Guild Wars 2

I want to give GS+Sword/X a try, what kind of build and pets would you use if it would be offensive minded?

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-Fg-F-0-wEFy-d2gDV-0;9-9b;3TJJ;439A48-58-S-k8S;1LNW4LNW46gf

0/0/30/20/20 Healing Spring / Flame Trap / Signet of Renewal / Signet of the Hunt

I’d use a jaguar because I like the stealth ability and feel with proper Sword usage you two could really lay down some pain. It’s what I’m trying right now, actually.

As for builds, I’d have to think on that.

I tried greatsword+sword before and I have to say it’s not very viable. First of all, going into a fight without a ranged weapon is not a good idea. If you’re low on health and wait for your healing skill to recharge you just stand there awkwardly and can’t contribute anything to the fight.
Second, even putting the ranged aspect aside, the swords are just too similar and in my opinion it’s just not worth it.
I would say that both swords are geared towards beastmaster builds and for heavy use of power/crit pets. The longsword empowers your pet and literally cripples your opponent as it sets up a classic hammer and anvil.
The greatsword on the other hand is about disabling your enemy and holding the line while paving the way for your pet.

Anthile.8493:

First of all, going into a fight without a ranged weapon is not a good idea. If you’re low on health and wait for your healing skill to recharge you just stand there awkwardly and can’t contribute anything to the fight.

Just want to state that the above is not always true—you still have your pet, possibly two of them, which can still contribute to the fight. I do agree that GS+S is a build geared toward using pets, and if you have specced into Beastmastery, your pets won’t be so easily killed in WvW, meaning even if you have to sit on the sidelines for a while, you can still command your pet to attack targets and CC. And GS 5 will give your pet 150% damage on its next attack, regardless of whether or not you hit anything.

I’m totally biased toward melee ranger though, so consider that while you make your decision… I still carry a bow on me, and you should too, even if you do choose to go all melee. There will be times you need it.

I find melee ranger to be very fun setup, especially mobility of course. Usually I run this build.
http://tinyurl.com/cw9x2a2
Perfect fight goes like this: start with 1h, pop zephyr, pet uses stun then immobilize/fear, switch pets, another stun and fear/immobilize, switch to GS and finish with GS 5 – 2 – 3.

I run GS/S Horn with a 0|0|30|10|30 build.

I swap to S Horn for bursts when RaO is up as well as supply boons to nearby allies. GS is primary for its huge defensive benefits. Pro Tip sword becomes much more powerful when auto is turned off, you can leap and slash where you please without being locked out of your dodge.

Anthile.8493:

I tried greatsword+sword before and I have to say it’s not very viable. First of all, going into a fight without a ranged weapon is not a good idea. If you’re low on health and wait for your healing skill to recharge you just stand there awkwardly and can’t contribute anything to the fight.

You are failing to take into account that while you back out your pet is still tearing the living Jesus out of your enemies. As a ranger you are always contributing damage (really nice when you are rezzing stupid glass kitties).

that being said, I run a BM tank build so I rarely have to retreat and when I do it is for the 5 seconds I need to get Healing Spring back up, I can keep regen up 100% uptime, not including the regen from Signet of Wild which I also have. After backing out I swoop back in as if I never left. GS/S is extremely viable for rangers and I’ve rocked it from lvl 35-80.

edit: I will clarify and say that I carry a Long Bow in my pack on standby for those fights where melee gets chewed to pieces or is counter intuitive for dungeon instance. Also handy when I feel like being a zergling.

DaisyRogers.6837:

I run GS/S Horn with a 0|0|30|10|30 build.

I swap to S Horn for bursts when RaO is up as well as supply boons to nearby allies. GS is primary for its huge defensive benefits. Pro Tip sword becomes much more powerful when auto is turned off, you can leap and slash where you please without being locked out of your dodge.

Which utilities and pets do you use? I found that a fire trap goes a long way when using GS+S as they both have combo finishers.

I utilize Healing Spring, melee is really easy to fight inside entire duration is all the condition removal I typically need.

Signet of the Wild, good for ranger as it allows to sources of Regen at once and Pet will be recieving three sources of regen making it godly (I am heavy healing traited through runes, cleric jewlery, and maxed BM line).

Signet of Stone I’ve been using for the few times i need to stretch out my pets life between pet swaps. Thinking of swapping for Stone Spirit as I rarely get any use out of it and I’ve been running more dungeons as of late and want to bring more utility to the group.

Sick’em and RaO. Swap to sword/horn pop RaO, Horn 4 and sword auto. In a matter of seconds your pet will be at 25 stacks of might (max allowed). Pop Sickem swap to GS and GS 5. Next pet attack does 50% extra on top (drakes raven f2 are great for timing with GS 5). Really nice Burst combo.

Debating swapping that combo for elite spirit and another spirit for group utility in dungeons. Burst combo is great for PvP and PvE champs but in dungeons whenever you would utilize it the burst will do little to actually expediate the battle. I prefer survibility for dungeons as I typically act as group support tank with my GS.

Signet of Wild I will keep, because again I and my Pet becomes Gods with all the regen.

Pets: Fern Hound for Regen Howl when I am stretching for time, and Alpine Wolf (purely cosmetic for my Norn). That is what I typically run for PvE Dungeons and WvW roaming. I’ll swap to passive Moas when I zerg or Devourers when facing Epic battles that melee cannot survive in (also why I pack the Long Bow in my Pack).

I’ve debated using trap but I’ve enjoyed focusing around my pet and have done so to great success. Since I am not traited at all in condi outside of default trait line it packs little extra punch. Water field is typically the only field I need.

I see where you are going with the fire field fire armor. I just get better use out of face tanking and rolling most everything that can’t keep up with my regen and mobility (when I need regen to catch up).

Thanks for the info great stuff. I put your build into the builder:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-Fg-F-0-wEku-c2kDV-0;9k1E;3T9T;439A2;025B4-F0U;1nBnBnBnB3Nu

That is a TON of healing with regeneration duration boosted by 63%!!!

i tested the kitten out of GS. it’s only good for bunkering. utility weapons dont have much of a role in this game. swords just hit like wet noodles, you’ll never kill anyone who has some skill. even for bunkering, it’s better to go offensive and just do a lot of condition damage.

if they buffed GS #1 damage by about 150% then it might be a useful weapon. as things stand now, it’s just pointless to use it.

nerva.7940:

i tested the kitten out of GS. it’s only good for bunkering. utility weapons dont have much of a role in this game. swords just hit like wet noodles, you’ll never kill anyone who has some skill. even for bunkering, it’s better to go offensive and just do a lot of condition damage.

if they buffed GS #1 damage by about 150% then it might be a useful weapon. as things stand now, it’s just pointless to use it.

I believe you are failing to add into the equation how much damage your pet is doing. The GS hits pretty hard when you add in the pet damage. It is spot on with what other classes are pulling with similar builds. Will it burst? No, as you said it’s greatest benefit comes from utilities. Upside is that through it you can negate enemy spikes and combos with ease all the while continuing to apply pressure through your pet.

If you take out the pet and compare numbers, then all ranger weapons hit like noodles.

No im not failing to take that into account. I run a beastmaster in tpvp. Gs does nothing to improve your pet. It does aoe in a wide arc so it’s great for facerolling through PvE but in pvp it’s just a tanking/utility weapon.

I spend my time either farming monies or in WvW.

I currently roll greatsword swapping to sword/torch.

I use Troll Unjent (as much as I love healing spring, PvP is too mobile for it to be reliable), flame trap, speed signet, regen siget, and Entangling Roots. I am just now testing this out as my normal spec is 0/0/30/30/10 running with movable Spirit of Nature. I think I may end up liking this better.

I am specced 0/0/30/10/30

My gear is currently 4 peices of Apothecary and everything else -of the Shaman with 6 peice Runes of Undead.

I carry a shortbow in my bag for the many situations that I need it.

I find this build to be quite a bit of fun so far, so it is definately doable! Give it a try.