Guardian elite spec theory

[Kodama.6453]

From all the icons we have seen for the elite specs so far, I think the 8th icon (the one with the big arms) belongs to guardian, indicating that this class gets a tanky bruiser spec which deals power damage. Maybe they can infuse their bodies to temporarily fight without weapons, as some kind of holy brawler/monk.

 

At first, I just thought this icon belongs to guardian because of elimination (I attributed all other icons to other classes and this was left for guardian), but after looking at it for a while, I think I might have found a reference to the core guardian icon in this.

One symbol which represents guardians is the ankh, which is hidden in the design of the icon I am talking about. Here is a visual presentation:

https://imgur.com/CpuzXai

 

Weapon could potentially be offhand mace, since this would be the most fitting weapon for such a bulky fighter.

 

[Trejgon.9367]

Personally I think that if that was guardian new espec icon it would be more spec about kurzick Juggernauts (actually whichever class it will be I think that espec is going ot be the juggernaut spec)

 

out of possible candidates, I could also see the oni face - evil guardian theme, I have seen argument that double swords one is guardian because it has 3 dots - 3 virtues, and I suppose one could thing out of connecting that samuraj mask icon to guardian theme "deeply connected to canthan lore".

 

that's my take on it.

[Ezrael.6859]

I think it's number 5.

[Kodama.6453]

24 minutes ago, Lord Trejgon.2809 said:

Personally I think that if that was guardian new espec icon it would be more spec about kurzick Juggernauts (actually whichever class it will be I think that espec is going ot be the juggernaut spec)

 

out of possible candidates, I could also see the oni face - evil guardian theme, I have seen argument that double swords one is guardian because it has 3 dots - 3 virtues, and I suppose one could thing out of connecting that samuraj mask icon to guardian theme "deeply connected to canthan lore".

 

that's my take on it.

I personally associated the mempo with warrior (samurai elite spec) and the double swords with thief (assassin elite spec).

It seems to me that many icons are referencing the core class icons in some way. The most obvious is revenant, which literally has the third eye icon of the core class built into it.

 

But there are other parallels. Like the crossed swords, which I think are referencing the thief icon which are crossed key and dagger.

The last icon, which looks like a bomb or flask, references the engineer core icon, which has a similar object.

The 4th is a flame with a diamond, elementalist's core icon is also a flame.

 

Which made me look if I can identify more of these references in the icons. And that's how I ended up seeing the ankh in the 8th icon design.

I think the mempo can also be seen as a reference to core warrior, since it's icon is a helmet and the mempo is also a traditional protective headpiece of samurai.

[Kodama.6453]

12 minutes ago, Ezrael.6859 said:

I think it's number 5.

I personally think this is going to be elementalist. It looks so much like a flame that I think it would actually be confusing not to associate this icon with ele.

 

Same for the last icon, which many believe belongs to necromancer. I think it belongs to engineer, since it looks similar to the core engineer icon and it would be confusing to associate it with another class.

[draxynnic.3719]

Hrrrmn. I can see where you're coming from, but I think drawing an ankh out of that is a bit of a stretch. Your layout pretty much requires the top loop and the crossbar to be in relief, while the lower bar is on the foreground.

 

After all, the original form of the ankh was a T with a loop on the top (believed to be based off a bull's vertebra bone, IIRC). While there's a bit of artistic variation, I don't think I've ever seen the lower bar represented as a hollow triangle.

 

When I look at the icon, what I see is a stylised head, torso, and muscled arms with oversized pauldrons (or perhaps giant wings on the helmet). Which probably does mean that it's one of the heavies (and #6 looks unlikely to be anything but revenant), but I don't think we can rule out warrior. Or some engineer spec based off dragon jade tech, even though the symbol screams melee and I don't think the engineer really needs another melee-focused elite specialisation. 

Edited July 29, 2021 by draxynnic.3719

[draxynnic.3719]

Looking around a bit further, this makes for a good "all in one image" reference for existing symbols.

 

There are quite a few observations that could be made here. The most relevant here is that, comparing symbol #8 to past symbols, the closest is probably the Firebrand symbol. It has a similar structure of a circular portion with a triangular portion below it, with a large structure over the 'head' - the distinction being that for firebrand it's a 120 degree arc over the top, while for symbol #8, it's a quarter circle to each side with an arm attached.

 

Working through other professions:

 

While the core warrior symbol is a helm, elite specialisation symbols are fairly consistently a weapon with some sort of effect around it. This could apply to symbol #4 (although a second fire-based warrior elite would seem a bit redundant) or symbol #7. If they do go back to a helm theme, though, then #2 or #8 could be possibilities.

 

As noted previously, eye imagery in Guild Wars 2 is fairly consistently revenant, particularly when combined with the tearlike downwards triangle (a feature which neither the GW1 mesmer eye nor the ritualist eye had). Core revenant and renegade both have variants of that feature, so #6 being revenant is probably a reasonably safe bet.

 

'Scary face' is a fairly common necromancer feature: the skull for the core necro, the hooded spectre for reaper. This could point to #5 being necromancer. Such an assignation would also mean that each of the starting face decorations would have a linked elite specialisation: skull for core necro, wraith for reaper, trickster demon for the EoD elite spec. (Note that this analysis takes no account of the necromancer spec likely using pistols.)

 

Ranger is most associated with paw prints, and none of the EoD elite specialisation symbols resemble a paw print. #2 seems the most nature-oriented, although if they do decide to go with a gun ranger, #7 would fit.

 

'Crossed weapons/implements' is not a consistent thief feature - neither deadeye nor daredevil have this feature. However, symbol #3 is fairly similar to the GW1's assassin's crossed daggers. So that's where my money would likely be.

 

Engineer... actually has the round-bottomed flask symbol come up twice, if you consider that the holosmith symbol can be interpreted as three such flasks with their bottoms touching. So that could point to engineer being #9.

 

Mesmer... doesn't really have any consistency regarding symbols. Even the core symbol bears little resemblance to the GW1 symbol. It's hard to imagine any other EoD elite spec having daggers as their symbol, though: most other professions already have daggers, and I don't see revenant, engineer, or guardian using daggers as their symbol.

 

Elementalist moves away from flames outside of the core symbol, and we already have a precedent of the warrior using a flame effect in the berserker symbol. This doesn't rule out #4 from being elementalist, but I don't think #4 has to be elementalist either.  

[draxynnic.3719]

Looking at the symbols again, I can also see some similarity between EoD symbol #2 and the firebrand and dragonhunter symbols. So I could see that one being the guardian elite.

 

Which I guess means it's probably #2 or #8.

[Fueki.4753]

I think that the mask is going to be Guardian's new elite specialization and Guardian's oh-so-righteous and benevolent theme is going to get reversed.

 

Or they could theme it after Acala (Fudou Myou'ou in Japan), the Buddha that punishes evil.

This would be in line with Guardian and its elite specializations reflecting aspects of real religions.

[Ezrael.6859]

2 hours ago, Kodama.6453 said:

I personally think this is going to be elementalist. It looks so much like a flame that I think it would actually be confusing not to associate this icon with ele.

 

Same for the last icon, which many believe belongs to necromancer. I think it belongs to engineer, since it looks similar to the core engineer icon and it would be confusing to associate it with another class.

5 is the mask, not the flame.

[Aeolus.3615]

6 minutes ago, Fueki.4753 said:

I think that the mask is going to be Guardian's new elite specialization and Guardian's oh-so-righteous and benevolent theme is going to get reversed.

 

Or they could theme it after Acala (Fudou Myou'ou in Japan), the Buddha that punishes evil.

This would be in line with Guardian and its elite specializations reflecting aspects of real religions.

 

Double burn damage vs necromancers hahahaah (back in the  necros used to run alot of tormentor insignias)

 

https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Holy_damage

Edited July 29, 2021 by Aeolus.3615

[Kodama.6453]

Just now, Ezrael.6859 said:

5 is the mask, not the flame.

Oh, sorry, mixed that one up.

 

Yeah, it is possible that this is the guardian. I personally bet on it being warrior, but it is all in the realm of possibilities. I still think this icon kinda screams guardian, at least to me (the one with the big arms).

[Kodama.6453]

1 hour ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Hrrrmn. I can see where you're coming from, but I think drawing an ankh out of that is a bit of a stretch. Your layout pretty much requires the top loop and the crossbar to be in relief, while the lower bar is on the foreground.

 

After all, the original form of the ankh was a T with a loop on the top (believed to be based off a bull's vertebra bone, IIRC). While there's a bit of artistic variation, I don't think I've ever seen the lower bar represented as a hollow triangle.

 

When I look at the icon, what I see is a stylised head, torso, and muscled arms with oversized pauldrons (or perhaps giant wings on the helmet). Which probably does mean that it's one of the heavies (and #6 looks unlikely to be anything but revenant), but I don't think we can rule out warrior. Or some engineer spec based off dragon jade tech, even though the symbol screams melee and I don't think the engineer really needs another melee-focused elite specialisation. 

Another thing why I think that all the theories that this represents engineer are wrong is that engineer definitely should get a condition damage based elite spec this time. Holosmith and scrapper have been power damage primarily and condition damage variations of our class still rely on the highly complicated 3 kits playstyle (using bombs, grenades and flamethrower).

 

The 8th icon screams that it is a power damage spec with these big muscled arms and all. And yes, I also see the figure with the big pauldrons and arms. I was more pointing out that something could be hidden additionally here.

 

The lower part of the ankh being a triangle makes sense if we consider that the ankh of the guardian is not just lines, they taper towards the end like triangles.

[draxynnic.3719]

41 minutes ago, Kodama.6453 said:

Another thing why I think that all the theories that this represents engineer are wrong is that engineer definitely should get a condition damage based elite spec this time. Holosmith and scrapper have been power damage primarily and condition damage variations of our class still rely on the highly complicated 3 kits playstyle (using bombs, grenades and flamethrower).

 

The 8th icon screams that it is a power damage spec with these big muscled arms and all. And yes, I also see the figure with the big pauldrons and arms. I was more pointing out that something could be hidden additionally here.

 

The lower part of the ankh being a triangle makes sense if we consider that the ankh of the guardian is not just lines, they taper towards the end like triangles.

Yeah, I'd be disappointed if it's engineer myself, because, well, two power-focused melee specs already. Just observing that it can't be entirely ruled out.

 

Sure, the ankh on the guardian shield has pointed ends for the T-part. However, the lower bar/point isn't hollow. The structure you're drawing requires the upper loop and the sidebars to be formed out of the background behind the coloured foreground, which means that you're changing the lower bar/point into a hollow triangle rather than a solid one. That's something that I think is taking it a bit too far away from being an ankh.

 

To work the way you want it to, I think the feature underneath the circle would need to be a V shape rather than a solid triangle.

[Buran.3796]

   I would bet money on the 7th icon (the one with the rotating bullet inside a cannon) being the one of the next specialization for Guardian and the weapon will be a Rifle.

 

   * The one is for Mesmer, dagger.

   * Second seems the face of a tiger so I guess represents the Ranger and as a weapon probably a shield.

   * Third a off hand sword for the Thief (the three diamonds probably linked to the initiative system).

   *  Four the Elementalist, with an arrow set on fire so probably a kind of bow for them.

   *  Fifth seems a oni mask so I would say some kind of warrior monk with staff, for Warrior.

   *  6th is the Ritualist eye from GW1 and the weapon probably a focus or a scepter (maybe double dagger Ur Khan style).

   *  8th seems a golem or a character with enhanced endoskeleton which would fit Engineer better than any other (not sure about weapon).

   *  9th looks like the front of a cursed pistol, and we already saw the draw of what is probably an Asuran gunslinger Necro.

 

   So that leaves the 7th symbol (a rotating bullet) the 5th (a oni mask) or the 3th (double swords) as most probable guess to be the new Guardian spec. But as I said the 3 rhombus in the 3th resembles the initiative points from Thieves, and a Warrior can't get a rifle  a new weapon, so everything points that the next Guardian spec will be a gunpowder user (otherwise the Warrior would get pistols and the Guardian stays as the intriguing mask).

[Xaylin.1860]

7 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

When I look at the icon, what I see is a stylised head, torso, and muscled arms with oversized pauldrons (or perhaps giant wings on the helmet). 

If we solely look at armor, the only class without e-spec shoulders are Guardians. Aren't they?

 

Probably a stretch. But it kinda makes sense.

[Diswan.8156]

I don't know how to paste images but on the Main web page there is an engi with a biónic arm. It even has a toolbelt. So i doubt that icon 8 would be guardians. 

[draxynnic.3719]

4 hours ago, Xaylin.1860 said:

If we solely look at armor, the only class without e-spec shoulders are Guardians. Aren't they?

 

Probably a stretch. But it kinda makes sense.

Well observed. It'd be the first time that the armour piece is focused on in the icon, but there's a first time for everything.

 

On the other hand, I think guardian, ranger, and elementalist are the only professions with e-spec gloves, so if ArenaNet isn't willing to double up, we can probably expect to see a lot of gloves in the EoD e-specs.

[Xaylin.1860]

That is true but not too surprising. Shoulder and head pieces are usually more prominent and offer more freedom for designs. Not too surprising ANet didn't use them frequently.

 

Virtuoso does get gloves. And seems that the new Necro wears some kind of bandages as well.

 

And yes, it would be a first. But If the armor is more important visually/conceptually than, for example, the weapon, then why not? We do have cases where the weapon is used in the icon and we don't really question it.

[Xaylin.1860]

3 hours ago, Diswan.8156 said:

I don't know how to paste images but on the Main web page there is an engi with a biónic arm. It even has a toolbelt. So i doubt that icon 8 would be guardians. 

It could be an Engi but it is not THE Engi because that is represented by a Charr.

 

Still, I do agree that said jade arm looks a lot like the icon. However, the class represented in the icon might just use big pauldrons that happen to look similar due to cultural reasons.

 

Personally, I can see both Engi and Guardian or even Warrior. But Warrior doesn't make too much sense because of Spellbreaker and I'd rather not see too bulky specs for Engi nor Guardian 😶

[Kodama.6453]

4 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Well observed. It'd be the first time that the armour piece is focused on in the icon, but there's a first time for everything.

 

On the other hand, I think guardian, ranger, and elementalist are the only professions with e-spec gloves, so if ArenaNet isn't willing to double up, we can probably expect to see a lot of gloves in the EoD e-specs.

Not even the first time....

Reaper has shown the headpiece of the class (the hood) as their icon, even if a scythe would have been an obvious choice for an icon.

[draxynnic.3719]

47 minutes ago, Kodama.6453 said:

Not even the first time....

Reaper has shown the headpiece of the class (the hood) as their icon, even if a scythe would have been an obvious choice for an icon.

Valid point - I didn't think of that myself because subconsciously the hood is just associated with reaper in the first place that I thought of it as "this is representing the reaper" rather than "this is referencing the reaper's special item". Essentially a case that I would expect the icon to be the same even if the elite specialisation armour pieces didn't exist.

 

2 hours ago, Xaylin.1860 said:

And yes, it would be a first. But If the armor is more important visually/conceptually than, for example, the weapon, then why not? We do have cases where the weapon is used in the icon and we don't really question it.

True, but I'd be surprised if they do manage to make the armour more important visually/conceptually than the weapon. Weapons come with skills and an associated playstyle, while the armour is, fundamentally, generally just a skin.

 

Could happen if the influence of the weapon is downplayed due to the elite specialisation having some form of alternative mode where they don't use the weapon - firebrand already essentially does that for guardian, though.

[Xaylin.1860]

41 minutes ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

True, but I'd be surprised if they do manage to make the armour more important visually/conceptually than the weapon. Weapons come with skills and an associated playstyle, while the armour is, fundamentally, generally just a skin.

True in most cases. Not true when it comes to Reaper. Totally forgot about that one, thx Kodama. So yes, the weapons surely have a bigger impact on your gameplay. But conceptually/lorewise an armor piece could be more relevant. For example, if Thief was an e-spec, the icon could easly be hands/gloves. On the other hand weapons - or let's say the type of weapon - can be totally irrelevant (e.g. Mirage... which got a Mirror Icon).

 

Now, bit off topic... I've been wondering wether Necro might get a second headpiece. Or is the hat in the pic that Gemstore one with hair included? Can't think of another one that would fit.

Edited July 30, 2021 by Xaylin.1860

[Kodama.6453]

7 minutes ago, Xaylin.1860 said:

True in most cases. Not true when it comes to Reaper. Totally forgot about that one, thx Kodama. So yes, the weapons surely have a bigger impact on your gameplay. But conceptually/lorewise an armor piece could be more relevant. For example, if Thief was an e-spec, the icon could easly be hands/gloves. On the other hand weapons - or let's say the type of weapon - can be totally irrelevant (e.g. Mirage... which got a Mirror Icon).

 

Now, bit off topic... I've been wondering wether Necro might get a second headpiece. Or is the hat in the pic that Gemstore one with hair included? Can't think of another one that would fit.

I always thought that Anet might give the classes the "missing" armor piece with the third elite spec (there were 3 different armor types used in former specs: gloves, headpieces, shoulders).

 

But I start to have some doubts, especially since this would mean that we will se ALOT of gloves this time. These are the missing armor pieces for all classes:

• Warrior: gloves
• Guardian: shoulders
• Revenant: gloves
• Ranger: helmet
• Thief: gloves
• Engineer: gloves
• Necromancer: gloves
• Elementalist: helmet
• Mesmer: gloves

 

So in total: 6 gloves, 2 helmets, 1 shoulder

That seems heavily imbalanced.

 

But it could still be true, I guess. While the hat was pretty dominant in the artwork for necromancer, it also had some outstanding gloves it seems with bandages.

 

I guess we have to wait and see.

[Xaylin.1860]

Yeah. A bit skewed. But we only got 1 Gloves in HoT I think? In the end ANet doesn't has to stick with it.