Guild Wars 2

Hello my fellow rangers,

I just wanted to share my opinion about the shortbow and (mh) axe used in a condition build.

This thread is about PvP/WvW.

I think both weapons have a big problem:

Shortbow: the only decent bleed is the auto-attack, that means spamming 1 and kiting your enemy while trying to get to his side or behind him. (Spinning warriors and thiefs laugh at this).

Axe: The only bleed is the 2nd ability, if you don’t hit, it’s on cd and you have to wait until it’s ready to be able to pop damaging conditions again. You try to get as close as possible to your target to apply the bleeds but it’s way too easy to dodge there, the enemy doesn’t even have to dodgeroll because you can’t hit a moving target properly at point blank range. I don’t know if the animation is too long or the skill should be reworked in a way where the enemy actually needs to dodgeroll to get out of the AoE.

But I think, despite this, the biggest issue with both weapons is that we only can apply bleeds from autoattack OR from skills. If you take a look at most of the other weapons, they have both. Apllying them from autoattacks and from actual skills, what means if your spells are dodged you still have your autoattack for the time it’s on cd.

-Axe needs a decent autoattack, kinda like the mesmers staff. http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Winds_of_Chaos

-Shortbow needs a condition burst.

What do you think?

Use ’em Sigils, they serve to enhance/complement the Strength/shortcomings.

I use shortbow and axe/torch in my condi build. However, my condi build is actually a hybrid build that invests in both power and condition damage, so a ranger that is pure condi damage might not have as good results.

Aside from the direct burning applied by throwing the torch, the torch can make a nice pairing with the axe in a condi build. Being able to plop down a fire field allows you to get projectile finishers from the axe attacks. In case of the auto-attack, any projectile finisher that procs will apply burning to all targets it hits (IIRC), meaning you can dish out burning to a clump of enemies at range. Splitblade has seperate proc chances for each individual axe, but the fact that they pierce also allows for multiple applications of burning when thrown at a group. Winter’s Bite unfortunately can’t projectile finish though.

The torch also helps out with the shortbow. Dropping the fire field and swapping to shortbow can allow for numerous burning projectiles. The auto-attack fires very quickly and thus has many opportunities to proc, and both the #3 and #4 abilities are guaranteed projectile finishers, allowing you to reliably get burning on your target (provided the shots hit).

I usually use quickening zephyr with this so I can put as many shots through the fire field as I can.

And while the shortbow primarily focuses on bleeds, they can be very substantial bleeds that can be easily replenished if cleansed, so I wouldn’t be so quick to write them off. It’s quite possible to get over 20 stacks of bleed on a target within 10 seconds with the right trait and utility choices. Then you can always have burning and poison on top of that very easily in addition to things like cripple, chill, and weakness. That’s not unlike some other “condi bombs” that exist in the game.