Run

Running is when one player leads a group of (usually lower level) players to areas in the game that would otherwise be unreachable (or at least very difficult to reach) for the non-runners. The runner runs past all enemy mobs and zones to the next area. The lower level players cannot survive encounters with the powerful mobs and are killed, or they sit comfortably in a safe spot while waiting for the runner(s).

Enemies in Guild Wars move just as fast or faster than player characters. Pursuing foes cannot be shaken off simply by trying to run away. Eventually players will be forced to fight back or heal themselves, unless the player manages to zone. Therefore, most runners use skills that increase movement speed like Sprint, "Charge!" or Storm Chaser, which allows the player to actually escape enemies. Runners often choose warrior for their primary profession with monk or ranger as their secondary profession. These characters can use Sprint, have the best armor, can wear absorption armor and runes, and can heal themselves. However, it is quite possible to do some runs with other profession combinations, which can be useful for simply moving your own characters through Tyria. The Ranger's additional armor against elemental helps in many places. There are also quite a few Ranger Assassin runners, who utilise the Ranger stances such as Escape with the Assassin's Dash and Death's Charge.

When the runners reach the entrance to the next area and pass through (i.e. zone), all party members (whether killed or sitting at the other end of the area) are teleported to the next area. If all other party members are already dead, a runner only has to run "close enough" to the other end of an area to resurrect at the resurrection shrine. This is quite chancy and should never be counted on.

The advantage running provides to lower level players is access to merchants and crafters selling powerful items and skills not otherwise available to them. They do end up paying for things they could have acquired for free had they gone through the game sequentially. More importantly, players escorted to more advanced areas of the game gain little experience, both in terms of how to play the game as well as in actual experience points for their character. Because of the experience of learning how to play the game, it is generally not recommended that players use running services much if at all during their first play through the game. Player that are run through several areas and skip numerous missions and quests may be surrounded by others who have much higher levels. Generally speaking, parties are not interested in grouping with players that are too low in level to be of much use, making it difficult for them to adventure further. Players who find their characters too low in level in a certain area sometimes seek a power leveling service.

Players also run to complete certain quests or missions (e.g. deliver an item or perform infusion) without actually fighting monsters along the way.

Running isn't as common in Factions as it is in Prophecies because in Cantha most locations have a gate guard at the entry who will only let you pass if the player speaking to him has a specific quest. This necessitates that the player being run makes it to the gate guard, which means they have to run themselves and survive, which voids the entire purpose of being run. One popular run is from The Marketplace to Kaineng City for Canthan born characters, but it's a trivial run with no real threat. Runners are beginning to run to the 5 Luxon and Kurzick towns.

The Business of Running
Experienced players often require payment from others to run them. Weaker players or players not interested in playing the PvE campaign often offer payment to runners in popular running locations like Beacon's Perch, Droknar's Forge and Augury Rock.

Whether hiring another player to run you, or running a group of players yourself, you should watch out for scams.

Some of the most popular runs in the game right now are:
 * The Droknar Run
 * From Lions Arch to Sanctum Cay, Beacon's Perch or Temple of the Ages.
 * From Bergen Hot Springs to Temple of the Ages or Beetletun, or vice versa
 * From The Amnoon Oasis to Augury Rock (see The Amnoon Oasis to Augury Rock)
 * From Augury Rock to the mission locations in the Crystal Desert, see the Ascension guide
 * From Henge of Denravi to Maguuma Stade
 * From Thunderhead Keep to Marhan's Grotto
 * From Iron Mines of Moladune to Copperhammer Mines
 * From Copperhammer Mines to Granite Citadel
 * From Piken Square to Yak's Bend
 * From Yak's Bend to Beacon's Perch
 * From Beacon's Perch to Gates of Kryta or Lion's Arch
 * From Ascalon City or Piken Square to Lion's Arch (combining several of the preceeding runs into one quicker process)
 * From Cavalon to Bai Paasu Reach, Eredon Terrace, Breaker Hollow, Jade Flats (Luxon) and Aspenwood Gate (Luxon)
 * From House zu Heltzer to Aspenwood Gate (Kurzick), Saint Anjeka's Shrine, Lutgardis Conservatory, Brauer Academy and Jade Flats (Kurzick)

Paying and Getting Paid for Runs
There is little consistency regarding the price of runs or where and when a payment should be made/taken. Players seeking runs are at the mercy of the runners available at that particular outpost and at that particular time. A run is only "worth" what people are willing to pay for it.

Keep the following points in mind when you decide to charge/pay for a run:


 * Runners:
 * Asking players to pay "on arrival" is inviting the opportunity to be scammed. Insist that players pay in the explorable area prior to the destination.  Once you have reached an outpost, there is no incentive for the player to pay.
 * Misunderstandings between players (such as when a run payment should be made) is not an offense that can be reported.
 * It is also possible to take a player's armour as collateral, given that it is customized on purchase and therefore not useful to the runner.


 * Players Seeking Runs:
 * Do not pay up front for a run. If you pay up front, the runner has no incentive to run you to your destination.  Insist that payment be made in the explorable area prior to the destination, or if possible, at the destination.
 * Familiarize yourself with the going rates for a run to your destination. If you've regularly seen a run priced at 1000 gold, do not pay 3000 for it.
 * "Guaranteed Arrival" is a subjective term that shouldn't be taken literally. A runner may be very skilled at making a particular run, but do not pay more just because arrival is purportedly "guaranteed."
 * Beware of claims that a particular run now costs more because the running build was nerfed. Always check the Guild Wiki and Game Updates to see if a build has been rendered less effective.

Profession Running Guide
Shouts which make you run faster Enchantments which make you run faster: Stances which make you run faster (only one stance may be active at a time): Forms which you make you run faster (only one form may be active at a time):
 * "Charge!" (Elite, affects ALL allies within earshot)
 * "Fall Back!" (also heals while moving)
 * "Lead the Way!" (duration based on allies nearby)
 * Godspeed (while under the effecs of an Enchantment)
 * Armor of Mist
 * Burning Speed (Beware of the burning effect taking some of your health)
 * Windborne Speed
 * Flame Djinn's Haste (Damages adjacent foes)
 * Storm Djinn's Haste (Beware of energy loss)
 * Illusion of Haste (After this wears off, you will be Crippled)
 * Battle Rage (Elite, requires adrenaline)
 * Bull's Charge (Elite)
 * Charging Strike (Elite)
 * Rush (requires adrenaline)
 * Sprint
 * Escape (Elite)
 * Dodge
 * Storm Chaser (May also be used to generate energy for other skills if running through an elemental area ie: The Shiverpeak Mountains)
 * Zojun's Haste
 * Run as One (affects you AND your pet)
 * Dash
 * Dark Escape
 * Harrier's Haste
 * Enchanted Haste
 * Whirling Charge
 * Avatar of Balthazar (Elite)

The cooldown on "Charge!" is only 20 seconds so with a good Tactics attribute, there will only be a 9-10 second gap before you can use it again. Using a stance during "Charge!"'s downtime will usually allow for continuous running (25% movement increase). Using "Charge!" and two stances will allow for continuous 25% movement increases intermixed with 33% increases in speed.

Other potentially useful skills for running:

Anti-Knockdown Skills
 * Balanced Stance
 * Fleeting Stability

Skills which Negate/Prevent Damage:
 * Mist Form
 * Vow of Silence
 * Shadow Form
 * Spell Breaker

Defensive Skills: Healing Skills: Skills Which Provide Extra Health/Armour: Anti-Hex:
 * Bonetti's Defense
 * Defensive Stance
 * "Shields Up!"
 * Whirling Defense
 * Swirling Aura
 * Watchful Intervention
 * Mending
 * Divine Intervention
 * Death's Charge
 * Heart of Shadow
 * Mystic Regeneration
 * Healing Signet
 * Watchful Spirit
 * Restful Breeze
 * Endure Pain
 * Defy Pain
 * Signet of Stamina
 * Feigned Neutrality
 * Avatar of Balthazar
 * Vital Boon
 * Conviction
 * Pious Restoration
 * Inspired Hex
 * Revealed Hex
 * Smite Hex
 * Holy Veil

Of the list above, Sprint, "Charge!" and Storm Chaser are the ones most favored by runners for a few reasons:
 * 1) They last at least 10 seconds (if the linked attribute is high enough) which is most adequate for dodging groups and getting far quickly.
 * 2) They are shouts or stances that do not have an activation time. This means a character can invoke them on the fly while running. While Armor of Mist is a spell that lasts longer and runs faster than Sprint, it requires runners to stop and invoke it for two full seconds, which often allows monsters surround them.  Unless this is cast before getting into the threat range of a mob, this is usually fatal.

Note: Dodge is often used by those who use Storm Chaser as an extra boost after Storm Chaser wears off to get past the really long gauntlet of foes which are sometimes encountered. Similarly, Charge! is often used in conjunction with Sprint to allow the player to quickly outpace pursuing foes. Dodge also represents an obvious choice for Ranger primary runners, since the duration can be increased with Expertise (and it adds +33% speed instead of +25%).

Tip: Dying while others run you offers a convenient way to watch the runners and see how they do what they do. Simply click on the surviving runner's name in the Party List and observe. You can see what skills they're using if you watch the bar at the center of the top of the screen. Be sure to check with your runner prior to dying, as some runs, particularly in missions, require payment shortly before completion.

Warming up: Many runners activate some sort of healing regeneration (typically Mending for ?/Mo or Mo/? or Troll Unguent for R/? or ?/R) for a healing boost just before encountering a group of foes. This helps to combat the health degeneration often inflicted on runners by enemy mesmers and other occasional attacks that hit a runner. Runners who are an E/? or ?/E will also start either Windborne Speed or Armor of Mist, which allows them to save the stances/shout (which don't require any activation time) for when they're actually surrounded by foes. Beware of mesmers with Shatter Enchantment when using enchantments such as Mending. These will make casting the enchantment just a waste of energy and possibly health. Using Watchful Spirit can also be used as it already gives 2 pips and requires no investment in healing. Some runners may also chose to use the Signet of Stamina for the additional health throughout the run.