Guild Wars 2

Editing this to speak on pets for a second: There are people out there that are great with pets and focus on them, its awesome. With that said, I simply dont see it that way. The main talk around the boards is that half of a rangers DPS is from our pet but dont look at it that way or else itll drive you crazy. Think of your pet as a bonus, as a damage ticker the ability to have a seperate utility (prot, regen, whatever). Pets are annoying for the most part when it comes to WVW and such, but there are people who use them to great effect, I am not one of them. I have had my lynx win a fight for me that I should have lost many times, so they arent worthless. Theyre great, but if I had one complaint pet management would be it. They are powerful, just annoying

We’re a class in a movement-dependent game that relies on dodging that has no movement.
Spirits don’t move unless traited, pets don’t dodge and ‘return to me’ is bloody AWFUL because they’ll just stop in front of you and you actually have to stop dpsing to run backwards to get them farther away. Pets can’t even dodge, and one of our highest DPS weapons literally makes it impossible to dodge or move while attacking.
The fact that we can still do well is just a testament of how strong rangers could be if properly designed.

Celebratty.1632:

We’re a class in a movement-dependent game that relies on dodging that has no movement.
Spirits don’t move unless traited, pets don’t dodge and ‘return to me’ is bloody AWFUL because they’ll just stop in front of you and you actually have to stop dpsing to run backwards to get them farther away. Pets can’t even dodge, and one of our highest DPS weapons literally makes it impossible to dodge or move while attacking.
The fact that we can still do well is just a testament of how strong rangers could be if properly designed.

I agree with what hes saying except for the sword part. I would MUCH prefer the sword to work how other weapons do, but it has a powerful homing auto attack and 2 evades. combined with an offhand dagger thats even more. also has a leap finisher in it. It does work how its supposed to, its just annoying. As for the pet part though I completely agree

I think the class is pretty well off. There are a few rough edges which need to be addressed. e.g. some quirks with pet AI (especially how they just stand in red circles), better condition removal options, better might stacking capability outside of the elite, widened spirit range (something about them has to be better than banners if you’re going to allow them to be killed), lower cooldowns on signets and shouts which are more in-line with the other classes for similar abilities, and better trait synergy with the traitlines (e.g. going trapper requires 30 Skirmishing, meaning your traps can never benefit from 30 points in condition damage and condition duration).

But overall I don’t think rangers are that bad off. I think a lot of the negativity you see here (and in all the profession forums) is because people keep insisting on comparing themselves to the best. Have you ever wondered why the other line at the supermarket always seems to go faster than yours? It’s because it usually does. If there are 8 lines at the supermarket, 7 out of 8 times another line will be faster than yours.

Likewise, if you keep comparing rangers to the best profession at any single task, 7 out of 8 times rangers will be not be as good at something. That doesn’t mean rangers are bad, mathematically that’s just the way it’s supposed to be. If you insist on gauging “class equality” that way, rangers would end up having the burst of a warrior, the survivability of a guardian, the escape capability of thieves, and the flexibility of an ele. At that point clearly rangers would be OP.

The way it works is that if on average:
- 0-2 other professions are better at any individual task, then your profession is OP.
- 3-4 other professions are better, then your profession is pretty well balanced.
- 5-7 other professions are better, then your profession is too weak.

Being able to point to 1-2 other professions who can do something better is not a sign of weakness in your profession. In fact if you can point to only 1-2 other professions who can do something better, that’s a sign your profession is above average at that particular task.

mtl.5921:

Hi, Im a new player and been trying out different classes.

I also enjoy reading the forums, and after going through a couple places now, I can’t get over how many times people mention the Ranger class as the most “worthless” class or at least the most in need of repair.

I was honestly considering leveling one up to 80, but you’ve scared me off . . . O.o

Just HOW bad is it right now for Rangers?!?!

Doesn’t seem like it to me. I am leveling my first character as a Ranger, am currently level 51 and went into WvW my first time ever and 1v2ed a couple people and downed them both. Not that anecdotal occurrences are evidence of the strength of the class, but as someone who has literally never played in a WvW before playing on a character without all of the traits available at 80, to 1v2 and win tells me much of the crying in class forums is overblown. Which, really if you go into any class forum you will see endless posts of crying.

So, play what you like to play. The more you enjoy doing something the more you will want to do it and thus get better.

Really Impressed with all of the replies.

I am currently rotating through all 8 professions to get a feel for all of them.

I really only want to choose my main once I have all 8 professions at max.

I had previously leveled up to 15: necro, ele, warrior, mesmer, and had always imagined a ranger or thief as the fifth prof I would play, but it seems like a pretty nightmarish experience. Your replies have given me some relief, however, because I plan to only really do open world pve on my ranger till level 80. FYI, my favourite so far is mesmer, but that’s because I love harlequin and the use of illusions. It’s similar to why I like my necro: I like dark stuff.

At any rate, yesterday I bit the bullet and made a ranger, and, it’s not bad at all really.

The first and best thing anyone can do for themselves is get a gaming mouse and keybind everything. With good keybinds, pet management isn’t too bad.

It’s true, however, that the bear feels more like my partner than my tank, like a bonus to the rest of the rotation, and yes, it does love to aggro things.

Ranger doesn’t feel weak though. Using double axes right now and I thought AOE abilities were really good. I think reaching level 80 on my ranger might actually be easier than with other classes. Elementalist has so far actually been the most painful to level. Very Squishy, and I feel a little overwhelmed with the range of possibilities. Also, once again, keybinds for the win!!!!!

I started with double axes as well (along with short bow) and I like axe/horn a lot better than double axe for the buffs and good single target damage. Offhand axe just relied too much on having enemies be close which is what I try to avoid.

For pets I like the Krytan Drakehound as my primary pet (stun as part of rotation as well as player controlled immobilization) with the Brown Bear as more of a tank as my secondary one and if I need an additional condition cleanse above my signet (or used the active on the signet).

I really liked applying the conditions on double axe 5.

Along with the other potential conditions, stuff just melted, and I find I die much more from packs than anything 1vs.1. Consequently, I haven’t minded the range thing cause in my head it’s more like “you dare come near me, you die!”

Obviously, however, you have more experience than me, so I will definitely try out the axe/horn combo, and obtain a krytan drakehound when I can.

Those who say rangers are bad are probably just bad period. How can you be bad on a class that all it does is shoot arrows. I for one like my ranger and is my first main, for those who say rangers are bad in dungeons, those are probably the type of rangers that don’t know how to manage their pet and doesn’t know how to switch to another weapon than bows. I find melee weapons to be best in dungeons so try that out. I’ve tried out all of the class, and I really believe we’re not as bad as people think. Just know how to play your class properly and always keep in mind your pet is another part of you. Never let them die.

“How can you be bad on a class that all it does is shoot arrows. "

That’s exactly how you are bad. As previous people have said, ranged dps is less than melee dps for all classes. If you want to contribute to the group with utilities you need to be closer than 900m to the melee.

Rangers are generally bad in dungeons. However a good ranger will still be better than a bad player in any other class. Any decent group will appreciate that.

If you like taking the path of least resistance, yes, rangers are in THAT BAD a place. If you want an uphill battle to reach the same or lesser value of another profession, then enjoy the class for all that it isn’t.

I’m starting to suspect there is a hardcore-casual difference here, am I right?

Hardcore players can play rangers, casual players can’t?

Like, I would imagine a casual player not having a gaming mouse and changing keybinds, in which case, I can see how pet management would be difficult.

I’m also finding the debate about weapons interesting. Yes, I did hope to use a bow when playing my ranger, but I always go into situations with the idea “what would be the best weapon here?” Like, I don’t care if a melee weapon is best, if it’s best, then that’s what I am using. But I suspect that’s me speaking as a hardcore player, whereas more casual players prefer to just role play as robin hood?

I think the main downfall to GW2 Rangers is preconceived Notions. Coming from Wow,Lotro,Rift,EQ2 ect to guild wars is a huge culture shock. In this game the Ranger is not a " Ranged class" . Sadly the creators took it to an extreme due to the fact that the melee weapons are far superior to the bows . If the bows were more viable then the class would have the feeling they are looking for (aside from the pet dying too fast in pve)

Having said that, if you are just looking to have a good time and not in a hurry to top any charts , run your bows in pve and enjoy yourself. Now in wvw a ranger running a bow is a waste and you will die a terrible death lol ( IMHO of course)

before you make judgement that you wouldnt like a melee ranger take a look at my Re-port331 series of builds, also Faux Sheaux’s RRR builds and Xorus’s Builds. I would say that the 3 of us have the Premier Builds out for rangers at the moment.

Jaxx of GRIM
-Darkhaven-

Ryuujin.8236:

The key thing to take to heart here is that rangers are not “ranged-ers”. They’re more akin to tolkien’s rangers, like Aragorn – protectors of the land, at home in the wilds. They fight with dexterity and skill, and their pet is a second pair of hands – a tank, a source of DPS, whatever you need.

Every class in GW2 has both melee and ranged weapons options., and universally melee always does more damage than ranged (due to the risk Vs reward)…

Melee does NOT universally deal more damage than ranged. You can look at the dps of our Greatsword to see that.

mtl.5921:

I’m starting to suspect there is a hardcore-casual difference here, am I right?

That’s pretty much what it boils down to. Rangers and warriors are probably the two classes that attract the most casual players. Players that probably won’t be able to, or don’t care about trying to find a build that works.

Same goes for the weapons. Many people have found builds that work with bows.

Don’t believe anyone who says ranger = bad, broken, low dps, whatever…

Figure it out for yourself and you’ll be happy.

SO . . .

After the recent changes to longbow . . .

I will have to come to the conclusion that NO, Ranger are NOT in that bad a spot.

OMG, How much do I love longbow now . . .

TY ANET!!!

In a ‘hardcore’ setting, there are many flavors of Ranger that are absurdly powerful. Apothecary or cleric beast master comes to mind. In my experience, the fatal flaw is that of every profession the pure offensive characters are taken as an indication of the profession abilities. That’s where, say, a Ranger or Mesmer really shine, as pure offense they are undoubtedly the best professions in the (PvE) game. Thieves made a name for themselves ganking in WvW, but nobody really likes them in PvE because Warriors can faceroll and not die. Rangers are similar to thieves, they would die easily if used purely offensively — but a balanced or defensive Ranger is a blessing to play and play with.

@ mtl
Just want to chime in here again-
I don’t believe in the whole casual/ hardcore thing when it comes to Rangers- I think it boils down to if you have a feel for it or not like any other class.

I am a casual player:
I do have a gaming mouse (g600 Logitech) and I use key binds, I don’t see how you can play an Ele otherwise tbh.

My main is a Mesmer since launch and Mesmer is not an easy class to play.
I also have an 80 Engi and Ranger.

I love all of them because they allow me to play in a way that I enjoy and all in different way- they are unique.
I have never cared if I play the flavor of the month or the most uber build

I have built all my characters like I wanted them to be and I don’t even know if anyone else uses my builds at all or if they are a dime a dozen.

I guess what I am trying to say is don’t label yourself too much and just have fun playing- you’ll be happier in the long run