Guild Wars 2

I run a condition engineer and have for some time now, I usually use Runes of the Undead but I am contemplating whether that is the best option or not. When looking at the differences in PvP I saw that equipping the Runes of Balthazar made me lose 140 Condition Damage and 100 Toughness but I gained 45% Burning Duration and the two abilities the rune of Balthazar has. I’m not an expert on stats or builds or anything like that so I was just wondering which I should roll with. Thanks, in advance for any advice, suggestions, and other tips you guys might bring me. Also, if you have any other runes you run on your condition engineer and think those are really good than by all means I’d love to hear it.

By the by, I use all Rabid gear.

Ist if you running a condition build you should try and fit as much burning on it as possible because its so strong atm.

That said its not really any competition between the two runes Balthazar win hands down. You will gain a significant in dps output and while only losing a tiny bit of toughness.

So the dps output wins even though the other damaging conditions are doing less?(because the loss of condi damage) And thanks for the response I think I’ll roll with Balthazar runes then.

There is always a better option than Runes of Undead! Adventurer, Balthazar, and Scavenging are all runes that I have used with success in the past! Post patch I’ve been using Traveler because of the loss of Speedy Kits! I’ve been having much success with it though grenades are currently bugged!

Wahoo! Bye frands!

You still have speedy kits, but it’s now included in Streamlined Kits (Tools IV).

Balthazar buffs your burns very well but make sure you have more than one application. Incendiary powder alone is not sufficient. Either bomb kit, flamer, Rocket boots etc.

The one reason I take them over all is the quickness at 25% hp which synergises with AMR when you’re in trouble.

you are running spvp? probably balth still.

I’m running a cond engi now in pve and spvp.
The proper runes, and managing durations is a giant pain in the kitten .
If there is anything that needs to be adjusted with condition damage. its this. durations.

First, there is a 100% condition duration cap.
This applies to food, oils, runes, sigils, and most traits.
The new chem round trait breaks this cap, and multiplies into duration.
All those other sources of duration add.

Burning IS the highest dps condition obviously. poison is not that bad. Bleeding is hard to make strong. A few decent options in blunderbuss and shrapnel grenade.

Most of us kneejerked reaction and went full burning. of course.
Balthazar+incendary powder gives 78% duration alone.
In spvp, this is probably the right option. and that quickness and +burn on heal is not bad either.

In pve however, you can add 40% food. and get 118% burning duration… This is too much.
If you are eating food, you are already burning capped, and we have not added in oils, sigils or anything.
So you could keep the balth, and just not run duration oils. run cond damage oils, and sigil of bursting for 7% damage, and corruption for 250 cond damage. (This might be ideal for world pve, when you do not want to be eating pizzas every 30min in silverwastes..)
Or, we could reconsider the balth, and get Runes of Nightmare.
Nightmare is 15% ALL cond duration, and 175 condition damage. (chance for 1s fear when hit. no one cares)
15% all, +40% all food, +33% burn/bleed. +10% all oil. 65% all, 98% burn/bleed.
Still run bursting and corruption, imho.
Chem rounds then multiples into those numbers for pistol skills.

Otherwise, I think only you can make the call if you want that extra toughness. you feel too soft?