Guild Wars 2

So it says that I have a chance to destroy projectile while executing a melee attack. So say someone the shooting at me and I just start spamming my 1 skill on Greatsword or 1h Sword say if I’m not close enough to hit anybody will I destroy 15% of those projectiles like a boss?

You just need to be in combat and be with a melee weapon to the trait be activated, no need to be actively attacking.

I tested with a buccaneer sniper and tamini archer.

• Standing around while getting shot (melee weapon out) = no blocks.
• Swinging melee weapon at projectiles coming in from front = frequent blocks, even 5 in a row once.
• Swinging in the opposite direction and getting hit in the back = frequent blocks.
• Standing near pet and swinging at projectiles that were hitting it = no blocks.

Seems like if you are in the process of doing a melee attack you have a 15% chance to block projectiles that would have hit you.

misterdevious.6482:

I tested with a buccaneer sniper and tamini archer.

• Standing around while getting shot (melee weapon out) = no blocks.
• Swinging melee weapon at projectiles coming in from front = frequent blocks, even 5 in a row once.
• Swinging in the opposite direction and getting hit in the back = frequent blocks.
• Standing near pet and swinging at projectiles that were hitting it = no blocks.

Seems like if you are in the process of doing a melee attack you have a 15% chance to block projectiles that would have hit you.

Thanks for testing that! Seems like it will have some definite PVE use!

But SPvP and WvW wise; Are there enough classes that would use ranged attacks in a melee situation to make it worth it? hmms

It also encourages AA spam which I’m not sure I like, but with Greatswords build in evade + block skill + this trait, you’d have a very strong defense setup so that’s cool!

Notice it blocks when you stomp and revive someone

misterdevious.6482:

I tested with a buccaneer sniper and tamini archer.

• Standing around while getting shot (melee weapon out) = no blocks.
• Swinging melee weapon at projectiles coming in from front = frequent blocks, even 5 in a row once.
• Swinging in the opposite direction and getting hit in the back = frequent blocks.
• Standing near pet and swinging at projectiles that were hitting it = no blocks.

Seems like if you are in the process of doing a melee attack you have a 15% chance to block projectiles that would have hit you.

Does it specifically count as a block? I haven’t tested the trait yet, but if so a greatsword hybrid ranger could definitely make use of Runes of the Guardian, and combined with Flame trap or torch for a fire aura every so often could definitely be useful for shutting down ranged opponents to force them into melee.

Is it all ranged projectiles or all ranged attacks? Like does necro scepter get blocked? Do engineer grenades/flame thrower get blocked? Mesmer GS?

15% is still weak but I was under the impression that it was meant to counter all ranged stuff. I don’t play my ranger enough to buy this trait for testing but it does look promising.

No it doesn’t block non-projectile attacks. It’s description is pretty specific. Also when fighting a mesmer I didn’t notice any blocks while running it.

It may just activate off any action while using a melee weapon, so you could possibly even be mining ore or something while being attacked and having blocks go off.

What I’m curious about is whether or not something like axe/dagger or axe/torch can work with this. I’m sure it considers axe a ranged weapon, but what about dagger? Or maybe it just ignores the offhand entirely.

If so, it means it can only work with sword or greatsword (not that that is inherently a bad thing).