If you are looking for the best class builds that are powerful enough to last in the current metagame, there are quite a few of them. They range from builds that turn your character into a DPS powerhouse, a support master, a solid tank that can soak up damage, or a combination of the three to some degree. The following builds have been designated to either be usable in PvE or PvP. Let's look at some of these builds to see which ones are simply too good to pass up.
15. Support Berserker - PvE - Support
We begin this list with an unusual build for a Warrior elite specialization. You wouldn't expect a Warrior to rock a support build because they are more commonly known as a DPS glass cannon or tank. However, the Berserker elite specialization opens up the opportunity to give you and your group almost constant Quickness and Fury buffs while preserving the high damage potential.
Why Support Berserker is great for PvE
- Along with Quickness, Fury, and DPS, the Support Berserker also effortlessly deals out a ton of condition damage that destroys even the most resilient champions.
- The build is simple enough for beginners to use, but it has a high skill ceiling. Once mastered, you can unleash its full potential.
- The build is similar to the Core Warrior Banner build, but with a heavy emphasis on condition damage. Because of its adaptability, the Support Berserker is a fun build to experiment with.
Choose this build if:
- You want to try a unique Warrior build that is more of a utility player than a DPS player.
- You already have a DPS on your team and require additional support, especially if no one wants to play as one for whatever reason.
- You're not bothered by the strange looks your teammates give you for choosing the support path as a Warrior.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Arms - Wounding Precision, Blademaster, Furious
- Discipline - Crack Shot, Double Standards, Burst Mastery
- Berserker - Last Blaze, Heat the Soul, King of Fires
Equipment
- Armor with Viper stats (power + condition damage + precision + expertise) with Superior Runes of the Firebrand (increased condition damage, boon duration, Quickness duration, and inflicts Burning when using an elite skill).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Viper stats.
- Main-hand Viper sword and off-hand torch with Superior Sigils of Geomancy (inflict Bleeding for a few seconds upon switching) and of Earth (inflict Bleeding when you crit).
- Switch to a main-hand two-handed longbow with Superior Sigils of Torment (inflict Torment when you crit) and Doom (inflict poison when you switch).
Utility Skills
- Blood Reckoning - heal, gain adrenaline, and recharge your Primal Burst skills
- Shattering Blow - summon a rock that blocks attacks that shatters afterward, inflicting bleeding when it hits and extending the duration of Berserk Mode when activated.
- Banner of Tactics - summons a banner that gives Superspeed buff, then pulses boons for you and your allies
- Banner of Discipline - summons a banner that inflicts damage and conditions on enemies while pulsing stacks of Fury for you and your team
- Head Butt - break out of stun to inflict Stun to both you (fewer seconds) and your enemy while filling up your Adrenaline Bar or extend your Berserk Mode
- If the team already has a source of perma-Fury, swap Banner of Discipline for Banner of Strength.
14. Low-Intensity Mechanist - PvE - DPS
Low-intensity builds are class builds designed for players who have disabilities, have difficulty playing the game, or do not want to press multiple keys to deal massive damage to enemies. The main appeal of these builds is their simplicity and the uptime of their boons. One of the best professions that can take advantage of these is the Engineer and its elite specialization for End of Dragons, the Mechanist.
Why L.I. Mechanist is great for PvE
- The L.I. Mechanist is a very versatile, powerful, yet simple build that allows players to constantly deal burn damage while generating Stability boon stacks on themselves almost permanently.
- Because the L.I. Mechanist mostly uses signets; the build is simpler than the others on this list because most of the buffs come from passive effects, which, when activated, unleash the Battle Mech's abilities.
- It allows Guild Wars 2 players who have physical limitations to enjoy the game while still being able to deal damage.
- It can quickly change to the Low-Intensity Core Engineer build by using turret skills instead of signets and switching the elite specialization trait line for the Inventions trait line.
Choose this build if:
- You enjoy the Engineer profession but are currently having trouble playing the game due to physical limitations.
- You want to avoid worrying too much about the build and find one of the easiest builds in the game.
- You're a Mechanist who wants a Flamethrower-centric build that lets you run around and play with fire.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Firearms - Chemical Rounds, Thermal Vision, Juggernaut
- Alchemy - Invigorating Speed, Backpack Regenerator, Iron-Blooded
- Mechanist - Mech Arms: Jade Cannons, Mech Frame: Variable Mass Distributor, Mech Core: J-Drive
OR
- Switch Mechanist for Inventions - Automated Medical Response, Experimental Turrets, Bunker Down
- Switch Alchemy for Explosives - Short Fuse, Blast Shield, Shrapnel
Equipment
- Armor with Celestial stats (minor increase in all stats) with Superior Runes of the Traveler (stat, boon, movement speed, and condition duration increase).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Celestial stats.
- Main-hand Celestial stat dual pistols with Superior Sigils of Rage (quickness upon crit) and Celerity (quickness after disabling foes).
- Switch to a main-hand pistol and offhand shield with Superior Sigils of Rage (quickness upon crit) and Celerity (quickness after disabling foes).
Utility Skills
- Rectifier Signet - passively heals you and your Battle Mech and once activated, gives a bigger heal
- Flamethrower - main weapon for the build that will generate tons of Stability and Might
- Force Signet - passively increases strike damage while knocking foes away from both you and your mech once activated
- Shift Signet - increases your movement speed, copies boons on you to mech, and once activated functions as a shadow step skill
- Overclock Signet - reduces the recharge of your signet skills and once activated orders the Battle Mech to use its Jade Buster Cannon attack
13. Support Herald - PvE - Healer
The Revenant profession first appeared in the first expansion pack, Heart of Thorns. It also brought one of the first elite specializations, the Herald, who channels the Legendary Dragon, Glint. With the Herald's powerful ability to share boons with its allies, it's no surprise they became a support build staple.
Despite falling out of favor due to nerfs and power creep, the Support Herald can still be of immense help to their team. They aren't afraid to be in the middle of the most difficult battles, whether they are on the offensive or defensive.
Why Support Herald is great for PvE
- The utility kit that the Legendary Dragon offers functions like a more effective version of signets because it affects teammates as well as the player.
- Their F2 Facet of Nature mechanic generates unique effects based on the Legend you're currently channeling.
- With the Legendary Dragon stance, the Support Herald can easily spam constant buffs.
Choose this build if:
- You want to use a relatively simple support build that can survive longer because it is a heavy armor profession.
- You understand the core Revenant's energy upkeep mechanic and can easily switch between Legends depending on your current needs and situation.
- You've been playing Guild Wars since the beginning and remember the first time you met Glint.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Invocation - Rising Tide, Spirit Boon, Roiling Mists
- Devastation - Unsuspecting Strikes, Notoriety, Swift Termination
- Herald - Elder’s Respite, Shared Empowerment, Draconic Echo
Equipment
- Diviner stat coat, helm, and legs (power + precision + ferocity + concentration) with Superior Runes of the Scholar (increases power and ferocity).
- Assassin stat shoulders (precision + power + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar.
- Berserker stat gloves and boots (power + precision + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar.
- Backpiece, amulet, one ring, and one accessory with Diviner stats.
- One ring and one accessory with Berserker’s stats.
- Main-hand Berserker dual swords with Superior Sigils of Accuracy (increased critical strike chance) and Force (increased damage).
- Switch to a two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Accuracy and Force.
Utility Skills
- Use both the Legendary Assassin Stance (offensive and mobility utility skill set) and the Legendary Dragon Stance (a bit like signet skills that grant passive and active buffs that can help allies around you).
- Alternatively, you can switch Assassin for Dwarf if you require more defensive skills.
- Use your F2 skill, Facet of Nature, to unleash powerful skills depending on the current Legend your Herald is using.
12. Power Renegade - PvE - DPS
Speaking of the Revenant, the second elite specialization gave us the Renegade elite specialization, a powerhouse with a severely broken heal skill that had to be nerfed. Even with its power reduced, it remains a powerful healing tool for the Renegade, but that is not the focus of this build.
The Legendary Charr stance grants access to a plethora of area-of-effect skills that provide cool-looking damaging abilities, ensuring enemies are hit even if they try to move around. It also grants them the ability to use the short bow to inflict severe condition damage on their unsuspecting opponents, devastating them.
Why Power Renegade is great for PvE
- The Legendary Charr stance's area-of-effect skills deal a lot of damage, and the heal skill provides a lot of healing despite being nerfed previously, making it one of the more surprisingly powerful builds on this list.
- The F2-F4 skills provide additional effects that can turn the tide, from bombarding enemies to bestowing powerful boons on you and your allies.
- Want a strong heavy armor profession that can deal a lot of condition damage while also being able to soak hits? The Power Renegade is at your disposal.
Choose this build if:
- You can quickly position yourself and deal a lot of condition damage to their flank or side.
- You want a better condition-damage-based build that doesn't melt when enemies approach it.
- You see the current meta's state and want to restore the Condi Meta, so you gather like-minded allies and launch a revolution like the Legend that inspired it.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Invocation - Cleansing Channel, Rapid Flow, Charged Mists
- Devastation - Unsuspecting Strikes, Thrill of Combat, Dance of Death
- Renegade - Ashen Demeanor, All for One or Heartpiercer (if using a different legend from Dwarf Stance), Vindication
Equipment
- Armor with Celestial stats (minimal increase in all stats) with Superior Runes of Durability (increases toughness, boon duration, and grants Protection and Regeneration whenever you get hit for one second)
- Trinkets and backpiece with Celestial stats
- Main-hand Celestial two-handed short bow with Superior Sigils of Celerity (gain Quickness buff after causing Disabled debuffs on enemies) and Doom (after switching to the weapon, your next 3 attacks cause poison).
- Switch to a two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Energy (grants additional endurance) and Cleansing (cleanses one condition per weapon switch).
Utility Skills
- Use both the Legendary Dwarf Stance (defensive utility skill set with Stability buffs and the Legendary Alliance Stance (area-of-effect healing and damage utility skill set).
- Alternatively, switch Dwarf with Legendary Assassin Stance for more offensive and mobility options.
11. Low-Intensity Condition Mirage - PvE - DPS
You wouldn't think of including a Mesmer, let alone a Mirage, in a low-intensity build, but you'd be wrong. As with the Low-Intensity Mechanist, The L.I. Condi Mirage build is ideal for Mesmer-mains who have physical disabilities that prevent them from playing the game proficiently, or for those who simply want to use a really simple build that can do massive amounts of damage with very little input.
The build focuses primarily on the Mirage, who can constantly use Ambush skills along with illusions to deal massive amounts of condition damage. To make the build work, the player must position themselves correctly and keep moving.
Why L.I. Condi Mirage is great for PvE
- L.I. Condi Mirage is a straightforward build that focuses on one of the Mesmer's greatest strengths: dealing massive amounts of condition damage to cripple its opponents while allowing players with disabilities to fully enjoy their favorite light armor profession.
- Despite its simple design, the player is required to move around and position themselves while constantly dodging to activate the Ambush skills.
- Because of its low burst, players don't have to worry as much about skill rotations, making it ideal for beginners to learn the class.
Choose this build if:
- You have physical disabilities that make playing the game difficult, but you enjoy playing as a Mesmer-main and will not let them stop you from having fun.
- You want a simple and easy-to-use build that can potentially melt enemies quickly.
- You want to demonstrate that the Mesmer / Mirage class is a simple profession to use by demonstrating it with a low-intensity build that still kicks butt in-game.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Dueling - Duelist’s Discipline, Blinding Dissipation, Ineptitude
- Chaos - Method of Madness, Chaotic Potency, Chaotic Interruption
- Mirage - Renewing Oasis, Mirrored Axes, Infinite Horizon
Equipment
- Armor with Viper stats (power + precision + condition damage + expertise) with Superior Runes of the Nightmare (increases condition damage and duration, fear duration, and blinds enemies after using an elite skill).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Viper Stats.
- Main-hand Viper main-hand axe and offhand pistol with Superior Sigils of Bursting (increased condition damage) and Energy (gain additional endurance when switching to the weapon).
- Switch to a two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Bursting and Energy.
Utility Skills
- False Oasis - heal over time while dropping a Mirage Mirror
- Crystal Sands - inflict damage and Confusion debuff and grant a Mirage Mirror at the target location
- Signet of Domination - passively increases your condition damage and when activated stuns your enemies
- Signet of Midnight - improves your expertise stat passively and when activated blinds your enemies, grant stealth, and breaks out of stun
- Jaunt - teleports to the targetted area and inflicts Confusion while being counted as a Leap combo finisher
10. Support Tempest - PvE - Healer + Tank
The Elementalist is the profession to choose if you want a profession that can do it all and has a lot of utility. They can be a DPS one moment and a healer the next. Nobody expects them to become a tank, especially because it is a light armor profession. This build improves the Tempest support build by changing some things from standard builds seen elsewhere.
The Tempest's key mechanic is their ability to Overload their elemental attunement with their F5 skill. They create a fiery tornado that deals burning damage and drops a fire field when combined with fire attunement. The Tempest creates a bubble around itself that heals allies when using water attunement. They create a lightning storm that deals constant damage to enemies in exchange for air. Finally, for earth attunement, the Tempest rides on an earth pillar, providing Protection buffs to allies and Cripple debuffs to enemies.
Why Support Tempest is great for PvE
- Elementalists have long been a popular choice for DPS and Support builds in both PvE and PvP. It is no secret that the Tempest is capable of doing both relatively well, and this build aims to demonstrate that.
- Their Overload ability may initially be static and difficult to use, but proper positioning and communication with your team will result in better results.
- They can use a wide range of skills to provide whatever your team requires, from healing to condition cleansing to projectile reflects and more.
Choose this build if:
- You are a dedicated support main who wishes to assist the team.
- Your dungeon/fractals/raid team has open support slots, and you are more than capable of filling them.
- You don't mind hearing your character yell "Wash the Pain Away!" over and over as you do your job and assist in reviving your teammates who are constantly downed but not you.
- You are truly a medic.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Water - Piercing Shards, Cleansing Wave, Soothing Power
- Arcane - Arcane Restoration, Arcane Resurrection, Evasive Arcana
- Tempest - Latent Stamina, Invigorating Torrents, Lucid Singularity
Equipment
- Armor with Celestial stats (minor increase in all stats) with Superior Runes of the Monk (increases healing and boon duration stats).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Celestial Stats.
- Main-hand Celestial main-hand dagger and offhand warhorn with Superior Sigils of Transference (increased healing towards allies) and Concentration (increased boon duration).
Utility Skills
- Wash the Pain Away!” - unleash a healing pulse that cleanses conditions last
- “Feel the Burn!” - inflict damage and Burning debuff on enemies while granting a fire aura to you and your allies
- “Flash Freeze!” - inflict Chill debuff on enemies while granting a frost aura to you and your allies
- “Aftershock!” - cause movement disabling debuffs on enemies while granting a magnetic aura on you and allies that reflects projectiles
- “Rebound!” - time the skill just right before you and your allies take a lethal hit to regain lots of health and if you don’t take damage, gain an aura based on your current elemental attunement instead
9. Power Bladesworn - PvE - DPS
Warrior, by definition, is one of the most hard-hitting professions in the game, saying "screw you" to magic and focusing on raw, unbridled power. There will always be a spot on the team for one of the many variations of warriors, but we will be focusing on the Power Bladesworn, which is possibly the strongest variation.
The Bladesworn can unleash the powerful Dragon Slash, its most dangerous attack, on their enemies by foregoing their ability to weapon swap and adrenaline skill in exchange for having the Gunsaber as their F1 skill. It is critical to use it at the right time, as any incorrect movement while in the F2 Dragon Trigger stance will deactivate it, forcing you to wait for a cooldown.
Why Power Bladesworn is great for PvE
- Do you want to feel like a badass samurai wielding a katana-style Gunsaber? You have a feeling the Bladesworn was made for you.
- Want to deal massive amounts of damage in just a few hits? The Bladesworn also has plenty of that for you.
- There is a variation of the build that combines the unbridled power of the Power Bladesworn while also bolstering its defense to shield it from more incoming damage, but as they say, sometimes the best defense is a pure offense.
Choose this build if:
- You want to see big numbers on your screen as your Bladesworn slashes across the battlefield with their unblockable Dragon Slash.
- You are not afraid of even the most difficult bosses and are prepared to face them head-on. You might get downed, but you'll try your hardest to take them with you.
- You love a class that can easily smash its way through open-world Tyria and has a very strong bloodlust.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Strength - Peak Performance, Great Fortitude, Berserker’s Power
- Tactics - Leg Specialist, Warrior’s Cunning, Martial Cadence
- Bladesworn - Unseen Sword, Fierce as Fire, Unyielding Dragon
Equipment
- Armor with Berserker stats (power + precision + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Thief (increases precision, condition damage, and outgoing damage when attacking from the side or flank).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Berserker stats.
- Main-hand Berserker main-hand axe and offhand pistol with Superior Sigils of Accuracy (increased critical strike chance) and Force (increased damage).
- Switch to the Gunsaber with the F1 skill.
Utility Skills
- “To The Limit!” - greatly heal yourself while regaining adrenaline and provides Endurance buffs for allies nearby
- Dragonspike Mine - break stun while dodging backward and dropping a mine to inflict Crippled debuff and recharge your Dragon Trigger
- Overcharged Cartridges - next explosion damages deal increased damage and can detonate cartridges as a form of crowd control
- Flow Stabilizer - gain Fury and increase the flow rate for Dragon Trigger and if you already have Fury prior to using it, gain more flow
- Tactical Reload - reloads all Bladesworn ammo skills and increases charges for Dragon Trigger
8. Condition Specter - PvP - Support
The Thief and the majority of their elite specializations excel at dealing massive amounts of damage to their opponents. Most of the time, if you face them in one-on-one combat, they will win if you are not careful or underestimate their skill. You'd think the Specter would do the same, but the class is more concerned with support than with damage.
Even though the Condition Specter is a support build, keep in mind that the word Condition is in the build name for a reason. As its core mechanic, it not only supports its allies, but it can also easily cause large amounts of condition damage.
Why Condition Specter is great for PvP
- The Specter class was designed to be the Thief's support elite specialization, and it nails it with its ability to tether onto enemies and allies, providing conditions for the former and benefits for the latter.
- Specters can easily deal massive amounts of condition damage with their pistol and venom skills, dispatching careless opponents who underestimate the class.
- Because of their high mobility, they can easily traverse the map to pursue opponents and finish them off, or quickly come to the aid of their allies.
Choose this build if:
- You want to be one of the rising stars of Support PvP builds, demonstrating what it is capable of.
- You are an experienced PvP Thief-main who understands how to navigate the various PvP Maps.
- You remember that you aren't a Deadeye and are aware of your flaws, which you can exploit.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Shadow Arts - Shadow’s Embrace, Shadow Savior, Shadow’s Rejuvenation
- Trickery - Thrill of the Crime, Bountiful Theft, Sleight of Hand
- Specter - Shallow Grave, Traversing Dusk, Hungering Darkness
Equipment
- Amulet with Sage stats (power + condition damage + vitality + healing).
- Superior Runes of Orr (increases condition damage and decreases incoming condition duration).
- Main-hand scepter and pistol with Superior Sigils of Transference (increased healing towards allies) and Misery (increased Torment duration).
- Switch to a two-handed short bow with Superior Sigils of Energy (grants additional endurance) and Cleansing (cleanses one condition per weapon switch).
Utility Skills
- Well of Gloom - teleport to an enemy to inflict Crippled debuff while healing you and your allies while generating a Dark combo field
- Shadowstep - targetable teleport that breaks out of stun and when activated again returns the caster to the initial position while cleansing up to three conditions
- Well of Bounty - teleport to an ally and drop an area-of-effect that grants boons
- Blinding Powder - a blast finisher that provides a stun break while providing stealth for you and your allies.
- Shadowfall - teleport to enemies to drop an area-of-effect that pulls them in and inflicts pulsing damage that increases
7. Power Virtuoso - PvE- DPS Support
The Mesmer travels to Cantha and decides to abandon its clones and phantasms in favor of flinging blades. That is the gist of what the Virtuoso does. Their shatter abilities are also replaced with newer skills that are better suited to their newly summoned blades.
The Power Virtuoso build is a fun one to try because it can function as both a DPS and a Support due to its ability to inflict tons of burst damage while providing tons of Fury buffs. Experienced players will be rewarded for their efforts due to their traits, utilities, and understanding of the Virtuoso playstyle.
Why Power Virtuoso is great for PvE
- The Power Virtuoso combines the worlds of DPS and Support into one enjoyable build, ensuring you a place in teams.
- If you want a build that can help you against difficult content, having an almost constant Fury uptime will always benefit you and your teammates in the field.
- As a profession skill, the Power Virtuoso comes with the powerful Bladesong Dissonance crowd control skill, which takes time to master but is extremely rewarding.
Choose this build if:
- You can use your crowd-control abilities, particularly Bladesong Dissonance, to easily disrupt and remove break bars.
- You are an experienced Mesmer-main who understands how to exploit its strengths and weaknesses. You aren't a Mirage or a Chronomancer, so you're less durable, but you still deal a lot of damage.
- With careful blade management, you can easily keep the boon Deadly Blades.
- Insert "I am the bone of my sword...", "Unlimited Blade Works," and "Gate of Babylon" FGO jokes here.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Dueling - Phantasmal Fury, Fencer’s Finesse, Superiority Complex,
- Domination - Bountiful Blades, Egotism, Vicious Expression
- Virtuoso - Mental Focus, Phantasmal Blades, Bloodsong
Equipment
- Leg Armor with Assassin stats (precision +power +ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar (increased power and ferocity).
- Other armor pieces with Berserker stats (power + precision + ferocity).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Berserker stats.
- Main-hand Berserker main-hand dagger and off-hand sword with Superior Sigils of Force (increased damage) and Accuracy(increased critical hit chance).
- Switch to a two-handed greatsword with Superior Sigils of Force and Accuracy.
Utility Skills
- Signet of the Ether - heal every time you summon illusions or a virtuoso’s blades and when activated grants a bigger heal.
- Rain of Swords - a large area-of-effect attack that deals with vulnerability
- Mantra of Pain - channels a mantra to deal damage and vulnerability on enemies with unactivated skills
- Phantasmal Disenchanter - rips boons off of enemies and deals increased damage to those without boons
- Thousand Cuts - launches unblockable lines of piercing blades continuously
6. Longbow Untamed - PvP- DPS Roamer
The Ranger's elite specialization, the Untamed, is a truly wild attack-heavy profession that increases its damage potential while providing better control over your pets. It is the answer to the prayers of struggling Ranger-mains who are frustrated with their A.I. pet companions when they don’t use their skills properly.
Only the Rifle Deadeye can match their ability to launch devastating long-ranged burst attacks, but even they struggle to deal with Untamed unless they know how to deal with the usual "Sic Em!" skill that prevents them from using their stealth abilities.
Why Longbow Untamed is great for PvP
- Because of its ability to do long-ranged burst damage and easy access to a long-range disengage with its longbow 3 skill, the Untamed stands alone at the top of the PvP Roamer mountain.
- If you get too close to the Untamed, be prepared to retreat when chunks of your health melt to its greatsword when the Untamed decides to Unleash itself.
- Speaking of the greatsword, Untamed can move around the battlefield with its swoop skill and even use smoke fields to stealth itself by combining it with the longbow disengage skill.
Choose this build if:
- You are an experienced Ranger who knows when to strike.
- You understand how to use your skills as far away as possible.
- In PvP, you excel at hit-and-run tactics.
- You can see enemies approaching from a mile away and know the best escape routes.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Marksmanship - Clarian Bond, Moment of Clarity, Remorseless
- Beastmastery - Resounding Timbre, Two-handed Training, Zephyr’s Speed
- Untamed - Nature’s Shield, Cleansing Unleash, Ferocious Symbiosis
Equipment
- Amulet with Berserker stats (power + precision + ferocity).
- Superior Runes of Divinity (minimum increase in all stats).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Berserker stats.
- Main-hand two-handed greatsword Superior Sigils of ISuperior Sigils of Intelligence (next three attacks crit upon switching to greatsword) and Battle (grants might upon switching).
- Switch to a main-hand two-handed longbow with Superior Sigils of Energy (grants additional endurance) and Cleansing (cleanses one condition per weapon switch).
Utility Skills
- “We Heal As One!” - heals you and your pet while copying each other’s boons
- “Protect Me!” - gain protection and barrier while breaking teammates out of stun
- Unnatural Traversal - teleport to an enemy and inflict vulnerability
- Mutate Conditions - break out of stun while converting all your conditions into vulnerability
- Forest’s Fortification - gain lots of defensive boons and when you successfully land hits on enemies, decrease the elite skill’s cooldown
Pets
- Smokescale - uses Smoke Cloud for a smoke combo field you can use with greatsword 3 to stealth
- River Drake - solid damage pet
5. Power Mechanist - PvE - DPS Support
Your eyes did not deceive you, dear reader. The Mechanist takes two spots, which is well deserved. It is one of the most powerful DPS builds, capable of bestowing powerful boons on itself and even its allies, albeit with devastating results.
In comparison to the Low-intensity variant, you will most likely be more mobile and active while utilizing the build to its full potential. You can also keep the Battle Mech close to you and your teammates to provide cover and boons as needed.
Why Power Mechanist is great for PvE
- Although the build is very similar to the low-intensity variant, success depends on how it is used.
- The Power Mechanist has so much crowd control that it hurts to think about what it would do to those unfortunate enemies.
- The Power Mechanist's known firepower, combined with its ability to provide near-permanent Alacrity and Might buffs, allows it to instantly join any group.
Choose this build if:
- You want to play with a profession that has the potential to be one of the most powerful in terms of sheer power output and ability to provide boons to others, even if it isn't using an offensive support build variant.
- You solve all of your problems with massive amounts of firepower.
- You want to be able to join most groups and get your daily dungeons/fractals/raids/and even strike missions.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Explosives - Glass Cannon, Aim-assisted Rocket, Big Boomer
- Firearms - High Caliber, No Scope, Modified Ammunition
- Mechanist - Jade Arms: High-Impact Drivers, Mech Frame: Channeling Conduits, Mech Core: Barrier Engine
Equipment
- Diviner stat coat and helm (power + precision + ferocity + concentration) with Superior Runes of the Scholar (increases power and ferocity).
- Assassin stat shoulder and gloves (precision + power + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar.
- Berserker stat leggings and boots (power + precision + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar.
- Backpiece, amulet, and two rings with Diviner stats.
- Accessories with Assassin stats.
- Main-hand two-handed rifle with Superior Sigils of Force (increased damage) and Air (thunder strikes enemies when dealt a critical hit).
Utility Skills (similar to the Low-Intensity Mechanist)
- Rectifier Signet - passively heals you and your Battle Mech and once activated, gives a bigger heal
- Grenade Kit - equips the Mechanist with grenades that deal explosion and condition damage
- Force Signet - passively increases strike damage while knocking foes away from both you and your mech once activated
- Shift Signet - increases your movement speed, copies boons on you to mech, and once activated functions as a shadow step skill
- Overclock Signet - reduces the recharge of your signet skills and once activated orders the Battle Mech to use its Jade Buster Cannon attack
4. Offensive Support Firebrand - PvE - Healer
Guardians are a support-heavy profession by nature, with their Virtue F1 to F3 skills each performing different passive and active effects. The Support Firebrand build combines the class's support abilities with a powerful offensive ability.
The Support Firebrand build was so powerful that the developers had to intervene and nerf it, only to discover that even if they did, it was still horribly broken.
Why Support Firebrand is great for PvE
- If you're looking for one of the best supports ever, go with the Support Firebrand and its near-permanent Quickness buffs that speed up your and your party's abilities.
- Aside from buffing you, the build can be used in the middle of even the most difficult fights, keeping you and your teammates alive in difficult group content.
- Almost every group will gladly accept you, even in Strike and Raid missions where a team requires a support member.
Choose this build if:
- As a full-support class, you keep your cool under pressure and can constantly buff your team.
- You aren't afraid to stand in the middle of mobs and your team, fighting while also providing boons.
- You can perfectly time giving the Aegis buff to allies just as they are about to be hit with something lethal, saving them from being hit.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Honor - Protector’s Restoration, Honorable Staff, Writ of Persistence
- Virtues - Resolute Subconscious, Absolute Resolve, Battle Presence
- Firebrand - Liberator’s Vow, Weighty Terms, Loremaster
Equipment
- Armor with Harrier stats (power + healing + concentration) with Superior Runes of the Monk (increases healing and boon duration stats).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Harrier stats.
- Main-hand Harrier main-hand axe and shield with Superior Sigils of Transference (increased healing towards allies) and Concentration (increased boon duration).
- Switch to a two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Transference and Concentration.
Utility Skills
- Mantra of Solace - activate to heal while granting boons to you and allies in front of you
- Mantra of Potence - provide quickness buffs to the team
- Bow of Truth - summon a spectral bow that shoots healing arrows in an area-of-effect
- Mantra of Lore - cleanse conditions while providing Regeneration buffs
- “Feel My Wrath!” - grant fury and quickness for you and your teammates, and you own stack of quickness if increased
3. DPS Spellbreaker - PvP - DPS + Tank
The Warrior lives in the PvP Arena. It excels on the battlefield, and Spellbreaker, its elite specialization, is no exception. It is a force to be reckoned with, thanks to its ability to strip boons from its enemies and easily tank and counter hits with its Full Counter mechanic. There have been several variations of the DPS Spellbreaker build, so your results may vary.
Why Spellbreaker is great for PvP
- The Spellbreaker excels at fighting one-on-one and even against two opponents at once because they can rip their opponents' boons and punish them with heavy hits.
- Their greatsword not only serves as a heavy-hitting weapon choice, but also as mobility with their weapon 3 and 5 skills, as well as Bull's Charge to get to areas faster.
- Your bread and butter is crowd control. Deal it frequently to lock enemies in place and win the majority of your matches.
Choose this build if:
- You are an experienced PvP Warrior-main and understand how difficult it can be when players can see your greatsword 2 coming from miles away but still manage to pull it off.
- You have fun simply brawling with every enemy you see and can defend nodes easily against 1 or 2 enemies while knowing when to disengage.
- You can perfectly time your Full Counter and reflect back the damage dealt to you. Did I mention it's unblockable and will dazzle opponents?
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Strength - Peak Performance, Forceful Greatsword, Might Makes Right
- Discipline - Warrior’s Sprint, Brawler’s Recovery, Burst Mastery
- Spellbreaker - No Escape, Loss Aversion, Magebane Tether
Equipment
- Berserker Amulet stat (power + precision + ferocity).
- Superior Runes of the Fighter (increases power, toughness, and grants might when healing).
- Main-hand two-handed greatsword with Superior Sigils of Intelligence (next three attacks crit upon switching to greatsword) and Energy (grants additional endurance).
- Switch to a main-hand dagger and offhand shield with Superior Sigils of Battle (grants might upon switching) and Cleansing.
Utility Skills
- Mending - heal and cleanse up to five debuffs
- Endure Pain - take no damage and break out of a stun, but be weak to conditions and crowd control attacks
- “Shake It Off!” - break out of stun for yourself and your teammates while cleansing conditions
- Bull’s Charge - charge at enemies and knock them down
- Rampage - transform and gain stability and be resistant to crowd control while gaining new skills temporarily
2. Defensive Heal Scourge - PvE - Tank + Support
If you want to play as a Necromancer, you will never go wrong. You can use the majority of the builds available and get varying results, but one build stood out above the rest. Although there are various, different Scourge builds in PvP, we are focusing on PvE due to how broken the build is, and the solo power build was mentioned in a previous article.
Despite the nerfs, the Heal Scourge is still one of the most broken support builds in the game. It is very useful and is tied with the Offensive Support Firebrand in terms of being overpowered.
Why Heal Scourge is great for PvE
- Want to wield the power of the Necromancer while being even more difficult to kill? Go for the Heal Scourge and mock champions and legendary bounties who try to defeat you.
- The Scourge's access to barriers makes it one of Guild Wars 2's tankiest professions.
- The build is forgiving; if you make a mistake in your skill rotation, you can simply start over.
Choose this build if:
- You want to use one of the most powerful support builds available in the game right now.
- For the most part, you don't mind facing challenges on your own.
- You want to cheese said challenges because the build provides an absurd amount of barriers and heals.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Blood Magic - Ritual of Life, Banshee’s Wail, Transfusion
- Soul Reaping - Unyielding Blast, Fear of Death, Eternal Life
- Scourge - Abrasive Grit, Herald of Sorrow, Sand Savant
Equipment
- Armor with Magi stats (precision + healing + vitality) with Superior Runes of Mercy (increased toughness, healing power, and revive speed while granting additional health to downed allies).
- Trinkets and backpiece with Magi stats.
- Main-hand Magi main-hand dagger and off-hand torch with Superior Sigils of Transference (increased healing power to allies) and Water (heal allies occasionally when you deal critical damage).
- Switch to an offhand warhorn with Superior Sigil of Paralyzation (increased stun duration).
Utility Skills
- Well of Blood - drop a well that continuously heals allies
- Signet of Undeath - gives life force for your shroud when enemies die and when activated, sacrifices some health to revive a nearby ally
- Spectral Grasp - pull nearby foes to you to inflict Chiff debuff and gain life force
- Sand Swell - similar to a Mesmer’s portal with the added benefit of inflicting damage on foes and granting barrier to allies while using it
- Summon Flesh Golem - summons an elite minion that provides excellent crowd control when activated while the golem is alive
1. Power Catalyst - PvP - DPS
Because it is one of the most rewarding builds to pull off in every game mode, it could feature in both PvE and PvP. The Power Catalyst build has one of the highest damage potentials in PvE and becomes an even more difficult opponent in PvP. However, for the purposes of this article, we will stick with its PvP build.
Their Jade Spheres, which are infused with one of the four elements to create combo fields or hurled at enemies, provide excellent utility for the Elementalist's elite specialization. It may be difficult to use the core profession at first, learning which element to use and how to rotate through the multiple skill rotations, but once mastered, it becomes a powerhouse.
Why Power Catalyst is great for PvP
- The Power Catalyst is currently a PvP meta powerhouse with no hard counters. Most players are hesitant to fight them because of the surprising amount of damage they can dish out in a short period of time.
- Given the numerous skill rotations that they must execute, only a select few people can claim to have mastered Elementalist, let alone the Catalyst. If you master it, you will be able to use this build to go very far.
- With its hammer weapon skill 3, you can generate tons of damage by switching between elements and gaining more jade spheres that rotate around your character, and once you have four of them revolving around you, launch all of them. To ensure a kill, you must ensure that the enemy is wide open, especially in PvP.
Choose this build if:
- You're looking for one of the best builds for roaming around and dealing a lot of damage.
- You want to dominate the arena, either alone or with your team. You are adaptable in that way.
- You saw how complicated the Weaver elite specialization was and wanted something simpler to experiment with.
Full build details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Arcane - Renewing Stamina, Elemental Lockdown, Evasive Arcana
- Fire - Conjurer, Smothering Auras, Pyromancer’s Puissance
- Catalyst - Energized Elements, Spectacular Sphere, Staunch Auras
Equipment
- Marauder amulet stat (power + precision + ferocity + vitality).
- Superior Runes of Divinity (increases all stats).
- Main-hand two-handed hammer with Superior Sigils of Energy (grants additional endurance) and Cleansing (cleanses one condition per weapon switch).
Utility Skills
- Signet of Restoration - passively heals you whenever you cast spells and when activated grants a bigger heal
- Conjure Earth Shield - summons a magnetic shield that you and your allies can use to replace your utility kit with highly defensive skills while it increases your toughness and vitality stats when holding onto it.
- Fortified Earth - block incoming attacks and then provides a barrier when channeled successfully
- Signet of Air - grants you increased movement speed and when activated, blinds the surrounding enemies
- Elemental Celerity - reduces the recharge rate of your weapon skills on your current elemental attunement and when used with a jade sphere combo field, gains a random boon depending on your current element.
Closing thoughts
We couldn't possibly cover all of the classes and elite specializations in Guild Wars 2 in one article. However, we hope that these fifteen builds will serve as a good starting point for you as you learn to experiment with the mechanics, traits, and utility skills of the various professions in order to create a variety of overpowered and meme builds in the future.
Some of these may be nerfed in future balance patches, but many more will rise eventually. Which of those, dear readers, would you choose if they appeared? Please let us know so that we can create another one of these lists in the future.
To help defend your servers' Borderlands in the Mists, you need to arm yourself with the best build to gain a competitive edge against would-be invaders from other servers. The builds need to focus on either helping you to scout ahead for your teammates, roam and eliminate threats that may attempt to flank, or to stay with your group and provide damage and support.
Unlike in PvP, you will have to rely on your own weapons, trinkets, and armor despite getting boosted to level 80. If you haven't done so in PvE yet, you may not even have all of your skills unlocked. This means you must first craft or purchase your own set of armor and weapons, as well as complete some content. This makes perfect sense because in order to get good at World vs World, you must first lay the proper foundation by playing the game, which is why you must unlock the game mode by playing until level 60 for free-to-play players and level 30 for those who purchased the game.
The main mechanics of World vs World
World vs World combines elements of both PvE and PvP by having you complete objectives around key locations to capture them, with the important ones providing supplies. Some enemies will be invulnerable for a few minutes after being captured, forcing other teams to capture other objectives first. Siege weaponry, such as the Flame Ram, Catapult, and even the mighty Siege Golem, can be used to deal significant damage to walls and doors. Arrow carts and Ballistas can be used to keep large groups of enemy players from attacking your zerg.
World vs World matches last a week and are divided into skirmishes every 2 hours. After each reset, server teams are randomized and placed in a different borderland to protect. Similar to PvP, there are roles that players can take on to assist their team. The zerg is the team's main force, focusing on dealing maximum damage to the enemy zerg and typically bringing area-of-effect skills. Roamers are similar to their PvP counterparts in that they pick off stragglers and attack flanks. Scouts monitor the status of territories and the movement of enemies across the map, and they are important members of the team who must excel at disengaging and roaming.
10. Willbender - Roamer
To start strong, we have a Guardian elite specialization that has received love from various game modes, making it a great option to use in any of them. Willbenders are a more combat-oriented class that focuses on bursting down their opponents with burning damage and then kiting them with their scepter skills to secure a kill. Because of their sword 2 and utility skills, they can quickly close the gap between their targets.
You must be more mobile and active while playing as a roaming Willbender because, unlike in PvE, enemy opponents will not stick around your area-of-effect attacks. Unlike its other elite specialization brethren, this is where the profession's combat prowess excels.
Why Willbender is Great for WvW:
- Willbenders can use their skills to chase down opponents and cover a lot of ground quickly.
- Whether they fight alone or with the zerg, the Willbender will be able to wreak havoc wherever they go.
- Willbenders are tough enough to hold their own against other roamers.
Choose This Build if...
- You enjoy roaming the map and taking out careless enemy players who wander too far away from their groups.
- You're sick of playing support and want to have a good old-fashioned brawl.
- You aren't afraid to start fights while roaming and can quickly end them with continuous bursts.
- You can cosplay as Ryu or Ken from Street Fighter by making your F1 skill look like an uppercut and your Whirling Kick look like a tornado kick.
Full Build Details:
- Traits and Major Perks:
- Radiance - Inner Fire, Radiant Fire, Righteous Instincts
- Virtues - Unscathed Contender, Absolute Resolve, Permeating Wrath
- Willbender - Conceited Curate, Vanguard Tactics, Tyrant’s Momentum
Equipment
- Armor set with Celestial stats (minor increase in every stat) with Superior Runes of Durability or Defender (provides more sustain)
- Celestial double swords with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Switch to the main hand scepter and offhand torch with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Trinkets with Celestial stats
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Shelter - regain health while blocking attacks
- Judge’s Intervention - blink towards your enemy from a great distance while removing stun from yourself and inflict burn damage on enemies
- Whirling Light - perform whirling kicks while lunging, causing weakness and burn damage
- “Stand Your Ground!” - break stun for you and your allies while providing Stability and Resolution buffs
- Renewed Focus - become invincible for a few seconds and recharge your virtue skills instantly
9. Berserker Mechanist - Zerg Roamer
The Engineer profession has grown in popularity as a result of the introduction of the Mechanist elite specialization and its Battle Mech, a function that many engineer mains wished for in order to have a golemancer-type of profession. The Mechanist differs from the other elite specializations, including the engineer's own, in that the major perks are used to customize the skills of your battle mech rather than your character. The battle mech also acts as a Ranger's pet, attacking enemies within melee range or, with certain perks, from range.
Why Mechanist is Great for WvW:
- Because of its simplicity, the Mechanist berserker build is ideal for those learning how to play World vs World.
- Depending on the situation, you can swap your second utility skill for more evasion, more crowd control, or a weapons kit. The build is very adaptable and can serve as support if necessary.
- Your battle mech can be used as a distraction while you flee or as additional firepower during battles against groups of enemies and champions.
Choose This Build if...
- As an Engineer, you want a simple but effective build that can quickly join zergs, fight other groups, and provide additional firepower.
- You want to take it easy and just follow the group around and take objectives around the borderlands instead of roaming around solo.
- You continue to request that the developers allow you to name your Battle Mech or create new skins for it, but to no avail.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Explosives - Short Fuse, Aim-Assisted Rocket, Big Boomer
- Alchemy - Protection Injection, Emergency Elixir, HGH
- Mechanist - Mech Arms: Jade Cannon, Mech Frame: Channeling Conduits, Mech Core: J-Drive
Equipment
- Armor set with Berserker stats (power + precision + ferocity) with Superior Runes of Sanctuary
- Berserkers two-handed rifle with Superior Sigils of Air and Celerity
- Rings with Berserker stats, Amulet with Marauder stats (power + precision + vitality + ferocity), and the rest with Knight stats (power + toughness + precision)
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Rectifier Signet - passively heals you and your mech then activate it to give a greater heal
- Elixir U - breaks stun while Quickness, Stability, and Vigor
- The second utility slot can revolve between Rocket Boots to let you escape fights, Force Signet to boost your damage passively and do a crowd-control attack when activated, or the Tool Kit to provide a melee kit with various effects.
- Shift Signet - passively gives you a movement speed increase and copies your boons to your mech and when activated lets you and your mech shadow step to a location while cleansing conditions
- Overclock Signet - passively reduces the recharge rate of signets and when activated, commands your mech to use its Jade Buster Cannon attack.
8. Vindicator - Zerg Support
Revenants are excellent jack-of-all-trades professions that can fit into any game mode and carve out a nice niche for themselves due to their versatility. They can be a DPS one minute and a support the next. For this list, we will concentrate on their more support-oriented build, which allows them to fully utilize their newest elite specialization, the Vindicator.
Vindicators thrive in a zerg, whether leading the charge and dealing damage or looking after their allies on the battlefield. Their Alliance Legend stance has both an offensive and a defensive side, which you can switch between by pressing F2 and switching from red (offensive) to blue (defensive). Their dodge rolls have also been changed to a high jump that leads into an overhead strike.
Why Vindicator is Great for WvW:
- Vindicators have great support abilities tied to their Alliance Legend Stance, which they can swap by using their F2 skill, "Alliance Tactics," and switching between the offensive Archemorus and the support Saint Viktor.
- Vindicators can easily heal their allies in World vs World by using the profession's major perk, which makes their dodges heal allies when they land.
- The build can quickly grant the Vigor buff, increasing the recharge rate for dodges, and the more you dodge, the more you heal allies and cleanse their conditions.
Choose This Build if...
- You are skilled at using your Alliance Legend and can quickly switch between offense and defense.
- You're not afraid to be in the thick of things, healing allies left and right.
- You intend to purchase a pogo stick in the near future after constantly spamming dodge in an attempt to heal your teammates.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Corruption - Replenishing Despair, Demonic Resistance, Fiendish Tenacity
- Salvation - Eluding Nullification, Fortified Blessing, Invigorating Dismissal
- Vindicator - Amnesty of Shing Jea, Song of Arboreum, Saint of zu Heltzer
Equipment
- Armor set with Minstrel stats (toughness, concentration, vitality, healing power) with Superior Runes of the Monk
- Minstrel two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Stamina and Energy
- Switch to two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Life and Energy
- Trinkets with Minstrel stats
- Healing WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Legendary Dwarf Stance - utility kit when channeling Jalis
- Legendary Alliance Stance - utility kit when channeling the legendary Alliance or Archemorus and Saint Viktor which you can switch with Alliance Tactics
7. Core Hammer Warrior - Zerg Roamer
You got it right, dear reader. There is no need for elite specialization or any fancy setup. Just y ou as a warrior, a hammer, a greatsword, and knowledge of when to fight or not. Core Warrior has enough armor to fight almost anything in World vs World, but is better suited to zerg roaming.
They can stun-lock their opponents with their hammer before they can counter them. Enemies could use a stun break, but they will eventually run out of them. Their abilities revolve around constantly applying crowd control to enemies and stunning them while the rest of the team punishes the defenseless opponents.
Why Hammer Warrior is Great for WvW:
- Core Warrior is a great zerg mainstay, with tons of damage potential, and can even be used by free-to-play players at level 60, though it is obviously recommended that they raise their level to 80 first to unlock their traits and specializations.
- There may be an axe variant of the build that swaps the hammer for the main hand axe and offhand shield for more protection and burst, but if you want more stuns, the hammer is the way to go.
- Warriors are a simple class to learn, but it takes time to fully master because you must fight up close and personal rather than within kiting range.
Choose This Build if...
- You don't have the expansion packs and want to try World vs World with a decent heavy armor profession with a lot of firepower.
- You know when to fight and when to avoid unnecessary sacrifices.
- You are a confident Warrior-main determined to punish those who underestimate a pure berserker warrior in World vs World.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Strength - Peak Performance, Forceful Greatsword, Aggressive Onslaught
- Defense - Cull the Weak, Merciless Hammer, Cleansing Ire
- Discipline - Warrior’s Sprint, Brawler’s Recovery, Burst Mastery
Equipment
- Armor set with Berserker stats (power, precision, ferocity) with Superior Runes of Durability
- Berserker Hammer with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Switch to a two-handed greatsword with Superior Sigils of Hydromancy and Vision
- Trinkets with Berserker Stats
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Mending - heal yourself then remove up to 5 conditions
- “Shake It Off!” - cleanse conditions from you and your allies while breaking out of stun
- Bull’s Charge - charge toward your opponents and knock them down
- Endure Pain - take no damage for a few seconds but become susceptible to conditions and crowd control attacks
- Rampage - transform to reduce damage, conditions, and control effects while gaining Stability and a temporarily different set of weapon skills
6. DPS Soulbeast - Roamer
The Rangers excel at roaming the map and picking off enemies from a distance more than anything else in World vs World and PvP. What makes them more dangerous is their use of the utility skill "Sic em! ", which instructs your pet to reveal stealthy enemies and prevent them from returning to stealth, leaving them vulnerable to a barrage of powerful arrow shots.
Soulbeasts enhance their offensive abilities by merging with their pets and learning to use specific skills depending on the merged pet. When designed specifically for it, they transform into hard-hitting, close-range fighters.
Why Soulbeast is Great for WvW:
- Just like in PvP, they are great in terms of being able to burst down opponents easily from long range and giving stealthy opponents the dreaded Revealed debuff which prevents them from entering into stealth mode for a while.
- Their playstyle is more hit-and-run than actually engaging them fully and can easily get disengage fights.
- There is very little that stealth professions can do to get around the Revealed debuff, and can shut down ambush set-ups from enemy opponents. The only counter to it is if they are going against a Deadeye equipped with Shadow Meld.
Choose This Build if...
- You enjoy fighting from afar and can quickly disengage from fast opponents.
- You are acutely aware of your surroundings and can easily detect warning signs of impending danger. You can also stay with your zerg and protect the flank if necessary.
- You had a lot of fun as a Ranger-main in PvP and want to see if you can replicate that success in World vs World.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Skirmishing - Primal Reflexes, Strider’s Defense, Quick Draw
- Beastmastery - Resounding Timbre, Two-Handed Training, Beastly Warden
- Soulbeast - Unstoppable Union, Essence of Speed, Leader of the Pack
Equipment
- Armor set with Marauder stats (power + precision + vitality + ferocity) with Superior Runes of Tormenting or of the Aristocracy (less sustain but more might)
- Berserker two-handed longbow with Superior Sigils of Celerity and Cleansing
- Switch to a two-handed greatsword with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Trinkets with Berserker stats (power + precision + ferocity)
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Bear Stance - heal you and your pet and then while it is active, heal for every condition cleared
- “Sic em!” - removes the stealth effects of your opponents and gives them the Revealed debuff in addition to inflicting increased damage
- Dolyak Stance - remove and prevent movement-impairing conditions and break stuns
- “Protect Me!” - gain Protection buffs and a barrier while breaking you and your allies from stuns
- One Wolf Pack - while the stance is active, your attacks are dealt twice per interval
Pets
- Smokescale for a smoke combo field.
- Siamoth for a stun break while merged or switch with Owl for a leap combo finisher
5. Celestial Catalyst - Roamer
Elementalists are a PvE and PvP powerhouse who can be found in every game mode looking for ways to dominate. World vs World is no exception, bringing its Celestial Build from PvP into the game mode with astounding results. You get a less squishy but highly damaging build that can safely roam the borderlands and perform admirably against other roamers. They will put up a good fight and will almost certainly win if their opponents underestimate the power of a skilled Catalyst user.
Their mighty hammer enters the fray by switching elements and gaining more spheres with their hammer 3 skill, which they then unleash on their opponents while dropping combo fields with their Jade Sphere F5 skill. Depending on your current elemental attunement, they will either drop a fire, air, water, or earth combo field for you and your allies to use for buffs or to inflict damage on opponents.
Why Catalyst is Great for WvW:
- You've probably heard about how great the Catalyst is in the current PvP meta, as well as in World vs World, where it continues to hold its own against other powerful roamers.
- Their versatility in switching roles from roamer to zerg fighter and support is extremely beneficial, though they excel far more as a roamer.
- Their unexpected tankiness can frighten inexperienced roamers who believe they are easy targets fighting a losing battle.
Choose This Build if...
- You know your Catalyst inside and out and can properly rotate your skills.
- You have enough gold to outfit your Celestial Catalyst, which is useful because their equipment is expensive.
- You've dominated the PvP setting as your Catalyst-main and want to see how they fare against you in World vs World.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Fire - Burning Fire, Smothering Auras, Pyromancer’s Puissance
- Arcane - Renewing Stamina, Final Shielding, Evasive Arcana
- Catalyst - Energized Elements, Spectacular Sphere, Staunch Auras
Equipment
- Armor set with Celestial (minor increase in every stat) with Superior Runes of Speed, or Divinity (cheaper alternative)
- Celestial two-handed hammer with Superior Sigils of Doom and Geomancy
- Trinkets with Celestial stats
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Signet of Restoration - passively heals whenever you cast a spell and when activated grants a bigger heal
- Signet of Air - passively increases your walking speed while inflicting Blind on surrounding enemies when activated
- You can choose between using Conjure Earth Shield and its many skills of granting protection and blocks, or Lightning Flash to act as a teleport away from enemies or chase them.
- Fortified Earth - blocks attacks then gain a barrier if the skill was channeled completely, and have its recharge reduced when performed near an earth combo field from your Jade Sphere F5 skill.
- Elemental Celerity - reduces the recharge rate of your weapon skills and gains a boon depending on the combo field of the jade sphere you dropped
4. Tanky Harbinger - Roamer
Whatever the game mode, the Necromancer profession will always be near the top of the meta. However, for this particular build, we will be looking at one that allows it to roam the map and be a nuisance to stragglers. The build has two variations, one offensive and one defensive. We will concentrate on the defensive variant for a good reason: to address the necromancer's obvious weaknesses in dealing with burst damage and crowd control
The Harbinger is more akin to an alchemist who drinks potions to reap benefits while inflicting Blight stacks on their enemies. Blight is a one-of-a-kind debuff that slowly reduces a Harbinger's maximum health. Drinking more elixirs increases the player's blight, creating a risk versus reward dynamic for the profession. However, in the hands of a skilled Harbinger player, the reward will outweigh the risk.
Why Harbinger is Great for WvW:
- Unlike in PvP, where power is the current meta, condition damage is still very viable in World vs World, and who better to do it than necromancers?
- This build can rest easy because it was designed to compensate for its weaknesses in dealing with burst damage and crowd control. To help it move around the borderlands, the harbinger has additional mobility built into its shroud skills.
- Harbingers are fantastic professions that can roam the map and scout ahead while also excelling in zerg fights.
Choose This Build if...
- You don't mind blight's risk vs. reward mechanic and can deal with it accordingly.
- You aren't afraid to engage in combat because you are one of the game's tankiest builds.
- You may be able to relate to your own Harbinger downing their own elixirs and frequently roleplay getting drunk in random Tyria taverns for fun.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Curses - Plague Sending, Path of Corruption, Weakening Shroud
- Death Magic - Shrouded Removal, Dark Defiance, Corruptor’s Fervor
- Harbinger - Vile VIals, Implacable Foe, Deathly Haze
Equipment
- Armor set with Celestial stats (minor increase in every stat) with Superior Runes of Tormenting or of the Aristocracy (less sustain but more might)
- Celestial main hand pistol and offhand warhorn with Superior Sigils of Torment and Doom
- Switch to two-handed staff with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Trinkets with Celestial stats
- Malign WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Elixir of Promise - heal yourself then toss the elixir to poison enemies while gaining Blight stacks
- Summon Flesh Wurm - summon a flesh wurm to act like a stationary turret minion that you can teleport back from a large distance
- Elixir of Bliss - convert your conditions into life force while gaining the Resolution buff then toss the elixir to convert their boons into conditions
- Spectral Walk - break from stun then convert your conditions into life force for your shroud, then return to your position after using the skill again
- Elixir of Ambition - gain every possible boon on yourself then toss the elixir to inflict every damaging condition on foes
3. DPS Thief Deadeye - Roamer and Scout
If the Ranger is the leader in disengaging and roaming in PvP, the Thief is its World vs World counterpart. Thieves are dangerous foes to have to chase you because of their many skills, which allow them to move stealthily around the battlefield and easily catch up to their prey. They are also great scouts for your team.
Their elite specialization, Deadeye, excels at sniping opponents from afar with their rifle and can increase their damage with their Deadeye's Mark skill, which replaces their steal F1 Mechanic. The more Malice you have, the more powerful your stealth attacks will be. When combined with the rifle's kneeling stealth attack, the damage skyrockets.
Why DPS Deadeye is Great for WvW:
- Their ability to one-shot enemies with a full-power, multiple-malice-stacked stealth rifle attack is terrifying.
- Deadeyes can move undetected around the home and enemy borderlands, ambushing careless and unaware enemies.
- Thieves are often pitted against other roamers and scouts who are unprepared for a Deadeye with a damage-dealing build and an escape plan because they are best suited for one-on-one combat.
Choose This Build if...
- You are confident in your ability to cross the borderlands undetected and can easily flee if seen.
- You know when your opponent has skills that can reflect rifle shots and when not to engage.
- You are not afraid to be mostly alone while roaming and can handle yourself in a fight. As a thief main, you may even be confident in your PvP abilities.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Shadow Arts - Shadow’s Embrace, Leeching Venoms, Shadow’s Rejuvenation
- Trickery - Thrill of the Crime, Bountiful Theft, Sleight of Hand
- Deadeye - Malicious Intent, Silent Scope, Be Quick of Be Killed
Equipment
- Armor set with Marauders stats (power + precision + vitality + ferocity) with Superior Runes of the Scholar or Divinity and Strength as cheaper alternatives
- Two-handed rifle with Superior Sigils of Energy and Celerity
- Switch to the main-hand sword and off-hand pistol with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Bloodlust
- Trinkets with Marauders stats
- Mighty WvW Infusions
Utility Skills
- Withdraw - roll backward while healing movement-impairing conditions and evading attacks
- Mercy - sacrifice malice stacks to refresh Deadeye’s Mark and gain initiative based on the number of stacks consumed
- Shadowstep - teleport to an area while cleansing conditions and return to your initial position when used again
- The third utility slot can be rotated with several other utilities. For example, you may use Blinding Powder for a blast finisher on your smoke field to gain additional stealth or Binding Shadow for additional crowd control.
- Shadow Meld - If you have the Revealed debuff, you can’t use stealth skills. Use it to bypass the debuff and stealth away.
2. Support Chronomancer - Zerg Support
Mesmers have been a vital support class in World vs World since the beginning, thanks to their ability to scout ahead and provide much-needed support for their teams. They are extremely useful due to their stealth abilities and ability to set up large-scale ambushes. They can even use their portals to transport players into castles that they were able to sneak into (or, in most cases, hide in when the enemies invaded the location) and reclaim without having to siege them.
With the Chronomancer elite specialization, their utility increases even more thanks to their Well skills, which benefit teammates while dealing damage and debuffs to enemies. Although other classes are now able to do so, the elite specialization was the first to share Alacrity with their allies, making it a much-needed skill.
Why Support Chronomancer is Great for WvW:
- Support Chronomancers can provide the zerg with a wide range of useful abilities, including Alacrity and Quickness, group stealth, and even area-of-effect condition cleanse.
- If they use the F5 skill before shattering illusions and phantasms and returning to their initial position, they can reuse their skills.
- They are one of the few professions that, if they choose to use the skill, can use portals to help other players get to important locations quickly.
Choose This Build if...
- You are an experienced scout who knows exactly where the enemies might go next. Knowing where they are will allow you to stealth away when things get dicey in your castle and portal in your teammates if the territory is invaded.
- You understand your Chronomancer's abilities and can use Illusion of Life and Gravity Well to your advantage.
- You have enough experience in the game mode and a commander tag. If no one else is in charge of leading your squad, you can do it yourself by issuing orders and using your utility skills to support your team.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Illusions - Shatter Storm, Phantasmal Haste, Master of Fragmentation
- Domination - Rending Shatter, Shattered Concentration, Vicious Expression
- Chronomancer - Delayed Reactions, Improved Alacrity, Stretched Time or Sieze the Moment (if the zerg needs more Quickness)
Equipment
- Armor set with Minstrel stats (toughness + healing + vitality + concentration) with Superior Runes of Durability
- Main-hand sword and off-hand focus with Superior Sigils of Energy and Absorption
- Switch to the main-hand sword and off-hand shield with Superior Sigils of Energy and Absorption
- Trinkets with Minstrel stats
- Can switch Minstrel stat equipment with Wanderers and Celestial stats.
- Concentration WvW Infusion
Utility Skills
- Well of Eternity - an area of effect condition cleanse that heals after a few seconds
- Null Field - rips the boons on enemy players and condition cleanses allies
- Veil - drops a wall of magic that provides stealth to all that pass through it
- Illusion of Life - temporarily revives downed allies that allow them to fully revive if they managed to kill an enemy within a short time period
- Gravity Well - pulls enemies and deals increasing heavy area-of-effect damage
1. Support Firebrand - Zerg Support
The Guardian's elite specialization, the Firebrand, is an excellent option for providing all-out support while remaining in a large-scale fight and is mostly seen in World versus World. Guardians alone are regarded as great WvW commanders due to the support they provide the team both passively and actively through virtues, utility skills, and even weapons.
The Guardian's elite specialization, the Firebrand, is an excellent option for providing all-out support while remaining in a large-scale fight and is mostly seen in World versus World. Guardians alone are regarded as great WvW commanders due to the support they provide the team both passively and actively through virtues, utility skills, and even weapons.
Why Support Firebrand is Great for WvW:
- Support Firebrands are extremely useful and are always welcome in the squad.
- Their tankiness benefits team fights and can assist teammates in reviving.
- Depending on the situation, they can revolve their third utility skill around other supportive skills.
Choose This Build if...
- You want a support build that thrives during combat.
- You can time your Mantras and shouts to provide stun breaks at critical times.
- The equipment you use, despite its hefty price tag, gives you a sizable advantage in boon uptime.
Full Build Details:
Traits and Major Perks:
- Honor - Invigorated Bulwark, Pure of Heart, Pure of Voice
- Virtues - Master of Consecrations, Absolute Resolve, Battle Presence
- Firebrand - Liberator’s Vow, Stalwart Speed, Loremaster
Equipment
- Armor set with Minstrel stats (toughness + healing + vitality + concentration) with Superior Runes of Durability
- Two-handed Staff with Superior Sigils of Energy and Transference
- Switch to the main-hand mace and off-hand shield with Superior Sigils of Energy and Transference
- Trinkets with Minstrel stats
- Concentration WvW Infusion for those with Ascended and Legendary Armor and Weapons
Utility Skills
- Mantra of Solace - heal while granting boons to surrounding allies
- “Stand Your Ground!” - provides you and your team with Stability and breaks stuns
- Hallowed Ground - provides area-of-effect Stability and Resolution buffs while creating a fire combo field
- The third slot is open to any skill. Use whatever is necessary for the current situation.
- Mantra of Liberation - grant Stability and Resolution buffs while also breaking stun for allies
Closing Thoughts
Whatever game mode you choose, there will always be something to conquer. You can work as part of a team or on your own to achieve your goals. After all, World versus World is a hybrid of PvE and PvP, and there will always be opportunities to show off your skills. Best wishes to you as you defend your borderlands within the Mists, Commander.
The competitive PvP game mode of Guild Wars 2 brings many players to its doorsteps, each having their own builds. The best part about build crafting in Guild Wars 2 PvP is that when you visit the PvP Map Hub, you are already leveled up to 80 with all of your skills and traits unlocked (minus elite specializations if you don't have the expansion packs, of course), as well as a variety of runes, signets, and stat amulets to experiment with. Knowing this, here are some of the best class builds you can use in PvP.
A side note about the roles in PvP
Before we get into the builds, let's talk about the different roles that players can play in PvP. Instead of pure one-on-one fights with other players, you and four other players team up to fight another team of five players as they capture several key locations across multiple game maps. Team composition with proper builds and assigned roles results in great teams that excel in both casual and ranked gameplay.
Duelists are players who excel at fighting classes one-on-one and eliminating targets to gain points. They should be able to handle most professions one-on-one or in pairs. Support roles provide their teammates with much-needed boons, condition cleanses, and additional heals. Teamfighter roles are those who can deal a lot of damage and CC with their teammates to ensure they overwhelm their opponents. Finally, Roamers scout the map for opportunities to end fights when their teammates require assistance. The Bunker is another role, but with the current meta focusing on power builds, they can easily obliterate Bunkers. That doesn't mean they aren't viable.
10. Necromancer Harbinger - Team fighter
The humble Necromancer has had its fair share of success in PvP, but due to the current meta-scene shift that sees Power replace Condition Damage as the primary method of dealing damage, its usage has dropped significantly. This does not, however, mean that condition damage-dealing professions and builds are no longer viable. "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome," as Bear Grylls famously said.
Harbingers are the elite specialization of Necromancers who took a firearms course and began tinkering with strange elixirs that grant them various boons with a nasty side-effect that leaves them with Blight stacks. They stick close to their teammates, providing a lot of support with their elixirs while dealing a lot of damage with their pistol and warhorn offhand combo.
Full build details:
For your traits lines, go with Curses, Blood Magic, and the Harbinger Elite Specialization trait line while taking the following major perks:
- Curses - Plague Sending, Path of Corruption, Weakening Shroud
- Blood Magic - Quickening Thirst, Vampiric Presence, Unholy Martyr
- Harbinger - Vile Vials, Implacable Foe, Deathly Haste
Condition Harbingers should take the following equipment:
- Carrion amulet - boosts your condition damage and power.
- Superior Runes of Orr - further increases your condition damage and duration.
- Main hand Pistol and Offhand Warhorn with Superior Sigils of Misery and Exposure
- Staff with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
Harbingers can take the following utility skills in PvP when using this build:
- Elixir of Promise - heals you and grants you some regeneration while inflicting Blight on your character, then poisons your opponents
- Spectral Walk - use once to do a stun break and consume conditions to convert them into life force for your Harbinger shroud, then a second time to use Spectral Recall and return to your initial position when you first used the skill.
- Corrosive Poison Cloud - poisons and inflicts weakness on your opponents while destroying projectiles.
- Summon Flesh Wurm - acts as an immobile minion/turret, and allows you to instantly teleport to the location of the Wurm from a great distance
- Elite Skill: Elixir of Ambition - gain every possible boon on yourself but gain a significant amount of light and gives nearby opponents every damaging condition.
Why Harbinger is great for PvP?
- Harbingers serve as the team's backbone for condition damage, as well as occasional support with their elixirs.
- Although the Condi Meta has been replaced by the Power Meta, condition damage is still lethal if not dealt with and still has a place on the leaderboards. Harbingers, as Necromancers, can deal condition damage just as well as their elite specialization counterparts.
- Their Flesh Wurm minion serves as a map-wide portal for you to return to a currently contested node, allowing you to have map-wide coverage of the area.
Choose this build if:
- You are familiar with the Necromancer playstyle and can deal with the Harbinger's Blight mechanics.
- You don't mind the additional risk that Blight imposes on players because the risk outweighs the reward.
- You recognize that the Harbinger Shroud differs from the other Necromancer Shrouds, which function as secondary health bars.
- You are certain that the Condition Meta will reappear stronger than ever in the near future, and you are preparing for it.
9. Revenant Vindicator - Team fighter
The End of Dragons expansion pack gave the third Heavy Armor profession a greatsword to use, as well as not one, but two legends in the form of the "Legendary Alliance Stance." You can switch between the legends by pressing F2, and your skill bar skills will change from blue to red. Blue represents a defensive stance that grants buffs and support to you and your allies, whereas red represents an offensive stance that grants you skills that give you an advantage over enemies.
This popular build focuses on using both the Alliance legend and Shiro against your opponents, switching between them based on your needs (which becomes amusing to think about lore-wise as the Alliance was responsible for toppling Shiro). An alternate build switches the Alliance stance with Jalis to become more defensive and is much better suited to beginners learning how to PvP with a Renegade.
Full build details:
For their traits, Vindicators will use the trait lines Salvation, Invocation, and the Vindicator elite specialization trait line so pick these major perks to build your character:
- Salvation - Eluding Nullification, Resilient Spirit, Unyielding Devotion
- Invocation - Cleansing Channel, Rapid Flow, Call of the Assassin
- Vindicator - Leviathan Strength, Angsiyan’s Trust, Imperial Impact
Vindicators should use the following equipment:
- Berserker Amulet - boosts significantly offensive stats
- Superior Runes of Divinity - increases all of their attributes
- Greatsword with Sigils of Intelligence and Energy
- Staff with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Escape
As mentioned above, the build uses the skills automatically equipped from invoking Shiro and the Alliance legends.
Why Vindicator is great for PvP?
- With the recent buff to Vindicators, they regain their second endurance bar, allowing them to dodge twice. Their dodges essentially function like a Final Fantasy Lancer's Jump Ability, where they evade by jumping high into the air and crashing down onto their opponents.
- Switching between Alliance stances allows you to play as both a support and offense when necessary.
- Shiro's legendary stance is useful for his elite skill, which deals a large amount of CC damage while stunning opponents in an area around your character. The stance also allows you to evade and increase your movement and attack speed.
- If your team requires a Bunker variant, you can use the same build by swapping the Divinity Runes for Dolyak Runes.
Choose this build if:
- You understand how to play around the Alliance stances and can effectively switch between them.
- You can fight alongside your teammates and provide cover when needed while inflicting pain on your opponents.
- You don't mind Shiro and the Alliance constantly bickering in your poor character's head. At the very least, you won't get bored thinking about their strange arguments while waiting for your turn to load in PvP.
8. Core Guardian - Support
Guardians are the heavy armor profession to choose if you want the might of a warrior combined with the supporting abilities of an Elementalist. It may come as a surprise to learn that this list includes core Guardian rather than an elite specialization, and for good reason. The profession excels at giving support while punishing those who dare to stand in its way. It may be slow, but it works hard and, more often than not, succeeds in its mission.
Full build details:
For the Support Guardian build, you need to focus on providing utility on the battlefield while also staying alive. For this very reason, you need to take the Valor, Virtues, and Honor trait lines as well as the following major perks under them:
- Valor - Smiter’s Boon, Stalwart Defender, Altruistic Healing
- Virtues - Resolute Subconscious, Absolute Resolve, Indomitable Courage
- Honor - Invigorated Bulwark, Pure of Heart, Pure Voice
Support Guardian builds tend to use this equipment:
- Avatar Amulet - increases power, precision, healing, and vitality boosts.
- Superior Runes of the Soldier - remove conditions from allies whenever you use Shout skills which the build uses.
- Staff with Superior Sigils of Energy and Transference
- Main-hand sword or mace with an offhand focus with Superior Sigils of Energy and Transference
Support Guardians can take the following utility skills in PvP when using this build:
- “Receive the Light!” - heal allies in a cone that can pulse five times.
- “Stand Your Ground!” - grant stability and resolution to yourself and allies and acts as a stun break
- “Advance!” - grant you and your allies aegis and swiftness
- Signet of Mercy - passively improves concentration stat and when activated revives a nearby downed ally.
- Signet of Courage - passively heal allies while in combat, and grants a massive heal as long as you don’t get interrupted by any means.
Why Support Guardian is great for PvP?
- Support Guardians are beneficial to nearly every team. When things get hectic, they provide much-needed support.
- "Stand Your Ground!" and "Advance!" are excellent skills for assisting your comrades, and knowing when to use them can help turn things around when the fight gets out of hand.
- They can follow another player around as their pocket medic, cleansing their conditions with their shouts and providing powerful boons.
- Their staff weapon 3 skill can grant swiftness boons in a small area-of-effect, and their weapon 5 skill can physically block opponents.
Choose this build if:
- You are the epitome of a team player, willing to go above and beyond for them.
- As long as the team survives, you don't mind playing a mostly supportive role.
- Your idea of healing is to yell at your allies like the drill instructor character from Full Metal Jacket.
7. Thief Specter - Power Roamer
The Power Specter build, a surprising class and build, to say the least, has slowly gained traction alongside its Deadeye counterpart in vying for the top spot of the Roamer role. Specters are the Thief profession's newest elite specialization and are known as a support class rather than a DPS like its other counterparts. If there is a game mode that makes use of the Specter's expertise in map traversal as well as being a profession known for being the best in one-on-one combat, it is PvP.
Full build details:
The Power Specter build focuses on chasing enemies and punishing them while using the Critical Strikes, Trickery, and Specter elite specialization trait lines so pick these major perks:
- Critical Strikes - Twin Fangs, Practiced Tolerance, No Quarter
- Trickery - Thrill of the Crime, Bountiful Theft, Sleight of Hand
- Specter - Shallow Grave, Traversing Dusk, Hungering Darkness
Power Specters use the following equipment in PvP:
- Marauder amulets - raises offensive stats
- Superior Runes of the Chronomancer - grants quickness buffs whenever they use their Well skills.
- Main hand dagger and offhand pistol using Signets of Absorption and Exploitation
- Main hand sword and offhand dagger with Signets of Energy and Cleansing.
You will notice that the utility skills you will be using allows Specters to catch up with their chosen victims by dropping a Well skill, so take these with you in PvP:
- Well of Gloom - shadow step and apply cripple on foes while healing yourself and your allies
- Well of Bounty - shadow step and grants boons to yourself and allies
- Shadowfall - shadow step and constantly pull enemies to the AoE’s center and cause damage with greater intensity.
- Shadowstep- stun break while healing conditions on you and allows you to teleport back to your initial position
- Infiltrator’s Signet - regenerates extra initiative for you and blinks to your target opponent when you activate it.
Why Specter is great for PvP?
- Specters have great mobility thanks to their weapon skills, allowing them to engage enemies from a long distance quickly.
- Although they aren't as powerful as their Deadeye counterpart, they compensate for damage by being able to survive much longer because they aren't as limited and can use melee weapons instead of projectiles, protecting themselves from reflect skills.
- They can still use their Specter mechanics to tether themselves to their teammates and provide useful support while also transforming into their version of a necromancer's shroud and dealing increased damage.
Choose this build if:
- Your team already has a Daredevil or Deadeye and requires an alternate who can act as a dedicated roamer if the D.E. isn't one already.
- You want something different than a Ranger who can easily pick off its targets with careful maneuvering and pressure.
- You want a class that can move like a thief, has the shroud of a Necromancer and plays like a skirmisher Ranger.
6. Warrior Spellbreaker - Duelist
It was about time for a Warrior to appear on this list, and one of the best elite professions to do so happens to be the tankiest, hard-hitting one of the bunch. The Spellbreaker is unquestionably a Duelist and an occasional Team fighter, thanks to its ability to use its Physical skills to withstand damage and its Bull Rush skill to both move long distances and damage opponents. They also use their greatsword weapon skills for additional mobility and damage.
Spellbreakers, as the name implies, can use their unique skills to remove boons from enemies, as well as their new F2 skill, Full Counter, which blocks all incoming damage and then unleashes it all once it ends. Instead of using the entire Adrenaline bar to use a Burst skill, it is now divided into two parts that can be filled up and used twice.
Full build details:
There are two variations for the Spellbreaker Duelist build: an offensive and a defensive variant. We will be focusing on the offensive build for now as it is the one that sees more usage in the current meta.
Warrior-mains that focus on PvE may see the build and notice that it seems familiar with some slight variations. For the trait lines, use Strength, Discipline, and the Spellbreaker elite specialization traits and the following major perks:
- Strength - Peak Performance, Forceful Greatsword, Might Makes Right
- Discipline - Warrior’s Sprint, Brawler’s Recovery, Burst Mastery
- Spellbreaker - No Escape, Loss Aversion, Magebane Tether
The Spellbreakers can bring with them the following equipment into PvP:
- Berserker amulet stats - one of the amulet stats with the highest attack potential in the PvP.
- Superior Runes of the Fighter - boosts both power and toughness stats, as well as granting stacks of might boons whenever you use a healing skill.
- Main hand dagger and offhand shield with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Battle
- Greatsword with Superior Sigils of Intelligence and Energy
Spellbreakers use their greatswords to stun opponents first with the effects of Full Counter before unleashing Thousand Blades on them, and then chasing them down if they try to flee. Because the majority of your utility skills are Physical Skills that increase your damage for a few seconds when used thanks to the Peak Performance perk, Spellbreakers can use these utility skills:
- Mending - heal you and cleanse up to 5 conditions.
- Bull’s Charge - chase your enemies and can be used as a Leap Combo Finisher
- Rampage - transform you and take reduced damage.
- “Shake It Off!” - your only means to help your teammates remove the stun debuff.
- Endure Pain - temporarily become immune from attacks but conditions can still affect you.
Why Spellbreaker is great for PvP?
- The Spellbreaker can deal unblockable damage thanks to the Full Counter F2 skill, which allows it to absorb damage and return it to the sender. It will undoubtedly be difficult to fight against in a one-on-one situation.
- Because of its greatsword weapon skills and the use of certain physical skills to close the gap, the build is surprisingly mobile.
- Spellbreakers can use their skills to remove enemies' boons, rendering them powerless against you and your team.
Choose this build if:
- You want to punish your opponents for hoarding boons on themselves by removing them all easily.
- You don't mind getting into the thick of battle and dealing massive damage to your opponents.
- Seven Deadly Sins is your favorite anime, and you enjoy shouting "Full Counter" whenever you successfully land it on enemies.
5. Guardian Willbender - Duelist / Team fighter
Another Guardian PvP build, and this time it is for a rising star on this list. The Power Willbender is a build that is rapidly gaining traction and support from players as it establishes itself in the current meta. With its ability to move quickly from one location to another, it can surprise its opponents with a barrage of attacks before they know what hit them.
One thing to keep in mind is that one key counter to the build is a Catalyst who uses Shock Aura and conditions, so it may be best to avoid them or find an ally to take them down together.
Full build details:
With Willbenders wielding vast amounts of combat prowess and tons of burn damage potential, you need to boost those two and create a lethal combination. They typically use the trait lines Radiance, Virtues, and the Willbender elite specialization so pick these major perks along the way:
- Radiance - Right-Hand Strength, Retribution, Righteous Instincts.
- Virtues - Unscathed Contender, Inspiring Virtue, Indomitable Courage
- Willbender - Power for Power, Vanguard Tactics, Tyrant’s Momentum
The Willbender can bring with them the following equipment into PvP:
- Marauder amulet - boost their overall attack damage
- Superior Runes of Divinity - additional increases in stats.
- Dual swords for their main hand and offhand with Superior Sigils of Energy and Cleansing
- Greatsword with Superior Sigils of Battle and Exploitation
Willbenders can use these utility skills in PvP:
- Reversal of Fortune - high-risk, high-reward heal that guards you even from lethal damage and then heals you.
- Judge’s Intervention - blink to your target and deal burning damage to nearby foes.
- Contemplation of Purity - convert all conditions into boons and act as a stun break.
- Whirling Light - performs a whirlwind kick that inflicts weakness and burning.
- Renewed Focus - recharge your Virtue skills and make yourself invincible for a few seconds.
Why Willbender is great for PvP?
- Their ability to zip around the battlefield gives them great mobility, allowing them to get to nodes faster and turn the tide in your team's favor faster.
- Willbenders are effective against most opponents as long as you keep moving.
- They can deal a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
Choose this build if:
- You're the type of player who enjoys being on the move.
- You can easily adapt on the fly and aren't afraid to abandon certain targets when the situation calls for it.
- You don't mind fighting with some of the other meta builds to show them that Willbenders are viable as well.
4. Mesmer Chronomancer - Duelist
Mesmers have been a mainstay profession in Guild Wars 2's PvP scene for good reason. They are extremely evasive and can apply pressure even without using their elite specializations. They can also use portals to transport their teammates to another area of the map and set up ambushes.
They become well-slinging, condition-damage-dealing powerhouses with the Chronomancer elite specialization. One unique mechanic of Chronomancers is their ability to shatter their clones and phantasms with their new F5 skill, Continuum Split, to revert your position, health, and skill cooldowns to how they were prior to shattering your clones and phantasms.
Full build details:
Chronomancer duelists often use the trait lines Chaos, Dueling, and the Chronomancer elite specialization with the following major perks:
- Chaos - Method of Madness, Auspicious Anguish, Bountiful Disillusionment
- Dueling - Phantasmal Fury, Fencer’s Finesse, Deceptive Evasion
- Chronomancer - All’s Well That Ends Well, Improved Alacrity, Stretched Time
Chronomancers can use the following equipment in PvP to dominate the arena:
- Marauder amulet - provides an increase in offensive stats
- Superior Runes of the Chronomancer - boosts power and precision stats while providing quickness whenever you cast wells
- Main hand and offhand dual swords with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Energy.
- Staff with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Energy.
Chronomancers use these utility skills to turn the tide of battle in their teams favor:
- Well of Eternity - creates a well to remove conditions from players and heals after some time
- Well of Calamity - drops a well that causes weakness and crippling debuffs then inflicts damage on enemies after some time
- Well of Precognition - creates a well that allows you and allies to block incoming damage then grants endurance and stability while functioning as a stun break
- Blink - teleports you to a short distance
- Gravity Well - well that pulls foes in, knocking them down or float, then deals heavy damage
Why Chronomancer is great for PvP?
- Chronomancers gain access to a variety of Well skills, all of which provide you and your team with enough Alacrity and reduce the cooldowns of your weapon and utility skills.
- You can apply additional pressure to nodes that are being contested by enemy players by using your staff weapon 5 skill.
- You can easily switch between being a Duelist, Bunker, or Condition Damage Duelist by switching between using the Dueling trait line around for Illusions and using an offhand shield or a scepter and torch combo.
Choose this build if:
- Despite being a duelist, you want to have a very evasive light armor profession with a lot of utility for you and your team.
- You and your team must apply constant pressure on your opponents and take their nodes by force.
- You are confident in your ability to provide assistance when it is required, especially when your team requires Alacrity.
- You're still waiting for Guild Wars 2 to explain the lore of Chronomancers.
3. Elementalist Tempest - Support
Even before the expansion packs, the Elementalist profession was a mainstay of every Guild Wars 2 game mode, including PvE, PvP, and World vs World. They can play a variety of roles, but one of the most important roles they've played in both PvP and World vs World is their ability to provide support. Having access to both the Water and Air elements provides them with abilities that heal allies and provide much-needed speed, as well as some CCs for those nasty break bars, projectile reflects, and so on.
Full build details:
Support Tempests need to find the balance between offense and support, so most will be using the trait lines Water, Fire, and the Tempest elite specialization along with the following major perks:
- Water - Soothing Ice, Soothing Disruption, Powerful Aura
- Fire - Conjurer, Smothering Auras, Blinding Ashes
- Tempest - Unstable Conduit, Invigorating Torrents, Elemental Bastion
Tempests can use the following equipment in PvP:
- Sage amulet - boost power, condition damage, healing, and vitality stats.
- Superior Runes of the Traveller - boost attributes, boon duration, movement speed, and condition duration.
- Main hand dagger and an offhand focus with Superior Sigils of Energy and Transference
Since this build is focused on helping its teammates rather than fighting head-on against opponents, Support Tempests can use the following utility skills:
- “Wash the Pain Away!” - Area of Effect healing that pulses
- Glyph of Renewal - depending on the element you are attuned to currently, revive allies with different effects
- Conjure Earth Shield - conjure a magnetic shield with skills that can protect its user from damage while increasing their toughness and vitality for a few seconds
- “Aftershock!” - gives you and your allies a magnetic aura that reflects projectiles and causes debilitating debuffs on foes while being considered a Blast Combo Finisher
- Tornado - shapeshift into a tornado that launches foes and grants stability while conjuring a lightning combo field
Why Tempest is great for PvP?
- Tempests are slightly better than core Guardians in terms of providing support abilities that can not only heal and cleanse others but also provide the team with useful auras to reduce damage and other beneficial boons.
- They have powerful projectile reflect abilities that can turn the tide against projectile-wielding foes such as Rangers and Deadeyes looking to pick off allies from afar.
- If you are facing a very damage-heavy team instead of conditions, you can easily switch to a tankier variation by switching Fire trait lines to Earth, though the build can still work around those teams.
Choose this build if:
- You don't mind going into battle and providing much-needed support to your teammates on the front lines.
- You aren't afraid to go toe-to-toe with hard-hitting opponents if it means saving your teammates from a beating and saving your hard-won node.
- You enjoy playing support classes in most games and would do anything to punish those who harm your comrades by unleashing a Fire Tornado on them.
2. Ranger Untamed - Roamer
Rangers are masters of long-distance combat, wielding both the long and short bow to inflict damage from afar. Even without the expansion packs, they are a formidable force. They got a new elite specialization called the Untamed with the End of Dragons expansion pack with their new F5 skill mechanic allowing them to "unleash" their pet to make their skills stronger and turn them into area-of-effect skills. Pressing F5 again unleashes their character, giving them the "Unleash Ambush" skill for their auto-attack on an interval.
Full build details:
Untamed become the best Roamers in PvP thanks to their ability to pour damage from a huge distance and can simply disengage when things start becoming hairy for them. They use the Marksmanship, Beastmastery, and Untamed elite specialization trait lines with the following major perks:
- Marksmanship - Clarion Bond, Moment of Clarity, Remorseless
- Beastmastery - Resounding Timbre, Two-Handed Training, Zephyr’s Speed
- Untamed - Nature’s Shield, Cleansing Unleash, Ferocious Symbiosis
Since Untamed Rangers are looking to quickly end fights, they will need a lot of attack power, so use the following equipment to help you out:
- Berserker amulets - the highest stat for a pure DPS monster
- Superior Runes of Divinity - boost all attributes
- Long Bow with Superior Sigils of Cleansing and Energy
- Greatsword with Superior Sigil of Intelligence and Superior Sigil of Energy
Untamed can use the following utility skills to take advantage of their perks in PvP:
- “We Heal As One!” - heal both you and your pet and gain copies of each other’s boons
- Mutate Conditions - stun break that turns all of your conditions into vulnerability
- “Protect me!” - stun break that grants you and your allies protection and barrier
- Unnatural Traversal - teleport to your target and inflict vulnerable debuff on them, and if it hits an enemy, the recharge is reduced
- Forest’s Fortification - gains defensive boons and damage reduction and lowers its charge time if it hits an enemy.
Why Untamed is great for PvP?
- The Untamed is the current best roamer profession and has yet to be dethroned. It outperforms most classes just by virtue of its long reach.
- With its long-range ability to allow the Untamed to stealth away from opponents, the core Ranger's longbow 3 skill is still the best disengage skill in the game. Untamed can easily use its greatsword weapon skill 3 to stealth with a smoke field.
- The untamed has the best long-ranged burst damage as a Ranger, allowing them to quickly finish off opponents and secure much-needed kills to assist their teammates.
Choose this build if:
- You enjoy picking off your opponents from afar in PvP and want to do so with the king of long-range.
- You don't mind outmaneuvering and flanking the opposing team to cause havoc.
- You are a patient and skilled player who waits for the right moment to strike opponents.
- You enjoy the salt pouring from your enemies whenever you pick them off from a long distance while evading enemy fire.
1. Elementalist Catalyst - Duelist
How appropriate that one of the most versatile professions has two high spots on this list? The Elementalist is a true jack-of-all-trades who can do it all regardless of game mode. PvP is no exception, as it has seen its fair share of multiple builds that have gone on to be successful throughout its history. Its versatility allows it to switch from being a duelist to a team fighter as needed.
Catalysts are Elementalists who have honed their craft, wield the mighty hammer to harness the forces of nature, and use Jade Bots to assist them in conjuring combo fields. They have one of the highest skill ceilings in Guild Wars 2 across all game modes, but when you master it and make it your own, you become one of the most lethal players in PvP. They are currently atop the meta for a reason.
Full build details:
Catalysts don’t just need mastery of their skill rotation but proper knowledge of their traits and perks to be a force of nature in PvP, no pun intended. Power Catalysts use the following traits and their major perks:
- Fire - Conjurer, Smothering Auras, Pyromancer’s Puissance
- Arcane - Renewing Stamina, Final Shielding or Arcane Resurrection (when facing cleave-heavy opponents), Evasive Arcana
- Catalyst - Energized Elements, Spectacular Sphere, Staunch Auras
Power Catalysts need to be able to deal large amounts of damage so you may use the following equipment:
- Marauder amulet - increases offensive stats that boost damage
- Superior Runes of Divinity - increases all of their attributes.
- Hammer - Superior Sigil of Cleansing and Energy
In order for a Power Catalyst to perform well in the arena, they need to balance both their offensive and defensive capabilities, so they use the following utility skills:
- Signet of Restoration - passive heals you every time you cast spells and activating will do a bigger heal
- Signet of Air - blinds targets and foes nearby when activated and grants an increase in movement speed passively
- Conjure Earth Shield - conjure a magnetic shield with skills that can protect its user from damage while increasing their toughness and vitality for a few seconds
- Fortified Earth - blocks all attacks and when channeled successfully, grants a barrier with its recharge time reduced when cast within your Earth Sphere
- Elemental Celerity - recharges weapon skills and gives boons based on your current element
Why Catalyst is great for PvP?
- Power Catalysts are in the meta for a reason. They deal a lot of damage while being very tanky and they take some getting used to.
- There is little to no hard counter to playing against Catalysts. It all comes down to pure skill and numbers advantage to bring one down, but if you have to face them alone, be prepared for a fight.
- Catalysts are very adaptable and can easily switch from being a one-on-one duelist to a team player if their teammates require assistance.
Choose this build if:
- You want to use a profession that can fight solo or as part of a team on the fly.
- You are very confident in your ability to perform the rotations of the skills and have a lot of practice with them.
- You can easily use the hammer 3 skill with multiple spinning orbs, deal massive amounts of damage on a consistent basis, and know when to use them.
- You've found the ideal opportunity to begin yelling "Stop! Hammer Time! " whenever you beat an opponent while dancing on them with your hammer.
Closing Thoughts
The Guild Wars 2 PvP Community is a thriving hub of people who want nothing more than to have epic battles with one another, and it's still growing. With the community continuing to develop better builds that can compete with the meta, there is no shortage of builds to try as there are many others to try and emulate for yourself.
Your mileage may vary as with any other build, and it all comes down to your own hard work and skill. Sharpen your skills, Commander. The arena calls to you as you continue your fight for glory and honor.
