Guild Wars 2: A Beginner's Guide To The Classes (2024)

Guild Wars 2 is a unique game in more ways than one. While it does follow the "magic users, warriors, rogues" setup of other fantasy games, the individual classes are often unfamiliar to new players. The Guardian class is akin to a Paladin, for example, but Guild Wars hasn't used a more universally known term to describe them. Thankfully, you have this guide to explain the details of every class so that you'll know what you're getting yourself into.

RELATED: Guild Wars 2: A Beginner's Guide To The RacesUpdated January 22, 2022, by Belle Huston: This guide has been updated to provide details on all the new specializations that are included in the End of Dragons expansion!

Quick Reference Terms

• Specialization: an optional skillset that changes how a class works in slight ways, which you can use when you hit level 80 and own the associated expansion
• Boons: aka buffs
• Conditions: aka debuffs
• DPS: damage per second
• AoE: area of effect
• PvP: player versus player, where small teams of players fight against one another
• WvW: world versus world, where servers come together to fight against other servers

Mesmer

• Armor Class: Light
• Weapons: Greatsword, Staff, Axe (Mirages only), Scepter, Sword, Dagger (Virtuoso only), Focus, Pistol, Shield (Chronomancers Only), Torch, Spear, Trident
• Best Known For: Providing Quickness with the Chronomancer Specialization

Mesmers are magic users. They use their magic to create "illusions" (usually duplicate copies of themselves) to confuse their opponents. Within the lore of the game, Mesmers are a secretive group of casters because their school of magic is out of fashion.

Mesmers are arguably the hardest class to learn and play well. It involves creating multiple illusions, keeping track of them, and breaking them all at the same time to cause a chain effect - all this on top of regular attacks. In addition, a lot is expected of mesmers when playing end-game content. They can stack "quickness," a buff that means that the people around you will take a shorter time to attack, significantly increasing how much damage a DPS player like a ranger can put out. Unfortunately, many a new Guild Wars 2 player has chosen the Mesmer class and become frustrated. Don't make their mistake - if you are a first-time Guild Wars 2 player, consider trying another class.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Chronomancer

The Chronomancer specialization was added in Guild Wars 2's first expansion. The Chronomancer is still being used in the meta because it's the class that is most adept at stacking quickness, which we mentioned above.

Chronomancers use wells - AoE spells - to give boons to other players and their own illusions. They are also able to equip shields, which means they can defend themselves better than other mesmer builds.

Path of Fire Specialization: Mirage

The second expansion, Path of Fire, added the Mirage specialization. It gave mesmers access to axes and made the class much more mobile.

The new skills provided to Mirages are used to avoid ever being hit and to move much more quickly around the battlefield. It also gives mesmers the ability to inflict lots of conditions on their opponents.

End of Dragons Specialization: Virtuoso

The End of Dragons is the new expansion, not yet released as of the time of this writing. However, we have gotten to beta test the new specializations that will be available - including the Virtuoso. This new specialization hasn't been extensively tested in the meta yet, for obvious reasons, but we do know that it allows the mesmer to equip daggers and create illusionary blades instead of illusionary copies of themselves.

Necromancer

• Armor Class: Light
• Weapons: Greatsword (Reapers only), Staff, Axe, Dagger, Scepter, Pistol (Harbingers only), Focus, Warhorn, Torch (Scourge only), Spear, Trident
• Best Known For: Support in PvP, Curses in WvW

Necromancers are mages who specialize in making their opponents' lives miserable. If you've ever been up against a necromancer, you'll know. Their abilities are all geared towards inflicting conditions and draining your health over time. The more damage they do, the more life force they gather, which use for their "Death Shroud." It's a special state that necromancers can enter which turns the life force they've collected into health. As a result, this class is much less squishy than the other light armor classes.

While this class is extremely valuable in the game's meta content, it's not so hard to play as the Mesmer. First-time players wouldn't have a problem enjoying a necromancer character, so long as they were willing to learn about the various boons and conditions in the game.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Reaper

The first specialization for this class is the Reaper, which allowed necromancers to use greatswords. Its new skills are all shouts and, while conditions are still important to the class, it focuses on slower, hard-hitting DPS. It's focused on melee, however, meaning players will need to be extra careful about their health. The Death Shroud also becomes the "Reapers Shroud," which, like the rest of this specialization, focuses on AoE DPS.

Path of Fire Specialization: Scourge

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The Scourge specialization removes the Death Shroud altogether and uses your life force to power "Shades" (creates made from sand to help you in battle) instead.

Scourges aren't DPS-focused like the Reapers. Scourges provide an effective balance of boons and conditions which means that the specialization can work in a variety of builds. It can be used for both condition-damage-based DPS builds or support and healing builds!

End of Dragons Specialization: Harbinger

The Harbinger specialization is another unreleased specialization that players have had a chance to beta test. However, fans are already very excited about it because it finally allows the necromancer class to wield a pistol. This specialization is built around a new effect called "Blight" which the Harbinger acquires slowly at all times. Blight does small amounts of damage to the necromancer over time but the life force that the player acquires is constantly used to heal the Harbinger - the player must balance their damage output with their Blight.

Elementalist

• Armor Class: Light
• Weapons: Staff, Dagger, Scepter, Sword (Weavers only), Focus, Warhorn (Tempests only), Trident
• Best Known For: DPS for Raids, Strikes, and Fractals

The Elementalist is a magic class that uses the four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Each element has a different effect in combat and players can only have one "attuned" at a time - they switch between them in combat as the moment calls for. Fire spells are usually focused on damage and inflicting conditions (especially burning). Water spells are for healing and boons. Earth spells are for defense, blocking your enemies' path, and damage over time. Air spells allow you to inflict lots of damage and help you control your opponents while increasing your own mobility.

As a result, it's a diverse class with a wide range of useful builds. If you're new to the game, Elementalists are a great place to start.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Tempest

Tempests are all about wielding the chaotic and unbridled nature of the four elements. It allows them to "overload" their attunement and do a massive attack focused on the element's strengths. They can take advantage of warhorns and new shout skills. The tempest specialization is often used by players who want to be able to go off solo while still being effective in a group.

Path of Fire Specialization: Weaver

The unique thing about the Weaver specialization is the ability to attune to two different elements at once, making for a new, potent attunement. One element will affect the skills of your main hand weapon (abilities 1-3) and one element will affect the skills of your off-hand weapon (abilities 4-5). While Weavers get access to swords, they also get to use an ability called "Dual Attack" which creates a weapon for them by fusing together the two elements they're aligned with.

End of Dragons Specialization: Catalyst

The new Elementalist specialization coming with the End of Dragons expansion is the Catalyst. This will allow the Elementalist to equip a Hammer and to use Jade Spheres which are tied to their elemental attunement.RELATED: Guild Wars 2: Interesting Facts You Didn't Know About Sylvari

Thief

• Armor Class: Medium
• Weapons: Rifle (Deadeyes only), Shortbow, Staff (Daredevils only), Dagger, Pistol, Sword, Harpoon Gun, Spear
• Best Known For: Mobility and Stealth in PvP, DPS in Raids and Strikes

Thief is an adventuring class that excels at stealth and mobility. Their unique mechanic is the ability to "steal" from their opponents; they take an "item" from whoever they're fighting and earn a unique ability to use as a result. They also don't have any recharge timers on their skills. Instead, they have "initiative." The point of this is to use skills quickly and in succession without having to wait for a timer to run out.

Thief isn't a bad choice for players who are just starting out in Guild Wars 2 but keep in mind that at max level end-game content thieves are often vitally important to particular activities (making all the blame come down on your head if it goes wrong).

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Daredevil

The Daredevil specialization allows thieves to use a staff and focuses on melee combat. Usually, a thief would be bouncing to and from their target - however, that's not the case when you're meleeing with a staff, so the specialization also puts special emphasis on dodging and blocking to make up for it. As a result, Daredevils can deal a significant amount of DPS, enough to rival other classes who are known for it!

Path of Fire Specialization: Deadeye

Think of Deadeyes as snipers. The specialization allows thieves to start using rifles and gave them the ability to "mark" their target, which means that when they hit that opponent, the opponent also acquires "malice." The more malice the opponent has, the more damage the Deadeye's attacks will do. Deadeye thieves usually also focus on DPS, but may also place emphasis on their boons or poisons as well.

End of Dragons Specialization: Specter

When End of Dragons releases in February 2022, Thieves will get access to this new specialization: Specters. Specters get access to a new weapon (Scepters) and focus on shadowy magic to defeat their enemies. They get access to a number of new "Well" utility skills that will create AoE effects wherever they're dropped.

Ranger

• Armor Class: Medium
• Weapons: Greatsword, Longbow, Shortbow, Staff (Druids only), Axe, Dagger (in main hand, Soulbeasts only), Sword, Torch
• Best Known For: High DPS under a variety of circ*mstances, Druid Healer in Raids and Strikes

This adventuring class uses its innate connection with nature to take down its enemies by using traps, distractions, and more. They also have pets, which means there's always a friendly ally by your side. Each animal species has unique stats and abilities, so finding new creatures to tame out in the world will be essential.

Rangers are easy to understand since, if the player is familiar with other fantasy games, many of the skills and effects will already be familiar to them. However, your time won't be wasted learning this "easy" class; if perfected and done well, Rangers are invaluable team members for their DPS or healing abilities.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Druid

The Druid specialization is radically different from the basic ranger class - it allows the player to heal the allies around them and use a staff. The very best druids are essential in lots of end-game content because of their support abilities. They also earn a new ability: becoming a "celestial avatar." To do this, though, they have to have accumulated enough "astral force" by healing or dealing damage. The celestial avatar allows the Druid to use massive healing AoE spells called down from the heavens.

Path of Fire Specialization: Soulbeast

The Soulbeast specialization only made rangers more potent at power DPS. The key mechanic is that they can merge with their pets in "Beastmode." Doing this means that you lose a friendly ally who can pull attention off of you when necessary, but also means that your power and ferocity are increased and that you earn new skills depending on the type of pet you were using. The new abilities are all stances, designed to further improve your stats by giving you particular boons.

End of Dragons Specialization: Untamed

Untamed Rangers will be a common sight when the new Guild Wars expansion, End of Dragons, drops in February 2022. It focuses on the player switching their power between themselves and their pet. When the Ranger is "Unleashed," they do more damage but become more vulnerable. As a result, the Untamed specialization's new abilities are Cantrips, which help the player survive in a fight.

Engineer

• Armor Class: Medium
• Weapons: Hammer (Scrappers only), Rifle, Pistol, Sword (Holosmiths only), Pistol, Shield, Harpoon Gun
• Best Known For: DPS in Raids, Strikes, Fractals, and Dungeons, Support in PvP and WvW

Engineers are an adventuring class that uses its machines and/or potions to take down their opponents. They get an extra row of abilities called a "tool belt" which means that every skill you equip has a corresponding tool belt skill that provides a different way of using it. For example, one of the healing skills is a healing elixir that you drink. The associated tool belt skill allows you to toss the elixir, providing boons to allies.

The engineer class can be dense to learn for a beginner - it relies on lots of conditions and various complicated skills that must be kept track of. We wouldn't recommend choosing an Engineer if you're just starting off in Guild Wars 2, but if you really love a challenge, be our guest!

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Scrapper

Scrapper is a specialization for engineers that focuses on turning scrap metal into "Gyros," little flying robots that aid the Scrapper. It also gave them access to the hammer weapon. Since the Gyros are independent and can move, Scrappers serve as excellent group support. Many of the new skills create Gyros that help nearby allies, like removing conditions or dazing their opponents.

Path of Fire Specialization: Holosmith

Holosmiths are engineers that are so talented that they can create weapons out of the sun itself. The specialization gives engineers access to a "Photon Forge" which offers brand new skills by using weapons made of sunlight. The Holosmith specialization made engineers competitive at DPS, which wasn't previously something that engineers could do since so many of their abilities did damage over time.

End of Dragons Specialization: Mechanist

In Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons, Engineers will be able to take on the Mechanist specialization. Mechanists control a Jade robot called a Jade Mech CJ-1 in battle! The exact skills that the mech has will be determined by the traits that the player chooses to equip in the specialization. RELATED: Guild Wars 2: The Religion Associated With Every Playable Race

Revenant

• Armor Class: Heavy
• Weapons: Mace, Sword, Axe, Shield (Heralds only), Hammer, Shortbow (Renegades only), Staff, Spear, Trident
• Best Known For: Buffing allies in PvP, DPS in Raids, Strikes, Fractals, and Dungeons

The Revenant class isn't available in the base Guild Wars 2 game. It was added during the Heart of Thorns expansion. These characters channel spirits from the Mists to attack in certain ways. Different "stances" are always available and they each channel a particular figure from the past with a unique fighting style: Assassin Stance and Demon Stance are just a few examples. They wear a blindfold to shut out worldly influences and connect to the spirits better.

Since the Revenant was added during an expansion, it's a more complicated class than the others. We don't recommend choosing it if you're new to the game.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Herald

The Herald specialization gives Revenants access to an extra stance: Legendary Dragon Stance. It's used to give boons to your allies. You also get a constant effect called "Facet of Nature" which also helps out your allies no matter what stance you're in. Heralds can do significant DPS by focusing on particular boons but are also valued as front liners and supporters in WvW, Raids, Strikes, etc.

Path of Fire Specialization: Renegade

The Renegade specialization also adds a stance: the Legendary Renegade Stance, which focuses on summoning allies to help you in combat. Just like Herald, the Renegade specialization can be tweaked to focus on DPS or supporting allies, depending on what the situation calls for. Since you have allies to help draw attention away from you, Revenants are freed up to use the ranged weapon that this specialization provides: the Shortbow.

End of Dragons Specialization: Vindicator

Revenants will be treated with the Vindicator specialization in the End of Dragons expansion. Players only got to experience it briefly, during a beta, so we'll know more about them soon. However, at the moment we are aware that they'll be able to use a Greatsword and focus on a Legendary Alliance Stand between two Canthan champions (since End of Dragons takes place in Cantha): Saint Viktor zu Heltzer and Archemorus.

Warrior

• Armor Class: Heavy
• Weapons: Greatsword, Hammer, Longbow, Rifle, Axe, Dagger (Spellbreakers only), Mace, Sword, Shield, Torch (Berserkers only), Warhorn, Harpoon Gun, Spear
• Best Known For: As Bannerslaves or Spellbreakers

The Warrior is a soldier class that focuses on attacking and defending. They gather "adrenaline" as they attack and can use it all at once on a powerful burst attack. The more adrenaline you use, the stronger the attack will be! Warriors also have the largest selection of weapons, making it easy to practice with a variety. One of the most valuable things a warrior does is use "banners" - items that are placed on the battlefield and provide boons to players who are within range.

Warriors aren't a bad class to choose as a new player, since they're easy to understand with preexisting fantasy game experience, but some players find them boring to play after a while. Their role in end-game content is usually as offensive support, and that also can get tedious eventually. You may want to choose another class - but if you are interested in any of the others, you may not want to take the risk.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Berserker

Berserkers focus on the Warrior's adrenaline mechanic and make it all the more powerful. A "bannerslave" (a warrior whose primary purpose is to provide boons to other teammates by using their banners) will often choose the berserker specialization. Despite the name and role, bannerslaves often do a significant amount of damage themselves, on top of spreading boons to all of their teammates.

Path of Fire Specialization: Spellbreaker

The Spellbreaker class allows warriors to equip a dagger and focuses on meditation skills. It adds a special mechanic called "Full Counter," which - when activated - will absorb the next attack on your and your allies and then launch a counterattack. The name is a hint at what they're most effective at: stopping your opponents' spells and other abilities from taking effect. For this reason, they're especially valuable in PvP and WvW.

End of Dragons Specialization: Bladesworn

Warriors are getting access to the new specialization called Bladesworn in End of Dragons. It's especially unique for focusing on a weapon called the 'gunsaber' (though we think that calling it the 'bladesword' would have been much funnier) which the player will be able to pull out and attack with. In addition, the Bladesworn will be able to equip a pistol in their offhand. From what we've seen in betas and previews so far, it looks like the Bladesworn specialization will be able to provide astronomical DPS.

Guardian

• Armor Class: Heavy
• Weapons: Greatsword, Hammer, Longbow (Dragonhunters only), Staff, Axe (Firebrands only), Mace, Scepter, Sword (in off-hand, Willbenders only), Focus, Shield, Torch, Spear, Trident
• Best Known For: Power DPS and Support

Guardians are the paladins of Guild Wars 2: a soldier class focusing on protective, defensive magics. They always have particular "virtues" giving them passive boons but they can choose to activate a particular virtue for help in the moment. Despite their support focus, Guardians also put out a lot of damage (especially with the right build, gear, and boons).

The Guardian class is often considered the most durable one in-game, making it a great choice for new players. It can get complicated at high levels and in end-game content but by the time you get to that point you'll probably know the class inside out and be able to help your team no problem.

Heart of Thorns Specialization: Dragonhunter

Dragonhunters are a specialization of the Guardian class; it allows them to use longbows and provides unique trap skills, akin to a ranger. As a result, this specialization is most useful for its DPS capabilities in nearly every game mode. However, in PvP particularly, the trap skills are also particularly useful. The Dragonhunter specialization also changes the usual virtues into upgraded versions of generally the same three buffs.

Path of Fire Specialization: Firebrand

Firebrand is a particularly popular specialization for Guardians. It provides access to new mantra skills which take some time to chant but provide excellent buffs to allies and conditions on foes. It also replaces the virtues with three "tomes." Each tome still provides passive buffs but, when activated, actually gives you access to a whole new skill set. It's a lot extra to memorize all the new skill sets but worth it. Firebrands can be effective at DPS, support, conditions, and more.

End of Dragons Specialization: Willbender

The Willbender specialization has not been released at the time of this writing; it will be added with the End of Dragons expansion. However, players have gotten a chance to beta test it. Willbender allows a Guardian to use a sword in their off-hand and focuses on mobility. There are new virtues whose active abilities focus on fire and movement. At first glance, it's almost as though someone melded a thief with a guardian.NEXT: Guild Wars 2: Courtesy Rules For In-Game Roleplayers