How to Rune and Gear Your Elementalist at Level 20 in Guild Wars

How to Rune and Gear Your Elementalist at Level 20 in Guild Wars
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Character Introduction

Guild Wars MMORPG has a wide range of PvP and PvE for players to get involved in. The graphics are beautiful all the way from the shores of Nightfall and Tyria to the picturesque Factions. Gamers will never have a lack of new lands to explore and new adventures to engage in with Guild Wars. When an Elementalist in Guild Wars reaches level 20 they are the highest level that is obtainable in the game and should begin choosing their fighting style and then get gear; armor and runes, to complete the build. The Elementalist is a caster and major dealer of DPS in Guild Wars.

Fighting from a distance the Elementalist can wipe out an entire party with just a few skills. An Elementalist is the only character class capable of dealing out such high levels of DPS and is often considered a staple of just about any Guild Wars party. Elementalists utilize a staff primarily but have been seem carrying around wands with off-hands or swords with shields for the stats. Both PvE and PvP groups seek out Elementalists for their party.

Armor Selection

The Elementalist character has a multitude of armor selections and types available to them. Players can mix and match armor pieces or focus on specific armor collections. When a player reaches level 20 it is important to have “maxed” armor. The Elementalist’s maxed armor is 60.

Here is a list of the different maxed armor types and where to obtain each:

  • Obsidian Armor: The Fissure of Woe
  • Asuran Elite: Rata Sum
  • Deldrimor Elite: Central Transfer Chamber
  • Monument Elite: Eye of the North Outpost
  • Norn Elite: Gunnar’s Hold
  • Ancient Elite: Bone Palace
  • Sunspear Elite: Command Post
  • Primeval Elite: Throne of Secrets
  • Vabbian Elite: The Kodash Bazaar
  • Canthan Elite: Divine Path
  • Kurzick Elite: Vasburg Armory
  • Luxon Elite: Leviathan Pits
  • Judge Elite: Granite Citadel
  • Saintly Elite: Marhan’s Grotto
  • Woven Elite: Granite Citadel
  • Flowing Elite: Granite Citadel
  • Labyrinthine Elite: Marhan’s Grotto

Armor Selection (cont.)

  • Tyrian Standard: Droknar’s Forge, Wajjun Bazaar, and Boreal Station
  • Istani Standard: Consulate Docks or Command Post
  • Sunspear Standard: Consulate Docks or Command Post
  • Canthan Standard: Kaineng Center
  • Kurzick Standard: House zu Heltzer
  • Luxon Standard: Cavalon
  • Shing Jea Standard: Kaineng Center
  • Ascalon Standard: Kaineng Center
  • Krytan Standard: Bukdek Byway
  • Censor Standard: Droknar’s Forge
  • Dragon Standard: Droknar’s Forge
  • Sacred Standard: Droknar’s Forge
  • Star Standard: Droknar’s Forge
  • Woven Standard: Droknar’s Forge

Photo By Melina Ann Collison

The only difference between elite and standard armor is the way it looks and the price. Standard armor is considerably cheaper than elite armor.

Rune Selection

Runes are items that upgrade armor in Guild Wars. Insignias work with runes by adding modifiers. Each armor piece can have 1 insignia and 1 rune attached to it; head, chest, hands, legs, feet. This will allow for up to 5 runes and up to 5 insignias for each complete armor set. You can remove and change runes on a character’s armor but it is very expensive to do so.

Runes can be obtained from Rune Merchants, loot from drops, or salvages from armor pieces. Some runes are stackable and others are not, however, if two of the same runes are applied the negative benefits will occur but not the positive. So if the runes are giving a +3 buff and -75 health and there are two on instead of getting +6 buff the player receives -125 health and +3 buff.

Duncan the Black

Elementalist Runes and Insignias

Insignia

  • Hydromancer Insignia

  • Geomancer Insignia

  • Pyromancer Insignia

  • Aeromancer Insignia

    Photo By Melina Ann Collison

  • Prismatic Insignia

Minor

  • Minor Fire Magic
  • Minor Air Magic
  • Minor Earth Magic
  • Minor Water Magic
  • Minor Energy Storage

Major

  • Major Fire Magic
  • Major Air Magic
  • Major Earth Magic
  • Major Water Magic
  • Major Energy Storage

Superior

  • Superior Fire Magic
  • Superior Air Magic
  • Superior Earth Magic
  • Superior Water Magic
  • Superior Energy Storage

Attributes and Builds

The Elementalist’s attributes and build are going to focus on their primary core profession and offer additional points in any second profession that is active or available. The maximum Elementalist attribute level with maxed weapons, runes, and armor, can be; Fire Magic PvE and PvP 21, Energy Storage PvE 21 and PvP 17, Water Magic, Earth Magic, and Air Magic PvE 21 and PvP 19.

A character’s build and attributes should be similar in nature to ensure the best possible game play as well as the strongest character possible. Builds should focus on 2-3 attributes instead of 4 or 5. When you do this your Guild Wars character is maximizing their potential by putting all their attribute points in one place, as a substitute to placing them in random spots. If an Elementalist has skills in their skill bar that are placed in Earth Magic then the attributes should be in Earth Magic as well. The special attribute for the Elementalist is Energy Storage.

Attributes and Builds (cont.)

The basic Elementalist attributes explained:

  • Energy Storage – Special attribute; every Energy Storage attribute point allows the character to gain an extra 3 energy.

    Photo By Melina Ann Collison

  • Air Magic – Increases the success rate of Air Magic and armor penetration against foes.

  • Fire Magic – Increases the success rate of Fire Magic and AOE spells.

  • Water Magic – Increases the success rate of Water Magic and movement spells.

  • Earth Magic – Increases the success rate of Earth Magic as well as supportive and defensive party support.

Elementalist builds can be categorized buy both their attributes and elite skill currently being utilized in the skill bar. Elementalists need to have at least 1 elite skill at all times that is from their chosen attribute chain.

Second Professions and Elite Skills

Elementalists that reach level 20 are going to need to start getting each second profession offered in the Guild Wars games. When a character gets a new second profession they will have access to unlock new skills and buffs to enhance game play and further customize their characters. There are 9 different second classes available to the Elementalist; Ranger, Dervish, Paragon, Ritualist, Monk, Warrior, Necromancer, Mesmer, and Assassin.

Photo By Melina Ann Collison

Elite skills are available from a multitude of zones in the Guild Wars games. Elite skills can be captured from a boss if the player has a Signet of Capture equipped in their skill bar. Signet of Captures are available from Rune Traders in Guild Wars towns and outposts. Every build needs at least one elite skill that corresponds with attributes and weapon points.

Combining Attributes, Builds, Runes, and Armor: Explained

The Elementalist needs to find the right combination of runes, insignias, armor, second professions, and attributes that compliment each other and make the most effective build possible. An Elementalist who specializes in Fire Magic will want to set their gear up in the following way:

  • Obtain a spear Req. 9-12 Fire Magic with stats in Energy Storage or Fire Magic
  • Maxed armor, with headgear for Fire Magic
  • Insignias and Runes for Energy Storage and Fire Magic
  • Attributes set in Energy Storage and Fire Magic
  • Build and skills that reflect Energy Storage and Fire Magic
  • Fire Magic elite skill

Furthermore, if an Elementalist wishes to change builds they would want to correlate their skills and attributes and follow the same concept explained above. Armor, attributes, skills, runes, insignias, and weapons all need to have similar traits to enhance each other. Try not to mix up skills and attributes. While it is possible to do this it does not make for a good character build.

Photo By Melina Ann Collison