Hi!
Right off-the-bat I would like to say that the build I will link below is not anything new but something I wish to share with other Rangers who might be in the same ‘slump’ as me and looking to revisit something old but perhaps never tried out
I have had such a massive rekindling of love for melee core ranger – after having ran LB + GS Druid for ages) it really is just a beast of a build (hyped for ‘Soul-beast’ next expac!).
But, I just felt like I need more gap-closer’s and more surviability if I chose to play melee. That, and having Mesmer’s, Thieve’s, Warrior’s, and Ele’s being able to disengage from fights, and sprint across maps – I was reminded that movement is king in WvW. There is something so disheartening about just being smarter and calmer (not necessarily playing better mind you) than an opponent, getting them on the ropes and then they hit one panic button and just whoosh away. Instantly.
I love GS but I did not want to fall back into pewpew mode as my offhand weapon, so I found that old Staff build and my goodness is it great to have double leaps, healing, stealth, CC break, range damage, projectile block, and Condi Cleanse all from just ONE trait line and something as a simple as a weapon slot!
Couple that with BM to beef your pet and make GS a little more scarier, and Nature Magic for protection and boon duration buff – you can actually stay in melee a lot more comfortably and not have your pets become useless.
Hope someone finds this relatable and useful!