Guild Wars 2

Try out a bleed spec with some toughness, I go mostly dual sword and output some great damage with decent toughness to survive being up close. Also pack a sheild for more difficult encounters, have a cc on your utility, I like kick for its short cd and interupt. Balance that with having something to bring to the group, mine is shouts shake it off and for great justice. To top that off I have warbanner as elite, your group will love you when you instant pop a few guys on to their feet mid fight and prevent a wipe.

My other big bit of advice, dont be shy to go ranged. Step in the fight, judge it, if you are taking damage and can cc/ability your way about staying in melee, get out, pull out a ranged weapon and damage. I often end up rifle kiting mobs, yes this isnt tanking, but my group are fine with not taking damage while im running around and they dps the mob mobile. In fact the group I have ran a few cleared exp arrahs with use my kiting rifle ability as a valid tactic in encounters. Maybe I will kite a difficult mob while they take down the others, or maybe because mobs very much focus me, I will kite a boss around the room.

I dont agree with Lup not having a res and run strategy. He is not forgiving at all, very easy to make a single small mistake and end up being smashed by his greenblob. Normall phase 3 he chases me around the room, I have no problem staying up. Phase 2 I stay up too, but I can see others struggle dodging multiple things, and for my sake I very much dont mind them being able to run for a few minutes and get back in to the fight. The distance they have to run is a fair pay off for the death.

A little question for warriors and guardians. Has anyone else got the feeling mobs seem to prefer smacking heavy armor? I honestly feel that even when I do nothing but stand near the encounter, mobs focus me. For example the Deadeyes in arrah, There are 4 other guys with me, I havent used a skill, not contacted them, yet they both target me. The engineers, always chain stun me, no one else.

My warrior high in toughness, almos entire exotic level 80, got creamed by a theif within a few seconds, barely left stealth, the scaling is fine, wvw is just about getting creamed now and then.

Havent done t or spvp, but a ton of WvW and dungeons. Bleed spec is very very viable, I can burst, I can sustain damage, I am constantly doing damage, even rifle if very viable. It is also then very useful as a balanced spec to pve with. I may have to steal the 20/25/25 build linked, currently 25/25/20.