Guild Wars 2

Strider’s Defense
Chance to destroy projectiles while executing a melee attack. You take 50% less damage from Retaliation.

Trigger chance: 15%
Damage reduction: 50%

The damage reduction would work with any equipped weapon (not just melee).

The problem is actually the trigger chance. However I actually like the idea about retaliation in general. However, it is a Skirmisher trait, so Retaliation counter doesn’t really fit into that traitline. I would like to see such a trait that reduces damage from retaliation (and maybe poison or torment? Or something like that?) by 50% in the nature magic traitline. sounds interesting.

Strider’s defense in itself has the problem of being unreliable. I would prefer it to be something like:
If you crit with a Melee (or maybe also ranged?) Attack, you and your pet block the next attack incoming on you. (so basically 1 block for me, 1 for my pet) (CD: 10s). It makes it more build dependent and not rng, and is also placed in the precision traitline. Befitting of its effect and also synergizes with the pet.

Maybe simply extend the block to all attacks.

Otherwise a simple damage reduction – say 15 to 20% all the time when meleeing.

Sarision.6347:

Maybe simply extend the block to all attacks.

Otherwise a simple damage reduction – say 15 to 20% all the time when meleeing.

Both overpowered… I thought the same in the start. Both would make the Ranger in any 1v1 melee setup completely dominating. No class would be able to stand up against him when meleeing him. In the end, everyone would outrange the Ranger, which would be pathetic. The ranger only going for melee, while others range the ranger in both PvP and WvW. And in PvE, the ranger would be able to solo Melee so many things, that are ridicolous.

Retaliation is mostly a problem for longbow because it hits a lot of times in quick succession. The marksmanship line is already overloaded twice over, so there is no point in putting it there.

It would make sense in the Skirmishing line because also the shortbow and axe hit often.

That and Strider’s Defense could use some help, like they did with Moment of Clarity (by adding 100% daze/stun duration). The Skirmishing line lacks in useful traits if you don’t want to use traits on pets nor traps (7 out of 13 traits).