In general, what's the best runes/insignias to have? - Guild Wars Forums

pritomd · Mar 27, 2012, 01:59 PM // 13:59

Is armor > health > energy?

What is generally most useful for survivability and succesfully finishing HMs?

akelarumi · Mar 27, 2012, 02:36 PM // 14:36

This depends a lot on your profession and your build. Best setup is almost always a mix. What i usually do is that i make a PvP-only character of the same profession. Al runes you have once unlocked (id-ed on a drop or bought) can be added freely to the PvP-only character. That way you can see what combo works best (and test it in the isle of the nameless).

Meow Ren · Mar 27, 2012, 02:42 PM // 14:42

you may also want to check out this earlier thread, they discussed the merits of HP vs Armor as well.

Loki Seiguro · Mar 27, 2012, 03:49 PM // 15:49

For PvE most professions benefit the most form just having survivor insigs, sup vigor, vitae runes and then a few minor runs of the attribute you want.

The profession specific ones are sometimes nice but they sometimes limit your build to needing certain skills. (I.E mesmer has one for every equiped signet which kinda forces you to always have a set number of signets in your bar to get the most out of it)

For Warriors knights insigs are almost always the best.

For eles, monks and even dervs you can have blessed insigs since they tend to always be enchanted.

or and if you are melee and are trying to clear an area with lots of blinds and conditions you might want to consider having a rune of clarity or such

Spiritz · Mar 27, 2012, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Its a matter of asking - what builds am i going to use which is important.
Why ? Because if you use multiple builds then in theory you should have multiple armors which is common sence.
I think one of my chars has only 2 sets of armor - 330 hp rit ( starter armor :P ) and a normal max armor set for spirit spamming and even then ive only got a few nrg runes and +41hp rune - i set my armor around my builds.
Ive vq stuff on my sin in just radient armor - cba to setup armor when i was just skillbar messing.

In a nutshell - you can in theory complete hm everywhere in radient armor and 1 hp rune of any type then again you could do the same with blessed or knights etc.

drowze · Mar 27, 2012, 05:59 PM // 17:59

You don't have to break your head too much about it. If your builds are good, then you'll be able to complete HM missions and vanquishes, no matter if you spec for health or armor or even radiant. When I wasn't in the mood to spend money on survivor insignia's I'd cut down on the cost by putting radiant on chest and leggings for 5 energy; and even that works >< (e.g.: My necro's main armor is radiant -pretty useless, I know- and her heroes have radiant/survivor mix mostly... yet I completed HM WoC without using cons; go figure)

Some of my personal tastes: For warrior's I'd go with sentinel's or dreadnought; for the same reason I take stalwart's on my ranger: they have enough armor vs physical/elemental as it is already. On an general pve assassin (not sf, use blessed with that) I use nightstalker's and switch to a shield set when I'm not attacking. Paragon takes best centurion, dervish blessed/windwalker. Most of my caster characters have survivor insignia's, but have a shieldset to use when they are taking damage.

Mar 27, 2012, 01:59 PM // 13:59	#1
pritomd Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Dec 2006 Profession: Mo/Me	In general, what's the best runes/insignias to have? Is armor > health > energy? What is generally most useful for survivability and succesfully finishing HMs?

Mar 27, 2012, 02:36 PM // 14:36	#2
akelarumi Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2009 Profession: E/	This depends a lot on your profession and your build. Best setup is almost always a mix. What i usually do is that i make a PvP-only character of the same profession. Al runes you have once unlocked (id-ed on a drop or bought) can be added freely to the PvP-only character. That way you can see what combo works best (and test it in the isle of the nameless).

Mar 27, 2012, 02:42 PM // 14:42	#3
Meow Ren Krytan Explorer Join Date: Aug 2011 Guild: Black Hand Gang Profession: R/	you may also want to check out this earlier thread, they discussed the merits of HP vs Armor as well.

Mar 27, 2012, 03:49 PM // 15:49	#4
Loki Seiguro Desert Nomad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: IGN: Scarlet Test Ace Guild: We play Isketch in [HoH] Profession: E/	For PvE most professions benefit the most form just having survivor insigs, sup vigor, vitae runes and then a few minor runs of the attribute you want. The profession specific ones are sometimes nice but they sometimes limit your build to needing certain skills. (I.E mesmer has one for every equiped signet which kinda forces you to always have a set number of signets in your bar to get the most out of it) For Warriors knights insigs are almost always the best. For eles, monks and even dervs you can have blessed insigs since they tend to always be enchanted. or and if you are melee and are trying to clear an area with lots of blinds and conditions you might want to consider having a rune of clarity or such

Mar 27, 2012, 05:52 PM // 17:52	#5
Spiritz Forge Runner Join Date: Apr 2007 Guild: DMFC	Its a matter of asking - what builds am i going to use which is important. Why ? Because if you use multiple builds then in theory you should have multiple armors which is common sence. I think one of my chars has only 2 sets of armor - 330 hp rit ( starter armor :P ) and a normal max armor set for spirit spamming and even then ive only got a few nrg runes and +41hp rune - i set my armor around my builds. Ive vq stuff on my sin in just radient armor - cba to setup armor when i was just skillbar messing. In a nutshell - you can in theory complete hm everywhere in radient armor and 1 hp rune of any type then again you could do the same with blessed or knights etc.

Mar 27, 2012, 05:59 PM // 17:59	#6
drowze Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2006 Guild: SaGa Profession: N/	You don't have to break your head too much about it. If your builds are good, then you'll be able to complete HM missions and vanquishes, no matter if you spec for health or armor or even radiant. When I wasn't in the mood to spend money on survivor insignia's I'd cut down on the cost by putting radiant on chest and leggings for 5 energy; and even that works >< (e.g.: My necro's main armor is radiant -pretty useless, I know- and her heroes have radiant/survivor mix mostly... yet I completed HM WoC without using cons; go figure) Some of my personal tastes: For warrior's I'd go with sentinel's or dreadnought; for the same reason I take stalwart's on my ranger: they have enough armor vs physical/elemental as it is already. On an general pve assassin (not sf, use blessed with that) I use nightstalker's and switch to a shield set when I'm not attacking. Paragon takes best centurion, dervish blessed/windwalker. Most of my caster characters have survivor insignia's, but have a shieldset to use when they are taking damage.