Guild Wars 2

Currently “Guard!” is more like “Sneak!” if anything, and doesn’t provide that much utility save for being a button to fire off resounding timbre trait.

To make Guard! a true guard it should allow for capture point contribution from the pet while it’s under the effect of it. I also think it should work a lot like thief’s shadow trap skill. Not with the shadowstepping part, but with there being follow ups for it – standard one, and premium one when certain conditions are met.

This is how it would work:

1. After selecting a permeter to guard, pet would not leave selected zone , even when attacked. It will fight as long as it’s within the boundary of protected zone. When forcibly moved outside of it, it’ll always try to return to it.

2. Pet in guard mode does contribute to capturing points.

3. When guarding a spot pet pulses 3s protection and regeneration on itself every 3s.

4. “To me!” – this is the default follow-up on the skill. You break stun.
Pet gains stability (3 stacks), stealth and swiftness for 10s and rushes to your side. After using this “Guard” goes on 80s cooldown.

5. “Companion’s call!” – if your pet is attacked while guarding the default follow up changes to this skill. You have 10s to use it after it replaces the default one.

You answer you pet’s call for help. Break stun, gain stability (3 stacks), protection and super speed for 5 seconds

If you manage to answer your pet’s call on time (it’s still alive, still in guard mode and you’ve moved within 600 units range from it) the Guard!’s cooldown is cut by 40s!\

6. Using both Guard! and it’s follow-up skills triggers resounding timbre when it’s traited.

Leave your feedback on the idea below:)

I think revamping guard should be nice, but I don’t think they will allow the pet to capture points, that sound a little bit OP.

Currently guard isn’t really powerfull, the only thing which is actually nice about guard is the possibilty to stack swiftness and regen (using the adequate trait.). I think guard should be kept on a low CD.

But I also think a few changed should be made, because right now the only use is the stacking as I said. So maybe little things such as either while on guard your pet will pulse protection as you said, or maybe next attack when out of stealth could deal more damage, chill or something…

Yes, next attack coming out of stealth should be granted opening strike for the pet, possibly attack of opportunity.

Too complicated to code and to play around. Currently it sounds like 3 different abilities.
Also, it would break the game-style for a lot of people that use it as a Resounding Timbre and rune of soldier trigger.

You should avoid such drastic changes that 100% ruin use for some players while not being sure whether it will please the rest.
Idea counts but you literally replaced Guard with 2 other abilities that have nothing in common with it at all and have the Guard only a prerequisite.

There already were ideas how to keep guard the similar functionality with low CD.
~Your pet applies AoE Protection in the area
~Your pet takes portion of damage instead of players in an area
~Your pet attacks 1st enemy entering the area, applying a condition
~Your pet aggressively guards an area, fearing enemies for 1 second
~Your pet deals more damage (10%?), gains retaliation and protection

Still waiting on this…

Irenio CalmonHuang.2048:

We are, indeed, reading.

We particularly take time to read the constructive and well-crafted feedback posts.

I don’t want to make promises, which as many of you have pointed out can go horribly awry for a variety of reasons, but we are hoping to make some changes to the old ranger shouts (pre-WHAO & SotP).

Honestly? I don’t want them changing it. Not because you suggestion is bad. But because every time they change something, it bugs, ends up broken, or turns out useless.

What I’d really like is for the current Guard function to be permanently integrated as a F1-F4 command. Being able to direct your pet to a location and stay there is useful, but shouldn’t require a utility slot.

Whatever replaced the utility would need to fill the niche of having a short recharge. Maybe “Hold the Line!” for Aegis/Protect for Pet and Surrounding allies. It would fit well with existing traits and have some synergy with Druid support builds.

I would change the whole Palette of the Shout skills.
An active kind of shout utilities like Reaper and Tempest have would be nice.
For Guard something like: Your Pet gathers an sphere of Wind arround it which deflects projetiles and pushes enemies away. →Something like a whirling defense combo with the Ring of Warding of the Guardian Hammer. The Sphere moves with the pet and the ranger activates the same effect on cast for a shorter duration.