Need Ranger PvP advise
I am not an expert in sPvP, but I don’t think ranger is so easy in sPvP. Generally I think you use shortbow and stay back. Dodging and running around are key. Knowing when to weapon switch/which weapon is important too. I think ranger is about CC abilities and kiting, and not so much about burst. I think specing for survivability will get you farther than specing for burst.
Mox those are very generic advise. I am looking for more specific for anyone who is having very good success in PvP.
I’ve been very successful running this in both free tournaments and quickjoin. This is the solo version of the build (in team play, change elite as needed and take healing spring if you’re going to be playing with others and not just roaming)
Your (very) basic combo is thus: open with call>birds>winter’s bite. Pop spider’s venom then weapon swap>PV. The spider’s immob will hit as chill wears off. Once that happens, swap to wolf and unload crossfires while popping wolf fear. The fear will run them away from you, allowing you to pop QZ and finish the kill.
The odds of pulling that off seamlessly are slim but you have enough tools here to kite around and live long enough to make a kill happen.
Also note that, when downed, you can chain lightning flash into petswap>wolf fear into another lightning flash to give allies time to rez you.
Another bonus is that I can solo svanir, chief, and guildlord + all NPCs easily.
http://ncn.enjin.com/
RE: Lawn Pirate
My experience shows that Axe as a second for shortbow is not especially good for PvP. Sure it seems good because its so easy to use, but it has no good CC. I think longbow is a better choice only because knockback is so good. Another option is greatsword, which you use to dps people who you can’t get away from. Managing all three weapons is really what you need to be able to do. Also, I think Rampage as One is a questionable choice for elite, entangle is superior.
Longbow is kind of a garbage weapon. It’s too slow and all of its damage comes from hunters>rapid fire which is extremely easy to see coming and dodge. Greatsword suffers from a similar problem.
Winter’s bite is easy weakness and chill, which is huge when fighting both players and NPCs. Additionally, call of the wild and hunter’s call are both incredible abilities. Splitblade and ricochet are nice too. I especially like richochet against mesmers.
As for RaO, I agree that it’s one-dimensional. I run it when solo exclusively for the stability as the might stacking is unreliable. Entagle, however, is horrible against anyone who knows how to deal with it. All you have to do to get out of the immob is auto attack once or twice. That said, I use it a lot in hotjoin.
When I know I’m going to be in a group fight I just swap to spirit of nature. This occasion is somewhat rare, however, as all rangers are really good for at the moment is roaming. I sometimes swap to soldier/zerker and node defend if we don’t have a guard, engi, or mesmer with us though.
http://ncn.enjin.com/
I feel like the ranger is a support role more than anything, specially with the short bow, your job is to keep the enemies poisoned and slow, interrupt/daze crucial targets and act as some sort of bait with your insane kiting abilities.
When i switch to axe+warhorn it’s all about buffing my allies and dealing tons of damage in crowded battles, the hawk call is useful for knowing where theifs or mesmers are when they go invisible (not sure if intended but sometimes you can see the hawks pecking thin air and you know the thief or mesmer is there).
I’ve been able to 1v1 a couple of thiefs and guardians but not too many times. Hope those little tips helped.
What is the philosophy behind Ranger? Which weapon works best? What build works for sPvP? Should I stick with the group all the time, or go solo like I do with Thief?
A) Damage from Range
B) Shortbow
C) All builds that do damage
D) Group if low skill, roam if high skill