Can gaurds solo decently?

[Kruejin]

I decided to go with a plate tank class (armor looks awesome I must say) but I would like one what can solo during lfg or when I get bored of pug's.I would also like to do some decent damage and all round just have some cool moves.I have no clue what would be better between a zerk and a guardI already have a level 10 SK who is quite fun, but I would probably need to betray him to a pally about 70/if I wanted groups.I hear guardians can do quite a bit of damage, but I also hear they suck in solo content quite bad, is this true?Would zerker or sk be a better choice?

[Rahatmattata]

Any class can kill a solo mob with ease. I've never played a zerker passed 30 so can't really say as I rarely solo anyway.

[habby2]

<p>Guardians are fine with solo content, a bit slower killing than some classes (if you don't count in the fact that you will die less due to armour), but they do fine.</p>

[Kruejin]

Well I decided to go guard, some questions about what to do thoughSince I will be soloing for a while till I figure out the class.For solo, should I use a 1h+shield or a 2hander?What AA's should I spec for solo?Thanks in advance.

[Xalmat]

For soloing, buckler spec is pretty supreme, but it requires you invest into the stamina AA tree. You gain the DPS of dual wielding, while still keeping the survivability of a shield. I'd recommend this build for soloing up to level 70:STA 44882 STR 448 INT 43

[dirtymeat80]

I solo pretty frequently (hit lvl 65 yesterday).  Mostly doing writs and the like.  Probably the same as other Guardians.  Can take on same level and a couple up no problem, just takes a little while.  Then it gets to the heroic^^^ type mobs that just out-dps what I can tank.I was 44881 STR, couple points in STA.Changed yesterday to 44881 STA, 4444STR and havn't had much testing time, but it feels roughly the same.  Think those numbers are right, I just sorta play the game and have fun.

[Xalmat]

For soloing the 4th STR ability is worthless.

[Banditman]

Yep.  And strongly consider getting at least 4/1 in the INT line for Acceleration Strike.

[Oo]

I personally find soloing with my guard to be mind-numbing and painful.  It is so slow.   Killing is slow and generally one at a time.  Then you have to regen, bind wound or pop a potion before going again.  Guards are made for grouping IMO and there are so many other classes that are built for soloing, and thus are a lot more fun to solo.

[Anfauglith]

Guards are far from the fastest killers...but with some good equipement and an inteligent use of bind wound you can still kill without pause for quite a time... STA spec is definitly the way to go for solo...nothing will add that much dps for you while still giving ways to survive, once done with sta I'd go agi 4-1 just to get the added haste (more if you want but that's not needed) after that you can either go wis to remove penalties from stance (it's pretty nice when soloing) or go str for crits...with tests I realized both had pretty much the same efficiency when soloing.

[dirtymeat80]

Took on the 40 Epic x2 in Nek Castle the other day.  Lasted a long darn time, but in the end I had to run cause the dps just wasn't enough.

[evilgamer]

<p>Plate tanks by order of soloing power 1-80</p><p>Sk > paladin > Zerker > guard</p><p>SK's get groups, at least on my server, as bruiser, the worst tanking  of the tanking class I get groups within seconds of wanting one. </p><p>What Sk's dont get is raid slots lol.</p>

[Banditman]

Use totems to lower your downtime.  It helps a ton.

[Rainkng]

Short answer...No.

[Mathaleus]

Guards can solo fine.  A totem does help some with downtime.  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80. 

[Shiverr]

<cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote>  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80.  </blockquote><p>Crap advice 101.</p>

[Terron]

My guard is nearing 80 (28% off) and I have soloed most of the way, without using buckler spec.I had no choice initially as achievments came long after I started.The end ability for STR is useful when soloing.The only real problem I have is killing green heroic ^^^s for quest updates.Some I have been unable to defeat solo before they greyed out (SK and healer mobs).

[rabid.pooh]

<cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guards can solo fine.  A totem does help some with downtime.  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80.  </blockquote><p>If you never used it once while leveling (don't know if you have used it since 80), then how would you really have an opinion on the buckler line being effective or non effective?  Thats like saying, I never upgraded my level 10 weapon till I hit level 80 but it's still worked for me so don't bother upgrading.</p><p> I have, like many other guards/zerkers tried several different AA specs and found the buckler line to be the most effective in levelling and in the end game content.</p><p>Guards don't really have any healing during a fight save what they can get off gear/potions, really killing the mobs faster is going to let you do more complex/higher level quests and increase your overall survivablity. </p>

[Anfauglith]

As long as it goes for lvling, guardians do just fine...even tho we kill slowly, we can go without any break making the overall speed ok.The buckler spec is really the way to go while lvling...and it's also a big help to keep aggro in groups in case your healer doesn't have problems to keep you alive.If you aim at soloing heroic mobs [Removed for Content] guard at high lvls...forget about it...they have it WAY harder than most classes. (on the other side just having a healer will make you easily duo more than some other classes).

[Terron]

<cite>Onucia@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>If you aim at soloing heroic mobs [Removed for Content] guard at high lvls...forget about it...they have it WAY harder than most classes. </blockquote>If they are green and not ^^^ and do not heal themselves single heroics can be soloed by guards. ^^^s can be done if the level difference is great enough. If you are in defensive stance then with the level difference, the defense buff and the attack skill debuff they have a hard time hitting you. The fights will be slo and you may need clarity potions.It is easier for most other classes.

[Paedric]

I have soloed effectively as a guardian to level 77. I've had no problems killing things quickly, just some downtime between fights due to low power. As someone previously mentioned, using totems and good food/drink really helps there.  I also use strength potions to increase my damage output and health regeneration potions for those tough fights.  Power issues became less of a problem as I leveled and obtained better gear and quest rewards.<p>Contrary to most guardians that post here, I went with the WIS/INT/STR achievement lines and don't regret it at all. While the buckler spec may work very well for a lot of guardians, it isn't the only way to be successful.  The end ability in the wisdom line removes penalties from your offensive/defensive stances and hunker ability. Being able to stay in offensive stance with a tower shield and the Hunker Down ability without any penalties is really beneficial when soloing and trying to level up. Coupled with the INT line and STR 4-4-8, I have had a lot of success. </p><p>To give some context, I have regular mastercrafted gear/quest rewards and adept IIIs - nothing special. I don't raid.  I'll probably switch away from the wisdom line to the stamina or agility line once I hit level 80 and upgrade my gear significantly.  From what I can see, the benefits of using the hunker ability diminish once you can get high mitigation from good armour.  As a result, the end ability in the wisdom line loses some of its attraction (for me at least).</p><p>So, the guardian can be soloed effectively and a variety of AA specs can be used with great success.  Just my 2c.</p><p>P.S. The guardian has very cool moves!</p>

[Solkarr]

<p>Guardians can solo blue con ^^^ mobs, if they have the gear and know-how... you need to do little things like timing your CAs between auto-attacks to raise dps... make sure you keep your debuffs on the mob, and use your extra skills (once you are over level 50 and have them) like Stone Sphere... Stone Sphere is an AWSOME soloing tool... 5 or 6 procs of stoneskin, but you take no extra damage, since there is no one else in your group when you are soloing.  Also use tower of stone of course.if you still have hex dolls, pull the mobs with a mitigation debuff, instead of trying to use the doll during combat (due to slow cast times).  Also the int line and dex lines of AA with some str line for crits work excelent.  And don't be afraid to dual wield sometimes... (it is more dps than buckler spec).</p><p> Solkarr</p>

[Paedric]

<cite>Solkarr wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Guardians can solo blue con ^^^ mobs, if they have the gear and know-how... you need to do little things like timing your CAs between auto-attacks to raise dps... make sure you keep your debuffs on the mob, and use your extra skills (once you are over level 50 and have them) like Stone Sphere... Stone Sphere is an AWSOME soloing tool... 5 or 6 procs of stoneskin, but you take no extra damage, since there is no one else in your group when you are soloing. Also use tower of stone of course.if you still have hex dolls, pull the mobs with a mitigation debuff, instead of trying to use the doll during combat (due to slow cast times). Also the int line and dex lines of AA with some str line for crits work excelent. And don't be afraid to dual wield sometimes... (it is more dps than buckler spec).</p><p> Solkarr</p></blockquote>Solkarr, or any other guardians that occasionally dual-wield, which off hand weapon did you have the most success with in combination with the guardian (epic) fabled weapon?

[Solkarr]

<p>Caratoid cutter is the best you can reasonally easily get (nice damage, small proc, and adds 5% double attack).  The second best weapon you can easily get for your offhand would be anaphalaxis... but I strongly recommend caratoid cutter, thats what I used until I got my mythical.</p><p>Solkarr</p>

[BungFoo]

<cite>Shiverr wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote>  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80.  </blockquote><p>Crap advice 101.</p></blockquote>Yeah, no. I'm playing a guardian atm. She's lvl 36. I have 35 aa's and have tried both the sta buckler line and dual wielding and doing the str/agi lines. I do WAY higher dps dual wielding than I did with the buckler line and its easier for me to hold agro when grouping.I carry around a shield to use when the fights are nasty.Basically I just took Solkarr's advice from this <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=421878" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thread</a>. Don't know how to link directly to a post but his is the last post on that page.My guard is wearing almost entirely MC gear and has MC weapons so with quested (or crappier) gear, this may not apply. Moral of the story, buckler line isn't the be-all-end-all of guardian soloing.

[YummiOger]

<p>Guardians are not built to be Soloers. any class can solo, however killtime , heal downtime, survivability, contol of MOB, or Escapability are ALL weak points for Guardians .. they are bad at every one of those aspects.</p><p>I have played for a long time. i Had a maxed SK during Kingdom of Sky, maxed raiding Zerker during Echos of Fayder, which i have betrayed to a raiding Guardian for RoK. The Guard is the WEAKest soloer of all those classes.  i would rank the Solo abilities of a guardian in relationship to the other classes to be a 3 out of 10 (3/10). </p><p>SKs can pump out good Damage while selfhealing alot of HPs. Plus they have a Kill Switch with Harmtouch and can Escape with Feign Death and Evac.</p><p>Zerkers can simply overpower opponents thru massive burst damage up front.</p>

[rabid.pooh]

<cite>Denaso@Butcherblock wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Shiverr wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote>  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80.  </blockquote><p>Crap advice 101.</p></blockquote>Yeah, no. I'm playing a guardian atm. She's lvl 36. I have 35 aa's and have tried both the sta buckler line and dual wielding and doing the str/agi lines. I do WAY higher dps dual wielding than I did with the buckler line and its easier for me to hold agro when grouping.I carry around a shield to use when the fights are nasty.Basically I just took Solkarr's advice from this <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=421878" target="_blank">thread</a>. Don't know how to link directly to a post but his is the last post on that page.My guard is wearing almost entirely MC gear and has MC weapons so with quested (or crappier) gear, this may not apply. Moral of the story, buckler line isn't the be-all-end-all of guardian soloing. </blockquote><p>Your right in the buckler isn't going to give you straight up the best DPS, what it is going to do is give you the best survivability while doing the most dps you can.  Remember buckler line gives you reversal and also 8% Riposite.  Your simply going to hit less and give you the most DPS using a sword and board.</p><p>Also I see people posting that duel wield (DW) is 100% double attack, which is wrong.  Once you factor in the 1.33 delay that's added when you DW it's actually 66.7% double attack.  So there is a 6.7% difference, now factor in your 8% riposite + buckler reversal + shield bonus, and it's just a better way to tank/solo because your taking less damage with less down time, while doing close to the same DPS.  </p><p>Even tho I preach the mighty STA line that doesn't mean I never duel wield, my DA with buffs and what not is usually over 100, so in groups/raid I'll switch to DW on mobs like SoH/VP trash and my DA will be kicking between 25 - 50 (depending on procs).</p><p>To get your DPS up (talking the stat) buy rings of strength and try to get any adorment/item that will proc DPS.  There's a great pair of gloves that drop in Crushbone in the that instance that proc 20% DPS I think they are leather but at that level the hit in mitigation doesn't really matter much.  Also pay attention to your timing if your swinging every 2.2 secs, but each ability is taking a second to cast and your button spamming you are going to miss out on your autoattack damage for .8 secs.</p>

[Yimway]

BahIf you have trouble soloing a ^^^ even con, you need to check your spec and gear.Guardians do just fine solo, better than other classes.  Someone placed pally over guard, and i don't see it at all. Pally is painful slow to solo cause of crap for dps.I have no problem doing 1800 dps solo on my guard, and my inc damage is very, very low.You MUST go down stam with 8 in sta3 and sta4.  You must go int 4/1, and then you need str 4/4/8.  After that I pick up agi and go all the way to reflexes as the only end line in warrior worth getting.  Once done in warrior get your DA bonus in guard, followed by block, then I'm split fairly strongly between got your back and the debuff line, I actual swap em out on mirror from time to time.You should be able to ramp out some very solid dps in this build providing you've got a reasonably decent shield factor buckler for your tier.  Crank out offensive stance, spam thru your dps, if its not dead and your worried, dragoon and let your combat timers reset.I find guard solo's as good or better than any class I play.

[Rahatmattata]

<cite>Denaso@Butcherblock wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Shiverr wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote> I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80. </blockquote><p>Crap advice 101.</p></blockquote>Yeah, no. I'm playing a guardian atm. She's lvl 36. I have 35 aa's and have tried both the sta buckler line and dual wielding and doing the str/agi lines. I do WAY higher dps dual wielding than I did with the buckler line and its easier for me to hold agro when grouping.I carry around a shield to use when the fights are nasty.Basically I just took Solkarr's advice from this <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=421878" target="_blank">thread</a>. Don't know how to link directly to a post but his is the last post on that page.My guard is wearing almost entirely MC gear and has MC weapons so with quested (or crappier) gear, this may not apply. Moral of the story, buckler line isn't the be-all-end-all of guardian soloing. </blockquote>I looked at the thread. That guy has some whacky AA setup, but hey whatever. The thing is, you are level 36. It really doesn't matter what you put your AAs into. You could probably have 0 AAs and be just fine. Anyway, str/agi/int is a popular setup, and nothing wrong with it. I'll stick with my buckler though thanks.And I'd really like to see a guardian solo even con ^^^   Not saying it can't/hasnt' been done... I'd just like to see that's all.

[YummiOger]

<p>i would say that less then 3% of the guardins world wide has the gear and skill to solo a white heroic^^^.</p><p>as opposed to a necros or wizzies ...... iv seen crappy necros solo most of CoA and most of chardok. <---- THAT is solo ability!</p>

[Wilin]

<cite>Ahdam@Permafrost wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>i would say that less then 3% of the guardins world wide has the gear and skill to solo a white heroic^^^.</p><p>as opposed to a necros or wizzies ...... iv seen crappy necros solo most of CoA and most of chardok. <---- THAT is solo ability!</p></blockquote>I can do it but it's highly dependent on the mob. Some white ^^^ heroics are easier for us than others.

[Rahatmattata]

Do you have reflexes <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/0a4d7238daa496a758252d0a2b1a1384.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Rocc]

My guard was the hardest toon to solo. I deleted him around his 52nd level. Now I have a 70+ zerker. Overall the zerker solo'd substantially better. It is dps that allows us to tank in the first place. So you lose a little taunts but gain the dps. My advice..... go zrker and betray him between 70-80 if you chose. GL.

[Laedarr]

<cite>Mathaleus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guards can solo fine.  A totem does help some with downtime.  I wouldn't bother much with the buckler line personally...never used it once to level 80.  </blockquote>If you've never used it then your opinion is mute pertaining to the buckler line.  My dps is nearly doubled with 8 points in buckler.  To each his own pretty much, but if you've never used it, how can you justify it?