Looking for a great pvp defense build

[Pathlight-]

I have played this game since launch and I pretty much only pvp. I have played most classes but never a guardian/jugg.

 

I am looking for a great tanking build. My goal is to be the hardest possible to kill and to maximize my utility to my teammates.

 

All pointers and advice are welcome.

[Dragonexadon]

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500GrRbddrRrbGzZcMZb.3

 

This is the build I use for PVP defense. Some tips I can give :

• AOE taunt off cooldown (it provides a buble to friendly and reduces damage of foes
  
• taunt off cool down on people who output high damage, such as smash monkies
  
• Use guardian leap off cooldown. Reduces damage taken on the target you leap too. Also great for traveling across the map
  
• You have many stuns/snares , use them (awe, hiltstrike, force stasis, force-push (knock back), Freezing Force (slow)
  
• Guard swap. Guardf the healer by default. If the healer is fine but someone else is taking mass damage swap to that person. You can always swap back to the healer as need be.
  

One last thing As a guardian , in PVP, your leap is so much fun. Use it for hutt ball to make goals. Use it on void star when someone tries to push you off the bridge. You can even, on void star, use it to get BACK to your teammates if you died post first door but pre bridge.

 

In other words : when the attackers get the first door...they have to lower the bridge. If you die while defending the bridge terminals you are spawned at the other side. Run to the center and look for a foe to leap to and come back to the other side! Even easier ask a friendly , who lived and is still defending, to let you guardian leap to them.

 

Enjoy your guardian.

[Maelael]

I run this while doing pure defense in 8v8s (Of note, it sucks for arenas)

 

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500hrRbddrRrdGzZcMbZo.3

 

At times I will take one out of Defiance and put it it into Swelling winds (Less Focus for Focused defense, but quicker return to use sweep). I really don't notice a difference in Focus levels, but its more of a feel depending on if the DDs are being attentive and I need sweep faster.

 

Concept is no focus on damage, just tanking, interrupting, and CCing.

 

Arenas I've moved to:

 

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500GMRbddrRrdGzZcMMZo.3

 

The increase in damage is a big deal in arenas as you are expected to provide some DD - and the fights don't go long enough for other things to be of benefit. I'm still not sure if Dust storm is worth it or not.

 

Regs I play:

 

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500RrRbddrRrdGzZcMMZo.3

 

Not much different from Arenas, mostly just more damage to put down scrubs while still keeping tankability.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Maelael

[Gondolindhrim]

I've been running this (max CC) for 8v8. Not sure what I'll run for Arenas yet. Edited August 21, 2013 by Gondolindhrim

[Maelael]

I've been running this (max CC) for 8v8. Not sure what I'll run for Arenas yet.

 

I may need to try this, or similar, for regs as 3% aint that big of a deal at our level of defenses. I have a hard time living without Purifying sweep as I run with a lot of smashers who love me for it.

 

Debating:

 

http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/skills/guardian#13221221222212120122230-1-200023

[Gondolindhrim]

I do run Purifying Sweep on occasion, but feel like it's less useful in ranked. I take the -15s Stasis cooldown over the 3% Defense since you rarely get focused as a tank, and even when you do, it isn't that good considering how many abilities go through it. I'd like to have 3s root duration on Leap, but I do quite like Swift Slash and always try to contribute with Dispatch on weak targets.

[Pathlight-]

Thanks a lot for all the advice. I just got on the fleet and ran a few wz. The play style is extremely different to what I'm used to (I've been playing a deception sin for almost a year) but I love the leaps. I can't wait to level and gain in survivability and crowd control.

[Maelael]

I do run Purifying Sweep on occasion, but feel like it's less useful in ranked. I take the -15s Stasis cooldown over the 3% Defense since you rarely get focused as a tank, and even when you do, it isn't that good considering how many abilities go through it. I'd like to have 3s root duration on Leap, but I do quite like Swift Slash and always try to contribute with Dispatch on weak targets.

 

Yea I definitely saw the value in the stasis CD decrease. I still like Purifying sweep even for ranked, I think its more of I have the right smasher team to work with for it.

[Kaos_KidSWTOR]

Why not go with http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500GrRbddrorzGzZcMMZd.3 ? It should in theory excell at everything. Jedi Warden is a pretty useless talent, there's no way around it. Expeditious Protector is kinda usefull but Guardian Leap can kinda nullify that talent. I think that it should be changed to every time your guarded target is attacked, the CD of Guardian leap is reduced by 1.5 seconds this effect cannot be triggered more than 1 time every 3 seconds. Just a personal prefrence.

[Maelael]

Why not go with http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500GrRbddrorzGzZcMMZd.3 ? It should in theory excell at everything. Jedi Warden is a pretty useless talent, there's no way around it. Expeditious Protector is kinda usefull but Guardian Leap can kinda nullify that talent. I think that it should be changed to every time your guarded target is attacked, the CD of Guardian leap is reduced by 1.5 seconds this effect cannot be triggered more than 1 time every 3 seconds. Just a personal prefrence.

 

Have you ever played a tank guardian or jugg in PvP? Serious question. Your comments quoted lead me to believe "No" but I want to find out for sure.

[Maelael]

So Gond, going with your ideas I tried both of these in Ranked and Regs (even 3 solo regz). I'd guess close to 35 games, with 8 of them being ranked.

 

http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/skills/guardian#13021221222212120122230-3-200023

 

http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/skills/guardian#13221221222212120122230-0-200023

(I moved the 1 point between swift slash, single saber mastery, stagger, ISS, Master Focus, and Daunting presence)

 

I actually liked the first one the best. I thought I was going to miss the extra 2 seconds on Reflect and I did not. 6 of my ranked was in this spec - it worked well. I did the other two with the second build with swift slash.

 

I also noticed only some difference with Swift Slash spec'ed in the second one - you were right, I belted out a few nasty dispatches that counted well.

 

I freakin love the reduced CD on Force Stasis and am kinda embarrassed to admit I missed this before.

 

I think Reflect with 2 more seconds will count for more in Arenas though, so Im kinda in the drawing board about a spec for that now that you've changed my spec thinking. I'm also wondering if Ill get more bang out of my buck for 2 seconds more reflect vs 3% overall. It's rare that 2 seconds of reflect will make or break something though, but 1% defensive vs that swift slash may be worth it.

 

Intended or not, thank you for the ideas again.

[fauver]

Arenas/Warzones

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hrRbddMRzZfMrorhz0M.3

[Draksen]

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500GrRbddrRrbGzZcMZb.3

 

This is the build I use for PVP defense. Some tips I can give :

• AOE taunt off cooldown (it provides a buble to friendly and reduces damage of foes
  
• taunt off cool down on people who output high damage, such as smash monkies
  
• Use guardian leap off cooldown. Reduces damage taken on the target you leap too. Also great for traveling across the map
  
• You have many stuns/snares , use them (awe, hiltstrike, force stasis, force-push (knock back), Freezing Force (slow)
  
• Guard swap. Guardf the healer by default. If the healer is fine but someone else is taking mass damage swap to that person. You can always swap back to the healer as need be.
  

One last thing As a guardian , in PVP, your leap is so much fun. Use it for hutt ball to make goals. Use it on void star when someone tries to push you off the bridge. You can even, on void star, use it to get BACK to your teammates if you died post first door but pre bridge.

 

In other words : when the attackers get the first door...they have to lower the bridge. If you die while defending the bridge terminals you are spawned at the other side. Run to the center and look for a foe to leap to and come back to the other side! Even easier ask a friendly , who lived and is still defending, to let you guardian leap to them.

 

Enjoy your guardian.

 

I like the concept behind this build.

A few questions: Which form are you using? What kind of standard "cycle" are you using, in other words, which skills are the most important to have as hotkeys?

Thanks for replies:)

[anwg]

Been running 36/3/7 of late, http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500hrRbddMRrdGzZcZf0b.3

 

You can't skip purifying sweep and progress up the tree unless you take either master focus or guard and thrust. Guardianship, to me, is the most skippable one due to 1) 45 seconds cooldown 2) there's no guarantee that any teammate will be in range to get it.