Guild Wars 2

Kinda funny,I use 0/15/30/20/5 too,and I also use Hammer/Staff,though I use some different Major Traits,Utilities,and gear.

I do use instant meditations and Smite Condition though. I originally put it up just to try it out because none of the Valor Majors looked very good to me. But I love it now,instant means whenever. That means I can be doing my Hammer combo,be on the symbol windup,and even in the middle of that I can use Smite Condition without stopping my attacks. The difference between short cast time and anytime with no animation is huge,especially on it’s short cooldown.

I would not mind scepter anywhere NEAR as much,if it had different animations. They can all do the exact same damage and attack speed,that’s fine by me. I just want to not look so stupid using it. Others have scepter chain attacks,so it shouldn’t be a hard thing to throw in,and it would make such a huge difference to me.

I ran most of beta with Mace/Focus,it was just the tankiest,most defensive option I could find. But in release I just don’t want to run around with a stick or whatever in my offhand,doesn’t look tanky to me at all. So I ended up using Hammer mostly. I swap my second set between staff and scepter/shield,since you’d actually be in position to use that Shield #4 to buff others while using scepter,and I can look at shields a little that way.

Shield just does not compare to Focus at all,people have said most of it,but what I haven’t read is anyone saying that Focus #5 also is instant and usable while doing your auto-attack or whatever for insta-blocking. Mace’s third attack is slow and gives you healing,stopping that to throw another skill would lose your chain and heal.

Wall of Reflection is also much better than SoA,not only because it lasts longer,not only because it reflects instead of absorbing,but it’s NOT a channel. You can throw this up in front of mobs and attack them through it for a good amount of time. I’ve used it to save downed players from death and revived them while the enemy starts killing themselves. The only way you can revive with SoA is with a trait,and you still wouldn’t need the skill slotted for it.

SoA will likely not change,because I’ve heard and understand the extreme use of it in PvP,but I will always wish they would swap it with Focus’s much more defensive shield.