Radiant ward vs Blazing shield for templar casters/healers

Lynx7386

As a defensive ability, which one of these would you guys suggest? My templar is a caster/healer with a destruction staff on one bar and resto staff on the other, and abilities set up accordingly. I'm looking at radiant ward/blazing shield for aoe situations where I'm in the thick of things firing off impulse and solar barrage.

Roselle

Blazing shield can provide better DPS when spammed if you're taking the damage to break the shield pretty fast.

If the trash isn't breaking your 1k shield or so (rough guess on your shield strength there) then I believe Radiant Ward might be something to work with to ensure decent AOE dps.

Although, if AOE dps is what you're after, spear/luminous shards is a good way to go. I've hit over 10k+ DPS with it in healing gear/mundus stone on a large pull and the ultimate regeneration is especially nice using blazing spear.

Solariken

Radiant Ward is nice in theory, but seems like it only really applies to PvE when you can be sure to be in a puddle of mobs to get a respectable boost to the shield strength.

Blazing Shield is really useful in PvP. It really helps to keep the stabby-stabbers at bay. I don't think it's very relevant in PvE considering there are way better options for AoE DPS.

ThatHappyCat

Radiant Ward isn't much stronger than Blazing Shield even if you're surrounded by mobs. Remember that Blazing Shield still has the "+% with number of enemies" thing, Radiant Ward just improves it by 1%... from 4% to 5%. Combined with shields always taking full damage it's almost negligible.

Blazing Shield > Radiant Ward always.