Guild Wars 2

the merciful or persistence? for PvE hammer… which is more useful; healing or longer lasting symbols?

If you really want one of those, I’d say persistence just because it helps deal a bit more damage and a bit better buffing of allies.

It might also help if I knew what build you were working on.

Also, something you might want to consider, in that trait area (didn’t even see it and wasn’t thinking) is Two-Hand Mastery which is incredible for the hammer. With THM you can use a mighty blow nearly every auto attack chain instead of every other one which gives more heals from area retaliation, more damage, and group wide retaliation which is worth what it is.

I find the healing to be absolutely dreadful. For me in my AH build I got 119ish every second in a field and that is terrible considering I was barely ever just standing still in my symbol. It also doesn’t help my teammates because it only affects melee and most of them don’t sit in it either because they probably don’t even notice the healing.

Battle Presence in honor (grandmaster major trait) is tons better than that as, for me, it did the same or slightly less healing every second but it never stopped (not even when you activate it) and they didn’t have to hug you to get the benefits.

And about longer lasting symbols, my opinion is not really. Having them up longer helps with some minor things but there are better traits in that spot (empowering might, I’m looking at you) compared to getting one more Mighty Blow area retaliation in or dealing small amounts of damage. Also, symbols rely on people not moving and enemies like to do that a lot and so do players. I find their main use to be minor and a great bit of additional shazam to our skills. Nothing I’d build around (traits are too weak for it) but a skill I use for the utility though slightly minor (I’m not a huge fan of light fields, they are ok, but I’d rather not rely on getting hit to deal damage (retaliation)).

DaedalusDragon.3754:

I find the healing to be absolutely dreadful. For me in my AH build I got 119ish every second in a field and that is terrible considering I was barely ever just standing still in my symbol. It also doesn’t help my teammates because it only affects melee and most of them don’t sit in it either because they probably don’t even notice the healing.

Battle Presence in honor (grandmaster major trait) is tons better than that as, for me, it did the same or slightly less healing every second but it never stopped (not even when you activate it) and they didn’t have to hug you to get the benefits.

And about longer lasting symbols, my opinion is not really. Having them up longer helps with some minor things but there are better traits in that spot (empowering might, I’m looking at you) compared to getting one more Mighty Blow area retaliation in or dealing small amounts of damage. Also, symbols rely on people not moving and enemies like to do that a lot and so do players. I find their main use to be minor and a great bit of additional shazam to our skills. Nothing I’d build around (traits are too weak for it) but a skill I use for the utility though slightly minor (I’m not a huge fan of light fields, they are ok, but I’d rather not rely on getting hit to deal damage (retaliation)).

yeh… im stuck with the master major honor trait choices;
and was leaning towards either of the writs (although empowering might sounds pretty nice- which i planned on switching in if in a melee heavy dungeon composition), but i wasnt sure which was better; from your reply i guess persistence?

Writ of Exaltation

Writ of Merciful is only good with the Mace IMHO. If you trait for longer duration symbols your Symbol of Faith lasts 6 seconds so Writ + mace regen = lots of healing.