Guild Wars 2

I have all 80s and I struggle the most with my ele in HOT, running full zerker (as I have been used to with every class). At least for ele is it common enough to actually start switching out trinkets for survivability? I have no issue admitting my low playtime on ele, but I’m a decent player who is starting to notice ele squishiness… a bit more. Pretty much referring to solo HOT content as I’m typically solo in open world

Focus solves most problems.

I do, but if you avoid other players obviously it will get more difficult, more often.

I’d check if you can surive with utilities Arcane Shield, Mistform and Lightining flash before looking at gear. Obviously dropping these, takes out some DPS options, but I found in dagger setup atleast 2 makes your life easier. On staff I manage with Frostbow, Fire signet and glyph storm.

The way I play I try to keep health up for scholar runes and it means I use utilities to reposition and attack again, if I run low health I disengage with last utility, get health and a CD back and attack. I have only had ele at 80, but I guess if I had the others aswell I might see it as you do

I play staff, D/D and D/WH. I wasn’t a staff fan, but it is starting to grow on me in preparation to raid.

Marauders Armor + Zerk Trinkets — not an issue. A lot comes down to your build because Ele/Tempest relies on active defense.

I’ve been running full zerker since launch, originally D/W for fun but I’ve since been in staff for more AoE damage.

Staff gives more healing options and Burning Retreat as an extra evade, so it’s served me well so far.

My survivability is hinged on utilities rather than gear, as I run with Arcane Shield, and Elite Glyph of Elementals to summon a greater Earth Elemental to be a meat shield

I am. Full zerk + staff. I will never change out any armor or trinkets for something else. But what I actually do when I need more defensive options is play with my traits and utilities skills. Ill change air to water and make sure to equipe enough shouts/auras for healing/regen/condi cleanse. Plus my lovely earth elemental as my personal tank <3

I still play full zerk in all PvE. Sometimes staff and switch to D/W. All gear and trinkets are zerk. Just got to learn to evade and know when to quit and fight.

So far it has worked out very well for me,

I play full Zerk+Scholar Runes with Air/Arcane/Tempest D/W in HoT. I’m a pretty casual player; the most “hardcore” stuff I do in PvE is the meta events. I usually aim for offensive traits and support (Tempest Defense+Lightning Rod is bae, especially with Rebound in Air for more Shocking Aura procs.)

I find Zerk pretty cool. Great damage, and it forces you learn your defensive skills and rotations, to learn about the enemies you face, to control your engagements/disengagements carefully where possible, and to learn to dodge well.

Tanky/healing stats are mostly useless in encounters where you get one-shot anyway, and Tempest traits (Invigorating Torrents+Element Bastion)+Warhorn Water rotation are great for group heals when you need it. Worst case scenario, I switch to Water traitline/Focus if I really need to heal/cleanse.

That said, I’m not sure if I’m skilled enough to make good use of my Scholar runes most of the time, but I’m too lazy and cheap to swap them out for other runes at the moment.

mix of zerk and kitten, dagger + WH or dagger + focus, depending on the mood, air arcane tempest.

I am too lazy to switch my build / skills / weapon (staff) around, easier to just change armour imo. My Zerker gear has Scholar runes on it anyway which is iffy in open world stuff, so I carry a set of Marauder gear with cheapo Wurm runes. Trade about 200 power for ~4.5k HP (crit and crit dmg are a wash), it’s a pretty good boost to survivability and gives you enough of a cushion to react to those “oh god what just hit me” scenarios rather than getting insta-downed.

Matt Stacey.7415:

I have all 80s and I struggle the most with my ele in HOT, running full zerker (as I have been used to with every class). At least for ele is it common enough to actually start switching out trinkets for survivability? I have no issue admitting my low playtime on ele, but I’m a decent player who is starting to notice ele squishiness… a bit more. Pretty much referring to solo HOT content as I’m typically solo in open world

I’m still playing zerker staff ele, and guess what!!!!!!!! without tempest!!!!!!!! AM I CRAZY?

Mines still zerker for everything PvE, Including T4 fractals. I been using Dagger/Warhorn for fun. Works out fine for me with the occasional squish. XD

still play full zerk everywhere for myself appart from spvp. I use Focus when I feel i need a bit more defensive options. In hot i destroy most stuff, with a fair amount of dodging and healing as i go.

I play zerk in most areas but i switch my legendary stats(staff and backpack) to crusader or something else when active defense isn’t enough and i need to take a few more hits. As these “balance” patches roll out I can’t help but think they are trying to force everyone out of zerk.

just swap ice bow for aftershock