Guild Wars 2

Seriously, I see tons of warriors here trying to figure one out. I’ve checked stream after stream of solid HB warriors either trying to make another spec work, or complaining that there are no other viable choices.

Are we really doomed to be chained to this single gimmicky (and imo BORING) spec? TPvP teams won’t even consider you as a warrior (at least in my experience) unless you run the mandatory axe/shield + greatsword BR/EP/Frenzy HB crap. This isn’t a nerf post, because it’s so easy to negate (dodge/escapes/block, etc) but rather a whine I suppose that for supposed “variety” of playstyles we’re pigeon-holed into this immensely dull 1-hit wonder spec.

I’d love to play a shield warrior, but it’s crap (shield cd’s are far too long even when traited). Hammer warrior is fun but so hindered by insanely slow animations that it’s negated without even using dodges really (at least when I’ve fought against them, seriously I can make a sammich and come back in time to run out of the attack area), not to mention what TPvP team isn’t basically immune to stuns/cc’s 90% of the time.

TLDR: If there’s any viable warrior spec’s please post them, please post proof that they’re not complete poo (video’s of tpvp matches vs competent teams). If there isn’t any other viable spec’s out there then WTF ANet, help us.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/warrior/Defektive-s-sPvP-Bleed-Build-Come-take-a-look/first#post130688

Take a look at my build and tell me what you think!

Sigh. I’m starting to feel this notion as well. I’m kind of just leveling and avoiding Spvp,because I hope to find more fun in WvWvW at level cap..because i’m basically forced to use 100b if I (manage…after spamming chat..) to get into a tpvp group.
But,the thing is..
Don’t nerf 100b.
Buff everything else to be as viable.
If you nerf 100b,warrior will probably be in trouble.

I REALLY like hammer. A LOT. It’s very fun. I was running a hammer+mace/shield lockdown spec for awhile in spvp. I had a blast.
I can’t use it in tpvp. Players that have gotten used to the game know the hammer animations. Landing a backbreaker feels impossible at this point. it’s to slow and obvious. I can only land it if I cover it with shield stun and start chaining stuns from there..

Another problem is that hammer doesn’t exactly “synergize” with any talents to well.
Obviously there is the Merciless Hammer talent,and Unsuspecting Foe..but other than that,it’s very hard to make hammer builds that “work.” Runes i’m finding are also an issue.

tl;dr 100b is to good and easy to use. Buff other things so they are also good.

I’m sorry I don’t see how a great sword could be in anyones top 5 of pvp weapons. The ONLY useful ability is 100% avoidable. You have to stand still while using hundred blades. Try double axes out if you want to do damage. You will be mobile and do much better damage with your burst skill.

Havent done t or spvp, but a ton of WvW and dungeons. Bleed spec is very very viable, I can burst, I can sustain damage, I am constantly doing damage, even rifle if very viable. It is also then very useful as a balanced spec to pve with. I may have to steal the 20/25/25 build linked, currently 25/25/20.

@Bish: Well I did specifically call out for TPvP as personally that’s the only area of the game where spec/balance really seems to matter. WvW is follow the pain train of zerg, 8v8 is follow the pain train of zerg, and PvE is it’s own beast.

The problems with spec options I refer to stem from TPvP where warriors are in a state of “meh”. Either you land a frenzied bull-rush into HB and nuke, or they dodge and you try to last until the cd’s are up to do it again.

Hell even the idea of HB itself can be done better by it’s mini-HB cousin’s in pistol whip by thieves (who have far better mobility and evasion along with stealth rez/stomp) or sword 2 in mesmers which also makes you immune to damage during the animation. No gimmicky set up requiring your utility skills be stock set to frenzy/bullsrush (choice of 3rd).

Ah well, I refuse to use it so I’m suffering though tourney’s testing builds and tweaking (I’m sure half my team hates me for it)

Hammer works really well with a shouts build, rifle is pretty good, tripple axes also works, sword/shield with bow condition damage is really solid. Do some research on guildwars2guru.com. You can check out some of my videos too at youtube.com/stefanplc

I’ve been running a few tournaments now with rifle + axe/warhorn build now, and won quite a few with it, turning the tide a few times. It’s pretty much a slightly modified version of Taugrim’s old Run & Gun build.

Sure, I don’t have the high burst potential for 4 sec every 60 sec that HB warriors have, but I do pretty good sustained damage, and burst damage (kill shot & eviscerate), having done close to 10k crits on less tanky players, while still being fairly durable.

I also win most 1v1s when I’m defending nodes/using treb, only really losing vs some very gimmicky 1v1 builds such as moa mesmers and thieves who just pop their elite summon skill and go invis for 10 sec while their minions chip away at me.

I’ve also used a longbow build that did “ok”, but not quite as versatile as the rifle build (weaker 1v1, but stronger in team fight). Both those builds can easily solo svanir/chieftain, also (or steal them, as has been the case quite a few times now).

Although I suppose for a well coordinated team, you can’t really beat the HB warrior, if you run around with someone who just locks the target down while you combo them down in 3 sec while they’re stunned/knocked down.

I do wish there were some more viable builds for warriors, but it’s pretty much the same for all professions. Most only have 1-2 builds that are viable competitively, and then a few others that “do ok”.

PS: I do think a lot of players underestimate how strong the warhorn actually is when used right (5 gives weakness in AoE, which can be pretty huge, and axe in just 1 hand still does really good damage).

I run Axe/Axe and either Axe/Shield, Axe/Warhorn or Mace/Shield. It really depends on the kind of team I’m fighting against. If I see lots of Heartseeker Thieves or Greatsword Warriors, I’ll go Mace/Shield for the extra CC’s.

Hammer + Mace / Shield is an amazing weapon set and as long as you chain your abilities correctly, you can be davastating on all maps except Khylo (too many 1v1 / 2v2’s there).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fIAQNAS5ejgOxuxQWPMxBAUBsOPUiqmUPorO5A;TsAA1CnoQygkAJLSOkkItsYAyOEA

That is my spec, you need to try to position yourself at any and all 2v2’s and higher. You will really shut down alot of people by chaining your abilites.

I like Hammer and Mace-Shield. You can spec fairly offensively (I use 30/10/30/0/0 or 30/0/30/0/10 most times) while having a remarkably controlling and tanky setup. I also like Sword+Warhorn/Longbow, but that’s more of a WvW build.

I rather like the 30/30/0/0/10 Axe+sword/Rifle Bleed build, but I’m finding it a little hard to get used to.

Try the support/Cc setup. It’s something I really enjoy. I run hammer and mace/war horn and find it really enjoyable. Now it’s not going to “blow” people up, but it’s a support build. If that’s what you are into.

Don’t shy away from a rifle build with sword/war horn either, based in condition application. It’s fun too. You can spec in toughness with it too and really do well.

You don’t have to do fotm builds at all in this game, I encourage you to try all different builds and find something you really enjoy and not worry what “others” are doing, there’s still great fun to be had.

Good luck

Mace/Shield shout support is amazing and you build up adrenaline so quickly with the shouts gain adrenaline trait you can stun people like no tomorrow so your team can focus them down.

And you can take the trait that increase crit rate vs stunned enemies by 50% and swap to greatsword and still have some burst while being built tanky.

And I’ve also seen people run Rifle roaming builds to great success.

IF anything 100B bulls charge+frenzy is very weak in a team environment. It is very easy to chain CC them and make them accomplish nothing.

I find Hammer- Sw/Shield (mostly for mobility/cc ) amazing right now, it stands in a good balance between damage/utility,may help teammates both defensive or offensive and most important ,it is fun,at least for my taste.
I play in a more aggressive set up with it and works wonders.

Axe + Axe + Longbow. Root, set ground on fire, weaken, spin, eviscerate, opponent is down. Guardian is just a bit hard to get down :/

Taugrim (watch his yt channel) has a, in my opinion, very viable Rifle / Axe + Horn built. I have not yet come to play a tournament, but in “public” pvp it is very good

ps. a video with commentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEdt0cxh_o&feature=plcp

I agree that HB is boring, i like the mobility of the GS, but when you’re stuck with only one good hitting skill, it kinda stinks.

And the Shield is too slow. Seriously, why even put a cool down timer on the active block? It’s not like you can do damage while you have that up. Only if you use the trait that reflects ranged attacks, then the attacker would have to be stupid to keep attacking you. That needs to be changed. Smaller CD, longer duration.

Personally i feel that the Sword is kitten compared to just about any other weapon. Axe does nice damage, GS does nice damage, Rifle does nice damage, LB does aoe, GS does aoe (sorta), Axe does aoe (sorta), Mace does cc, Hammer does aoe…. Sword gets one attack with bleeds, one attack with cripple, and a lame burst skill that roots you and your target. I just expected more from Sword. It’s hardly viable on its own, let alone with the shield, warhorn i’ve seen put to good use, but again with Axe/Axe on the other weapon swap.

Why is Sword so lame?

Personally i find the idea of throwing the Sword OR Greatsword at an enemy to be a little silly, and the fact that the GS boomerangs back to you is just……………. just……….. yeah…

The problem i have with Swords is that they feel like a DoT weapon, and i feel that DoT should be an optional build to go with any bladed weapon, not a requirement to make a specific weapon viable.

I doubt this is going to get changed, but there’s my whiny two cents…

Honestly I see too many people underestimating GS. All people say is “100b is the only good skill but it sucks because it roots you and it’s easy to dodge”. The thing is though 100b is probably the worst greatsword has to offer (it is gimmicky). Here’s my rating of skills and what they should be used for.

Best – Whirlwind attack.
This skill has only an 8 second CD with traits and directional mobility plus AOE. Also what people don’t realize is this skill has more burst than 100b. Usually it hits for 7k-9k damage (even hit for 11k against a cloth once) and it is almost INSTANT damage it has no channel time and IT GIVES YOU EVADE WHILE YOU USE IT.

Second Best – Throw thing (I forget the name)
Piercing ranged cripple that comes back and does 4k-6k damage. Nuff said.

Third Best – Rush
Mobility plain and simple. Very good gap closer and escape. Remember to turn off autotargetting though (it will screw you over).

Fourth Best – Swing
It’s damage is pretty good and it has a good cone. The animation isn’t too slow and it has big range too. Downside is not enough burst.

Fifth Best – Hundred Blades
This skill is gimmicky and only has 2 uses. If you CC the enemy or if you’re standing in a group of enemies. If you get the first one good for you, go to town. You really shouldn’t be doing the second one much though unless you’re playing greatsword tank.

Now really greatsword is best used like this for best results.
1. Do you have cc off cooldown?
Yes: Use it, go to 2
No: Go to 3

2. If cc lands Frenzy, HB, Whirlwind Attack, Switch to rifle, Volley. If it lands it will do 30k+ damage (they will be dead). If it doesn’t part of the whirlwind attack or volley should land and you’ll have done some decent damage. Proceed to use Cripple shot and spam 1. Remember to use your rifle’s burst skill because it does a ton of damage.

If cc doesn’t land go to 3 but skip rush.

3. Frenzy Rush, Whirlwind through them, Sword throw, switch to rifle, Volley, cripplekitten

On a completely different note try playing a regen tank. Get healing/vit/toughness. Take the regen signet, regenerate health based on adrenaline, and banners regenrate. Mace/shield is the tankiesy and you will never die. Ever. Especially with a team.

Honestly you have to just test specs. HB is popular because it is simple to use and it was tested. If you never look for something else then you will never find it. I have about 5-6 specs all viable and they are stronger than hundred blades. That is they are more effective in team fights and are not useless after “Alpha Striking.”

Oh kanashi, that’s the problem.

I love warriors. Given first option of class choice in any game my immediate instinct is warrior, the same as some people want thief (stealth) or pet archer, or necro/warlock style, mage etc. My bud is a paladin at heart, so he runs guard. Mine is warrior.

I constantly watch the e-sport teams streaming and discussing the nature of the game as we all wait for real tourneys and the e-sport to truly begin (while I’m at work when I have the chance, or at night when I need a smoke break from playing). Ironically I’ve communicated with Taugrim back and forth since he started writing about ToR (@ the person that mentioned him).

I am constantly trying specs, oh painfully and stubbornly trying and retrying and revamping, scrapping and rebuilding, more queuing, more discussions with the teams like paradigm and AC, etc etc.

Hammer offense, hammer defense, regen, non-regen, banners, shouts, GS, dual sword, dual axe, axe sword, rifle builds, mace builds and so on and so forth. Hammer build is fun but the more the meta is evolving and the real competitive teams are figuring out the tricks of perma-team stability, the less viable the build becomes. (I’ve pugged against a few and gotten to watch my character get prison jacked in their streams on a number of occasions… it’s disheartening to say the least, but then again it’s pugging).

Con builds, but everyone (even my builds) has constant condi removal which really renders it pointless unless you can stack up different types quickly (engi for instance, can stack burning, bleeding, poison, cripple, weakness all within a few seconds which means it’s easier to get a few to stick).

I’m only asking because I know so many other wars are doing the same. Testing, building, studying up, watching streams. Ironically very few “pro” teams are even running warrior anymore as the biggest issue with it is that anything you can try and build your warrior to do another class can do far better.

Imo the biggest issue with wars is a fundemental utility “meh” level, along with a few weapon skills seemingly rather ho-hum or misplaced.

For instance, like a number of wars I wonder why HB isn’t the burst skill and the current burst skill (which none of us EVER use) isn’t the basic #2 attack. It seems like it would make more sense that way and would make the BR>FZ>HB build something you actually ramp up for rather than launch of the first guy you can get it to stick to as soon as BR is off cooldown.

The shield skills as well. The daze skill is good, but the actual block? It’s rather a rather long duration and long CD even when traited imo. Personally I would lower it’s duration to 2 seconds and decrease it’s CD by 1/3rd as well. Then when you add the trait on it (who takes that, seriously? I have in trying to build a sword’n’board warrior but…meh) it actually somewhat makes a real shield warrior viable with blocking being a more twitch based reactionary ability rather than a long CD “oh, bunker for 3s to stall” ability like the current state.

And I’ll stop because this is getting long enough and I need more beer. Oh well, back to the game and trying another build since sword+sword / rifle spec’s bleed buildup is far far too slow and easily removed.

: /

*On the flip side my engi is crazy good with 3 condi’s fast applied, 3 blinds (grenadier + bomb kit), 3 aoe cripples/immobilizes, aoe cleanses every 20 seconds, personal cleanses every 15, perma speed + vigor and utilty for the team in support crate + big ’ol bomb for area denial…. *

Just about anything is solid if you know how to play it, and what it’s good for. The warrior’s niche is in being an amazing source of pressure and burst damage, which makes HB builds really silly because they don’t capitalize on the strengths of the profession.

People could start making arcing slice builds for the greatsword and rock the fact you can have near permanent fury in combat with solid durability, but that would mean actually putting effort into your game play and not hitting the same button sequence every min to score a kill.

http://www.twitch.tv/ojsimpsun/b/332695823
^^^^^^^^^^^ replay ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://www.gw2build.com/builds/simulator.php#1.2.4.5.16.19.35.8.8.8.29.47.32.49.51.2.2.22.0.0.0.94.95.102.110.114.116.0.0.0.138.0.0.0.30.30.0.10
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^build^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

k so its focused around CC’ing a enemy down for focus in TPvP it works well, has burst with axe / OP frenzy.

doesn’t use 2h sword…

oh and the build

http://www.gw2build.com/builds/simulator.php#1.2.4.5.16.19.35.8.8.8.29.47.32.49.51.2.2.22.0.0.0.94.95.102.110.114.116.0.0.0.138.0.0.0.30.30.0.10