Guardian sPvP | Tournament Scepter/Focus, Mace/Torch | Roamer Zealot's Wrath Guardian Burst Build
Table of Contents
Summary
Zealot's Wrath is a Guardian burst build that uses the Mace, Focus, Scepter and torch to drop targets in less time than they can react.
I. Weapons and Skills
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 4 sVulnerability: 3 sBurning: 1 s
Weapon and Skill Details
In order to get a better picture of the build, please watch the clip below;
Scepter/Focus
This is the ranged dps set. It is most effective in close range as the auto attacks of the Scepter cannot be strafed.
Mace/Torch
This is your main burst set. It enables most of your damage modifiers from your traits in Zeal. Fiery Wrath, Symbolic Avenger, Symbolic Power etc, are all active when using the Mace's symbol in conjuction with the rest of your kit. When people see you with torch, they think you're running condi guard. Feel free to punch them really hard showing them you don't play that school boy build.
Judge's Intervention
This is a very important part of the build. Mainly used to carry your burst to the target.
Smite Condition
Smite condition is a great sustained healing and high damage skill. As it recharges every 16 seconds, you'll be able to get at least 3 condition removals every 60seconds. As well as sustained healing over that period, should a fight last that long.
Merciful Intervention
This skill is used in conjuction with the pirate runes to give you more freedom of movement. It also acts as a second heal skill as it heals for every ally in the area you teleport to. If the Pirate bird is out and is attacking a target, you can use Merciful intervention as a gap closer (as seen here; http://youtu.be/JNunHa3j0U8?t=440 ) or if the bird is far away from the fight but within range, you can use it as an escape tool with Merc-Int or you could use your ally as an escape tool as well.
Contemplation of Purity: You can replace Merciful Intervention with Contemplation of Purity. This allows you to have another stun break and better condition cleansing.
Traits
Zeal
- Zealot’s SpeedCreate a symbol of wrath when you are struck while below the health threshold.
- Wrathful SpiritAegis grants 3 seconds of retaliation when it ends.
- Fiery WrathDamage against burning foes is increased by 7%.
- Zealous ScepterWhile wielding a scepter, gain 10 seconds of might when your justice passive effect triggers.
- Symbolic ExposureSymbols apply 3 seconds vulnerability to foes on each hit.
- Binding JeopardyImmobilizing or blinding a foe also applies 3 seconds of vulnerability to them.
- Zealous BladeGreatsword attacks deal 5% increased damage and heal the guardian. Greatsword skills have a 20% reduced recharge.
- Kindled ZealGain condition damage based on 10% your power attribute.
- Symbolic PowerSymbols have 10% increased damage and have a 33% chance to burn enemies for 1 second.
- Expeditious SpiritSpirit weapons burn foes for 3 seconds when they hit with an attack. Spirit weapon summon and command skills have a 20% reduced recharge.
- Shattered AegisWhen aegis you applied blocks an attack, it damages nearby foes.
- Symbolic AvengerYou deal more damage to enemies standing in your symbols.
Radiance
- Justice is BlindWhen activating Virtue of Justice, nearby foes are blinded
- Inner FireGain fury for 8 seconds when you strike a foe that has 3 or more stacks of burning. This effect has a 10 second cooldown.
- Right-Hand StrengthCritical hit chance with one-handed weapons is increased by 15%. Sword abilities have 20% reduced recharge.
- Healer’s RetributionGain retaliation for 5 seconds when using a heal skill.
- Renewed JusticeVirtue of Justice is renewed when you kill a foe.
- Wrath of JusticeStriking an enemy with justice’s active effect triggers signet of wrath’s active ability.
- Radiant FireGain zealot’s flame when you critically hit an enemy. Burning duration to enemies is increased. Torch abilities recharge 20% faster.
- RetributionGain 10% increased damage while under the effects of retaliation.
- Radiant PowerAttacks against burning foes have a 10% increased chance to critically hit.
- Amplified WrathBurning damage is increased by 15%. Blocking an attack burns the attacker for 2 seconds. This effect has a 1 second internal cooldown.
- Perfect InscriptionsGain light aura for 3 seconds when activating a signet. Signets recharge 20% faster and have 20% increased passive effects.
- Radiant RetaliationRetaliation damage scales from condition damage instead of power.
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.
Trait Details
ZEAL
ADEPT
Fiery Wrath: Whilst wrathful spirit and Zealous Scepter would be great in certain build, Fiery Wrath is the best choice here. As this is a burst build, this is the best choice. The other choices play into more sustained damage specs where you play to ramp up damage overtime.
MASTER
Binding Jeopardy
Because you have quite a 2 blinds and 2 immobs in this build, I feel Binding Jeopardy is the best choice here. The vulnerability will allow you to increase both your burning and direct damage. But you can also take Kindled Zeal which would give you 222 condition damage, allowing your burns to tick for 177 damage per second without factoring in possible might sources.
GRANDMASTER
Symbolic Avenger
In the Grandmaster line, this trait is the best on here, unless you're running the Spirit Hammer version of this spec in which case, Expeditious Spirit would be a better choice. Shattered Aegis occasionally comes into play when fighting someone, but as it's not adding to your burst, Symbolic Avenger because the better trait as it functions in both burst set-ups and sustained damage scenarios.
Using this trait with Greatsword makes GS deal quite a lot of damage.
NOTE: You can replace Zeal with Virtues, taking the traits; Unscathed Contender, Absolute Resolution and Indomitable Courage. This would give you more survivability at the expense of your damage output.
RADIANCE
ADEPT
In this line you can take anything you want. I've just gone for Healer's Retribution because the other traits won't add much to my overall damage during burst.
MASTER
Wrath of Justice:
This is the trait that makes this build work. Without it, you might as well play a normal boring Medi-Guard or condi guard. This trait allows you to activate a passive Signet of Wrath on your target when you use Virtue of Justice, allowing you to essentially have an instant immob that can be chained into other skills. Wrath of Justice only activate when you hit someone after you activate Virtue of Justice.
GRANDMASTER
In the Grandmaster line, you can run Amplified Wrath or Perfect Inscriptions.
Amplified Wrath allows you to dole out more damage during your burst through burning. Your burn ticks can hit up to 1k at 8-10 stacks and that in addition to your normal burst is really devastating. If your burst doesn't kill them, the burning usually does.
Perfect Incriptions on the other hand, reduces the cooldown of your passive Signet of Wrath from Wrath of Justice, allowing it to have a synced cooldown with Virtue of Justice. It also allows you to get more retaliation and vulnerability uptime which can be beneficial to your sustained damage.
Radiant retaliation is not useful at all in this build.
VALOR
ADEPT
For the Adept tier, all the traits are viable but Smiter's Boon and Focus Mastery have more benefits attached to them.
Smiter's Boon allows you to activate Smite Condition when you use your heal. Which adds to your overall damage output and sustained healing if used correctly. Unfortunately, when fighting eles, Smiter's Boon can sometimes be a detriment as using your heal skill when the Ele has shocking Aura up can cancel your heal skill.
Focus Mastery on the other hand allows you to reduce the recharge of your focus skills which means that you can use your Shield of Wrath more often and you can use the Blind/Cleanse from Ray of Judgement more often as well. The trait also allows you to gain protection from using these skills which is also beneficial for your survivability. Not to mention the reduced cooldown means you can do more bursting with Shield of Wrath.
MASTER
In this tier you can either take Communal Defences or Strength in Numbers. Either one works well. I tend to use Communal defences. Stalwart Defender only works if you're using the Shield.
GRANDMASTER
Monk's Focus
Reduces the cooldown of all your Meditations, gives you Fury, and allows your Meditations to heal you. No other trait in this line gives you more sustain. This trait is the bread and butter for every high damage Guardian. And most high damage Guardian builds without this trait suffer in survivability for not having it.
III. Stat Specifics & Effects
Primary Stats
- Health 17245 (+5600)
- Vitality 1560 (+560)
- Armor 2361 (+150)
- Toughness 1150 (+150)
- Attack 3172 (+1225)
- Power 2225 (+1225)
- Critical Hit 54% (+54%)
- Precision 2050 (+1050)
Secondary Stats
- Critical Damage 37% (+37%)
- Damage 947 (+0%)
- Defense 1211 (+0)
- Ferocity 560 (+560)
- Might Duration 10% (+10%)
Boons
Conditions
Control
Fields & Finishers
IV. Runes, Sigils, Accessories & Jewels
Armor & Runes
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
Rune Stat Totals
- Power 175
- Might Duration 10%
Rune Bonuses
PvP Rune of the Pirate- Power: 25
- Might Duration: 10%
- Power: 50
- 25% chance when struck to shout “Yarr” and grant 3 stacks of might to nearby allies for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
- Power: 100
- 50% chance to summon a parrot. (Cooldown: 60 seconds)
Accessories & Jewels
Accessory Totals
- Power:1050
- Precision:1050
- Vitality:560
- Ferocity:560
Weapon Set Sigils
- Weapon Strength: 895-1010
- Weapon Strength: 832-883
Weapon Set I
Sigil of Superior EnergyYou gain 50% of your endurance when you swap to this weapon while in combat. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 9s)
Sigil of Superior Air50% chance to cause a lightning strike on a critical hit. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 3 seconds)
- Weapon Strength: 895-1010
- Weapon Strength: 789-926
Weapon Set II
Sigil of IntelligenceYour next 3 attacks after swapping to this weapon while in combat have a 100% chance to critical.
Sigil of Superior Air50% chance to cause a lightning strike on a critical hit. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 3 seconds)
Upgrade Item Details
RUNES
For this set-up I'm running Pirate Runes as they work well with Merciful Intervention. You can decide to go for something else if you're no into Mi and Pirate Runes. Other good Runes include; Runes of the Flame Legion (+7% damage on burning foes), Rune of Hoelbrak, Runes of Vampirism, Runes of Rage (for more crit damage which improves your burst potential).
SIGILS
I currently run a combination of Sigil of Air, Energy and Intelligence but you can remove intelligence from the mace and put in Energy if you feel the need for it.
AMULET
Marauder Amulet is my go to but you can run other amulets like Barbarian Amulet if you feel you need more health. The only problem with that would the amount of damage you put out would be a bit less.
V. Basic Gameplay
The video below explains and shows off some basic gameplay of the build as well as tips and tricks on how the burst works.
Main Skill Rotation
Activate Shield of Wrath, swap weapons, count 2 seconds whilst activating Zealot's Flame and Symbol of Faith. When the cast for Symbol of Faith is about to end, activate Virtue of Justice then immediately use Judge's Intervention to teleport to the target (you can do both at the same time) so the Symbol of Faith is cast where the target is, then activate the now ready Zealot's Fire and Smite Condition (for additional damage) and auto-attack the target with your Mace if they aren't dead yet.
No matter who you battle, try to start with the burst so they pop their cooldowns and struggle to come back into the fight. If the target already knows you burst then try to do only half of the burst starting from Symbol of Faith into VoJ and Judge's Intervention.
To see gameplay of the build click here or Watch the full video above.
VI. Tips and Tricks
- When using Mace, try to use Protector's strike at the every opportune moment. The damage from that skill can really be deadly.
- Also when in sustained fights try to place Symbol of Faith down and immobilize your targets in it. This is because they take 10% more damage when standing in the symbol.
- If you have conditions on you, Ray of Judgement also cleanse conditions if you can make it bounce between just you and your target so get close to your target and throw that Ray!
VII. Full Match Gameplay
This video shows me playing the build in one full match.