Guild Wars 2

Hi,
So I tried a few different builds between the typical ‘greatsword’ warrior, axe/axe and axe/mace.

Theres just no comparing to the greatsword builds. The damage it puts out, and the longer the fight goes the better, is unmatched. Not to mention that since you spit out way more damage than other loadouts and builds, you can afford to use utilities like endure pain to mitigate damage spikes, or balanced stance so you can continue to turret.

I have 5 level 80s: Thief, warrior, guardian, mesmer, necro. I have played the thief, necro, and warrior the most. Out of these 5, I don’t think there is a larger performance gap between weapon loadouts/builds than a greatsword warrior vs its other weapons. Maybe a guardian with it’s greatsword abilities, but other than that, other builds and loadouts for other classes are more on the same playing field with eachother.

On my thief I run P/P for high level fractals and dungeon running. However, I can easily swap into a condition d/d build and infact, I could only beat one of the queen’s gauntlet fights with my condi build. It is a bit weaker in groups yes, but solo its good.

I could go on about other classes, but my point is: Isn’t it boring to see only greatsword warriors running around? And aren’t you tired of the same spec and running the same stuff as everyone else?

Do you think Arenanet needs to nerf greatswords in general in the game, especially for warriors? Would you rather more build diversity for this class?

Most probably you’d just end up seeing no warriors at all.

And even greatsword, at least for pvp, is useful as long as you bring a mace.

By my side, I try to fight boredom by playing my own version of the mace/shield and GS, trying to pump the damage of all skills, not only the combo.

cesmode.4257:

Hi,

Theres just no comparing to the greatsword builds. The damage it puts out, and the longer the fight goes the better, is unmatched. Not to mention that since you spit out way more damage than other loadouts and builds, you can afford to use utilities like endure pain to mitigate damage spikes, or balanced stance so you can continue to turret.

I don’t think that this is completely accurate. It’s true that 100blades on the GS does a ton of damage especially if you’re specced for it. But it’s important to note that besides 100blades and the Rush skill that we most use continuously, the Whirlwind skill does good damage against single targets only when positioned right (i.e. against a wall).

So yes, the GS does fantastic direct damage. But that’s not the only component to the game, especially in parties. In dungeons I typically run GS/ Ace,Mace / Longbow depending on the situation.

The Axe/Mace combo works for me for a few reasons. First of all, the Mace #5 skill knocks down for 2 seconds and does great damage when you whack a mob in the face with it. I run a full zerker build and it typically does 6-8k on a crit. And then Mace #4 and Axe #2 both apply Vulnerability which is fantastic on bosses. Finally, I find that the Axe autoattack chain does more damage than the GS equivalent. Slightly less damage per hit but it goes way faster than the GS.

I typically run the trait that shortens time for weapon swap by 5 seconds. As such, my typical skill rotation against a single target:

GS Rush > 100blades > Whirlwind (only if mob is against a wall) > Swap to Axe/Mace > Mace #5 for the knockdown > Mace #4 > Axe #2

By this time your weapons swap will be up again and I switch to GS and so on.

The above is what full zerker groups use in COF. Granted a full zerker build and group is only suited for certain situations, but in COF that’s how you kill bosses in 30 seconds.

Alright, so if you are burning through your ‘dps’ abilities, and weapon swap to axe/mace to do the same..how is that fun? Some people probably see it as fun, I see it as boring as anything. Just spam through dps rotation… Or am i missing something here?

Id much prefer to do an axe/axe build, with longbow for ranged situations. Back in the day, pre-80 I ran the regen build, but I felt kitten in damage and not hitting burst when I wanted to was hard not to do.

What about a properly specced axe/axe build for crits and keeping Burst on ‘cooldown’ using it whenever it is up… Would that be viable? What kind of numbers do people put out using axe/axe?

GS is pretty much ‘The DPS weapon’ for twohanded melee, though. Hammer is the CC niche, LB the condition range, and rifle the dmg range. It has its niche and fills it well, while still allowing for combo potential in non-dps builds. It complements condition builds very well with the right spec.

If you have the 50% crt on stun and frenzy and you too the 2 axe traits. The axe auto attack chain does way more damage. I posted the spec i use with it and it does WAY more damage then the mace shield gs. Let me find it and i will edit it in.

Edit

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQRApe3ZjcO1wxQqQMRCAkivyyoYogOFUSpAP3A-TwAg0CnIqRVjrGTNyas1MQYZxmgZIA
This is what i have been running and having great success with. You can swap the traits and talents around a bit for aginst condi classes.
1.Mace stun
2.Frenzy+weapon swap
3.Axe auto attack until stun wears off
4.Mace 5
5.auto attack more
6. Then if they still are alive stack vul and axe fi
I call it the Axe murderer build idk if someone already made it but its insane damage does way more then gs does. Give it a try <3

You want more gameplay options? Help me fix axe 5.

You can go on the thread and check out the video. It explains it very well.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/bugs/VIDEO-Anet-stole-the-pewpews/first#post2608412