This Guild Wars 2 tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Guardian | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Revenant | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Engineer | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Mesmer | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Necromancer | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
Guardian (A-Tier)
Guardian is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Greatsword. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Revenant (A-Tier)
Revenant is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Staff. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Engineer (A-Tier)
Engineer is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Longbow. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Mesmer (A-Tier)
Mesmer is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Dagger. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Necromancer (A-Tier)
Necromancer is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Rifle. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Greatsword | Power builds and open world clearing, where cleave damage matters more than single target output. | A two handed power weapon carried by Guardian, Warrior, Mesmer, Ranger and Reaper, and it plays completely differently on each. |
| Staff | Ranged pressure and support, especially in world versus world where positioning beats raw damage. | The caster staple, though its role flips by profession. |
| Longbow | Staying at range in open world and in fights where standing in melee is a losing proposition. | Ranger, Warrior and Dragonhunter all use it. |
| Dagger | High attack speed melee builds and anything that wants short cooldowns rather than big single hits. | A fast main hand or off hand weapon for Elementalist, Thief, Necromancer and Revenant. |
| Rifle | Single target burst at range, and for Deadeye specifically, killing one priority target very quickly. | Used by Warrior, Engineer and Deadeye Thief. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Greatsword: A two handed power weapon carried by Guardian, Warrior, Mesmer, Ranger and Reaper, and it plays completely differently on each. Guardian greatsword is a pull and cleave weapon, Mesmer greatsword is a ranged attack chain, and Reaper greatsword is slow, heavy melee.
Staff: The caster staple, though its role flips by profession. Elementalist staff is long range area damage across four attunements, Guardian staff brings Symbol of Swiftness and the Line of Warding, and Necromancer staff is a condition and life force generator.
Longbow: Ranger, Warrior and Dragonhunter all use it. The Ranger version fires at 1200 range as standard and reaches further with the right trait, rewarding players who fight from outside the enemy's window.
Dagger: A fast main hand or off hand weapon for Elementalist, Thief, Necromancer and Revenant. Thief dagger is the classic backstab weapon, Elementalist dagger is a close range attunement dance, and Virtuoso dagger generates blades.
Rifle: Used by Warrior, Engineer and Deadeye Thief. Since Secrets of the Obscure added Weaponmaster Training, any elite specialization can wield any weapon its profession can, so rifle options opened up considerably.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Guild Wars 2 centers on Weapon skills and elite specializations and Boons, conditions and combo fields. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- Guardian with Greatsword is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Dodge rolls and endurance builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Engineer remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Revenant is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Longbow offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Necromancer builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Guardian | Greatsword | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Revenant | Staff | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Engineer | Longbow | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Mesmer | Dagger | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Necromancer | Rifle | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Guild Wars 2 Guides
- Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 Overview
- Guild Wars 2 Best Builds
- Guild Wars 2 Walkthrough
- Guild Wars 2 Beginner's Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Tips & Tricks
- Guild Wars 2 Weapons Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Combat Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Boss Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Maps & Locations
- Guild Wars 2 Crafting Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Guild Wars 2, check out these related guides:
- New World: Aeternum Tier List: mmo game with similar mechanics
- Lost Ark Tier List: mmo game with similar mechanics
- The Elder Scrolls Online Tier List: mmo game with similar mechanics
