Guild Wars 2

Hello all, I’ve just recently started to pvp as an engineer and am having trouble with classes with pets/minions. I was hoping for some tips on how to fight things like spirit ranger or BM ranger or minion master necro. Rangers are giving me the toughest time atm. I also have a little trouble with mesmers but I think I just need to concentrate more to pick out the real one (this is mainly a problem in bigger teamfights with multiple mesmers all hitting clones). I currently have the nodefighter build.

You will not beat them easily in a 1v1, so do not expect to. Minionmaster Necromancers, and Spirit/BM Rangers are virtually impossible. As are Phantasmal Mesmers. In order to beat a Minionmaster Necro, or a Spirit/BM Ranger, you have to be

1) A very good Wellmancer

2) A Trap Ranger

3) A Conditionmancer focusing on AoE

4) An skilled HGH Engineer

5) A shatter Mesmer

6) S/D Thief (With a shortbow)

7) Meditation Guardian

If you are not running one of those builds, then you’ll have a very difficult time defeating them 1v1.

Oh really? I mean I’m highly unskilled haha, but don’t a lot of the good engineers run the “Teldo” nodefighter build and do well in 1v1s? I watched a couple of the PAX qualifier matches and it seemed like a lot of the time the engis were the ones taking close, rotating to far, etc.

Minionmasters, Phantasmal Mesmers, Spirit/Beastmaster Rangers are the gods of 1v1. There are very few builds that can compete with them. If you want to practice a bit, you can always get High Warlord Sikari to help you, he’s in my Necro school and is quite possibly the best Minionmaster in the community.

Ah, okay, if they’re the best at 1v1s, how come they’re not the ones defending close/attacking far? I don’t know much about the strategies/meta but in most of the matches, at the beginning, 4 players go mid and 1 grabs close. I always thought the 1 not with the rest of the team was the best 1v1 character or something but I guess from what you say this isn’t true. What exactly is looked for in this off node player then? Mobility?

Also, are you the one who set up the profession guilds for helping new players in each profession? I remember seeing something like that a while ago but couldn’t find it when I looked for it again.

Most good teams have Spirit Rangers and Minionmasters guard their close point.

Also, yes. I am the person who set up the schools for every profession. They’re doing quite well, but I’ve been inactive lately, so I left the running of them to the teachers.

Oh okay. I just remember in the EU qualifiers Team Paradigm had Teldo and CC had Super doing that. Pish had an ele and I think NN did too. They had rangers but they went to the teamfight at mid, and I don’t think the necros were minion master. I’m wondering if it’s a skill thing. Like at most levels the builds you mentioned are the best at 1v1 but at the top it’s others?

Where can I look/who do I contact for info on the schools?

pajamaboi.9534:

Ah, okay, if they’re the best at 1v1s, how come they’re not the ones defending close/attacking far? I don’t know much about the strategies/meta but in most of the matches, at the beginning, 4 players go mid and 1 grabs close. I always thought the 1 not with the rest of the team was the best 1v1 character or something but I guess from what you say this isn’t true. What exactly is looked for in this off node player then? Mobility?

The off-node character needs to be really good at 1v1s, which is why you see them often as Rangers.

The thing that is great about the teldo/nodefighter engineer is his ability to sustain for a long time and use knockbacks in order to get the enemy point neutralized. If you can stay alive 1v1 far node for a long time while the point is decapped, possibly long enough to draw one of the enemy players from the midfight to support far, then you’ve done your job well. The build is also really capable at 1v1s but requires more skill to succeed than, for example, a spirit ranger. The other aspect of the build that is important is its access to mobility as well as its team utility. While being one of the best farpoint assaulters, the nodefighter engi can also be useful in the midfight and offers stealth and occasional rez utility.

It’s a super fun build, but it requires a lot of effort to really optimize its play. Keep at it though! Watching the PAX qualifiers and player streams are great ways to improve

pajamaboi.9534:

Oh okay. I just remember in the EU qualifiers Team Paradigm had Teldo and CC had Super doing that. Pish had an ele and I think NN did too. They had rangers but they went to the teamfight at mid, and I don’t think the necros were minion master. I’m wondering if it’s a skill thing. Like at most levels the builds you mentioned are the best at 1v1 but at the top it’s others?

Where can I look/who do I contact for info on the schools?

They’re simply and plainly best for 1v1, though Spirit Rangers also make great support builds as well.

Anyhow, it depends on what school. But generally, me.

People keep mentioning Minionmasters.

Just want to throw my hat in here and say I haven’t seen a Minionmaster in competitive play in over 6 months.

Namely because of a strong generic ignorance of what Necromancers are capable of. Minionmancers can do a Spirit Ranger’s job just as well. Most people don’t realize that a Necromancer can literally fit any role in the game as well as another class, or better.

However, the common belief is that Necromancers are only good with Conditions. Granted after the Dhuumfire/Torment patch, it’s definitely the strongest aspect.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Namely because of a strong generic ignorance of what Necromancers are capable of. Minionmancers can do a Spirit Ranger’s job just as well. Most people don’t realize that a Necromancer can literally fit any role in the game as well as another class, or better.

However, the common belief is that Necromancers are only good with Conditions. Granted after the Dhuumfire/Torment patch, it’s definitely the strongest aspect.

Well lets be a bit more factual.

Can MinionMaster res themselves instantly? Spirit Rangers can, which is one of the reasons they’re preferred for back point.

Can they provide protection and burning procs to their teammates? Spirit Rangers can, which is why they are preferred for team fights.

The only true similarity I see between them is they both have pets for body blocking and they both deal power and condition damage.

Minionmasters can last longer, and do significantly more damage than a Spirit Ranger, so they are both even in that sense.

They can provide Condition removal, constant combo fields, heavy CC, and boons for their teammates. So again, both even, just in different ways.

Fight High Warlord Sikari to see what a skilled Minionmaster can do.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Minionmasters can last longer, and do significantly more damage than a Spirit Ranger, so they are both even in that sense.

They can provide Condition removal, constant combo fields, heavy CC, and boons for their teammates. So again, both even, just in different ways.

Fight High Warlord Sikari to see what a skilled Minionmaster can do.

Ya I’m not sure about the last longer portion considering a good spirit ranger has evade frames and AoE blinds.

I’ve seen my teammate survive against 4 players at once in a tPvP for over 30 seconds. We were amazed (and jealous). Pretty sure a necromancer would have gotten trained pretty hard in that circumstance.

The issue isn’t really a 1v1, it’s can you outlast someone+ indefinitely?

For the record my style of engineer can beat spirit rangers. Frankly I find the spirit ranger fight to be favorable, but time consuming.

If you run grenades + bombs the only real secret is to land them on the ranger and the pet at the same time while rolling a lot and healing up as soon as the heal gets off recharge. With decent accuracy and defensive rolls they will melt first. Then once they go down be sure to cc the spirit’s heal with the shield if they are actually capable of getting the timing right (very hard most can’t do it).

Defektive.7283:

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Minionmasters can last longer, and do significantly more damage than a Spirit Ranger, so they are both even in that sense.

They can provide Condition removal, constant combo fields, heavy CC, and boons for their teammates. So again, both even, just in different ways.

Fight High Warlord Sikari to see what a skilled Minionmaster can do.

Ya I’m not sure about the last longer portion considering a good spirit ranger has evade frames and AoE blinds.

I’ve seen my teammate survive against 4 players at once in a tPvP for over 30 seconds. We were amazed (and jealous). Pretty sure a necromancer would have gotten trained pretty hard in that circumstance.

The issue isn’t really a 1v1, it’s can you outlast someone+ indefinitely?

It entirely depends on whom the Spirit Ranger/Minionmancer are fighting. I can easily defeat a Spirit Ranger in under 9 seconds with my Wellmancer if I decide to use Lich form.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Defektive.7283:

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Minionmasters can last longer, and do significantly more damage than a Spirit Ranger, so they are both even in that sense.

They can provide Condition removal, constant combo fields, heavy CC, and boons for their teammates. So again, both even, just in different ways.

Fight High Warlord Sikari to see what a skilled Minionmaster can do.

Ya I’m not sure about the last longer portion considering a good spirit ranger has evade frames and AoE blinds.

I’ve seen my teammate survive against 4 players at once in a tPvP for over 30 seconds. We were amazed (and jealous). Pretty sure a necromancer would have gotten trained pretty hard in that circumstance.

The issue isn’t really a 1v1, it’s can you outlast someone+ indefinitely?

It entirely depends on whom the Spirit Ranger/Minionmancer are fighting. I can easily defeat a Spirit Ranger in under 9 seconds with my Wellmancer if I decide to use Lich form.

When/If I see you in combat against our spirit ranger, i’ll be sure to bring a stop watch.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Defektive.7283:

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

Minionmasters can last longer, and do significantly more damage than a Spirit Ranger, so they are both even in that sense.

They can provide Condition removal, constant combo fields, heavy CC, and boons for their teammates. So again, both even, just in different ways.

Fight High Warlord Sikari to see what a skilled Minionmaster can do.

Ya I’m not sure about the last longer portion considering a good spirit ranger has evade frames and AoE blinds.

I’ve seen my teammate survive against 4 players at once in a tPvP for over 30 seconds. We were amazed (and jealous). Pretty sure a necromancer would have gotten trained pretty hard in that circumstance.

The issue isn’t really a 1v1, it’s can you outlast someone+ indefinitely?

It entirely depends on whom the Spirit Ranger/Minionmancer are fighting. I can easily defeat a Spirit Ranger in under 9 seconds with my Wellmancer if I decide to use Lich form.

It depends if you can land your burst. It’s much easier to burst a necro than it is a spirit ranger due to the trait with instant stun breaker and their evades. The skill cap for spirit rangers is also much lower but given someone who’s the best at both, I would bet more that the spirit ranger brings more to the table in terms of team fights and solo capabilities.

If he’s guarding a close point, he has no choice but to eat my burst, even if he does manage to avoid it, he’d have to waste most of his evades, or allow me to neutralize the point. In which case, my Lich still has enough power to finish him off. Also, his Spirits would immediately be dead from my Lich+Well burst.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

If he’s guarding a close point, he has no choice but to eat my burst, even if he does manage to avoid it, he’d have to waste most of his evades, or allow me to neutralize the point. In which case, my Lich still has enough power to finish him off. Also, his Spirits would immediately be dead from my Lich+Well burst.

Hypothetical’s are nice.

I’ll be in agreement when I see it. Team’s purposely exploit classes for their cheesiest mechanics. If this was a definite truth we’d see more Minion or Well mancers 1v1ing spirit rangers.

TheMightyAltroll.3485:

If he’s guarding a close point, he has no choice but to eat my burst, even if he does manage to avoid it, he’d have to waste most of his evades, or allow me to neutralize the point. In which case, my Lich still has enough power to finish him off. Also, his Spirits would immediately be dead from my Lich+Well burst.

Hm. I don’t know. There’s so many things that could happen. But I mean, if you think it’s better then that’s good. I hate these people thinking they are so good by picking up spirit rangers anyways.

I do it in practice quite often, though it is very unsafe for my Wellmancer to challenge a skilled Spirit Ranger without my Lich form ready.

if you run a variation of teldos build use your active defense. you have 2 knockbacks, 1 launch, 1 immobilize/cripple and 1 blind that pulses 4 times, all of this is aoe stuff. if you use them well you can avoid a lot of dmg and if you keep up your damaging conditions you might be able to kill the pets before eating too much damage. also try to learn important animations (if you didnt yet) like the wolfs knockdown and fear or the flesh golems charge and doge them.

Okay! Thanks for all the tips guys. I’ll just have to practice more and learn the animations. I see what you’re saying about the knockbacks though. I’ve managed to decap points just with my big ol bomb and flamethrower knockback alone, but then eventually lose the fight. I guess I should probably disengage after a decap if I know I can’t win.

AlmightyTroll- Engi school lol :P