Guild Wars 2

Hey folks,

In knowing it isn’t the Meta, it may be more tough, but I am looking for a Warrior Sword/Shield/XX condition build.

I used to run S/SH/Rifle when the game launched in WvW and had good success with it, but coming back I see this have changed. I don’t mind dual-wielding swords, but I would rather run something a little more tankish.

Is there anything out there I can use for PvE and WvW and still have success with? This is more for me enjoying the aesthetic.

Thanks and look forward to your replies

Sword/Shield+Longbow

Pin down, Fan of Fire and Combustive Shot give you ranged Condi pressure as well as exceptional condi cleanse when traited into Cleansing Ire. Combustive Shot’s fire field also allows you to blast might with Arcing Arrow, as well as stack fire shield with Savage Leap and Shield Bash.

Since you’re planning to run Condi anyways, you can build fairly tanky in WvW thanks to Dire and Rabid gear, and either run a support build in zergs (Banners/shouts to back up your condi pressure) or build more aggressive for roaming (run stances, more points into your Arms tree)

For a heavy Condi build… you don’t really have more options than that. Offhand sword offers more condi pressure than shield at the cost of CC and some defense, but no other weapon brings enough conditions to the table to be worth it. There was a perplexity-based celestial/condi build using Hammer and Distracting Strikes, though I don’t think I’ve seen anyone use it in a while.

Sword/Shield + Longbow is pretty solid and can be run as Power/Condi/Celestial (preferably all with Might stacking) depending on your preference.

I play as Warrior in full celestial and it’s a funny build. I play sword/axe + Longbow. A lot of conditions, good direct damage. Expecially condition damage, but I can always do good direct damage with critical hits (and 200% critical damage help a lot).

It’s a funny build, not the meta, not the powerfull, but still a good build do play with friends.

In www I run shield to be more defensive and stances in zerg to survive better.
The firefield is very good for allyes to blast might in zerg and deal good damage to your enemy with burning. Pin Down and sword F1 can hold your enemy in place, making him killed by your zerg easy.

Power/Condi/Celestial ?

I get the Power and Condit, can someone explain the celestial please?

I think I will wind up going sword/shield/LB

Can someone advise on a build/traits/gearing layout if you have one available?

Appreciating the help folks, thanks BTW

Hi,

Silv.9207:

I play as Warrior in full celestial and it’s a funny build. I play sword/axe + Longbow. A lot of conditions, good direct damage. Expecially condition damage, but I can always do good direct damage with critical hits (and 200% critical damage help a lot).

I play the same as well these days. Coming back from berserker setups, I was surprised (again) about the celestial gear, which I find unbalanced (too strong for the amount of risk involved in playing it, even after the might nerf). Mind sharing your build? Here’s mine.

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAsXTjMdUGaVIehwJagkgC7onBXDg3WZVU6A-TpBBwAAOBAYeAA12fYzhAIzRAAcZAA

Cheers.

Elegie.3620:

Hi,

Silv.9207:

I play as Warrior in full celestial and it’s a funny build. I play sword/axe + Longbow. A lot of conditions, good direct damage. Expecially condition damage, but I can always do good direct damage with critical hits (and 200% critical damage help a lot).

I play the same as well these days. Coming back from berserker setups, I was surprised (again) about the celestial gear, which I find unbalanced (too strong for the amount of risk involved in playing it, even after the might nerf). Mind sharing your build? Here’s mine.

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAsXTjMdUGaVIehwJagkgC7onBXDg3WZVU6A-TpBBwAAOBAYeAA12fYzhAIzRAAcZAA

Cheers.

I saw the gear listed was PvP, what should I be looking for in PvE statwise/gearwise.

Being honest, is sword as a MH really that kittene in PvE? I love how it looks but don’t want to be completely kitten either LOL..like..walk in an instance" Nice sword MH" Kick from group..

Hi,

GMcgroarty.5043:

I saw the gear listed was PvP, what should I be looking for in PvE statwise/gearwise.

Being honest, is sword as a MH really that kittene in PvE? I love how it looks but don’t want to be completely kitten either LOL..like..walk in an instance" Nice sword MH" Kick from group.

(Sorry, I derailed the thread a bit, because the setup sword+axe/LB is quite rare, and I was happy to see that a fellow warrior had chosen it as well.)

To answer your question: dungeons instances are repeatable content, with limited RNG, so most people expect you to get used to the mechanics, to the point of being able to run full damage-oriented builds, using only active defense (dodges, blocks etc.) to get through.

In that regard, MH sword would indeed be frowned upon in experienced parties – teammates expecting something dealing a superior amount of direct damage, such as a GS or an Axe. It’s not that MH sword wouldn’t let you through: you’d simply take more time to achieve the run. Now, if you play with friends who do not bother spending a couple more minutes in the instance, then it’s okay (in any case, try to play with people you know to avoid toxic exposure).

PvE isn’t restricted to 5-parties dungeons either. One can perfectly use MH sword in solo and duo runs, using condition or hybrid builds, and still aim for competitive runs. Also, outside of dungeons, open world is vast, and the sword lets you move swiftly across the map, so is not bad at all.

For your build, maybe just start with the GS+Axe/mace meta, replace the Axe by a sword, see how it goes? It’s been months since I haven’t done any PvE content, so take my advice with caution.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAsZRjMdUGanHWewJaAgAx8hALumKjuzA-TlSBwA02AwsSwIHCgrK/up+Dx1HwrPYxDAQzJAAwRAgMA5bB-w

Regards.

GMcgroarty.5043:

Power/Condi/Celestial ?

I get the Power and Condit, can someone explain the celestial please?

I think I will wind up going sword/shield/LB

Can someone advise on a build/traits/gearing layout if you have one available?

Appreciating the help folks, thanks BTW

Celestial gear has an even split of all stats. Ordinarily it can turn out to be a bit weak, but in this case you have access to a lot of Might along with weapon sets that have both solid power and condi attacks so it works out.

For PvP I’d do something like this.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAseTjMdUFaXImhwJagkgC9onBlwpAQdVU6RBA-TpRHwAEeAAFOEAAOCACOBAk2f4YZAA
As for WvW I lean towards Zerker with Celestial Accessories because frankly I haven’t made the commitment to crafting Cele gear. And as you can see by the consumables I’m cheap.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAseTjMdUFaXImhwJagkgC9onBlwpAQdVU6RBA-TVSHwAEeAA1VC+R9nCHCgmK/goPg0+DCOBAAOCAkBYZLA-w

While you can play whatever you want in open world PvE I’d hesitate to take either a MH Sword or LB into a dungeon. If you must take a Sword into a dungeon I’d recommend swapping out the OH Mace for a Sword in the current PvE dungeon meta. Sure you lose the Vuln stacks, but you get a short CD Block out of it, which a case could be made for if you had to. Unlike MH Sword, for which your reason would be because I like the aesthetic.

Hi,

so I am a new to this game but I had played some MMORPG. To the point. I also like the option sword/shield. Would it be a problem? Should I take two hand (greatsword or hammer) for the future? Really dunno though this game gave me a lot of opportunities how to play but as I read, some options might be a problem when it takes to take someone to dungeon. Could you pls advice me how to proceed?

For dungeons max dps is going to be Axe/Mace + Greatsword.

Essentially anywhere else in the game you can use Sword/Shield. Open world PvE you can really play whatever. It pairs well in a power build with GS or Hammer in WvW. As for LB see my previous post.

I’ve used a Sword/Shield & LB since the game launched, and I still really like it. I usually use this build. It’s Tanky/condi focused.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNAseTjMdU5ZVImhwJagkgCdHkBlw5AomvZVbBA-ThyCABYcIAA4BAwnmgFOBAYp8rhjAgkq/onegxUCuy+DAA-e

I’ll switch out sig master for the banner recharge and run 2-3 banners in dungeons/fractals. Other options could include Dodged March or Missile Reflection instead of shield master.

I used to have blademaster instead of Furious Speed (switch it out to deal with Lidari) and kinda like it. I don’t really miss/notice the loss of 10% on my sword. It still crits most of the time thanks. I’m not in love with Furious Speed, but I 2don’t really see anything else useful at Master/Adapt level in Arms for my set up.

I used to use Sig of Fury and Stam (before Cleansing Ire) to make better use of Sig master. And who knows I may go back to Fury if I don’t like the resistance boon (really not looking forward to that nerf). Or I may slot out something for a Taunt skill (assuming we get one).

Hey there, I’ve been messing around with this build right here. It started off as a joke build in response to the rumored Z axis change that will somehow make Teef totally unviable. I was gonna say that this build is TOTALLY gonna replace Teef.

As it turns out it’s not that awful.