Guild Wars 2

Your inbox is full mate, tell the other ranger players to stop asking you questions via pm :P.

How is the ranger community feeling about the new Spirit Ranger Meta?

running Spirits at all the Temple & Champ events….

I don’t let them follow me though (I’m always in melee).

ilr.9675:

running Spirits at all the Temple & Champ events….

I don’t let them follow me though (I’m always in melee).

How often do you not receive the buff for yourself when more than 5 players are around?

never.

Cuz im toying around with my new Beast cannon build

I’m using some monstrosity hybrid of a build that uses Magi gear in PvE, in PvP I’ve been constructing a “Teemo Build” to really get the kitten flowing!

What’s up guys?

Thanks for bringing up ranger meta, Bas. Everyone I’ve talked to live is extremely pleased with the profession. Not to mention the prompt fix to Remoresless for burst builds, right now, ranger is considered

• a top tier dungeon profession

• a strong spvp profession (currently played by Symbolic for Curse Gaming)

• A well known and resourceful WvW bunker in toughness/healing beastmaster builds and now, more recently, spirit and shout varieties—as well as magi, which Durzlla has been theorycrafting

We’ve come a long way since launch—and despite the vocal minority on these forums, most people are happy with where the ranger is today. And we’re looking forward to where ANET plans to take GW2 throughout 2013 and into 2014.

If you’re a new player and seeing this for the first time, check out Jubskie’s sticky.

Anyways, I’m about to start the next tier on the gauntlet. Until next time, happy hunting.

Durzlla.6295:

I’m using some monstrosity hybrid of a build that uses Magi gear in PvE, in PvP I’ve been constructing a “Teemo Build” to really get the kitten flowing!

Just remember to never underestimate the power of the scouts code and you’ll do fine

Setun.4368:

Durzlla.6295:

I’m using some monstrosity hybrid of a build that uses Magi gear in PvE, in PvP I’ve been constructing a “Teemo Build” to really get the kitten flowing!

Just remember to never underestimate the power of the scouts code and you’ll do fine

And that size doesn’t mean everything!

Well, ain’t this just a jolly little thread.

Bas.7406:

How is the ranger community feeling about the new Spirit Ranger Meta?

Don’t much care for it. Tried it. Wasn’t impressed: went back to using my power build. I do use the frost spirit though. Still holding out hope that in late 2013 or 2014 Anet will finally give us the choice to choose to be a Beastmaster or give up the pet and give us something like Preparations.

It’s a very strong build. Being able to proc team wide protection, and team wide burning onto essentially a single target is a very strong tool to take to a team fight.

Something that definitely needs to be given some consideration is why its so strong meta wise (condi cleave meta). With so much AoE being able to be put down onto areas (especially cap points), in an organized team, being able to throw up 3-4 more targets on a point, plus your pet AND you (5 targets without the elite) is incredibly helpful to the team in order to stack and soak up AoE damage for the team (due to the AoE 5 target limit).

It’s actually turned the ranger into a teamfight and midpoint profession; something that people originally thought the ranger had little to no use at doing (it really doesn’t outside of the spirit build).

I do want to address the idea a lot of the competitive community seems to think: the build is OP. Well… it isn’t. It’s only strong given the meta. If there wasn’t so much cleave damage, in and out professions (like thieves, mesmers) would be able to get in safer, take out the spirits the instant they are summoned (already the best strategy, but not that safe with all of the cleave), and render the build useless. However, because of all of the cleave, classes that are capable of doing that are forced to run builds more survival centric in order to make the meta more playable for their profession, leaving most classes without the ability to deal with the spirit build.

Just my two cents on it. Arenas wise, it is the most viable build given the meta, capable of covering more ground than what most of our other tools can accomplish, which really is only indicative that other utilities and build options need to be worked on a bit (power builds still aren’t viable in top end competitive play).

jcbroe.4329:

Just my two cents on it. Arenas wise, it is the most viable build given the meta, capable of covering more ground than what most of our other tools can accomplish, which really is only indicative that other utilities and build options need to be worked on a bit (power builds still aren’t viable in top end competitive play).

I like your view on it; very balanced and cautious attitude about things without pretending like every new build is the next best thing (only to get nerfed each patch after its discovery). Power builds really do still need some love.

Miflett.3472:

jcbroe.4329:

Just my two cents on it. Arenas wise, it is the most viable build given the meta, capable of covering more ground than what most of our other tools can accomplish, which really is only indicative that other utilities and build options need to be worked on a bit (power builds still aren’t viable in top end competitive play).

I like your view on it; very balanced and cautious attitude about things without pretending like every new build is the next best thing (only to get nerfed each patch after its discovery). Power builds really do still need some love.

Yeah, I think the Spirit Build is going to get nerfed after the Pax tournament (so sometime in September), though I don’t think they are going to nerf the effects of Spirits directly.

If anything, it’s going to be a damage nerf to storm spirits active, a nerf to spirits being able to proc the passive effects of each other with their actives, and/or a reduction to the 60s lifespan spirits have so they can’t be kept up indefinitely.

Any of those changes would be completely called for in PvP, but they would need to definitely be split of ANet even remotely wants spirits to stay viable for PvE/WvW.

Although I am liking that there is a large portion of the (vocal) PvP community basically saying to make rangers spirits like banners; untargetable so they can’t soak up damage meant for the ranger. I mean, hey, if that’s what the community pushes for as a nerf to the build, I think rangers will just sit back and let that one happen lol.

Mornin fellas.
Now that you have made this public: care to share the spirit meta for sPvP and maybe for wvw?

Depends, there are 2 generic builds being run right now, and the split in popularity really does seem to be a NA/EU split.

In NA, most of the rangers were/are running this, give or take variations: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMAQRAnY8fjEVN1lVeVg2BiVBB1ekJzjJ3jSRqTVwmK-TwAg2CrIaS1krJTTymsNN8Y5xWg5CA

In EU, this is the more popular setup currently: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMAQNAV8YjEVN1lVeVg2BiVBB1ekJzjJ3jSRqTVwmK-TsAgyCpIATBmDMDYSwsgN8Y5xeBA

There’s pros and cons to each, and there are places that each perform better or worse in. The Shamans version is more support oriented and less self sustain oriented, it allows players to play up close and personal, putting out lots of pressure, while having decent healing that can benefit the whole team. Because of the healing, it has more support options going into teamfights.

Carrion however, allows users to build high vitality to counter the condition meta. With forge runes, you get 3s of protection on dodge roll, plus another 15s of protection when player health hits 50%, With a fairly decent armor rating, a huge health pool, and strong condition damage with a decent power boost, the build is made more for sitting back and poking with the shortbow, while using the sword/dagger set as an evade heavy set with a decent powered auto attack due to the power boost. This build has lots of personal defense and is capable of beating any other spec 1v1 (skill level argument is there somewhere), and is best suited for roaming, and helping teamfights when needed.

Both builds have their strengths and weaknesses, it really comes down to preference. Though my opinion is that running Shamans is only going to be as effective as a team is organized, because running it imo doesn’t benefit the ranger player nearly as much as the other option.

Interesting that my spirit build looks almost identical to the so-called EU meta. America! Lol

Although, I have been loving me some vitality builds lately. Didn’t you guys know variety is fun? :p

Chopps, I have been trying to pm you clear out your inbox noob :P. I will catch you in game. I am pretty excited that spirit pets are playing so well. I have even seen some really clutch Spirit Rezes. I love precasting the rez just before I go down.

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

Chopps.5047:

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

I think it’s bugged. However I got the achievement today by deleting one of my mail, as another one filled up it’s slot the game gave me the point… Not sure why you need to delete it like that but it worked for me.

Benjamin.8237:

Chopps.5047:

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

I think it’s bugged. However I got the achievement today by deleting one of my mail, as another one filled up it’s slot the game gave me the point… Not sure why you need to delete it like that but it worked for me.

i believe you need to be logged in when you receive the final mail.

Chopps.5047:

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

I meant your forum inbox, but I will catch you in game today or tomorrow. I just remember chopps teaching me about positioning the spirit pets in dungeons, and thinking whoa there are levels to spirit pets I didn’t know about.

Here is a question is it worth it to take the talent that allows the Spirit pets to move with you outside of open world pve?

Bas.7406:

Chopps.5047:

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

I meant your forum inbox, but I will catch you in game today or tomorrow. I just remember chopps teaching me about positioning the spirit pets in dungeons, and thinking whoa there are levels to spirit pets I didn’t know about.

Here is a question is it worth it to take the talent that allows the Spirit pets to move with you outside of open world pve?

It varies heavily on what you want to do with your spirits, if you do what i do and “tank” bosses then yes, because having 4-5 things running around in a clump like that will kitten off ANY boss and cause all the AoE to be thrown towards you instead of your group.

If you’re trying to go in and out of melee range to use the actives that’s also a good idea, if you just want to use the passives though, no, don’t take it.

Bas.7406:

Chopps.5047:

Lol I need the inbox full hint achievement though T_T y r u bugged anet???

Seriously, I’ll clear it out today. If anyone knows how to get that achievement just send me in game PM. Lol!

I meant your forum inbox, but I will catch you in game today or tomorrow. I just remember chopps teaching me about positioning the spirit pets in dungeons, and thinking whoa there are levels to spirit pets I didn’t know about.

Here is a question is it worth it to take the talent that allows the Spirit pets to move with you outside of open world pve?

In PvP the moving talent is just part of the build hands down, getting in for rez range and active range, and allowing you to be a mobile buff for your team.

In WvW, it’s much more situational. I wouldn’t recommend it for zerging or for solo roaming, but I would recommend it for small roaming groups. Solo, you want more selfish utilities, and with evade heavy weapon sets the only useful spirit becomes sun spirit, which isn’t worth going 30 deep for. However, apply sun spirit and stone spirit to a small group and the usefulness increases much more, being able to apply a group wide damage increase and reduction (also frost spirit).

Solo, the spirits, when moving, die much more from cleave in WvW than PvP in my experience (I’m assuming its to do with damage scaling and the effectiveness of meta builds for pvp vs wvw).

Thanks for the builds!
Nice that spirit rangers finally seem to have found their niche in sPvP.
Yet for wvw it’s the old problem of the spirits dying in AoE? You suggested not to take the trait that allows spirits to move for that reason.
But can you use them effectively when you have to summon them for every fight and then can’t move out of their perimeter? I’ve a hard time imagining how this is supposed to work?

Btw: precasting the spirit ress is awesome I only really use the spirit for under water point holding in Capricorn. As a bm bunker you are already a pain to take down underwater. And having an instant ress is just hilarious

Gorath.5076:

Btw: precasting the spirit ress is awesome I only really use the spirit for under water point holding in Capricorn. As a bm bunker you are already a pain to take down underwater. And having an instant ress is just hilarious

There is no need to use the spirit pet rez in Capricorn. Your actual downed state 3 is so powerful and is pretty close to instant anyways.

Gorath.5076:

Thanks for the builds!
Nice that spirit rangers finally seem to have found their niche in sPvP.
Yet for wvw it’s the old problem of the spirits dying in AoE? You suggested not to take the trait that allows spirits to move for that reason.
But can you use them effectively when you have to summon them for every fight and then can’t move out of their perimeter? I’ve a hard time imagining how this is supposed to work?

Btw: precasting the spirit ress is awesome I only really use the spirit for under water point holding in Capricorn. As a bm bunker you are already a pain to take down underwater. And having an instant ress is just hilarious

Well for solo roaming, I just don’t recommend a spirit build at all. Having said that, it isn’t inefficient, it’s just that the spirits tend to die more than they can be useful, and with the effects of each spirit, you may as well go into either BM or Traps, and you’ll get a very similar survival ability and damage output, where as the spirits damage output can be inconsistent depending on whether they get cleaved (I’ve even seen them get instant cleaved by camp NPCs) or not.

That being said, if one chooses to go solo roaming with them, they should probably take the movement talent.

But since you asked, instances where you don’t necessarily need them moving: zerg vs zerg. The spirits only affect 5 team mates at a time, and if you have a 40 vs 40 going, they are going to insta-die anyways. However, if there is any semblance of organization, the spirit can be planted and people can stack and move in and out, receiving the buff, proccing it on the enemy zerg, etc. That or it can just be placed for backline people that aren’t going to go zerg diving. Defending an area is very similar, if you are up on the walls with moving spirits, the walls can be targeted by a lot of professions, and there’s a fair chance that they well get cleaved down on walls by AoE. However, you can opt to place them just out of range of any cleave damage and still receive the benefits.

For those reasons, I do think the spirit build is more optimally run in small groups, where it can buff the whole group and there are enough bodies to be able to keep enemies focused away from your spirits, or at least have other people to draw fire or aggro away from your spirits.

That’s all just my experiences and opinions though, other people can feel free to chip in!

Bas.7406:

Gorath.5076:

Btw: precasting the spirit ress is awesome I only really use the spirit for under water point holding in Capricorn. As a bm bunker you are already a pain to take down underwater. And having an instant ress is just hilarious

There is no need to use the spirit pet rez in Capricorn. Your actual downed state 3 is so powerful and is pretty close to instant anyways.

unless you fight anyone with a stun or daze.

Is this a joke thread? Ranger is a “top tier” dungeon profession? ROFL. This has to be sarcasm right?

Zindrix.1750:

Is this a joke thread? Ranger is a “top tier” dungeon profession? ROFL. This has to be sarcasm right?

I think it depends on your version of tier. If you are just calling for super speed runs than it’s always guardian/warrior/mesmer and then everyone else.

However in terms of ability to clear all dungeons and provide either high damage or high group support the Ranger is top tier.

Bas.7406:

Zindrix.1750:

Is this a joke thread? Ranger is a “top tier” dungeon profession? ROFL. This has to be sarcasm right?

I think it depends on your version of tier. If you are just calling for super speed runs than it’s always guardian/warrior/mesmer and then everyone else.

However in terms of ability to clear all dungeons and provide either high damage or high group support the Ranger is top tier.

Actually it’s the reverse of that. The build used doesn’t really work in pugs because it relies on heavy DPS to ensure mobs die before the spirits, pet and sword ranger reach their limitations. In highly organised groups with full glass set ups mobs will die before they are a problem. In your average pug with masterwork geared players, healing shout warriors and PTV staff eles, fights will go on a lot longer, spirits will die to AoE and the sword will give you a lot of trouble with dodges. I still haven’t seen the “top tier ranger build” used in a situation where the video showed the ranger doing anything other than auto-attack for 10-25 seconds against a boss that dies quickly. The same boss will take a pug 2+ minutes to take down.

The only real support the ranger is bringing with that build is Fury (it’s probably replacing a warrior, so not a big deal), Spotter and Frost Spirit.