them out of the fight for a time. I’ve many, many times taken rangers down to 1/4 health just by sticking a warden on them. It’s hard to quickly react and cancel cast rapid fire especially if you’re not expecting them all to be reflected back in your face.
- Another way to use the warden, especially if you’re in a coordinated team is to spawn the warden on the targeted opponent. Allies then know to just go stand in the bubble during it’s attack chain for free projectile protection.
- Finally, one of the most important aspects of the warden is also the focus pull and trait choice plays heavily into it. If you have CI traited for example, you can pull > interrupt >immobilize with warden hacking away. Even without CI traited you can get a couple good attacks off purely from the pull. It also gives allies an opportunity to CC on the pull spot to facilitate warden full damage potential. Even in a dps amulet you can do some pretty sick shatter combos using warden and focus pull.
Overall the focus is our best defensive off hand weapon IMO, especially because of the focus pull. This provides utility and just adds to what warden already provides in that area.
To reiterate my opening statement, focus takes quite awhile to not only get comfortable using, but to master in PvP.
Just some things to think about.
Kortham Raysplitter (Yak’s Bend)
i would just like the warden to appear directly in front of the target it is cast on, rather than sometimes to the side – so it is a guaranteed projectile block on cast unless the opponent moves.
Focus takes a great deal of time to master in PvP. There is a lot that goes into getting the most out of it though.
- Whether reflection is baseline or not, warden still has the projectile destruction capability. Adding reflect baseline will not keep it around longer.
- The proper build/gear goes a lot into how effective it will be. I find tankier (celestial or higher) gear will enable it to spin long enough to reflect/absorb, even under heavy fire while getting at least 1/2 to 3/4 of it’s attack off. This is decent AoE damage on a point even in a tankier amulet.
- I wouldn’t necessarily want the warden to spawn next to the mesmer. One of the best ways to use the reflect feature is to cast it on a ranger right as they rapid fire, or engi spamming nades (those typically just absorb traited or not). This can shut them down, at least taking them out of the fight for a time. I’ve many, many times taken rangers down to 1/4 health just by sticking a warden on them. It’s hard to quickly react and cancel cast rapid fire especially if you’re not expecting them all to be reflected back in your face.
- Another way to use the warden, especially if you’re in a coordinated team is to spawn the warden on the targeted opponent. Allies then know to just go stand in the bubble during it’s attack chain for free projectile protection.
- Finally, one of the most important aspects of the warden is also the focus pull and trait choice plays heavily into it. If you have CI traited for example, you can pull > interrupt >immobilize with warden hacking away. Even without CI traited you can get a couple good attacks off purely from the pull. It also gives allies an opportunity to CC on the pull spot to facilitate warden full damage potential. Even in a dps amulet you can do some pretty sick shatter combos using warden and focus pull.
Overall the focus is our best defensive off hand weapon IMO, especially because of the focus pull. This provides utility and just adds to what warden already provides in that area.
To reiterate my opening statement, focus takes quite awhile to not only get comfortable using, but to master in PvP.
Just some things to think about.
1. curtain should have reflection baseline too. if not its just a pull on a 30 sec cool down.
2. having a weapon that is functional only for 1 kind of setup is bad.
3. its the instantaneity of the warden that make it hard to counter. the flight time of most projectiles is very short and when reflected its never easy to escape your own projectiles. be the reflection source close or far.
4. by the time you reach the enemy you warden had his 5000hp cleaved out . 25 sec cooldown for 564 damage -crit, mind you- and 1 projectile reflected. not a good trade-off
5. We should stay Focused on Warden feedback trait. (lol). I don’t see why we are talking about CI. everything is better with CI… its just another fact that the weapon or its traits need rework. because to use it you need WF/Ci Tanky build and huge coordination. hence why people go with Pistol/torch/oh sword.
6. yes its a good think, but lets not turn a blind eye to what could be made better, because now, its not getting any play.
i would just like the warden to appear directly in front of the target it is cast on, rather than sometimes to the side – so it is a guaranteed projectile block on cast unless the opponent moves.
making it appear beside you will Guaranty projectile block/reflection. as long as your being attacked or near the allie being focused. good positional play there.