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Help With Guardian

Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
Maxina
Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
  • GW2: Maxina.7256
  • ESO: @maxina
Posted On: 12/29/2017 at 05:22 AM
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I have two 80's. My Ranger/Druid is great. I can take her anywhere, using bow and greatsword (staff when needed) and have a great time. My Guardian Dragonhunter is terrible. If I have more than one mob on me I die. Matter of fact, all I do is die. Coming up through the 40's, 50's and all the way to the 70's, she was great. At 80 I put a full set of exotics (soldier) on her and she just doesn't play well. The next step is ascended, but right now I would not waste the time and money. I use a greatsword and a sword/focus. I've tried hammers etc. but this combination seems to work the best. Even using every self-healing thing I have, I just can't keep her alive enough to have any fun with her. I have read a few suggestions, builds etc, but I would rather hear from someone who is actively running one now. It could be that it's just not my type of character, but in the first 70 levels, she was great! I'd like to give her one more shot before I put her in the closet, so if you have any information to share, I would appreciate it.

Max

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none".
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Response:

Bandraoi de na Griobhta Dubh
GmaFog
Bandraoi de na Griobhta Dubh
  • GW2: GmaFoghladha.1853
Replied On: 12/29/2017 at 05:29 AM PST
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I use this build and it seems to work better.  Guardians are healers so you need to be part masher too ;)

https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Guardian_-_GS_Mace/Focus/Torch

When life throws you a curve ball, hit a home run! - Gma Fog
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Ridire de na Fhiaigh Donn
Stormsworn
Ridire de na Fhiaigh Donn
  • GW2: dmmagic.6758
  • ESO: @Stormsworn_GSCH
Replied On: 12/29/2017 at 05:55 AM PST
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The soldier gear is holding you back, I'm afraid. You definitely want power, and with greatsword / sword/focus, you don't need condition. I'd suggest getting precision and either healing power or vitality (or pure berseker gear), depending on how you want to play.

I like having a bow for enemies that need me to be at range, so my build doesn't include the sword/focus. It works well for PVE, but I won't pretend that it's optimized. Really, I ought to be in full berseker.

Build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVMQJARTn8cCddiVdCGdCkdil4BrKA0AGAy7v+3CMLF9imRA-jBCBQBA4KAEE1f0gSw1a+Tg7PwgHAwRU+JhDBAA-e

The keys to this are Zealous Blade (so doing damage with the greatsword heals a bit, especially with #2), and the synergy between (1) Fiery Wrath, Symbolic Avenger + greatsword 4, (2) Big Game Hunter + Spear of Justice (F1), (3) and the traps and the Test and Fragments traps + Zealots Aggression. 

Synergies:

1 & 2) Do more damage to foes that are on fire and are standing in one of your symbols. So I leap in with GS 3 to blind, hit GS 4 for the symbol, hit F1 to light them on fire, then Procession of Blades (trap), then GS 2 for spinny damage of justice. Big Game Hunter means you're also doing more damage to someone tethered by your F1 (Spear of Justice), so all told, we're doing an extra 27% damage right off the bat.

3) Test of Faith is next because it causes cripple. Zealot's Aggression means we do 10% more damage to crippled foes. The F1 causes cripple, but just for a second, so you may want to lay down test of Faith before GS 2 for that extra damage. Then, as soon as it ends, put down Fragments of Faith. These bring in 6 seconds of cripple each, on top of their own damage, which helps sustain your extra damage. And that bonus damage stacks with your greatsword healing.

If things get dicey, I switch to bow and dodge away, then use Bow 5 to root them, Bow 4 for the symbol damage bonus, bow 2 for damage, and as soon as the root ends, bow 3 to blind them while I continue to avoid and DPS.

As a sidenote that I only recently learned: toughness = threat. So if you do group content (bounties, dungeons, fractals) and you don't want to be tanking, keep your toughness lower. I didn't know that until just a few weeks ago, so I've been switching away from toughness gear. That's why the trinkets on my DH build are still soldier: I just haven't had time to switch from them yet. I'm using the healing power gear on my DH because I like to self-heal, and I like to heal others in group content, so this way I just need one set of gear. For WvW, though, I put on some condition gear and switch to Firebrand (toughness, vitality, and condition for that set).

I'm not a very good DH and I haven't optimized it much, but hopefully this helps. Read through all the build skills and identify the synergies that fit your play style and how the different skills can be used together for a good rotation. For sword/focus, I suggest using Radiance instead of Valor. Amplified Wrath increases your burning damage, and I'd actually recommend focusing on precision gear and taking Radiant Fire instead of Right-Hand Strength. Your sword skills wouldn't be as fast, but Radiant Fire would work for either GS or Sword/Focus, whichever you happen to be using, and will keep your damage higher overall I think. Then maybe Righteous Instincts for the crit bonus when retaliation is up... though you may then want Wrathful Spirit instead of Fiery Wrath in the Zeal line.

Good luck and have fun!

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Banlaoch de na Griobhta Dearg
Briseadh
Banlaoch de na Griobhta Dearg
  • GW2: Briseadh.7386
Replied On: 12/29/2017 at 07:14 AM PST
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Nice write up Dmmagic. If I ever want to get Briseadh going again I'll check this out. For now though I'm messing with my weaver, scourge and not sure which way my mesmer I'll be using on my Saturday events will go.

Don't mess with Mama Bear, I might hug you too tight. =D
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Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
Maxina
Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
  • GW2: Maxina.7256
  • ESO: @maxina
Replied On: 12/29/2017 at 08:00 AM PST
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Thanks!! I will work on crafting some new gear for her and working on my playstyle. I do want to get rid of this love, hate relationship I have with her. I couldn't understand why she was so much fun the first levels and died (pun intended) at 80. Thank you so much for all the help.

Max

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none".
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Draoi de na Griobhta Glas
Mika
Draoi de na Griobhta Glas
  • GW2: Mikaq.7102
  • ESO: @Villaovi
Replied On: 03/15/2018 at 12:24 AM PDT
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Well to get most out of from the Dragonhunter, you have to have full berserker gear. Of course that will also mean that DH will be made of paper same time. What comes to soldier gear, it is good starting point as Power is major stat for it while it will give you toughness and vitality. So you won't do best damage, but also you aren't dying every time when mobs will even look at you. Think soldier gear as like training armor set. Gradually change it to berserker while utilizing current meta skill build.

For end game PvE content (Raids and Fractals) this build https://snowcrows.com/raids/guardian/#dragonhunter_power is pretty great. It uses Greatsword and Scepter/Torch as weapon sets. and it can be devastating even for smaller groups of mobs. So lets break it down.

So like I said soldier gear works as a starting point for this skill build as Power is main stat anyway. You won't be doing high critical damage often, but at least you survive little bit better while learning your skill rotation. If you take a look that link, you should be using Radiance - Virtues traits version. It utilizes in total 3 traps so on melee you can put down a lot of damage quickly. 

Fights simple rotation

When you are fighting small groups of mob (2-5):

If they aren't in melee or you aren't engaging them straight in melee, start with Scepter/Torch and you can already lay down your traps Procession of Blades and Test of Faith and if you can see that in group there are veterans or even elites, you should also put down Dragon's Maw. Then you can aggro group of mobs throwing down Symbol of Punishment (Sc2 skill) and then you can continue auto-attacking mobs. If you see veterans of elites in the group, you can use Chains of Light (Sc3 skill) to immobilize vet/elite and then switch back to normal mobs and damage as much as possible until they reach you. When they get to melee range, do weapon swap to greatsword. If mobs aren't nicely in group, you can use Binding Blade (GS5 skill). When you use it once, it will throw sort of chains to max 5 mobs and second time you use it, it will pull them to you. Then you continue your attack with Symbol of Wrath (GS4 skill) and immediately use your Whirling Wrath (GS2 skill) and after that you can continue with your auto-attack. This initial bomb should usually get rid of all normal mobs leaving vet/elite alive. If not, then just keep rotating your weapons so after you have done GS4 and GS2 combination and auto-attacked so that weapon swap is ready to use, just switch to Scepter/Torch and throw down symbol on your feet Scepter 2 skill and use also Zealot's Flame (Torch 1 skill will be number 4 skill on your bar when using Scepter/Torch combination). Zealot's flame has two uses, first time you use it, it will set you on fire (don't worry, won't damage you) and it will keep burning 3 secs. If you use it second time, it will throw flame off from you to single mob and it will do extra damage and cause burning. After that keep just firing your traps and auto-attacking until weapon swap is ready and keep rotating skills. 

When you are fighting single mob (Veteran/Elite/Champion/Legendary :)

You can utilize same tactics as group fighting. However slight chance in rotation. When using GS, normal rotation is GS4/GS2 combination. To put down a little bit extra damage on single mob, use first Spear of Justice (F1 skill), then GS4 and finally GS2. With you Scepter/Torch you can do little bit extra damage with torch skill Zealot's Flame. When using it, wait 2 secs and then use Zealot's flame again and you will throw flame on to mob doing little bit extra damage. 

Mobs with break bar:

DH break bar skills are Dragon's Maw (you elite trap), Scepter Chains of Light (Sc 3 skill), Greatsword Binding Blade (GS 5 skill need to use it twice as second time will be the pull), Spear of Justice (F1 skill need to use it twice as second time will be the pull) and Bane Signet (utility skill). Bane Signet and Dragon's Maw will take most down break bar aka crowd control (CC).

Self-Heal:

Wings of Resolve (F2 skill) just target on your feet. It will heal you and your allies and also remove conditions. Litany of Wrath (normal heal skill) initial heal is low, but for 6 seconds 25% from your damage will be returned as heal so you should use this skill when health is at 50-60% and not as last resort heal. Usually you pop up this heal when your big damage skill are out of cool down so you use this heal and then bring out the thunder :) and you should get your health up quite fast. And if your heals aren't ready, you can use Shield of Courage to block damage for 3 seconds giving time get heals ready or avoiding damage from mobs. 

 

Happy hunting!

The most important thing in life will always be the people around you. Salud, mi familia.
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Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
Maxina
Caomhnoir de na Aracos Corcra
  • GW2: Maxina.7256
  • ESO: @maxina
Replied On: 03/17/2018 at 07:12 AM PDT
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Update on my Guardian, Liaa. Using most of the suggestions you both provided has proved successful. She can hold her own in almost any situation. I have been doing her personal story and the GW2 story line with her and having a great time. The Ranger is fun and does a ton of DPS, but she gets a bit boring, standing in the outside edge of the fight. I like getting up close, much more thrilling!!

Thank you for the suggestions and instructions.

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none".
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