Guild Wars 2

Hello,

Based on another greatsword build I saw linked on the forums, I have come up with a Tank style build using Greatsword and Axe/warhorn.

The build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQNBhODbkoKyuwyrC1OQ0ewJLd+niY1KnCRZqL+4uJ

Stat wise im going for armor with Knight prefix so stacking Power/Precision/Toughness.

Currently sat at about 17-18k health.

Idea being able to use pet swaps for quickness along with quickening zephyr which is a good aggro grab on multiple mobs, also useful for burning down a target to help rally downed allies.

I have picked the blue moa and fern hound as with the trait to increase pet boons they give 18secs of Protection and 18 secs of regen which seemed like a good combo for a more tanky build, also the moa has the aoe heal.

On a longer fight can drop the stone spirit out of melee range to try and keep it safe then run into melee range to fight.

Can start with the axe/warhorn on the pull buff with call of the wild and the bouncing axe auto attack can tag multiple mobs, before switching to great sword and diving in with the leap.

The elite skill entangle is good for CC/DPS to stop things running to the other party members, although at times like the big event yesterday I switched to Spirit of Nature to help rally downed allies.

Any feedback on the build would be most appreciated.

Some of my concerns:

The signet is this worth it seems to give +40 toughness is this worth what another skill could add?

The stone spirit has a 50% chance to gain a very short (1 1/4 secs) protection buff, and it has the internal CD of 10 sec per target, not sure this is really worth it especially with spirits being so easily killed and Moa giving 18 secs of protection, might change this for lightning reflexs for a quick get away and vigor?

Also the fact you cant be healed for 4 secs of quickening zephyr seems a bit anti-tank but then you do get a very nice bit of burst from it.#

I was thinking about the natures protection talent in place of the spirit proc one but 20% of 17k is 3400 and with all the toughness stacked I rarely take that sort of hit.

Thanks.

WildmanUK

Not sure about the spirit, since without the HP trait it could die really easily and you get 18s of protection from Moa anyway.
Also the signet is not worth it. You don’t have the 20% CDR trait nor the “active effects affect you” trait, so its pretty much wasted space. I think with the survival skills 20% CDR, Lightning Reflexes and/or Mud Terrain (instead of spirit) would be better choice.

Of course you can use signet of renewal which is much better than the one you are currently using since it gives you much needed condition removal.

Swap Stone Signet for either Flame trap or Lightning reflexes. Flame trap for 2 reasons, Fern hound and GS’s Swoop. Both will add Fire Aura for additional damage/cond damg. Lightning Reflexes for stun break in some situations where a knock down/stun will often get you killed in melee range.

Heal should be Healing spring to regen and heal status effect and pet since both are in melee range.

I was using the signet for the extra toughness passive but when it only gives +40 its not worth it will swap it out for the condition removal one and spirit I will swap out as well.

Thanks for the feedback not really looked at that condition removal one, in fact the active skill on it is pretty good as well pulling all condition from allies to the pet.

Revised build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQNBhODbkoKyuvyxC1OQ0ewJLd+niY1KnCR5/L+4uJ

I’m sorry I have to be missing something, how in the world are you getting 18s of protection from the moa? Even traited it doesn’t last that long at all. Can you explain how that’s working out?

And don’t forget, QZ is a fantastic support/group ability. I use it more often than not to revive downed players under heavy fire more quickly.

I would look into how much of a bonus Speed Training and Commanding Voice gives you in the Beastmaster mastery tree.

I’m toying around with a heal/snare/support ranger … and have speced into Compassion Training and Vigorous Training (double moa). More vigor to dodge more, and then get more protection from Companion’s Defence.

So, 1) how in gods name are you getting 18s of prot? That’s just unheard of… i’m pretty sure it only gives you like 4s, MAX.

2) Sig of stone…. it’s kinda meh? 40 toughness is nice, but if you’re stacking toughness gear already AND have 300 toughness from traits you’re probably going to be hitting the 3k armor cap (DR REALLY starts above 3k making more toughness not realy worth it), i’d suggest bringing a different skill unless you feel like sig of stone is really useful for saving your pet or something.

3) The increased proc is almost useless now that they put the 10s ICD on spirits, i’d pick up something else instead, maybe natures vengeance to get the spell effect even after the spirit goes down?

Right I was basing that off the fact concentration training gives +50% boon duration to pets boons and the gw2skills builders tool tip for the moa skill said 12 sec duration.

Looking at other sites its saying 3 secs so 4.5secs duration with the trait, not quite as good as I thought it seems! I thought 18 secs of protection on a 36 sec CD was a bit imba

WildmanUK.8531:

Right I was basing that off the fact concentration training gives +50% boon duration to pets boons and the gw2skills builders tool tip for the moa skill said 12 sec duration.

Looking at other sites its saying 3 secs so 4.5secs duration with the trait, not quite as good as I thought it seems! I thought 18 secs of protection on a 36 sec CD was a bit imba

lol that would be HORRIBLY imbalanced xD, you can technically get ~10.5s of protection from stone spirit though, and then if you just instantly summon him again it just keeps going! that’s a long time for 33.3% less damage…

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

WildmanUK.8531:

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

mine gives me 1.5s because of boon duration, the spirit can trigger 7 times, therefore you can get ~10.5s of protection from spirit of stone… i never said you’d get it all at once, 10.5 seconds of 33.3% less damage REGARDLESS of it being all together or being spread out for 1min is still a TON of damage you’re reducing.

Right ok gotcha was thinking how are you getting the it all back to back but yea any damage reduction is good.

Do spirits class as pets for the 50% boon duration thing to work? The main problem I have with it having such a short duration is something could hit you for 1k then 3 secs later hit you for another 1k and it could proc in between and fade before the next hit even happens.

I’m with Jaruel,
Really take a moment to watch your gameplay and see how often you leave out a pet long enough that Speed Training and Commanding Voice comes into play. And if you do, how often is this the better option than swapping it?

I have used Speed Training in the past, but that was only when I was making an effort to keep a Bear pet out so that it could tank for me. In most other cases, I find making the effort to swap ASAP was more productive than Commanding Voice and Speed Training combined because all the pet’s cooldowns reset on swap.

Durzlla.6295:

WildmanUK.8531:

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

mine gives me 1.5s because of boon duration, the spirit can trigger 7 times, therefore you can get ~10.5s of protection from spirit of stone… i never said you’d get it all at once, 10.5 seconds of 33.3% less damage REGARDLESS of it being all together or being spread out for 1min is still a TON of damage you’re reducing.

I think there are serious lag display issues I get the stone spirit protection buff for 3 seconds when I test it or 21 seconds total over a 65 second proc window.

And the blue MOA tooltip was corrected in the patch
•Protecting Screech: This skill now states the correct duration of 4 seconds.

Right I had the tank build setup at the weekend but the pet part I was theorycrafting from my desk at lunch while at work.

Now i’ve actually got home the tool tip for my blue moa protecting screech says 5 secs this is with our without concentration training trait. Also if I cast it and count it down its still always 5 secs where with the trait it should be 7.5s with the trait. This seems broken to me anyone else having this issue?

Also the tooltip for the health regen on my fern hound says 12.5 sec but its only lasting 8 again no change if I use the trait or not.

WildmanUK.8531:

Right I had the tank build setup at the weekend but the pet part I was theorycrafting from my desk at lunch while at work.

Now i’ve actually got home the tool tip for my blue moa protecting screech says 5 secs this is with our without concentration training trait. Also if I cast it and count it down its still always 5 secs where with the trait it should be 7.5s with the trait. This seems broken to me anyone else having this issue?

Also the tooltip for the health regen on my fern hound says 12.5 sec but its only lasting 8 again no change if I use the trait or not.

Pre patch I found no benefit from concentration training on Blue Moa so your result doesn’t surprise me. Didn’t test other skills as I was like you looking at maximizing protection.

I have just noticed something the spell effect that you gain from the screech stays on the moa for longer but not you, I have a feeling its bugged and only increasing the duration of the buff on the moa itself and not everyone else it buffs.

WildmanUK.8531:

I have just noticed something the spell effect that you gain from the screech stays on the moa for longer but not you, I have a feeling its bugged and only increasing the duration of the buff on the moa itself and not everyone else it buffs.

You are specced into fortifying bond. You are most likely measuring the boon you shared with your pet stacking with the boon the pet applied to itself.

Yes it seems this is the case:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Fortifying_Bond

As it gives the pet +2 sec of protection when you gain protection for any length making up the 7 secs I thought I was getting from the trait.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of running too many healing traits. Until they fix spirits, I’m not inclined to mess with any healing support build, so I’ve been running this as a greatsword tank build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQNBhODbkoKxOyywi1OQ0UwJL9eEL13enC/7pMm5jXTA

For better condition removal, switch QZ for Sig of Renewal and change Wilderness Knowledge to Expertise training.

Arrys.7145:

Durzlla.6295:

WildmanUK.8531:

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

mine gives me 1.5s because of boon duration, the spirit can trigger 7 times, therefore you can get ~10.5s of protection from spirit of stone… i never said you’d get it all at once, 10.5 seconds of 33.3% less damage REGARDLESS of it being all together or being spread out for 1min is still a TON of damage you’re reducing.

I think there are serious lag display issues I get the stone spirit protection buff for 3 seconds when I test it or 21 seconds total over a 65 second proc window.

And the blue MOA tooltip was corrected in the patch
•Protecting Screech: This skill now states the correct duration of 4 seconds.

Oh it’s 3 seconds? I was assuming the 1.5 seconds is correct… so if it’s 3 seconds with my 50% boon duration increase (it’s a little less then that but w/e close enough) it’ll be ~4.5 seconds of prot or 31.5s that’s about 50% up time on taking 1/3 less damage, that’s kittening amazing lol

Durzlla.6295:

Arrys.7145:

Durzlla.6295:

WildmanUK.8531:

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

mine gives me 1.5s because of boon duration, the spirit can trigger 7 times, therefore you can get ~10.5s of protection from spirit of stone… i never said you’d get it all at once, 10.5 seconds of 33.3% less damage REGARDLESS of it being all together or being spread out for 1min is still a TON of damage you’re reducing.

I think there are serious lag display issues I get the stone spirit protection buff for 3 seconds when I test it or 21 seconds total over a 65 second proc window.

And the blue MOA tooltip was corrected in the patch
•Protecting Screech: This skill now states the correct duration of 4 seconds.

Oh it’s 3 seconds? I was assuming the 1.5 seconds is correct… so if it’s 3 seconds with my 50% boon duration increase (it’s a little less then that but w/e close enough) it’ll be ~4.5 seconds of prot or 31.5s that’s about 50% up time on taking 1/3 less damage, that’s kittening amazing lol

Yes and on your pet with us transferring our boons to the pet I believe that would be nearly full coverage for your pet. Their 3 second proc plus your 4.5(assuming the +50% is working). Add in dodge rolls. I did notice on healing spring stacking my pet into the 30 second regen duration when they were in the spiring with me on regen.

I’ve also noticed recently that boon transfer distance from the ranger to pet seems to have been increasedf from my tests at release. Haven’t tested how far again or if that was a random third party impact.

And the +10% damage has no ICD. As long as you know how to place pets to keep them alive they do seem helpful.

Arrys.7145:

Durzlla.6295:

Arrys.7145:

Durzlla.6295:

WildmanUK.8531:

How would you get 10.5s of protection from Stone spirit it only gives like 1.25 secs of protection on the proc on a 10 sec CD?

mine gives me 1.5s because of boon duration, the spirit can trigger 7 times, therefore you can get ~10.5s of protection from spirit of stone… i never said you’d get it all at once, 10.5 seconds of 33.3% less damage REGARDLESS of it being all together or being spread out for 1min is still a TON of damage you’re reducing.

I think there are serious lag display issues I get the stone spirit protection buff for 3 seconds when I test it or 21 seconds total over a 65 second proc window.

And the blue MOA tooltip was corrected in the patch
•Protecting Screech: This skill now states the correct duration of 4 seconds.

Oh it’s 3 seconds? I was assuming the 1.5 seconds is correct… so if it’s 3 seconds with my 50% boon duration increase (it’s a little less then that but w/e close enough) it’ll be ~4.5 seconds of prot or 31.5s that’s about 50% up time on taking 1/3 less damage, that’s kittening amazing lol

Yes and on your pet with us transferring our boons to the pet I believe that would be nearly full coverage for your pet. Their 3 second proc plus your 4.5(assuming the +50% is working). Add in dodge rolls. I did notice on healing spring stacking my pet into the 30 second regen duration when they were in the spiring with me on regen.

I’ve also noticed recently that boon transfer distance from the ranger to pet seems to have been increasedf from my tests at release. Haven’t tested how far again or if that was a random third party impact.

And the +10% damage has no ICD. As long as you know how to place pets to keep them alive they do seem helpful.

Well your pet would be getting 4.5s as well because the boon duration is dependent on WHO casts the boon, not on the person who receives it, so if i put the spirit down everyone who procs my spirit will get 4.5s this means that your pet would literally have 100% coverage.

It seems from what people are saying above the +50% duration is working on the spirit procs so making the stone spirit buff last 3 secs rather than 1.5 etc but not working for the pet F2 buffs? My blue moas protection buff reads 5 secs on the tooltip (boosted from points in nature magic). But with or without the trait to boost by 50% it always ticks down for 5 secs rather than it getting boosted to 7.5s. Currently with my build the +50% boon duration from pets talent is useless to me and has been swapped out until its fixed.

If anything you would have thought the main pet would be treated as a pet and the spirit not as it has its own traits.

On a similar top ie tank build rather than that trait:

I am currently just using all gear with Knight prefix for Power/Precision/Toughness.

Even with just my chest exotic and the rest of my armor lvl 80 greens, and a yellow greatsword, my armour is 2900 ish.

Since someone posted 3k is a decent cut off point would I now be best to mix up Knight and Valkyrie gear to get the extra vitality? or is there a better set to go for for Vit?

Also my new revised version of the build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQNBhODbkoKyuvyxC1OQ0ewJLd+/Ba5ZgK/fxH3NB

I have removed the 50% pet boon duration trait as that is doing nothing for me at the moment.

Also I have taken5 points from the Pet trait line, and changed to the pets heal for more trait as someone pointed out that a swapped pet gets its CD’s reset.

I tend to use the Moas F2 skill then once its cast switch to fern hound to get quickness then use the fern hounds F2 regen, so the +healing to pets seemed more useful as Fern hound and Moa both have a heal skill.

The extra 5 points I have stuck in Nature Magic to get more Vit and Boon Duration along with the 5% damage boost for having a boon.

It seems like many people have converged on the 0/0/30/25/15 distribution for the GreatSword/Axe+WarHorn with Blue Moa and Fern Hound. Utility skills, Elite and some Major Traits are swappable to meet the current situation or flavor-to-taste. I’ve been playing it lately, and am really enjoying it.

Look into using the White Moa instead of the Fern Hound for the regen. As White Moa F2 is a chill and regen on a lower cooldown than the Fern Hound’s.

(Hope I’m right here, was just looking at the calc/wiki).

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Icy_Screech I saw this as well but theres a note at the bottom saying it shows the old F2 skill that gave regen but now it just gives AoE Chill.

Shame if it had given regen on a shorter CD I would have got the activating moas gives vigor trait as well which would have been really good for tanking.

Saying this not actually checked this out will do this evening, I read the wiki as being it should chill not regen but maybe it means it should do both..?

Also really enjoying the greatsword build I was previously using a condition damage traps build for dungeons to get as many slows as possible but finding this a lot better and still get Muddy Terrain as well.

The other greatsword build I was using for PVP was a signet based one making the signets affect you too, then make yourself huge and do extra damage, and take no damage for 6 secs as you dive in and land QZ doing mad burst and taking no damage then get back out asap.

That was good for PVP not tried it in WvW as was much lower level when I tried it.

But for PVE up to now preferring the more tanky build.

Right I think I might have got to the bottom of the problem with Concentration training but will have to check it later.

The traits like speed training, concentration training etc apparently only work in combat so that would explain as I was testing the trait in Lions Arch.

Will give it a go later and see if I get the longer 7.5s protection in combat.

WildmanUK.8531:

It seems from what people are saying above the +50% duration is working on the spirit procs so making the stone spirit buff last 3 secs rather than 1.5 etc but not working for the pet F2 buffs? My blue moas protection buff reads 5 secs on the tooltip (boosted from points in nature magic). But with or without the trait to boost by 50% it always ticks down for 5 secs rather than it getting boosted to 7.5s. Currently with my build the +50% boon duration from pets talent is useless to me and has been swapped out until its fixed.

If anything you would have thought the main pet would be treated as a pet and the spirit not as it has its own traits.

On a similar top ie tank build rather than that trait:

I am currently just using all gear with Knight prefix for Power/Precision/Toughness.

Even with just my chest exotic and the rest of my armor lvl 80 greens, and a yellow greatsword, my armour is 2900 ish.

Since someone posted 3k is a decent cut off point would I now be best to mix up Knight and Valkyrie gear to get the extra vitality? or is there a better set to go for for Vit?

This is correct, pets do not get your boon duration because they are a seperate entity from you, they have their own stats and etc, unlike a MM/Mesmer illusion, your pets only contribution from you are from traits, this is why if you go 30pts in BM and then go with all D stats your pet still rocks people.

@Duzilla I know the pets dont get your boon duration but the concentration training trait says its boosts any boons granted by the pet.

As I posted above though this seems to be in combat so will check it later.

WildmanUK.8531:

@Duzilla I know the pets dont get your boon duration but the concentration training trait says its boosts any boons granted by the pet.

As I posted above though this seems to be in combat so will check it later.

Oh is it? I thought it was bugged… If it work while in combat though (when it actually matters) I may have to use it…

Try this build, it’s what I’ve been using and I think it’s pretty effective, even in Dungeons and I expect decent in WvW.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQJARVjEV11RWKWs2Cgli9CspQTL5HM8LwVA1K+0E

I’ll edit in my stats when I have taken a screenshot of it.

My build is primarily Pow/Prec/Toughness, Head and Coat is Knight. Pants, Shoulders and Boots are Berserkers. All have Ruby Orbs in slots. Amulet is Knight, Earrings are Valkyrie and Rings are Berserkers. Greatsword is Knight with Superior Sigil of Battle and Shortbow is Berserker with Superior Sigil of Fire. Found the added toughness on helmet, coat and amulet gave the best stat distributions. Ruby orbs to supplement my prec/pow with only 15 into Precision trait tree. I did 15 into Skirmishing for the minor traits of weapon swapping. Goal of build is to lay down flame trap, then grab enemies with shortbow then use my traits of weapon swapping with greatsword but if solo enemy, I just stand still because my toughness allows me to take hits (PvE). After swapping to GS, swap pet for QZ and it’ll melt mobs. The sigil of Fire is added CC and dps from SB damage. When it activates, it’s like a added burst damage of an additional ~1000 give or take. Depending on situation/battle, swap flame trap/QZ for Lightning reflexes for stun break if you’re block is mistimed or on CD.

Total HP is ~17500 and crit rate is 39% (will edit other stats when I take a look).

Pet is Fern Hound for reasons I mention above in post and River Drake for F2 DPS.

Signet of Wild will help keep your hp up along with Fern Hound’s F2 and gaining vigor on using a healing skill.

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/66729-how-to-be-a-great-greatsword-ranger/

0/0/30/25/15
Power/Toughness/Vitality on Weapons and Armor
Knights Accessories

22k HP
3200 Armor

Works like a charm.

Himei.5379:

Try this build, it’s what I’ve been using and I think it’s pretty effective, even in Dungeons and I expect decent in WvW.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQJARVjEV11RWKWs2Cgli9CspQTL5HM8LwVA1K+0E

I’ll edit in my stats when I have taken a screenshot of it.

My build is primarily Pow/Prec/Toughness, Head and Coat is Knight. Pants, Shoulders and Boots are Berserkers. All have Ruby Orbs in slots. Amulet is Knight, Earrings are Valkyrie and Rings are Berserkers. Greatsword is Knight with Superior Sigil of Battle and Shortbow is Berserker with Superior Sigil of Fire. Found the added toughness on helmet, coat and amulet gave the best stat distributions. Ruby orbs to supplement my prec/pow with only 15 into Precision trait tree. I did 15 into Skirmishing for the minor traits of weapon swapping. Goal of build is to lay down flame trap, then grab enemies with shortbow then use my traits of weapon swapping with greatsword but if solo enemy, I just stand still because my toughness allows me to take hits (PvE). After swapping to GS, swap pet for QZ and it’ll melt mobs. The sigil of Fire is added CC and dps from SB damage. When it activates, it’s like a added burst damage of an additional ~1000 give or take. Depending on situation/battle, swap flame trap/QZ for Lightning reflexes for stun break if you’re block is mistimed or on CD.

Total HP is ~17500 and crit rate is 39% (will edit other stats when I take a look).

Pet is Fern Hound for reasons I mention above in post and River Drake for F2 DPS.

Signet of Wild will help keep your hp up along with Fern Hound’s F2 and gaining vigor on using a healing skill.

Wow, this build is all over the place. You really need to specialize your talents and slot skills.

A) Don’t bring traps without trap talents. It’s just not worth it.
B) If you’re running QZ, there’s no reason not to have Wilderness Knowledge.
C) Spec into talents that help your mainhand weapon or your offhand. Don’t stretch your talents across both (i.e. go piercing arrows with a bow OR martial mastery with a gs, NOT both).

Dahkeus.8243:

Himei.5379:

Try this build, it’s what I’ve been using and I think it’s pretty effective, even in Dungeons and I expect decent in WvW.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQJARVjEV11RWKWs2Cgli9CspQTL5HM8LwVA1K+0E

I’ll edit in my stats when I have taken a screenshot of it.

My build is primarily Pow/Prec/Toughness, Head and Coat is Knight. Pants, Shoulders and Boots are Berserkers. All have Ruby Orbs in slots. Amulet is Knight, Earrings are Valkyrie and Rings are Berserkers. Greatsword is Knight with Superior Sigil of Battle and Shortbow is Berserker with Superior Sigil of Fire. Found the added toughness on helmet, coat and amulet gave the best stat distributions. Ruby orbs to supplement my prec/pow with only 15 into Precision trait tree. I did 15 into Skirmishing for the minor traits of weapon swapping. Goal of build is to lay down flame trap, then grab enemies with shortbow then use my traits of weapon swapping with greatsword but if solo enemy, I just stand still because my toughness allows me to take hits (PvE). After swapping to GS, swap pet for QZ and it’ll melt mobs. The sigil of Fire is added CC and dps from SB damage. When it activates, it’s like a added burst damage of an additional ~1000 give or take. Depending on situation/battle, swap flame trap/QZ for Lightning reflexes for stun break if you’re block is mistimed or on CD.

Total HP is ~17500 and crit rate is 39% (will edit other stats when I take a look).

Pet is Fern Hound for reasons I mention above in post and River Drake for F2 DPS.

Signet of Wild will help keep your hp up along with Fern Hound’s F2 and gaining vigor on using a healing skill.

Wow, this build is all over the place. You really need to specialize your talents and slot skills.

A) Don’t bring traps without trap talents. It’s just not worth it.
B) If you’re running QZ, there’s no reason not to have Wilderness Knowledge.
C) Spec into talents that help your mainhand weapon or your offhand. Don’t stretch your talents across both (i.e. go piercing arrows with a bow OR martial mastery with a gs, NOT both).

I actually tested out a few all over te place builds and they work REALLY well which caught me off guard, I wouldn’t bash it before you try it,

PS: I don’t follow any of those suggestions you made with several f my PvP builds, and it appears I’m one of the people with the least issues with ranger, so I woulnt take those as fact.

Durzlla.6295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Himei.5379:

Try this build, it’s what I’ve been using and I think it’s pretty effective, even in Dungeons and I expect decent in WvW.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQJARVjEV11RWKWs2Cgli9CspQTL5HM8LwVA1K+0E

I’ll edit in my stats when I have taken a screenshot of it.

My build is primarily Pow/Prec/Toughness, Head and Coat is Knight. Pants, Shoulders and Boots are Berserkers. All have Ruby Orbs in slots. Amulet is Knight, Earrings are Valkyrie and Rings are Berserkers. Greatsword is Knight with Superior Sigil of Battle and Shortbow is Berserker with Superior Sigil of Fire. Found the added toughness on helmet, coat and amulet gave the best stat distributions. Ruby orbs to supplement my prec/pow with only 15 into Precision trait tree. I did 15 into Skirmishing for the minor traits of weapon swapping. Goal of build is to lay down flame trap, then grab enemies with shortbow then use my traits of weapon swapping with greatsword but if solo enemy, I just stand still because my toughness allows me to take hits (PvE). After swapping to GS, swap pet for QZ and it’ll melt mobs. The sigil of Fire is added CC and dps from SB damage. When it activates, it’s like a added burst damage of an additional ~1000 give or take. Depending on situation/battle, swap flame trap/QZ for Lightning reflexes for stun break if you’re block is mistimed or on CD.

Total HP is ~17500 and crit rate is 39% (will edit other stats when I take a look).

Pet is Fern Hound for reasons I mention above in post and River Drake for F2 DPS.

Signet of Wild will help keep your hp up along with Fern Hound’s F2 and gaining vigor on using a healing skill.

Wow, this build is all over the place. You really need to specialize your talents and slot skills.

A) Don’t bring traps without trap talents. It’s just not worth it.
B) If you’re running QZ, there’s no reason not to have Wilderness Knowledge.
C) Spec into talents that help your mainhand weapon or your offhand. Don’t stretch your talents across both (i.e. go piercing arrows with a bow OR martial mastery with a gs, NOT both).

I actually tested out a few all over te place builds and they work REALLY well which caught me off guard, I wouldn’t bash it before you try it,

PS: I don’t follow any of those suggestions you made with several f my PvP builds, and it appears I’m one of the people with the least issues with ranger, so I woulnt take those as fact.

Issues with ranger have more to do with people’s attitudes than what build they are running.

Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that choosing talents and skills that synergize will increase their performance more than trying to take on multiple tasks with longer cooldowns and decreased output.

For example: If you’re talenting into Piercing Arrows and Martial Mastery, then you’ve invested 20 talent points when you can only use 10 of those at one time. There’s also no benefit to trying to use a greatsword and a longbow/short bow as a primary weapon in PvE since they’re so redundant.

Running a primary weapon (bow or gs) along with a 1h and offhand makes sense since they synergize, such as dropping a torch, then swapping to your bow and getting burning projectiles or switching from a bow to an axe to get better AoE damage. Swapping from a bow with piercing arrows to a greatsword sacrifices your directional AoE to a 3 target cleave, which gives you no real advantage except for some more defensive abilities, in which case you’ll only be periodically using the gs and won’t benefit enough from the talents.

Tl;dr your annecdotal evidence doesn’t add up.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMUQNBhODbkoquuvSxi1OA0ekplYyUkIiOFo6ZKvaLttC;TEBA1ytEaJ1StlSLKbM2IsxajzGpNrNGbc2Y7wbDA

here posted my version of a tanky greatsword Great surviability, in the melee, Lots of Dodges that grant protection steady critical rate 33% with fury That grant pet heals and might. Heavy Hp Pets who cosistantly eat all conditions at me, a CC save once every 90s. Stability for 24 seconds ((thats actually a pretty good portion of a boss fight)) out of every 2.5 minutes. With Axes and Flame trap I can kite fairly effectively when needed to do so.

Armor and accessory’s are Soldiers all the way giving both Vit and Tough ness and a strong level Power, Armor Supurior Rune of the Dolyak nothing like a bit extra vit and tough but mostly for the extra regen giving the Ranger 3 nearly always uptime sources of Regen ((multiple sources slightly makes up for the lack of Healing power in the build its somewhere around 500-600 a sec by my estimation)). Sigil of Water for weapon for the heal thats about guarenteed every 10 seconds, also gives a bit of support.

Strategy is get into battle and start auto attacking while constantly strafing to the rearside of the mob, Use healing spring practically on cooldown and swoop in and out of the spring to gain an extra splash of healing. Hopefully your pet will eventually grab aggro making it much easier to whack, and yes my bears typically survive big boss bashes giving time to swap them when hp is low on them. Don’t forget to use other greatsword skills like counter attack when a boss rears for a big attack It wil block and allow you to stay ontop keeping a steady constant dps on it. When roaming keep the axe out and horn before going into melee giving a nice start up of Might and fury to start a fight with.

Plaxy.4617:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMUQNBhODbkoquuvSxi1OA0ekplYyUkIiOFo6ZKvaLttC;TEBA1ytEaJ1StlSLKbM2IsxajzGpNrNGbc2Y7wbDA

here posted my version of a tanky greatsword Great surviability, in the melee, Lots of Dodges that grant protection steady critical rate 33% with fury That grant pet heals and might. Heavy Hp Pets who cosistantly eat all conditions at me, a CC save once every 90s. Stability for 24 seconds ((thats actually a pretty good portion of a boss fight)) out of every 2.5 minutes. With Axes and Flame trap I can kite fairly effectively when needed to do so.

Armor and accessory’s are Soldiers all the way giving both Vit and Tough ness and a strong level Power, Armor Supurior Rune of the Dolyak nothing like a bit extra vit and tough but mostly for the extra regen giving the Ranger 3 nearly always uptime sources of Regen ((multiple sources slightly makes up for the lack of Healing power in the build its somewhere around 500-600 a sec by my estimation)). Sigil of Water for weapon for the heal thats about guarenteed every 10 seconds, also gives a bit of support.

Strategy is get into battle and start auto attacking while constantly strafing to the rearside of the mob, Use healing spring practically on cooldown and swoop in and out of the spring to gain an extra splash of healing. Hopefully your pet will eventually grab aggro making it much easier to whack, and yes my bears typically survive big boss bashes giving time to swap them when hp is low on them. Don’t forget to use other greatsword skills like counter attack when a boss rears for a big attack It wil block and allow you to stay ontop keeping a steady constant dps on it. When roaming keep the axe out and horn before going into melee giving a nice start up of Might and fury to start a fight with.

If you’re set on running with 30 in WS, swap out Empathetic Bond. There aren’t enough conditions in normal dungeon conditions to justify it, especially if you have signet of renewal. If you’re going into an encounter where conditions are heavy, then swap in sig of renewal and empathetic bond if you want, but otherwise you’ll get more benefit from bringing something else (like QZ and Wilderness Knowledge or Sig of Stone and Bark Skin if you want to be more tanky).

Also, considering swapping your warhorn for a torch and swap out your flame trap for something more useful. As good as the horn is overall, you won’t utilize the swiftness in dungeons much and a single stack of fury and might don’t really justify the weapon swap.

Outside of this, looks solid!

Dahkeus.8243:

If you’re set on running with 30 in WS, swap out Empathetic Bond. There aren’t enough conditions in normal dungeon conditions to justify it, especially if you have signet of renewal. If you’re going into an encounter where conditions are heavy, then swap in sig of renewal and empathetic bond if you want, but otherwise you’ll get more benefit from bringing something else (like QZ and Wilderness Knowledge or Sig of Stone and Bark Skin if you want to be more tanky).

Also, considering swapping your warhorn for a torch and swap out your flame trap for something more useful. As good as the horn is overall, you won’t utilize the swiftness in dungeons much and a single stack of fury and might don’t really justify the weapon swap.

Outside of this, looks solid!

The Trap is a prefreance more than anything ( I use it to make a fire bubble for me when enganged or dropping it while kiteing) and definantly can switched out for something else. But the warhorn, in my opinion is a great boon when used appropriatly Its not for the single stack of might its used for the one 18 seconds of Fury and switftness which then in combat switch also grants additional Fury and Swiftness Check minor traits from skirmishing not sure what the + is but I believe it to be somewhere around 10s more meaning starting combat with warhorn out, using the horn then the birds followed by a weapon switch to greatsword and swooping in. following up with a rampage means a whole lot of uptime of fury and swiftness, Meaning more crits = more damage and Pet survivability. Which to me is important considering the lack of investment in the beastmastery Tree.

The condition thing may or may not be overkill depending the timing when conditions are either pulled or cleansed I eir on the side of safety and use both I notice conditions are removed faster ((shorter time of condition being up overall when using both, also fighting inside springs really ensures nothing stacks on you at all.)) I do agree if you run a dungeon partically lacking in conditions being applied then switching that trait will be more benificial to you. I would consider Vigerous Renewal for Mo Dodges…=more Protection uptime, also if you can dodge at least once every 4s you perma protect your pet. Pet gets 4s of protection everytime you dodge from stacking benifits of Companion’s Defense and Fortifying Bond.

Durzlla.6295:

WildmanUK.8531:

It seems from what people are saying above the +50% duration is working on the spirit procs so making the stone spirit buff last 3 secs rather than 1.5 etc but not working for the pet F2 buffs? My blue moas protection buff reads 5 secs on the tooltip (boosted from points in nature magic). But with or without the trait to boost by 50% it always ticks down for 5 secs rather than it getting boosted to 7.5s. Currently with my build the +50% boon duration from pets talent is useless to me and has been swapped out until its fixed.

If anything you would have thought the main pet would be treated as a pet and the spirit not as it has its own traits.

On a similar top ie tank build rather than that trait:

I am currently just using all gear with Knight prefix for Power/Precision/Toughness.

Even with just my chest exotic and the rest of my armor lvl 80 greens, and a yellow greatsword, my armour is 2900 ish.

Since someone posted 3k is a decent cut off point would I now be best to mix up Knight and Valkyrie gear to get the extra vitality? or is there a better set to go for for Vit?

This is correct, pets do not get your boon duration because they are a seperate entity from you, they have their own stats and etc, unlike a MM/Mesmer illusion, your pets only contribution from you are from traits, this is why if you go 30pts in BM and then go with all D stats your pet still rocks people.

Yeah stat increase is nice except it doesn’t appear to benefit things like condition damage when procced via utilities. I’m thinking the revised interface that shows condtion agony etc at 0 may be the first step in flowing through condition damage better. Either from the ranger or from increased BM spec.

Which would then have side benefits on things like the sun trap where pets proc a consistent flame damage that doesn’t improve with condition skill just the trait.

I’ve also wondered if the elite entangle isn’t effectively coded as a stationary minion/pet/turret and it may not be aprt of fixing it’s flat condition damage by creating a place to flow through condition bonus.

It just looks like the advance work for one of the enxt bullets to me.

I really love the idea of the greatsword tank build for ranger, but is it viable to have the shortbow as an offhand instead of the usual axe/horn build, if so. any suggestion on armor and trait builds?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMMQNBhODbkoKyuvyxC1OQ0ewJLd+/Ba5ZIK/fxH3NB

Is my current GS tank build, im going for mostly Knight’s gear which gives power/precision/toughness

Currently have head/shoulder/chest Exotic level.

Now ive reached 3k armor im looking to the best way to mix up the armour/jewellery etc to start getting more Vitality in the mix.

I think I might end up going full knights exotic armour with sigil of the dolyak 6/6, then use jewellery to get more Vitality, either of the soldier stuff or Valkyrie.