Guild Wars 2

I have always liked torch as the offhand weapon on my condition ranger.
But I am just putting together a trapper build and thinking about dagger instead.

With Flame, Spike, and Frost Traps loaded would dagger provide greater utility (condition variety)? Some folks seem to like it.
(Note: Lightning Reflex will likely replace Spike Trap and I am using Energy sigils).

What clear advantage does dagger have over torch?

Comparison
Dagger – single target – provides Poison, Bleed, Cripple – 250 & 900 range
Torch – single/aoe – provides Burning. – pbaoe/1200 range

FYI, this build will be a WvW and PvE tagger and farmer/roamer.

Cuzican.1087:

I have always liked torch as the offhand weapon on my condition ranger.
But I am just putting together a trapper build and thinking about dagger instead.

With Flame, Spike, and Frost Traps loaded would dagger provide greater utility (condition variety)? Some folks seem to like it.
(Note: Lightning Reflex will likely replace Spike Trap and I am using Energy sigils).

What clear advantage does dagger have over torch?

Comparison
Dagger – single target – provides Poison, Bleed, Cripple – 250 & 900 range
Torch – single/aoe – provides Burning. – pbaoe/1200 range

FYI, this build will be a WvW and PvE tagger and farmer/roamer.

My trap build for WvW is 2/6/6 with axe/torch and long bow. I prefer frost, flame, and spike trap with entangle. I’m not a pro ranger by any means but this works for me and makes short work of any camp I take. Rabid gear + condition accessories.

Feel/comfort level is what it does. I can spin up conditions and bleeds pretty quick yet get away from most classes. I’ve had small havoc groups chase me all across the map because the amount of speed burst and soft cc I can lay down.

Its not perfect but to answer your question I like axe / torch. I’ve tried dagger but if truth be told, I suck at melee on a ranger

ROFL, Thank you!
I think you hit it for. I don’t like to be in cleave range either.

I am debating 2/6/6/0/0 vs 0/6/6/2/0. I like the low-health Protection. Toss up probably.

What do you use for speed? Can’t equip warhorn or Signet of the Hunt while in combat. Traveler runes? Trapper runes for me.

Trapper runes are it honestly. I’ll also use the speed boosters which help when I don’t want to keep throwing traps. It isn’t has fast as traveler which a few of the people I roam with use, but with the trap runes and/or boosters I’m still always within eye sight and usually within LB range.

Another ranger I roam with from time to time uses GS/LB with the trapper runes. He does really well and gets around a bit faster than I do with GS leap or whatever it is.

I don’t know if Keen Edge makes sense in my build but I have it.

Sharpened edges, trappers expertise, and trap potency seem to fit well.

Wilderness knowledge, off hand training, and empathic bond also seem to work.

So out of that bunch keen edge is the only thing that I couldn’t figure out. Nor do I remember 100 percent why Like I said I main a Guardian but really like the Ranger. So I try and use range as much as I can to stay out of my poor melee skills Trapper runes seem to give me a easy way out of melee and get back to range.

EDIT: Oh, one other area in my build that I think is not right and that would be Superior Sigil of Incapacitation. It is the new one that is 60% chance on critical to inflect 2 second cripple. It rocks on my zerker set up so this may be a after effect of using similar weapon or having a brain fart. I don’t think trapper runes in my case with rabid armor make a high crit build, so I should probably change that

I think you would be in the 40% crit range with Rabid gear; maybe higher.
At the moment I am going Dire armor with Rabid trinkets, so about 30% crit chance.
Using On Swap sigils (Energy and Geomancy), but that may change.

Thank you for the help. I feel about ready to roll this build out for a test drive.

Cuzican.1087:

ROFL, Thank you!

What do you use for speed? Can’t equip warhorn or Signet of the Hunt while in combat. Traveler runes? Trapper runes for me.

Speed is an issue with the Trapper Runes.

Warhorn and SoH out of combat.

Shortbow3, weapon swap and traps are your sources unless you slot a bird.

I would drop flame trap for poison, and run torch. That way you still have an aoe burn, plus the addition of an aoe poison.

Yep, already di that.
More sources of poison is so helpful.