Guild Wars 2

Imo, the tagging stuff depends very much on the situation. If the event is so busy that I can’t reach most mobs before they die, the staff gives me at least the tiny chance to tag them from range. In any other case, better take the GS.

Basilenco.6375:

What should I do with my dungeon knight’s gear seeing as I can’t sell it on the trading post? Seems like a bit of a waste to get rid of it after all that effort running the same dungeon to get it.

Keep it. Though it won’t be very useful in PvE anymore once you’ve learned how to get along with berserker gear, it is still a great choice for WvW.

I think that weapons like the greatsword have even enough range to hit someone right in the middle of it, without using stability or whatever. So yes, would be a nice change (though I doubt I’d use it apart from very few very specific situations).

Yeah, you should definitely add the ascended items since they are very different from the exotic ones.

Haha, great new text for Boulevard of Broken Dreams, swiftpaw!

Well, the hammer has its use, but it’s far from my favourite weapon. I’ll take it in WvW, since all its abilities are more or less useful there, but in PvE, it will remain stored in my backpack unless I feel that my group is in dire need of the protection. The problem is pretty simple: Hammer gameplay feels so sluggish and is incredibly boring. [Autoattack for 7.5 s – MB]*n is a bad joke compared to the versatility of the greatsword.

Well, I wouldn’t mind another offhand weapon, especially an offensive one since I don’t like the torch very much. So the sword would be a good choice for that purpose, because it would fit the image of a zealot, which is part of the class. However, I fear that another offensive offhand might have one of two consequences: Either it will be more or less useless or, if it is actually useful, it will probably make the offensive guardian pretty overpowered (at least in PvE).

Dolan.3071:

Funniest thread I’ve read in a while.
10/10

Indeed.

Have they finally fixed runes of strength? Last time I was asking, I was told the the 5% bonus does not work properly and and a short test in the Mists seemed to confirm that. Besides, you forgot something: Ruby orbs instead of runes

It depends on what the OP wants to do since I did not see a definite statement about that question. PvE? Then full zerker is the way to go, at least if you know how to play. WvW in (larger) groups? In that case, full offense is usually not the very best idea, although I find all that soldier stuff way too defensive even in that area.

Nope, with those traits and the gear you mention, you won’t hit anywhere close to “huge DPS”.

foofad.5162:

It’s mainly your gear, but your traits aren’t set up for it either. 10/30/30/0/0 and all Berserker will get you something like 2200 power, almost 400 more than you currently have, which will contribute massively to your damage.

If the OP is only intent on doing big damage while being alone, then such a build is fine. However, at least 20 points in Honor instead of Valor (better 25+) will be more effective as soon as it comes to any kind of group content.

Playing all three classes you mentioned (though ele and mesmer not too much), I prefer my guardian for almost anything. Damage dealer with active support works very well with this class and compared with the other two, imho it really shines in PvE. In WvW/PvP, it’s rather straightforward – mesmer and ele can be way more annoying than a guardian, but it’s not bad.

Typical DPS but no glass cannon? Somehow, that’s a contradiction …

However, invest those laurels in berserker gear. Crit damage is rather cheap on the ascended trinkets, so that’s the best you can do. If you want some kind of tankiness instead of going full zerker, using the armor for that purpose is the better idea since crit damage is more expensive there.

HELLruler.4820:

daros.3407:

It serves like gold farm and lot of people think it is hurting economy.

It is hurting the economy

Well, I guess you are one of those bad dungeon runners I get PUGed sometimes. Only the bosses mechanics changed, so stop complaining if you cant kill the spider queen or get past the burrows

This is it. AC did not get harder, just a little bit more interesting. Of course, since most people want to do all stuff while being braindead, it might be more empty now, but that’s nothing bad.

This dungeon does not even attempt to change anything about that. The only difference to the old dungeons is the emphasis on condition removal at Mai Trin. But that’s nothing a full zerker can’t do.

For the leveling process, I’ve always preferred the greatsword. Nice DPS, cleave (which the sword lacks), quite versatile and its gameplay is not as boring as the hammer’s. For the stats, what the others said: power, precision and later also crit damage.

Not PVT, please. That’s just incredibly useless, egoistic junk in PvE.

Moving 5 points from radiance into Virtues might also be an option, since you don’t really need 30 Radiance with 2h weapons and being able to spam some might at trash mobs is not the worst thing.

‘sigh’ Where is Guanglai when his anti-AH rants would be appropriate for once?

But well, he isn’t here, so I’ll do the job in this case. Some hundred hours with AH and some dozen with zerker builds recently are probably enough.

Kjeldoran.3849:

Really? are you sure you have enough blocks/vigor/blind to avoid everything?!… i dont thing it’s possible… it seems you are talking about something you have never experienced before…

First point: Why whould I want to avoid everything? For big hits, there is virtually always enough vigor or a block, while small ones are a question of priority. No one dies to a few hits from trash, not even a full zerker player. However, trash is the wonderful case where you will be able to spam blinds a lot since you get a free AoE blind for every dying mob.

1) i want to underline again, because someone continue to talk about AH bunker build, that mine isn’t bunker build but can hit very strong do you want numbers so you can compare to your “berserker build”??
auto attacks: 1= 800-1808 2=1000-2260 3=1500-3390
ww= 5000-7000 (sometimes also 8k)
LoF= 1500-3390
SoW= 600-800 per tick
BB = 2000-3000
and please dont tell me stories like “i hit for 5000 with auto attack” because it merely fake… i know that build, was the first one i played when i was inexperienced but learn that you can’t avoid everything also if you are the most skilled gw2 player.

Second: Anecdotes are not useful in such discussions. Turn to harder numbers and have a look at the effective power in build calculators, which is a good substitute for actual damage done. Compared to 10/25/0/30/5, the switch to 0/0/30/30/10 already decreases it by 20%, while the gear all stays the same. Changing the gear to your setup yields a decrease of 30% in total, which is quite significant.

Did you never played wvw? when you are in the middle of a zerg you can “avoid everything” and “block” the rest??… i dont think and without regeneration you can be kitten by the weakest of rogue and smash by the first berserker warrior or destroyed by a phantasmal mesmer (that, with this kind of build, you will never reach)… seriously… take more in consideration a solid base of defence because there isnt much you can do… or play warrior or mesmer or rogue… but not guardian ^^

We are talking PvE here. Derailing the discussion in the direction of ZvZ is just plain stupid since that’s a totally different environment. Besides, WvW with a full zerker build also works, as stunningstyles has proven in a pretty nice video. As in PvE: You just need to know what you can do – and what you can’t.

Oh, I overlooked this one. Bullkitten³, learn to play.

because a guardian with 14k hp (with 300vit from traits) can’t survive with less than 1500 thougness

Kjeldoran.3849:

the other kind of build you suggest (10/25/0/25/0 +x) was the first one to which I had thought when i started to play guardian… but after few tentatives the final verdict was:
not an high damage as i thought and a lower resistence (in pve at least) than i thought.
The point is that guardian cant wear only zerker of play with a “zerker” mentality.
A warrion can wear zerker and play as a glass cannon or wear knight/other and play as a tank… but a guardian can play only with a basic defensive build with some dps elements which will help you to see some great numbers in pve and pvp ^^
Another important point is the self heal because you really “need self heal!” it’s not an option… at this point there 2 choises for you:
1) get vitality and something like 17k HP so you dont need self heal but you waste your damage
2) get 14k hp and point in damage… the result? you damage is higher, you get more boons, you get more heals and so more survivability… what’s wrong with this?

Sorry, but that’s complete bullkitten. The fact that you are obviously unable to play the full zerker style does not mean that it does not fit to the class itself. In fact, perma vigor and all the blocks, blinds, etc. make it even easier to go full zerker than in the case of warriors. PvE is predictable, so it is all about choosing the right utilities (hi @ WoR) and pressing dodge at the right time.

AH is the easy way with nothing to think about since it helps you soak up a lot of unnecessary damage, but a full zerker build will lift youe effectiveness to completely new levels if you are willing to pay attention to the fight.

Kjeldoran.3849:

hello dogtail.5203,
i might suggest you to look this build
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guide-WvW-PvE-new-AH-Guardian-build/first#
i know it’s a lot different from your own but if you are looking for damage and survivability it’s a great one.

‘yawn’ Start thinking out of the AH box. AH may offer great survivability, but the damage of the build you suggest just sucks compared to a Zeal/Radiance berserker build. If you know how to play the game, moving your PvE build out of AH into the 10+x/25+x/0/25+x/x direction is the way to go since the selfheal is no longer needed.

But as I just saw it … the equipment of the OP’s build is an incredibly bad choice. People wearing Solider or Sentinel should be kicked instantly from any group. That crap is just selfish, useless and cripples anything you might want to call damage beyond any hope of recognition. So maybe a typical AH is the better option for the OP, since he does not seem to have a good understanding of the guardian in PvE …

Hmm, what Aetherblade has taught me? Various things.

1. Never do it with a PUG. Self-explanatory, probably.
2. Finally, condition remove might be useful in PvE.
3. I’ll probably go back to 30 Honor, PoV is too nice.
4. Full zerker still stomps the other stuff into the ground.

They can be usually found in the skill descriptions on the wiki.

If you want specific skins, have a look at the greatsword gallery of the wiki. Everyone has their own flavour, since I find Naegling pretty ugly :P

As trinkets, you can start with the rares. If you have access to enough laurels and guild commendations, you can go directly for ascended trinkets from there. Those have a good amount of crit damage on zerker, so don’t take knight there.

It’s some kind of good start, As you learn how the mobs in dungeons work, you will probably start shifting your gear to full zerker, as you should no longer need the defense from knight. Besides, such a combination is quite useful in WvW, too – you don’t need to become a brick using soldier or sentinel crap for that.

Nope, not the damage from those traits, but trying to increase burning duration in order to increase their active uptime. That’s usually already long enough.

CMF.5461:

In my opinion, the best reason to take burning duration is to prolong the times the target has a condition and a burn on it to make use of Fiery Wrath and Radiant power.

If we could find a way to maintain a burn on a target consistently with little to no gaps between cooldowns, maybe burning duration would be good then.

This drives me crazy, because the Devs constantly try to find ways to give us longer burning duration. Either I don’t get it or the Devs don’t get it….I assume I am missing something since “they” made the game…but I can’t find the logic.

I think it’s rather the devs not getting it. As to the stuff with Fiery Wrath and Radiant Power, it will be pretty irrelevant in both cases under most circumstances. Alone, just activate VoJ and the mobs will fall around the end of the burning effect, while in a group, Radiant Power will always be active and VoJ also gives a quite nice uptime for burning, even if noone else applies it.

Since melee range in ZvZ was not such a big problem before the patch, why should it be now? That trait will fit pretty well, although I won’t go to WvW with such a build. There, I still prefer the hammer and Pure of Voice, both of which don’t fit with such a build.

Arken.3725:

I get that foofad, but the problem still stands that it doesn’t stack with healing power. 25 a hit is WAY too low to justify 20 points into zeal when it can be spend elsewhere.

5 % damage and 25 healing per hit (not per attack). That’s pretty fine. If you increased it significantly, the trait would become completely overpowered when fighting multiple targets.

Calae.1738:

I wish they made it harder.

This is still way too easy.

Yeah, it was somehow nice, but still too short and too easy. But at least better than the Canach crap …

Empowering Might? That’s the one reason why AH works so well with GS builds and not only hammers – and you can easily take it with 20/0/30/20/0.

I suppose you become some kind of heavy battletank now, with AH and the new Zealous Blade? Didn’t test it that way, but it’s surely an interesting combination.

Nope, you got it wrong. The damage done by burning always stays the same per tick, depending on your condition damage. If you have enough burning duration to get an extra second of it (but a whole second!), then you get another tick from it. However, any additional duration is rather worthless if you don’t reach the full-second interval. It just helps for Fiery Wrath.

The new Zealous Blade is quite nice, especially against trash groups. Tested 20/25/0/25/0 in the new instance and it performed well, even if I missed the condition removal from Pure of Voice. But next time, I simply take Smite Conditions into the utilities, now that I know the mobs …

Hicci.8761:

Burning is still only one condition and direct damage will always be more wanted.

This. Nothing has changed with the fact that condition damage is not competetive at all.

100 Power would translate into roughly 4% more overall DPS, which in turn would be something like 150-250 DPS, depending on how much support I have at that moment. I’m sure people like Guanglai could come up with more precise numbers, but right now I’m too lazy to look up all the skill coefficients and calculate it precisely.

But even with that uncertainty, it’s pretty obvious that you failed spectacularly by challenging power with condition damage.

I believe it when I see it. Until then, I stick to the wise words Relic gave to the librarian in Dawn of War:

Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

That does not matter, since Fiery Wrath is only related to burning uptime, not condition damage.

Epic.3950:

I could beat my level 80 geared warrior with my level 60 guard wielding a sword and shield any day of the week. Sword chain 3 on the guard his like a truck and zealots defense is so powerful AND it rotates you in the direction of the target (PLUS ITS RANGED)

In that case, you obviously need to learn to play your warrior. Besides, you know what helps against ZD? Simple strafing. Do that at 300-600 range, and none of the projectiles will connect.

Some nice new armor sets (coming, of course, from new permament dungeons which deserve that designation …) would be nice. I’ve been running around in the CoE armor since October or November since most of the other armor sets look like crap and nothing new got into the game. If you ask me, they should toss all the unliving story bullkitten into a big waste bin and finally start adding content that deserves its name.

The sword can have very good DPS with the correct build, at least against single targets. The only thing that keeps me from using it more often is the fact hat it’s even more autoattack-centered than the other weapons.

And? Even if you permanently apply burning (which the ele can do better, btw), 100 condition damage translates into mighty 25 DPS. Any direct damage option will just annihilate that ridiculous effect.

Lord Trejgon.2809:

@Pecar I’m just wondering how did You get shelter interrupted while that skill is blocking EVERY atack while casting

Except any warrior attack after popping signet of might, or the binding blade pull, or probably some other stuff I can’t think about right now.

Oh, I’ve seen plenty of builds that don’t take AH and are even better for their respective purpose. The only trait line that really needs to be reworked is Zeal, since that is used only in some more or less useless niche builds.

I don’t think so, but I’m not entirely sure.

Arken.3725:

Except it’s not a freebie since you have to spec into a less than desirable tree to obtain it.

If the leaked notes are true, then it is a freebie. With Fiery Wrath and the new Zealous Blade, greatsword users have two very good major traits which are worth the 20 points. It could still be combined with AH and EM, so there is even no big downside taking it.

The greatsword role is clearly DPS with some control aspects. Staff, on the other hand, is supportive and as far from any kind of DPS as any weapon can probably be.

Haha, these changes sound as if they could be actually true. Reading the stuff about the new Zeal grandmaster, it reminded me of the statement by some dev that guardians were great in condition (burning) builds. They must actually believe this

At least these changes will probably make me try 20 points in Zeal. The merged trait of Zealous Blade and Greatsword Power sounds pretty nice for a DPS build.

I agree, the whole blog post does not sound very great, especially the torment thing. But maybe they also solve our kiting problem in the patch …

… ok, I admit, that joke was pretty bad.

Ah yes, that’s always quite nice with the Radiance traits.