Guild Wars 2

What kinda build Should I be using solo in hot as a druid running sword/axe and longbow.

Right now I’m using soldiers gear with rune of the archer and all zerker trinkets and weapons. I’m doing fine with my longbow for the most part but the second I run in melee with my sword I’m getting crushed and pet isn’t holding aggro.

Any suggestions?

Playing melee in HoT is dangerous.

Wilderness Survival
Nature Magic
Beast Mastery

Those 3 lines have access to protection, weakness, blind, taunt, dmg reduction.

Druid has blind and daze.

If you run with a bear pet consider black bear for aoe weakness. Smokescale is popular for blinding bolts (whirling defense is a whirl finisher = blinding bolts) and stealth (monarch leap).

I would go 100% complete offense in your gear, your pets, and your traits, then just add like 1 or 2 “oh poop” buttons like SoS. If you are decimating everything with zerker-melee damage in seconds, and something goes wrong, SoS allows you to finish killing everything.

Also, many/most enemies have some strong anti-melee and anti-range abilities in HoT. Concentrate on what exactly is killing you and switch the appropriate weapon next time. Trying to melee those charging mordrem rider things is a waste of time if they’re about to charge. Trying to LB range-evasive hylek or pocket raptors is not the best idea. And so on.