Basic build questions
the long answer (sry no short one), yes: It depends..
It depends on the kind of PvE you like to do and it depends on the kind of WvW you like to do and lastly it depends on how skilled and experienced you are (as a player), let me explain with a few ex.
Open world PvE (world bosses and just running around in different maps): Here it mainly depend on the play style you enjoy, do you like to kill stuff fast and at the same time be awake and fast to react all the time. or do you like to relax and ignore when a random mob start hitting you. If the first, then berserker (or maurader) might be something for you. If the latter, go abit more tanky.
For low lvl fractals/Dungeons: Is fast and org. runs something for you, berserker. Is slower runs with more focus or talking/typing your style= more tanky.
High lvl fractals: more or less same as above, but the higher lvl fractal the more you need to know when to dodge/blind/reflect to survive in berserker gear. But on the other hand, the harder a time you will also have with tanking hits even in a tank sett.
WvW (solo/duo roaming): go full berserker and you will prob be dead all the time. celestial on the other hand will make surviving alot easyer. Something even more tanky and you dont do enough dmg to be a threat and will just slowly die.
WvW org-group (10-15 man): Here your job will often be to heal/cleance the rest. So celestial or even minstreal will be what you want.
WvW not org-group (10+): Berserker gear= stay behind everyone else, everything will kill you. But if you can get some shoots off, stuff on the other side will also die fast. Or go more tanky as in celestial/minstreal and be more melee and help the group with surviving. All up to you and the play style you like.
As you can see, its hard to give an “easy” answer without knowing more about what you like to play and what kind of content you enjoy. HOWEVER generally exotic will be fine (not for high lvl fractals as you need AR) so have more then 1 sett or armor/weapons and do it all when you fell like it
ohh 1 more thing, if you go berserker (glass), then learn to dodge, blind etc. This will often be better at keeping you alive the normal “face”-taniking. Nomatter how tanky you have gone.
Often (in PvE) it is more about learning the fight then about being tanky.
The answer to your question is complex.
First, as far as PvP/WvW go, survival stats tend to be far more important. The PvP meta for elementalist is a healer build. Elementalist has a very difficult time surviving as a damage dealer in this environment. In WvW there are some more offensive builds, but you still aren’t likely to survive for very long in that environment if you don’t at the very least take some extra vitality on your gear.
PvE is a different animal. Elementalists are damage dealers in group PvE. When it comes to open world, there is room for tankier builds (since you can pretty much do whatever feels right to you). However, whether those survival stats are worth it depends a lot on your priorities and skill level.
Why not try full glass and see how it goes? Again, it’s open world so you can do whatever feels right. If it’s too fragile for your tastes, then dial it back a bit until you feel comfortable. You might try a marauder set if berserker isn’t to your liking. The extra vitality really takes the edge off and you still deal great damage.
Thanks for the guidance. I do understand that no build is a substitute for smart play: dodge, blind, reflect, boss tactics, etc.
I think what I’m hearing is that a pure DPS build is not the only way to play and that balanced or even support builds have a place in both PvE and WvW.
I’d argue that in the condi meta most Zerg eles (Tempests) would be frontline support, able to provide a lot of condi cleanse and healing. It’s more about sustain than damage, with necros being the main damage dealers. Some groups still run backline Eles, but your positioning needs to be impeccable..