I really really REALLY want to love the Hammer for Guardian, but there are a few issues with it that i feel would need to be changed in order for it to be on par with other two handed weapons.
1. #2 skill Mighty Blow, i love this skill, except that i cant use it while moveing. There are too many times where i interupt this skill with the tap of a move key and miss out on my powerhouse aoe. My suggestions for this is to A. Make the skill able to be cast on the move like almost every other skill in the game. or B. Have you locked and rooted for its cast like the symbol for the GS. either way i just dont want to keep seeing this skill go on CD without going off because i brushed my move key.
2. 3rd chain Attack, This skill has far too long of a cast time. For the amount of danger it takes to be in melle, and the fact that it completely throws off all rhythm that the hammers other attacks create really makes it hard to use. (Which is bad because the guardian needs that protection while wielding hammer due to the lack of blind or other protections the gs brings.) The fix? simple reduce the cast time. The lack of Rhythm and the feeling useless for the cast really cripple the hammer’s playability.
3. Gap closer, This weapon needs something to get you in melle, the binding chain shot isnt doing it. Yes its handy to keep people in melle, but its very easy to be kited by anything. And you cant intiate with it because as soon as you enter combat your running slower. Suggestions: Well as i see it, i would do 1 of two things. Im looking at both warrior hammer and lightning hammer, They both have atleast 1 leap with the hammer. I feel the guardian hammer is in desperate need of this leap as well. Whether or not i would change mighty blow to have a leap effect and increase the CD (this would imply that the 3 skills cast time gets reduced so hammer can function with a longer CD) Or replace Zealot’s embrace with a imoblizeing flash/leap. Heck if the imoblize is too op even just a flash/leap that dealt a little damage or set them on fire would work just fine as well.
4. and final. TRAITS! Guardians have 1 trait that effects hammer. ONE! 20% 2handed cd redution. And that one isnt even spesificly for hammer! A couple traits, even ineffective ones would atleast encourage people to atleast try hammer more. The other thing your can do is splice the gs traits with the the hammer, or make some of my suggestions selectable traits.
I sincerely want to love hammer, but it cant function correctly on its own, i know you can set up entire builds just to close the gap, but the hammer as a weapon should be able to function in pve on its own. Those are my gripes and suggestions, if anyone has any great working hammer builds built so far i will gladly put it to the test and be happy for a new build. if anyone has any other suggestions to improve hammer id love to hear them. I really dont care if the weapon isnt op or even not optimal, but it needs just a little something before it becomes a logical choice for players to even equip.
