Guild Wars 2

We are all aware of the usual full zerker strength runes builds out there but what about those cheep underrated runes that can actually be useful as well?

I wonder if anyone tried some of them and found out a great combo

Ill leave a few here:

1) Centaur runes on my mesmer

+175 power
+30%Swiftness duration
-50% crippled duration
You and your allies gain 10s of swiftness when used a skill (10s cooldown)

Mesmer is a class that doesnt have a +25% signet or a trait in running speed, and has very few options to grant them self a swiftness boon.

Using this rune set im able to use my Mirror or Mantra of recovery to grant my self permanent swiftness. It also gives me 175 power which is a great combination for a rune set to just roam around and explore the world for world completion.

2) Phalanx Strength warrior with Privateer runes

+175 might
+10%might duration
25%chance on struck to shout “YARR” to grant 3 stacks of might to your self and allies 20s cd
50% to summon a parrot.

I have been using these since i got my lvl 80 zerker gear for a long time till i crafted my self a ascended armor set.

Phalanx strength trait is a trait that shares all might stacks you gain to other nearby you.Most of the time this trait is used in dungeons when the party lacks might stacking.
Not only you gain 175 power to help with your full zerk dungeon gear, increases the duration of your might stacks but you also gain a 2nd For Great Justice! skill by shouting YARR!

When you shout YARR or FGJ not only you grant nearby players 3 stacks of might, but you also get 3 stacks, which are shared to your party members around you. Using YARR and FGJ = 12 stacks of might to your party and 6 to your self. If you use signet of rage thats 22might for party, 11 for your self..and they do last a very long time

Ive also found this set up useful when roaming around and exploring the world as you will almost constantly have a Parrot flying around you with a lot of might stacks to help you kill stuff faster (ive seen 3500+dmg coming from that bird)

You may also select a far away target and swing your melee weapon towards it, this will send the bird flying towards the mob you targeted.

Also, ive seen my self with 15-18 stacks constantly while soloing around, 20-25 stacks in group content .

So,anyone found any other cheep runes and non cookie cutter meta builds?

Rune =/= build.
thread title misleading.

Artemis Thuras.8795:

Rune =/= build.
thread title misleading.

Honestly deciding to use Centaur runes over say Scholar is more build defining than deciding to go PVT over Zerk /shrug. You’ll actually use your abilities and play differently.

personally i believe the most defining part of a build would be the choice of weapons and the trait lines that makes the weapon skills more potent.

Wearing a specific set or a mix of different armor pieces only makes the numbers on the weapon skills bigger (or the numbers that you get hit with lower)

Runes on the other hand are a mix of raw stat boost for your numbers but also apply special effects just as traits do to skills.

Now enough with the explenation and oppinions on combat mechanics… I want to see more builds such as those i mentioned (something that isnt full PoPrFe gear with scholar or strength runes…