Guild Wars 2

Back in the original Guild Wars I played a ranger, and I had two play-styles and builds that I couldn’t get enough of. I loved these builds, and used them every chance I got. The first was a preparation build, and sadly impossible in Guild Wars 2 (I was lured away from ranger and to thief because their venom skills are the closest this game has to preparations, though still just a shadow of their former awesomeness), and the other was a trapper. I see that traps return here, although with a more limited selection, and they are actually available to both rangers and thieves. That should be great news.

Now I just made a suggestion thread outlining how I feel thieves were shortchanged in the trap department and how I feel they should improve, but that just led me to an interesting thought; are traps in Guild Wars 2 worth having at all? So I ask that question now. Does the community feel that traps, be they used by rangers or thieves, are at all worth taking, or are they simply a relic from the former game that no longer holds up? Or perhaps do they simply fail to reach their true potential?

A properly played trap ranger is a truly formidable force, without question.

So, valid.

Rangers are usually not an ideal choice for damage output or party support, however when I do play ranger, I use flame trap (for its combo field) in one of my utility slots.

I’m assuming that as long as whatever trap you are using also has a useful combo field, the trap can be considered useful and viable.

At most, I use one trap, simply because there are other utilities that outdo traps as far as usefulness is concerned.

Thieves on the other hand, have several utilities that are far more useful than any trap you could possibly put on their bar. (at least in my opinion)

If you are using traps on a thief, you are shortchanging yourself by leaving out one of the other very useful utilities at your disposal.

I love using traps on my ranger. Especially with the trait which allows you to plant them at a distance which gives them a lot more versatility.

They’re essentially AoE conditions and used right they’re extremely useful. Especially since the ranger doesn’t have a huge amount of AoE attacks otherwise. I think the most important thing is knowing what the conditions do and therefore when they’re best used.

The thief is a very mobile class and static traps fit badly. Caltrops are usually better. Smoke is far better tool for a static thief and traps do practically nothing to protect against mobs that are unaffected by smoke.

Rangers on the other hand can fight very well when enemies are coming towards them and the traps work. However the traps offer very little when a ranger moves forward into enemies and this is when the other ranger utilities also fail.

Stooperdale.3560:

The thief is a very mobile class and static traps fit badly. Caltrops are usually better. Smoke is far better tool for a static thief and traps do practically nothing to protect against mobs that are unaffected by smoke.

Rangers on the other hand can fight very well when enemies are coming towards them and the traps work. However the traps offer very little when a ranger moves forward into enemies and this is when the other ranger utilities also fail.

I’m pretty sure the reason for that is rangers are not supposed to be running into enemies. You let them come to you, attacking at range with a bow to aggro them if necessary. Then either move back or switch to a melee weapon when they’re close enough. By which time you should have positioned yourself and/or thrown done some traps so you’re prepared.

I have to say I definitely noticed they changed something with the traps. 2 months ago while testing the differences between the condition build engineer and the condition build trap ranger, the trap ranger could three shot groups of mobs without issue in PVE.

Not anymore, something definitely changed and in the spirit of their separation of PVE WVW PVP skills they need to change it back.

Ambush is a good Thief trap, really worth having. And …. no, that’s it.