Guild Wars: PVP basic strategy guide (noobs welcome)
For those of still getting your bearings in Guild Wars, take note that it’s a PvP-focused MMORPG, hence a lot of the action takes place not against some evil, malevolent, elder god taking over the game’s world, but rather against your fellow gamers, though they’re probably no less evil and malevolent than the aforementioned elder-god.
With that detail drop-kicked out of the way, the most prevalent character build in-game are geared for PvP combat. In line with this, the game offers pre-fab character classes, with pre-set attributes, pre-set primary profession skills, and open slots for secondary profession skills. And of course, you’ll have to find/craft your own weapons and armor – didn’t think the devs would make this that easy, did you?
After you’ve decided on a character to play, up ahead is the list playable character classes, along with their six primary profession skills, a basic strategy guide per character, and a recommendation for your secondary skills once you unlock them. Remember your Sun Tzu: “Know thy enemy, know thyself.”
The full article awaits after the jump!
For those of still getting your bearings in Guild Wars, take note that it’s a PvP-focused MMORPG, hence a lot of the action takes place not against some evil, malevolent, elder God taking over the game’s world, but rather against your fellow gamers, though they’re probably no less evil and malevolent than the aforementioned elder-god.
With that detail drop-kicked out of the way, the most prevalent character build in-game are geared for PvP combat. In line with this, the game offers pre-fab character classes, with pre-set attributes, pre-set primary profession skills, and open slots for secondary profession skills. And of course, you’ll have to find/craft your own weapons and armor – didn’t think the devs would make this that easy, did you?
After you’ve decided on a character to play, up ahead is the list playable character classes, along with their six primary profession skills, a basic strategy guide per character, and a recommendation for your secondary skills once you unlock them. Remember your Sun Tzu: “Know thy enemy, know thyself.”
Warrior
Skills
Sever Artery, Gash, Final Thrust, Charge, Healing Signet, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Shout “Charge!” to close quickly on your enemies, or to give an ally in trouble a little extra quickness to his feet. Alternatively, if you need to get out of trouble yourself, “Charge!” out of the fray and activate your Healing Signet. Note that Healing Signet reduces your armor as you activate it, so moving out of harm’s way helps prevent taking extra damage. When attacking an enemy, you should wait for your adrenaline to completely build up, then do Sever Artery > Gash > Final Thrust. You can also hit Sever Artery as soon as it recharges to begin the Health degeneration so that when you spike with your skill combo, you don’t have to do as much damage to get the kill. You can even consider running around and using Sever Artery on multiple opponents to begin a process of damage over time.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Frenzy, Rush, and/or Sprint. Frenzy increases your damage and adrenaline gain, while Rush or Sprint lets you cancel Frenzy if you take too much damage.
Ranger
Skills
Distracting Shot, Apply Poison, Barbed Trap, Troll Unguent, Escape, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
You exist to spread Poison around to as many enemies as possible. To this end, make sure and put Apply Poison up as soon as it wears off. Use Escape not just to escape damage, but also while placing Barbed Trap. Your Trap spreads additional Health degeneration and slows enemy melee characters. As you spread Poison from target to target, watch for slow casting, tasty skills to interrupt. Keep Troll Unguent going as much as possible when under attack or if you’re suffering from Health degeneration.
Suggested Skill Unlocks Savage Shot and Whirling Defense. Savage grants you an additional interrupt, which is especially important if Distracting Shot misses. Use Whirling Defense when Escape is recharging so you can avoid damage and reduce the chance of getting interrupted while you Trap.
Monk
Skills
Orison of Healing, Word of Healing, Healing Touch, Mend Ailment, Remove Hex, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Use Word of Healing on allies with low health, while healing others with Orison. Hit yourself with Healing Touch for a quick, fast-recharging self-heal. Mend Ailment is there to prevent Health degeneration or for keeping your melee allies free of Blindness. Remove Hex takes a while to cast, so be careful you don’t get interrupted.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Reversal of Fortune, Signet of Devotion, and Healing Breeze. Reversal adds flexibility to your damage prevention options, and lets you quickly heal yourself. Signet of Devotion saves you Energy, and Healing Breeze helps counter Health Degeneration. Replace Resurrection Signet, as Monks often don’t PvP with a resurrect ability.
Necromancer
Skills
Parasitic Bond, Life Siphon, Plague Signet, Vampiric Gaze, Faintheartedness, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Slowly wear down the other team while keeping yourself alive. Your Hexes drain the Health of enemies while pumping you up at the same time. If you see a melee character, hit him with Faintheartedness and cover it up with Parasitic Bond. And if someone inflicts some Conditions on you, return the favor with Plague Signet.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Barbed Signet and Mark of Subversion. The Signet gives you another way to do damage without using any Energy, while Mark of Subversion lets you interrupt healers and other characters who cast spells on their allies.
Skills
Power Spike, Energy Burn, Energy Surge, Drain Enchantment, Ether Feast, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
With this character, you have a multifaceted approach to hurting your opponents. Hit a target with Energy Surge to unleash widespread area damage and reduce Energy at the same time. For example, a Monk in the center of a group of enemies is an effective target for a satisfying Surge attack. Follow it up with an Energy Burn and Ether Feast to reduce even more Energy. And, of course, cycle through targets looking for yummy interrupt possibilities. Monks often pack fast-casting spells, so you might be better off using Energy denial skills on Monks and saving your interrupt for other targets, such as Elementalists or Necromancers.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Power Drain and Diversion. For another interrupt, choose Power Drain. It gives you Energy, letting you fuel constant use of Diversion and other skills.
Elementalist
Skills
Lightning Strike, Lightning Orb, Lightning Surge, Aura of Restoration, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Start with Aura of Restoration for a steady source of self-healing. Activate your Glyph and put Lightning Surge on a target, and start casting Lightning Orb. Thus when the target falls over and takes damage, the Lightning Orb flies through the air and connects at the same time, making for a nasty mini-spike combo. Follow up with a Lightning Strike, and your target should have lost about half of its Health.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Blinding Flash and Air Attunement. Blind those annoying Warriors or Dervishes that like to follow you around, and save Attunement for a cover Enchantment so Aura of Restoration doesn’t get stripped from you.
Assassin
Skills
Leaping Mantis Sting, Jungle Strike, Twisting Fangs, Shadow Refuge, Aura of Displacement, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Shadow Step with Aura of Displacement to an unsuspecting foe. That person may try to move away, which sets up the perfect situation for your opening Leaping Mantis Sting attack. Even if your chosen victim decides to stop and doesn’t get Crippled, be sure to follow up with Jungle Strike. It still does more damage than a standard attack, and lets you strike with Twisting Fangs. Wait for these to recharge, and repeat.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Way of the Fox and Dark Escape. If you have a target you can’t hit, try Way of the Fox to outfox their defensive ability. And Dark Escape comes in handy if you need to retreat and heal.
Ritualist
Skills
Spirit Light, Mend Body and Soul, Pain, Wanderlust, Shadowsong, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Wanderlust and Pain attack your enemies, while Shadowsong defends your Spirits and team. Place it behind your other Spirits so if anyone approaches they descend into Blindness. A Blind Warrior has a difficult time taking out your Spirits, or anyone else for that matter. When needed, use your healing skills. Try to clean up your own melee characters and remove Conditions with Mend Body and Soul.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Boon of Creation and Weapon of Warding. The Boon of Creation Enchantment helps you manage Energy and stay alive when you perform Binding Rituals, while Weapon of Warding slows down pesky melee attacks and counters Health degeneration.
Paragon
Skills
Barbed Spear, Blazing Spear, Anthem of Fury, Anthem of Flame, Leader’s Comfort, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Begin attacking, and use Anthem of Fury right before Barbed Spear. This’ll charge up your adrenaline for Blazing Spear, and you’ll get your chosen target Burning and Bleeding in no time. Follow up with Anthem of Flame and then switch to another target. While this Anthem is up, throw Barbed Spear and you suddenly have Burning/Bleeding caused from the same attack. Rinse and repeat this pattern across differing targets and you’ll be the bane of your opponents.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Disrupting Throw and Remedy Signet. Everybody needs a good interrupt, and the Paragon is no exception. Disrupting Throw works well with your skills that cause Conditions. And, in case somebody decides to unkindly Blind you, simply remedy it with Remedy Signet.
Dervish
Skills
Twin Moon Sweep, Vital Boon, Wounding Strike, Pious Haste, Zealous Renewal, Resurrection Signet
Tactics
Combo your skills and alternate your Enchantment casting for best effect. Note that Wounding Strike has a different effect depending on whether you are Enchanted or not. One effective combo works like this: Vital Boon > Twin Moon Sweep > Wounding Strike > Zealous Renewal > Wounding Strike > Twin Moon Sweep. By the time you execute this combo, you’ve got your target Bleeding and Deeply Wounded. Besides doing a bunch of damage, if you’re lucky, you’ve also hit foes adjacent to your target.
Suggested Skill Unlocks
Crippling Sweep and Irresistible Sweep. These two attacks help you catch running targets or opponents with a lot of defensive skills.
Via Guild Wars
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