Guild Wars 2

I made a build that focused on soloing for HoT. Figured in order to take more than 1 hit before I die in zerker gear I’d need to swap it out for something else. I made this build in mind as a cheap replacement while im mapping/doing story missions in HoT.

I used a mix of zerker/carrion/rabid to get a mix of perc/power/cond/and vit for condition sustain and some survivability.

I used condition cause I from what I understand, HoT mobs are tougher then old tyrian mobs and conditions would be more useful.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNIQNAV3fnUqAVsgtCC+sBctgBDh63int273N1raOAW3SvknVA-ThSAABUcBA8a/B3PIAQY+7WlgA8AAYS5XQq/wnuBPOCAAA-e

So, any suggestions on the build? Anything to change to make it better or is this just a kitten build?

Even in full Zerker gear, I find it difficult to die in one hit.

Not a big fan of Shortbow, especially without Druid for Ancient Seeds after Concussion Shot. I’d still use Longbow for RF, Barrage and Knockback/Stealth in general PvE, but occasionally use GS too since it cleaves with a free evade and has a guard skill which can prove useful while surrounded by stuff (even if the damage isn’t great). There’s also a number of monsters who will shield against or evade ranged attacks, so you have to be wary of them either way.

I’d also swap Sick ’Em and Sharpnel Mine for a Stun Break like Lightning Reflexes or Signet of Stone in case you end up getting overwhelmed or immobilized.

It’s fine but could be improved alot.

You can solo much of HoT as full glass. Wilderness survival has some really good traits for it.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJATWjEqQNLWuCusAVLWMEM4u6YNt28uSdtAmAworBcwqLL-TVSFABrpDYQlgtt/oJAgnAAxKROU9nEOEALp8K5LAQAAEgduz05ODM0hO0hO0h2O35O35O3ZA-w

Glass hybrid with lb/staff. It is druid but before druid I was using beast mastery and sword(or axe)/torch instead of staff.

Wolf sucks in HoT so I would replace that, its just that I play the same build in wvw and I don’t like renaming pet ;-)
Oh if you run beast mastery still get wilting strikes and blackbear on swap. 14sec weakness = ~ %25 dmg reduction.

zero.5316:

I made a build that focused on soloing for HoT. Figured in order to take more than 1 hit before I die in zerker gear I’d need to swap it out for something else. I made this build in mind as a cheap replacement while im mapping/doing story missions in HoT.

I used a mix of zerker/carrion/rabid to get a mix of perc/power/cond/and vit for condition sustain and some survivability.

I used condition cause I from what I understand, HoT mobs are tougher then old tyrian mobs and conditions would be more useful.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNIQNAV3fnUqAVsgtCC+sBctgBDh63int273N1raOAW3SvknVA-ThSAABUcBA8a/B3PIAQY+7WlgA8AAYS5XQq/wnuBPOCAAA-e

So, any suggestions on the build? Anything to change to make it better or is this just a kitten build?

I used this to solo the maps and story content:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNIQJATRnUqAVsgtsA+CCctgh9gav9A4s/44IeaegD4RoknlG-TRRWwABV/hgyPS6CAs/wNlgAA-e

Basic takeaways regardless of spec:

• Range wins HoT openworld content.
• Stealth is strong for keeping aggro on pets, giving you uninterrupted heals.
• Maps are big. Bring mobility.
• You need a little condi clear, or you will die.
• You need either an immunity or a stunbreak, or you will die.
• Use tougher pets for the tougher mobs. Drakes are probably the best (solid dps, constant cleave, very durable), but smokescale and bristleback are strong too. Dont use wyrvens, they cant hit anything.

This spec basically camps longbow on tougher fights but swaps as much as possible on easier stuff. Pets keep aggro, bow cleaves, runes manage conditions, stability is very available, 25 might stacks with HaO is enjoyable for the frequent veterans. The gear wasnt thought out, its just what I used to use for WvW back before HoT destroyed WvW. For condi intense encounters, I would temporarily pick the trap trait and use healing spring.

For your condi/power hybrid spec, I don’t think its a bad start, but.

• Light on Your Feet is inferior to Quick Draw, even for condi specs, even ones with shortbow. Double spitblade or bonfire + double poison volley > some condi duration from dodging and cleave on a short range weapon.
• Shrapnel mine probably isnt good.
• geomancy > blight sigil
• Ferocity is a weak stat for such low power here. if you want the hybrid power/condi, viper is a better choice than berserkers here.
• You will want tougher pets than birds.
• You need a little condi clear and stun break from something.
• You dont have mobility for moving around the map, but thats more of QoL thing.
• SotW and Natural Healing are probably over kill for pet support.
• Sick ’em doesnt bring a lot to the table. The mobs that stealth only do it for a few seconds, and they are tough enough that denying them one stealth doesnt change a fight much.

Maybe something like this for you:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNIQNAV3fnEqA9Ci1sAusAUtgBDh63int273NYbBOAW3G4knFCIA-ThSAQBU4CAABzfBU3wtUCCgHAATU+1hDCQQU/xDHBges/AA-e

Traps can also be very strong for champ soloing. Thats another route to consider.

Thanks for the feed back guys, really helpful!

Never really considered what you said Raven. Given the need of condi clear, mobility and the stun breaks.

Ill experiment with my zerker gear with some traits, I think the wilderness tree will be save my life lol

I had so much fun soloing the whole if HoT with full Clerics Gear.

DPSing mainly through the pet, you’d be surprised how much it can tank with your heals.

As a newbie, I’ve had a good time using meta battle’s S/A-LB spotter build (http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Ranger_-_S/A_LB_Spotter).

I regret not taking ranger runes but scholar works fine as well. I often switch signet of the hunt for wild, get a stun-breaking skill when needed and sometimes exra mobility by using WH or GS depending on what I am fighting.

I am sure this build is improvable because it is not principally about solo play but in HoT you often end up fighting stuff together with a few people around you anyway. I assume if you were to improve on it, you’d take out some of the effects that spill to other people and add more survivability skills but leave the gear as it is? Please someone correct me if that is not the way to go :-)

I am not sure how experienced you are but I’ve found that the key to having fun in HoT is getting to know the standard enemy attacks and learning to evade them while being conservative about endurance, learning how to control aggro and using your pet and finally not being shy about skipping mobs because HoT is all about those events going on (imo).

Raven.9603:

• Light on Your Feet is inferior to Quick Draw, even for condi specs, even ones with shortbow. Double spitblade or bonfire + double poison volley > some condi duration from dodging and cleave on a short range weapon.

I don’t think it’s as cut and dried as that. I swap back and forth between LoYF and QD, depending on what I’m facing. For bosses and other high-hp single targets, QD is the clear winner. For large open world fights with big packs of mobs, piercing arrows (from LoYF) is pretty awesome. I like them both.