Guild Wars 2

I like playing Ranged players – in FPSers I like to snipe – the Ranger seemed perfect for my play style.

My current toon is at LvL13 – just starting out.

Likes:

I like the ‘shower with arrows’ trick, between that and my pet I can get single targets health worked down a bit where I don’t have to hit em with to many arrows. I’d love it if attack #1 had more range.

I don’t know if I like the sword or hatchet better. The hatchet has the ‘bounce’ ability for mob’s which I like but the sword seems to have more DPS on single targets in melee range. I do like using a 1 handed weapon so I can have my horn in my off hand, getting some birds to come in the nick of time can save the day!

I’ve tried using all three ranged abilities, first hit them with both ‘horn’ attacks and when those wear off switch to the log bow and hit them with the arrow shower. (or the other way around)

Most games when things get dicy my toon is quick enough to simply RUN LIKE HECK away from the fight – the Rangers don’t seem to be quick enough. (oh well)

Since we only have ‘medium’ armor, the #4 knock back arrow attack comes in handy to get em out of your face.

I have not spent many of my skill points as many of the single point skills seemed rather er weak.

It does seem rather difficult to face mobs alone. When other players are around to add support (or to support) the game seems more fluid than ‘lone wolfing’ it.

This is my first MMO and the PvE is kinda like Skyrim with others around to help (or not). Its been fun so far.

Any positive suggestions on what to invest in? I found that some of the items that I was purchasing could be freely gotten via completing ‘personal story’ elements. At one point I had two long bows, horns and axe’s! Is there a bigger backpack somewhere to be found or purchased?

Welcome to ranger MaRko.

U just start from ranger in late game higher LV ranger will face mob of enemy easy on PvE up to your style build/play.

I will talk what I know in easy answer.

1HSword good killing fast and stable dps if u put enemy in same line u can hit2-5of them in a row.(And do not try hit10monster at once.).Basic atk of 1Hsword make enemy crippled and give your pet might.Skill2 and 3 is perfect evade if u use in good timeing.

Axe good with 1v1 or 1v3 and best1v2 “Bounce” make enemy pain and die fast.
This weapon is good when kite enemy u can run around fool enemy and hit them untill they done.And axe skill have nice codition for make enemy bleed/weak/Chill.

Both of them useful in any battle if you know what are you going to fight with.

Warhorn is good for buff-self/group and more useful.(But I not expert on warhorn can’t talk in this weapon so much.)

Torch cook enemy with fire.I like this to burn enemy alive.

Another weapon can talk if u need.

Skill point use it with skill you need first.Beacuese first start skill point is hard to get.
Then use to buy skill what u want first and at LV80>81 u will get 1skill point alway.(But u still LV80.)or open more map u will get more skill point from start.

Singel skill point is weak? um in my idea is…not powerful but VERY USEFUL easy to use and handle nice cooldown.

Bird pet also cawcaw very good you see! If race is Norn then even more bird attack for mighty bird death combo. Movie called The Birds, much like that.

Screaming enemy run from horn bird, pet bird, Norn bird. So much pecking to do!

My two weapon outfits are currently: Axe/Warhorn and Shortsword/Torch.
(made it to lvl12 last night)

The Shortsword/Torch DPS well in melee range, the axe/horn can be more ranged and with the axe’s ‘bounce’ between targets is helpful on mobs.

However with mobs I kind of miss the ‘rain with arrows’ ability of the long bow as well as its better range.

I picked up the ‘spike trap’ for the bleed.

Inventory management is always an issue. Do we ever get bigger backpacks? Can you ever recycle your starting axe?

If you are running Axe/Horn combo, I suggest investing in a trap, preferably Spike or higher level Frost. It will help you kite the mobs better especially if you have Call of the Wild boons on.

As for inventory space, learn leatherwork crafting right away. You should have enough leather scraps (if not buy them cheap from trading post) and make 8 slot leather bags right away.

http://www.gw2db.com/recipes/6509-8-slot-rawhide-leather-pack

You can just buy the bags from Trading Post as they are usually even cheaper than crafting them by yourself…get 8-10 slots (8 slots are like 30-50 copper?) for now…should be enough and investing in a future on inventory expansions is another option (real or ingame money, up to you).

Shortbow is probably the best PvE weapon, longbow has a great skill (barrage) but in close range it makes low damage except Rapid Fire and Barrage which don’t receive the damage penalty.

Axe is not good unless you like how it looks or the playstyle, sword is great and probably the biggest DPS weapon but it’s risky to use it.

My advice…unless you are really into how the weapons look like or really enjoy certain playstyle…shortbow/longbow is a great combo, shortbow/sword+torch also is great for PvE leveling.
Signet of the Wild gives you HP regen in combat for you and your pet, awesome passive signet for PvE even tho you’ll get it when you level up a bit more and entangle is the “must have” elite for PvE.

Yup… got the spike trap and as luck would have it I’m already moving up in leatherwork crafting.

Sorry if I’m a noob to this stuff but what is “kite” ?

MaRko.3165:

Yup… got the spike trap and as luck would have it I’m already moving up in leatherwork crafting.

Sorry if I’m a noob to this stuff but what is “kite” ?

Kite means running while hitting

Kite= Agrrosive/make enemy hate/Lure enemy to you and u run around like mad man.
And not let’s them hit you whenn you hit them.

About trap spike trap is good for bleed/cripped and if u need killing fast try flame trap.
It look like warm and nothing but it cook enemy fast if u lure them stand on flame trap as long as u can.

So I rolled a new ranger recently, having leveled a guardian to 80 and an Ele to 24(had to give this one up) I have some experience with GW2. Currently a level 25.

My thoughts: Trait Points – Not as important as you level. For PVE I have chosen for precision and wilderness survival because conditions seem to be what I do. I expect I will reassess the distribution of these points once I hit 60 and again at 80.

Skills – There are enough skill points in this game to buy all skills. So like Pokemon you gotta get them all BUT there are some that are more useful that others. Traps are a must have, heals are a must have and movement modifiers are a must have(for me). Pick the skills you NEED first and the rest after you have what you need. Don’t forget you must have purchased a certain number of skills to open the next tier. You can see the number under the tier listing x/5 etc. The elites however are not available until level 30.

Pets – again as with skills you can get them all, so make sure you do! I am constantly swapping out pets to suit the area. Sometimes I want a tanky pet or dps or utility or a poisoner. I swap lots.

Weapons – I have unlocked most weapon skills except the warhorn. I might do that later but for now ima leave it as I dont rate it. I generally run with both bows so the news on the expected fixes in the next patch are exciting. I have not run into any trouble I cannot handle in PVE with this setup. This includes taking on multiple mobs +3 levels on what I currently am. Which is nothing special for a Guardian and freaking miraculous for an Ele so for the most part I am pleased with the Ranger.

IF I require a more melee based set up to cope with a situation I will opt for a sword and dagger. The evades, poison and bleed effect suits me fine. I would possibly also go with a crow for the blind.

Tips -

Quickening Zephire – Unload some seriously fast shots. Usually I use this with my Barrage and the the Hunters Shot & Rapid Fire skills for the ranger. Sometimes if I have their back I will pop QZ with the short bows normal attack to stack bleed and proc the bleed on crit.

Traps – At this point I only have 3 utility slots open so I run with Vipers Nest and Spike Trap. I generally lay both at my feet to control any mobs that like to get in my face. I use them often.

Heals – I use healing spring now but may look to change to troll ungent for better healing in solo play. Healing spring is good for groups and is a combo field.

Pets – I go for a spiders, they are creepy as hell and they spit a venom puff ball that is also a combo field as part of their normal attack. It couples nicely with the bows. For my tankier set up I will use the Brown Bear and the Artocas(sp?) I have bound their special attack (F2) and their swap (F4) to a more convenient location and swap and spam skills in combat as much as possible.

I may not be playing the Ranger right but the above is basically a summary of what I go for and what I have picked up so far. It works for me and I have a lot of fun.

So take what you will and leave the rest. If you take nothing thanks for reading!

MaRko.3165:

I like playing Ranged players – in FPSers I like to snipe – the Ranger seemed perfect for my play style.

It’s not. You want long ranged killing with a weapon, play the warrior and crack out a rifle. You may want to consider an engineer for the autoattack and gadgets on the rifle, but the ranger is more melee/ranged mix with a big emphasis on the pet.

Again: the pet has a big emphasis. If you want to be eyecandy and you want to ignore it, treating it like some vague fire-and-forget-dots missile and expect to match a Warrior (designed to be the best when relying on a straightforward weapon-v-weapon headbutting contest with someone) you’re going to be disappointed. Just look at all the whine threads complaining about it.

Ridgeblader.7135:

So I rolled a new ranger recently, having leveled a guardian to 80 and an Ele to 24(had to give this one up) I have some experience with GW2. Currently a level 25.

My thoughts: Trait Points – Not as important as you level. For PVE I have chosen for precision and wilderness survival because conditions seem to be what I do. I expect I will reassess the distribution of these points once I hit 60 and again at 80.

Skills – There are enough skill points in this game to buy all skills. So like Pokemon you gotta get them all BUT there are some that are more useful that others. Traps are a must have, heals are a must have and movement modifiers are a must have(for me). Pick the skills you NEED first and the rest after you have what you need. Don’t forget you must have purchased a certain number of skills to open the next tier. You can see the number under the tier listing x/5 etc. The elites however are not available until level 30.

Pets – again as with skills you can get them all, so make sure you do! I am constantly swapping out pets to suit the area. Sometimes I want a tanky pet or dps or utility or a poisoner. I swap lots.

Weapons – I have unlocked most weapon skills except the warhorn. I might do that later but for now ima leave it as I dont rate it. I generally run with both bows so the news on the expected fixes in the next patch are exciting. I have not run into any trouble I cannot handle in PVE with this setup. This includes taking on multiple mobs +3 levels on what I currently am. Which is nothing special for a Guardian and freaking miraculous for an Ele so for the most part I am pleased with the Ranger.

IF I require a more melee based set up to cope with a situation I will opt for a sword and dagger. The evades, poison and bleed effect suits me fine. I would possibly also go with a crow for the blind.

Tips -

Quickening Zephire – Unload some seriously fast shots. Usually I use this with my Barrage and the the Hunters Shot & Rapid Fire skills for the ranger. Sometimes if I have their back I will pop QZ with the short bows normal attack to stack bleed and proc the bleed on crit.

Traps – At this point I only have 3 utility slots open so I run with Vipers Nest and Spike Trap. I generally lay both at my feet to control any mobs that like to get in my face. I use them often.

Heals – I use healing spring now but may look to change to troll ungent for better healing in solo play. Healing spring is good for groups and is a combo field.

Pets – I go for a spiders, they are creepy as hell and they spit a venom puff ball that is also a combo field as part of their normal attack. It couples nicely with the bows. For my tankier set up I will use the Brown Bear and the Artocas(sp?) I have bound their special attack (F2) and their swap (F4) to a more convenient location and swap and spam skills in combat as much as possible.

I may not be playing the Ranger right but the above is basically a summary of what I go for and what I have picked up so far. It works for me and I have a lot of fun.

So take what you will and leave the rest. If you take nothing thanks for reading!

Thanks for the awesome details!

It appears that when starting out your skill points are can’t be used until you get ‘adept’ training or reach some predefined level – so they don’t effect your early game.

Some of the pets seem more ‘squishy’ then others. The tiger looks cool (I like the grawl) but it gets ‘mortally wounded’ fairly quickly. I’ve tried: dog, bear, spider and boar as well with various success/failure. They all seem squishy.

What gets me is the single hit damage or lack there of. With a 160-180 damage long bow I can hit a RAT and score a 300-500 hit however anything much larger it’s only 40-80. Most large targets end up taking a few dozen hits – unless you add in other attacks (horn) or defensive abilities (traps).

While I was able to play a (-4) level area and take out a dozen or so Centars with just myself and pet, level equal areas and above anything more than single targets are problematic unless there are other players around to lend a hand.

So far its been fun, not in the least frustrating. I have most of the starting map finished. I like that they label the enemies and areas so you sort of know ahead of time if your in over your head.

Thanks again for the advice,

M.

Skill points can be used from the very start, what you’re referring to are probably traits and trait points. To be able to allocate them you need to buy the trait manual first from a ranger guide (NPC), though I suggest you buy it on trading post, because it’s cheaper that way.

There are different species when it comes to animal companions and they have different skills and different stats. If you want a tanky pet I suggest getting a black bear and remember to swap between them before they die.

Rats, rabbits, and the like do not count, you will be able to crit them for a few 100k damage later on but those aren’t there to be fought on a regular basis as they drop no loot and give 0 experience.

You can quite easily solo a group of mobs 5 levels higher than you again from the very start with the use of say axes and traps + your pet, you will figure it out as you get more familiar with the combat system.

MaRko.3165:

Some of the pets seem more ‘squishy’ then others. The tiger looks cool (I like the grawl) but it gets ‘mortally wounded’ fairly quickly. I’ve tried: dog, bear, spider and boar as well with various success/failure. They all seem squishy.

What gets me is the single hit damage or lack there of. With a 160-180 damage long bow I can hit a RAT and score a 300-500 hit however anything much larger it’s only 40-80. Most large targets end up taking a few dozen hits – unless you add in other attacks (horn) or defensive abilities (traps).

The simple fact is the pets are pretty squishy until you spend trait points on them, hence I reccomended you put points into them ASAP; 10 or even just 5 makes a difference and gives you an idea what they’re like when they aren’t neglected.
You’re right in your observations as well; different pets do different things. Bears are the most durable, Drakes hit multiple foes with their attack, the birds (non moas) are probably the best at damage, dogs are crowd control… you get the idea.

Yet again: rangers are designed to work with the pets. If you want to be a long ranged sniper style thing and do lots of ranged damage with a weapon only, go play warrior. You’ll save yourself some frustration.