Guild Wars 2

It’ll be my main toon as I’m just getting back into the game since launch I’m between engine or ele any advice? I’m a vet mmo player and both look fun they viable.

engi will take longer to learn but it will pay off in the long run.. elem is fun, but expect to get smacked around a lot if you don’t go cookie-cutter

Ele is more welcome in dungeon groups than Engi. The meta for most dungeons is currently: 2x war, 1x ele, 1x guard/mes, 1x other. The reasons for this are as follows:

- Ele has greater group utility. Engi’s got a good vuln-stacking build. BUT Ele can provide vuln on crit, perma AoE fury, and perma 21-25 stacks might, all by himself.
- Ele has a few great (some say gimmicky) conjures. Specifically, FGS 4, FB 4, and LH AA
- Ele does higher dmg, due to more dmg modifiers

In PvP/WvW, I’d go Engi. But for PvE, definitely Ele.

Well the plan for me is pve for the story and wvw later on and to help living so not ele?

Depends. If you only play WvW in large groups (Zergs), then Ele will be fine. With staff you have lots of combo fields, a lot of group stuns and AoE damage spells.

In sPvP / 1v1 / duel situations the enigneer is likely on an advantage.

pve/wvw – ele
spvp – engi

WvW Zergs = Ele, kind of
Everything else = Engi

Saying this as someone who mainly plays those 2 classes.
Engineer is hands-down better in almost every aspect of the game with huge build diversity, lots of room for skill and lots of survivability mechanics + better base stats.
It’s also borderline overpowered in SPvP with certain builds, but flying under the radar due to requiring a lot of skill. Oh and also due to Guardians, Warriors, Necros and Mesmers ruling the meta-game :P

Ele can be crazy strong in specific circumstances with specific setups, e.g. when you have a group that can support the Ele, or bosses that have been backed-up into walls/corners (godlike damage with Fiery Greatsword). Or the aforementioned WvW zergs where Staff can pull insane AoE, but relies 100% on teammates to avoid getting focused/targeted.

With Engi you’ll always be extremely versatile, self-supporting, lots of build options, lots of roles, lots of breathing room, etc. For PvP there’s just no comparison, a skilled Engi can win 2v1’s or even 3v1’s depending on classes/builds. A skilled Ele will usually struggle to win a 1v1 against any meta class/build, having to dance around and mash keys like a lunatic while their enemy kills them with autoattack (or 2 buttons).

Comparing purely abilities, mechanics and numbers…Engineer is the better class.

I’ve found the ele to be the most fun I’ve had in PvE and maybe even WvW. Go D/F and swing that Lightning Hammer, go S/D and watch the spike damage, or just wave your Staff around and set everything on fire. The ele is the Swiss Army knife of classes, you get a little of everything, and I’ve found its just great for casually PvEing and WvWing.