Is the ranger good/viable?

Is the ranger good/viable?

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Posted by: Lytro.9305

Lytro.9305

Hi everyone, I was wondering if the ranger is still a good/viable choice to play as. When it comes to PvE (dungeons and fractals), PvP, and WvW, is it good? Is there a good build variety or is there only a few select builds that are good?

Is the ranger good/viable?

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Posted by: Wondrouswall.7169

Wondrouswall.7169

All modes: Good? Yes. Viable? Yes.

Builds? Hiemskarl’s 40+ Builds Thread for all Modes

Pick your poison and have fun.

PET PRECISION & DPS TESTS -OUTDATED-
Will update once Path of Fire releases.

Is the ranger good/viable?

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Posted by: Padra.1678

Padra.1678

In my opinion ranger is good if not completely viable profession to play. However I can only speak from a pvp standpoint. The problem with ranger is not that its a bad or seriously under powered class rather its that it is out preformed across all areas by the other classes. Why would a team want a condi bunker ranger when they can have an D/D ele? Why would a team want a LB ranger they have to constantly peel for when they can have a Mesmer who does more damage, has way more defenses and is faster? Why would a team want a ranger for group support because unfortunately a ranger has nothing meaningful to offer.

I have been playing ranger since the very beginning of the game and despite all I have said I do not believe that ranger is an under powered class. It just need something. In the hands of a skilled player a ranger can still be very effective.

As far as build diversity you have three options: LB power, condi or power surv bunker and condi traps which no one plays in tpvp because it just dosent work. Bunker rangers work but elementalists, guardians, warriors and even engineers do it better. LB power ranger works but thief, mesmer, warriors and guardians (have more damage and defense but are slower.) do it better.

Is the ranger good/viable?

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Posted by: Zenos Osgorma.2936

Zenos Osgorma.2936

they only do it better if the Ranger is a Crap ranger ,most of them just go full glass and scholars because they think they are safe at range and most have not worked out how to mid Melee and Ranged combat stuck in the simple mind of Melee or Ranged not learning how to fight a good fight using both methods.

try Timber shouts with Cav amulet + Rage runes for De-capp supporting pets Red moa and saimoth for boon boost and fury.

or Soldier runes for Condi party support Marksman, Skirmishing (quickdraw) and beastmastery with Two-handed training or check out the Battlecry ranger build on youtube, though he uses Marurdar instead of Cav.
supporting pets Eagle + 1 other pet of choice .

there is one thing rangers do better than any other class they can commit to a fight without getting to danger best +1 class there is but it is also the worst if you don’t time your evades and just spam them trying to avoid every attack will surely get you killed .

ps other classes don;t do it better they just have a Easier time supporting since half the skills are Radius effects which require no Direction or to aim a pet f2 (MoA’s) to provide a boon , they can just Do support during normal rotations which require nearly no thought in group fights just the basics of bread and butter plant a field> combo it and carry on don’t have to worry about postioning since everything is within the required radius and again this current meta is 90% melee and only the Mesmer is part ranged the rest of the time he ports in to deal damage .

Rangers just don;t fit into those team comps , and require a totaly different stratagem than just Rush > port > damage and magicarping fields where you don;t have to worry about measuring distances.