Guild Wars 2

Hello everyone,

I just bought the game about a week ago, and I really enjoy it. I liked the idea of having a pet, so I made a Ranger. I am having fun, but I don’t know how to guage the progression of all the “builds” that are out there, because they all show the end result at level 80. So can someone please give me some good advice on what to do at level 20?

I was saddened to learn recently that our pets damage was generally reduced back in June. Because of that so called “nerf”, should I forego putting any points into Beastmaster at all? I do like using the Jaguar, Drake, and a couple others, and its the main reason I picked the class in the first place.

Right now I use Longbow and Greatsword, and I put a Minor Sigil of Bloodlust on each, since I tend to stay on one map for a long time. I tend to do fine unless I get swarmed by multiple enemies at once. Other than Barrage and the Greatsword I really haven’t found a good way to deal with multiple enemies at one time. I do like the fire effect of the torch, but I don’t know what I would take in mainhand if I used the torch a lot.

Mainly I just want to know what setup would allow me to get through PVE the fastest at level 20. I am also only 3 skill points from getting my first Tier 3 ability, and I’d like advice on that too. I was thinking the Regeneration one, for survivability, but I like the AOE effect of the Lightning Sigil as well (Call Lightning), since that seems to be where I am weakest right now. I have put my Trait points into Beastmastery, but I can change that easily. I was wondering if Marksmanship and/or Skirmish would let my pet and I kill faster.

Anyway, please let me know if you feel that Pet builds are dead for PVE purposes now and if I should run with other weapons/abilities instead. Keep in mind that I am a POOR first character here, still learning so much about the game each time I log in, and that this is my first post. I am on Tarnished Coast server and everyone there has been helpful as well.

(Also, is the Moa a good pet if I want more healing?)

Thank you in advance.

Putting points to BM in PvE definitely won’t hurt you, since the main problem with pets is their terrible tracking ability. Healing springs is by far our best heal in groups and even in solo if you use a sword or a greatsword and use their leap finishers (sword 2 and GS 3). Signet of the hunt is good for the movespeed but the other signets are very lackluster until you get a certain trait (Signet of the Wild is the only one I’d even consider, honestly). If you plan on going a pet build, Sic ‘Em is very effective for a 40% damage buff, and running a cat that will easily kill most mobs. Lightning Reflexes is probably our best stunbreaker, so you might want to consider running that. As for your ’0’ skill, you could use your culturals (change depending on race), but for PvE our non-cultural ultimate would probably be Rampage as One.

As for weapons, Greatsword is more of a defensive tanky weapon that isn’t that useful anymore. Longbow is fairly good, but depends on positioning for maximum dps. Sword is our highest DPs weapon, but be careful not to go hurtling off cliffs when you use it! Shortbow is, well, I don’t really use it anymore after the range nerf, but it is our pewpewpew weapon. MH axe is the best aoe ranged we have right now, offhand axe is very nice when you are fighting multiple mobs, along with OH torch. OH warhorn, once again I don’t use much.

As for pets, stick to drakes and felines and birds honestly. The others are beyond lackluster besides Sylvan Hound, Wolf and sometimes Hyena. Felines and birds do the most DPS, with birds being the squishiest. Drakes do a nice cleave and have fantastic F2 skills. Jellyfish and Sharks are good for underwater pets, and I’d suggest constantly running a harpoon gun.

As for me, I run Longbow/Sword OH Axe with Sylvan Hound/Jaguar for pve, but I mainly stick to things like the new invasions and its probably not as efficient in lower level pve.

You can put points in either to be honest, there is a degree of synergy with all lines because of x traits we have i find.

In marks if you don’t want to go to deep just get it to 10 and choose #4 (Companions Might) this will give you might&fury which will boost your dps when your pets get it mid HP. (time with heals = should stay up and +dam buff for you.) Mind with this you have to pay more attention to what is hitting your pet so when it gets to 50% — x hp value you call it back, hopefully after using something that gives it swiftness. Think Lbow #3 or Sbow #3 (gives it you — with rank20 in Nature magic your pet shares this), there is also horn #5 which gives you and your pet (if in range) might/fury/swiftness.

Pets like bears = tank
Drakes/felines/hounds = dps+abit of tank i find anyways
Moas = i don’t know i only use the Red Moa to any degree (+20sec of fury)
Spiders/devourer = ranged dps, good to conditional damage / cc
Birds = dps burster

Axe/torch works well — with the bounce attack that has can obtain burn via throwing the axe threw the torch #5. (Torch #5 = AoE fire where is it dropped and yes it does damage (took far to long for that to happen but that is another matter)

Sword/torch works well as well since you are up in their face might as well drop a AoE damage skill as you attack to get +burn stuck on them. Also with the sword #2 (Monarch’s Leap) when you jump into/threw the bonfire you get a fire shield that gives burn whenever they attack you and on top of that +might stacks to you.

Another fun combo is sword/axe — you get a pull and and AoE reflect (still damages melee targets and it now gives you ret (ie they attack you they take damage).

The Horn off hand i like and use a lot now, the #4 calls birds on to people that hurt them. Great for dealing damage to a off target if needed, and if nothing else its funny seeing how big the birds get (they scale up given what they are attacking). The key thing about horn is how the #5 (Call of the Wild) is now a BLAST FINISHER. What that means is that when you use it on a AoE field on the ground you give a AoE buff. ie: healing spring + blast = AoE heal /// Fire = might /// Lightening = swiftness and so on its all here: http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blast_Finisher

Also if you want more healing use a Fern Hound, its F2 skill is a frontal cone AoE regen (ie heal over time).

Also since I am sure not enough folks know this, want to look something up?? do /wiki x in your chat in game and it’ll bring up a page for whatever Internet browser you use.

Also don’t worry if it takes a while to learn everything about what weapons with what pets let alone builds.