RUNES AND YOU, The Importance of Understanding the Rune System.

[Hellspawnxxx]

Ok So im scoured the Forum Search and really havent seen any threads regarding Runes other then a brief explaination in the The One Thread. But with how Important Runes are and how little attention they have recieved Ive decided to bring this system to light so people really understand the perks to investigating these upgrade components.

What are Runes, Well Runes are upgrade components you apply to your gear and have diffirent bonus depending on how far into a specific runes tree you go.

Think of Runes as Tier Bonus in WoW, except instead of having to farm a specific 4 Piece set of armour to get that [10% Chance to Summon Fire Imp on Crit] you actaully get to apply this "Tier Bonus" to any piece of gear you wish.

Runes are almost as important as your Trait Line, Runes allow you to further custimize your Charectors and really create a Deep Build.

Ill Use some Examples with my Warrior Build. In My Trait Line and Weapon Set Ive Choosen a Specific setup that Gives me the most 'Tank" Like Build that Guildwars 2 Offers so when designing this Build I also Picked Runes that Best suit the Build im looking to Obtain for a "Tanky" Build.


Superior Rune of the Forge

Tier 1 (1 Set bonus) +25 toughness

Tier 2 (2 Set Bonus)+15% burning duration

Tier 3 (3 Set Bonus) +50 toughness

Tier 4 (4 Set Bonus) +20% protection duration

Tier 5 (5 Set Bonus) +90 toughness

Tier 6 (6 Set Bonus) At 50% health you gain protection for 10s and burn all nearby foes. (cooldown: 60s)

So as you can see by Using 6 Superior Runes of the Forge it allows me to create a much Deeper Tank Like Build Making Survivability a Key Aspect of my Build. Now Bare inmind you can Mix and Match Runes but you wont get that Powerful Tier 6 Set Bonus Unless you specialize into a Specific Rune Tree.

Mix and Matching will play a more conventional part if say your not building a specific deep build you and you just wanna grab a mix of stat bonus.

[EDIT] Someone made a good point that I should also Meantion Sigils I wont go into detail but needless to say a Sigil is a Weapon Upgrade Component that also allows you to design a more Deep Build with your Charector into a specialized role. Thx for point that out Glytch

Heres a List of the Superior Versions of Runes.


Rune of the Balefire

Superior

+25 power

+15% burning duration

+50 power

5% chance to gain vigor for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 power

5% chance to cause a fire nova when hit. (cooldown: 30s)



Rune of Balthazar

Superior

+25 power

+15% burning duration

+50 power

You gain haste for 5s when you're hit below 20% health. (cooldown: 90s)

+90 power

When you use a healing skill nearby foes are burned for 3 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Centaur

Superior

+25 power

+15% bleeding duration

+50 power

+20% swiftness duration

+90 power

When you use a heal skill you and all nearby allies gain swiftness for 10 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Citadel

Superior

+25 power

+15% fury duration

+50 power

5% chance to gain fury for 30s when hit. (cooldown: 60s)

+90 power

5% chance to summon a bomb on hit. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Elementalist

Superior

+25 power

+17 condition damage

+50 power

+40 condition damage

+90 power

Burning and frozen last 20% longer.



Rune of the Fighter

Superior

+25 power

+15 toughness

+50 power

+35 toughness

+90 power

When you use a healing skill you gain might for 20 seconds. (cooldown 10s)



Rune of the Fire

Superior

+25 power

+20% might duration

+50 power

5% chance to gain might for 20s when hit. (cooldown: 5s)

+90 power

You gain a fire aura for 5s when you're hit below 20% health. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of Flame Legion

Superior

+25 power

+15% burning duration

+50 power

5% chance to cause burning for 1s when hit. (cooldown: 5s)

+90 power

+100 power while health is above 90%.




Rune of Hoelbrak

Superior

+25 power

+20% might duration

+50 power

5% chance to gain might for 20s when hit. (cooldown: 5s)

+90 power

-20% condition duration applied to you.



Rune of the Mesmer

Superior

+25 power

+15 precision

+50 power

+35 precision

+90 power

+33% stun duration



Rune of the Ogre

Superior

+25 power

+3% critical damage

+50 power

5% chance to summon a Rock Dog when hit (cooldown: 60s)

+90 power

+5% damage while you have a companion.



Rune of the Pack

Superior

+25 power

5% chance to gain swiftness for 30s when hit. (cooldown: 60s)

+50 power

5% chance to buff nearby allies on your attack, when hit, with might, fury and swiftness. (cooldown: 10s)

+90 power

5% chance to summon a wolf when hit. (cooldown: ?s)



Rune of the Scholar

Superior

+25 power

+3% critical damage

+50 power

+5% critical damage

+90 power

+10% damage while health is above 90%.



Rune of Strength

Superior

+25 power

+20% might duration

+50 power

3% chance to gain might for 20s when hit. (cooldown: 5s)

+90 power

+5% damage while under the effects of might.



Rune of Vampirism

Superior

+25 power

5% to cause your next attack to steal life when hit. (cooldown: 15s)

+50 power

Your next attack after using your heal skill steals life. (Not in)

+90 power

You become mist when below 10% health. (cooldown: 60s)



Rune of the Eagle

Superior

+25 precision

+3% crit damage

+50 precision

+5% crit damage

+90 precision

+5% vs targets with less then 50% health.



Rune of Lyssa

Superior

+25 precision

+10% condition duration

+50 precision

When you use a healing skill you gain a random boon for 10 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)

+90 precision

When you use an elite skill lose all conditions and gain all buffs for 5 seconds.



Rune of the Ranger

Superior

+25 precision

+3% critical damage

+50 precision

+5% critical damage

+90 precision

+5% damage power while you have a companion.



Rune of Rata Sum

Superior

+25 precision

+15% poison duration

+50 precision

+20% weakness duration

+90 precision

5% chance to summon a radiation field on hit. (cooldown: 60s)



Rune of the Thief

Superior

+25 precision

+17 condition damage

+50 precision

+40 condition damage

+90 precision

+10% damage behind or beside your foe.




Rune of the Dolyak

Superior

+25 toughness

+15 vitality

+50 toughness

+35 vitality

+90 toughness

You regenerate health



Rune of the Earth

Superior

+25 toughness

+20% protection duration

+50 toughness

5% chance to gain protection for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 toughness

You gain Magnetic Aura for 5s when you're hit below 20% health. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of the Engineer

Superior

+25 toughness

+17 condition damage

+50 toughness

+40 condition damage

+90 toughness

+5% damage while holding a bundle.



Rune of the Forge

Superior

+25 toughness

+15% burning duration

+50 toughness

+20% protection duration

+90 toughness

At 50% health you gain protection for 10s and burn all nearby foes. (cooldown: 60s)



Rune of the Guardian

Superior

+25 toughness

+15 compassion

+50 toughness

+35 compassion

+90 toughness

You inflict a 1s burning on block.



Rune of Melandru

Superior

+25 toughness

-15% condition duration

+50 toughness

-33% stun duration

+90 toughness

-30% condition duration



Rune of Mercy

Superior

+25 toughness

You take less damage while reviving.

+35 toughness

You resurrect allies with 20% more health.

+90 toughness

You revive twice as fast.



Rune of Svanir

Superior

+25 toughness

+20% frozen duration

+50 toughness

-50% frozen duration

+90 toughness

You become a block of ice for 5s when you are hit below 20% health.




Rune of the Ice

Superior

+25 vitality

+20% frozen duration

+50 vitality

5% chance to freeze all nearby foes when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 vitality

+5% damage against frozen foes.



Rune of the Lich

Superior

+25 vitality

+4% condition duration

+50 vitality

+6% condition duration

+90 vitality

5% chance to summon a minion on hit. (cooldown: 60s)



Rune of Sanctuary

Superior

+25 vitality

+20% frozen duration

+50 vitality

5% chance to gain retaliation for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 vitality

You gain stability for 5s when you're hit below 20% health. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of the Soldier

Superior

+25 vitality

+15 toughness

+50 vitality

+35 toughness

+90 vitality

Shouts remove conditions.



Rune of Speed

Superior

+25 vitality

+20% swiftness duration

+50 vitality

5% chance to gain swiftness for 30s when hit. (cooldown: 60s)

+90 vitality

+7% move speed while using swiftness.



Rune of the Warrior

Superior

+25 vitality

+15 power

+50 vitality

+35 power

+90 vitality

-1 second on weapon swap.



Rune of the Wurm

Superior

+25 vitality

+2% critical damage

+50 vitality

+4% critical damage

+90 vitality

+3% damage




Rune of the Adventurer

Superior

+28 condition damage

+15 power

+55 condition damage

+35 power

+100 condition damage

When you use a healing skill you gain 100% endurance. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Afflicted

Superior

+28 condition damage

+15% bleed duration

+55 condition damage

+15% poison duration

+100 condition damage

You create a death nova when you go down. (cooldown: 30 sec.)



Rune of Grenth

Superior

+28 condition damage

+20% frozen duration

+55 condition damage

5% chance to cause chill for 3s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+100 condition damage

When you use a healing skill nearby foes are chilled for 3 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Krait

Superior

+28 condition damage

+15% bleeding duration

+55 condition damage

5% chance to cause bleeding for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 5s)

+100 condition damage

+100 power while underwater.



Rune of the Necromancer

Superior

+28 condition damage

+15 vitality

+55 condition damage

+35 vitality

+100 condition damage

+20% fear duration.



Rune of the Nightmare

Superior

+28 condition damage

+4% condition duration

+55 condition damage

+6% condition duration

+100 condition damage

5% chance to cause fear when hit. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of Orrian

Superior

+28 condition damage

+15% poison duration

+55 condition damage

5% chance to cause poison for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 10s)

+100 condition damage

You gain haste for 5s when you're hit below 20% health. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of the Undead

Superior

+28 condition damage

+200 toughness while down.

+55 condition damage

+10% damage while down.

+100 condition damage

You gain regeneration and cause a poison nova on rally.




Rune of the Air

Superior

+2% critical damage

+20% swiftness duration

+3% critical damage

When you use a heal skill you gain swiftness for 5s. (cooldown: 10s)

+5% critical damage

5% chance to gain Lightning Strike when hit. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Golemancer

Superior

+2% critical damage

+15 precision

+3% critical damage

+35 precision

+5% critical damage

5% chance to summon a golem. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of Rage

Superior

+2% critical damage

+20% fury duration

+3% critical damage

5% chance to gain fury for 30s when hit. (cooldown: 60s)

+5% critical damage

+5% critical while under the effects of fury.



Rune of Dwayna

Superior

+25 healing

+20% regeneration duration

+50 healing

5% chance to gain regeneration for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 healing

When you use a heal skill you and all nearby allies gain regeneration for 10 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Flock

Superior

+25 healing

5% chance to summon a bird on your attack when hit. (cooldown: 10s)

+50 healing

Attack bird causes blindness for 5s.

+90 healing

When you use a healing skill you and nearby allies are healed a small amount. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of the Grove

Superior

+25 healing

+15% protection duration

+50 healing

5% chance to gain protection for 10s when hit. (cooldown 30s)

+90 healing

5% chance to root your target on hit. (cooldown: 60s)



Rune of the Monk

Superior

+25 healing

+15% boon duration

+50 healing

5% chance to gain health when hit. (cooldown: 10s)

+90 healing

When you use an elite skill you and all nearby allies gain aegis for 30 seconds.



Rune of the Water

Superior

+25 healing

+15% boon duration

+50 healing

5% chance to remove a condition when hit. (cooldown: 30s)

+90 healing

When you use a healing skill you and nearby allies are healed for a small amount. (cooldown: 10s)



Rune of Divinity

Superior

+10 to all stats

+10 to all stats

+10 to all stats

+10 to all stats

+10 to all stats

+10 to all stats



Rune of Infiltration

Superior

+2% damage vs. foes below 50% health

+15 precision

+3% damage vs. foes below 50% health

+35 precision

+5% damage vs. foes below 50% health

You cloak when you're hit below 10% health. (cooldown: 90s)



Rune of the Noble

Superior

+10% magic find

+15 power

+15% magic find

+35 power

+25% magic find

+5% chance to summon a Drakehound



Rune of the Pirate

Superior

+10% magic find

+20% might duration

+15% magic find

5% chance to shout Yarr and grant might to nearby allies when hit. (cooldown: 10s)

+25% magic find

+5% chance to summon a Parrot. (cooldown: 90s)

Not a Complete List of the Runes but I hope you Enjoyed None the Less...

[Deleted]

oh

bonkers

[Glytch]

wow... no love for sigils...

also worth mentioning that since they take up the upgrade slot you cant put a gem (not a jewel which are accessory specific) in them anymore

and in spvp you can choose freely between runes and sigils (and jewels)

[Hellspawnxxx]

wow... no love for sigils...

also worth mentioning that since they take up the upgrade slot you cant put a gem (not a jewel which are accessory specific) in them anymore

and in spvp you can choose freely between runes and sigils (and jewels)

Ya I didnt add sigils just because the thread would have been 2 pages long LoL. and I didnt want this thread to turn into a any and all upgrade threads because it may have gotten closed for being to broad and not specific. Its always hard to gage whats acceptable and whats not for creating a forum post on these none official sites so I played it safe...

[EDIT] I Added in a brief description about Sigils I choose to roll the dice hopefully this doesnt get Closed now hahaha.

[Glytch]

well alot of sigils can have nice play with runes

example: sigil of ice (chance to chill on crit) with superior rune of the ice (2 set increases duration and 6 set increases damage done to chilled)

a thief with ice drake venom and many points in crit chance could benefit well off this

stuff like that

[Merendel]

This forum so needs the spoiler tag that is avalible on some other forums hosted on curse. That tag lets you put a big wall o text into a small colapsed line that does not take up more than a line or two of page space till someone clicks on it to expand it. Would make lists like this not take up oodles of space. still nice information for those that didnt know about them.

[DrakeWurrum]

What about jewels?

IIRC, those were the only upgrade components for accessories.

---------- Post added 2012-05-27 at 12:01 PM ----------

This forum so needs the spoiler tag that is avalible on some other forums hosted on curse. That tag lets you put a big wall o text into a small colapsed line that does not take up more than a line or two of page space till someone clicks on it to expand it. Would make lists like this not take up oodles of space. still nice information for those that didnt know about them.

We do have a spoiler tag, it just doesn't work like it does in other forums. Shame, ain't it?

Maybe he could put it into an mmoquote?

Should really check out the full BB Code list, though now I'm thinking that it would be nice to add what you describe.

[Glytch]

What about jewels?

IIRC, those were the only upgrade components for accessories.

jewels are just super gems, they dont really offer the game changing impact that runes and sigils have

tho i'd like to point out in spvp your armor doesnt have inherent stats on them (at least i couldnt find a way to add stats to them) so jewels on your accessories is the only way to mod your stats

which makes trait stat bonuses much, much more important

[DrakeWurrum]

tho i'd like to point out in spvp your armor doesnt have inherent stats on them (at least i couldnt find a way to add stats to them) so jewels on your accessories is the only way to mod your stats

which makes trait stat bonuses much, much more important

Hrm. Indeed so.

[Deleted]

Wow I didn't know about this, seems like it'll add a lot of depth to armour. It would be awesome to have the rune of the pirate.

[Loaf Lord]

spoilers ftw

[Dreary]

woah I didn't even realize this whole system existed.. damn this game is fanTASTIC!!

[theredviola]

Call me downsy, but I still don't quite understand runes. I'm the kind of person who needs to tinker with things like this to understand it. However, tyvm OP for making this thread to bring attention to the subject <3

[DrakeWurrum]

Call me downsy, but I still don't quite understand runes. I'm the kind of person who needs to tinker with things like this to understand it. However, tyvm OP for making this thread to bring attention to the subject <3

Extra reading material:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Rune
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Upgrade_component

Think Diablo, how gear had sockets, and you could put gems or runes in them. Except AFAIK, armor will only have one socket ever.

[Casper0878]

I plan on playing a support/healing Guardian and was wondering what the best runes are for such a build. I believe I went with Rune of Dwayna during the stress test after switching from Rune of the Soldier. Soldier just made my heals really small. Which runes would be a better fit for a support/healing build?

Rune of Dwayna

+25 healing
+20% regeneration duration
+50 healing
5% chance to gain regeneration for 10s when hit. (cooldown: 30s)
+90 healing
When you use a heal skill you and all nearby allies gain regeneration for 10 seconds. (cooldown: 10s)

Rune of the Flock

+25 healing
5% chance to summon a bird on your attack when hit. (cooldown: 10s)
+50 healing
Attack bird causes blindness for 5s.
+90 healing
When you use a healing skill you and nearby allies are healed a small amount. (cooldown: 10s)

Rune of the Grove

+25 healing
+15% protection duration
+50 healing
5% chance to gain protection for 10s when hit. (cooldown 30s)
+90 healing
5% chance to root your target on hit. (cooldown: 60s)

Rune of the Monk

+25 healing
+15% boon duration
+50 healing
5% chance to gain health when hit. (cooldown: 10s)
+90 healing
When you use an elite skill you and all nearby allies gain aegis for 30 seconds.

Rune of the Water

+25 healing
+15% boon duration
+50 healing
5% chance to remove a condition when hit. (cooldown: 30s)
+90 healing
When you use a healing skill you and nearby allies are healed for a small amount. (cooldown: 10s)

[DrakeWurrum]

I plan on playing a support/healing Guardian and was wondering what the best runes are for such a build.

Will depend on the specifics of the build and your particular playstyle. Look closely at the bonuses you get from them, and pick what you think would work for you, based on what you can do.

[Casper0878]

Well, I can't post links yet so I have to describe my build I guess.

I was gonna go with Sword/Focus + Mace/Shield with Healing Breeze - "Hold the Line" - Sanctuary - Signet of Mercy - Tome of Courage

For Traits:

*Zeal +10 for - Fiery Wrath

*Radiance 0 (maybe take 10 from Zeal and put it here for Right Handed Strength)

*Valor +10 for - Altruistic Healing

*Honor +30 for - Battle Presence - Writ of Exaltation - Writ of the Merciful

*Virtues +20 for - Resolute - Purity of Resolve

During the Stress Test I used the staff instead of the Sword/Focus and I couldn't kill anything. Not only that, my heals were really weak because of the Runes of the Soldier. When I switched to Runes of Dwayna my heals seemed to get better, but I still couldn't kill anything. I did not have the 10 points in Zeal for extra damage. I don't care if I can't kill anything FAST, but I want to contribute to the damage my group does in SPvP. My main concern is staying alive and healing my group. Rune of the Monk seems interesting. Maybe I missed it, but kinda wish there was a set of Runes with toughness and healing on it.

[Magdaer]

I love runes

[theredviola]

Extra reading material:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Rune
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Upgrade_component

Think Diablo, how gear had sockets, and you could put gems or runes in them. Except AFAIK, armor will only have one socket ever.

OOOOooooohhhhh! Thanks for dumbing it down for me!

[Hellspawnxxx]

woah I didn't even realize this whole system existed.. damn this game is fanTASTIC!!

Ya thats the reason I made this thread, its a topic that doesnt get alot of attention but should. I cant remember how many times in WoW ive gotten the next Tier of Gear and being dissapointed that the new Tier Bonus wasnt as good as the last Tiers and dreading thier wasnt a way to swap them. Now in Guildwars 2 we have that freedom to truly build and customize a charector that plays specifically how we want.

My Appologise for using WoW as a refrence so often but I played and Loved WoW for 6 years, its the only game I have any point of refrence too when it comes to set bonuses. I did play Guildwars 1 with thier Runes system but to be honest thier set bonuses werent as robust and mechanical as Guildwars 2, so really WoW's seems the most comparable because of its overall effectiveness.