Guild Wars 2

So this is the build I run for PvP and sometimes in WvW (With Soldiers gear) figured I’d share it.

Gear: Berserker Ammy, Sigil of Force on Greatsword/Spear, Sigil of Energy on Longbow/Speargun, all Runes of Melandru don’t forget one on waterbreather.

Traits

-15 Strength: Berserkers Power
-30 Arms: Deep Cuts, Forceful Greatsword, Furious
-10 Defence: Dogged March
-15 Discipline: Signet Mastery

Utilities: Healing Surge, Bull’s Charge, Balanced Stance, Endure Pain

Key points of this build are High mobility, fairly good control on single targets, a lot of dodging when needed, and aoe damage. Fan of Fire and Pin Down will give some nice condition damage to compliment and Combustive Shot hurts if enemies stand in it ( So put it on point/at choke points when you can). Combustive Shot is fairly important for restoring your endurance as you never need a target for it, just slap it on the ground and bam free dodge. This accented with the Sigil of Energy/Whirlwind Attack should give fairly good sustain if you dodge important attacks.

Here’s the build for the more visually minded:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQJARTjcOxuxQuQMRCEUBN0eoIOPSCmg80HsDA-TwAg0CnIMSZkzIjRSjsGNKY9xpg3HA

Just my thoughts on Mel Runes, with the current meta of thieves and engis stacking tons of poison focusing on outright removing has served me better.

What do you use in place of, Shake It Off for Bull’s Charge? Mending? Which runes?

Thank you for putting that up there by the way!

The big problem I’m seeing is that you rely on greatsword or crits to build up your adrenaline initially. That means your initial damage output is low and you can’t fire off a long combustive shot to start or take advantage of increased damage based on adrenaline level.

I agree with BurrTheKing about conditions. In an offensive build, you’re better off removing them completely. I would include the movement effects with that as well. You can take the 10 out of the Defense line and pick up Mobile Strikes and Restorative Strength.

Zagerus.8675:

What do you use in place of, Shake It Off for Bull’s Charge? Mending? Which runes?

Thank you for putting that up there by the way!

A popular option is Signet of Stamina with Lyssa Runes:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQJARTjcOxuBPuQMRCEUBN0eoIOPSCmg80HsDA-TwAg0CnIKSVkrITRyisFNsY9xpg3HA

I’m not a HUGE fan but it is a strong option (as strong us us warriors get, which is never that strong).

If you want to keep a source of stability you can drop 10 points in arms and get last stand.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQJARTjcOxuBPuQMRCEkCNMLsHKijikgJ0HsDA-TwAg0CnIKSVkrITRyisFNsY9xpg3HA

Less damage but more utility than your average warrior, this does make Combustion shot less spamable which could be a problem.

The problem I find with trying to get utility as a warrior is that if you want to do TPvP you end up not being all that useful because a mesmer or thief can do the job better, where as going full glass you can find yourself more appealing, at least that has been my experience.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQJARTjcOxu1QyQMxBEjiiAIOKSCmQ9oNqjNE-ToAg0CnIiRFjLGTMyYsxMoY9B

I wasn’t convinced by Runes of Air at first but if you’re putting the points in for Destruction of the Empowered it makes sense. Also with Sigil of Air it looks Kinda cool XD.

I’ve been trying to find a balance in WvW personally. I tend to always fall back on kitten wish I had a longbow wielded moment in WvW pretty regularly to justify longbow with a greatsword. I can’t seem to shy away from GS because of it’s insane mobility and potential damage. Plus I love the idea of softening someone from distance. I realize this build is fubar for thieves but I still have yet to find a spec suitable to down a thief and be good against everyone else. The greatsword / axe/shield zerker build sometimes takes down thieves with a timely charge, 100b, shield bash evis but even then traited right thieves automatically cloak and blind which is rather frustrating because the evis misses.

That said I’ve come to learn to love knights gear even if I am losing out on crit damage. The balance for me is shrugging off condition damage and not having to micro manage it while in combat. I prefer to focus on control and damage.

The other issue I have is the 900 range on the bow that I feel I should never have to spec into a crappy line just to get it since it does nothing for me in this spec. I’m not Lyssa focused or boon duration focused.

So I have to deal with that.

This build gives me 3k+ armor with decent burst and a heck of a lot of crit. Since I need to lean on fast swaps and conditions coming off naturally that leaves a free utility slot – signet of fury was a natural choice for me because without Furious I’m not able to build adrenaline as fast as I’d like. I will almost have perma fury up so that helps and I can open up with a full adrenaline bar, which is key truly on any type of fight. The faster signet up time makes it even nicer of a fit. I don’t think Heightened Focus is necessary with the amount of precision we already have. 67% without fury up. Goes to 58% when you pop signet of fury. With fury up from signet of rage or FGJ it goes to 78% or 87%. Your burst f1 longbow will be 88% or 97% pending on if signet of fury is on CD. That’s very high as it stands normally.

The question I am debating are runes on weapons. I like bloodlust but since I am relatively new to this game I am not sure the tradeoff of 25 stacks of bloodlust versus something like AOE fire on the bow and something like signet of air on the greatsword for extra umph while in combat.

Here is the build – http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQJARTjcOJvxO+OMRCEkCNMLMFKiLDqgJ0HsDA-jUzAYrARQAILQJwioxWGLiGriBTdqUrcB0wQ2bADOk3AzfoULDAzCA-w

Any criticism or suggestions are highly welcomed. Remember, this is a WvW build. In sPVP I am clearly seeing a berserker GC type build much more effective because quote honestly in those types of fights in close quarters damage before you get downed is critical.