Guild Wars 2

So I’m experimenting with an AH build, while trying to do more damage. 2 key trait additions are 10 points in Zeal for Fiery Wrath and then Retributive Armor in the Valor line. 10/0/30/20/10

I’m looking up runes to go with the build and have hit a snag. Both runes of the earth and forge look enticing. I like that nice protection duration bonus and the protection effects. I carry “Hold the Line” so they both help that skill too. However, I can’t decide which would be better. Forge drops a ten second protection and burns nearby enemies when I hit 50% health. 10 seconds of -33% damage is pretty strong. But Earth has a 25% chance for 4s protection on hit (30s CD). Not bad I guess.

I can’t decide between the two. I’m currently running 3 each of Superior Rune of Water and Monk for the boon duration. Should I keep that? Or should I look at Superior Rune of Strength for stronger hits while under might?

Thanks community for your input

Is this for Pve, spvp or WvW?

Personally I am a big fan of 2 superior water, 2 superior monk and 2 major water/monk since it would result in you getting 40% boon duration. But forge has it’s uses as well. Never liked earth, too random for me.

between those two….

forge no doubt about it. and its 12 secs of protection.

forge triggers when you need it while earth could trigger at 100% health (respectively a little less due to the recieved hit) yet you might not even need it because your incontrol of the fight.

Boon duration runes all the way.

Asmodal.6489:

its 12 secs of protection

It should be 13secs, including the 10% boon duration from the 10 points in Virtues.

I used Forge for the longest time and switched to Earth. Earth is not nearly as random as you’d think and the fact that it can proc when you’re at 100% is far better than losing half your HP before it kicks in. Also, you’re rarely sitting around taking damage for a full 12 seconds. You’re moving in and out of combat, using blinds, etc. to reduce damage, so the full duration isn’t even needed.

Fiery Wrath works well with Forge because of the burning duration increase, but that’s the only benefit of it.

I’m kinda confused? You stated that you’re running an AH build (highest guardian survivability) and want to increase your damage … why choose 2 runes that don’t increase your damage at all? And the internal cooldowns on those things are awful.

You could consider Lyssa, Eagle, Scholar, or Pack.

Sorry for the late post, it’s for pve. I chose to increase my damage via certain gear selections, Fiery Wrath, and the 10 points in Zeal. I’m looking at Rune of the Forge because I like protection and it has some synergy with Fiery Wrath. Also both Runes grant additional toughness to synergize with Retributive Armor.

I like Rune of Strength as a possibility, if I forego the other runes. Lyssa, Eagle, and Pack look enticing, I did not consider them earlier

I wouldn’t do Rune of Strength on a guardian. We have few sources of might, so extending it isn’t worth it. Rune of the Pack has a decent stat boost, but you’d be better served by 6x Exquisite Ruby Jewel if you were looking for damage.

I’d say to stick with 5xEarth + 1xDivinity or Exquisite Ruby Jewel or 6x Forge and pick up damage stats elsewhere. None of the power or precision runes are very good for a guardian. If you do PvE dungeons, just make sure you group with a profession that can put up burning or drops a fire field often and you won’t have to worry about burning duration.

Exedore.6320:

I wouldn’t do Rune of Strength on a guardian. We have few sources of might, so extending it isn’t worth it. Rune of the Pack has a decent stat boost, but you’d be better served by 6x Exquisite Ruby Jewel if you were looking for damage.

I’d say to stick with 5xEarth + 1xDivinity or Exquisite Ruby Jewel or 6x Forge and pick up damage stats elsewhere. None of the power or precision runes are very good for a guardian. If you do PvE dungeons, just make sure you group with a profession that can put up burning or drops a fire field often and you won’t have to worry about burning duration.

I personally think Forge is superior to Earth, but I would still strongly suggest you consider using an offensive rune set.

To the above post, a AH+EM Guardian is going to produce constant stacks of Might. I agree that condition duration is unimportant, but not because a Guardian needs to group with other professions that provide burning, but because a Guardian can provide almost constant burning by himself.

How long is the 6/6 burn on the forge? 1sec?

Gregorius.1024:

I’m looking at Rune of the Forge because I like protection and it has some synergy with Fiery Wrath. Also both Runes grant additional toughness to synergize with Retributive Armor.

Rune of the Forge gives 165 toughness, that is 165*0.05 = 8.25 precision from Retributive Armor. At level 80 it takes 21 precision for 1% more hence this is less than +0,5% crit.

On the other hand Rune of the Pack gives direct 100 precision (4,76%) and a chance for fury (20%).

I tried Pack in the Mists: The swiftness buff doesn’t help much but 3 boons for up to 5 allies means 15*AH-healing + enhanced Empowering Might. So the 3%/5% chance felt very weak.

Unfortunately, superior runes a expensive and are destroyed when trying others so it’s really expensive to experiment with them.