Power Willbender

July 2023

Willbender is an elite specialization for the Guardian, it is a highly mobile spec that once combined with specific traits, skills and weapons can provide huge burst damage in melee range whilst being almost un-killable.

Build Fundamentals & Priorities

The build is best described as a mobile DPS, your priorities will be to provide some range pressure during range spikes, but mainly your job is to use massive melee burst damage when needed (i.e on a well bomb call).  Since virtues on willbender are turned into movement-based skills, these changes allow you to engage in melee range very quickly and burst down any unsuspecting foes.  You will need to follow a simple rotation of skills in order to kill without being killed.  Staying alive should be prioritized above all else, you can help to keep your HP above zero through tactful use of skill rotation, positioning, timing and finally dodging.

Profession Mechanic

Guardian’s virtues whilst using the willbender elite spec are now movement-based skills of various types, they lose their passive component until activated and have cast times.

Rushing Justice Rush 800 range towards your target to deliver a strike and place flames whilst gaining justice for 6 seconds, every 5 attacks during ‘justice’ will apply burning.  This skill is not a priority skill but can be used as a filler dps skill for bursting downed players to finish off single targets, this skill can hit for up to 14k dmg!.  Also due to the trait in radiance Renewed Justice it refreshes on kill, so you may find yourself solo finishing downed players almost instantly.  You may also use this skill for extra mobility, to either gap close towards the enemy or get simply to get back to your group.

 To do this simply use the skill without a target, ensure to face your character in the direction you wish to travel.

Flowing Resolve  Rush forward 450 range leaving willbender flames, do this whilst evading attacks removing conditions (notably movement impairing conditions) and gain ‘flowing resolve’.  During this phase every attack after 5 consecutive attacks grants you a personal heal.  Finally it is also an ammo skill, which means it can be used twice with a relatively short cd.  Your main reason to use this skill will be to either break remove movement impairing conditions or to simply evade attacks, its also a great way to gap close or correct your positioning in a bad situation.

Position your mouse in the direction you wish to travel, then use this skill

Crashing Courage Shadowstep 600 range placing willbender flames on the location, do this whilst gaining stability amongst other boons thanks to Vanguard Tactics Righteous Instincts Righteous Sprint. You will gain ‘courage’ for a short duration, and thanks to the trait Deathless Courage  allows you to be un-killable for a minimum of 4 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds. It is highly unlikely you will be invulnerable for the maximum duration, so follow the burst rotation to be safe.  Adding more skills into your rotation will be very risky but can allow for even higher burst.

 

Weapon Skills

Scepter and Focus is your ranged weapon set, and you will want to always start the fight using them.  Swapping to Great sword in melee range is a must in order to increase your spike damage and to help you land your burst thanks to the chill application of Superior Sigil of Hydromancy

Symbol of Punishment This is a 900 range ground targeted AOE symbol that strikes enemies for a 4 seconds duration. This is a priority skill which must be casted on range spikes and if possible just before your main burst combo.  Thanks to traits Symbolic Avenger Symbolic Exposure this means placing the ranged symbol first will allow for follow-up skill damage to be increased.

Shield of Wrath An instant cast shield that blocks 3 attacks. If the shield is not destroyed it explodes and damages nearby foes. This skill should be used for the defensive purpose when needed, for example on ranged spikes where you may take damage.

Symbol of Resolution Place on the ground a symbol that damages foes while granting resolution to allies.  This is one of your main skills to use after weapon swap in melee range during your burst rotation.

If you have set up a keybind for ‘Stow Weapon’ use this at the end of the cast time of  Symbol of Resolution  to avoid the long animation after cast.  Practice the timing on this as using this too early will cancel the cast and put the skill on cooldown.

Whirling Wrath Whirling wrath is a high damage main priority skill to be used in melee range during your combo. You spin around during its cast, swinging your great sword whilst hurling projectiles.  Thanks to the chosen sigils Superior Sigil of Hydromancy Superior Sigil of Rage on the great sword this will allow you to hit your combo faster and more reliably.

Leap of Faith A 600 range leap that spikes players with huge damage, inflicts Blind and heals you for each foe hit.  This skill is not a priority skill, can be used for high burst damage or for mobility to gap close or escape.

This skill does not require a target to be used, simply ensure your character is facing the way you wish to travel.  Can be used to jump over obstacles and gaps in the terrain.

 

Utility Skills

Shelter A 2 second block that heals you when it ends. To avoid unblockable attacks, for example Spear of Justice Test of Faith or Well of Corruption you will need to cancel the heal by dodging instead. This skill may be used after your burst combo in order for you to safely get back to your group.

Whirling Light Another main priority skill within your burst combo, spin around kicking enemies, damaging, weakening and burning any foes that you hit.

Sword of Justice Place spinning spirit swords from 900 range, used after your scepter 2 skill Symbol of Punishment adding damage to your ranged burst combo.

Wall of Reflection Summon a wall of mystic power that reflects projectiles, a perfect skill for choke points or simply to stop enemy projectiles hitting your group.  This skill can provide a lot of damage and mitigation, but make sure not to overlap with other classes that also bring projectile hate (i.e Winds of Disenchantment )

Renewed Focus A 3 second channelled mediation making yourself invulnerable, resetting all of your virtues so they can be used again immediately!.  You will most likely use this for survival after a burst to ensure you get back to your group safely, which then allows you to reset your f3 to burst again Crashing Courage

 

Alternatives

Merciful Intervention may be used instead of Wall of Reflection this will allow for more aggressive gameplay or if you are finding it harder to stay alive will help you sustain.