Guild Wars 2

Hey there, I’m pretty new to the game and have recently started playing with my gf. We’re both digging the game lots, but she’s having some trouble deciding on a class. I’m playing a GS Guardian, but she wants something that is ranged and viable. We tried out the staff elementalist, but it was ultimately a flop due to it being AOE only (they miss lots because the mobs run out of the circles). We’ve also debated ranger… But apparently they’re pretty terrible and she doesn’t seem too into the gameplay of them.

TL;DR – What classes/weapon sets would be good for someone that wants to spec purely in ranged combat? I realize that the classes aren’t built the way they are in typical MMORPG’s, but there has to be some class that can be played at a purely ranged standpoint and still remain viable, right?

Any help is much appreciated!

Mesmer/necromancer are decent imo.

Although staff necro uses marks which all are AoE and have to be placed.
But it’s something you learn throughout the game

Then again, GS mesmer is also very very good, they have 1.2K range which is great.
Though leveling a mesmer isn’t always as easy

Grenade Engineer is pretty nice… but it’s AoE. Granted, you can use rifle or pistols if you don’t want the aoe stuff so you’re always looking at ranged combat, grenades just end up being better in many situations (and have better range once you get the right traits). Fast-cast ground targeting comes in very handy with those types though, whether it’s grenade engie or staff elementalist/necro etc.

If you can get on the Game Right Now, I can help you find the class the fits your playstyle.

Add me on Skype: DreamyAbaddon

Heading to bed in a little bit, so i can’t get on skype. Does GS mesmer have good damage? And I heard that necromancers are lacking… Are there any good builds to boost the damage for them as well? Thanks for the replies, guys.

Personally, ranger is my favorite ranged dps class (I know, some feel the class has serious weaknesses). They’re able to lay a smackdown from far off, knockback mobs that get in your face, use pets for more dps/distractions and the pet’s skills to create combos/heals/CC’s, and even use melee weapons (greatsword!) for those times you want to beat ‘em up-knock ’em around.

Elementalist can play back line, mid-range- or melee equally well and each of those has strengths that you should goof around with to get used to. Attuning to each element changes your skills, your play style, and your damage output. Same with each weapon mix. But that’s a great class to use for learning game mechanics like combos, dodge-rolling, etc.

One tip for anyone trying to figure out a class is to make a throwaway version (ie: don’t bother much with name, looks, or anything during creation) and immediately take that char to Heart of the Mists PvP area. That let’s you see that class at 80, with all skills and traits unlocked, able to swap to any usable weapon set, and then try out your skills on players or training dummies to see if you can handle it.

Dealing damage with the staff on ele means using the control skills in the other 3 attunements to cripple/chill/immobilize/stun/push the enemy.

Well ele staff is awful outside of WvW zerging. In general melee and mid ranged damage options will always do more damage than long ranged abilities asin GW2 you have to move around a lot, making nonranged attacks a bit harder to land, so they do much more damage. Even caster classes are in your face a lot.

Mesmer DPS is general is the lowest of all the classes, relying on burst from shatters or phantasms that can be killed easily (although they have much more health in pve). The GS auto needs max range to be powerful and its not overly strong, and needs its other skills for slight AoE burst. Sword/Focus melee again with shatter tends to far outDPS the GS.

I’d reccomend either Engineer with grenades/elixer gun//pistols or shortbow thief. A death shroud necromancer could work too, but staff to supplement it is kinda boring outside of pvp, where necro is the 0 skill faceroll class of pvp.

Let me reiterate that ranged abilities are great for providing safe damage, but a character that only uses ranged abilities is gimping its damage potential in this game.

imweird.3197:

We’ve also debated ranger… But apparently they’re pretty terrible and she doesn’t seem too into the gameplay of them.

Debate again please.. Ranger is not at all terrible, seriously.. There is a reason I have more than 1k hours logged on my main (ranger). If it would really be that terrible, do you think I’d spend that much time on it..

Ok, the argument that the gameplay doesn’t seem to fit her, is valid.. Although there are different playstyles with a ranger (depending on the build you are running).

And my choice would be Warrior then: It has nice ranged abilities (Rifle = great, Bow has awesome AoE) while still maintaining a high armor rating (due to heavy armor). And if the need is there, you can easily switch to a melee weapon and facepalm that mob..

Every other class’s ranged attacks are trash compared to engineer. So… go engineer.

Warriors are perhaps the class with the best ranged weapons, longbow and rifle are both very, very good. Much better than Ranger let me assure you…

Engineers AoE grenades at 1500 range are also very, very good…

Rangers are pretty average at range now since shortbow range got nerfed 25% and the longbow 1 skill is terrible…

Ele’s don’t do enough damage, can be fragile…

Thief shortbow is good, no cooldowns on skills but range is only 900.

Mesmer greatsword is a decent range weapon too.

I’d suggest Engineer, purely because it has the most different ranged weapons (pistols, rifle and then ALL THE KITS) and facilitates very different playing styles. So your time levelling it is never wasted, you can just move on to another kit.

Mesmer is good. Greatsword has some really nice abilities and staff can also work very well. You can create clones pretty commonly using staff and they apply random debuffs to enemies. Not only that, but your enemies (mostly PvE but sometimes PvP) will occasionally focus on one of your clones taking the damage away from you. Both Staff and Greatsword also have abilities to keep distance between you and your target which is also good if you’re looking for purely ranged.

Might also want to look at why your gf is after ranged attacks.
In other games you don’t really have to sacrifice much for the range. Maybe the class is a bit squishier.
In GW2 damage tends to be inversely proportional to range. Except maybe grenades but that sacrifices projectile speed instead.

Engineer is a great class that is designed to be “mid-ranged” according to Anet. Almost all of its attacks are ranged attacks, but you won’t be sitting back at max range and pew-pewing your targets. You’ll either be tossing aoe grenades, bouncing between ranges using your shotgun (ahem, rifle), burning down the enemy at midrange with your flamethrower…you get the idea. It’s a dynamic class that isn’t melee but isn’t a sniper sorta class either. Trust me though, very fun!

Seras.5702:

Engineer is a great class that is designed to be “mid-ranged” according to Anet. Almost all of its attacks are ranged attacks, but you won’t be sitting back at max range and pew-pewing your targets. You’ll either be tossing aoe grenades, bouncing between ranges using your shotgun (ahem, rifle), burning down the enemy at midrange with your flamethrower…you get the idea. It’s a dynamic class that isn’t melee but isn’t a sniper sorta class either. Trust me though, very fun!

Heh I like going melee with grenades. It might have the longest range but it is also great for melee. Helps to avoid the slow projectile issue.

Rangers aren’t terrible in general game PvE, but can be lacking in any type of organized team situation due to the pet mechanic they are bound to. Currently, pets have NO chance to survive encounters with hard hitting Bosses, so the Ranger either has to ignore the pet as a damage source or just accept that their damage output will be reduced when fighting a Boss.

Otherwise, Rangers are a VERY viable ranged combatants.

Engineers are also very good at ranged combat (and have some nasty surprises when forced in to melee range).

Spell caster classes can all hold there own at range but I’m not sure that I have ever heard of AoE being spoke of badly….

While Thieves and Warriors aren’t known for their ranged capabilities, that’s mostly due to the fact that they are much more dangerous in melee….but they can both be built to pack a ranged punch.

Ele staff takes some practice and getting used to in PvE. Prediction monster movements and using all the attunements at hand takes some practice if you aren’t used to it.

Rangers aren’t as bad as everyone makes them out to be, but they do have some sore spots that need to be addressed. But are still very viable if you are looking for a well rounded ranged character.

Greatsword/Staff Mesmer is a fun build. A common build now is to go shatter Mesmer with those weapon choices (shatter clones for more damage). I feel Staff and Greatsword offer quite a bit for a ranged character (greatsword has the ability to push enemies back) and Staff offers typical some good AoE attacks (not so much like Ele, the auto attack hits up to 3 enemies, and the Chaos Storm and Chaos Armor are nice buffs. Its definitely something to look into, even if a bit to learn. The other weapons available make for interesting choices as well if interested.

Honestly I feel almost every class has a decent ability to be “ranged” except Guardians imo (Staff isn’t so bad, but their general Scepter/Staff attack speed leaves much to be desired compared to other classes). I’ve seen many Longbow/Rifle Warriors, and Shortbow thieves in my time playing as well.

I’d say keep trying out things, even if they seem out of the norm. :P

Believe it or not, the Guardian scepter #1 skill is has the most ranged DPS of any aut-attack skill (vs a single target….Theives shortbow #1 can throw up some nasty numbers in a crowd of foes). This was confirmed by the Devs.

Greatsword Mesmer is awesome but tends to be a slow leveler at first . At least it felt that way for me .

As has been mentioned the Engineer is another good ranged class but has a very unique feel to it that not everyone can get into .

Greatsword Mesmer is our favorite so far, but the damage feels lacking. Is there anyway to boost that up some? Also, is this viable in WVWVW and PVP endgame?

Greatsword damage for Mesmer is based on range. Tell her to take a few steps back because it does more damage when farther away; it’s kind of like the longbow for Rangers.

Mesmers aren’t great in WvW zergs but are good in small duels if you guys plan to play as roamers.

Ok, sweet. How about PVE and dungeons?

None. Well there’s the engineer exception again since it’s exclusively ranged, but every other class’ range sucks and is a waste of time.

Brother Grimm.5176:

Believe it or not, the Guardian scepter #1 skill is has the most ranged DPS of any aut-attack skill (vs a single target….Theives shortbow #1 can throw up some nasty numbers in a crowd of foes). This was confirmed by the Devs.

now the problem is to get the scepter to hit;)

but any class have a ranged way to play them its just getting creative with it

imweird.3197:

Ok, sweet. How about PVE and dungeons?

Not sure about dungeons because I haven’t done any either. PvE Mesmer can be a bit annoying because your illusions disappear when the target they were cast on dies, forcing you to restart whatever combo you were trying to build up. But since you are playing together, it shouldn’t be an issue.

My choices:

Zerg PvE: Guardian Staff, Mesmer Staff, or Engineer Grenades. Tag everything, vaccuum in the loot/XP/event contribution/whatever.

Organized PvE: Necromancer Axe (use it to fill up the bar, then start life blasting), Thief Shortbow, or Ranger Shortbow. Stay stacked up on your buddies for boons, don’t try to snipe unless you’re on voice and can run back in when someone calls it. Elementalist S/D or Engineer Grenades if you’re really good at blasting your own fire fields (I’m not, so I don’t play those professions).