Guild Wars 2

I know that this community complains all the time that we don’t have any active defense, and people like to hate on GoEP, but I have come to find that GoEP is our BEST active defense, especially if you play an aggressive D/D. I am currently running a fresh-air 0/30/0/10/30 D/D build with quick-glyphs, inscription, and GoEP, and I must say that the defense/survivability when using the glyphs and when not is quite noticeable. Making sure to pop the glyph in air maintains swiftness uptime, and more importantly allows us to proc weakness REPEATEDLY on all of our enemies. All of our aoe and channeled abilities become awesome defensive/offensive tools as they both have many hits to proc the glyph, but also can crit to proc fresh air. The play-style is not only incredibly fun, but the survivability is wonderful.

The stun-break is useful when it is needed, but the instant-cast makes this skill just amazing!

I tried that build for a bit after the change to glyph of elemental power, and liked it well enough.

I missed bolt to the heart and aeromancer’s alacrity too much though, so I went back to those after a bit. Without quick glyphs and inscription it didn’t feel as useful to take GoEP so I ended up dropping it entirely. It’s definitely useful with that build, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s our best active defense.

The problem with glyphs is IMO twofold:
1) too slow to cast, 1.25sec.
2) lack of compelling traits. cantrips have great trait support, signets have auras, and conjures are terrible anyway.

mjharrison.3209:

The problem with glyphs is IMO twofold:
1) too slow to cast, 1.25sec.
2) lack of compelling traits. cantrips have great trait support, signets have auras, and conjures are terrible anyway.

1.) Glyph of elemental power has no cast time. I do agree that other utilities on ele that have cast times are not overly useful as we have more than enough skills at all times.
2.) Inscription is a very good trait, and you can get very large amounts of regen, swiftness, and decent amounts of protection. Unfortunately, it is really only worth using with glyph heal and GoEP, and doesn’t work with elite glyph (bug >:o). This set-up is ok, but you still need at least 2 cantrips (cleansing fire for cleanse, which isn’t as good as ether renewal) and lightning flash to keep some unpredictability.