Guild Wars 2

I’m trying to work out what would be the best investment, so what would have the most overall effect. I have shoulders, gloves, boots and shortbow already ascended, so it’s the S/D and other armor parts that I could start to ascend, or get strength runes (see build link if I’m being confusing :P )

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fZUQNAsYVl0Mp0pdPx3JsPNBNh4d4vl1KQ3R3FE-T1CBAB5oWRlqqcmSQJOFAYp8yLlIA8AAyTTQR7PkieAGOCABAQACJOxAlYJWiNxJOxJOxJWKgnmAA-w

So yeah, what would you guys do next? thanks for any & all replies

Grab remaining ascended armour first. Runes of the Pack are amazing and they are not lacking compared to the Runes of Strength, imo. Asc armour gives you not only stats but, primarily, more armour. Go for it!

Yeah, I really like the extra precision, and the potential 100% fury and swiftness uptime pack runes give when combined with trickery V. I hear a lot about strength runes (I use them in PvP atm too), but it’s hard to gauge how much benefit you’ll get in WvW for that 90 gold without taking the plunge :/

That makes sense, the extra armor is something I could do with too. Thanks! ^^

I use Runes of Strength in WvW and if it wasn’t for the 7% boost I am certain that I would use Runes of the Pack (almost perma fury with trickery V that you mentioned). If you like to get might duration, Rune of the Hoelbrak is also a very good, yet cheaper, alternative that has -20% cond duration on 6/6 as well.

With s/d pack runes are better than strength

Yeah, I was pretty concerned with the loss of crit chance when I swapped from lyssa runes, so I chose pack runes because of the extra 125 precision on top of the power boost. I hadn’t even thought about the fury uptime, it was a rather nice surprise ^^

Might duration isn’t something I normally build for tbh, although with 6 in shadow arts strength/hoelbrak runes would be very nice. That’s actually what was swaying me towards strength runes in the first place, they work well with pretty much every direct damage build thief has. I didn’t want to make ascended armor just for it to sit in my inventory :P

Might boosts condition damage also, but Runes of the Noble would suit conditions better. A +45% duration boils down to +45% might stacks, or going from 8 to 12 stacks. The more might you generate, the more you benefit from Runes of strength.

Fury itself adds 10-15% to your damage (similar to about 6-8 might stacks), but you’d have to estimate how much effect the runes have on your total fury uptime.

Edit: You don’t have enough might in your build to make Runes of Strength even remotely useful, let alone for that price.

I did the calculation for my guild (6 points in trickery, critdmg: 190%, power 2233)

1. Phase (Fury after steal):
Pack runes:
Effektive power(crit chance basis 30%/35%/40%/45%):
3358/3459/3559/3660

strength runes:
Effektive power(crit chance basis 30%/35%/40%/45%):
3464/3572/3680/3787

2. Phase
pack runes (Fury still active):
Effektive power (crit chance basis 30%/35%/40%/45%):
3358/3459/3559/3660

strenght runes:
Effektive power(crit chance basis 30%/35%/40%/45%):
3034/3141/3249/3356

This is just a basic calculation. With strength runes you have a little bit more might (i think only 2-4 stacks without power of inertia). But sigil of fire and sigil of air will trigger more often/faster with pack runes.

I am testing this quite a while, and without power of inertia and signet of agility I recommend pack runes.

if anet have any sense then strength runes will be nerfed soon or other runes will be buffed to equal them, so i’d go for gear first if i were you.

Awesome, I’ll stick with pack runes and get the armor then. Thanks for all replies ^^

Frans: I know there’s not much might in my build atm, I don’t really see the point in stacking much unless you go all out and make that the main focus of your build. I run strength runes in PvP on a 0/6/0/3/5 S/P build with power of inertia, might on signet use and 2 signets, I’d prob do something similar if I had strength runes in WvW.

I think I’d craft the weapon(s) first, it’s only 2 pieces and they have not only improved but also a nice +5% damage.

I considered that, but I have enough money/mats to finish the armor by sunday (only waiting on laurels really, I knew I’d regret spamming WvW ranks -.-), and I don’t think I even have 200 weaponsmithing atm :/ That will definitely be the next project though.



Well, then I suppose I’d craft the armor and use an alternative runeset.