Guild Wars 2

Hey all!

I’m a fairly new warrior player (currently at lvl 22) and I’ve been playing a necromancer almost exclusively since launch (With a brief stint into guardian land), so keep that in mind when explaining your answers to my query :P

I love the weapon variety offered with the warrior, and I’ve seen a ton of great builds for PvE/dungeons and WvW (my two areas of interest). After looking around, I think I’m getting some of the popular builds mixed up.

For PvE/dungeons, I know the infamous zerker build (using ruby orbs/zerker gear with gs and axe/mace) is the standard, but are there variations for that? Is Axe/mace the only way people run zerker?

I’ve also notice a TON of WvW builds and nobody seems to agree on what’s good at what. I’m thinking I’d like to play a tanky/attrition build in WvW, so am I correct in saying that longbow and axe/shield is what that’s for? Also, I hear people in WvW calling for hammer warriors all the time…what does that build consist of? My final question kind of lumps those two together: I’m not as much a fan of needing to get multiple sets of gear for every iteration of gameplay (my juggermancer is effective in both WvW and PvE almost equally, for example). Is there some sort of hybrid WvW/PvE zerker build that’s kosher?

AllegroPixel.9470:

I’ve also notice a TON of WvW builds and nobody seems to agree on what’s good at what.

I think the reason for this is that, unlike PvE or PvP, there is no real meta. There is no “right” way to play it. Because more often than not it comes down to numbers instead of individual skill (unless roaming) it’s much less rigid so most builds can be viable, but everything has it pros/cons so there’s always room for improvement.

a tanky attrition build in WvW usually consists of a warrior condition build.

after hudreds of hours of playing Warrior in WvW i’ve found that we can’t really go tanky. if you have 3500 armor or 2500 armor you will still die just as fast. you can still increase your survivablility dramatically however by what weapon sets you use.

let me show you .http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/warrior/?8.0|3.1h.h5|c.1o.h5.g.1h.h16|1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.712.1o.712|1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62|a1.k38.k18.k49.0|0.0|0.0.0.0.0|e this is the build i run for my condition warrior. it has a lot in common with what you are used to as a necro, the big difference is that you are only really spreading three conditions; bleed, burning and immobilize. unlike necro the bleeds last a really really long time so you can stack them up easier.

if you want to run a more spike damage based warrior there are plenty of options, but in my experience you are generally forced into using either axe/shield, longbow or rifle as your main weapon with either sword/warhorn, sword/shield or greatsword as your offhand for movement so that you don’t get caught in one spot and killed.

warrior has a lot of options for leaps, and you are going to want to get comfortable using them since in WvW they are your main means of staying alive.

Dedlaw.9130:

AllegroPixel.9470:

I’ve also notice a TON of WvW builds and nobody seems to agree on what’s good at what.

I think the reason for this is that, unlike PvE or PvP, there is no real meta. There is no “right” way to play it. Because more often than not it comes down to numbers instead of individual skill (unless roaming) it’s much less rigid so most builds can be viable, but everything has it pros/cons so there’s always room for improvement.

I’m glad this class has that type of freedom, I wish I could use everything on my necro >.<

Do you have a particular favorite? I’m leaning toward a longbow/axe/shield build, since it seems like it’ll be similar to my necro’s juggermancer build, but I’m not sure about the feel yet.

Fiorrello.8126:

a tanky attrition build in WvW usually consists of a warrior condition build.

after hudreds of hours of playing Warrior in WvW i’ve found that we can’t really go tanky. if you have 3500 armor or 2500 armor you will still die just as fast. you can still increase your survivablility dramatically however by what weapon sets you use.

let me show you .http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/warrior/?8.0|3.1h.h5|c.1o.h5.g.1h.h16|1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.7g.1o.712.1o.712|1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62.1b.62|a1.k38.k18.k49.0|0.0|0.0.0.0.0|e this is the build i run for my condition warrior. it has a lot in common with what you are used to as a necro, the big difference is that you are only really spreading three conditions; bleed, burning and immobilize. unlike necro the bleeds last a really really long time so you can stack them up easier.

if you want to run a more spike damage based warrior there are plenty of options, but in my experience you are generally forced into using either axe/shield, longbow or rifle as your main weapon with either sword/warhorn, sword/shield or greatsword as your offhand for movement so that you don’t get caught in one spot and killed.

warrior has a lot of options for leaps, and you are going to want to get comfortable using them since in WvW they are your main means of staying alive.

Thanks for the info! I actually use a power build with dagger/focus/staff for my juggermancer, so maybe a condition warrior might be a fun twist.

AllegroPixel.9470:

Do you have a particular favorite? I’m leaning toward a longbow/axe/shield build, since it seems like it’ll be similar to my necro’s juggermancer build, but I’m not sure about the feel yet.

Well I’m currently switching from a condition damage to a direct damage build, both are in this tread – https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/warrior/WvW-Warr-Moving-away-from-conditions/first#post2199215

Edit – if it’s not too obvious, I prefer to play at range ^^

Dedlaw.9130:

AllegroPixel.9470:

I’ve also notice a TON of WvW builds and nobody seems to agree on what’s good at what.

I think the reason for this is that, unlike PvE or PvP, there is no real meta. There is no “right” way to play it. Because more often than not it comes down to numbers instead of individual skill (unless roaming) it’s much less rigid so most builds can be viable, but everything has it pros/cons so there’s always room for improvement.

This pretty much answers everything about WvW warriors…. great post.

Only issues you might find with the Warrior forums here, is elite people pushing “cookie cutter must use build threads”.. when it really comes down to what you want ( weapons, roll, traits etc)

Great thing with Warrior is if you want to run some weapon set, you’ll be able to gear/trait it to work.

Best thing to do is play about and experiment.

I won’t quote just to keep the scroll bar small, but great post, Ajaxx. I’m so happy to see a healthy build environment (mostly) around here

I’m really fond of certain weapons out of stylistic reasons (axe and shield come to mind), so I might try to make a build that utilizes them along with either a weapon for range or movement…either longbow or sword/horn, though horns are ugly in general (but that mobility will save my kitten in some zerg situations).

The only thing I can think of with that is that I may not be able to put out much dps, since shield isn’t helping with that much and axe by itself won’t down anyone.

Well like I said, it mostly comes down to numbers. Unless you’re roaming alone you usually won’t need to kill an enemy all by yourself, you’ll have allies with you that will also be taking a chunk of the enemy’s health.

Edit – that being said, don’t underestimate the damage Axe can do

Well, axe sheild will let you set up some combo hits… like sheild 4 ( stun ) into axe f1 etc, issue here is, axe f1 range is small, and smaller again if you’re crippled.

If i was advising a new warrior, I’d say play it like this

1, find the weapons that work for you
2, build your traits around that spec, solo/support/small group/zerging
3, build your gear set to go with that trait/weapon AND roll.

Always have something these you can run.

When I’m roaming about wvw, I play GS/Hammer with pull PVT gear 6/6 Melandru runes etc.. its built for me, and I wont give anything to a party around me ( boons wise ), but it is what I call my MAIN build.

What I also have is 2-3 other random builds/gear/weapon sets for other rolls.

I’ve a full Longbow/sword-sheild build
I’ve a Full support set low dmg/high support shout/heal/boon set with warhorn ( as much as a warrior can support)
I’ve a very weird x4 banner dps support set for smallish groups when I’m really bored
and I’ve a full zerker set for messing about with rifle or anyother full on glass cannon weapon set I want to play.

Being a Warrior to me is about being more than my main spec of GS/Hammer. Warrior should be able to pick up a random weapon and go smash peoples faces in.

I know I’m rambling now… so

TL:DR dont be a 1 trick pony, learn different weapon combos change it up, learn everything.

Smash faces.

Ajaxx.3157:

Well, axe sheild will let you set up some combo hits… like sheild 4 ( stun ) into axe f1 etc, issue here is, axe f1 range is small, and smaller again if you’re crippled.

If i was advising a new warrior, I’d say play it like this

1, find the weapons that work for you
2, build your traits around that spec, solo/support/small group/zerging
3, build your gear set to go with that trait/weapon AND roll.

Always have something these you can run.

When I’m roaming about wvw, I play GS/Hammer with pull PVT gear 6/6 Melandru runes etc.. its built for me, and I wont give anything to a party around me ( boons wise ), but it is what I call my MAIN build.

What I also have is 2-3 other random builds/gear/weapon sets for other rolls.

I’ve a full Longbow/sword-sheild build
I’ve a Full support set low dmg/high support shout/heal/boon set with warhorn ( as much as a warrior can support)
I’ve a very weird x4 banner dps support set for smallish groups when I’m really bored
and I’ve a full zerker set for messing about with rifle or anyother full on glass cannon weapon set I want to play.

Being a Warrior to me is about being more than my main spec of GS/Hammer. Warrior should be able to pick up a random weapon and go smash peoples faces in.

I know I’m rambling now… so

TL:DR dont be a 1 trick pony, learn different weapon combos change it up, learn everything.

Smash faces.

I feel like you’re giving me an arousing speech before marching off to battle :P

Do you keep the same runes, etc, or does each weapon set have a completely different set of armor? If it’s the latter I foresee a lot of grinding in my future.

Different runes for different weapon sets/gear sets/rolls.

The only time I’d really go with a “must use this build to be viable” in Gw2 is in Tpvp and for that you want to read anything posted by Defektive.7283 on the warrior forums.

WvW is pretty much a clean sheet.. run what you want.

Well I’d better start saving!

If it wouldn’t be too much trouble I’d love to see what your gs/hammer and bow/sword/shield builds look like trait/stat-wise so I could get a starting point.

AllegroPixel.9470:

Well I’d better start saving!

If it wouldn’t be too much trouble I’d love to see what your gs/hammer and bow/sword/shield builds look like trait/stat-wise so I could get a starting point.

No rush, the game isn’t gonna disappear tomorrow :P Just work you way through anything you want.

All my gear/builds etc are on my twitch page in the info section

http://www.twitch.tv/irajaxx

or for spvp/tpvp warrior stuff

http://www.twitch.tv/defektive

I follow similar approaches because I get bored.

I have 4 specs with gear at the moment.

Spec 1: Bleed / Burn build. Condition focused with full rapid gear and trinkets. Sword/Sword and Longbow. Different pace but I like surprising folks with this build because the condition damage is nice. I have the sigil that improves condition damage after kills so with 25 stacks it’s great. It takes getting used to though and requires a bit of finesse because you don’t have the burst you normally have with other specs.

Spec 2: full rifle 10k+ killshots. All berserker gear and maxed out critical damage with burst mastery. Runes are the 3 sets that increase boon duration and I eat the boon duration food to have perma SOR up. It’s nice because as a poster above said you can drop FGJ and pick up another utility. It’s so glass cannon though so if you’re roaming solo and a thief gets on you it’s pretty much over unless the thief is terribad. I run with a sword/warhorn offset with this one to get away or a greatsword for a surprise charge 100b combo when the guy approaching thinks I’m only range.

Spec 3: Runes of Lyssa build. Focuses on empowered strikes and trying to take advantage of a small window of opportunity in a skirmish when I want to lay the smack down. In theory it’s great but this is really better designed in sPvP because of the smaller areas of engagement. In WvW there are so many variables that I find the use of it limited because of circumstance.

Spec 4 – MAIN build – my tried and true spec that I’ve grown to love because of some other warriors in the community touting about it. It can run as Greatsword/Axe/Shield, Greatsword/Rifle, or Greatsword/Longbow. You can switch out some traits on it and use either or all of the above at different stages pending on the situation. It’s a balanced spec. Runs with Melandru runes and pushes 3k armor with mainly knight armor and berserker trinkets. 10/30/20/0/10 with dogged march and last stand in defense. Dogged March, Melandru runes, and Condition removal food = no longer need mobile strikes. Necros are lunch and engineers as well in open warfare because conditions roll off you.

I have a sigil of generosity on my axe which is nice as a gift

Lately though I just am experimenting with ways to deal with thieves more if I’m not wielding my axe/shield. Shield is great to try and deal with the CnD backstab routine. The spec way up top is nice too for thieves on some of their specs because you can lay down bleeds and time your sword 4 skill to block. But with Greatsword/Longbow it’s tougher unless I land my f1 and arrow skill in the right spot.

The key in WvW in mobility and the greatsword is the BEST weapon for it hands down. Mobile Strikes or Melandru/Dogged March/Food is the ONLY option in WvW for you to actually survive and PICK your battles. Key is being able to decide when you want to engage and when you want to leave. As a solo roamer you HAVE to resort to kiting unlike a thief who can just stealth away.

Someday I might master the Greatsword and Sword/Warhorn build for PURE mobility but I can’t seem to give up defense traits to get the warhorn trait on a generally crappy trait / stat line.