Run

In Guild Wars, Running is traveling quickly to a target location. This is accomplished by avoiding or moving through mobs rather than engaging them in combat. A foreign character to a continent wanting to unlock lower level towns may choose to run as fighting is viewed as a waste of time. Running another player, usually for a fee, is the most common use of the term. The runner plays through the map while the other party members usually remain idle. A run differs from a ferry in that runs take players to locations that can be reached physically, rather than through special access areas.

When runners enter the portal to a new area (i.e. zone), all party members (whether dead or alive) are moved to the next area. The same thing happens at the end of a cinematic. If the goal is to resurrect the other party members, the runner can activate a resurrection shrine and then die within its range to have all party members resurrect at that location.

The general MMORPG term "run" can also mean what most people refer to in Guild Wars as farming, (i.e., killing certain monsters for items or clearing certain areas repeatedly to gain experience or other bonuses).

Note: The availability of runs between outposts is largely restricted to Tyria, as in Elona and Cantha most outposts are closed until you have completed the primary quests or missions to reach them.

Motivation
Players want runs for different reasons. Some of the more common are gaining access to end game towns/outpost, crafters and skill trainers, capping elite skills, and power leveling.

Potential benefits for low-level charaters include having maximum armor in a low-level area, capturing elites early on, or skipping ahead in the storyline. However, these players usually end up in a higher-level area, making it difficult for them to participate in a group.

Players can also run to complete certain quests or missions (e.g. deliver an item or perform infusion) without fighting monsters along the way. This can be a quicker alternative to fighting through a zone.

Common Runs

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

Payment
Many runners require payment for their services. The payment amount and timing varies depending on the run. The runner may request that the money be shown (i.e. in the trade window without actually giving the money) before the run is made to prevent scamming. Whether hiring another player to run you, or running a group of players yourself, you should watch out for scams.

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 at an early zone prior to the destination or, on longer runs, halfway.  Once you have reached an outpost, there is no incentive for the player to pay besides honesty and good will. (If the one being run refuses you pay, you can report the matter to ANet for dishonest trade, but this is unlikely to result in any gain for you.)

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. At most, offer to pay half at a half-way point.
 * 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. Sometimes simply looking at the other runners advertising at that time might not tell you a normal price.
 * "Guaranteed arrival" and "pro-runner" are subjective terms 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." At the same time, just because a runner is giving a "test-run" doesn't mean that they aren't skilled and won't get you where you want to be.
 * Beware of claims that a particular run now costs more because the running build was nerfed. Check the game updates to see if a build has been rendered less effective. If the runner is unwilling to run for what you're willing to pay, wait for another runner.
 * It is often a good idea to inform your runner if you are working towards the Survivor title. Some runs, such as the popular "Droks" run, require special measures to ensure that the players being run do not die en route.

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.

Additional notes

 * "Run" is occasionally used in a broader sense to refer to a single trip through a mission, explorable area, or quest, such as a "farming run".
 * "Run" is also used to describe the build that you are using (i.e. "I'm running (this build)").

Also See

 * For Running guides see Guides. For a general guide on running, see Running guide.
 * For running builds check PvXWiki