The PvP meta in Guild Wars 2 is always changing, here's the best right now
The Structured Player vs. Player arenas of Guild Wars 2 attract a lot of players and have been an enduringly popular game mode.
Over the years, the meta that people use to build and fight has changed – and now, near the end of 2019, it’s a good time to explore those builds. Keep reading to see what people are doing with every class for PvP.
9. Revenant – Herald – Power Shiro
The Herald Power Shiro
The Revenant is the newest class added to GW2 and in PvP the community has settled largely on Shiro (the legend) as a source of direct damage for dueling. As a result, this build, the “Herald – Power Shiro” becomes something of a cross-up between Thief and Warrior by giving melee-range dueling and rapid attacks.
To take advantage of Shiro’s abilities, this build uses Sword/Sword and Staff. To its trait lines, choose “Devastation,” “Invocation,” and “Herald.” From here the build can diverge somewhat, with life steal and increased damage from Devastation and “Call of the Mists” from Invocation to trigger an attack during combat when switching Legends.
Each legend, of course, comes with its own utility skills. Using Shiro will give a lot of duelist capabilities including the hard CC from his elite skill “Jade Winds.” Whereas Glint will provide a bunch of auras that can boost damage, defense or resistance – Glint as a legend has a strong cooperative focus, so its best used in the company of other players.
Build guide: http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Herald_-_Power_Shiro
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vi2deqlP94
8. Ranger – Druid – Bunker
TheDruid Bunker build
Rangers exist to bring their pets and deliver damage and control to the battlefield. This build uses the Druid powers and traits to become very difficult to kill while using pets and bow to deliver damage.
With the “Druid – Bunker” build we’ll use Longbow for its range and powerful damage and Sword/Warhorn for melee fighting and escape. As for trait lines, take “Wilderness Survival,” “Nature Magic,” and “Druid.” Wilderness Survival gives poisons to attacks and skill use will remove conditions and stack Fury.
With “Signet Stone” in utility this build becomes much tougher to kill and it can be activated for invulnerability; finally, the elite skill should be “Strength of the Pack!” to provide Might and Fury.
Build guide: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Druid_-_Bunker_Druid
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CnjpTWlVjA
7. Engineer – Holosmith - Converter
The Holosmith Converter build
Most people who play PvP and have met an Engineer on the field discover that they are very hard to kill. As a result, this build centers on that by using Holosmith skills and the ability to convert conditions into boons – this means that they stay longer and hit harder.
To start, the “Engineer – Holosmith – Converter” build uses Sword/Shield, this combo provides a nice structure for strikes and a lot of defense. As for trait lines it will use “Inventions,” “Alchemy,” and “Holosmith.” With Inventions there will be shields around turrets, protection granted on condition cleanse and on Alchemy is the elite trait that turns conditions into boons “Purity of Purpose.”
As for utility, this build only uses two turrets – the Healing Turrets and the Thumper Turret (for CC). For more control and defense there is “Hard Light Arena” to trap enemies, “Spectrum Shield” for damage reduction and its elite is “Prime Light Beam” for the high-burst damage and knockback.
Build guide: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAsenUUBVWhlID2IDcJjFDDLMA8X6Lipj+z/p/G2DHiA-jJRAhAnPAApyAA7PAeCAAA
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcN_-M9hUUo
6. Mesmer – Mirage – Chaos Duelist
The Mirage Chaos Duelist build
A Mesmer on the battlefield in PvP means sewing confusion and discord with conditions and clones. The “Mesmer – Mirage – Chaos Duelist” build works because it spends time with Chaos and Duelist. This means the clones hit harder, inflict bleed and there’s a lot more conditions to go around (especially Confusion).
To spread around the conditions, this build uses Scepter/Pistol and Staff as the primary weapons, both of these have multiple skills that hit more than one target. As for trait lines, this build takes “Duelist,” “Chaos,” and “Mirage.” Under Duelist, pistol shots will cause bleeding and clones will be created by dodging; with Chaos there’s a faster Staff skill recharge and boons on Shatter.
Much of the outgoing damage from this build comes from Confusion stacks coupled with shattering clones. Utility skills are also chosen to enhance mobility as much as possible including using “Ambush,” “Blink” and “Jaunt” – the latter of which also spreads AoE Confusion.
Build guide: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?PiwAsqZlRwkYYsLmJW2P9PNA-z5wWGRWBZmCyPA
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGZLXl32mdk
5. Elementalist – Weaver – Fire Weaver
The Fire Weaver PvP build
In PvP Elementalists can output a great deal of massive AoE damage and this build uses that to the hilt by making the Weaver specialization into a strong duelist. Its focus is condition damage and using that to spike down opponents who cannot get out of the way, while also enabling the player to chase them down (or get away).
To make the magic happen this build uses Sword/Scepter for close-to-medium range engagements. As for traits, the lines chosen should be: “Fire,” “Arcane,” and “Weaver.” The Fire traits will be used to give increased Burning duration, fire aura uptime, and might gain on fire use. The Arcane line adds yet more Burning and under Weaver there’s some survivability with “Lesser Stone Resonance” which turns the caster to stone when critically injured.
For utility, this build uses “Twist of Fate” to evade, “Glyph of Elemental Power” and “Primordial Stance” for increased condition damage setups and “Weave Self” as an ultimate to deliver some extra battlefield control.
Build guide: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Weaver_-_Fire_Weaver
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHAUtKyLdwc
4. Necromancer – Core – Terrormancer
The Necromancer Terrormancer build
This Necromancer build focuses heavily on condition damage and boon removal, in PvP it acts as a sort of extreme attrition against the enemy by supplying a lot of condition damage very fast. Using the Terror trait a Terrormancer can spread the Fear condition (which acts as a powerful CC) and this causes it to also inflict damage.
For this “Necromancer - Terrormancer” build there will be a swap between Staff, for its area denial, and Scepter/Warhorn for condition output. To get themselves going, this build uses the trait lines: “Spite,” “Curses,” and “Soul Reaping.” The all-important Terror is in Curses and “Fear of Death” under Soul Reaping increases the duration of Fear.
Most of the condition pressure will come from boon corruption – Stability turns into Fear and Might into Weakness. All this coupled with combos from Necromancer Shroud burst rotations will burn enemies down.
A related build to this one is the “Necromancer - Blood Terrormancer.”
Build guide: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Necromancer_-_Core_Terrormancer
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5DJHRR-D8k
3. Guardian – Core – Radiant Greatsword
The Guardian Radiant Greatsword build
In PvP Guardians exist in a space where they can take a lot of damage but also spread boons to themselves and allies, as a result many builds use this boon generation ability to grant Might and use Retaliation in fights to weaken enemies. The current best build is a core Guardian that uses greatsword.
The “Guardian – Radiant Greatsword” build takes advantage of this by using greatsword as a high direct-damage and burst build coupled with shield and focus to turn incoming damage back on attackers. As for trait lines, this build goes with “Radiance,” “Valor,” and “Virtues.” The build focuses on Retaliation and Might as its primary boons and mobility and healing as utilities with lots of condition cleanse and “Judge’s Intervention” for extra mobility.
See “Guardian – Radiant Hammer” for a very similar build.
Build guide: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Guardian_-_Radiant_Greatsword_(PvP)
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9iokyuysr8
2. Warrior – Spellbreaker – Strength Dagger
The Spellbreaker Strength Dagger build
Warriors in GW2 have always been part of the backbone of PvP fights, acting as high-damage bulwarks who can dice it up as duelists over control points. In the most recent meta, the Spellbreaker specialization has become a strong contender using the dagger for its high attack rate and boon removal, coupled with the greatsword, which is one of the oldest standby weapons for its high mobility.
The “Spellbreaker – Strength Dagger” build puts together a lot of utility, with high direct damage, boon removal and high mobility to make a strong all-rounder Warrior. To get this, the build uses the trait lines “Strength,” “Discipline,” and, of course, “Spellbreaker.” With the Strength traits Stomp CC is used, extra greatsword damage and health on Might. Under Discipline there’s condition removal, and extra adrenaline on Burst skills. And under Spellbreaker, the elite “Magebane Tether” makes it harder for targets to escape.
Build guide: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Spellbreaker_-_Strength_Dagger
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em0jCgpUV7w
1. Thief – Daredevil – Sword/Dagger Condition
The Daredevil Sword/Dagger Condition build
Thieves are the fast-moving, lightning striking scouts of the battlefield and this build takes that into account using the Sword/Dagger combo (and Shortbow) for high mobility. Although builds can vary on approach, there’s a certain core to explore for this approach.
Although it is possible to make this build without going Daredevil, this specialization does give an extra dodge which is very useful. For trait lines, this build goes with “Deadly Arts,” “Trickery” and “Daredevil” (or alternatively “Acrobatics”). With Deadly Arts, attacks will deliver a lot more poison and with Trickery it’s possible to boon strip with Mug, throw caltrops on dodge, and inflict Confusion on when stealing.
To pack as much poison punch as possible, this build uses “Spider Venom,” which adds a great deal of poison to attacks for 24 seconds. Additionally, “Shadowstep” to add extra mobility, as this works very similarly to Sword’s “Infiltrator Strike.” And finally, for those situations when the Thief is surrounded there is “Dagger Storm” for AoE damage and bleeding; but this could be swapped out for “Basilisk Venom,” which works as a powerful single-target CC.
Build guide: http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Daredevil_-_S/D_Condition
YouTube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czRBWE-4l5Y
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FAQs
Which class has the highest DPS GW2? ›
- 5 Mesmer.
- 4 Guardian.
- 3 Ranger.
- 2 Revenant.
- 1 Thief.
GW2 is one of/the most beginner friendly MMO for PVP I know. No need to farm armor, no builds, no skills.
What is the best GW2 class? ›- 1 Necromancer. While some players have changed their tune a bit, most players agree that playing as a Necromancer is a choice you won't regret.
- 2 Revenant. ...
- 3 Mesmer. ...
- 4 Thief. ...
- 5 Elementalist. ...
- 6 Ranger. ...
- 7 Warrior. ...
- 8 Engineer. ...
Sylvari female. It's pretty and take root is the only viable elite racial for condi builds.
What weapons can engineers use in gw2? ›Utility skill typesEdit
There are seven Engineering Kits available: the Med Kit, the Bomb Kit, the Grenade Kit, the Flamethrower, the Elixir Gun, the Tool Kit, and the Elite Mortar Kit.
Mesmer and warrior are the weakest links.
What is acceptable DPS gw2? ›10-12k DPS minimum is enough to clear pretty much everything. Good DPS for endgame and a decent ballpark to aim for is 20k or more.
Are mesmers good in gw2? ›Mesmer can be a relatively simple and powerful class if played right, and has becoming one of the fastest leveling class due to their utilities. For beginners, go with the sword/sword, focus power as primary stat, and spam skill 2. That's all you need.
How do I get better at PvP GW2? ›Top 3 Guild Wars 2 PvP Tips to Improve Win Ratio - YouTube
Is GW2 easy? ›Overall GW2 is more on the casual side of things.
It's generally easy to get into PvE, there is next to no gear grind, PvP doesn't even require you to level a character in PvE, it's very alt friendly and not at all time consuming.
How long are PvP matches GW2? ›
2 minutes per round. First to win 3 rounds wins the match.
Is Mesmer hard to play GW2? ›Mesmers are often called the most difficult profession to play in Guild Wars, but if played well, can cause a lot of trouble for the enemy. They are best described as the debilitating or the saboteur profession that eschew outright attacks; they instead rely on control-based abilities to sap foes of their strength.
What is the easiest profession in Guild Wars 2? ›The easiest classes to learn in the game would probably be Warrior, Ranger and Necromancer. All of these classes are fairly simple in their class mechanics and are built with naturally high HP and tankiness meaning they can withstand a beating.
Is Guild Wars 2 better than WoW? ›WoW is way ahead in terms of playable races. It has 13 races, 7 of which are available to each faction. GW2, on the other hand, has only 5 races, although more could be added in the future. The playing field is a bit more even when it comes to classes.
Is Ranger a good class gw2? ›Rangers are decent in every mode - great in Fractals and open world. They fluctuate in PvP but almost always have access to an above-average build and can perform well if you're good at them. Guardians are kind of Anet's pet - they have had a build that's meta in every game mode for as long as I can remember.
Are elementalists good in gw2? ›In open world and casual PvE, elementalists are good at wiping out large groups of enemies thanks to their AoE skills. With a dagger or sword, they're highly mobile and capable of quickly engaging or escaping from enemies. However, their low health pool makes mistakes punishing.