I’ve been playing an evasion tank build that has been updated (see this thread for the original dodging ranger WvW build) to reflect recent changes to traits and weapons. This build is probably not as strong for dueling as are condition-regeneration ranger builds, but I find it more flexible for grouping in WvW and much more fun! It also is quite effective for solo-roaming. I thought I would post it because there seems to be the view that the LB is a poor weapon and that direct damage builds are not viable.
I am currently running this variant of the Evasion Tank build.
How does it work?
This build works by relying on evasion, mitigation and steady healing to providing staying power to keep up sustained damage on your enemy. You kill by outlasting your opponent. You can’t burst them, so the idea is to keep moving and evade their bursts while you wear them down.
The corner stone of this build is Nature’s Voice, which allows you to keep (nearly) perma regen and perma swiftness up on yourself and nearby allies using Guard. On demand regeneration actually allows effective healing even with 0 healing power and provides needed survivability for your pets.
Weapons
The build relies on Sword/Dagger and Longbow. Be sure to turn off Sword autoattack. You can swap to warhorn when in large groups, but Dagger is superior when roaming because it adds a high damage ranged attack with cripple, and a long lasting poison attack that includes an evade. There is tremendous synergy between the S/D and Longbow—you can move into and out of melee range, evade, interrupt and stealth.
Pets
I run dual birds (raven, owl) or dog (wolf) and bird (raven). The birds do amazing damage and I find that enemy tend not to notice them because they are small. The Raven blind is a lifesaver as well. The wolf for the knockdown and fear is great as well. I tend to run Wolf/Raven lately (but switch out bird when in larger group fights for a sturdier pet).
Gameplay Positives
Fun and active gameplay! You are quick, dodgy and will frustrate your enemies. You can almost see the look of horror and embarrassment on their faces when they realize they are about to lose to longbow ranger. I feel like a ranger moreso playing this build than any other.
Flexible. This build can work for solo, and easily be adapted to large group fights. You can even convert to the condition-regen meta build without respecing just by swapping traits and gear
Cheap. This build doesn’t need ascended trinkets at all—in fact it benefits far less from adding ascended trinkets and can actually be rendered less effective. Ascended weapons are great, though.
Gameplay Negatives
Weak against conditions. Even with the empathic bond variation of this build, they are your bane. Approach with caution.
Weak passive defensive. You have weak passive healing and your main defense requires active dodging and evasion. If you screw up, there is nothing to bail you out.
Susceptible to CCs/Immobilize. This is true of most ranger builds, but this is really a problem for the Evasion Tank. Mobility is your lifeline—if that is removed, even for a moment or two, and you can be finished.
Evasion Tank in Action
These videos are not well edited and have no cool music, but I think do a decent job at showing how this build plays. I make not claims about my skill or that of my opponents—only that the encounters are fairly typical of my experience in WvW.
This is a video of the typical 1v1 fights I have while solo roaming. I did try to select clips featuring me in a variety of situations and fighting different classes, but otherwise these fights are fairly typical of what I encounter when solo roaming.
This is a video of the 1vX fights I have while solo roaming. One note about 1vX—you can’t do it against equally skilled opponents who run builds optimized for roaming/havoc. The key to successful 1vX is to quickly determine whether you need to bail or whether you can stick it out. The fights I picked are those that I chose to stick out and that highlight the mobility and survivability of this build.
(edited by Bredin.5368)
