Guild Wars 2

The question: Is stacking boon duration indefinitely, possible? Or does it become obsolete past a certain percentile? (i.e 50% boon duration the hidden maximum?)

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/guardian/?3.0|6.1k.h1f|9.1k.h1f.e.1k.h6|1m.71g.1m.71g.1m.71h.1m.71h.1m.bw.1m.bw|1m.69.1m.69.1m.69.1m.69.1m.69.1a.69|0.0.a4.u23c.u69c|1.0|x.16.19.18.1i|e

If you follow the external link, the build I have created has 107% Boon Duration with the use of one class(Guardian). I know it can be higher with the help of other classes.

Without: Superior Aria/Boon Duration(0%)

Hold The Line(35s CD)
-4s Protection
-6s Regeneration

“Save Yourselves!”(60s CD)
-5s Fury
-5s Might
-5s Protection
-5s Regeneration
-5s Retaliation
-5s Swiftness
-5s Vigor

With: Shout recharge reduced by 20% from the #2 Superior Aria in the Honor Trait Line + 107% Boon Duration

Hold The Line(28s CD)
-8s Protection
-12s Regeneration

“Save Yourselves!”(48s CD) Calculator website shows 20s from 5s
-20s Fury
-20s Might
-20s Protection
-20s Regeneration
-3s Retaliation (?)
-20s Swiftness
-20s Vigor
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Mental Math!!! Save Yourselves(48s CD) and Hold The Line(28s CD) used simultaneously will grant 32s of regeneration and 28s of protection. (Fun Fact: Allowing 44s of Regeneration and 36s of Protection uninterrupted if Hold The Line is re-activated immediately off of cool down).

Time passes and Hold The Line comes off cool down after 28s with protection diminishing and leaving 4s of regeneration. But you immediately re-activate Hold The Line giving you 8s of protection and now 16s of regeneration. After protection and regeneration fade off again. Save Yourselves will be left 4 seconds away from cool down. Reactivating Save Yourselves will put you at 20s of protection and regeneration.
12 seconds later Hold The Line comes back up you reactivate it and go from 8s of protection and regeneration to 16s of Protection and 20s of Regeneration. After they both fade Save Yourselves will be left with 16s from cool down and Hold The Line with 8s from cool down.

Point being: You can have almost permanent regeneration and protection with this setup. Also, if you use Stand Your Ground(24s CD 10s retaliation/stability with 107% boon duration). You can just be a real frekin team player eh?

P.S. Staff #3 Symbol of Swiftness(Unknown swiftness duration w/ +107% Boon Duration) with a 40s swiftness from Retreat(48s CD w/ Superior Aria + 107% Boon Duration) will grant perma-swiftness (For the team too if you landed #3 on them)

That was just a little fun math for me to do. If I even did it right, take care all have fun with the setup if you wish to play it. Although, the question still stands, can this level of boon duration even be achieved or is it limited past once again (i.e. 50%)?

Good health and take care all

2 superior runes of the monk = 15% boon duration
2 superior runes of water = 15% boon duration
2 major runes of sanctuary = 10% boon duration
Max Virtues Traited = 30% boon duration
chocolate omnomberry cream = 20% boon duration

totals out to be 90% boon duration with food. If you went all out.

There is no limit to boon duration. It all counts. You can get even higher totals by using boon specific buffs. For example, it’s possible to get +60% Might duration from runes alone, topping you out at 110% Might duration without “Giver” gear. That gives you over ten seconds of Might from Empowering Might.

First, there is no cap. Secondaly assuming Giver’s armor and trinkets work now, it’s possible to make it well past 90%. I’m playing around with the build. In WvW, it’s amazing. I carry Stand Your Ground, Save Yourselves, and Symbol of Wrath for some massive Retaliation duration. Enemies drop like flies because of themselves. Wall of Reflection with ground targetting can make a huge difference when the enemy thinks the wall inside of their zerg is their own. On top of all that, you can sustain a large regeneration and protection duration as well with the right combination of weapons and utilities.

In PvE, it’s pretty bad compared to Altruistic Healing. I switched off of Altruistic Healing for the purpose of some WvW play. I have become far more squishy even with protection at 100% upkeep. It’s a theoretical build. You can in fact maintain 100% upkeep for protection, regeneration, and retaliation at the same time using Hold the Line, Stand Your Ground, Save Yourselves, and switching periodically between Mace and Hammer. You will lack the constant healing from Altruistic Healing.

I’m considering switching the build a little bit again from 10/30/30 to 30/15/25. I’ll lose 5% Boon Duration and some healing power (which boosts regeneration and Selfless Daring), but I’ll keep my defense where I need it. It all depends on where you play the most. I’m considering a Soldier armor build soon with this for WvW. Imagine the raw defenses with 100% retaliation upkeep. It’s loads of fun. I’ve never had to loot so many bags in one sitting.

I run a boon duration build using shouts. While I’m certainly a tiny bit squishier than an AH build, it’s not nearly as bad as you might suspect. Traited Virtue of Resolve plus near-permanent regeneration and extra healing power very nearly makes up for the loss of Altruistic Healing. If you’re interested, I detail the build I run here: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Boonway-alternative-Guardian-build/first#post1539812.