Guild Wars 2

Lately, while doing the fractal progression, I’ve started running sword offhand. I really like having a cheap readily available block. I prefer sword block to shield block because it’s got a much lower CD (now only 12s), costs half as much energy (10), and doesn’t root you in the wrong place. I’m finding that saving dodge rolls with sword block has good synergy with several of the fractal instabilities too. Sword block can help keep you out of combat when running past trash mobs. I’m aware that the shield block has a nice heal, but I’d argue that you won’t need that heal since you’ll have double the blocks using offhand sword. I know there’s a lot of shield-head posts here on the forums trash talking offhand sword, but it might be time to give it another look.

Wanna just add to this that with shield you’re missing out on a lot of offensive potential that offhand sword is capable of, seeing as how the heal on shield imo is kinda meh when instead you can run something with a bit of healing power and also glint/jalis or shiro especially in pvp, once again imo lol

The #5 ain’t bad for a little extra break-bar push, or for example, keeping the Oozes off the champ during his burn phases. Regardless if you stun or drag an enemy with you, you’ll always shadowstep backwards, so it’s nice for an emergency dodge on it’s own.
I also really prefer the sword offhand, too.

Use what works for you and don’t let anyone tell you differently. I love my shield, but if sword works for you, rock on.