Guild Wars 2

tl;dr: I’m looking for thoughts (with numbers, if possible) on the comparison between PTV and Knights gear for a warrior. My specific situation is that I’m considering a respec for WvW, but I’m interested in other aspects, too.

The whole story: My main is a warrior. I’m aware of some of the problems the class faces, but it suits my playstyle so I can usually shrug it off. I’ve been running a setup similar to this one (GS/rifle with 10/20/0/30/10, mix of knights/zerks) for a while now in PvE and I still love it. When I jump into WvW, I switch out OMM for Bulls Rush, and Empowered for Leg Spec, and I enjoy that, too. It’s great for smaller engagements and I can hold my own in a number of 1v1 situations. However, I do struggle to find my niche in large-scale fights. Plinking random targets with my rifle is no fun and not very useful. Diving through the enemy is sometimes good, but I tend to die more quickly than I’d like.
So, after some thought, I’ve decided that step one is to grab a longbow and a new set of armor. I’m leaning towards Knight stats because I have this dislike for the vit stat in GW2 (and I still want to do damage!), but I have been told that I should get PTV, so I’m here to look for more info/opinions. Please help!
Also, I’m considering trying a new hammer-focused trait build, but that’s probably another issue entirely.

Well if you’re gonna go long bow in zergs, might as well go big. Get all berserker and run 30/0/0/10/30. Along with some crit and precision food, you’ll hit 8k – 10k longbow 3 in no time!

Knight for roaming, small groups clashes (up to 10-15 ppl) and pug zergs, so you can burn down targets relatively fast and have nice survivability. For large-scale fights PVT-Def-hammer builds more valuable, since overall damage to you goes up very fast, conditions are everywhere and pure toughness wont save you.

I think PVT gear is pretty terrible for warriors the increase in vitality is really minor for such a huge loss in damage. I think you’re going in the right direction use the same gear(Knight’s armor/Melandru runes with Zerker Jewelry) but switch out the rifle for a longbow and see how you like it.

If you’re going down the hammer road I’ve seen a full cleric banner regen war with the common Hammer-Sword/Warhorn setup work really well in a coordinated team using earthshaker to setup mesmer shatter bursts is pretty lulzy when everything works out just right. IDK if you have any buds that play mesmers or not and if their any good. I actually wouldn’t recommend a hammer focused trait build and definitely wouldn’t use PVT gear with it.

Good Luck

Ok the reason I think you haven’t found your niche in WvW largescale is simply due to not committing to role. You could go Rifle or LB and go for maximum damage while staying ranged. This would likely be best for you in the sense that you are decent DPS and useful at range (completely possible).

However if you truly want to melee in big zergs you really are looking at PVT armor. If I were you I would play around with this calculator instead. EHP for front lines is in the 38 to 40k range minimum but these are not exact numbers. Just expect in the front lines you’ll need enough survivability to break through the marks and conditions. It will require quite a bit to do that and then stay there. You wont do much dps but you can be a game changer with a hammer in hand.

Vitality, in this case is the stat you are really chasing more heavily. In most zergs what really kills you are the stuns and the conditions

In general between knights and PVT neither Berserker is much better if you arr factoring in DPS v survivability.

What do you want to use it for?

I would only go PVT with like a shout heal / support spec (soldier runes etc) or maybe hammer (unsuspecting foe etc). If you want survival I would go more into your spec (shield block, endure pain etc).

Warrior does not bunker well, so if you plan to put it on and outlast others good luck

Im using hammer/sword+shield spec, with mixed runes for 100% swiftness (autocast rage) and stun breaks. I like it for frontlines.

I mostly use knights gear, I do have a valkyrie set from early hitting 80 as well, but with knights you can swap in some amulets/rings and more versatile.

If you’re not comfortable playing in front, go longbow, spec one of the many longbow specs and just fire from ranged (good way to get badges). Just AOE tag everything :P

I use a 10/10/20/10/20 with Hammer/GS and I run mostly Zerker with a few accessories of Knights. I think I have about 2700-2800 armor but the main idea is to hit hard and get out. Hammer for Burst ability, knockdowns, knockback, aoe cripple/Immobilize, and greatsword for bladetrail, whirlwind, maybe a 100B on a downed or immobilized target and Rush to get out. Sometimes I swap out my GS for Axe/Shield and run in auto attacking cyclone and shield bash + eviscerate to drop someone. Shield stance to get out of there!

I just use Signet of Stamina for condition removal.

edit: p.s. Everyone dies when they are focused fired so don’t feel bad if you drop fast.