Guild Wars 2

I’m having trouble deciding on a runeset for my Berserker Engineer. Should I go for a might-stack runeset (60% might duration + 75 Power) or a ruby set? (120 power + 84 precision + 12% crit dmg)

There are pros and cons of both. While I’m open to using another set you recommend too, I’m undecided between these two sets.

-Might-Stack-

Pros:
- Blast finisher might become 32 seconds (38 when traited.)
- Shares might with team
- Replaces the elemenetalist might-stack
- Makes Flamethrower viable

Cons:
- No precision (unreliable burst without crit %)
- PuGs are too stupid to stack for might, making it just a personal buff
- Possibly unnecessary? (If each might stack is only 35 power, can the loss of Crit dmg % and Power result in LESS net-damage than ruby orbs?)

-Ruby Orb-

Pros:
- 140 power equals 4 free might than the +75 power/2stacks on the might-stack set.
- 12% critical damage equals much higher personal damage
- More precision means more successful bursts

Cons:
- Less team support
- Less overall personal might stacks

The most important stat in my opinion is the precision, because it increases the success rate of maximizing my burst damage, and proccing traits and effects.

Which set do you recommend for a zerk-engineer?

Are you using a Might stacking build? If you are not stacking Might otherwise (and thus getting much more mileage out of your Runes of Might) I would stick with Ruby Orbs between these two options. That’s not to say I think the Runes of Strength are bad, but if you’re only using them for blast finishers and not for a full on Might stacking build… I think you’d get more mileage from Ruby Orbs.

Alternatively you can always elect to use runes of the scholar. They will provide 165 power and +8% crit damage in addition to an overall +10% damage while your health is over 90%. They won’t have the precision bonus, but the 84 precision will only be about 4% crit chance, which is easily mitigated by any source of fury.

I feel the 90% health is a reasonable compromise since you’re playing a berserker build. If you go below 90%, you will probably need to move away from what’s hurting you and patch yourself up or else you’ll die. However, if you do find yourself being at less than 90% health quite often, then perhaps ruby orbs would be a better choice (although I think avoiding going below 90% health would be an even better option).

Is Rune of the Ranger x5 + Ruby Orb x1 a bad idea?

179 precision= 9% crit rate? With +10% dmg total from both ruby orb and the rune bonuses.

Although it seems like less overall damage boost, the sustain is better?

I’d recommend the orbs glass cannons have to hit hard and fast to be most effective, I like to take 2 runes of altruism with the trait that gives you 3 stacks of might with med kit, essentially you use med kit at the start to get fury from med kit #5 y you also get 6 might which is a lot more damage potential then 2 ruby orbs

Yamsandjams.3267:

I feel the 90% health is a reasonable compromise since you’re playing a berserker build. If you go below 90%, you will probably need to move away from what’s hurting you and patch yourself up or else you’ll die. However, if you do find yourself being at less than 90% health quite often, then perhaps ruby orbs would be a better choice (although I think avoiding going below 90% health would be an even better option).

90% is quite high to maintain. Falling off a small cliff, getting hit by AoE… mere scratches can take down more than 10% of your HP in one hit

Ruby stack seems to be a better choice for stable output

It’s hard to say for sure without knowing your build and preferred weapon kit, if any. Or if you’re doing PvE, WvW or sPvP for that matter. Some general things I can point out:

• Scholar can indeed be a good option, if you expect to stand behind allies (or enemies) and pretty much never get hit.
• Power does not increase condition damage, whereas Might does (and even scales better with conditions than direct damage). I know you’re running a ‘zerker set so you’re probably not too interested in conditions, but many builds and weapons have them anyway, so don’t ignore them completely.
• Might stacks cap at 25, so if your potential teammates bring group-might, you may want to consider toning that down in favor of raw personal power.