Build:Guardian - Core Power

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Open World, Open World General and Open World Core

Difficulty:

Easy

This build was last updated on June 29, 2023 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

This is a very basic guardian build which is F2P/Core accessible and can handle most open world content.

Skill Bar

Greatsword

Sword/Focus

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Scepter - ranged option
• Staff - good for event farming with a group

Skill Variants

Healing Skills

• Shelter - defensive option. You can cancel the animation but keep the block by stowing your weapon during the cast. However, you won't receive any healing if you do this.

Utility Skills

• Hallowed Ground - grants more Resolution for boss fights where you can't proc Renewed Justice much.
• Hammer of Wisdom - more crowd control.
• Smite Condition - if you need condition cleanse.
• Wall of Reflection - if you need to reflect projectiles.
• Shield of the Avenger - alternative projectile defense option.
• "Advance!" - long-lasting swiftness while running.

Template Code

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Specializations

• Permeating Wrath - Higher DPS than Indomitable Courage but at the cost of defenses.

Honor

Honor can be taken for more defense at the cost of damage. This should be taken in place of Virtues.

• Pure of Voice - extreme condition cleanse
• If taking Honor, it's possible to swap Zealous Scepter for Fiery Wrath. This will provide somewhat more consistent DPS.

Equipment

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required; you can use exotic gear with the same stats.

Basic Equipment

This setup uses basic, easily obtained equipment that performs very well in open world and is functional in endgame PVE.

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Sword
Berserker

Focus
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

• Use Knight trinkets for extra defense if required.

Standard Equipment

This set uses similar gear to Build:Dragonhunter_-_Power_DPS, making it a highly versatile setup for general PVE that performs very well in both open world and endgame PVE.

Head
Dragon

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Dragon

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Dragon

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Dragon

Accessory
Dragon

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Dragon

Ring
Dragon

Ring
Dragon

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Sword
Berserker

Focus
Dragon

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Consumables

Food

• Any ascended food is superior to any other food you could use. Steak for power, flatbread for conditions. Budget versions of these foods exist and are acceptable.
• - farming
• , - DPS
• - defense

Utility

• (and variants) - farming
• , - dps

Usage

Damage

• Thanks to the Virtues traitline, you should be spamming Virtue of Justice as often as possible. Since it resets on kill, you can use it often for a significant damage boost.
• Your main damage skills are Symbol of Wrath, Whirling Wrath, Zealot's Defense, Ray of Judgment, Symbol of Blades, and Sword of Justice. Swap between your weapons using these skills whenever possible, and fill with autoattacks.
  • Never interrupt your autoattack chain as all the damage is loaded in the last hit.
• Resolution is a massive damage boost so you should try to have it up as much as possible. Your main Resolution sources are Virtue of Justice, Symbol of Wrath, Healer's Resolution, and "Stand Your Ground!"
  • Virtue of Justice resets off every kill thanks to Renewed Justice.
  • In long fights where you can't reset Virtue of Justice you can consider bringing Hallowed Ground and traiting Master of Consecrations.
• If you want more stacks of might; Consider using Zealous Scepter instead of Fiery Wrath. Choosing Either of them will not cost you any loss of damage.
• Try to fight enemies in your symbols to get the stacking damage buff from Symbolic Avenger.
• If using Unscathed Contender, try not to get hit

Defense

• Shield of Wrath is a powerful defensive skill.
• Virtue of Justice, Leap of Faith, and Symbol of Blades blind enemies.
• Zealot's Defense, Wall of Reflection and Shield of the Avenger can be used against projectiles.
• Activating Virtue of Courage gives aegis, protection, Resolution, stability, and a stun break.
• You can run Shelter for more active defense.
• Renewed Focus is a 3-second invulnerability skill that also refreshes Virtue of Resolve and Virtue of Courage.
• Remember to always dodge and sidestep attacks if possible. Don't get hit by anything you can move out of.

Sustain

• This build doesn't have much sustained healing, so avoiding damage is extremely important in long fights.
• Use Leap of Faith to heal yourself for each enemy you hit.
• When at extremely low health, activate Litany of Wrath, then use Whirling Wrath for an immense amount of self-healing.
• You can activate Virtue of Resolve for an emergency heal and condition cleanse.
• For a big condition cleanse, use Shield of Wrath while in a light field.

Crowd Control

• Binding Blade
• Hammer of Wisdom
• Bane Signet (as a last resort)