Guild Wars 2

I’ve been running around WvW for a few weeks, trying to get a feel for how to play my ranger effectively. After being consistently destroyed whenever I tried to take on another adventurer or soldier with my sword, I replaced it with a longbow. I’m finding it somewhat useful (with Eagle Eye for extra range) for the occasional sniping of a half-dead enemy from atop a wall, chasing down a lone straggler who is already hurt and fleeing, and for tagging multiple targets in hope of rewards when the rest of my team kills them. However, the longbow mostly leaves me feeling lame, unable to take down a foe on my own and unable to defend myself when they notice me trying. Once I use Rapid Fire or Barrage (it’s usually one or the other depending on the situation), I’m pretty much an easy target until that skill is ready again.

Point Blank Shot (#4) in particular feels like a waste of a skill slot. Sure, it pushes an enemy back to a range at which I might have a chance to survive, but it’s channeling time is so close to the time it takes for an enemy to close that distance that I feel like I might as well not even bother. Muddy Terrain and Entangle take even longer to activate, so trying to use one of them to keep the enemy away also fails, additionally consuming one of the ranger’s precious few escape skills. Pet skills that impair movement also take too long to be much help here.

At the moment, I can’t think of any situation where Point Blank Shot has actually been useful. Traiting Piercing Arrows so a column of enemies is pushed back all at once? Cute party trick, but they can still close the distance in no time, and my enemies never seem to be interested in lining up single-file for me anyway. Pushing someone off a ledge? What ledge? The only ledges my foes like to stand on in WvW are walls, and those have parapets that make push-back pointless.

I think I’d like to see Rapid Fire (#2) include the push-back effect (or maybe a movement-impairing effect instead), and have a new, more useful skill take over slot #4. Hopefully something that would improve the ranger’s survivability or make the profession more useful outside of medium-to-large groups.

Rangers requires preparation. This ranges from weapon, pet, utility, elite, position, distance, etc.

Preparation test:
If you are chasing after someone, which pet do you choose?

The spider that immobilizes! No, it missed.
The owl that chills! No, it missed.
The wolf that knockdowns! No, it missed.

A: The spirit bird you see when you “Swoop” with the Greatsword.

^ROFL

That pet is awsome. :P

All I use is swords and Martial Mastery and I get stacks of badges. This last week alone I’ve obtained over 150 badges (not boasting, I’m sure there’s folks with more, I’m just providing a unit of measure to prove I’m not trolling or lying). If you’re going to use mainhand sword in pvp, use it for it’s Serpent’s strike and evades. If you’re not doing condition damage with sword, you might end up in trouble. We’re a medium armor class- we rely on endurance, dodge rolls, and evades to stay alive while in melee range.

LB 4. is great skill. I use it to interrupt enemies finishing my allies, to throw enemies off cliffs/bridges (also can throw them from wall to your zerg in some specific positions), to interrupt enemies on walls casting meteor shower etc, to throw away siege users (good to take away pressure from allies), to stop enemies running into besieged tower, to make a gap AND KD melees attacking me.
It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

I have been thinking about this some what too. It is a good skill. It is very valuable in the right hands. However, because of the cast time (a bit long for an interrupt) the only thing you can interrupt (factoring in range for a longbow) would be a skill that requires 2 seconds or more to cast.

If they made this skill instant shot like LB3 it would be a win skill. You can actually interrupt people when you intend to!

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Yea, I’m jealous of pin down, but point blank is the only knock back ability rangers have unless you count the one that is a counter attack on the greatsword.

And anyone that does jumping puzzles in WvW, knows how valuable a knock back is.

Dahkeus.8243:

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Yea, I’m jealous of pin down, but point blank is the only knock back ability rangers have unless you count the one that is a counter attack on the greatsword.

And anyone that does jumping puzzles in WvW, knows how valuable a knock back is.

The knock back is great, but rapid fire is too easy to dodge and barrage is practically impossible to land on a human target. A pin would be essential and would really boost Longbow damage. Sure, against the golem in the mists I have no complaints, but you can only state that “longbow damage is really strong” (latest state-of-the-game interview) if you assume that all its attacks are landing. Sometimes I get the feeling that the devs don’t take actual combat mechanics into account enough when assessing weapons.

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Yea, I’m jealous of pin down, but point blank is the only knock back ability rangers have unless you count the one that is a counter attack on the greatsword.

And anyone that does jumping puzzles in WvW, knows how valuable a knock back is.

The knock back is great, but rapid fire is too easy to dodge and barrage is practically impossible to land on a human target. A pin would be essential and would really boost Longbow damage. Sure, against the golem in the mists I have no complaints, but you can only state that “longbow damage is really strong” (latest state-of-the-game interview) if you assume that all its attacks are landing. Sometimes I get the feeling that the devs don’t take actual combat mechanics into account enough when assessing weapons.

The longbow in general is overall inferior in a 1v1 PvP scenario to the short bow and is really better suited for large group PvP or PvE, so I’d rather see them make the change to crip shot on the short bow to make it immobilize as well. Not only would this play to the strengths of the short bow, but it would also make it easier to flank enemies for the extra damage/bleeding.

Dahkeus.8243:

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Yea, I’m jealous of pin down, but point blank is the only knock back ability rangers have unless you count the one that is a counter attack on the greatsword.

And anyone that does jumping puzzles in WvW, knows how valuable a knock back is.

The knock back is great, but rapid fire is too easy to dodge and barrage is practically impossible to land on a human target. A pin would be essential and would really boost Longbow damage. Sure, against the golem in the mists I have no complaints, but you can only state that “longbow damage is really strong” (latest state-of-the-game interview) if you assume that all its attacks are landing. Sometimes I get the feeling that the devs don’t take actual combat mechanics into account enough when assessing weapons.

The longbow in general is overall inferior in a 1v1 PvP scenario to the short bow and is really better suited for large group PvP or PvE, so I’d rather see them make the change to crip shot on the short bow to make it immobilize as well. Not only would this play to the strengths of the short bow, but it would also make it easier to flank enemies for the extra damage/bleeding.

I don’t know, I kind of disagree with that. Sure I’d love a snare on SB, but it’s already viable in a 1v1 and the cripple+leap back works well. LB on the other hand just doesn’t work at all in a 1v1, while with a pin like the warrior’s it could actually become usable.

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Daemon.4295:

Dahkeus.8243:

Terkov.4138:

It’s actually one of the best skills we have…

^ this.

Even if you don’t use it as a way to create distance, it’s great for:

1) Interrupting enemies using big skills *cough*hundred blades*cough*
2) Knocking people off of ledges
3) Preventing someone from stomping an ally

And that’s just in PvP.

If you’re just spamming in on cooldown as a desperate attempt to get a melee off of you, then you’re not using it right.

This. LB4 is an a great skill in WvW (and PvE), the only thing I’d trade it for would be a snare, like Warrior LB’s pin down.

Yea, I’m jealous of pin down, but point blank is the only knock back ability rangers have unless you count the one that is a counter attack on the greatsword.

And anyone that does jumping puzzles in WvW, knows how valuable a knock back is.

The knock back is great, but rapid fire is too easy to dodge and barrage is practically impossible to land on a human target. A pin would be essential and would really boost Longbow damage. Sure, against the golem in the mists I have no complaints, but you can only state that “longbow damage is really strong” (latest state-of-the-game interview) if you assume that all its attacks are landing. Sometimes I get the feeling that the devs don’t take actual combat mechanics into account enough when assessing weapons.

It will land if you use it in conjunction with lets say….your pets cripple, your pets knock down, your pets rooting skills etc

The LB is an awesome weapon. But like most of the Ranger mechanic. It is great when used in conjunction with something else. Ranger synergy does exist. Its just not as straight forward as other classes synergy.

LB is amazing in WvW, and all its attacks have their uses. LB4 I used, obvious, keeping distance from the enermy, but more often its useful as a way on stopping your enermy using an ability. Often in battles I save it when when they heal, and then interupt them.

Also as an aside, in 1v1 situations dont use barrage at range as an openning attack, they will easily dodge roll our of it. Use it defensively by casting it on yourself or on your healing spring (preferably with quickening zephr). It usually keeps close combat fighters away from you and if they do appraoch they will be hit hard and crippled, allowing you to move away.

It would be useful if it was instant cast. As it is the cast time is so slow even NPCs can maneuver out of the way in the time it takes to go off. So you rarely get those satisfying knock off the cliff shots everyone is claiming here. Most of the time it fails just like our other shots, and just knocks the target down or does nothing rather than knock them back. It should knock people down and knock them on their butts, then it might be useful.

Cuchullain.3104:

It would be useful if it was instant cast.

Yes, exactly!

KensaiZen.3740:

However, because of the cast time (a bit long for an interrupt) the only thing you can interrupt (factoring in range for a longbow) would be a skill that requires 2 seconds or more to cast.

That has been my experience as well. The delayed interrupt is occasionally useful, but not enough to feel like a good use of a skill slot. The short bow’s interrupt is much better.

Cufufalating.8479:

LB4 I used, obvious, keeping distance from the enermy,

I guess your enemies must be exceptionally slow, or just never think of running toward you to close the distance. The ones that I actually need to keep at distance tend to be nearly upon me by the time Point Black Shot fires. When there are more than one of them, my target’s buddies are upon me by the time it fires. I think I would be better off turning my back and running than trying to use a knockback that is usually worthless when playing against human players.

All I know is that when I’m playing a melee character, every longbow ranger I ever see is all too eager to spam it on cooldown, knocking enemies out of my range but into another group’s aggro bubble.

Seriously, stop that.

Point Black Shot is a control skill. Once you know the distance to which your foe is being pushed to, it basically allows you to place your foe where you want. In PvP, it can be used to push a foe away from a downed ally, to prevent a stomp (followed up by a snare skill to keep the foe away). In WvW, it can be used to push foes off cliff sides, and into their death. In PvE, it can be used to push a mob back into a AoE field, to maximise damage. In dungeons, it can be used to interrupt a boss. And so on…

The longbow is a good weapon for supporting from the rear lines; at a close distance its damage is negligible and really just a non threat against anyone with half a brain that can press their dodge (or block) once it starts firing.

As for longbow 4, Point Blank Shot; use it as an interrupt, not to make distance.

It would be nice if it were an actually pin though, or if hunters shot added a decent 3-4 second cripple or something so that one could knock back and then followup with Hunter’s or something (give the longbow something a bit more to play with than the mindless spam that it ends up being….).

For now though, the Ranger Longbow is a decent weapon for rear line support fire. The damage out put over time is either severely crippled by the range penalty it bears, or too easily avoided. If you can get that max distance it’s an alright choice though…

Personally, I only use it for the Point Blank Shot interrupt and Barrage in WvW when defending a keep and for poking from a safely behind (or in the middle of) a zerg. Otherwise, I just use my GS and Sword/Dagger to go at it with an enemy (saved many allies from being stomped with the GS Hilt Bash ).

The only time the LB (and #4 in particular) is an absolute necessity for me is when I need to stun the Legendary Rampaging Ice Elemental in the Underground Facility fractal out of his healing state. SB #5 and GS #5 can also stun, but there are too many prerequisites to fulfill in that short window to get them to work. That one instance aside, the LB is all but never used.