Guild Wars 2

The title says it all. Concerned with PvE only (Dungeons, Open World, Fractals).

Using a high LF-generating, spectral build (20/20/0/0/30), and the real question I’m coming to is whether or not Valks is worth taking over Zerkers for the added HP and LF.

The ONLY difference in stats between Valks and Zerkers is 8.2k HP (~40% increase to LF pool assuming accepted conversions) gain with Valks, and ~ 30% crit chance loss with Valks.

Filling the LF bar takes the same time no matter what (given the weird usage of percentages). So it really comes down to increasing time spent in DS.

Worth the drop in crit chance outside of DS? Or will the increase hardly affect the time spent in DS? And given the nature of dungeons/fractals, will it help?

I’ve been told that tanky power builds are best served by a mix of knights and berserkers. The 30 in DS gives a lot of burst, but I find that burst difficult to sustain do the life force building restrictions.

That’s exactly what I’m trying to get at:

Life Force building aside (that depends entirely on skills/utilities for the most part), I’m wondering if the extra time in DS allowed by Valks is worth the trade-off for crit chance.

I’m not looking to be tanky—but to maximize uptime of DS.

Phenn.5167:

That’s exactly what I’m trying to get at:

Life Force building aside (that depends entirely on skills/utilities for the most part), I’m wondering if the extra time in DS allowed by Valks is worth the trade-off for crit chance.

You also will not hit 100% crit rate in DS form with valks.

I’m not looking to be tanky—but to maximize uptime of DS.

From experience going 30 10 0 0 30 full zerk & reaper’s precision/vital persistence with warhorn offhand gives more life force generation and overall damage compared to mixing valks in.

You also won’t hit 100% crit rate in DS form with valks.

How does vitality increase death shrowd time? Is your life force related to your hp?

Izaya.2906:

You also will not hit 100% crit rate in DS form with valks.

Yes you will, with Superior Runes of the Eagle.

Zerk gear isn’t the only, or best, way to get to the 50% crit chance “sweet spot” for a DS power build. Valk armor is incredibly strong in this build. You’re spec’d to own in DS, so the longer you can stay in DS the better. With Valks, and the right traits, you can easily spend the predominance of your fights in DS — plus have the survivability to generate back your LF and still be in the fight. Zerks will put up bigger numbers; Valks actually works better.

Antisceptic.9174:

How does vitality increase death shrowd time? Is your life force related to your hp?

Your Life Force pool is ~ 60% of your HP. So the higher you boost your Vitality, the bigger your LF pool. If you go 30 points into SR, you get an additional 18% boost.

So there is a noticeable difference between Valks and Zerk? I’ve run the 30/10/0/0/30 build with full Zerkers since the patch with great success. Warhorn’s ticks are decent in mobs, to be sure, but I’m looking a spike-refilling LF to pop back in to DS.

I may have to just spring for Valks and test it out.

If you want some vitality mixed with your armor and have more than enough precision but will not sacrifice any of your high critical hit bonus, then use some Valkyrie in place of your Berserker. You can also mix your accessories to the same effect without touching the armor. It is up to you to determine when your build is too squishy. In a full berserker, you probably use DS for the boons and emergencies, anyway.

Berner.7289:

Izaya.2906:

You also will not hit 100% crit rate in DS form with valks.

Yes you will, with Superior Runes of the Eagle.

Zerk gear isn’t the only, or best, way to get to the 50% crit chance “sweet spot” for a DS power build. Valk armor is incredibly strong in this build. You’re spec’d to own in DS, so the longer you can stay in DS the better. With Valks, and the right traits, you can easily spend the predominance of your fights in DS — plus have the survivability to generate back your LF and still be in the fight. Zerks will put up bigger numbers; Valks actually works better.

Op is talking about an all or nothing situation here.

As op said, valk = 8.2k hp, berserker = 30% crit rate, you aren’t gonna get that 30% crit rate from going eagle runes, max you’ll get is 26% with 30 in curses and eagle runes.
You’ll also miss out on alot more potential damage from Ruby Orbs/Scholar Runes.

I’ll go rephrase my earlier post, berseker gear is best if you know when/what to dodge in PvE dungeons, but if you need some HP buffer its perfectly fine to mix some valks in.