Mainly Sword/Shield playstyle for wvw
Sounds a lot like how my warrior functions. Build is bad link by the way.
These forums suck with links, just copy and paste it.
I really use sword shield as my defensive / utility set. Similar to you, my main damage comes from the other weapon set (GS), with the sword shield on swap. It brings however a really nice leap, another cripple, a 3 second block and 1 daze and 1 4-second immobilize which I can follow up with a 100b.
These forums suck with links, just copy and paste it.
Thanks, who would of thought, a simple fix for a simple problem.
For the build itself. As I said my warrior is similar, used the bolas for a long time and the kitten things never hit. Scorpion Wire on my thief is more reliable, and that’s saying something.
I use a build similar to this in PvE except I spec more into Defense to get shield master. Start off fights with the bow, burn enemies down, leap in to get fire aura, finish them all off. I flip back and forth between sword/shield and longbow so i can get access to the AoE blind and Pin Down from Longbow, plus it provides me with a blast finisher in Arc Shot for combos, etc. Slot skills are usually Endure Pain, Banner of insert banner of choice here, and Signet of Stamina (love those dodges). I take the 10 points in Tactics currently to get Inspiring Banners.
I seem to be one of the few who really enjoy the sword warrior in this game. Final Thrust has a pretty solid skill modifier on it and scales well with Power, so you can use the condition damage provided (and you get the +10% damage vs. bleeding foes in traits) as just an extra boost. Or you can just go full condition and make your bleeds and burns hurt even worse, although you sacrifice some direct damage as a result.
I like my sword/board and Longbow warrior though. Very fun playstyle to me, swapping back and forth between ranged and melee, jumping into the fray and tanking, multiples leaps and blast finishers. It’s fun.
It seems like most of us use the sword as a utility, which I’m not going for. I don’t like the idea of using it as a setup for a better weapon spike. Compared to axes, if you spec power swords you’re really selling yourself short in the longrun for dps. There’s too much counter to sword making it hard to hit the 3rd chain attack often. Cripple is on a long cooldown, even if it misses and that only leaves us with leap. While it’s nice as a first gap closer, there’s enough gap closers for other professions that negate it. I’m wondering if anyone out there has found a build/gear set that allows them to hit decently with sword, while still maintaining enough damage negation to be effective? I’ve found a hilarious banner bunker build that has managed to outheal a guard, and d/d ele, but the damage is literally nonexistant.
My opinion is that the sword doesn’t offer enough viability or single target dps solely on its own, without having to use it in conjunction with another weapon, like longbow for condi damage, or great sword for hard damage. Even with high power/crit, the f1 for sword still does terrible damage unless specc’d into bleeds.