Hey everyone, I’ve dipped in and out of GW2 since the launch and while I’ve missed several expansions, I keep coming back hoping to reignite my love for the game. Each time I return, I face the same frustrating issue. Regardless of the specialization I choose, gameplay feels off. I find myself feeling too squishy, my damage output seems really low, and I keep getting downed during story content. Sometimes NPCs revive me, but often I find myself retrying checkpoints, which makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong. I’ve looked up recommended builds, watched guides, and practiced my rotations, but nothing seems to change. Recently, I’ve particularly struggled in Janthir Wilds with all the AoE attacks—it’s overwhelming. I’ve tried different specs that seem cool or thematic, yet they either don’t work for me at all, or I survive but deal so little damage that fights drag on forever. Is this how the game is currently? Is the story content meant to be so punishing unless you’re using specific tanky builds, or am I missing something? I genuinely want to enjoy the game again because I love its world and design, but right now, it’s really killing my motivation.
3 Answers
Have you equipped full level 80 exotic gear with appropriate runes and sigils? You can usually breeze through core story content, but starting with the expansions, it’s expected that you have at least exotic gear to handle the tougher challenges.
What classes have you tried? I have a Necro/Reaper and a Mesmer/Chrono that do great except maybe in the Heart of Thorns content where it’s a bit tougher. I recently unlocked the Untamed build, and I’m loving it; the power axe/mace build feels really strong!
I’ve mainly played Reaper and Virtuoso, and they’ve worked well for me, but knowing how different specs perform in various scenarios is key! Just remember that they can feel different depending on if you’re playing solo or in a group.
It’s definitely not normal to feel this lost. While the story has ramped up in difficulty a bit, it’s still some of the easier content. You should be able to manage it with some practice, especially with forgiving classes like the Necromancer. Just keep an eye on your HP and deal damage simultaneously. With some skill, you should be able to turn things around!
Totally agree! The mace/mace Untamed build is a game-changer. Whenever I struggle with my Reaper, I switch to my Ranger, and it feels almost unkillable with the bear tanking and decent damage output.