Guild Wars 2

I’m trying to get back into the game after being away for a long time. I’m trying to narrow down my class selection and I’m trying to figure out a couple of things.

First, if there is a particular ranged class that has a viable build for having a lot of boons and conditions active. Secondly, if there isn’t what people feel are the easiest classes to play in the “end game”.

Sounds like you might want to play a condition necro/reaper. It doesn’t produce many boons, but it fits all your other desires:
Viable range build.
Lots of active conditions.
Easy to play, even in end-game areas.

Keep in mind though that boons and healing are usually shared in small AoE around the provider, so even if you play a range build, people will usually expect you to stick to the rest of the group in dungeons and FotM (called “stacking”). You should only range if you feel your life is in danger (low health, enemy preparing a big attack), otherwise you should try to be as close to your allies as possible, which is usually also close to the boss.

Tarasicodissa.7084:

Sounds like you might want to play a condition necro/reaper. It doesn’t produce many boons, but it fits all your other desires:
Viable range build.
Lots of active conditions.
Easy to play, even in end-game areas.

Keep in mind though that boons and healing are usually shared in small AoE around the provider, so even if you play a range build, people will usually expect you to stick to the rest of the group in dungeons and FotM (called “stacking”). You should only range if you feel your life is in danger (low health, enemy preparing a big attack), otherwise you should try to be as close to your allies as possible, which is usually also close to the boss.

The only reason I was interested in ranged was to avoid unnecessary AoE if possible, I don’t actually mind using melee weapons on a guardian or warrior if the trade off is heavy armor and more boons and still a decent amount of conditions if I’m going to be in AoE range anyway. I don’t mind the profession being more difficult either, that was more of a secondary preference as well.

If you’re in dungeons, fractals or raids, the best strategy in many encounters is to stack within melee range even if you are a ranged class. That is so that you can share boons and heals, and to prevent the mob from running all over the place. So if you are aiming to do those content, ranged or melee doesn’t make much difference in most encounters.

Edit: oops, didn’t read the other post before writing my own

onevstheworld.2419:

Edit: oops, didn’t read the other post before writing my own

NP, still welcome the effort to assist

You might also try out condi PS warrior. He has both range and melee options, condi damage and sharing buffs (mostly might via phalanx strength).

If you have HOT Rev is pretty good for Boons. You can keep up any of the below for 100% of the time if you manage them correctly:

Regen
Might
Fury
Protection
Swiftness

I would also suggest before making your choice to go to the PvP lobby to try it out. There you can test out all traits/skills and builds as you are classed as lvl 80 there.

I was gonna suggest dragonhunter. longbow and GS, lots of boons, burning uptime pretty high if you spec it right, good at all stages of the game.

Though I have to agree on Warrior. Good condi with LB and swords, plenty of buffs for yourself and others. Haven’t played one in end game content though…

Edit: Engineer. lots of condi, boons, and has several different range options, including mortar kit which is one of only two weapons in the game that has a 1500 range.

ranged, conditions and boons. scepter guard, bow druid, necro, condi mesmer, engineer (more less easiest to hardest imo) would fit that criteria.

i have the most fun with necro doing condition damage though with minimal boons outside of staff but being able to manage and cleanse off allies.
next would be ranger, both shortbow and longbow while using grace of the land, spirits and warhorn to buff allies.