None of the classes is out of balance. Every class can counter every other class with proper build. 

Using the term 'best class in pvp' is just repulsive. 

Originally posted by AzurePrower

Alright. Looking at the various classes, I'm trying to decide what to play.

I'm wondering what perks do the classes have and what they bring to the table for PVP mostly.

Below are the classes I'm tossing up with.

Likely: Guardian, Thief and Ranger.

Maybes: Engineer and Warrior.

Not making at all: Mesmer, Elemental and Necromancer. (I'm a terrible caster and hated casting as an Elemental in Guild Wars)

 

Some questions I have is, does thief only have a limited stealth function? What's its perk/role?

Guardian is just bubbles and healing?

Ranger is quite obvious.

Warrior is obvious.

Engineer is mostly for defensive turrets?

Everything is purely subjective and open for debate but I get where you're coming from and as a min/max'er myself I want to play something that is at least balanced.  I do not like playing percieved underpowered classes.

But as subjective as this is concerned I think the best sPvP class is the Warrior, Guardian (support built) or Necro and the best WvW class is the Elementalist or Mesmer with the Ranger a distant 3rd. 

Originally posted by Butregenyo

None of the classes is out of balance. Every class can counter every other class with proper build. 

Using the term 'best class in pvp' is just repulsive. 

Except for the Thief.  The majority concensus through the last 2 BWE's was it is the most lacking class in the game.  It has the worst special ability (steal F1) due ot randomness.  The worst damage to survivability ratio. your either a glass cannon or cannon fodder.  Its initive system is limiting its weapon swap potential (its the only class that cant effectively weapon swap to get 5 new abilities)  Plus it has access to the fewest weapons in the game.

Mark my words, Thiefs will get buffed before too long after release.

I don't think there is a particular class that is the best at PvP or WvWvW in GW2. From what I can see no matter how powerful a class seems against you or your team in certain situations there are always counters to them. Necro's were really tough in BWE1, but a lot of people figured out how to fight them better in situations and less people rolled them. I think you will see cases of this going on a lot more at release. Most classes will see the top and bottom.

Originally posted by tixylix
I found the classes to be so bland, they all felt the same to me, kinda like EQ2 where they were all so generic. Why I loved WoW back in the day was every class felt unique and had unique roles, that's why I loved Druid because it was the most diverse class in the game.

Thanks for the laugh. Saying that EQ2 has generic classes compared to WoW, hilarious.

Originally posted by Zylaxx

Originally posted by Butregenyo

None of the classes is out of balance. Every class can counter every other class with proper build. 

Using the term 'best class in pvp' is just repulsive. 

Except for the Thief.  The majority concensus through the last 2 BWE's was it is the most lacking class in the game.  It has the worst special ability (steal F1) due ot randomness.  The worst damage to survivability ratio. your either a glass cannon or cannon fodder.  Its initive system is limiting its weapon swap potential (its the only class that cant effectively weapon swap to get 5 new abilities)  Plus it has access to the fewest weapons in the game.

 

 

Mark my words, Thiefs will get buffed before too long after release.

 Engineer has the least weapons and weapon combinations in the game (Rifle, pistol/pistol, and pistol/shield).  Thief has Pistol/pistol, dagger/dagger, shorbow, dagger/pistol, pistol/dagger, sword/dagger, and sword/pistol.  Do not mistake kits as weapons, they are kits and take up utility slots.  I agree that thieves appear weaker, but I think they just have (as of last stress test) a higher learning curve, and a mistake with them is not as forgiving as other classes.  I have witnessed thieves tear it up in SPvP and WvW by using hit and run tactics or hit and stealth tactics.  I see it being effective when it is played as a mobile damage dealer.

@op:  I agree with most posters here that mileage will vary on choice of class for WvW and PvP, I found plus and negatives with each I would ask you what you want to accomplish or prefer in WvW.  Some classes like elementalist, thief, and ranger have great mobility to move around the maps.  Support specced classes are always needed in WvW, and can shine.  If you are going for greater leveling speed then AoE speccing to tag as many players is another option that most of the classes can fill. To me, the Ranger seemed like a well rounded class in all aspects of gameplay (I'm just not a fan of pet classes).  I personally plan to play an engineer and warrior come launch.  Good luck with your decision!

Cheers!

I guess that rules thief out as my first to make class due to lack of stealth options and being overall weak.

How's melee in guild wars 2? Is it as tedious as it was in guild wars 1 where you were chasing and not hitting people constantly?

Is ranged attacks easier to use and instant cast like they were in guild wars 1?

Originally posted by AzurePrower

Alright. Looking at the various classes, I'm trying to decide what to play.

I'm wondering what perks do the classes have and what they bring to the table for PVP mostly.

Below are the classes I'm tossing up with.

Likely: Guardian, Thief and Ranger.

Maybes: Engineer and Warrior.

Not making at all: Mesmer, Elemental and Necromancer. (I'm a terrible caster and hated casting as an Elemental in Guild Wars)

Some questions I have is, does thief only have a limited stealth function? What's its perk/role?

Guardian is just bubbles and healing?
Ranger is quite obvious.

Warrior is obvious.

Engineer is mostly for defensive turrets?

I am not sure which class that is best and choosing a class based onwhich one was best in the beta might lead to dissapointment since classes in MMOs often gets nerfed.

But anyways, thieves do indeed have limited stealth and to play it successfully you need to move a lot. They do however make incredible damage with 2 knives and 2 pistols and is so far my favorite class.

Let´s face it, stealth is usually OP in MMOs. Already the heal that stealths you a few seconds is really useful (even though I prefer the one that rolls you out of the way as long as I have 2 pistols as alt weapons).

Just try out the few classes that interest you most, a game like GW2 is not really something you should be too stressed while you play anyways, and many of the classes are really fun to play.

at BW2 they nerfed necromancers hard... in BW3 they buffed them to "OP" again ... im curious what they will do with them at release...

Originally posted by heartless

As a necromancer, I was decent at DPS but the class didn't really shine in any way for me. Ranged staff DPS was harder because all of it is AoE and as such displays those AoE circles on the ground so enemies would just avoid them. Axe + horn did put out some very decent DPS but it's shorter range than staff meaning that you can't really defend keeps with it. All-in-all, the class was just decent. It didn't have anything that really stood out for me, except that I'm not a huge fan of AoE only staff skills. With that said, staff is really good in PvE.

You were using the Staff wrong - drop the Mark on the target not in front of it - trust me - it's carnage because it procs before they see it - one of the reasons the Marks are smaller in diameter I think.

Also the claw pierces so get aligned right and watch the damage numbers from the multiple targets you hit.

I go Scepter/Warhorn in WvWvW as well and drop multiple bleeds everywhere I am specced for it) and people don't really notice it until you have a fair few stacks on them because there is no projectile involved - can't count the number of people who finally realised they were being focussed - then ran off and died from the 10+ bleed dots I had on them. Speccing low raw damage and high bleed damage helps here - people are more programmed to reacting quickly to spike damage.

.... and Plague.... oh lord, if you are specced heavy bleed or extra effects on blind this is gloriously effective - especially good in the middle of a big melee where people can't really make you out from the various other particle effects. They did nerf Plague a little too much in BWE3, but I am sure it will alll come out in the wash - ANet don't hang about on these kinds of issues.

In truth - all classes are great in WvWvW if you use them logically and play to their strengths and build appropriately for what you want to acheive.

Originally posted by marganculos

at BW2 they nerfed necromancers hard... in BW3 they buffed them to "OP" again ... im curious what they will do with them at release...

That REALLY wan't my experience - Necros were much better in BWE2 than 3. It may have been your specc ofc - I ran the same one all three betas and never used pets - but I thought they got the balance in the middle on the low side in BWE3.

A tiny reajustment back up and the class is fine - as long as they sort the rather weak pet health/non-healing out of combat situation for you minion master types....

Originally posted by marganculos

at BW2 they nerfed necromancers hard... in BW3 they buffed them to "OP" again ... im curious what they will do with them at release...

My experience was completely different. In BW2 necro was a bit OP. Then in BW3 they got nerfed hard. Death shroud got hit hard and I read they nerfed wells which weren't really much good in the first place. I never liked wells, so never tried them, and am not sure how they got hit. Then for this last stress test they made a bunch of changes to traits but still there is really only one viable build left imo. That being a condition build. Pets needs some work yet and necro has the worst utilities of any class imo.

A while back Jon Peters said that necro didn't have enough viable builds and was going to get a good looking at. Wells and Death shroud don't seem worth building around now. So i'll be interested to see what changes they make for release.