Guild Wars 2

I use a pretty standard 30/10/0/20/10 Rabid build with Bomb Kit, Tool Kit and Rocket Boots to roam in wvw. Melee opponents I can handle with ease, or I can at least keep up with the skilled ones.

Ranged opponents, however, completely roflstomp me. Shortbow Rangers and Staff/GS mesmers for instance just stay comfortably at long range while they pelt me with arrows/illusions/what have you.

How should I deal with opponents that don’t want to engange in close-range combat? My only ranged option is the pistol, and it’s laughably weak without kit support.

The best option is deal with them the more close-range posible, trying to magnet, using boots like gap closer, and, when you are face to face start the cc combo to make pressure.

Hitting your confusion stacks really helps with ability spam classes. I don’t use bomb kit, but with pistol and the tool kit it’s all what u need.

Rifle
Tool Kit’s Magnet
Net Turret
Elixir X if it procs Rampage

ESKan.6782:

How should I deal with opponents that don’t want to engange in close-range combat? My only ranged option is the pistol, and it’s laughably weak without kit support.

Sorry but you are wrong. If you want more control and gap closing use a rifle. Condi build or not use kit for your damage and the weapon for control.

Also try keeping an eye on you elixir b that proc at 75% hp, the retaliation off that can bring some decent damage on a short bow ranger/gs mesmer, try to focus getting on them when the retaliation is down and then going more defensive when you can’t, also using rocket boots in smoke bomb will give you stealth and assist in setting yourself up to unleash on them

I got p/p, bombs, EG and S mine. And do i have problems with rangers for example – NO.

Why? – CC.

Listen to TheGuy. Rifle is all about control and having jump shot & net shot with such a low cooldown is invaluable. Pistol/Shield has some great utility, but if staying in range is your biggest problem, I suggest making the switch to rifle. That, plus your magnet and RB should give you the gap closing you need.

Thanks for the responses, all. Will try to step up my game!

A good mesmer that uses a staff and blink and portal, you will rarely be able to stay “in their face” it’s kind of what they specialize in, is in combat positioning. If they are using the staff they are most likely running a shatter build and will probably also be using sw/x. Shatter builds achilles heel is condis, so the faster you can get the condis on the better off you will be. If you get close you leave yourself susceptible to their blurred frenzy/mw combo so just be aware when they are close you will get a big burst to the face and plan accordingly. Mesmer has some of the best mobility in the game during fights, so don’t feel bad about struggling to keep them close to you. I agree with the others about switching to a rifle against mesmer, but a lot of it will come down to how good they are…if they are good players even that won’t be enough to keep them close to you, they can still blink or phase retreat while immobilized, it does not cure the immobilize but if they time it right they can buy themselves enough time for the immobile to wear off.

I’ve mostly played a 30/10/0/20/10 engy in all my times as an 80 as well. Only I played condition grenade engy w/nades, toolkit, and rocket boots. I’ve since swapped out my rocket boots for bomb kit. I really miss the rocket boots, but love the diversity of having all 3 kits. It gives me the ability to fight in melee and at long range as well as self buff via blast combos. If someone pushes out of melee range, I can swap to grenades while my toolkit pull is on cooldown. You may want to give 3 kitting a try. You will miss rocket boots alot though.

You have two choices. Either move toward them or convince them to move toward you.
Use skills like rocket boots, magnet but don’t forget about terrain. Hide behind buildings and try to force them to come to you.
Once you are closer, then you can use skills like oil slick, box of nails, chill grenade, glue bomb, etc.
Keeping them close is easier than getting them close.

Or, just go grenadier and out-range them.

Happy hunting.

Quick edit: You can strafe the arrows by moving side to side.

Just switch bombs for grenades.