Guild Wars 2

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMUQNAV3fjEVR2xV2VoWCgNj9CsVgS2DDd8RvgTWVqUB;T8AAzypESJlSNlSKqmMNJay2krJZTrKGBsFA

So this is the build that I am looking to build. It is based largely on this build:
http://www.gw2db.com/skill-builds/1308-dahunts-controlling-trapper

I have been going back and forth about Condition based builds and Power/Crit % based builds, but I finally decided that in the express interest of running primarily solo and having to deal with groups of mobs, that this would be pretty viable. Kiting should be pretty effective because I can drop traps as I go that apply condition damage while I wait for aggro to build for my pet or I can immobilize while waiting for pet to rez.

It’s based largely on using the SB as my main weapon. I very much prefer to stay out of the fray and apply bleeds as I can. It may be a bit more difficult on bosses, but that is where the kiting and traps come in. I figure with a high DPS pet like the Lynx and a tanking pet like the Black Bear, I should be covered on both spectrum. I might switch in a devourer now and again if need be.

The axe/torch will be used when I want to apply some good condition damage. I figure I will probably switch out to this once my bleed stacks hit max (or get very high) so I can lay on the extra damage.

I know that this will fall apart pretty quickly in dungeons and with lots of other players, but I really do enjoy doing things on my own, so it would really benefit my desired play style.

As far as runes/sigils go, I figured I would go sup. rune of undead for toughness and condition damage and then go sigil of agony on my SB for longer bleeds, sigil of earth on my axe for extra bleeds lost from not being on my bow, and sigil of smoldering for longer burns on my torch.

I plan on going Rabid for all of my armor to give me Prec., Cond. Damage and toughness (6th tier of superior rune of the undead also converts 5% of toughness to cond. damage). Also, I will have rabid jewels.

Hopefully my general theme comes across here. Basically I am looking for high condition damage (largely from bleeds and traps) and good control over the battlefield while I run mostly PvE solo. My stats will be focused primarily on raising my condition damage, precision and toughness so I have high survivability, but also a decent amount of DoT and crits.

I haven’t tested this build out, but I would be interested in anyone’s opinions/critiques. Hopefully I am not making too many glaring errors, but I would like some feedback.

Thanks for reading!

I’m a condition trapper and I loved it! It’s fun with traps and you feel useful in groups. But imo, condition damage is much weaker than raw power!

There are many limits with being a condition build ranger. The skills that deals condition are our traps and here lies the first problem: stupidity of our illogical dumb trait tree. If you want to be a trapper you must invest 30 points in skirmishing but you never use those precisions in a condition build!!! Condition damage is weak because it doesn’t benefit from precision / critical damage like raw power. Also in groups I often see the 25 stack of both bleed and vuln most of the time. Plus burn and poison is also on all the time.
Remember to have at least around 1200 in condition damage to have an effective damage.
This kind of build limits to have at least 30 p in WS and 30 p in Skirm (if trapper).

It’s a fun build to play and have fun with. You feel active all the time with the flanking and traps, but I think power/prec/crit perhaps with some BM is much better.
Unless Anet make condition improvements. I think they have mentioned something about improving condition dmg but they said the coding is a problem, or something like that :-)

Now, i’m going for a precision/crit build, maybe with BM. I’m waiting for the upcoming patch to see improvements for the ranger??!?!

Wow, thanks. That is very helpful information! I knew coming in that it wouldn’t be as powerful as a power/prec./crit. % build would be, but when going solo, I feel as though I will really benefit from the extra survivability given by the toughness (from the runes of undead and the rabid armor) and doing damage while running away from a strong opponent (like vets and champs) should help keep me from dying so often as I would as a glass cannon. At least, that is the thought process. I will probably try this out as I go through exploring and see if it really works out the way I would like it to.

Thanks for your input! I too am excited to see what improvements are coming for both rangers and condition damage!