Guild Wars 2

I’ve been using something similar to an old Sonic Boon greatsword build, but have noticed a lack of DPS since the recent class updates, even if the extra heals and conditional removal is nice at times, especially when in groups. Before that, I went with a dodgy GS Signet build, but was persuaded by my guild to switch to something that could contribute more to dungeon runs.

I’m looking to get my damage output back up again without going glass cannon again.

My current build is as follows:

Strength 20 – Great Fortitude, Slashing Power
Arms 20 – Rending Strikes, Forceful Greatsword
Tactics 30 – Stronger Bowstrings, Lung Capacity, Vigorous Shouts

Berserker’s Greatsword of Force
Berserker’s Longbow of Force (Also have Berserker’s Rifle, but longbow AOE’s are easier to use in WVW)

Knight’s armour set
Superior Runes of the Soldier
Mark of the Tethyos Houses
Ring of Red Death
Berzerker’s Ring and Earrings
Cavalier’s Spineguard

I’ve held back on getting more Ascended accessories until I can figure out what to do with my build.

I’ve also got a couple of Berserker’s Axes and a Berserker’s Shield on hand, and am open to try other weapons, although my current gear favours critical damage.

To make things easy, PVP need not be considered, and I only played enough WVW to get the exploration achievement. Thief is probably a better class to use in WVW anyway, given the number of times I’ve been brought down by solo ones.

You could try putting in Empower Allies instead of Stronger Bow Strings. That would fit well with your party support role as well as boost your own damage.

You could also take Empowered instead of Lung Capacity if you wanted to be a little more selfish.

Also, I hate to say this, but you’re pretty much filling the role of a Guardian. Does no one else in your group run any support? Almost any other class can do condi removal more efficiently than soldier runes, and you could use those slots for better runes(DPS or group support)… especially in PvE where condis usually aren’t a huge issue.

Honestly, for a team setting, I don’t see much point in running Vigorous Shouts over Inspiring Battle Standard. Considering that the healing is barely over 1k with no Healing Power, the banners would provide more for the team due to their native effects.

And personally, I am a major fan of Warhorn. The only downside as a team cleansing tool is that unlike shouts, it has an animation. But depending on what you’re doing, that won’t matter.

Olba.5376:

Honestly, for a team setting, I don’t see much point in running Vigorous Shouts over Inspiring Battle Standard. Considering that the healing is barely over 1k with no Healing Power, the banners would provide more for the team due to their native effects.

And personally, I am a major fan of Warhorn. The only downside as a team cleansing tool is that unlike shouts, it has an animation. But depending on what you’re doing, that won’t matter.

I agree with Olba on this one. Again, there are better classes for healing. If you absolutely want to heal, banner CD and banner heal would give you all the healing of your shouts plus a sizable damage boost to your party through discipline or strength banner. Plus, you could still keep FGJ and whatever else you want. But as far as condi removal in PvE, I’m still a fan bringing a more well suited class or every man for himself.

I’ve found the banner regen to actually make a noticeable difference over time when facing harder content with questionable groups. To use it, sometimes I play with a 0/25/0/30/15 build. You get to use a converting Warhorn with it as well. Damage isn’t as high as a glass build, of course, but in worse case scenarios I find that I live a lot longer. Very self sufficient if you’re not running with a dedicated group. GS/Axe+Horn.

Of course one of the standard PvE builds is now the 30/25/0/0/15. Your main group contribution comes from the sky-high damage you deal, provided you know where to put it and when to evade. GS/Axe+X.

Both PvE builds benefit from having pretty much every other weapon in your bags for utility.

For WvW, I usually run something along the lines of 0/0/30/10/30. Hits like a truck and is pretty durable also. Not especially designed for 1v1, but if they screw up even once you can bring some serious hurt. Hammer/Sword+Shield (Horn and GS in bag for mobility).

Yes, I’ve sometimes wondered why I didn’t simply roll a Guardian instead, but since I’ve currently only got this character, I may as well see what more I can do with it.

The shouts weren’t so much to make up for lack of support as to add additional utility and redundancy to guild parties that already had some measures. That said, I’ve rarely managed to get into position to get lots of people in shout range, so I may as well go back to a more selfish build.

The last couple of nights, I gave 20/30/20/0/0 a go in Cursed Shore, with Healing Surge and a few Signets for the passive boosts. It’s not particularly sophisticated and doesn’t do anything to help others, but the added Toughness, Adrenal Health, Dogged March and Cleansing Ire were not bad for staying alive.

I presume some of the damage builds use Cavalier gear for Toughness boosts instead of spending trait points?