Guild Wars 2

I like how the various Rune Sets and all their possible combinations add an extra lair of customization to the gear selection.

My problem however is that overall, most of the Superior Rune sets are very underwhelming.

In fact, the most popular Rune sets focus on damage as most of the utility proccs are either not very useful or only work for a very specific build/profession.

The most popular Runes by far are Divinity and Scholar, both of which add a significant amount of damage.

Most other Superior Rune sets are weak in comparison. Here’s why.

1. Passive damage increases are the least interesting form of bonuses and thus shouldn’t be the best. Damage is always the most thought-after element, no need to encourage it.

2. Most procc effects are simply weak or redundant.

3. Your Rune selection is limited by your build. Don’t need Precision in Condition Builds, don’t need Condition Damage in Burst builds etc.

I’ve tried and experimented with numerous Rune sets out there but all of the time the procc effects are so weak they are barely noticeable (like Vampirism) or don’t work reliably. Lyssa Runes for example have an RNG component on the 4-piece bonus and the 6-piece bonus is applying redundant boons half the time.

I really think ANet needs to buff some of the current Rune bonuses, especially the procc or “on use” effects and make them more attractive compared to the passive bonus Runes.

Yeah and those sets with procs on getting hit, fairly useless since you don’t want to get hit in the first place. Those with defensive procs might be good but not offensive ones. Might boon on hit? Naw I’ll pass.

I like my gear to be all around so I just chunk in ruby orbs, can be used for basically any set/build.

Just to give a more tangible example, the Vampirism Rune set for example would provide you with a roughly 500-800 heal every 15 seconds.

The 6 piece bonus, while good on paper, would hardly ever procc reliably. It never saved you from death and really didn’t add much survivability.

I mean most food provides more benefits than some of the Superior Rune sets.

Some sets are just better for other profs. It’s all about finding the right one for you.

The thing is, as DeeJay already mentioned, some runes just don’t work.
Another bugged rune for example is the Rune of Strength, where the (6) bonus
“5% more damage while under the effects of might” still doesn’t work.
On the 13th of october someone wrote this on the gw2wiki site. I tested it last week and it still didn’t work.
Of course, not all of them are bugged, yet they apply a (6) bonus which is just not worth it. Rune of the Fighter grants a single stack of might when healing. This is just meh, playing in a group even the (2) bonus from the Rune of Altruism has a better effect “Give 3 stacks of might to nearby allies when using a healing skill”.
(I know it’s 20 seconds vs 10 seconds, but it’s also 1 stack vs 4×3 stacks)

In my opinion, runes are something to make your character feel special and individual. Unfortunately, as it stands atm, a lot of runes don’t provide this feeling nor are they worth using. Sometimes it’s just way better to resort to orbs.

…which should actually be weaker than runes, don’t you think?

Qid.1937:

Some sets are just better for other profs. It’s all about finding the right one for you.

When Divinity (just boost everything!) is better than almost any other rune, it discourages finding the right one for you and locks you into buying the right one for everyone.

Qid.1937:

Some sets are just better for other profs. It’s all about finding the right one for you.

+1

Using Rune of the Pack for my Guardian, and I won’t change it for anything.

Orbs are weaker than Runes, they’re just more rounded.

I personally just use orbs they flesh my stats out better in my opinion.

Harbinger.8637:

Qid.1937:

Some sets are just better for other profs. It’s all about finding the right one for you.

+1

Using Rune of the Pack for my Guardian, and I won’t change it for anything.

Sadly that rune set has been bugged for months. The 3rd rune bonus gives +50 to healing instead of power.