129 replies to this topic

[Drops]

I'm not saying your build doesn't work, but it is not optimal for anything in particular.

My damage build hits for around 1.5k-2k per attack and 2k-3k crits, every 1/2 second, with a 60%+ crit rate, with 1h sword, or scepter.  Similar damage output with the staff.  The effective power output is well over 5k, without pure damage gear.  Most thing don't survive to see a complete second attack round.  That's what I call damage.  Likewise for tanking, I run a hammer AH build.  And for something between... well I gave that up when I figured out how to dodge nearly all the major attacks, and simply range the rest.


WvW I don't pull those kinds of numbers, since I run a hammer build with PVT gear, running around, controling, distracting, and finishing off anyone on low health.  You can't survive a zergfest with all the ranged damage pouring down on you, so being alive with low damage is way better than being dead with no damage.  Totaly different from my PvE build.

sPvP I run either a bunker build or a tripple meditation damage build, depending on how I feel like.  There's not a single static build I run.

[Ultramatum]

Drops, on 08 May 2013 - 05:36 AM, said:

I'm not saying your build doesn't work, but it is not optimal for anything in particular.

My damage build hits for around 1.5k-2k per attack and 2k-3k crits, every 1/2 second, with a 60%+ crit rate, with 1h sword, or scepter.  Similar damage output with the staff.  The effective power output is well over 5k, without pure damage gear.  Most thing don't survive to see a complete second attack round.  That's what I call damage.  Likewise for tanking, I run a hammer AH build.  And for something between... well I gave that up when I figured out how to dodge nearly all the major attacks, and simply range the rest.


WvW I don't pull those kinds of numbers, since I run a hammer build with PVT gear, running around, controling, distracting, and finishing off anyone on low health.  You can't survive a zergfest with all the ranged damage pouring down on you, so being alive with low damage is way better than being dead with no damage.  Totaly different from my PvE build.

sPvP I run either a bunker build or a tripple meditation damage build, depending on how I feel like.  There's not a single static build I run.

Well, I'd argue that it's optimal for a certain type of player/playstyle.  It isn't meant to be a min/max build though, this was always a build that gave high damage while maintaining good survivability.  The updated build also adds in a bit more utility with condition damage, healing power, and magic find stats that don't gimp your group.  No one in dungeons will ever think you're not pulling your weight with this build.

I'd very much like to see your damage build if you would like to share it.  However, I do not like playing with the hammer, even though I know crithammer builds can dish out some serious damage.  I like my set up because it gives me everything I need to play the way I enjoy.  Again, this isn't a min/max build.  Also, people don't have to carry multiple sets of gear with this build, they can just invest in one set and do pretty much anything in the game without feeling gimped.  Might not suit all playstyles, such as yours, but for people who don't have lots of time/money for gear, investing in one build can be beneficial.

You sound like your skill as a player is probably higher than mine.  I'm not the best PvPer in the world, so this build suits me just fine in WvW.  I also have a PVT build I switch to in WvW, but this one does much better attack damage.  It really depends on what I feel like playing or what my group needs to determine if I switch out my gear.

At the end of the day, people who choose to use this build will enjoy it and will be able to do pretty much anything in the game with it.  It is not a max DPS spec, but the DPS you do is extremely good considering your survivability and utility is rather high as well.  it is a very versitile spec that no one will be sorry for trying out.

[Drops]

My default build I use in guild runs, and most pugs is this.  Sometimes I switch to the usual 0/0/30/30/10 AH build with a hammer when asked to tank, but that's not my usual mode.  Add 5 might to it for its usual stack for final calculations and you can see this build hits very hard.

10/30/0/20/10

Usually I swap Bane Signet for Wall of Reflection as needed, and Unscathed Contender in traits for Master of Consecrations at the same time when I need them.

The group tactic is to kill everything asap, before it becomes a problem.  Most of the time, though not all (we're not perfect), it works well, and is very efficient at getting a run through smoothly.  So smoothly that many of my higher end fractal runs feel a lot easier than the level 10 pugs I pop in on just to snag a daily.

My build is clearly very focused, and at this point I use little in the way of defensive gear (essentially, only soldier runes).  Before I used some of my PVT PvP set (HotW equips) to add some defense on the cheap, to slot in some health to about 16k.  I only do that now if I'm in a particularly sluggish PuG group, and need extra defenses to keep in a slow fight of attrition.  Still, with all my armor slots (but not my trinkets) in Soldier stats, the effective power of the build is about 6k.

Most of the gear is pretty cheap too, so it's relatively easy to build up either through tokens or via trading post.

[Ultramatum]

Your build seems very good for damage output.  I've tried builds such as yours in the past, and just don't like the class cannon aspect of it.  I just die way too much with a build such as yours, and it isn't at all feasable for WvW.

I think people who like to solo and don't like having to swap out multiple types of gear and respect for various situations would still get a lot from my build.  It's very versitile and is able to dish out the punishment while still granting a lot of survivability.  People can also swap out some trait points in other trees as they see fit without seriously gimping themselves either.  Not only can you DPS with this build, but your defense is on par with most other builds, and you have good support and utility built in.  I very much enjoy it.

This is not a build for min/maxers.  But it does everything good enough that for average players, it is probably the best spec they could invest their time into.

[Heartsign]

Is this build still solid? I've been using it for a over a week now and I really do like it but the topic was created in this game's infancy.

And now that Ascended Gear is out what pieces are we shooting for? There are so many that I've become overwhelmed trying to choose.

I've eeked out 18k HP with his build. Currently sitting at 42% unbuffed crit chance and 3103 power. I went the 3 Divinity/3 Ruby Orb route and use a staff for mainhand and scepter/focus for my swap. I'm really working hard on getting Bifrost right now because it really feels like this build works.

Again though, the Ascended Gear has me overwhelmed. I took a long break from GW2, came back, and saw so much more gear added to the mix. Any help in that regard.

Love this thread.

[Ultramatum]

Hi Heartsign,

Yes, the build is still relevant.  Please refer to the OP where I updated the build with ascended gear layouts.  It should be at the beginning of the post.

[Heartsign]

Ultramatum, on 16 May 2013 - 04:42 PM, said:

Hi Heartsign,

Yes, the build is still relevant.  Please refer to the OP where I updated the build with ascended gear layouts.  It should be at the beginning of the post.

Ah. I've been looking. I'll find it eventually as I figured you'd update it with ascended gear.

[Ultramatum]

Yeah, you can't miss it.  It's right at the beginning.  :-)

[Plaimas]

Very interested in trying out the new updated build. What gear stats do you focus on with it?

[Icebrand]

Hi ultra, first things first, your guide was the one that made me decide to play a guardian when i got the game! Good to have you back!!!

Now, IMHO there´s an alternative (cheaper) gear selection that actually gives better results:

Weapon, Helm, Chest & Pants: PVT (soldier's)
Shoulders, Gloves & Boots: Berserker's
Trinkets: Berserker/Berserker Ascended
Everything with ruby orbs for comparison purposes (but most people will go for lyssas, or monk/sanct/water, or scholar, or whatever)

This loses healing power (only good for main heal and heal roll afaik) and crit chance (you still mostly proc based on internal cd instead of crit rate anyway) to your build, but has:

- Quite a bit more power & EHP
- Slightly More Armor, HP & EHP

Even with a rune set instead of ruby orbs stats are comparable, and you gain the rune bonus(es). Also, you can play around with some armor pieces (for PVP i use soldier weapon and armor and berserker trinkets, with either gloves/boots/shoulders berserker or top and pants knights). I use +boon duration build though, since it works better for me than AH.

PvE i mostly run full berserker with a soldiers weapon and maybe a few pieces because i suck at the game and i need the extra HP!

Anyway, i hope it helps!