Guild Wars 2

Greetings fellow warriors,
I have been wanting to be a commander in WVW since I got my tag but don’t know the first thing about commanding. I’ve tried finding guides and builds but they are all pretty dated.

Does anyone have suggestions or know of any guides to WVW commanding?

Welp I got my tag last christmas. After a year I’ve grown out of wvsw commanding alot…..had some gooood times tho, but whatever.

I’ll give you some brief stuff:

-figure out how you wanna command (teamspeak or text or both)
-figure out the role of the command you want (havoc, zerg, scout, defense/upgrade)
-figure out how ‘you’ want to fight (your class, your build-tank/melee/ranged/cannon/combo/support)
-figure out how you want other people to fight for you when u lead (using siege support, ranging, charging, kititing, counterplay, blob formation, shield wall)

Once you do thatttttttttttt:
Get siege. Nobody likes a commander that don’t have siege on them. Buy all your basic siege (kmart blue siege) off the TP. Buy superior cata with heroics at the notary, buy all the other superior siege off the TP though with buy orders (cheaper). If you have a tonnnn of notaries you might buy superior rams with them too…..honestly you should look at the TP prices before spending ur notaries on rams even though, I mean superior trebs cost alot less than superior cats on the TP but take twice as many notaries as cats.

Buy some traps (just siege disruptors is fine)

So in total YOu should have:
-ALOT of basic arrowcart/rams/catapults (100-250)
-ALOT of superior rams and superior catapults (50-100)
-10-20 superior ac, and superior ballista
- 5-10 Superior generator, superior trebuchet, siege disablers,

Extra that comes in handy if you have money:
-superior golemns, and guild siege in general is the best siege posssible….but its expensive

You should also bring some feasts (lvl 70+). You can just bring a generic one. Heck I’ll send you my generic one if you want, I make them for 20c each and spam them all over the borderlands for lulz sometimes.

You should USE FOOOD AND UTILITIES IF YOU COMMAND. I cannot stress that enough. If you aren’t taking wvsw seriously how can you expect anyone in ur squad to? What you use depends on ur build. I mean me: i use seaweed salad and furious sharpening stones…or just the 1 hour superior sharpening stones since money is scarce. The tank foods are cheaper….cept the 10% damage reduction stuff.

Start making friends in wvsw through whatever methods you have available:
-Joining TS rooms and talking via mic is probably the fastest way.
-following commanders, joining commander squads…..getting ur name out there
-be nice to people
-join guilds (plurrrral)
-acknowledge people taht join u when u command.
- be chatty, talkitive (text/mic/both)
-be gimmicky (people like gimmicks, give ur commander char a funny name or roleplay name or something, use a flashy build, use flashy skins, do certain unorthodox things every run (killing the giant grub in ebg or something for example…..or do a suicide run or build golemns or escort yaks…..anything reallly that people dont do en mass anymore..lineup and dance….idk)

…blah blah blha

learn the siege placement spots by watching other commanders. thats really the best way to learn. YOu need to learn the siege placement spots, thats really important. you can’t just build random rams or cats and expect to do well (at least not in a smaller command or against people who defend proper)

- find some1 u can share command with. they takeover when you need a bathroom break or to stretch ur legs….its rly strenous to sit and watch the map and chat and enemy and dictate orders and still fight allllll at the same time for ur entire play session. When they aren’t commanding they should be ur lieutenant, dictating lesser tasks so u dont have to do as much work. Then you both switch when ready.

-learn all the command functions. the 8 command beacons, the 8 command target icons, the map icons, the minimap pings (ok those aren’t important), learn to open ur squad so everyone can send invites……all that jazz…..learn /p and /squad….learn squad broadcasts.

edit: if i say notaries…i just mean heroics…..the yellow things in ur wallet ur spend at the notary

This is a great guide, thanks!

First, command as a zerker char gs warrior and be a boss.

Second, know this guide fairly well. It’s a little old school now, but has all the basics.

This is a guide from the forums that explains what calls you make on TS during a raid depending on what class you have. This also explains what you do as a driver and as front line/backline when the calls are made. This was not written by me, it was written by someone from PYRO a Maguuma guild at the time. It is a good starting point for pins. If you ever fight JQ send Mance a tell, and 500 mango pies =)
General Comms: Things everyone should be saying:
Downed Calls – This a call that every single member of the guild should be familiar with. On the surface, it seems very simple, but “I’m down” doesn’t cut it most of the time. In general, if you are going down, you should know it, and be able to give either a countdown or a rough approximation of when you’re going down. “I’m about to go down,” or, “I’m going down in 3, 2, down,” is a lot easier for warriors and myself to cover. If you communicate your location on top of this, you’re much more likely to get up.
Low Calls – This plays into the same idea. If you are low, let us know. We can cover you or go for a regroup. This is also a hint for eles to be able to drop a water on us to help you out. If an ele hears a bunch of low callouts at the same time, they will most likely throw us a water field mid-combat. It also allows for guardians to know when to book, myself for when to pull off, and warriors when to prep their banners.
Low Target – If you see an enemy low, it’s good to call it. I don’t see everything, nor does anyone, so calling it allows us to properly focus.
Enemy Legs – This is a more specialized call, but legs are essentially enemy stability. If you get interrupts or see the stab buff go off the enemy frontline, call it. We will hammerstun/line/ring/pull in response.
Rezzing/Hard Rezzing – Call this if you’re going to rez someone. “Stabilizing” is good too if they’re going to be bannered.
Getting Focused/Trained – Make sure you’re ACTUALLY being trained or focused, and then call it out. I will either come to you, or ask you to come to me.
Interrupted – If you are interrupted casting something that you called, note it to us.
Driver Comms – What I Mean:
Movement/Positional Callouts – These are generally pretty easy to grasp. Go left, go right, move towards the corner, move towards the hill, go down the stairs, etc. Note that directional calling is a bit harder than positional calling. I would rather give us a

landmark than say go left or right, because our cameras may not be facing the same direction.
Leap – When I call for leaps, I am generally trying to engage an enemy backline or just doing a first pass. It’s useful to get behind them, but it’s also useful to get the blind/cripple/damage/combos that leaps all have.
Reverse – This is a movement call, but it’s important to note that when we do reverse, be careful. Our left and right may have reversed as well.
Empower – I call for this before engages, but don’t be afraid to go for empowers on your own.
Veil – Veil should be almost right on top of us. Rarely will be go straight through it.
Stability 1 and 2 – Guardians with F3 stab, that is your stab 1. All other guardians use SYG on stab 1. On stab 2, the guardians who used their F3 stab will use their SYG. We generally need 3-4 two stab guardians in order for this to work.
Cleave – Keep melee damage on me, as well as ranged autos. Generally mobile damage.
Bomb – Somewhat more stationary. Good time for suffering well, hammerstuns, guardian symbols, meteors, etc.
Regroup – Small water, blasts, and empowers only. Do not drop other fields on the regroup water.
Roll – Roll back, left, right, or through. I will generally call a direction. Sometimes it will be reversed or just wrong, so be prepared for that.
Rez/Stabilize – If I call to rez someone, everyone should be hitting f. If you do not, they may not be rezzed quickly enough, and we might all die.
Ranged Pressure – Staff guardian cleave and ranged bomb to zone ahead of us.
Standstill Bomb – 3 to 5 second melee bomb with ranged support. Used to force large groups of downed. A good time to combat empower.
Full Bomb – All wells, sharknados, both symbols if possible, empowers. Just huge damage.
Protection – I know it sounds redundant, but I call for protection when we need to go deep in a fight. 33% damage reduction is no joke. Call it back at me.
Purging/Cleanse – I will call my purges, but this does not necessarily mean to drop all purging flames on the same spot. Use them as needed. If I say I “need cleanse,” then purging spam is appropriate.
Lines/Ring/Hammerstuns (hard CC) – If legs are down, I’ll call for hard CC.
Pulls – I call for pulls a lot. Call it back at me, and be ready to actually pull.
Immob (and other soft CC) – I will occasionally call for immob, but don’t forget to do it as much as possible (and call it).

Guardian Comms:
Stability – This may seem a little redundant to call after I call for it, but it is essential that it is called. When stability is called, we know that it actually was casted, and we know when we have leeway to push or pull off. It is also a huge part of what I call the guild’s stream of consciousness. Stability is one of the most common and first calls, so it is the call that makes sure that everyone is having good comms. Remember, calling things out makes sure you actually do it correctly.
Empower – This is similar to the above, but it’s important to call because I know when we have damage and when we have sustain. Standstill bombs are a good time to empower on your own if you think you can survive by not moving. The amount of might, healing, and sustain this spell gives makes it incredibly important.
Book – Try to call your book as it comes up and as it ends. Avoid saying “book down.” “Book ending,” or, “book over,” is a lot safer. Try to avoid the word “down” in general. Unless you’re down.
Purging Flames – Call it, again, part of the stream of consciousness and lets people know where they can stand to reduce condi duration.
Lines – Call their location, not just that you’re casting it. In general, try to hit backline with it. Only aim it at frontline if they have no stability.
Ring – If on JI, wait for me to ask for it, unless it’s a reaaalllyyyy good ring. Let me know the ring status and cooldowns when you see an opportunity.
Immobilize – Just call it. It’s good.
Punt – Useful on downs, but call it first.
Protection – Another part of the stream of consciousness.

Warrior Comms:
Hammer/Stun/Hammerstun – Useful even when there is enemy stability as an offensive blast. Most effective on backline or frontline without legs.
Immobilize – Focus immobs on bombs or on close backline. Calling them lets me know when I can hit things. If you immobilize a specific person (ele or something), call that as well.
Banner – Be sure to say what banner you are when you’re casting. Communicate your cooldowns before fights. Call if you’re interrupted.
Elementalist Comms:
Big Blast/Big Water – Big water is useful on engages. If you’re water 1, call it on first engage. If you’re water 2, call it on the next engage. Blast is somewhat preferable to water, but both are fine.
Small Blast/Small Water – Useful in regroups or as a self-heal. Only call it when it is on the frontline so we can blast it. Calling positions of it is useful, too, such as on sentry or road.
Static – Make sure you call where the static is hitting, like enemy backline, frontline, sentry, etc.
Chill – Helps keep the stream of consciousness of the guild going.
Wall – Similar to a guardian line, throw it on backline most of the time and call its position.
Immob – It’s useful to hear when immobs are going out from anyone. Be specific if you’re hitting another backliner.
Meteor – Don’t call every one, but it’s not a bad call either. Lets me know if I can ask for a shark or not.
Sharknado – Call when you start the tornado, or if you know 100% sure that you will be able to shark.
Fire field – Only really call before first engage. That’s the only time we’ll blast it, likely.
Necro Comms:
Strip/Boonstrip – Good to know when they might not have stability or other boons. Useful on first engage.
Bombing/full bomb – Generally bombing is just suffering well, but all 3 wells should be called as full bomb.
Blind/chill – Call these as needed, they’re both linked together.
Immobilize – DS 5 is very powerful. Call it out.
Weakness – Weakness lets us know if we can push or not. It’s like protection.
Fearing x – Call who you’re fearing.
Plague – Let us know when you start plague and when it’s about to end.

Couple more things since I’m still awake.

1: Find other pins you can fight against to practice your style and that aren’t jerks. GvG type guild will almost always fight you and are good to learn from. Most old pins will come blob vs blob you to and be cool about it. Their are some that are turds, just don’t give them duels anymore. SG does some gvg’s every couple months and normally we get wrecked on, but it’s good practice for when you are open field. And you get to see the cheese that everyone is running for 15 mans etc.

2: Always yolo your guild group into big pug blobs. The pugs will be happy for the bags and you’ll probably get just as many bags from the yolo. (Plus you’ve probably been farming them for hours anyways, that’s why there is a blob chasen your butt around the map now…)

3: Watch videos of commanders, preferably with 5 finger death punch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8C4kz_gJMA Most guilds you can see all their fight videos on recruitment posts. https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/community/lookingfor/SG-Shadow-Gypsies-JQ-WVW-Recruiting/first#post6435029 Watching your own videos show’s you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. (When an SG video abruptly ends…Mance probably sat in a well bomb and got 15 SG’s killed =) )

4. DO DIFFERENT THINGS! Don’t always run the meta or most effective. Run 25 thieves, or 30 hammer revs, or minion master trains. (Yesterday a guild on BG named CL attacked me with 12 bear druids. I had to stop in teamspeak and say: “Am I being eaten by 12 BEARS RIGHT NOW!?!”

5. Do what’s fun. Know the basics , but sometimes just yell STAB UP!!!!! And crash your 25 random pugs into that 40 man guild group. After you die and probably don’t even kill one person, say “KITTEN YEAH! RALLY UP LETS DO IT AGAIN! I killed the kitten out of that moa before I went down!” Sooner or later you’ll get the right kind of puggies following you. =)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLF6ghKMsMFd6OY3JJ5ZTMNyCtDVRZvH

Commanding series made by my raid lead.

Happy zerging~

Saying as few things as possible in ts while getting a very specific point across is important. I seriously don’t get why people try to explain everything using proper full sentences if they are trying to be serious. " guys can we focus please, cut the chatter, okay everyone we are going to wait 4 seconds, dodge forward, wait 2 seconds, then charge. Everyone cool with that cause thats what we are gonnna do. so lets all group up. and lets do that in 3…..2… . . 1…go…oh wait they killed us"

If you want empower at a specifc time…then saying empower isn’t enough.
say something like “empower, 3 sec” skipping the ‘in’ if your group can understand you properly.

“empower 3 sec, tick” (countdown begins after tick is said)
“scrap” (cancel the last set of orders)
“empower 3 sec, dodge 4 sec, tick” (empower in 3 seconds, dodge in 4 seconds, each countdown begins when I say tick, so there is a 1second delay between empower and dodge)
“scrap”
“dodge back”
“kite back” (attack while moving backwards)
“charge 3 sec, tic”
“scrap”
“Sequence 3 sec: dodge, empower, dodge, wait, tic” (in 3 seconds from the tic, start a sequence of moves as ordered)