Guild Wars 2

I’m currently trying out different roaming shatter builds, and I’m wondering what works best. Right now, I’ve had the best luck with a traditional 4/4/0/0/6 Sword/Pistol Staff build with traveler runes. However, I feel like I can make it more effective with different runes. Pack runes look particularly appealing. Mesmer runes could also be an option.

What are you guys running for roaming shatter, and how’s it working? Is there a generally agreed upon optimal build?

Good luck with not using traveler runes… :p

I suppose if you run staff + sword/focus (which tbh isn’t the best anymore) and take 1200 blink you could make do with swiftness and Pack runes.

I wouldn’t want to run Pack runes without using focus though.

When I’m out numbered I run:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhMQNAsfRlknpRtlpxINcrNitxYyH6F1Fd0UlMghB-TVCFAByt/AAHCgCV/5KlgIp8TgnAQa6CyQLwCnAAA-w

Normally I run:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhMQNAsfRlknpRtlpxNNcrNCrxg6u26MSOQAlsirB-TVCFAByt/AAHCgCV/5KlgIp8TgnAQa6CyQLwCnAAA-w

As a shatter mesmer on tier 1, I die a a lot no matter what as a solo roamer. Traveler runes are a better option than speed runes and provide mobility, which mesmers lack ,(Unless you have staff and you know how to phase retreat forward). If you want that burst, glass cannon is your best bet, and dying a lot of a part of the package and no other rune set can change that unless you’re willing to sacrifice a lot of shatter power.

Before switching to full glass, I used to run this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhMQNAsfRlknpRtlpxINcrNSrxg6ryqMSGQBlciqB-T1CBABCu/QfaCOTJoEHBAsU+BwJAwSVO84RAkiWg80Bkp6IAA-w

It requires proper management of phantasms, and you need to really set up your shatters properly for this to be effective or the burst will be literal trash.

Overall, you’re running one of the most optimal shatter builds, and changing runes is up to you, but at the cost of less mobility, I don’t think it’s really worth it.

Curunen.8729:

Good luck with not using traveler runes… :p

I suppose if you run staff + sword/focus (which tbh isn’t the best anymore) and take 1200 blink you could make do with swiftness and Pack runes.

I wouldn’t want to run Pack runes without using focus though.

Yeah, I wish we had another reliable source of swiftness. I just feel like I’m wasting so much potential with traveler runes. Pack has some pretty sweet bonuses that Mesmers in general can use.

I’ve had minor success running a mtd shatter with a mix on zerk and sinister armor and trinkets. But I’m a low tier server..

Anyway what I’ve discovered is that rune sets often don’t make a lot of difference as to your effectiveness aside from a limited few sets. If your build needs runes to. Shine then you’ve got options but shatter is not a build that really requires a rune set to succeed which is kinda nice.

I use travelers these days and don’t notice a big difference from when I used other sets as my play style has changed to compensate and abuse the movement speed rather than counting on crits and raw power spikes.

It also let’s me run a staff gs set up so that’s a plus for me.

This is what I run when WvW roaming with shatter, 0/4/4/0/6. It provides some decent survivability over standard shatter not only in the small amount of extra toughness, but the protection/regen proc from the chaos line. I use cry of frustration to get some retaliation via confusing cry which helps a little against spammy auto attackers. Can be switched with compounding power or masterful reflection for ranger defense.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQJAWRlknpGtFpxMNcrNitxYyOiA1Ld0UlMghB-TFCFAByt/AAHCgCV/5KlgIp8zhnAQa6CW4CAQGAmtA-w

frist are you solo roaming or havoc roaming?

If your solo I would say never take pack runes. You don’t have enough access to swiftnesss, chaos storm and armor give you a random chance at 3 secs on a 35 cooldown, to get the maxium benefit you need to use focus and even then theres a 5ish sec period where you wont have swiftness as well as counting on curtain to be up in a dire situation. Not to sound arrogant but you need to reread the pack runes bonus – 25% chance when struck to get fury/might/swiftness <— are you really willing to eat a backstab/eviscerate/ etc for those buffs when you get 2 of them just from your staff autoattack? If you were on an extreme budget i would recommened runes of the centaur although you would be sacrificing your heal.

If your in a havoc group and your mates can sustain swiftness on you, then yeah you could get away with rune of pack. Youd be of better value to run runes of strength or hoelbrak .

If you look at it soley based on numbers yes power runes give you about 100 power burst then travelers, but you need also keep in mind swiftness can be removed or stolen, the permanant speed bonus cant. If you do duels there isnt anything against having an alt set with power runes since you wont have to worry about getting zerged ( maybe)