Guild Wars 2

I run a full zerk, power hammer scrapper in wvw for small group / solo roam. I am wondering which set of runes, defenders or durability would get me the furthest? I understand the synergy with defenders and our blocks, but that 20% more boon duration and regen from durability is attractive to me as well.

Thoughts/opinions?

I dont use these runes but the durability ones look superior to me.
Rune of durability (4) + recovery Matrix + Protection Injection can give you some nice protection uptime. the +20% boon duration of the runes combined with the +20% boon duration of alchemical tinctures (I assume you take alchemy traitline?) benefits the protection spam and the runes give 175 thoughness + 125 vitality.

Defender runes only give 175 healing power (not the greatest stat), the regeneration of (2) is meh (doesn’t your build have plenty of regen uptime already?), the aegis of (4) is meh and the (6) can give you a nice heal (how much is it? somewhere around 3-4k? if i remember correctly) but it can also easely go to waste if you block at near full health ( I assume aegis can proc (6)? aegis can come from (4) and the transmute trait the converts burning into aegis).

Talking about defensive runes…
Maybe the scrapper runes are also worth looking at (-7% damage reduction within 600 range) combined with -10% damage -5% condition reduction food ( Bowl of Curry Mussel Soup )and Adaptive armor -20% condition damage reduction. (plus 175 power 100 toughness stats)

Furious Sharpening Stone is a strong utility food for a power build so you might want to look at that also.

It depends on what scrapper traits you’ve taken and how focused on might stacking you are. If you’re solo roaming roaming with little focus on might, then defender runes will perform better as a whole because of the 4k heal it provides. If you’re in a small group, with more of a might-focus (like MM over RR) then durability runes will be better suited.

This is what I currently am running, I run Perfectly Weighted over Recovery Matrix simply for more access to Stability, and the +10% Damage helps out with my low Attack damage (Pre 25 Bloodlust Stack).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdIQFASnUUBFpilcBepCEqilJjS8ZKgAg+vr7+Oc7SmwC-T1BEABMp8LR1fi4CC0mOCAeQAwv/wWKB3MIAMBIh///mkkIFQ5atA-w

I may look into Plate of Mussels Gnashblade as a replacement for Omnomberry Pie, for the 10% damage reduction. Because my goal is to be able to out-sustain people who I am fighting, and maintain buffs.