Guild Wars 2

Are you healed twice when using writ of the merciful with AH? As in does each instance heal you?

Also, is writ of persistance worth taking over two handed mastery for GS and staff when dealing with these symbols or do you get more mileage for quicker reuse on the symbols?

Writ of the Merciful heals on each tick. It is not a boon and does not activate Altruistic Healing. However, the writ does heal seperately from the boon applied, so you will receive both each tick. You will only receive additional healing from the boon of the symbol being applied to allies, not the added heal.

Writ of Persistence is fantastic… for Hammer as it effectively makes Symbol of Protection last the entire period between activations (permanent protection without added boon duration). Generally, it does nothing extra for Symbol of Swiftness and Symbol of Wrath. You’re better off with Two-Handed Mastery.

For a mathematical standpoint, symbols last 50% longer. Symbol of Wrath would last 6/20 seconds (30% upkeep) while Symbol of Swiftness would last 6/15 seconds (40% upkeep). If you switch the traits, Symbol of Wrath lasts 4/16 seconds (25% upkeep) and Symbol of Swiftness lasts 4/12 seconds (33% upkeep). Yes, you lose duration, but you also decrease the cooldowns of all other attacks of the weapons. Swiftness duration does not stack from Symbol of Swiftness and an extra two seconds of retaliation will not benefit you enough to compensate.