Guild Wars 2

Cool jukes! Liked your vid. My 2c, I usually find with Reaper, condi necros now have enough damage to be lethal without terror through chills, I love path of corruption and I would give it another go.

For how much time we spend waiting for queues, the heart of the mists waiting room really needs something more. It’s probably going to fall on deaf ears but something like letting people duel would alleviate a lot of boredom..

Also although I know the general approval of courtyard is quite poor, being completely gutted and removed feels like wasted resources to me. Leave it in as a checkbox for queuing. Support conquest as a true ranked mode and continue to balance around it sure, but let us have some more variety with unranked modes. People that want to avoid TDM can do so.

HoT PvE was something I was really impressed with, but sPvP was my lifeblood in this game and after getting all my wanted hero point unlocks, I came back to the mists. So we have a new stronghold mode that’s still in beta testing and elite specs that threw the balance in flux, great not much else. That’s a kittenty feeling

Bumping cause I feel this is a huge missed opportunity.

Amante.8109:

It really should be brought back with its own checkbox. Most people could leave it off, and deathmatch enthusiasts could queue with just it on.

This seems like such an obvious solution yet people that won’t play it will still QQ.

BRING COURTYARD BACK WITH ITS OWN CHECK BOX!! People didn’t like it cause they went in with conquest builds and mileage varies in a death match setting. If Courtyard had a separate queue like stronghold, people will be fine with it. Doesn’t even need to be a supported rank mode, just keep the map.

The dragon hunter virtues aren’t instant, they have cast times unlike core guardian virtues.

thanks for the input so far, any opinion is welcomed!

Eurantien.4632:

Pretty much anything with solid damage and sustain so they can’t be bursted down. Reaper is great if the reaper knows when to be/not to be in deathshroud for heals. Because of how much damage they do, I think dps guard/dragonhunter is one of the best combos….Just a win win win in my opinion for the dragonhunter druid combo.

CRAP that was what I was afraid of hahah! I’ve mained guard since launch and have tried my hand at the meditrapper spec, seen how strong it was first hand. I wanted to go about a fresh start with HoT. Thanks for the insight about the interactions of shroud and heals, something I forgot about, will definitely keep in mind now.

My buddy I game with has been having a lot of fun on druid since HoT hit and I’m wondering which classes the ranger community feels has the strongest synergy with the new druid in PvP/WvW/PvE?

I’m primarily been torn between the scrapper and reaper. They have contrasting strengths that I can’t make my mind over, oh the first world. When we team fight as scrapper/druid, there is sustain of the gods with all the water fields going out with both of us able to blast fields. As a cele scrapper, the damage is there, just not bursty so sometimes against match ups with equal sustain, it becomes more drawn out and stalemates.

Reaper on the other hand is super selfish and has little interaction with allies compared to the scrapper, but the damage is always lethal and with the heavy chill/poison uptime, it rekts other sustain specs. The trade off though is sometimes I don’t feel as clutch on the Reaper. If my buddy is getting focused, my peels are a little weaker and I can’t blast water for some burst heals, the only defense is an offense usually.

So I suppose, question for the knowledgable druids, which classes do you feel cover the shortcomings of the druid better? Feel free to talk about classes I didn’t list too, always down to hear about what I may have glossed over.

Ok, from the tips I got here and a little more in game experience, it seems like I have to camp staff more and use that for bulk of the LF generation. Shroud 2 for mobility and switch to GS only really for Nightfall, Pull or they on top of me for a gravedigger.

It slightly irks me I prefer dagger/horn to GS as I have some sick GS skins

Iskandor.9415:

My recommendation: don’t.

So I don’t have to run into one of them EVERY GAME.

I wish I was kidding. Between them and the burn guardians I’m really, really loathe to go into the Mists right now.

What class do you play and what do they do that is punishing?
Also I just ran the metabattle build http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Reaper_-_Strength_Soldier

Been playing soldier signet reaper usually dagger/warhorn and it was really solid. Felt noticeably more vulnerable with the greatsword, anyone got tips?

Do you even staff bro?

It had its uses pre-patch as hammer medi guards were quite effective with the trait. However, now that it fights for the same spot as Absolute Resolve.. well the placement really jacked it up more than anything.

thanks for the responses, makes sense

I run it even if I have focus equipped, another source of instant untelegraphed dmg and condi wash? w33333

Radiant Fire is the beesnees right now with carrion guards. But I like this trait better when you want to go the more traditional power route w/ marauder amulet. The immob lasts long enough for a full spin2win and time to spare to attach binding blade. Pretty ridik with Judge’s intervention.

Selfless Daring: The end of your dodge roll heals nearby allies.
This trait has been un-split and now heals for the same amount in competitive PvP as it does elsewhere in the game.

It currently heals for pretty much nothing, 129 to be exact. Testing both in the mists and in game.

Side note: one of the positive changes for the upcoming patch affects Selfless Daring, long overdue I say!!

Selfless Daring: The end of your dodge roll heals nearby allies.
This trait has been un-split and now heals for the same amount in competitive PvP as it does elsewhere in the game.

I see a lot of potential with the new elites. Hell you could even stack two guardians, one gives the other quickness when they use Signet of Courage active! I like that both of them have something that is worth trading off RF in the right situation/builds now.

I really like to play one hander medi guard too at times, its very strong in terms of dueling capabilities! Though I hold my items a little different, I like Sword/Torch Scepter/Focus for some reason; gives me some range to poke with on the sword set too, but to each and their own right?

Between Sword 2 and Scepter on switch, most people find you harder to kite than regular greatsword or hammer mediguard. I also run Hydromancy on sword because I love that chill.

Biggest trade off though is definitely the lack of interrupts. You start to feel it more against teams that are more coordinated and work well together.

In all these threads the thief perspective always conveniently leaves out the fact that zerker thief pushes out all other zerker specs at a highly competitive level much like how it was mostly shoutbow who rendered condi specs from being viable in the current meta. Sure it may never be as good to stack a bunch of thieves on a team versus other classes, but thieves have been a top tier viable class since launch and stayed there since. Not all classes can say that, mesmers, rangers and necros say hi; and which class is responsible for that? Some people just want to play thief wars 2 blegh

Cecilia.5179:

I see Scythe staff meta in the near future…

You and me both.. Hahaha land spears would be cool too!

In light of the recent Revenant reveal, I feel this is a well within reach change that can greatly improve QoL. Some staff skins are already trident skins, but not vice versa. This can give them a second life and actually see some use!

I personally would go for a simple staff look, think Donatello ninja turtles. I’m sure others wanting a more martial weapon look wouldn’t mind some trident skins.

ventusthunder.5067:

Wings of Dwayna, this is my warrior, she’s an exact clone of my guardian.

I like your look! My warrior is also a norn and rocks the same bow, it goes berry well with stag armor fsho

Swift.9567:

But what if it’s a short bow!?! I would make the spirit looking one as well.

Then slingshot obviously

Fun topic, cause dress-up wars. I myself will be using my super adventure skin. I grabbed a lot of the skins when SAB first came out including the longbow. The super adventure skins in general are awesome with an Asura Guard

Seyta Hamon.8071:

Am I the only one who doesn’t want the spec to be called Paragon? If they use it then the original Paragon class is permanently locked out if Anet ever expands into Elona. Personally I am hoping for the name top be “Exemplar”

Even though I loved Paragons in Nightfall (Mained one and never touched dervish lol) I too don’t want a Paragon specialization for the Guardian. The last thing I want is more shouts, they have already included that part of paragon’s playstyle.

We want what they currently don’t offer right? Mesmer’s specialization looks awesome as they pumped it full of AoEs, something Mesmers currently don’t have. Besides, if you really wanted to connect the two, just go grind a Champ Paragon title :>

Honestly, they all do, just the synergy is different with each combination. Stacking plate like Warrior + Guardian can never go wrong in any game mode. Elementalist is also a very strong pick seeing as versatility is their selling point, this includes Engi too.

Pick the class that fits like a glove for you playstyle wise, you’ll have your best duo there. You should do this by taking them all for a spin in sPvP!

AH or Virtues heavy bunker guards used to be staples on teams; but as they run cleric’s amulet, they hit like wet noodles and are really only good for team support, contesting points and what not, dueling and lethal potential is very low.

Shoutbow currently shadows the AH Guard in tPvP atm. It fulfills the same role while having a stronger team elite, mobility, and offensive capabilities. Cleric’s has largely been pushed out by Celestial as it offers incredible sustain without completely neutering the character (provided you can make use of all stats).

Bunker guards are still completely viable, just it’s not as strong as it used to be as the environment around them has changed.

Funny how the roles of whose the better offensive/defensive profession in the Warrior/Guardian dynamic have shifted :B

The HOT changes have me hopeful in the Guardian becoming a stronger support class though!

Something that is really nice for mesmers that utilize torch. Torch Cleansing is no longer a master competing with shattered concentration, having found a new home down in adept Illusions.

This is a nice change as it gives an easy access to condi cleanse should you torch and pitchfork it up!

Blinding Dissipation also has my attention.

http://dulfy.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/gw2-guardian-valor-specialization1.jpg

I feel like the communal defenses trait bumped down to masters + virtues should offer plenty of sources of aegis for any guardian.

Pretty stoked for Shattered Aegis in particular, can’t wait for the obvious synergy with communal defenses.

If you look at the currently previewed specialization changes though, the engineer is getting a mad influx of blast finishers.. which means more might stacking and water blasting potential. If anything, this could also lead to the engi being even stronger with the celestial amulet (And we’re the best at utilizing its stats atm imo).

Compared to the Warrior or Elementalist, the Engi was never as reliant on might stacks to have offensive pressure when running Celestial. How this will play out, I have no idea. But when Water Staff Eles could self blast x2/3 times a water field to tank everything, Evasive Arcana was promptly nerfed~

The hilarious amounts of crowd control skills and freedom of kit switching. It’s hard going back to other classes after you get used to it tbh. Having a pull ability though really sells it for me, I played DKs in WoW, gadget in DCUO and vanguards in swtor for that very reason!

A change that I don’t see ANET doing but I think can possibly work is to simply make Illusionary Persona baseline. IP rounds off the profession mechanic nicely making it less clunky vs untraited. If IP’s effect were fundamental to the shatter mechanic, this would increase defenses for all mesmer builds, free up trait points for shatter specs without having to touch the numbers on weapon skills/utilities.

But who knows, this could very well be an overbuff too, I’m no game designer, just zerker Mes is my fav zerker spec!

Before I played Engi, I spent a lot of time on guard. The engineer’s shield is what I wish guard’s was more like and thus it is my staple on my engi. I run a cele 2kit with pistol/shield and it is very strong!

A lot of good ones have already been brought up. I have the most played time on Guardian, Elementalist and Engineer in that order and will list some from those three classes.

Guardian-
Traits: AH, Monk’s Focus, Inspired Virtues (Kinda like their EA), Justice is Blind

Skills: Shelter, They’re kinda like necros in that for PvP, there is one clear winner for healing skills. Signets are like interrupt me plz.

Elementalist:
Traits: Evasive Arcana, Elemental Attunement, Water line in many cases cause of the low HP Pool.

Skills: Cantrips

Engineer:
Traits: Speedy/Invigorating Kits, Backpack Regenerator, Incendiary Powder

Skills: Healing Turret, Supply Crate

I don’t think ANET will ever do it, but if they did, should sort by amulets equipped given how versatile gw2 classes naturally are.

Hi, IRL friend buying GW2 and notes about the xpac gave renewed interest for me in this game. I’ve so far been repping my own storage guild and just been spvping with my friend. However, I would like to see some action in the mists too and wouldn’t mind having a bigger circle of friends to play with.

I have the most played time on Guardian, Elementalist and Engineer in that order and usually rotate between the three depending on my mood. Looking forward to seeing you all~

this topic deserves more attention~

I think the greatest benefit of celestial is that it’s so tailored to the nature of the engineer. Celestial works with any engineer set up making it an excellent all rounder. It’s excellent with the rifle but works just as well with P/S too!

I run a Triple Kit (T, B, EG) celestial engineer with P/S, Balthazar runes, Battle/Geomancy sigils and it is nasty! Lots of blasting potential is what I love about it. If you pick up Enhance Performance in explosives, might stacking potential becomes even higher, doesn’t work if you want to run Nades tho.

PS: The strongest asset of celestial amulet imo is it gives you a much better matchup against your usual hard counter necros, the rifle variants especially so.

just toasting a thread i like! cheers.

Personally, I’d go for Runes of Strength. I think Hoelbrak is really good too but as an Ele, you’re not that afraid of condis (I run Hoelbrak on my Cele Engi, strength on Ele). I also run Battle + Bloodlust for my Sigils when I run Staff. I find Energy less necessary in WvW as compared to sPvP where people are more likely to target and train you.

But honestly, you cannot go wrong from any of the choices you brought up, just chiming in what I’d personally do.

Pooping bombs are so much more fun.

So, a guild I participated in recently disbanded and moved to Archeage, I didn’t follow and am currently on Devona’s Rest. There are definitely blobs that run prime time, but come off hours it becomes a huge open world treadmill, kinda depressing. I end up logging bored as there are simply no souls to fight after running around, picking up rocks and naming new pet rocks for 15 minutes.

I’m looking to possibly transfer and at the moment just want to bounce ideas with y’all where’d be a nice fit. The main question being which servers house a good environment for solo-roaming to small squad shenanigans?

If you’re having trouble staying alive and aren’t using an AH build with staff, try doing that. Think of Altruistic Healing builds as a set of training wheels and when you get comfortable with the class, it’s time to branch out. Staff 4 with Ah is basically a 2nd healing skill that becomes all the more powerful the more allies in your vicinity.

You should also check out: http://intothemists.com/guides/2221-kensudas_bunkersupport

Lot of good information there to get you started. And lastly, the key to surviving as a Guardian is really to not panic! The game can move really fast but you have to slow it down as pacing and rotating your defensive cool downs/condition cleanses is what will keep you going. Unlike a Warrior whose naturally high health creates a huge buffer, Guardians are extremely vulnerable once everything is on CD. You wanna prolong that as long as you can!

To each and his own, I prefer not stack all my cards on just damage and damage alone as in higher level play, a build without much self sustain is extremely easy to punish if they simply avoid or negate your burst.

Unlike a Thief, it’s very easy to see a Guardian coming and what they are doing. A thief also can burst much more frequently than a Guardian does and so they do just fine going the rush rush kill them before they kill me route. The biggest burst combo you can pull off as a Guard will require to pop two of your utilities and a 45 CD on focus, not to mention if they break your shield, there goes a bulk of your damage.

You lack the resets stealth classes like Mesmers and Thieves enjoy, with this trait load out you also forfeit the Guardian’s greatest strength, boon stacking with virtues and stability (most important boon in pvp srsly). So really what you have here is a one-trick pony build that relies on a do or die strategy that I just don’t think is that practical in practice.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQRAsf7dlUgiDnGyKEfYFSmiVCBtFUVIewFc9AiioGC-TkAg0CnIYSxkjJDTSmsMtLA

Is what I like, while retaining your weapon choices, you can replace SYG with Contemplation for more self sustain but at the cost of team fight utility.

I find the lack of Inspired Virtues and Vigorous Precision hindering this build. Otherwise, not really reinventing the wheel here.

I’m also not very big on the radiance trait lines in general, none of them are really gamechanging. Grandmaster for a +15% crit chance on one weapon set seems really kittenty when 10/5/30/5/20 offers you much more sustain against conditions and therefore more breathing room while doing just a tad less dmg.

Class: Bunker Guard

1) Condi Necro
2) Condi Engi
3) Others with a good distribution of poison.

Class Condi Necro

1) Warriors
2) Automated Response Engineers
3) Top tier thieves.