Guild Wars 2

I think everyone has a personal preference that they like for their classes. So what are some of you guys personal stat thresholds for stats you value the most? It is all build dependent of course.

This is WvW focused discussion.

Elementalist

1800+ power
17k HP
2.5-2.6k armor in boon build/ 2.7k+ direct damage build
Healing power 700+ in boon duration build/ direct damage doesn’t matter
25% – 30% crit chance prefury

To me, it’s not so much about the absolute values but more about the relative values. Personally, I take Soldier’s as a mean value between offense and defense. I’d like to do at least average damage, so when I decide to add a defensive item (say, a cleric ring for healing power) I compensate it by an offensive gear item (say, the other ring being berserker).

As for my other stats, I’d like to exchange some more toughness for healing power but that’s currently not an option. All gear with healing power is either defensive or condition damage, so I’m more or less pushed into adding more berserker pieces as well.

But as far as absolute values go, I don’t really have any. Apart from maybe, say, 30% critical chance for my permafury setup.

ThiBash has a good point. I do the same, but I don’t look at it the same way exactly.

I try to hit several goals for my stats on every build I make. These aren’t necessarily the goals, but they fulfill them.

My general fighting build — which I feel like I’ve perfected — uses ~2200 power, ~1600 toughness, ~15,500 health, ~300 healing power, ~30% crit chance and 80% crit dmg.

I use food, stacks, sigils, runes and traits to really balance where I feel stats are inherently weak on the ele.

ThiBash.5634:

To me, it’s not so much about the absolute values but more about the relative values. Personally, I take Soldier’s as a mean value between offense and defense. I’d like to do at least average damage, so when I decide to add a defensive item (say, a cleric ring for healing power) I compensate it by an offensive gear item (say, the other ring being berserker).

As for my other stats, I’d like to exchange some more toughness for healing power but that’s currently not an option. All gear with healing power is either defensive or condition damage, so I’m more or less pushed into adding more berserker pieces as well.

But as far as absolute values go, I don’t really have any. Apart from maybe, say, 30% critical chance for my permafury setup.

I also consider soldiers stats as a medium between offense and defense for Ele. I was thinking about replacing my accessories from celestial to another combination but I can’t think of another combo I would want there. I recently changed my amulet to zerker/valk and notice a definite damage difference from my celestial. I like cav rings though I think are good in that spot.

It will be interesting to see what pops up with ascended armor since stats like Pre/Pow/Toughness and cav aren’t available on armor.

Full AGL I mean full power/crit dmg.

I don’t see how this is important. Go full DPS and use the Reddit equations to balance power and prec via the correct zerk/assassins combination for your particular build. You can never do enough damage on an ele.

1500+ power before Bloodlust or might
20%+ critical chance before fury
50%+ critical damage
500+ per tick on burning
2500+ armor
15k+ health
350+ healing power up to 800 healing power
base boon duration from 30 Arcana

1800 power base
40% critical without fury
2200 armor
99% crit dmg

come at me, I dare you.

Anierna.6918:

I don’t see how this is important. Go full DPS and use the Reddit equations to balance power and prec via the correct zerk/assassins combination for your particular build. You can never do enough damage on an ele.

It is more just asking what people’s personal preference is not what is optimal. I know that curry butternut squash soup is better dps for my build but I run lemongrass in WvW because conditions run rampant.

2000 power before might/bloodlust
25-30% critical w/o fury
2600 armor
16k health
70%+ crit dmg

Can’t wait to start buildcrafting come the next balance patch. But for now, this works.

oZii.2864:

I know that curry butternut squash soup is better dps for my build but I run lemongrass in WvW because conditions run rampant.

I still use curry&butternut. Lemongrass has too large a hit on DPS, and I’ve noticed my survivability drop only a little.

The turning point was the most recent patch. I noticed a sharp drop in condition builds.

Wow, I’m new to Ele and I’m surprised to see such low Crit%. With my Engi and Thief it’s much higher (50%-70%) in most builds people theorycraft. Is this because something as to be sacrificed to ensure high enough toughness, vitality, and healing power for survival and that’s crit%?

Seras.5702:

Wow, I’m new to Ele and I’m surprised to see such low Crit%. With my Engi and Thief it’s much higher (50%-70%) in most builds people theorycraft. Is this because something as to be sacrificed to ensure high enough toughness, vitality, and healing power for survival and that’s crit%?

Well most ele builds take Zephyr’s boon so we all say 30% or 40% but just add 20% to that in most cases we just all assume zephyr’s boon so that is perma fury. If someone states they have 30% crit chance in most cases its safe to assume they have 50% really because they have perma fury.

oZii.2864:

ThiBash.5634:

To me, it’s not so much about the absolute values but more about the relative values. Personally, I take Soldier’s as a mean value between offense and defense. I’d like to do at least average damage, so when I decide to add a defensive item (say, a cleric ring for healing power) I compensate it by an offensive gear item (say, the other ring being berserker).

As for my other stats, I’d like to exchange some more toughness for healing power but that’s currently not an option. All gear with healing power is either defensive or condition damage, so I’m more or less pushed into adding more berserker pieces as well.

But as far as absolute values go, I don’t really have any. Apart from maybe, say, 30% critical chance for my permafury setup.

I also consider soldiers stats as a medium between offense and defense for Ele. I was thinking about replacing my accessories from celestial to another combination but I can’t think of another combo I would want there. I recently changed my amulet to zerker/valk and notice a definite damage difference from my celestial. I like cav rings though I think are good in that spot.

It will be interesting to see what pops up with ascended armor since stats like Pre/Pow/Toughness and cav aren’t available on armor.

You can get cav stats on armor. I’ve gotten a few pieces in fractals. Never bothered experimenting with it though. I was wondering if it would be better to have cav armor and celestial accessories instead of the other way around like I usually do. its random though if you get those pieces and I don’t have a whole set of cav armor to test it out anyway.

I normally just throw in Clerics, Celestial, Soldier, Rabid or Zerker and call it good lol.

oZii.2864:

Seras.5702:

Wow, I’m new to Ele and I’m surprised to see such low Crit%. With my Engi and Thief it’s much higher (50%-70%) in most builds people theorycraft. Is this because something as to be sacrificed to ensure high enough toughness, vitality, and healing power for survival and that’s crit%?

Well most ele builds take Zephyr’s boon so we all say 30% or 40% but just add 20% to that in most cases we just all assume zephyr’s boon so that is perma fury. If someone states they have 30% crit chance in most cases its safe to assume they have 50% really because they have perma fury.

Ok, follow-up noob question. How do you get perma fury from a trait that only gives 5s of fury? I’m clearly using auras wrong cuz I thought the cooldowns were too long to maintain that kinda fury uptime.

Seras.5702:

oZii.2864:

Seras.5702:

Wow, I’m new to Ele and I’m surprised to see such low Crit%. With my Engi and Thief it’s much higher (50%-70%) in most builds people theorycraft. Is this because something as to be sacrificed to ensure high enough toughness, vitality, and healing power for survival and that’s crit%?

Well most ele builds take Zephyr’s boon so we all say 30% or 40% but just add 20% to that in most cases we just all assume zephyr’s boon so that is perma fury. If someone states they have 30% crit chance in most cases its safe to assume they have 50% really because they have perma fury.

Ok, follow-up noob question. How do you get perma fury from a trait that only gives 5s of fury? I’m clearly using auras wrong cuz I thought the cooldowns were too long to maintain that kinda fury uptime.

30 points in Arcana trait line = 6.5 secs of fury on aura, The 5 point trait in arcana gives you 2.6 secs of fury(assuming you have 30 points in arcana) when you swap attunements stacks duration. This is for Dagger/Dagger so it is a bit easier to keep it up. Shocking + Frost =13 secs + your swap = 15.6 secs of Fury. If you setup it up with Magnetic grasp leap through you ring of fire or burning speed you get fire aura for more fury.

You won’t keep the fury 100% of the time but it is pretty close if you really want to make sure you have it run a bit of boon duration a additional 15% for 45% total should do it.

Something you will get over time is when you are going for strong attacks you swap attunements before they hit to help land a critcal hit. Like Cast Fire grab and swap attunements right after you press the button.

oZii.2864:

30 points in Arcana trait line = 6.5 secs of fury on aura, The 5 point trait in arcana gives you 2.6 secs of fury(assuming you have 30 points in arcana) when you swap attunements stacks duration. This is for Dagger/Dagger so it is a bit easier to keep it up. Shocking + Frost =13 secs + your swap = 15.6 secs of Fury. If you setup it up with Magnetic grasp leap through you ring of fire or burning speed you get fire aura for more fury.

You won’t keep the fury 100% of the time but it is pretty close if you really want to make sure you have it run a bit of boon duration a additional 15% for 45% total should do it.

There is something very important you didn’t disclose: Putting ANY points in Arcana tanks your damage. Say bye-bye to big numbers. You can justify putting 10 in Arcana for perma-vigor, but beyond that you’re gonna notice a huge difference in your damage output.

If you want boon duration, use 2x waters, 2x monks, 2x travelers. That’s 45% boon duration right there, just from runes. Getting 1% per point in Arcana is an inefficient way of getting boon duration if that’s your goal.

If your goal is to decrease your Atune CD’s, then there is a case to be made for going into Arcana. However, after the Dec 10th patch, that argument will be far weaker. It’ll be better to thank your lucky stars Anet decided to lower the base Atune CD’s, and just put 0 or 10 in Arcana, and the rest in damage modifiers or survivability, depending on what you’re doing.

oZii.2864:

<stuff about D/D bunker build in vs. player situations>

Anierna.6918:

<stuff about theoretical DPS in more controllable PvE situations>

Honestly, when you’re building more tanky to survive the hits you’ll actually take in WvW or PvP, those % damage modifiers start mattering a lot less and the ability to maintain good rotations for might, fury, and using those hard-hitting moves when they would be most effective matter a lot more. And traiting into Arcana helps that a lot not only from the attunement CD reduction and the boon duration but also from EA and all the other major traits one would take in Arcana – while Fresh Air would fall short.

@ DEKeyz: I was thinking WvW when I said that, since I’m somewhat sure that’s what this thread was talking about. Of course, it also does apply for PvE (dmg is king!), as you pointed out.

Atm, I do go 20 into Arcana in WvW to maintain fury via fresh air and vigor, so I don’t need zephyr’s (which wouldn’t be as useful w/ S/D anyway). What I was saying is that you can maintain rotations (for me, those are might-stacking-oriented) fine WITHOUT 30 in Arcana. Getting into the mindset that “I need 30 in Arcana always and forever” restricts you. I’ve got an issue with Evasive Arcana itself; I used it for a loooong time, but when I got out of the 30 Arcana mindset, I realized I don’t need that extra Cleansing Wave or blast finisher on dodge. There are better ways to heal and stack might, and not having it made me a better player. Basically, EA was a crutch, and for many players who use it, it continues to be.

After the Dec 10th patch, I’ll probably go only 10 into Arcana for WvW – and I hope a lot of the 30-Arcana people will too. At the moment, you can make a strong case for 2% reduction per point (though there isn’t any basis for a case in boon duration – use the runes instead), but post-patch when it’s only 1% per point…. it just won’t be worth it. It would be better to learn how to play with less than 30, so you can put those points you just freed up into dmg or survivability.

Without consumables, stacking sigil effects, and boons, my staff ele has to have a minimum of:

• 2000 power
• 40% crit chance
• 70% crit damage
• 13k+ HP
• 1200 toughness

If/when ascended armor is released, I’d have to reevaluate my stats and consider changing it up a tiny bit. As for runes, I don’t find most of the effects as that helpful so I decided to stack up on crit chance and crit damage.

What effects do I find as not very useful on my ele (you know, lowest armor and base health)? On hit effects and health threshold effects. If I’m getting hit, then I’m doing something wrong, and since I have such low health to begin with, my health will drop either way (attacks, conditions, or other effects).

3000 power by means of equipment alone.

Accept no substitutes.

Anierna.6918:

There is something very important you didn’t disclose: Putting ANY points in Arcana tanks your damage. Say bye-bye to big numbers. You can justify putting 10 in Arcana for perma-vigor, but beyond that you’re gonna notice a huge difference in your damage output.

If you want boon duration, use 2x waters, 2x monks, 2x travelers. That’s 45% boon duration right there, just from runes. Getting 1% per point in Arcana is an inefficient way of getting boon duration if that’s your goal.

If your goal is to decrease your Atune CD’s, then there is a case to be made for going into Arcana. However, after the Dec 10th patch, that argument will be far weaker. It’ll be better to thank your lucky stars Anet decided to lower the base Atune CD’s, and just put 0 or 10 in Arcana, and the rest in damage modifiers or survivability, depending on what you’re doing.

He asked why people have such low Crit% numbers. I gave him the answer as to why their numbers are so low. Didn’t need to go into a explanation about damage etc. Since that isn’t really what he was asking.

I have played S/D but don’t really like it I know the popular S/D build is 0/30/0/20/20 or 0/30/10/10/20 (I am on the forums alot) he just didn’t ask that question. When I want to range nuke people I use my necro or put a GS on my mesmer, or go put on condi P/D and trololol people with my thief. I prefer mix it up in the middle.

Anierna.6918:

. There are better ways to heal and stack might, and not having it made me a better player. Basically, EA was a crutch, and for many players who use it, it continues to be.

After the Dec 10th patch, I’ll probably go only 10 into Arcana for WvW – and I hope a lot of the 30-Arcana people will too. At the moment, you can make a strong case for 2% reduction per point (though there isn’t any basis for a case in boon duration – use the runes instead), but post-patch when it’s only 1% per point…. it just won’t be worth it. It would be better to learn how to play with less than 30, so you can put those points you just freed up into dmg or survivability.

If we are talking about D/D I would always go 30 in arcana because it is a melee set. When I run staff with my guild and roaming I only have blasting staff 20 in arcana cause I don’t need it 30 arcana. After the patch if I run staff I’ll only go 10 arcana.

If I was using S/D I wouldn’t go 30 arcana because I have trident so I don’t need the EA heal. I disagree that it is a crutch going 30 in arcana. Renewing Stamina is the crutch because that is what lets you dodge so much. Everyone takes it including you. EA is a bi-product of Renewing stamina being up so much that it is OK to use a dodge for healing. I had this discussion with a guildy who also ran S/D and was like I don’t need EA. (Of course it isn’t as important on S/D) it isn’t the crutch or bad players use it. Renewing stamina is the trait you should look at if you want to make that claim not Evasive Arcana.

Thats why I didn’t understand their decision to move elemental attunement to master and keep renewing at adept when renewing stamina is more powerful than elemental attunement IMO.

I dunno, am I just an idiot or what?

I prefer full zerker gear on everything, armor, trinkets, and weapons. Then I tweak traits and runes/sigils to the build. Currently I’ve got Superior Sigil of Force and 45% boon duration from runes (EDIT: I should make this clear. +45% boon duration from runes, for a total of 75% boon duration.). Traits are 0 0 10 30 30. In earth I take +10% damage within 600 range and water is all about condition clear. Clear when attuning, cantrips grant vigor + regen, and condi clear when gaining regen to myself or ally. Arcana I take the basic ele attunement, renewing stamina, and evasive arcana. I’m wondering if evasive arcana is really worth it though, as I use it mainly for the ~1k heal if I mess up and need to spam out as much healing as possible so I don’t die.

My favorite weapon really is the staff though. The animations are great, and I feel it has a good mix of support, damage, and healing. I’m considering replacing evasive arcana with blasting staff though, as larger AOEs would be nice for some situations.

I don’t do any WvW small group stuff or sPvP really. Mainly I do dungeons and fractals, with the occasional WvW Zerg if the guild is up to something.

I’m actually really open to suggestions on all of the above if anyone has input. Not to hijack the thread or anything, but I don’t see a compelling reason to change armor from zerkers. I was considering a knights set for WvW and MAYBE fractals, but as of lately I do fine with zerker stuff.

I should have put a WvW focus in there was my mistake to help clarify.

oZii.2864:

I disagree that it is a crutch going 30 in arcana. Renewing Stamina is the crutch because that is what lets you dodge so much. Everyone takes it including you. EA is a bi-product of Renewing stamina being up so much that it is OK to use a dodge for healing. I had this discussion with a guildy who also ran S/D and was like I don’t need EA. (Of course it isn’t as important on S/D) it isn’t the crutch or bad players use it. Renewing stamina is the trait you should look at if you want to make that claim not Evasive Arcana.

Thats why I didn’t understand their decision to move elemental attunement to master and keep renewing at adept when renewing stamina is more powerful than elemental attunement IMO.

Everyone takes Renewing Stamina in WvW/PvP because it has greater utility than any other trait. With just base endurance regen (no regen food, no vigor), you will not be able to dodge every attack you opponent does, or even just their high-damaging attacks.

The point I want to make is that even WITH Renewing Stamina, you will STILL not be able to dodge all of their attacks, or even just all of their hard-hitting and/or condi-applying attacks. Even with perma-vigor, if you’re fighting against an active opponent who isn’t just sitting their doing nothing, you will NEED every dodge you can get. You can’t afford to waste them, even to proc Cleansing Wave or a blast finisher. THAT is why Evasive Arcana is a crutch. I’ll give an example (PS. these numbers are somewhat fabricated, but they demonstrate the concept soundly):

- Let’s say you have lots of experience playing different classes, so you’re aware enough to notice that 3x clones/phantasms are all running towards you at the same time. You have the split-second thought “oh kitten, that mes is gonna take out 75% of my health with his shatter, I’d better dodge.” So you dodge, and all the shatters miss. Congrats, you’re still at 100% health, and all you expended was enough endurance for a single dodge.

- Let’s say you’re a noob and have no idea what the “tell” is for an imminent shatter, so you don’t dodge at the right moment and get hit by all 3 illusions. Your health goes from 100% to 25%. So what do you do? You swap to water and dodge to proc EA. Your health goes up to 50%. This cost you both a single dodge AND wasting water atunement, but you only have half the health you would have had without EA, had you just need smart enough to dodge at the right moment.

In Scenario 1, you successfully avoided all damage. You did this without wasting an extra 10 points in Arcana for EA, and you can do this in ANY atunement, not just water (and it would still work even if water was on CD). In Scenario 2, you put the extra 10 points in Arcana, but you had to waste a CD on water atune just to proc EA for the heal, and even so, it didn’t heal you nearly enough to compensate for the damage you took. You still ended up worse off than in Scenario 1.

THIS is why EA is a crutch; you’d do better learning WHEN to dodge to AVOID damage than you would dodging after the damage has already been done in order to heal yourself by a comparatively small amount. A good PvP’er knows to make every dodge count; even with Renewing Stamina, you don’t have any extra dodges to waste on proc’ing a trait.

@Anierna: for a moment let’s believe that not every elementalist is as good as you. Let’s assume that some (like myself) are mainly PvE and would like to break into WvW. Let’s also assume that by not taking your “crutch” trait they die more often because they haven’t learned all the times to dodge to avoid damage. I would think bringing a crutch trait would be helpful for staying alive long enough to learn things from prolonged fights. Not to mention that I can’t (in my limited experience with Ele) call EA a crutch just because it’s helpful. Do you literally take no defensive traits or stats? Are you full glass cannon 30/30/0/0/10 just to avoid defensive traits because they are a crutch? I find your logic faulty. I think everyone would agree that dodging an attack is better than just about any alternative. But dismissing a trait that can proc a blast finisher, cleanse, or cripple by calling it a healing crutch seems like you’re limiting its uses. Getting an extra cleanse without having to use a utility slot is pretty clutch.

Anierna.6918:

In Scenario 1, you successfully avoided all damage. You did this without wasting an extra 10 points in Arcana for EA, and you can do this in ANY atunement, not just water (and it would still work even if water was on CD). In Scenario 2, you put the extra 10 points in Arcana, but you had to waste a CD on water atune just to proc EA for the heal, and even so, it didn’t heal you nearly enough to compensate for the damage you took. You still ended up worse off than in Scenario 1.

THIS is why EA is a crutch; you’d do better learning WHEN to dodge to AVOID damage than you would dodging after the damage has already been done in order to heal yourself by a comparatively small amount. A good PvP’er knows to make every dodge count; even with Renewing Stamina, you don’t have any extra dodges to waste on proc’ing a trait.

Of course using your dodge to avoid damage is always better but you aren’t always aware or see everything in your surrounding and EA’s heal can provide backup.

Scenario you are engaged in a 1v1 with that mesmer. Dodging like you are suppose to a awesome enemy thief is coming and see’s the sparkles flying around. He refuges off in the distance has his signets ready so he can get you with a good 5k CnD, followed by a 8k backstab. You don’t have anything up that EA heal would come in handy there.

Your scenario is sound until you throw another person in the mix which almost always happens in WvW. Unless you go to the windmill it is rare you’re going to be fighting just 1 person or someone doesn’t come along. I personally don’t run Ether renewal or Glyph so EA, Dagger water 5 and healing ripple provide me with burst healing incase I need it, I also don’t run Mist form.

You run S/D so it is different I feel like S/D goes with Ether better than D/D because not doing damage for 3.5 seconds is a long time so you can just take the enemies heal and subtract 3.5 seconds from it’s CD. S/D and D/D are different though I can agree on not taking 30 arcana in a S/D setup I wouldn’t either. In D/D I would always go 30 Arcana because it is basically melee range, so you need more healing since in theory you should be taking more damage than S/D or D/F or S/F ior Staff would. You’re probably taking damage going in to do your own damage, and will probably be taking damage getting out if you have to disengage. There is no option on D/D to pump damage at 900 range you’re either in the mix or not doing anything. S/D can chose to range or not so their I can see not taking 30 arcana. This is all personal preference of course.

Anierna.6918:

There is something very important you didn’t disclose: Putting ANY points in Arcana tanks your damage. Say bye-bye to big numbers.

There’s also a point you didn’t disclose: the fact that Arcana’s boon duration increases your damage again.

Take Sigil of Battle for example. If you have 30 Arcana, that means you get 30% longer uptime. That’s effectively 2 stacks of might, or 70 Power and 70 condition damage. That’s about half a traitline in stat points from Sigil of Battle alone. Add to that Arcane Fury, the 2 stacks might from Elemental Attunement and the extra might you can get from the extra blast finisher, and you’re getting quite a bit of attack (in addition to extra defense).

Yes it’s less damage than a full zerker build. But it’s not as dramatic as you claim it to be.

Anierna.6918:

THIS is why EA is a crutch; you’d do better learning WHEN to dodge to AVOID damage than you would dodging after the damage has already been done in order to heal yourself by a comparatively small amount. A good PvP’er knows to make every dodge count; even with Renewing Stamina, you don’t have any extra dodges to waste on proc’ing a trait.

I don’t see why you can’t do both: dodge wisely AND get the heal. Or the extra damage, blind and/or cripple/blast finisher.

Anierna.6918:

oZii.2864:

I disagree that it is a crutch going 30 in arcana. Renewing Stamina is the crutch because that is what lets you dodge so much. Everyone takes it including you. EA is a bi-product of Renewing stamina being up so much that it is OK to use a dodge for healing. I had this discussion with a guildy who also ran S/D and was like I don’t need EA. (Of course it isn’t as important on S/D) it isn’t the crutch or bad players use it. Renewing stamina is the trait you should look at if you want to make that claim not Evasive Arcana.

Thats why I didn’t understand their decision to move elemental attunement to master and keep renewing at adept when renewing stamina is more powerful than elemental attunement IMO.

Everyone takes Renewing Stamina in WvW/PvP because it has greater utility than any other trait. With just base endurance regen (no regen food, no vigor), you will not be able to dodge every attack you opponent does, or even just their high-damaging attacks.

The point I want to make is that even WITH Renewing Stamina, you will STILL not be able to dodge all of their attacks, or even just all of their hard-hitting and/or condi-applying attacks. Even with perma-vigor, if you’re fighting against an active opponent who isn’t just sitting their doing nothing, you will NEED every dodge you can get. You can’t afford to waste them, even to proc Cleansing Wave or a blast finisher. THAT is why Evasive Arcana is a crutch. I’ll give an example (PS. these numbers are somewhat fabricated, but they demonstrate the concept soundly):

- Let’s say you have lots of experience playing different classes, so you’re aware enough to notice that 3x clones/phantasms are all running towards you at the same time. You have the split-second thought “oh kitten, that mes is gonna take out 75% of my health with his shatter, I’d better dodge.” So you dodge, and all the shatters miss. Congrats, you’re still at 100% health, and all you expended was enough endurance for a single dodge.

- Let’s say you’re a noob and have no idea what the “tell” is for an imminent shatter, so you don’t dodge at the right moment and get hit by all 3 illusions. Your health goes from 100% to 25%. So what do you do? You swap to water and dodge to proc EA. Your health goes up to 50%. This cost you both a single dodge AND wasting water atunement, but you only have half the health you would have had without EA, had you just need smart enough to dodge at the right moment.

In Scenario 1, you successfully avoided all damage. You did this without wasting an extra 10 points in Arcana for EA, and you can do this in ANY atunement, not just water (and it would still work even if water was on CD). In Scenario 2, you put the extra 10 points in Arcana, but you had to waste a CD on water atune just to proc EA for the heal, and even so, it didn’t heal you nearly enough to compensate for the damage you took. You still ended up worse off than in Scenario 1.

THIS is why EA is a crutch; you’d do better learning WHEN to dodge to AVOID damage than you would dodging after the damage has already been done in order to heal yourself by a comparatively small amount. A good PvP’er knows to make every dodge count; even with Renewing Stamina, you don’t have any extra dodges to waste on proc’ing a trait.

I find your post to be snobby, and I frankly disagree with it.

EA isn’t a crutch. It is a viable difference maker to those who choose to use it right.

Sorry if you don’t see or realize it for its full potential.

Sure, I could see sticking 10 extra points in water, air and 20 in earth if I abandoned arcana all together, but you seem to ignore how good having extra dodges is, how powerful the might stacking, blind, and blast finisher are, and how vital it is to be able to say get protection during swapping to earth.

Having those things isn’t a crutch… A crutch is an automatic skill like “arcane shield pops at 25 percent health” Those are extremely situational skills that take time, knowledge and skill to pull off.

Come duel me some time, I’ll show you what I mean.

3000 power
16-17k hp
50% crit chance
armor I have no idea I don’t really care.
+70% crit damage

Even tou lately I been runing with 14k hp and it’s good so far. Why do I feel more safe with hp than with armor I have no idea.