(edited by obal.3218)
I guess this proves that AH is viable and stronk!
http://youtu.be/nEC2CmIcBD8
“Honor stops being good after 10 for GS + Sword/Focus builds and 20 for Hammer builds.”
Why does honor stop being good after 20? For PVE I play a version of your max DPS Hammer build (your build is 15/25/0/20/10). I run something similar, 15/25/0/25/5.
The extra 5 in honor adds another 10% damage multiplier whenever endurance is less than 100% (it’s not hard to keep that bonus in play the majority of the time). You lose master of consecrations, which is situational. I also drop your torch trait in radiance, and pick up powerful blades to run with a Hammer/Sword-Focus.
Here’s my build (using your runeset, which is what I’m working toward): http://tinyurl.com/nrtvfye
It’s not a big change, but I’m just curious why honor stops being good after 20 for hammer builds. You clearly know more about theorycraft than I do, so I’m wondering what I’m missing.
You won’t be dodging at most trash mobs and you have vigor for when you do dodge so the multiplier isn’t used for a lot. Sword/focus should only be used for harder bosses and such where the extra blocks are needed. I do swap powerful blades in when I use a sword on swap. Greatsword would be your go to weapon for swaps to burst for everything else. If your not going to bring master of consecrations then 25/25/0/20/0 would be the best choice but it’s too good to give up for most content. You get the GS multiplier, 100 more power, and 10% symbols which is where a lot of your DPS with hammer comes from.
!!! <enticed
The warrior guide might happen but at a slow pace. I got a few recorded now.
(edited by obal.3218)
Kind of curious how/why the warrior guide would have frustrated and turned off the others, but maybe those are politics we should leave off of the forums
It’s a secret that I will hope to share as videos on my channel some day. Hopefully I can get some people to go and get a few in from now and then. It’s not due to politics or anything it’s just difficult and frustrating the way I want to do them and is out of most people’s comfort zone and will take awhile to get clean vids. I have to be difficult and make things more challenging to stay interested in the game and I think it will be pretty impressive to watch and a great way to learn if I ever get the videos made. So much secrecy
The others did not record or plan to make guides. I’d like to do a warrior but the way I want to do it won’t attract many people to help us and it has frustrated the core group I had for this. It would have been pretty epic but I don’t see it coming to fruition. We might do thief and ranger between the 2 of us after the patch if we can get people to go.
It’s really just a matter of getting a dedicated group which is the hardest part. The rewards aren’t great and people want to do things quick and efficiently and this is well beyond those 2 things. Dekeyz and I would like to make more guides but we can’t promise anything based on these factors.
Conditions aren’t really an issue for fractals other than Mai Trin. Purging flames should be enough. If you feel like you need more than 15/15/0/20/20 is a solid build to run still.
Hammer 15/25/0/20/10 is the best thing for fractals. The 20/25/0/0/25 is the better for everything else.
If you do nothing but auto attack with hammer you maintain 5-6 vuln. You don’t dodge on most trash and have vigor when you do dodge so you get trigger the 10% boost seldom vs constant 5-6 boost for your whole group with 15 in zeal instead.
I didn’t know they fixed. The 10% would add more damage. The other food is pretty close and is easier to achieve the bonus at all times though.
reserving this post also
reserving this post
Gear
Armor
- Berserker – Everything other than below
- Knight – Archdiviner #2, Snowblind stab the fire event, Old Tom, Uncategorized Champ room to get the Ettin
Trinkets
- Berserker
Weapons (All Berserker)
- Hammer – Main weapon
- Staff – Use only when running, kiting, vet grawl to cc, and when mobs aggro to an LoS spit to drop line of warding
- Greatsword – Use when mobs don’t run to an LoS spot, use for dps rotations against easy trash/bosses, use to cc ice ele, use to group mobs
- Sword/Focus – Use as a swap for hard bosses to use shield of wrath and then swap back to hammer
- Scepter – Use for when you need to range things if need be. Only the Anamoly needs to be ranged if it is on you with the floor destruction
- Spear – Use underwater
- Trident – Use for projectile defense and blasting fire fields at the start of the fight and for interrupting the jellyfish beast agony
- Mace, Shield, Torch – They aren’t worth taking over the weapons above
Runes
- Scholar
Sigils (Multiple sets is optimal)
- Force + Night
- Force + Accuracy
- Force + Energy if you feel the need
Consumables
Food
- Bowl of Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash Soup
- Cheap Alternatives – Minotaur Steak, Slice of Candied Dragon Roll, Dragon’s Breath Bun, Plate of Steak and Asparagus
Utility
- Skale Venom – OP #1 thing to use for fractals
Skills
Heal
- Shelter – Main heal since using blocks is the best way to survive as a dps guard
- Signet of Resolve – Mai Trin and Elemental Source
Utilities
- Retreat – Use for bosses, running, and if nothing else is needed for other content
- Wall of Reflection – Use when there are projectiles
- Shield of the Avenger – Use when there are a lot of projectiles along with Wall of Reflection
- Sanctuary – Subject 6
- Purging Flames – Use for condition removal or to blast for might stacking if you have a free slot
- Stand Your Ground – Dredge, Harpies, Elemental Source, Rampaging Ice Elemental, Molten Furnance room after tunnel
- Hallowed Ground – Elemental Source, Rampaging Ice Elemental, Molten Furnance room after tunnel
- Bane Signet – Use if you have a free slot for extra dps
- Hold the Line – At the start of Krait battles
Elite
- Renewed Focus – Main Elite
- Tome of Courage – Old Tom
- Tome of Wrath – Use at bosses where Renewed Focus is worthless to give group haste
Virtues
- Virtue of Justice – Spam for blinds and to trigger Fiery Wrath
- Virtue of Resolve – Use if team is low
- Virtue of Courage – Use to alternate blocks at boss fights or at LoS spots
How Am I Supposed to Survive?
- Blind Spam – Virtue of Justice Spam, Leap of Faith
- Block Rotations – Virtue of Courage, Retreat, Shelter, Shield of Wrath, Renewed Focus
- Projectile Defense – Wall of Reflection, Shield of the Avenger, Sanctuary (if need be)
- Crowd Control – Binding Blades for grouping mobs to kill quicker, Line of Warding or Ring of Warding when luring to a LoS spot to keep them interrupted while you attack freely and blind them from behind the line/ring
- Dodge – You have vigor from Vigorous Precision
- Condition Removal – Purging Flames and Whirls in light fields
- Perma Protection from hammer
- DPS – Stuff will die faster than you! Rallying off good dps is usually better than reviving.
(edited by obal.3218)
Here is an up to date high level Fractal guide shown from the Guardian’s perspective. Dekeyz is working on an Elementalist version and I have a link to them if they are up on the start of the video.
Videos
- Aetherblade
- Aquatic Ruins
- Captain Mai Trin
- Cliffside
- Molten Duo
- Molten Furnace
- Snowblind
- Solid Ocean
- Swampland
- Thaumanova Reactor
- Uncategorized
- Underground Facility
- Urban Battlegrounds
- Volcanic
Here is a playlist as well – Fractal Playlist
Bonus Video – Reactor Room Solo with no Cooling Rods
Build – 15/25/0/20/10
- DPS Rotation (Hammer Only) = Auto attacks only or Mighty Blow -> 2x AA chains -> Mighty Blow -> 2x AA chains -> repeat. They do the same DPS so you really only want to use Mighty Blow for fire fields and not break up your auto attack chain or else it will be a DPS loss.
- DPS Rotation (Hammer + Greatsword) = GS2 -> GS4 -> GS3 -> GS5 if no pull is needed -> GS auto until GS2 is up -> GS2 -> Swap to Hammer and do 3 AA chains (If need to dodge or use Mighty Blow then complete current chain while swap becomes available and swap) -> repeat GS and Hammer rotation. For quick mobs use GS2-4 -> Hammer.
- Whirling Wrath hits more than 9 times if you stand in a target hitbox
- Binding Blades hits more than once if you stand in a target hitbox with adds around it
- Flashing Blades is a big DPS loss so only use it if you need another blind or your group is really lacking vuln stacking.
- Zealot’s Defense is nearly identical DPS compared to sword auto. I only use it when projectile defenses are down.
- You can take 10 out of Radaince and put it in virtues for more removal or valor for strength in numbers if you want
Zeal
II – Fiery Wrath – Increases damage by 10% against burning foes
- Everywhere except at Imbued Shaman
VI – Spirit-Weapon Mastery – Reduces recharge on spirit-weapon skills.
- Only at Imbued Shaman
Radiance
VI – Blind Exposure – Applying blind also applies 3 stacks of vulnerability (10 seconds)
- Always on
II – Signet Mastery – Reduces recharge on signets.
- Use at Elemental Source and Mai Trin
X – Powerful Blades – Sword and spear damage is increased by 5%.
- Use when you have a Sword or Spear on swap
VII – Radiant Fire – Reduces recharge on torch skills. All burning durations are increased
- Use for everything else
Honor
II – Superior Aria – Reduces recharge on shouts.
- Always on
VII – Writ of Persistence – Symbols last longer.
- Use if you have Hammer on swap
Two-Handed Mastery
- Use if you don’t have Hammer on swap (Imbued Shaman, Jade Maw, Aquatic Ruins)
Virtues
VI – Master of Consecrations – Consecration skills recharge 20% faster and last longer.
- Always on when wall is on your bar
I – Deal 20% more damage while under the effects of aegis.
- Use if wall is not on your bar (Lornar, Dredge Bosses, Jade Maw, Aquatic Ruins, First Archdiviner Fight)
(edited by obal.3218)
The modifier of that food was broken. I don’t think they ever fixed it.
It seems to be the fastest of the classes besides ele conjures and it’s a Guardian
You don’t need AH when you run a build that can do this while having all the best support a Guardian can bring to the group
http://youtu.be/jJBbH_Y4Xro
I heard that AH + Full Celestial = Frickin Awesome!
I’d like to see their testers do Dredge lvl 49 without a thief. That would be fun to watch.
It’s not lacking a thief that makes dredge horrible to get done, it’s the NEED for a guardian that times reflect wall / shield of the avenger. If you have no guardian for dredge at lvl 49 then good luck to you, sir.
A thief certainly would help, but it’s by no means necessary. Spykits + harpy feathers can suffice for stealthing anyways.
We do fine at the dredge fractal when we do 5 warrior fractal 49s.
It’s neither hard nor long with a theif. It would be a good fractal if the dredge stopped spawning out of the clowncar once the champ is dead.
I usually just swap the trait around between radiant fire, powerful blades, and signet mastery. There’s nothing really great there but it’s 10% more dps which is worth it to use 10 more points to get there. The gear you have is fine. I run full zerk. I have a knights set of armor that I use to do specific strategies for a few things there as well but that would require a coordinated group.
Master of consecrations and renewed justice are what you want. Purity is a waste as well as over 20 points in Honor. The only trait for symbols that is worth taking is writ of persistance since it gives perma prot, more dps, and more vuln. Shout cd to spam retreat as much as possible would be better than larger. The 15/15/0/20/20 build is pretty balanced with all the best support and 15/25/0/20/10 is the most optimal given that conditions aren’t really much of an issue in fractals and purging flames should be enough. Shelter is a better heal for the most part. Wall, shield, purging flames, retreat should be on your bar and not SYS.
I added new fractal guides to the top of the guide. I have a few more left to record still. This is the one time I hope for dredge…
Tanking is only possible against a few things given the odd aggro setup of the game. Going full tough/vit/heal gear and traits is a waste based off that especially since DPS is king in PVE. Guards are the best at tanking the correct way which is putting on half knights/zerk gear to grab aggro of a select few things and cycling blocks and backpeddling at max melee range or dodging when you have no blocks left. There are very few things where this would be optimal like the last archdiviner fight.
(edited by obal.3218)
I put up a new video guide to account for the upcoming changes.
Honor stops being good after 10 for GS + Sword/Focus builds and 20 for Hammer builds. The 2H mastery trait is a waste since it doesn’t help the dps rotations. You gain 1k hp and a small heal which won’t add much to your survival and lose a 10% damage multiplier which is huge.
Axe mainhand on Ranger is possibly the worst thing in the game. Spirit unbound is a waste of 10 trait points when you can swap skills and force it to cd and it should be up for the next fight.
This is what you should run
http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/84268-the-perfect-dps-ranger-guide-for-real/
I run full zerk though I usually just play in organized groups. I’ve run it in pugs a bunch of times and still did fine. Mixing knights/zerk is a good option. I do that myself sometimes to “tank” mossman, archdiviner #2, champ ettin so everyone can do optimal dps behind them safely while I draw aggro and cycle through my blocks. If you have hammer, spamming F1, and using the right utilities like retreat, wall, shield, purge, etc you are supporting you are supporting your group the best a Guardian can. The builds I listed give you a lot of DPS on top of that which is important for fractals as well.
(edited by obal.3218)
It’s like Cat said above. RH strength wasn’t as great as people thought it was. It only buffs sword 1-3 and nothing else. There was just no better option to put the last 5 points to when people felt the need to put 5 into honor for vigorous precision and didn’t feel the need for shout cd. There isn’t any need for vigorous precision which will be worse and with the ferocity update RH strength will be even worse as well. The 20/25/0/0/25 is and will be the best choice.
30/25/0/0/15
You run Axe/Mace + Axe/Warhorn for trash. You tremor them when they group then Call to Arms to put weakness on them since weakness is so OP in fractals. You can also use skale venom which is also OP for fractals. This will mitigate a decent amount of damage done to your group.
You run Axe/Sword (Energy on Sword for overkill) + GS for bosses. This is pretty much easy mode with all the weapon evades, bursting for more energy, and energy sigil proc.
You should have Battle Standard on your bar at all times.
You should be swapping traits around when you swap around gs + axe/sword for bosses and pure axe for trash
Strength IX → X
Arms X → I
If you need a range swap for something then you will want a Longbow not a Rifle.
I blame you for the prevalence of staff guardians!
It only gets worse if you look at the bottom of my signature. Someone actually pm Brazil saying that it was good and referenced my vid
fadeaway showed the difference of sword only, greatsword only, and rotations in many different builds and gear.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guardian-dps-numbers-for-various-builds
I’ve already shown how OP the Gandolf build is with the below. Why is there another thread?
vet giant – http://youtu.be/3oPcqGeDoVE
lupi solo – http://youtu.be/4x9CkPuKWto
Gandolf OP. Gandolf how you want
Hammer Build
[…]
- DPS Rotation (Hammer + Greatsword) = GS2 -> GS4 -> GS3 -> GS5 if no pull is needed -> GS auto until GS2 is up -> GS2 -> Swap to Hammer and do 3 AA chains (If need to dodge or use Mighty Blow then complete current chain while swap becomes available and swap) -> repeat GS and Hammer rotation.
[…]Why GS2 -> GS4 -> GS3 and not GS4 -> GS3 -> GS2 to inflit several stacks of vulnerability before our bursty GS2?
GS auto is weak compared to other weapons. By doing WW first you only have to wait about 2s longer after swap is available to use it again then swap to something else for a better auto attack while gs 2-4 recharge. You will have to camp GS auto for too long to get much out of a second WW by using it last. You will have others in your group inflicting vuln as well as using F1 as soon as you start WW.
Engi is next after we take a break. #Elixir U + supply crate like the guardian one probably.
Yawn Lupi
Yawn Reflections
Yawn Berserker Gear
Yawn Embers/Whistles
Yawn Melee/Exploiting
Yawn Stacking/Exploiting
Yawn Dodging/Exploiting
Yawn Fiery Exploit Sword
Yawn Pushing Lupi to Wall
Yawn Commander Tags in PVE
Yawn Warriors/Mesmers/Guardians
Other PoV
Obal – http://youtu.be/OamhniesRfg
Dom – http://youtu.be/IjbZAlBlpjU
Vix
Coffeemug
(edited by obal.3218)
fadeaway made a chart which you can look at to compare builds but 10/0/0/30/30 isn’t one of them and I wouldn’t suggest that spread. Also, you don’t just use sword/focus you use gs to burst and do rotations so I would factor that in too. You do the same with hammer for easy mobs and bosses. I guess you can compare 10/25/0/10/25 to 15/15/0/20/20 since they are the pug friendly balanced variations. He factored in 5 boons but not unscathed.
10/25/0/10/25 Camping Sword 8930
10/25/0/10/25 GS + Sword/Focus Rotations 9690
15/15/0/20/20 Camping Hammer 8340
15/15/0/20/20 GS + Hammer Rotations 8552
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guardian-dps-numbers-for-various-builds
Yawn Lupi
Yawn Reflections
Yawn Berserker Gear
Yawn Embers/Whistles
Yawn Melee/Exploiting
Yawn Stacking/Exploiting
Yawn Dodging/Exploiting
Yawn Pushing Lupi to Wall
Yawn Commander Tags in PVE
Yawn Warriors/Mesmers/Guardians
Other PoV
DEKeyz – http://youtu.be/F3niBnyzy9c
Dom – http://youtu.be/AlSH4h6_SVo
Vix
Coffemug
Of course it isn’t good if all you care about is damage – it’s obvious. Of course you will want some sustain for your party in high level fractals. Maybe you weren’t in them yet?
40-50+ and the likes.
PVE is damage oriented. Fractals will 1-2 shot you regardless so it’s best to go more offensive then be a burden to your group that can’t rally off your tanky dps. Hammer is the best choice for fractals as well as having blind spam in your build. I leveled to 80 and then 50 again doing full zerk hammer. It is best for fractals.
Okay, but besides that:
Why will celestial gear be worse after patch?
I’ve read all the patch notes, and I’m not going to hide it – they bring in a lot of balance changes and I’m actually liking them. Ferocity statistic is kind of interesting – but it doesn’t necessarily seem like a nerf to celestial gear.
The low power stat is bad for PVE. The only thing that somewhat saves it was the crit damage which is being nerfed.
Why do you bring up PVE when I stated in the beginning that the build was aimed for WvW? Granted, I’ll be running in dungeons with that. But ain’t nobody gonna say I’m useless because I certainly won’t be that downed man who people need to resurrect.
You brought it up in the OP. You bring it up again above. WvW isn’t PVE and you should have 2 different builds and gear to be optimal in both modes which many don’t seem to understand.
Given the number of blocks you have and 1-2 energy sigils for a few bosses (lupi, archdiviner, dredge power suit) if need be there really is no need for vigor. I’ve been using and promoting 20/25/0/0/25 for awhile and it’s the next step forward. I guess more will adapt to it when the patch comes out whether they like it or not
The goal of the build is… none. In dungeons you’ll be the tank(Imagine, in high level fractals you DO need a tank!), which will be cake-difficulty with the variety of defensive stats, really. And you’ll also provide some meaningful damage too.
Celestial gear is bad for PVE. It will be even worse after the upcoming patch. There is no need for a tank. Your damage won’t be good. WvW <> PVE.
thanks obal I will look into that. which hammer build is generally better for fractals? I know there are 3.
You link a build above but not sure if that was directed at me.
It was for the OP. Here are the other 2. I use the 15/25 one regardless since my groups are pretty solid.
15/15/0/20/20 - Use if you are the only source of condition removal
15/25/0/20/10 - Use if someone else also has removal
Taking master of consecrations and strength in numbers would be a better option to boost your defense and group support. Symbolic exposure would be another good option to boost your group’s offense since you can maintain 5-6 vuln from auto attacking with hammer. Something like this might suit your desires better 15/15/10/20/10
You say you use sword if not hammer. It would be best to do rotations with greatsword and hammer. Sword/focus is good to have on swap for mainly bosses that are difficult like mossman, archdiviner, etc.
DPS Rotation (Hammer + Greatsword) = GS2 → GS4 → GS3 → GS5 if no pull is needed → GS auto until GS2 is up → GS2 → Swap to Hammer and do 3 AA chains (If need to dodge or use Mighty Blow then complete current chain while swap becomes available and swap) → repeat GS and Hammer rotation. For quick mobs use GS2-4 → Hammer.
Need advice and help badly. thanks.
Hammer builds are best for fractals. You get perma prot, shout cd, vigor, bigger hp. The extra dps the gs + sword builds offer isn’t worth it for fractals with the OP support hammer brings. Use skale venom also.
For pve it won’t make much of a difference other than it will make things take slightly longer like we really needed that when all we do is the same stale content over and over again. I haven’t used vigorous precision for a long time and it’s really not needed anyway. RH strength will be even weaker now. The 20/25/0/0/25 has been the way to go for awhile now once you have gotten used to dps guard and 10/25/0/10/25 if not. Fractals would still run the current hammer builds but maybe add in an energy swap for archdiviner and dredge power suit. Shelter is better than the new heal still as well.
Dagger storm counts as a reflect.
Regardless though, while I’m not much to care about speedclearing, that was pretty good.
I’d hazard a guess that the person who used dagger storm, did so because they got the transition grub.
If that were the case then they’d probably have cancelled it to continue with the DPS. There’s nothing wrong with using reflects, seeing as they’re a part of the game. I’m just of the opinion that they’re not balanced very well, so I’m not very much impressed by speedclears that involve the use of them.
But like I said, dagger storm’s reflect radius is small anyway, so it hardly matters here.
Smoke screen is unreliable and there wasn’t enough time to cancel dagger storm and use pistol whip so she stayed in dagger storm to be potentially be safer then just standing in smoke screen alone. Any small radius reflects vs lupi don’t do much and will get you downed from splash damage often. We tried all DS but that ended miserably like it did with all ranger axe #5 untraited.
(edited by obal.3218)
Taking 5 out of honor to put into virtues for MoC and bringing a wall would be better. The 10% buff won’t apply to most trash mobs since you probably won’t be dodging there. When you do dodge you have perma vigor so the buff won’t last long. It’s only somewhat effective for a few bosses in the game. I guess you can do a run and see how much you truly get out of it over the big loss in support.
It works like Wall of Reflection. It will help you avoid some of the aoe but not all and has better luck if you all stack in it. Lots of unfortunate rng in prior runs. We used pistol whip to help evade it besides that.
Yawn Lupi
Yawn Reflections
Yawn Berserker Gear
Yawn Embers/Whistles
Yawn Melee/Exploiting
Yawn Stacking/Exploiting
Yawn Dodging/Exploiting
Yawn Commander Tags in PVE
Yawn Warriors/Mesmers/Guardians
Other PoV
DEKeyz – http://youtu.be/v08i_qiukn4
Obal – http://youtu.be/h8E8QtBDjsU
Timlankey – http://youtu.be/cFX1Fk3gJXs
(edited by obal.3218)
If you take out MoC then yes 25/25/0/20/0 would be the best option. Still, I stick with MoC since all I use hammer for is fractals and MoC is OP there. It would be a decent boost to DPS but I’d rather still take MoC.
(edited by obal.3218)
AH IS selfish. You can provide useful boons in a full dps spec while obviously not being a DPS burden on the team.
And no, full DPS builds don’t have “less DPS uptime” unless you’re terrible at the game. Even so you could run zerk hammer 15/25/0/20/10 which provides more support than a useless AH dungeon build while also providing much more DPS. The 200 extra vitality and permanent protection will help to keep you alive.
There is no reason to run AH in a dungeon. If you were sick of the DPS meta you would benefit the team more by running a condition removal heavy spec (which most AH builds aren’t since the best condi removal trait guardians have is 20 virtues) rather than a build that serves little purpose other than to keep you alive.
0/0/30/20/20 With hammer and longer lasting symbols.
Perma prot, 2x AoE party removal. STG for stability, WoR shield and purging flames as necessary. 5x more survivability than your typical glass cannon build.
Explain to me how this build is selfish?
Taking out the 30 points in valor means you can put 15 in zeal for maintaining 5-6 vuln from auto attacking and 15 in radiance for blind and vuln spam. With that you will be negating damage to your group instead of absorbing it for just yourself and stuff will drop faster with all the vuln you stack on foes. That’s why it is selfish and a lot of points better spent. There is also the DPS gain from the 10% trait and the stat points. Valor stops being useful to your group at 10 points for strength in numbers. It is pretty underwhelming past that.