GW2. Best Open World Build. Celestial Willbender. Guardian PvE.
Last Update: April 2024
The Celestial Willbender is a survivable but high damage guardian for open world PvE. It focuses on an aggressive playstyle that passively heals but also has many active defenses. Multi-hitting attacks synergize with the Rushing Justice (F1) buff which gives burning the more you hit. Even as a hybrid build, it does great burst damage through burning and power damage.
With the Axe 3 you can pull enemies together so you can place your symbols on top of them and pulse burning from your Torch 4. Pistols offer ranged potential, but you want to combo the 3 symbol with the 4 skill to get the extra burning projectiles. Keep enemies at a distance by knocking them back with the Pistol 5 and burning them with the Pistol 2. Otherwise, use the Purging Flames and Whirling Light together to combine the Whirling Finisher with the Fire Field during the F1 buff for maximum burst.
Basic Rotation:
- Axe 3 > 2
- F1 > Purging Flames > Whirling Light
- Torch 4×2 > Swap
- Pistol 3 > 4 > 2
The Crashing Courage F3 can be used preemptively to give stability to prevent your rotation from being interrupted or you can save it as a stun break. Only use your heal skill “Litany of Wrath” after you already have burning damage out since it heals off of the damage you deal and the burning can take some time to ramp up if you use the heal too early.
Equipment
| Item | Stat | Rune / Sigil |
|---|---|---|
| Helm Celestial | ||
| Shoulders Celestial | ||
| Coat Celestial | ||
| Gloves Celestial | ||
| Leggings Celestial | ||
| Boots Celestial |
Primary Weapon Set
| Pistol Celestial | ||
| Pistol Celestial |
Secondary Weapon Set
| Axe Celestial | ||
| Torch Celestial |
| Item | Stat |
|---|---|
| Amulet Celestial | |
| Ring Celestial | |
| Ring Celestial | |
| Accessory Celestial | |
| Accessory Celestial | |
| Backpiece Celestial |
Relic
Consumables
Infusions
| Optional x18 |
Alternatives
- Jade Bot Core: for extra vitality
- Weapon: Sword instead of Axe
- Rune: if can’t get Trapper
- Sigil: instead of double Earth
Skills
| Pistol / Pistol | Heal / Utility / Elite |
| Axe / Torch | |
Traits
Build Template
Chat Code: (copy/paste into in-game chat)
[&DQEQOy47QSkmDwAATAEAANgaAACKAAAA6RoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]Gameplay
Updated Gameplay:
Full Class Guide:
Credit to Vallun for the video.
Nice build, what alternative runes do you recommend and can this armor set be used with a different Elite Specializations? Thanks! Also do you have a specific video explaining this build in youtube?
The runes are important for the sustain, but yea will work fine with firebrand and dh as well
Dolyak Runes are great sustain as well, and they’re cheap on the TP; however I run similar build to this with Scholar runes and still feel like I have an abundance of built in sustain.
Hello there!
Such an amazing build! The problem I found is that it’s too tanky even for solo purposes. I use balthazar runes for even better burning damage and I run GS + sword/torch or scepter/torch for solo boss fights to break the defiance bar a bit faster.
In WB’s trait line I took searing pact, since the heal is a bit too excessive for me. Pretty much can fight any HoT HP or champ solo. For me this is the best solo build atm after Renegade was nerfed to death.
Would you mind sharing your build? It caught my attention because you are using GS.
sure, my man!
I am just cosplaying Grey Knights and burn heretics xD
[&DQEQOS4XQSkmDyYPRwFIAdgaRwFMAbkBiRKJEgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Thanks, Dmitry.
npnp! Share your thought after giving this build a shot pls =)
It’s almost identical, but I use full Balthazar runes + sigil of force and sigil of bursting on both weapons. Full Cele gear.
I find additional healing traits and runes of defender a bit too much, this build Is already capable of face tanking shit.
Killing brood mother within 54 seconds lol
Do you play your build only open world, or do you use in other parts of games? fractals, pvp, wvw?
Of the 2 builds above which would you say is in the better place at the moment?
theyre both in the same place, just pick your preference
Amazing build, this is THE build for me! However, I have one small question. Would Roiling Light be a valid alternative for Stand Your Ground in regard to stun break?
Thank you for your time.
of course
Since it’s both a stunbreak and CC !
What exaclty does Holy Reckonigs and why not to use Restorative Virtues? is it alac better? However, this build is so AWESOME!! I dont have to even use heal skill 🙂 I can do almost all content in open world. I just did Soo won meta and it was awesome! ill test some hp and other solo stuff. Great job! And whats the most important its fun to play 🙂
Any alt to Celestial stats? I know crafting full set of ascended armor is rather time consuming and wondering what would be a good fill in for while I’m working on getting celestial gear. Thanks in advance for any suggestions 😊
Why dont you use amplified wrath?
What about relic of Defender?
Build is updated now
With the update to account for relics/weaponmaster, is this still “one build”-able for WvW?
Am I missing something?
It has Axe as the second weapon for willbender but I thought axe cannot be used unless firebrand?
You need the newest expansion Secrets of the Obscure, doing the story will unlock Weapon Master for your account and you will be able to equip weapons from other specializations. You can take Scepter instead Axe if you don’t have it.
Hi Jen, thanks for awesome work. I like your pvp videos <3 Can you please update this page, all runes, relic etc are missing. I guess there is some homepage issue