Guardian - Core Condition

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

Focused on: Condition damage

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

Difficulty:

Easy

This build was last updated on July 25, 2023 and is up to date for the March 19, 2024 patch.

Overview

A basic and accessible core guardian build that possesses high DPS and excellent survivability. The Dire variant of this build is easily accessible to all core players and costs very little gold to gear.

Skill Bar

Scepter/Torch

Sword

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Greatsword - very high burst if using power-heavy variants
• Staff - long-ranged option that is good for meta farming.

Skill Variants

• Hammer of Wisdom - cc
• Wall of Reflection - projectile hate
• Judge's Intervention - teleport and damage
• Hallowed Ground - long-duration stability
• Sanctuary - high CC against champions and projectile hate
• Renewed Focus - strong defensive tool

Template Code

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Equipment

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

Head
Carrion

Shoulders
Carrion

Chest
Carrion

Hands
Carrion

Legs
Carrion

Feet
Carrion

Backpiece
Carrion

Accessory
Carrion

Accessory
Carrion

Amulet
Carrion

Ring
Carrion

Ring
Carrion

Scepter
Carrion

Torch
Carrion

Sigil

Sigil

Sword
Carrion

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

• The same gear as Condi Firebrand can also be used here.
• Sigil of Superior Sigil of Energy can replace Sigil of Superior Sigil of Geomancy for a strong defensive option.
• Note: It's a good idea to put your Bursting sigil on a Torch that an easily be salvaged with a Black Lion Salvage Kit. This will let you upgrade to the Condi Firebrand or Condi Willbender builds more easily later on.

Consumables

Farming

• 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.
• (and variants)

Other options, such as Birthday Cake, Campfire Treats, Spicy Pumpkin Cookie, or other similar food is fine to use. The general goal is to prioritize the following:

1. Flat % Experience, like we see on Ascended Food
2. % Karma Gain
3. % Magic Find
4. Experience from kills
5. % Gold find

This assumes you are converting Karma and Spirit Shards to gold correctly. If you are not converting Karma or Spirit Shards, prioritize Magic Find.

Usage

Damage

Swap between Greatsword and Scepter/Torch for damage. You should open most fights on Greatsword if you can and once its cooldowns are spent, swap to scepter/torch for better sustained damage.

Scepter Priority:

1. Purging Flames
2. Symbol of Punishment
3. Sword of Justice (or other spirit weapon)
4. Zealot's Flame
5. Cleansing Flame
6. Chains of Light

Greatsword Priority:

1. Purging Flames
2. Symbol of Wrath
3. Whirling Wrath
4. Sword of Justice
5. Leap of Faith
6. Fill with auto-attacks

Sword Priority:

1. Purging Flames
2. Zealot's Flame
3. Sword of Justice
4. Zealot's Defense
5. Symbol of Blades

Your Virtue of Justice passive will also make up a significant amount of your damage through Burning. Use "Feel My Wrath!" off cooldown for Fury and Quickness uptime.

If you are about to kill a mob, activate Virtue of Justice for a large DPS increase, so long as you have Radiance traited.

Defense

• Litany of Wrath is a massive heal.
• Virtue of Courage / "Retreat!" provide an on-demand block
• Shield of Wrath (focus) is a series of blocks
• Virtue of Justice is an area blind but will reduce your DPS drastically if you don't quickly reset it.
• Virtue of Resolve removes conditions and provides a small amount of healing.

Video Examples

Cele Guard vs Champion Mark I Golem