Guild Wars 2

Hello,

Just started up a ranger, and I’m actually kinda disappointed by the longbow. It seems to only do marginally more straight damage than a shortbow, with a massive speed decrease.

I love the idea of having the damage distance based, and I really like a longer range sniper-type deal, but I feel like I kitten myself every time I use a longbow. Does it get better? Is there something I’m missing?

If you want to do long range damage make a Rifle/Longbow Warrior ;-)

Dang. I do enjoy having a pet, just sucks that rangers take such a hit on the player side for them. I’m starting to understand why a lot of people are on the fence about rangers…

Mardermann.7468:

If you want to do long range damage make a Rifle/Longbow Warrior ;-)

And get kicked from dungs for not using GS (by same ppl who kick rangers from dungs ofc).

LBs dmg is very close to SB actually. I use LB just because I like it and I don’t have problems… ofc it’s going “hard way” and equal skilled player with more viable class/weapon will beat me. Still, play what you like.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/My-ranger-movie/first#post2012815

LB is actually really good to compliment melee rangers and to rain pain down on WvW attackers.

SB is generally better for sPvP, condition management and sustained damage on open world PvE and such.

However, as you get more experience you’re likely to lean more toward melee for your main weapon. Basically in GW2 its really hard to get ranged damage to even touch melee damage so choosing your ranged weapon isn’t just about the DPS it can put out, it’s about what you can do with it to compliment your build.

From what I’ve experienced.

I was torn between the two when I first started at launch, told myself I’d just play with both and by level 80 I’d know which I liked best. I got to level 80 back in April and I’m still torn and still going between the two.

They both have their pros and cons IMO. When I’m using a shortbow I really miss the easy and effective AoE you get from barrage, the knockback and the general ease of use the longbow has (you don’t need to worry about your position, just keep shooting and when they get too close for significant damage switch to a melee weapon).

But when I’m using the longbow I miss the rapid fire rate of the shortbow, the extra dodge from Quickshot and all the conditions (especially poison).

I still don’t know which one I’m going to stick with, or if I’m going to keep swapping between them (with a melee set as well) forevermore.

So, in general, focus on GS with LB as an on-the-side?

I’ll have to try that.

Delbaeth.2739:

So, in general, focus on GS with LB as an on-the-side?

I’ll have to try that.

I strongly endorse this! This is what I use in WvW and it works really great. The hardest part is to know which weapon to use for a given moment. Not counting the obvious LB for sieging towers, knowing when to swap weapons is a skill that would make you a better player, especially when on 1v1 situations.

Delbaeth.2739:

Hello,

Just started up a ranger, and I’m actually kinda disappointed by the longbow. It seems to only do marginally more straight damage than a shortbow, with a massive speed decrease.

I love the idea of having the damage distance based, and I really like a longer range sniper-type deal, but I feel like I kitten myself every time I use a longbow. Does it get better? Is there something I’m missing?

First of all do you play pve, wvw or spvp? In pve you can basically play whatever you like. In wvw is pretty much aoe spamming and zerg fights so ye…again use whatever you like. In pvp the longbow is not that good imo…Hunter’s Shot and Point Blank Shot are nice but the autoattack is simply too slow, the weapon itself is so kittening slow. It feels nice cos is quite realistic (much more than the shortbow), but is not really viable atm. The shortbow is much faster, you have a second way to apply poison (sword #3 and sb #2), a good evade, a snare and an interrupt. In my opinon the shortbow is better, and i’ve played with both for a long time.