Guild Wars 2

Hey guys,

Basically, I’m looking for advice on what class to play. I’ve been lurking the forums for the past hour or two reading up on stuff, but I’m still at a loss of what might be best for me. I want to at least start off without reading TOO much into the game. I usually read for hours and hours before starting a game, but I just want to enjoy the game for my first play-through, instead of trying to min/max. However, I would prefer to still start off on the right tracks, which is where I need your help!

I enjoy mobile, ranged, high DPS classes in most games I play. Generally with these types of classes, survivability comes at the cost of skill (timing dodges, skills, etc) which is what makes the game fun for me. Supporting/tanking/CCing aren’t exactly what I’m looking for. Unfortunately, however, I’ve read that in general this game doesn’t cater towards ranged-DPS, so a list of ranged builds that do well would be extremely helpful to see.

Also, I enjoy both PvE and PvP. For my first character, I suppose leaning towards PvE wouldn’t hurt, but being able to do both would be awesome!

Any suggestions on what might be good? I’ve already started a Ranger, and I have very little idea of what I’m doing still haha. I’m open to making a new character as well, since I’m only level 11. Rangers seemed liked a good fit at first glance, but after browsing the Ranger forums, I’m not so sure. I’m playing on a laptop, and I can’t use my F keys very well (and don’t have an extra keyboard to plug in) so I’d have some issues controlling my pet. Also, it seems as if Rangers are often not so desirable in parties and such… Perhaps another class would be better suited for me?

Thanks for any advice guys! I’m sure this type of post has been posted many times, and I’ll be continuing to browse the forums to try and find an answer on my own!

As someone who mains a Ranger I’m going to be biased and say they’re awesome. Our melee weapons provide solid options for keeping mobile and evading hits (Sword/Dagger will have you leaping and rolling around your foe like madman). Longbow has good burst damage skills and a good AoE. Shortbow and Axe are a bit meh (but the might per bounce buff is quite nice when fighting a large group of trash).

But as you said you’d like Ranged, High DPS I’d say Staff Elementalist. It offers high DPS, is ranged, if you don’t dodge you die but also offers useful support skills as needed. Biggest issue would be you need to use your F keys. even more than when playing a Ranger.

I’d advise you rebind the F keys to something else where they’re easily accessible.

Ranger sounds like the right fit for you. Go Power Ranger which is a bezerker build using the Longbow and Greatsword.

You can rebind the F keys to something else to allow more control over your pet. In difficult content I keep my pets on passive which gives me more control over them. Other classes have much more demanding F key setups.

The Ranger is not wanted when it comes to the dungeon meta. That being said there are casual lfg’s, more open minded casual guilds or you can always set up your own lfg. I have never had any issues here because I run with a fun laid back crowd.

Also, just because you love ranged combat keep in mind that the greatsword can come in handy. It has great mobilty, some CC and good damage. So mastering it will make you a more well rounded player.

Ranger can also give some support and in group play you should look out for your teammates. Healing Spring is a strong water field, pets can buff allies or help CC and you get Entangle and some good utilities as well. So when you do open world pve you can go selfish and in group play you can be more team oriented without needing to change the core of your build.

Go go Power Ranger!

Fast, high DPS classes are Theif and Elementalist. Elementalist is the squishiest class in the game, but also does the most damage out of all classes in the game. If you pick scepter/dagger, scepter/focus (both close ranged but not melee) or dagger/dagger (pretty much melee I think, I haven’t played much with this weapon setup) you’re like a thief mage flying all over the place doing epic combo’s. It’s fast paced, flashy and fun and when a mob sneezes at you you’re dead, so to speak. They also are the best choice if you like ranged, as staff does very high AoE DPS, but is more classic mage-ish than fast paced. I can’t tell you much about Theif, I have yet to make one myself, but they’re probably like your classic Assassin arch-type: Squishy, stealthy and fast.

Engineer also does well ranged, considering the only weapons they can use are ranged (riffle, pistol and offhand shield) and the few options for melee they have are usually better for PvP. They’re also pretty fast paced, being able to do pretty much everything with neat combo’s: stealth, might, heals, bleeds, vulnerability, AoE..You name it and the Engi can do it.

If you like Ranger, just stick with it. Ranger is actually a pretty forgiving class because the pet will save your kitten a lot and takes aggro, giving you room to breath. They probably have the best ranged options after Engineer and Elementalist.

You can change the keyboard lay-out if you have issues reaching the F skills.

If you want to play a class to full potential at range then I’d stay away from Ranger because outside of some utility and burst damage at the start of a fight their ranged play is underwhelming (although some might argue OP in WvW). Rangers truly shine when you learn to micro manage pet effectively, and when you master one of the hardest weapons in the game IMO which is the Ranger’s Sword.

My suggestion is to go with staff ele because it provides the best damage at ranged, has great group utility, and has a high skill cap which you said you are looking for. They can provide multiple fields and have a place in the meta in pvp/pve/wvw.

Additionally, you don’t need to use the F1-F4 keys. What I’ve done is mapped those to ZXCV, hitting them with your thumb is very convenient and easy to learn. Also change up your utility keybindings as well, mine are at QER and T for elite.

“I enjoy mobile, ranged, high DPS classes in most games I play. Generally with these types of classes, survivability comes at the cost of skill (timing dodges, skills, etc) which is what makes the game fun for me.”

Sounds like a thief to me. Apart from the ranged bit… You do have short bow, but that is mainly used for its teleport and blast finisher. Thief is very mobile and survivability definitely comes at the cost of skill because of how squishy they are. They’re great fun in PvP and helpful in PvE with stealth and blinds. Learning to use stealth to your advantage is fun, and their skills run off of initiative rather than cooldowns. Initiative is constantly building up, and as you use skills they deplete a certain amount. So unlike other classes, thieves can use the same skill multiple times in a row (until initiative runs out and it takes a few seconds to build back up).

That said, all classes have to use their skills to survive. GW2 combat is very active and you will always have to move and dodge, no matter what class you play. “I can’t use my F keys very well” – you will have a lot of issues playing an elementalist if you can’t find a way to rebind those F1-4 keys. It is so important on ele to be able to quickly change attunements.

Elementalist is your best bet. Of Ranger, Thief and Elementalist, you’ll find the most utility in Ele. Easy PvE farming, easy WvW farming, easy PvP builds. Dungeon wise, Ele’s are more welcome than Rangers and Thieves, with the exception of speed/stealth clears for the latter.

I started with Ranger too, and I regretted it. It’s a lot more profitable to make an Ele first. I’m not saying that it’s easy mode to play an Elementalist, but for your first class and first run through of the game, you’re going to want a character that is useful in all aspects that can net you the resources to support your other characters.

Short of Ele, just make a Warrior.

So it seems as if these are my options…

- Ranger : Possibly a “sub-par” option, but considered undervalued.
- Elementalist : Possibly an “easier” option, but offers lots of damage and versatality
- Thief : Possibly lacking in range department, but very mobile and requires trickiness to maximize effectiveness.

I’m sad that rangers don’t seem to be wanted as much since the ranger class seems very similar to classes that I usually like.

I forgot to mention that I prefer smaller skirmishes, or even 1v1 fights, over big, huge battles. So I may still consider a GS/LB Ranger, but otherwise, I’ll look more into Elementalist and Thief. A shortbow Thief sounds like it may be interesting, so I’ll be looking into that for sure as well.

Thanks for all the input guys! Also, I didn’t realize F keys were so important – I’ll rebind them asap!

People who trash rangers in Pve are tryhards at their finest. Rangers provide great unique offensive support with frost spirit and spotter and above average personal dps. Also as some one who regularly pugs dungeons with a ranger ive NEVER been kicked or asked to change and i usually join zerk exp type groups, if someone does kick you for being a ranger they probably suck and just want to be carried.

So that said i think ranger would be a good fit for you but you my also want to look at scepter/X elementalists they also have a very active playstyle and it’s a mid range to close range weapon set also staff is only better dps if your enemies dont move out of your lava if they do you lose half you damage.

Goony.2301:

I’m sad that rangers don’t seem to be wanted as much since the ranger class seems very similar to classes that I usually like.

I forgot to mention that I prefer smaller skirmishes, or even 1v1 fights, over big, huge battles. So I may still consider a GS/LB Ranger, but otherwise, I’ll look more into Elementalist and Thief. A shortbow Thief sounds like it may be interesting, so I’ll be looking into that for sure as well.

If you’re looking at doing small scale/solo roaming in WvW then Ranger is quite good at that.

Check the Ranger forum for more info about small/solo roaming and the people there will be able to give you better advice.

Mobile, ranged, high DPS class
Actually shatter mesmer fits your description exactly. Elementalist is very versatile they can certainly do a bit of everything including ranged dps. They also have large aoe but the dps will be a bit unreliable.

Thief is highly mobile but not ranged dps. Ranger is also high ranged dps but can’t teleport up and down like a mesmer.

Btw, according to Anet design, ranger is the highest ranged dps, mesmer comes second. That is quoted from one of their offical balance notes.

If skill matters to you, I’d say that berserker mesmer is a bit less forgiving than ranger. Both are good choices and fun professions imo. By the way, you should consider changing your keybinds if you can’t use your F1-4. I play on a laptop as well, and have moved all my skills closer to my movement keys (ESDF). Sizer, one of the best thief in pvp, once said that playing on a laptop was better because the keys were closer and more reactive, so congrats! You’re esport already^^.

Goony.2301:

So it seems as if these are my options…

- Ranger : Possibly a “sub-par” option, but considered undervalued.
- Elementalist : Possibly an “easier” option, but offers lots of damage and versatality
- Thief : Possibly lacking in range department, but very mobile and requires trickiness to maximize effectiveness.

I’m sad that rangers don’t seem to be wanted as much since the ranger class seems very similar to classes that I usually like.

I forgot to mention that I prefer smaller skirmishes, or even 1v1 fights, over big, huge battles. So I may still consider a GS/LB Ranger, but otherwise, I’ll look more into Elementalist and Thief. A shortbow Thief sounds like it may be interesting, so I’ll be looking into that for sure as well.

Thanks for all the input guys! Also, I didn’t realize F keys were so important – I’ll rebind them asap!

You almost got it.

1) Ranger : They are in the middle right now. Not a top profession, but they are no longer in the bottom of the barrel like they used to be. Its a solid profession in both PvP and PvE. They will have good range build but mostly in PvP. For PvE their range weapons won’t be use that often if you want to do decent dmg. They are one of the easiest profession to play early on, but they still have some stigma from their old days, even if they don’t deserve it anymore.

2) Elementalist : Probably your best choice. They are the only profession with a range weapons as ther best PvE weapon. You probably won’t use it while leveling, but the staff is a beast in PvE Dungeons. Its not an easy profession is you want to maximize it. Lowest HP, Lowest Armor its all about dodge and position for a zerker Ele to survive in PvE. It also have the highest AoE DPS and Burst DPS of the game.

3) Thief : They have the best single-target DPS but their range weapons is mostly a support weapon, you don’t want to fight in PvE with them (even if you will always keep a shortbow with you for movement and blast). But Pistol can be a fun and good way to fight in PvP. Its the second squishiest profession after elementalist and like the ELe he will survive mostly because of active skills.

Exciton.8942:

Mobile, ranged, high DPS class
Actually shatter mesmer fits your description exactly…….

Out of those 3 only “ranged” fits a Mesmer….. Mesmer is one of the few classes that has no built in swiftness options (save for a Focus skill) and Shatter Mesmers are hardly “high DPS”.

I love playing my Mesmer, but don’t misrepresent them here.