Guild Wars 2

The healing on detonating Orb of Light would have to be 4-5 times higher before I’d ever consider using it, so why is it so low?

There are many speculation as why the orb current detonate is so bad, more focus on damage, easier to hit foes and allies. Or maybe the fact that Anet has no idea what good designe is. Some parts is good but as PvE or atleast the majority is poorly programmed, or the fact that spirit weapons are extremly bad.

I myself would go with the last option, they most likely throw dice on scaling values and cooldown and then code it.

I always pop an orb before swapping weapons. Nice little heal, and should recharge by the time you swap back. I just wish they would fix the ‘stuck’ issue with orb so you wouldn’t have to pop it with no benefit.

The only time I’ve experienced having to pop the orb with no benefit is when its reflect by an enemy. It effectively becomes their attack, but you’ still have to put it on cd for it to recharge. Makes for an interesting punishment for having it reflected.

In Pvp I throw out the orb and immediately pop it for a nice little heal since it has no benefit to the guard himself unless detonated.

Option 1: Throw it at front line for small heal and some good damage, don’t detonate so you can throw it again in 3 seconds.
Option 2: Throw it at front line for small heal and some good damage, detonate for more burst heal and damage.
Option 3: Throw it while making sure you aren’t looking straight at the ground and detonate the orb in your face for some healing on yourself.

Thats about all you can do with staff 2, which is 3 times as much as staff 1 =P