Guild Wars 2 Guardian Profession Overview | GW2PC
| Guild Wars 2 Guardian Profession Quick Summary | ||
| Skill Type | Virtues: Courage, Justice, Resolve |  |
| Special Abilities | Spirit Weapons, Symbols, Wards | |
| Traits | Zeal, Radiance, Valor, Honor, Virtues | |
| Armor Type | Heavy Armor | |
| Weapons | Two-Handed: Hammer, Greatsword, Staff Main-Hand: Mace, Scepter, Sword Off-hand: Focus, Shield, Torch Aquatic: Spear, Trident |
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| Limitations | - Limited offensive boosts and tricks - Susceptible to kiting due to dearth of ranged skills - Only at their most effective when fighting with allies |
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| Benefits | - High survivability with enahnced defense and heals - Superb party support skills - Easily dispels conditions |
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| Creation Options | Choose between three articles of devotion - Conqueror's Pauldrons, Fanatic's Pauldrons or Visionary's Helm | |
Guardian Background
True to his name, the Guild Wars 2 Guardian possesses a peerless defense and stalwart dedication to his allies and cause. His skill in protective maneuvers and access to heals, buffs and dispels help the Guardian withstand even the most hard-hitting attacks that no other class could survive.
The Guardian also extends his gift of fortitude to the rest of the team. He unleashes shouts, which are area effects that whittle down the resolve of foes while boosting his own allies’, and can can also activate powerful wards that restrict enemy movement and repel projectiles. On the counterattack, Guardians bring enemies to their knees by summoning powerful spirit weapons and symbols.
Weapon Skills
There are 12 possible weapon sets for the Guardian from a selection of 3 main hand, 3 off hand and 3 two hand weapons. When fighting underwater, they also have access to 2 additional weapon sets.
| SLOT | WEAPON | DESCRIPTION | # OF SKILLS |
| Main-Hand | Mace | Chain attacks and support | 3 (+2 chain skills) |
| Scepter | Binds and smiting | 3 | |
| Sword | Balanced offense and defense | 3 | |
| Off-Hand | Focus | Powerful close range abilities | 2 |
| Shield | Block incoming attacks | 2 | |
| Torch | Singe foes and dispel conditions from enemies | 2 | |
| Two-Handed | Hammer | Close range AOE | 5 (+2 chain skills) |
| Greatsword | Swiftness and leaping attacks | 5 (+2 chain skills) | |
| Staff | Long range spells, slow | 5 (+1 chain skill) | |
| Aquatic | Spear | Close range, fast | 5 |
| Trident | Long range magical weapon | 5 |
Virtues
With his indomitable spirit and unshakable will, each Guardian is considered a paragon of virtue. In terms of gameplay, this is manifested in his special skill called virtues which are passive benefits that enhance his combat strength. Guardians receive three virtues:
| Virtue of Courage | ||
 | For 30 seconds, you gain an Aegis that blocks the next attack. | Shout Activation: Grant Aegis to nearby allies |
| Virtue of Justice | ||
 | Burn foes with your every fifth attack. | Shout Activation: Nearby allies set foes on fire with their next attacks |
Note: When Virtue of Justice is under effect, the left skill bar will glow in a blue flame for self and allies. |
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| Virtue of Resolve | ||
 | Regenerate health. | Shout Activation: Remove conditions and regenerate nearby allies. |
Shouts
During times of great need the Guild Wars 2 Guardian can sacrifice his passive virtues and unleash them as shouts, which are temporary but powerful area-wide boons. Guardians have access to three different shouts — each based on the virtues which they expend — which collectively grant increased protection, regeneration, blocks, swiftness and stability effects to the team.
Spirit Weapons
Guardians can call upon ethereal weapons that mete out justice on impenitent foes. Sprit weapons cannot be targeted and will continue to attack those that seek to harm the Guardian. A Guardian can command these spirit weapons to perform special attacks like a knockdown smash from the Hammer of Wisdom or an area strike from the Sword of Justice, which will normally destroy the weapon and reset their cooldown. These commands are best popped during the more critical moments of a fight.
Symbols
The Guardian can also slip into a support role with their use of symbols, which when placed on the ground deal damage to enemies and provide boons to allies for a few seconds. Should Guardians notice a mass damage effect pummeling their team, he can drop a Symbol of Judgment which heals his allies while burning foes. With seven available symbols to choose from, a Guardian will need to possess great situational awareness and timing to get full mileage from this skillset.
Wards
For those that doubt the impregnable defense that the Guardian affords, look no further than his ability to erect wards. These sanctified ground marks — whether it’s a straight line ward dividing his team mates from aggressors or a ring ward which isolates foes in a certain spot — prevent any enemy from crossing it while still allowing allies to pass. These offer the Guardian immense battlefield control.
Traits
The Guild Wars 2 Guardian can choose from between five trait lines. These become available starting level 11 and each new character level grants a Thief one trait point to spend in any of these trait lines.
Each point spent on a trait line raises either a base or profession-specific attribute, and an offensive or support attribute. Spending five points on each trait line also unlocks a minor trait (at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 trait points invested) and a major trait slot (at 10, 20, 30 trait points invested) which can be equipped with your choice from a pool of major traits.
| Trait Line | Attribute Bonus | |||
| Base | Profession-Specific | Offense | Support | |
| Zeal | + 10 Power | + 1 Expertise | ||
| Radiance | + 10 Precision | + 10 Malice | ||
| Valor | + 10 Toughness | + 1 Prowess | ||
| Honor | + 10 Vitality | + 10 Compassion | ||
| Virtues | + 1 Concentration | + 1 Willpower |
How to Fight as a Guardian (GW2PC Discussion/Speculation – Subject To Change)
Based on what we’ve seen so far in the official previews and beta videos, here are some suggested playstyles and team roles for a Guild Wars 2 Guardian.
Guardians are designed to be tough and resilient. This enables them to take more than their fair share of hits as a de facto tank during fights that require such a role. And while their health is lower than the Warrior’s, Guardians wield a more robust selection of heals and buffs which give them an edge in drawn-out fights.
The Guardian is oozing with passion and zeal, which makes him the ideal frontline commander. His shouts, spirit weapons and symbols become more effective the more allies and foes are within range, and where else can this be than in the center of a battlefield. There is a real danger though of being focus fired, so contracting a pocket healer to keep you alive is a must.
Guardians can counteract most debilitating conditions, which makes them essential when fighting against debuff classes or bosses with nasty incapacitating attacks. If not dispelling them entirely, the least a Guardian can do is supply consistent regeneration and defense to help the group survive long enough to recover from the conditions and finish off the enemy.
When a Guardian is around, capturing a node or going in for a kill won’t be quite so easy. His wards shut down enemy movement, preventing foes from chasing down injured allies or even dealing damage through ranged attacks, depending on the ward used. More than a noble act, slowing the advance of an invading group or shielding the injured from sure death can often turn defeat into a victory.
Guild Wars 1 Vs 2 Differences
The Guild Wars 2 Guardian is said to be the evolution of the Monk class in the original Guild Wars, but instead of focusing on heals there is now greater emphasis on preventing damage. These are seen in the Guardian’s powerful crowd control options that shut down most attacks. The far sturdier Guardian is also a more viable frontline support player, able to soak up damage while throwing down mass buffs or clearing up debuffs. In summary:
- Addition of Wards, Symbols, Spirit Weapons
- Elimination of Healing Prayers
- Addition of Shouts and Chains
- Introduction of Virtue mechanic
Closing Thoughts
The Guild Wars 2 Guardian Profession is a defensive champion, capable of keeping not only himself but his whole party alive. The ease with which he clears status conditions and replaces them with his own area boons make him a strong, if not essential, pillar for team play. Guardians may not top damage meters anytime soon, but their solid protection abilities and powerful battlefield presence make them invaluable combat support specialists.
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