Guild Wars 2

Hi, I’m very new to sPvP and have been mostly playing sword/shield warrior with longbow. I know Hambow is the OP right now, but I enjoy the sword and shield build more. I like it for it’s finesse, even though I’m as clunky as a dolyak at the moment.

Anyways, I know most cond. warrior builds use sword/sword, but I really enjoy the shield play. Is the sword/sword so good that using shield is useless?

Here’s my build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNAseTjMdU5ZVIGewJaABz4KqizjkYKAQ9h5A-TsAAzCmIKSVkrITRyisFNsYZxEBA

I’d really appreciate any tips on what to change (traits, runes, utility) and what playstyle I have to adopt to get the most out of this build and other general comments. My idea behind the build is to have good condition damage while being able be beefy and mobile. I’ve had most success in 1vs1 situations but have done well in holding points, however I know there’s no point in focusing on that when there exists bunker guardians/engineers.

I have been thinking of going 10 in discipline and 20 in defense to get Leg Specialist from tactics, but not sure yet if it’s worth it.

Impale on OH Sword is so good it would be a crime to NOT take it on a Condi Warrior.

If you like the shield stick with it. If you want to get some additional condition application and damage out of it, take guardian runes instead of Lyssa. When your enemies come in for a burst, or if you have a number of them whaling on you, you’ll stack 1s burning for every block with unlimited targets.

I use sword/shield in my offset, mainly for the block and maneuverability. Definitely not useless. Shield bash after leap, is real handy too.

I’m power build BTW, I use Axe/Mace as main weapons.

Greetings!

Perhaps I can assist you on your dilemma on a Sword/Shield Build.

I too refuse to be another Hambow clone like everyone else and have always been a sword and board kinda warrior even in my WoW days. So I have been brewing a build to aid me in SPvP/WvW. My initial attempt was more of a burst Sword/Shield which worked really well for single targets, but when focused by multiple targets I would melt. So after doing some more testing and reading up on different builds this what I came up with.
My Build :Sword and Board and I got the defensive changes from this thread Knightmare Build

The build works great and gives you the defensive capabilities to withstand and enough CC to pretty much shutdown most players. I personally use Bullrush instead of Bolas from the original build, because nothing is sweeter then bull rushing a fleeing target that is trying to heal knock them down then follow through with a 4-6K Final Thrust to finish them.

KeyboardCowboy.8465:

Greetings!

Perhaps I can assist you on your dilemma on a Sword/Shield Build.

I too refuse to be another Hambow clone like everyone else and have always been a sword and board kinda warrior even in my WoW days. So I have been brewing a build to aid me in SPvP/WvW. My initial attempt was more of a burst Sword/Shield which worked really well for single targets, but when focused by multiple targets I would melt. So after doing some more testing and reading up on different builds this what I came up with.
My Build :Sword and Board and I got the defensive changes from this thread Knightmare Build

The build works great and gives you the defensive capabilities to withstand and enough CC to pretty much shutdown most players. I personally use Bullrush instead of Bolas from the original build, because nothing is sweeter then bull rushing a fleeing target that is trying to heal knock them down then follow through with a 4-6K Final Thrust to finish them.

How does same build with those traits:
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNAseTjMdUFaZHOewJagAz4KV58IJTZ86D2B-T0Ag0CvIKSVkrITRyisFNuYRwhgJBPCA

is not better in anyway?

For strait up comparison you can change to 0/25/25/0/20 to take ‘warrior sprint’ instead of ‘Furious speed’, but IMO taking ‘Furios’, ‘Last chance’ or ‘Destruction of the empowered’ would be better choices anyhow.
You allready got 30/48 swiftness uptime and sword 2 makes it ez to stick on ppl.

Eiland.1405:

KeyboardCowboy.8465:

Greetings!

Perhaps I can assist you on your dilemma on a Sword/Shield Build.

I too refuse to be another Hambow clone like everyone else and have always been a sword and board kinda warrior even in my WoW days. So I have been brewing a build to aid me in SPvP/WvW. My initial attempt was more of a burst Sword/Shield which worked really well for single targets, but when focused by multiple targets I would melt. So after doing some more testing and reading up on different builds this what I came up with.
My Build :Sword and Board and I got the defensive changes from this thread Knightmare Build

The build works great and gives you the defensive capabilities to withstand and enough CC to pretty much shutdown most players. I personally use Bullrush instead of Bolas from the original build, because nothing is sweeter then bull rushing a fleeing target that is trying to heal knock them down then follow through with a 4-6K Final Thrust to finish them.

How does same build with those traits:
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNAseTjMdUFaZHOewJagAz4KV58IJTZ86D2B-T0Ag0CvIKSVkrITRyisFNuYRwhgJBPCA

is not better in anyway?

For strait up comparison you can change to 0/25/25/0/20 to take ‘warrior sprint’ instead of ‘Furious speed’, but IMO taking ‘Furios’, ‘Last chance’ or ‘Destruction of the empowered’ would be better choices anyhow.
You allready got 30/48 swiftness uptime and sword 2 makes it ez to stick on ppl.

I apologize, but I am not sure exactly what your trying to say..

^ that you can build much better

I would have to disagree.
The build you posted would give me a slight increase in power and condition damage and would I would also then be dependent on critical hits for movement speed. I would then lose 15% Crit Damage, 25% Movement speed while wielding a melee weapon, and 5%-15% Crit chance depending on Adrenaline

Ok, let’s compare your 0/20/20/0/30 to 0/25/25/0/20 with exact same traits beside Heightened focus of course:

Stats : 160 power, 3% crit chance, 50 toughness, 50 cond damage.
Features: +10% dmg on bleeding foes (which is 99% of time) = 200 power

VS

Stats: 10% crit dmg
Features: -0.5 sec on burst skill, 0-15% cirt chance , 10sec might on swap

Power:
We can compare 10% crit dmg on 60% -80% crit chane to about 7% poer increase with 1840 power its 129 power. (and this is very generous as many attacks like ‘sigil of fire’ dont crit).
So (200+160) – 129 = 231 less power to your version.
Crit chance:
You will very rarely, be on 3 full bars, this build use 2 burst skills for their damage utility and condi clear, if you don;t you just hurting your play style. And since no other adrenaline trait beside cleansing ire, it does build back that fast.
So most of the time you are playing with 0 -2 bars -> only 1 full bar on avarage -> 5% crit chance (again i’m generous as this will be less)
So 5% crit chance – 3% = +2 % for your build.

Might on swap:
10sec on 5sec swap is 2 stacks, but rarly we switch exactly at 5sec and it can be stolen/remove so ill count it as 1 stack on avg-> 35power , 35 cond

So are you saying that 2% chance is better then 196 power, 15cond , 50 toughness? on a build with very high crit chance as it is?
GG

Well anyhow both these builds are not optimal imo for this wpn set but to compare them we will need actual gameplay.