Guild Wars 2

As a high level FOTM Engineer, I find myself using Ranged attacks on bosses very often. Unfortunately, I can’t decide which utility setup maximizes Ranged damage. Any other experts here think they can help me out?

My current setup:

Utility #1: Grenade Kit.
’Nades are a given, in almost any ranged situation. Enough said.

Utility #2: Rifle Turret.
Static Discharge + Surprise Shot. Great damage.

Utility #3: Flamethrower.
I use it for the #2 skill and fire field, then swap back to nades.

Arguably, it seems like it is the third slot (Flamethrower) that seems like it could be changed. But to what?

Since you have static discharge, the 2nd fastest toolkit cooldown is the personal battering ram. You can fire off your surprise shot and not long after the personal battering ram. You’ll get some nice burst damage.

The question, is how much damage does Static Discharge+Battering Ram deal, versus Flamethrower #2?

Both utility skills have an optional knockback, and both also pierce. Nepalm recharge is also 6 (can be traited to be even lower), while battering ram is higher.

tool kit for block and throw wrench.

Flame blast is powerful, but there’s some trade-offs. Switching to FT requires some small time as well as the cast time for some of the skills. Sticking with gadgets will allow for a more fluid combat experience. FB also requires you close the gap with the enemy, whereas a full ranged rifle SD can maintain distance with the rams + rifle. Seeing as you’re using grenades, you’ll want to keep that kit selected and spam your tool belt skills while throwing your grenades.

From my experience, FT goes well with EG and pistols. You can setup attack combos with them for maximum damage. For SD builds though, it’s all about spamming those tool belt skills. I remember getting some crazy numbers with that setup.

Inb4 “kits do not have an activation timer →no small time required to switch”.
From a more practical point of view i suggest u overthink the idea of just going full ranged, since the benefit you get is minimal if existing at all. Instead of pbr you could just use your nades. U’ll open up space for elixir R or bomb kit which excels any dps skill in melee range. U could even use thumper turret for blasting firefields for additional 9 stafks of might for the whole group. Thats also probably more dps than pbr/ft2.

modified ammo ?

For straight damage I think FT’s Flame Blast wins.

However, ToolKit’s Throw Wrench hits twice (out & back) plus static discharge. Not as much damage, but 2 stacks of vuln and the utility of Gear Shield and Prybar if close.

PBR + Static Discharge doesn’t deal nearly the damage as FT #2 either. Surprise Shot deals more damage than PBR toolbelt.

Rocket Turret might be a decent choice, but the cooldowns are longer. Between overcharging the turret + its toolbelt, you’ll get some nice burst. Better sustained though if you’re swapping to FT on CD.

Throw Wrench might have a slightly longer cooldown than LPBR, but the tool kit overall is much much better for high level fractals. The block can be life saving and Pry Bar hits like a truck (easily replaces Flame Blast).