Guild Wars 2

Seems the only change was to bring back dagger/dagger elementalists in PvP, and that was due to the implementation of the overpowered Strength runes and Celestial amulet.

Has there been anything else? Maybe profession change related?

It’s done a lot, the power creep allowed nearly all professions to trait and slot defensive abilities while offense gets carried by equipment.

That sounds bad.

Combat is more decisive and intense now. Power builds gained many options in rune sets, making possible to make more bruiser builds as well as full on glass cannons. I see far more diversity in the builds people use compared to pre-patch where I could accurately guess what people were using and never be surprised.

Overall I think things are in a good spot, its not like release where burst damage was absurd, or how its been since power/burst builds were nerfed and everything was conditions/bunkers for like the past 6+ months.

Numot.3965:

Combat is more decisive and intense now. Power builds gained many options in rune sets, making possible to make more bruiser builds as well as full on glass cannons. I see far more diversity in the builds people use compared to pre-patch where I could accurately guess what people were using and never be surprised.

Overall I think things are in a good spot, its not like release where burst damage was absurd, or how its been since power/burst builds were nerfed and everything was conditions/bunkers for like the past 6+ months.

Most builds are still bunker/sustain. The difference is that damage was buffed so much that it doesn’t seem like it anymore.

If you try to run old glass cannon builds you’re setting yourself up to have to play perfectly or lose.

Numot.3965:

Combat is more decisive and intense now. Power builds gained many options in rune sets, making possible to make more bruiser builds as well as full on glass cannons. I see far more diversity in the builds people use compared to pre-patch where I could accurately guess what people were using and never be surprised.

Overall I think things are in a good spot, its not like release where burst damage was absurd, or how its been since power/burst builds were nerfed and everything was conditions/bunkers for like the past 6+ months.

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

they fixed slow clunky turret AI so now turret engis are EZmode.

Axialbloom.8109:

Numot.3965:

Combat is more decisive and intense now. Power builds gained many options in rune sets, making possible to make more bruiser builds as well as full on glass cannons. I see far more diversity in the builds people use compared to pre-patch where I could accurately guess what people were using and never be surprised.

Overall I think things are in a good spot, its not like release where burst damage was absurd, or how its been since power/burst builds were nerfed and everything was conditions/bunkers for like the past 6+ months.

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

Pretty much this.
Power builds use Strength runes, no matter which profession it is. There isn’t even a whisper of doubt about it.

Axialbloom.8109:

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

So much for build diversity. They made the changes to runes because the wanted to see people use a variety of runes. Really screwed that one up.

Axialbloom.8109:

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

Runes of Strength work best if you already get some 6-10 (or more) might stacks going without them, otherwise Rage is probably better (fury easily adds 15% to damage, might about 1,5% per stack on a power build).

frans.8092:

Axialbloom.8109:

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

Runes of Strength work best if you already get some 6-10 (or more) might stacks going without them, otherwise Rage is probably better (fury easily adds 15% to damage, might about 1,5% per stack on a power build).

Strength is more reliable and there are many party wide might applying skills.

Kiriakulos.1690:

Power builds use Strength runes, no matter which profession it is. There isn’t even a whisper of doubt about it.

Nope I use traveler runes, cuz I hate slow mesmer

Julie Yann.5379:

Axialbloom.8109:

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

So much for build diversity. They made the changes to runes because the wanted to see people use a variety of runes. Really screwed that one up.

I hate to tell you but:
1. They will always be that IT rune or sigil.
2. Runes are a part of build diversity NOT ALL OF IT. I mean, who knew.
3. Runes of strength at least for the ele, have allowed new builds that were no possible before the patch. So build diveristy has increased in some classes.

So whenever you scream but LOL build diversity, please remember runes and sigils a part of diversity NOT all of it. Secondly, remember they will always be that 1 rune that is preferred over all runes because a lot of builds are simply copied. Very few players attempt to create their own builds.

Kiriakulos.1690:

frans.8092:

Axialbloom.8109:

Power builds have Strength runes and…?

Runes of Strength work best if you already get some 6-10 (or more) might stacks going without them, otherwise Rage is probably better (fury easily adds 15% to damage, might about 1,5% per stack on a power build).

Strength is more reliable and there are many party wide might applying skills.

You need many stacks of might to get the same effect as fury and you’d need to maintain them, which could make fury more reliable. You need 6-10 stacks before the additional effect of the strength runes surpass fury runes and not every build will have those, or they’ll require adjustments to a build in order to generate those 6-8 stacks.

Not all power builds will automatically prefer Runes of Strength.