Guild Wars 2

I just got my ranger to 80 and got a really nice shortbow exotic weapon drop. I really want to use it, but it seems like shortbows fall well… short in most areas.

Does anyone enjoy using a shortbow? Is it useable in non-condition builds? Are condition builds useable for non-pvp stuff?

SB is very useful in 1v1 situations and works just fine in open world content, especially the new stuff. High precision and rapid attack make it ideal for on crit sigils. Make sure to equip trait that allows it to shoot through targets. I have Kudzo, and love LB, but swap in my shiny SB from time to time, for a change of pace. It works just fine.

Very high conditions (read max) are fun to use in open world content as well, but most people with get angry with me for saying so. Give it a try with carrion or rabid, for fun. Just make sure you know what the META is and have that set in your inventory at all times.

Thanks for the swift reply! I am really glad to hear that. I was going to go to the sliverwastes map and try it out. I have my longbow and sword/axe in my inventory always just in case I need them, but I’m glad to hear the shortbow is viable.

Is that trait you mentioned Piercing Arrows?

Condition build isn’t good for pve.
SB is very good for spvp or 1vs1 open world, condition build.
SB also very good for pve farming, put sigil of fire and trait Piercing Arrow.
For zerking around @ eotm with train, stick with longbow, Eagle Eye+Read the Wind+Quick Draw. Max range when train clashes (pvp).

I always found SB to be bad in any 1v1 situation, where you will never flank the enemy. It shines in small scale groupe fights in full condition builds where you can flank, and stack a lot of bleeds on targets who are not directly attacking you. It’s our only ranged condition weapon, coming with a very reliable interrupt.
You probably won’t use it in pve, since power based builds are often more effective.

Don’t bother using it in PvE. It was good when the game came out with the high rate-of-fire and 1200 range default, but after the nerfs years ago there’s really no point in using it over the Longbow.

sPvP on the other hand, try running Rabid with Sharpened Edges, Krait Rune and Sigil of Earth. Shortbow is a condition/toolbox weapon so it fits very well for small scale PvP engagements.

Bleed stacking, kiting (pve more so), looking cool

It’s not bad, just has an acquired taste that some dislike and others triumph with. I’m so-so with it.

I like shortbow for Silverwastes, open world, PvP, and champion soloing. The bigger the group you’re in and the more bleed stacks a monster has on it that aren’t yours the less damage you’ll do because with a proper setup you’ll be able to maintain a super high amount of bleed stacks.

Pet and agro management are important. I’d recommend a drake or bear to be able to survive in PvP.

Shortbow would only be viable in dungeons if everybody let you be the dedicated bleed and poison stacker. Organized groups it would be fine but PuGs I’d just go power.

If you’re not flanking you’re doing something wrong. If you have agro that prevents you from flanking, you’re doing something wrong.

Shortbow is my favorite weapon in this game but it’s really hard to implement in PvE. PvP it’s a great deal of fun. I run SB+S/A usually.

With the new sinister armor (condi, power, prec) it might become somewhat viable in PvE, I would love to use my mainhand axe in other than in PvP. Here’s to hope!

Axe/axe > shortbow in almost any situation imo. 1v1 it may have a slight edge.

SB is by no means a bad weapon. It’s great for shorter range skirmishing, and I actually still prefer it over the LB in a lot of open world content, especially if I have any + condi gear (it’s not as useless as people act like it is).

Just try to keep your target flanked and it will easily outdamage LB and Axe.

It’s pretty deadly against any of the new Husk type enemies that have massive toughness and low vitality.

I think the SB shines with Rabid/Rampager/Sinister gear and Sharpened Edges.

Try a carrion build in pvp with spider+muddy terrain+hound, you pew pew poor immobilized souls all day long.
Cripple them, then stun them, spider should then do its first immob, then you immob with muddy terrain, then use spider f2, then switch to hound, hound knockbacks, then hound f2 for immob. For even more kite take frost trap.

Using spirits is also cool with shortbow, so is sharpening stone+zephyr for bleed overstacking.

Conditions and every other type of build you can conceive of is fine for open world, if by open world we’re talking map completion (although significantly slower for open world trash, but whatever.) Conditions are almost completely useless for large boss fight though, due to the condition cap.

The new Maguuma areas are mostly not bosses, so it should be good enough.