Guild Wars 2

I’m trying to figure out what kind of gear/rune/trait combination allows for enough tankiness to sit in front of a boss for a good amount of time in dungeons. And don’t get me wrong, I know it involves avoiding damage as much as taking it and I don’t expect to sit there until the moment the boss dies, I just want to sit there as long as I can.

I’m thinking either S/D or S/P work best thanks to built-in evasion, weakness and AOE. Sigils I’m not sure about, maybe blood/purity/generosity and accuracy/debility/paralyzation.

As for armor and jewelry, Soldier/Knight? Giver doesn’t seem worth it as the only boon we can really obtain is regen. I’ve never felt like healing power does enough for thieves either, but I don’t know exactly how much it scales for Shadow’s Rejuvenation and such. Runes… dolyak or melandru maybe?

Traits… I’m honestly not sure about. Seems obvious to dump 30 points into acrobatics and Shadow Arts, but you could pull some points out for 15 Deadly Arts for applying even more weakness with Shortbow secondary.

Anyone else has experience or tried doing the same? And I mean all-out, not attempting some build with valkyrie armor and zerk weapons.

S/P

P/V/T Armor + P/V/T Inscriptions
Knights (Emerald) Jewelry

0-30-30-10-0

Use omnomberry pies for food and SoM for healing. Whatever traits you like. Use black powder ability liberally. Actually makes a solid tank, dps isn’t too shabby either. (Be sure to pick up the 20% dmg boost to targets under 50% train in the crit line, others are whatever you like) Can go with Venomous Aura and the trait to grant lifesteal on venom triggers and run all venoms for even more health regen (good help for allies too since they’ll get the lifesteal procs as well).

EDIT: for PvP I actually run something similar but swap the 10 points up to DA for mug.

Wait wait wait… Sword/Pistol build based around STEALTH? 30 points in Shadow Arts?

Please do elaborate-

No, based around TOUGHNESS….and kitten tons of lifesteal.

Could try group basilisk venom, runes for getting boons (aegis, protections) when using the elite skill, heals from using venoms.

Blinds and weakness are not going to make enough difference on bosses and you will need to be healing up rather than soaking damage.

You are still going to be better standing behind the boss. I’ve got a moderately robust build and I don’t even want to stand in front of trash.