Guardian WvW | Small Group Staff, Sword/Shield | Support Sylfie's Shout Guard
Table of Contents
Summary
This is a guardian build I made for myself and wanted to share with people as I did with my mesmer build that i did similarly, it's focused on giving boons to your allies and yourself, is quite tanky and can also deal decent damage.
You won't be doing a lot of damage, but you'll be outlasting pretty much any opponent while still hurting them quite a bit.
One drawback I've found with this build so far (which might be do to poor play on my part) is it can be hard closing the gap with longbow rangers
over time I will update this guide to have more detailed information as I see fit that I'm able to give it as I'm new to the guardian class, but this build has been serving me well in all game types.
If you have any suggestions for this build please let me know and I'll consider them and if I think you're right I'll include them.
Side note: I wanted to name this guide Sylfie's Valkyrie build cus that's better sounding, but valkyrie is an item prefix in the game and it'd confuse people
I. Weapons and Skills
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- Flash of LightDetonate the orb to heal nearby allies. Orb of Light takes 4 times longer to recharge.Damage: 222Healing: 788Radius: 240Range: 1,200
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
-
- 0Retaliation: 5 s
Traits
Valor
- Valorous DefenseGain aegis for 5 seconds when you are struck while below 50% health.
- Strength of the FallenLose 1 condition every 10 seconds. Health degenerates 33% more slowly while downed.
- Smiter’s BoonSmite conditions when you use a healing ability.
- Focus MasteryGain 4 seconds of protection when using a focus ability. Focus abilities have a 20% reduced recharge.
- Courageous ReturnVirtue of courage is fully recharged when you revive an ally or when you rally. This effect has a 30 second internal cooldown.
- Stalwart DefenderGain 180 additional toughness while wielding a shield. Shield abilities have 20% reduced recharge.
- Strength in NumbersNearby allies gain up to 150 bonus toughness, based on your effective level. 600 radius.
- Communal DefensesGrant 5 seconds of aegis to allies when you block an attack.
- Might of the ProtectorGain 2 stacks of might for 15 seconds when you block an attack. This ability has a 1 second internal cooldown.
- Altruistic HealingApplying a boon to allies also heals you.
- Monk’s FocusUsing a meditation skill heals you and grants 4 seconds of fury to allies in a radius. Meditation skills have 20% reduced recharge.
- Retributive ArmorGain up to 250 bonus toughness (based on effective level) when blocking an attack. Gain ferocity based on 13% of your current toughness.
Honor
- Vigorous PrecisionGain 5 seconds of vigor when you deliver a critical hit. This effect has a 10 second internal cooldown.
- Invigorated BulwarkGain increased healing power, each worth up to 50 attribute points (based on effective level) for a period of time each time you block an attack while wielding a mace. Stacks up to 10 times. Mace abilities have 20% reduced recharge.
- Protective ReviverActivate a shield of absorption when you begin reviving an ally (24 second internal cooldown). Upon successful revival, you and each ally gain aegis, protection , and regeneration for 10 seconds.
- Protector’s ImpactCreate a symbol of protection when you take falling damage. You take 50% less damage when falling.
- Selfless Daringhe end of your dodge roll heals nearby allies.
- Honorable StaffBoon duration is increased while wielding a staff. Staff abilities have 20% reduced recharge.
- Pure of HeartAegis heals when it blocks an attack.
- Empowering MightYou and nearby allies gain 5 seconds of might when you land a critical hit.
- Purity of BodyYour virtue of resolve passive effect also regenerates endurance by 15%.
- Pure of VoiceAllies affected by shouts have 1 condition converted into a boon. Shout abilities have their recharge reduced by 20%.
- Writ of PersistenceSymbol s last 2 seconds longer, are larger, and heal allies.
- Force of WillYour vitality is increased by up to 300 points, based on effective level. Healing effectiveness to other allies is increased on a percentage of your vitality. You gain 1% per 100 points of vitality (including base vitality).
Virtues
- Inspired VirtueVirtues apply the following boons to allies when activated: Justice: 3 stacks of might for 5 seconds. Resolve: 5 seconds of regeneration. Courage: 5 seconds of protection.
- Unscathed ContenderDeal 20% more damage while under the effects of aegis.
- Retaliatory SubconsciousGain 3 seconds of retaliation and 4 seconds of aegis when stunned, dazed, knocked back, pulled, knocked down, sunk, floated, launched, taunted or inflicted with fear.
- Master of ConsecrationsConsecrations last 20% longer and have 20% reduced recharge.
- Virtue of RetributionGain retaliation for 3 seconds when you activate a virtue. Retaliation you applies lasts 25% longer.
- Supreme JusticeVirtue of Justice causes burning with 3 strikes instead of 5. When activating virtue of justice, burning duration is increased by 1 second.
- Absolute ResolutionActivating virtue of resolve removes 3 conditions from nearby allies. Virtue of Resolve’s passive effect is stronger.
- Glacial HeartCritical hits with hammer chill enemies for 3 seconds. Hammer abilities have 20% reduced recharge.
- Power of the VirtuousDeal 1% extra damage for each boon you have. Virtues recharge 15% faster.
- Permeating WrathVirtue of Justice’s passive effect no longer only burns your target, but also burns the area around your target each time it activates.
- Battle PresenceNearby allies gain virtue of resolve’s passive effect.
- Indomitable CourageActivating virtue of courage breaks stun and grants 3 stacks of stability for 4 seconds to affected allies. Virtue of courage’s passive effect triggers every 30 seconds, down from 40.
Trait Details
I feel that all of the trait choices in this build are the best, however in sPvP I would recommend taking Stalwart Defender over Strength in Numbers since you want to focus more on your own survivability in pvp
III. Stat Specifics & Effects
Primary Stats
- Health 15525 (+3880)
- Vitality 1388 (+388)
- Armor 3529 (+1318)
- Toughness 2318 (+1318)
- Attack 3277 (+1166)
- Power 2110 (+1110)
- Critical Hit 38% (+38%)
- Precision 1707 (+707)
Secondary Stats
- Boon Duration 35% (+35%)
- Condition Damage 36 (+36)
- Condition Duration 10% (+10%)
- Critical Damage 22% (+22%)
- DMG Taken from Guards and Lords -3% (+-3%)
- DMG to Guards and Lords 2% (+2%)
- Damage 1167 (+5%)
- Defense 1211 (+0)
- Endurance Regeneration 15% (+15%)
- Ferocity 337 (+337)
- Healing Power 36 (+36)
- Movement Speed 25% (+25%)
Boons
Conditions
Control
Fields & Finishers
IV. Food, Armor, Trinkets & Upgrade Items
Food Nourishment
Utility Nourishment
Armor & Runes
- Defense: 121
- Power: 60
- Toughness: 43
- Vitality: 43
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
- Defense: 121
- Toughness: 45
- Power: 32
- Precision: 32
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
- Defense: 363
- Toughness: 134
- Power: 96
- Precision: 96
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
- Defense: 182
- Toughness: 45
- Power: 32
- Precision: 32
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
- Defense: 242
- Toughness: 90
- Power: 64
- Precision: 64
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
- Defense: 182
- Toughness: 45
- Power: 32
- Precision: 32
- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
Armor Stat Totals
- Defense 1211
- Power 350
- Precision 292
- Toughness 438
- Vitality 79
- Condition Damage 36
- Healing Power 36
- Ferocity 36
- Boon Duration 15%
- Condition Duration 10%
- Movement Speed 25%
Rune Bonuses
Superior Rune of the Traveler- +8 to All Stats
- Boon Duration: 5%
- +12 to All Stats
- +10% Boon Duration; +10% Condition Duration
- +16 to All Stats
- Movement Speed: 25%
Accessories & Jewels
- Toughness: 5
- DMG Taken from Guards and Lords: -1%
- Precision: 25
- Toughness: 15
- Power: 15
- Power: 5
- DMG to Guards and Lords: 1%
- Toughness: 5
- DMG Taken from Guards and Lords: -1%
- Toughness: 5
- DMG Taken from Guards and Lords: -1%
- Power: 5
- DMG to Guards and Lords: 1%
Accessory Totals
- Power:521
- Toughness:559
- Vitality:138
- Precision:415
- DMG Taken from Guards and Lords:-3%
- DMG to Guards and Lords:2%
Weapon Set Sigils
- Weapon Strength: 985-1111
- Power: 239
- Toughness: 171
- Vitality: 171
- Weapon Strength: -
Weapon Set I
Sigil of Superior BattleYou gain 2 stacks of might for 20s when you swap to this weapon while in combat.
- Weapon Strength: 905-1000
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
- Weapon Strength: 806-909
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
Weapon Defense: 61
Weapon Set II
Sigil of Superior BattleYou gain 2 stacks of might for 20s when you swap to this weapon while in combat.
Sigil of Superior Force+5% damage.
- Weapon Strength: 905-1000
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
- Weapon Strength: 905-1000
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
Water Weapon I
Sigil of Superior Force+5% damage.
Water Weapon II
Sigil of Superior Force+5% damage.
Upgrade Item Details
I got a lot more minmax-y with the items in this build than I usually do, and I'm not sure if it's right but the only thing I'm not entirely sure of is the runes of the traveler.
If I were to replace the traveler runes it'd be with runes of might for more damage.
V. Basic Gameplay
How this build plays varies depending on gametype and if you're fighting single things or big groups.
In PvE you're pretty much just gonna spam all your shouts and virtues for the boons, and are probably mostly going to be using staff.
In PvP it's more of a reactionary build and you're pretty much only going to be using your staff for Empower and sometimes Line of Warding.
WvW is pretty similar to pvp, but youre going to be using your staff way more and you're pretty much going to be what I envision as like a battle singer where you're just buffing, healing, and removing condis from people by shouting.
Main Skill Rotation
This build is kinda hard to make a rotation for so what I've put above is roughly what you'll be doing. I'm gonna try to explain when to use your skills, but I might not do it well.
First off, When playing this build you wanna keep Aegis up as much as possible since you get a 20% damage increase while you have it, and when Aegis shatters it gives you 2 stacks of Might. So when the aegis you'll have from the passive effect of Virtue of Courage shatters you'll want to get it back up by using "Retreat!" or Shield of Judgment while using your sword/shield.
Second, the 5 Waves of Wrath shown above are to trigger the burning from the passive effect of Virtue of Justice, and once you've done that you use the active of Virtue of Justice for more burning, then switch to sword.
The last majour thing is you always have to keep in mind that "Save Yourselves!" will pull condis from nearby allies onto you, and if you do pull condis onto yourself you're probably going to drop a lot of health very quickly from them. So try to only use "Save Yourselves!" when you have Virtue of Resolve up because with the talent choices in this build Virtue of Resolve will clear 3 conditions from you and nearby allies. If you don't have Virtue of Resolve up, but still want/need to use "Save Yourselves!" make sure some of your other shouts are up because those will clear conditions as well.
I haven't really brought up "Stand Your Ground!" much because it's pretty reactionary when the right time to use it is, so you generally want to try and save it for when you need stability, or when you're using "Save Yourselves!" I guess.
Finally, a small tip, if you're fighting another player be mindful of your facing when you're using Wave of Wrath on them because it can be pretty easy to stay out of the frontal cone it's casted in.
I'm sorry if this is kind of confusing and is a huge info dump, but I'm trying to be as detailed as I can. I'll probably come back and improve this over time as I do the entire build.
NOTE: I'm gonna add links to the skills mentioned here later, but that's a lot of work to do right now.