[43] Guild Wars 2 Build - Guardian: Mace with Shield/Focus off-hand "Old Spice Odor Blocker" | PVE

By: RenDevilRun (Updated 7/24/2012)

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Ever seen the Old Spice Odor Blocker Body wash commercials? Well this build is like it that... hah

Playing the BWE over the weekend, I got to know the Guardian class a lot better. And one of my favorite melee weapons was the mace. As a mace wielder, it makes you very up close and personal and more often then not very stationary. So what makes a good pairing with the mace for this playstyle? The shield and focus do! Both off-hands provide skills that allow you to "block" incoming damage.

Is this a true tank build? Nope, such thing does not exist in Guild Wars 2. Because what happens when you're blocking skills are recharging, you're still vulnerable to damage. Even though with Toughness, you can only endure so much damage until being downed. Like every other class, when you're being focused hard you'll need to be able to dodge incoming attacks and use skills that will help you get back in the fight.

This build also offers opportunities to restore your health plenty which keeps a more stationary build as this one playable. It'll make you a front-line force!

Weapon Set:
Primary: Mace/Focus
Secondary: Mace/Shield

Healing, Utility, Elite Skills:
Healing:
(6) Signet of Resolve - the passive itself should be enough for you reduce the conditions on yourself.

Utility:
(7) Signet of Judgment - the passive reduces damage by 10% (from what I saw from BWE3). Retaliation is also a great counterattack boon.

(8) Shield of the Avenger - this spirit weapon is very useful in blocking and reducing damage taken.

(9) "Hold the Line!" - grants Protection and Regeneration boons to your allies, plus breaks stun.

Elite:
(0) Renewed Focus - this is a good skill for melee type Guardian builds overall.

Traits: 20/0/30/0/20
Zeal:
(VI) Spirit Weapon Mastery - reduces the recharge time of Shield of the Avenger by 20% (60s --> 48s)
(VIII) Focused Mastery - reduces the recharge time of your Focus skills. You'll need this so you can have your blocking skills up as fast and much as possible.

Valor:
(II) Defender's Flame - I like this one because you'll have a lot of opportunities for blocking. (IV) Strength In Numbers is also a good choice if you're in a party and want to help out your allies a bit.
(IX) Honorable Shield - reduces the recharge time of your Shield skills. You'll need this so you can have your blocking skills up as fast and much as possible.
(XI) Altruistic Healing - you have a handful of skills that grant boons to your allies. Use them often for the extra heal on yourself

Virtues: This trait line is useful as it increases your boon duration and reduces recharge rate of your Virtues
(II) Vengeful - this will make your Retaliation boon from last 50% longer (10s --> 15s)
(V) Improved Spirit Weapon Duration - this will make your Shield of the Avenger last 50% longer (20s --> 30s)

With Spirit Weapon Mastery and Improved Spirit Weapon Duration, Shield of the Avenger will only be unavailable for 18s as it'll be 40s without these traits.