Core Guardian
Rotation
Shield of Wrath
Sword of Justice
Purging Flames
"Feel My Wrath!"
Ray of Judgment
Symbol of Punishment
Weapon Swap
(sidestep to cancel aftercast)Symbol of Resolution
Whirling Wrath
Binding Blade
Leap of Faith
The following build is designed to guide you through your first playthrough, or to simply offer a decent and reliable Core build if you are on Free to Play account. Core builds are not advised to use later in game due to superiority of Elite Specializations.
While its name could suggest otherwise, Guardian is an extraordinary fighter, smiting opponents with fiery consecration and slicing with powerful and dynamic sword-wielding techniques.
This build focuses on dealing heavy direct damage enhanced with boons provided mostly by Guardian’s Symbols and gear upgrades. You gain access to nearly permanent Fury
Might
Resolution
Quickness
Core Guardian shares many fundamental gameplay elements with the end-game Power Dragonhunter build, which could be your next build to unlock.
Build Fundamentals
This build relies on a lot of synergy between weapon skills, traits, boons, conditions, and multiple passive damage-increasing traits that are only active when you meet specific conditions. Your goal is to manage the uptime of these beneficial enhancements.
Having a high Critical Chance will increase your damage output dramatically. Even at a low level, you will be combining Fury
"Feel My Wrath!"
Righteous Instincts
Resolution
Radiant Power
Burning
That means that as long you have Fury
Resolution
Burning
Your Symbols apply beneficial boons to you and your allies: Might
Symbol of Punishment
Resolution
Symbol of Resolution
Symbolic Power
Symbolic Avenger
That’s not all! You also gain increased damage from Retribution
Resolution
All this, and the fact that Resolution
Your general strategy is to use the noted Engage Combo when possible. After this, keep using strong abilities off-cooldown, and use Weapon Swap
Weapons
On both weapon sets, skills 2 and 4 are your strongest, that is Whirling Wrath
Symbol of Resolution
Symbol of Punishment
Ray of Judgment
Shield of Wrath
Might
Shield of Wrath
Purging Flames
Leap of Faith
Binding Blade
Pull
Binding Blade
While this build might look like it lack Condition Cleansing as your only obvious cleanse comes from Virtue of Resolve
Symbol of Resolution
Shield of Wrath
Leap of Faith
Whirling Wrath
Virtues
Guardian’s profession mechanics are Virtues, a set of 3 additional, powerful passive skills with active ability bound to F1-3 by default. Virtue of Justice
Burning
Virtue of Resolve
Virtue of Courage
Aegis
Virtue of Resolve
Virtue of Courage
Indomitable Courage
Virtue of Courage
Stability
Inspired Virtue
Might
Regeneration
Protection
In most cases, you’ll benefit more from not using your Virtues, but when forced, defensive ones can save you from difficult situations, or if you are not under much pressure, you can use them offensively to provide yourself with more Resolution
Virtue of Justice
Fury
Inner Fire
Radiant Power
Since your goal is keeping the enemy Burning
Renewed Justice
Virtue of Justice
Skills
Sword of Justice
Purging Flames
Vulnerability
Sword of Justice
Burning
Purging Flames
Purging Flames
Your elite skill, "Feel My Wrath!"
Fury
Quickness
Alternatives
When mainly dealing with multiple enemies you will be generating Might
Virtue of Justice
Renewed Justice
Superior Rune of the Scholar
Superior Rune of the Pack
Fury
If you don’t need Crowd Control, you can swap out Purging Flames
Crowd Control
Gearing tips
Since this build is designed to be your entry point to Guild Wars 2 world, let’s start with the basics, if you haven’t checked the guides below, give them a read to make yourself familiar with game basics.




Don’t try to invest in Runes and Sigils before you acquire proper level-80 Exotic gear with Berserker’s stats as transferring upgrades is not possible without destroying the item, and retrieving them during the process has a small chance with most salvage kits.
From drops, crafting and level-up rewards pick items with Power, and on later levels supplemented by Precision and Ferocity.
Unlocking skills
If you’re looking up this build as you’re leveling through the wide world of Tyria we recommend unlocking Sword of Justice
Purging Flames
The first specialization at level 21 should be Radiance
Zeal
Virtues