Love the guide. Extra tip, you can blast finish your Healing tome #4 skill (water field) with your staff 2 to get a burst AoE heal. The cool down is short enough to combo regularly.
I noticed that DPS you had to rescue was a "longbow ranger". I'm calling this out because the problem there is that (as you touched on in the vid) playing like that means being off alone in the weeds when you should be inclined to stack with your party so you can share the buffs and heals. -(news flash to the people that feel the need to run way off from the party, shared *Might* is a dps boost!) I've seen a few dps go down in strikes (when everyone else was just fine) and wondered "why are they way over there?" And then discovered it was a longbow ranger or a rifle deadeye, oof! Not sharing in the party buffs and taking damage until you go down, not the best dps plan at work there people!
1200 range kiting professions learn some bad habits from OW metas. I was one, so I know. You learn that you can be completely safe at extreme ranges and that doesn't work in instanced content where fights are all on countertop-sized arenas
Noticing that the group was advertised as "All Their First Time (Learning)", perhaps the com tag could have advised the ranger to switch toons before starting?
@@dwayneemberson No need to switch toons, Rangers have plenty of valid close range weapon options. And it's not like you literally can't use the Longbow at point-blank range, it's just not exactly ideal and would probably be better off swapping over to one of the other weapons they have. Greatsword, dagger/axe, sword/axe, etc. Especially since they're a Soulbeast, there're many great in close Soulbeast pet attack options. I wasn't trying to call out "ranger bad" just that "being away from the party" isn't good.
Thank you for mentioning the wonder of "Protection". I don't care which support class I use, if I can stack that on people I will! On the real though I love playing support . I enjoy healing and boon buffing people. I especially had fun might stacking everyone on the vindicator in strike missions and watching the bosses fall over like a sack of potatoes 🥔 lol.
You are my hero! Thank you so much for releasing this video. I have always wanted to attempt heals but never sure on where to start that doesn't throw volumes of information at me at once. This is a great starting point for me.
Hfb is indeed my favorite role. Being a healer with so much customization is so much fun and more thinking than the dps play style in my opinion. One thing you should have mentioned in my opinion is that mantra of liberation not only giving regeneration but also cleanse conditions from squad which can be super important to some raid and fractals. Great guide overall
I stay in staff for better heals with condi cleanses. I blast staff 5 and 3 fields with staff 2 to remove conditions on team. I use axe shield as a swap. Axe 2 and 3, and shield 5 are CCs. Axe 3 is used to pull groups and to interrupt those molten shield guys in that one fractal. Plus, staff skill recharge is better with a trait... So more casting of staff 2 for heals. Auto attack heals on hit too... IMO, staff is better. I use all harrier and haven't had any issues in T4 fractals. Just learn to dodge those AOEs... Also, that spirit bow skill is a killer aoe heal and combo field... I use that instead of the mantra that gives quickness and regen. Quickness is already 100% without it. Regen is not needed if you are blasting your heals with staff and using the spirit bow. I use mace shield for WvW support build.
How does Staff auto heal on hit? Is there a trait that modifies the skill? You don't want to camp staff. You swap to Axe/Shield to put down Axe symbol and use shield 4 to apply aegis and protection. You still have the axe symbol, shield 5, tome 2 and dodges for healing during time spent in Axe. On top of that, with full harrier gear you won't need any Concentration sigil in fractals thanks to the conversion of agony with Fractal Potion. This allows you to run Sigil of Renewal or even Energy (dodge heal) for healing on weapon swap. Tomes will trigger these sigils as well. The Regen mantra doesn't give quickness. It only gives regen and you mostly run it for the condi cleanse. Useful on some encounters/instabilities. Overall you don't want to bring the same utilities to every fight and situation.
I'm not saying you cant carry teams or know how to heal but it's a little funny that at 25 seconds in while doing a montage of healing there's a dead person and someone else bleeding out on the screen
I like healing so I have been a main Healbrand for a looong time, specially in T4 and strikes, I use Minstrel's over harrier, Mantra of Liberation as the utility that gives stab and resolution and Merciful Intervention as a utility on my third slot, never underestimate the hability to teleport AND heal someone far from you! works great with rangers that runs away from your healing range!
Many “meta builds” have suggested variations based on the different circumstances of different encounters. I swap traits or utilities or even weapons all the time when playing. if there is a particular fractal instability, or for certain encounters where I need a teleport/blink ability instead of a condition cleanse or if I need extra stun breaks or extra stability like in harvest temple.
I play HB but I spend more time in staff so that I can I've around 17 stacks of might so my sub will mostly have might covered, especially important if you don't have someone else to give might.( my opinion) and the shield thing is completely accurate I usually double tap shield 5 if I don't think there are in projectiles in bound.
I need to ask, Why Minstrels? What if i want to do a little bit of damage too? Should I run "Plaguedoctor's" stats instead? This question is because I'm making my first guardian, and I want to be an awesome support, who can also help with DPS during Bosses etc. Thanks! :)
new player and I'm loving the HFB as my main, but my problem with playing supports is when doing instances like T2-3 fractals, strikes etc., people just run around and not stack, they run away from my defensive skills e.g., when I use shield barrier, they _dodge_ out of the circle LOL?? and this has happened not once but many times, and they will still eat the boss's spells with open arms, no problem. Also, while I'm trying to save a teammate from dying on the left, the guy on the right has no backup and dies. We get wiped, then the same players question about how we have no support, bad healing. I would be insane to think this is my fault, I understand these are low level pugs and my only conclusion is either people get tunnel visioned or just outright ignore me because I'm lower leveled and think that I'm incapable of even contributing a helping hand for the team.
Hi. Thanks a ton for this guide! I'm a returning player and finally decided to focus and play more and stuff. However, I don't know what armor is that and usually what should I wear to make things work. I've always tried my best at healing in other mmos, so I must know what gear this is or other recomendations. Thanks!
Im a DH main since I started GW2 and I wanted to try a Support Healer class. I don't want to try Condi DPS FB so I will definitely try your build as I wanted to experience as a support in this game.
Thanks so much for this! I’ve fully geared my condi mirage and set my sights on my hfb but after half gearing him w ascended and trying t2 fractals with guildmates trying to teach me how to hfb- my first time using hfb in any group content, i was a little disheartened with how I performed, granted it was my first go at it but I felt it may not be for me but after watching this I sort of know the situations that need to be met to use certain skills and the decision making when reacting to them. Again thanks!
You really want to take sanctuary as a firebrand in this fight, especially as a healbrand since you dont deal dmg anyway. SyG on the other hand is completely useless there since stab is not needed, and the cleanse mantrra is dispensable aswell.
I like build, but think HB have the responsibility to stack 25 of might, and with that rotation you dont make it, probability we have problem in fractal. Need to improve that.
Healbrand can definitely fill a few different roles. If you stay in staff more often than I do you can totally switch to keeping 25 stacks of might instead of regeneration on everyone.
Do you also have harrier on your accessories? I’ve seen meta builds where they run full Minstrel? Is that going to give too much toughness? I’m only interested in healing/buffing right now
Mace 1, shield 4 and tome 1 are the main damage sources, yup! It's a very defensive build focused more on healing than damage for sure. If you want more damage swap the mace for an axe
There are many good healing/boon up port builds across many professions Firebrand happens to do everything just a little too well compared to others but also requires a bit more area awareness than say tempest heals, or healscourge, or even Druid.
People always prioritising dps on a healer completely baffles me, that's not why you're there. Zdps exists and it has done since gw1. Stop dps, start healing.
Tbh I don't get why people don't play support roles. Most of them doesn't require rotation, so it's often easier than some dps rotation. If you are bad at learning rotations -> go heal or go as support dps. Regarding the fight - I always try to keep my right side of cooldown. You can switch around some skills too. For better CC use hammer/sanctuary, for heal use the bow. Wall of reflections on some bosses is a must. You can also get "double" stability by choosing Hallowed Ground. Overall, use the spells that are the best for specific encounter. This is a matter of experience of course, but with time you will learn to upkeep stability all the time for example. You can get the teleportation skill if the fight needs us to move. You didn't provide arc dps log, so I cannot tell how much damage you are doing, but I think it's important to note, that as a healer, you do not need to focus on the dps part at all. As hfb, your biggest strength is boon uptime and cc besides heal, so if you see blue bar, you could focus on that, instead of the dps. Full harrier deals around 4k at best, so it doesn't really matter. Overall good video and really helpful for new players. I would suggest putting more emphasis on precast next time tho.
Honestly I have the most fun in this game playing support roles. Even when I'm quick or alac dps I tend to be barely under the full dps anyways, but also know I'm providing everyone with boons. It's very enjoyable!
Love the guide. Extra tip, you can blast finish your Healing tome #4 skill (water field) with your staff 2 to get a burst AoE heal. The cool down is short enough to combo regularly.
I noticed that DPS you had to rescue was a "longbow ranger".
I'm calling this out because the problem there is that (as you touched on in the vid) playing like that means being off alone in the weeds
when you should be inclined to stack with your party so you can share the buffs and heals.
-(news flash to the people that feel the need to run way off from the party, shared *Might* is a dps boost!)
I've seen a few dps go down in strikes (when everyone else was just fine) and wondered "why are they way over there?"
And then discovered it was a longbow ranger or a rifle deadeye, oof!
Not sharing in the party buffs and taking damage until you go down, not the best dps plan at work there people!
1200 range kiting professions learn some bad habits from OW metas. I was one, so I know. You learn that you can be completely safe at extreme ranges and that doesn't work in instanced content where fights are all on countertop-sized arenas
Noticing that the group was advertised as "All Their First Time (Learning)", perhaps the com tag could have advised the ranger to switch toons before starting?
@@dwayneemberson or they could mention that bows work fine at melee range.
@@dwayneemberson No need to switch toons, Rangers have plenty of valid close range weapon options.
And it's not like you literally can't use the Longbow at point-blank range, it's just not exactly ideal and would probably be better off swapping over to one of the other weapons they have.
Greatsword, dagger/axe, sword/axe, etc.
Especially since they're a Soulbeast, there're many great in close Soulbeast pet attack options.
I wasn't trying to call out "ranger bad" just that "being away from the party" isn't good.
There is a special place in hell for DPS that doesn't stack
Thank you for mentioning the wonder of "Protection". I don't care which support class I use, if I can stack that on people I will!
On the real though I love playing support . I enjoy healing and boon buffing people.
I especially had fun might stacking everyone on the vindicator in strike missions and watching the bosses fall over like a sack of potatoes 🥔 lol.
You are my hero! Thank you so much for releasing this video. I have always wanted to attempt heals but never sure on where to start that doesn't throw volumes of information at me at once. This is a great starting point for me.
Hfb is indeed my favorite role. Being a healer with so much customization is so much fun and more thinking than the dps play style in my opinion. One thing you should have mentioned in my opinion is that mantra of liberation not only giving regeneration but also cleanse conditions from squad which can be super important to some raid and fractals. Great guide overall
I stay in staff for better heals with condi cleanses. I blast staff 5 and 3 fields with staff 2 to remove conditions on team. I use axe shield as a swap. Axe 2 and 3, and shield 5 are CCs. Axe 3 is used to pull groups and to interrupt those molten shield guys in that one fractal. Plus, staff skill recharge is better with a trait... So more casting of staff 2 for heals. Auto attack heals on hit too... IMO, staff is better. I use all harrier and haven't had any issues in T4 fractals. Just learn to dodge those AOEs...
Also, that spirit bow skill is a killer aoe heal and combo field... I use that instead of the mantra that gives quickness and regen. Quickness is already 100% without it. Regen is not needed if you are blasting your heals with staff and using the spirit bow.
I use mace shield for WvW support build.
How does Staff auto heal on hit? Is there a trait that modifies the skill?
You don't want to camp staff. You swap to Axe/Shield to put down Axe symbol and use shield 4 to apply aegis and protection. You still have the axe symbol, shield 5, tome 2 and dodges for healing during time spent in Axe.
On top of that, with full harrier gear you won't need any Concentration sigil in fractals thanks to the conversion of agony with Fractal Potion. This allows you to run Sigil of Renewal or even Energy (dodge heal) for healing on weapon swap. Tomes will trigger these sigils as well.
The Regen mantra doesn't give quickness. It only gives regen and you mostly run it for the condi cleanse. Useful on some encounters/instabilities.
Overall you don't want to bring the same utilities to every fight and situation.
I'm not saying you cant carry teams or know how to heal but it's a little funny that at 25 seconds in while doing a montage of healing there's a dead person and someone else bleeding out on the screen
You can't heal through death circles lol.
I like healing so I have been a main Healbrand for a looong time, specially in T4 and strikes, I use Minstrel's over harrier, Mantra of Liberation as the utility that gives stab and resolution and Merciful Intervention as a utility on my third slot, never underestimate the hability to teleport AND heal someone far from you! works great with rangers that runs away from your healing range!
I like that you play how you want and don't follow any specific "meta" build. Gives a bit more flavor to it. :)
this happens to be basically the meta build.
Many “meta builds” have suggested variations based on the different circumstances of different encounters.
I swap traits or utilities or even weapons all the time when playing. if there is a particular fractal instability, or for certain encounters where I need a teleport/blink ability instead of a condition cleanse or if I need extra stun breaks or extra stability like in harvest temple.
😂 great breakdown. I'm just staritn gout and been dps firebrand but I wanna try to heal fractals so thanks for this video and entertainment👍
the south park reference senttttt me lmfao
I remember hard carrying people in the tower in kessex hills for LWS1 on my then heal banner warrior. Good times.
I play HB but I spend more time in staff so that I can I've around 17 stacks of might so my sub will mostly have might covered, especially important if you don't have someone else to give might.( my opinion) and the shield thing is completely accurate I usually double tap shield 5 if I don't think there are in projectiles in bound.
Awesome video. I'd love to see a wvw section to this!
I need to ask, Why Minstrels? What if i want to do a little bit of damage too? Should I run "Plaguedoctor's" stats instead?
This question is because I'm making my first guardian, and I want to be an awesome support, who can also help with DPS during Bosses etc.
Thanks! :)
I know this video is about your build, but damn your characters outfit looks amazing 🤩
new player and I'm loving the HFB as my main, but my problem with playing supports is when doing instances like T2-3 fractals, strikes etc., people just run around and not stack, they run away from my defensive skills e.g., when I use shield barrier, they _dodge_ out of the circle LOL?? and this has happened not once but many times, and they will still eat the boss's spells with open arms, no problem. Also, while I'm trying to save a teammate from dying on the left, the guy on the right has no backup and dies. We get wiped, then the same players question about how we have no support, bad healing. I would be insane to think this is my fault, I understand these are low level pugs and my only conclusion is either people get tunnel visioned or just outright ignore me because I'm lower leveled and think that I'm incapable of even contributing a helping hand for the team.
Hi. Thanks a ton for this guide! I'm a returning player and finally decided to focus and play more and stuff. However, I don't know what armor is that and usually what should I wear to make things work. I've always tried my best at healing in other mmos, so I must know what gear this is or other recomendations. Thanks!
Im a DH main since I started GW2 and I wanted to try a Support Healer class. I don't want to try Condi DPS FB so I will definitely try your build as I wanted to experience as a support in this game.
I actually agree with you, I find it much more fun to play support builds.
Thanks for the heals! I was the condi zerker that may have needed *cough* some heals *cough cough* 😄
8:39 what the hell is that
The world may never know.
@@theheavyhat ye. I think he will never know. the mysteries of the mists
Awesome build and great explanations of applications
sorry to bother you but i was wondering of you have a full build list somewhere i love the build but i dont know all the peices
I go through all the pieces in the video :) what questions do you have?
@@theheavyhat i was just wondering about the waist and legs + trinkets/back slots
It's full harriers gear with minstrel's weapons.
@@theheavyhat thank you so much for clarification sorry if i bugged you i just really like this build
Thanks so much for this! I’ve fully geared my condi mirage and set my sights on my hfb but after half gearing him w ascended and trying t2 fractals with guildmates trying to teach me how to hfb- my first time using hfb in any group content, i was a little disheartened with how I performed, granted it was my first go at it but I felt it may not be for me but after watching this I sort of know the situations that need to be met to use certain skills and the decision making when reacting to them.
Again thanks!
I hope you have fun with it!
Really great video! The text explaining what you were doing in the strike really helped seeing it in practice
I appreciate you watching and thank you for the feedback!
Whats your guild, would love to join and hang. You a funny dude 🤣
I'm in LEET. :)
So freaking helpful thank you!!!!!
Glad it helped!
I personally don't like firebrand. So I don't play it... but understand why people do.
You really want to take sanctuary as a firebrand in this fight, especially as a healbrand since you dont deal dmg anyway. SyG on the other hand is completely useless there since stab is not needed, and the cleanse mantrra is dispensable aswell.
Signet of Wrath / Bane Signet is a massive DPS increase during burst phases (with Perfect Inscriptions traited). Defo would give it a go.
The scrapper is way entertaining to use than the Healbrand and it does basically the same.
Damage reduction is future healing :). Nice guide!
I like build, but think HB have the responsibility to stack 25 of might, and with that rotation you dont make it, probability we have problem in fractal. Need to improve that.
Healbrand can definitely fill a few different roles. If you stay in staff more often than I do you can totally switch to keeping 25 stacks of might instead of regeneration on everyone.
Do you also have harrier on your accessories? I’ve seen meta builds where they run full Minstrel? Is that going to give too much toughness? I’m only interested in healing/buffing right now
If you run full minstrels, you can't raid because you'll out toughness the tank. It's great for wvw though
Btw, so our main source of damage is just going to be 1? Thanks for the run through of different scenarios too, got my sub
Mace 1, shield 4 and tome 1 are the main damage sources, yup! It's a very defensive build focused more on healing than damage for sure. If you want more damage swap the mace for an axe
Hoping 1 day I'll be a great healer. Came to see if fb would be something for me too. Hard decision to make since I am very bad lol
There are many good healing/boon up port builds across many professions
Firebrand happens to do everything just a little too well compared to others but also requires a bit more area awareness than say tempest heals, or healscourge, or even Druid.
Have you got a similar build but with just exotics and no ascended/legendary stuff which i have yet to even work out how to get hold of?
Just use harrier prefix exotic gear.
People always prioritising dps on a healer completely baffles me, that's not why you're there. Zdps exists and it has done since gw1. Stop dps, start healing.
Agreed! That's why I say it's the bottom priority if everyone is healed and healthy.
@@theheavyhat Oh yeah, I know you know, but this was more for some others in the comments :P
Tbh I don't get why people don't play support roles. Most of them doesn't require rotation, so it's often easier than some dps rotation. If you are bad at learning rotations -> go heal or go as support dps.
Regarding the fight - I always try to keep my right side of cooldown. You can switch around some skills too. For better CC use hammer/sanctuary, for heal use the bow. Wall of reflections on some bosses is a must. You can also get "double" stability by choosing Hallowed Ground. Overall, use the spells that are the best for specific encounter. This is a matter of experience of course, but with time you will learn to upkeep stability all the time for example. You can get the teleportation skill if the fight needs us to move. You didn't provide arc dps log, so I cannot tell how much damage you are doing, but I think it's important to note, that as a healer, you do not need to focus on the dps part at all. As hfb, your biggest strength is boon uptime and cc besides heal, so if you see blue bar, you could focus on that, instead of the dps. Full harrier deals around 4k at best, so it doesn't really matter.
Overall good video and really helpful for new players. I would suggest putting more emphasis on precast next time tho.
Honestly I have the most fun in this game playing support roles. Even when I'm quick or alac dps I tend to be barely under the full dps anyways, but also know I'm providing everyone with boons. It's very enjoyable!
🤤🤤🤤🧙🏻♂️
First!