I have been thinking a lot about what changes will be made to ranger builds once specializations come out, and opinions on what I came up with would be great (just trait wise, gear probably wouldn’t change much). Have been mainly focusing on pvp.
Condi Ranger: http://dulfy.net/gw2traits#build=AgUFvAJUA5g~
Assuming you are using axe/dagger and sword/torch you’ll be able to build up potentially ridiculous bleeds and protect them with a decent amount of other condis.
(For Trapper obviously just take III and VI in skirmishing. I feel druid may well end up as the 3rd trait line).
You have no condi removal on your PvP Power build, if it were me I would be dropping BM for WS.
The condi one… I’d be taking Quick Draw over Striders any day, especially with Ambidexterity. A Bonfire that recharges in 3.5s? Yes please. Also, Resounding Timbre is fantastic Adept in BM for HaO imo, the best choice by far if you can utilise it and I would much prefer more hard CC like Beastly Warden than Honed Axes.
Ah yeah didn’t think about the condi cleanse for power because currently power ranger really only uses signet of renewal. Mainly only care about the condi in all honesty, but put the power build here for completions sake. But yeah I agree quick draw would be better,personally prefer the bm traits I had,can see the value in yours though, condi build pets are often pretty squishy though, so a taunt may not be the best.
Gonna try this out for Melee Ranger WvW http://dulfy.net/gw2traits#build=AgUB2APYBeQ~
Greatsword + Sword/Wh
Heal TBD, Lightning Reflexes, Muddy Terrain, SoS, RaO
Heal could be HS or TU, waiting to see numbers and stuff. If HS becomes signet (hoping but people say trap most likely), then HS all the way.
Pets: Fern Hound and Ice Drake maybe?
Signet Mastery and Beastly Warden are the traits that will be wait and see.
Remorseless is definite but wanna see how it works with the RaO fury pulses.
edit: pets could also be Alpine Wolf, Brown Bear, Jungle Stalker, Red Moa. The lower the F2 cd, the better, if Beastly Warden procs for 3secs or so, taking it easy.
for power, 6/6/6/0/0 will probably be more effective due to the huge survivability potential. but I definitely thought about 6/6/0/0/6 for that on-demand burst. I don’t think it will do well in comparison to the former.
if youre thinking Remorseless GS, im skeptical but cautiously optimistic. just because GS is such a clumsy, slow weapon that has no multi-target CC. in my eyes, LB/GS is still the only power build. if however OH axe gets reworked and massively buffed, I can see s/a/GS working on a frontline build. it also depends what happens to shouts.
I’ll be using something like Remorseless Valkyrie in PvP and definitely will in WvW with my Cavaliers gear like I already play(ed), this build will just have more burst.
I’d otherwise be using LB/GS with suitable traits and gear for roaming. For PvE I’d drop WS for Skirmishing with MDG, Spotter and QD with either weapon set.
if youre thinking Remorseless GS, im skeptical but cautiously optimistic. just because GS is such a clumsy, slow weapon that has no multi-target CC. in my eyes, LB/GS is still the only power build. if however OH axe gets reworked and massively buffed, I can see s/a/GS working on a frontline build. it also depends what happens to shouts.
LB/S+A works great for me. 8k dmg with path of scars vs 4 rezzing ppl + pulling them away from the downstater is a game changer in our roaming group.
sword is superior to GS in terms of dmg, mobility and utility ( i only miss the block )
just one thing i would change: axe 5 shouldnt root you in place
Path of Scars can be sweet, but OH axe is way too situational with WD being so bad.
Can you explain why you think it is so bad? I don’t get why.
because it roots you. good players will explode you if you stand still. the reflect is extremely situational, it’s easier to just evade the rapid fire, otherwise there’s nothing else in the game to reflect. it was also NERFED to be just a cleave, so it doesn’t hit more than 3 targets. the damage is pathetic. the debuff is pathetic. ultimately, too situational and no one will let you cast it without punishing u severely.
futher, path of scars is horrible in small skirmishes/1v1’s because people move. a lot. it’s situational for people rezzing each other, for bads who stand still, or clumped up zergs. it’s not too bad in zerg warfare.
overall, OH axe needs a complete revamp more or less. id much rather have an extra evade from dagger. WH is just as bad.
for me to equip OH axe, I would need them to redesign whirling defense to be more like serpent strike – a 1 second evade, can be cast while moving, reflects projectiles and crits for at least 3.5-4k on zerker gear. standing still is instant death in this game.
ranger only has 1 weak weapon and that is the shortbow. all others are viable and usefull ( wvw point of view )
I would disagree that the short bow doesn’t work in wvw. While it’s lack of good aoe hurts it a lot in zergs (unless you have piercing arrows…and even then still not great) it’s ability to assassinate something with a quick burst of bleeds is great. It is NOT a weapon you can just stand and shoot with due to the flanking requirement. If you use it right, however, as a mobile skrimishing weapon it’s amazing. Lock someone down with a 5, a dog pounce/howl, spider immobile, etc and unload (preferably with quickness for 3 attacks per second!). If you’ve got trapper runes the speed and stealth let you keep advantageous position as well as the target in front of you.
It feels like all professions are going to be more dangerous after the update. If I find that I don’t have to go too defensive, I’ll do this. http://dulfy.net/gw2traits#build=AgUFlAJ4A7Q~
With trapper runes, healing spring (now, hopefully a trap), and marsh and river drakes. It will be fun to see opponents walking into the breath attack of the drakes because of the taunt trait…
other profs are indeed going to be hella strong, which is why im sticking with the reliable condi bunker to start with. im still not convinced rangers are going to have very effective power options. glassbow will be interesting with quickdraw and wilderness knowledge, but that’s about it until they reveal the druid and OH axe overhaul. sadly, GS doesn’t have any reliable damage due to its huge telegraphs so it’s stuck as a utility/defensive weapon. that being said, it might work nicely with Beastly Warden.
Protective Ward is gonna be amazeballs on 0/0/6/6/6 condi BM bunker, and we can also go with the weakness on pet f2 trait in BM.
shortbow might be interesting with the buffs, poison stacking, and traps. something like 0/6/6/6/0 or 0/6/6/0/6 for Beastly Warden.
ive never been more nervous and excited about a balance patch. and we still dont know what’s happening with spirits, shouts and traps. we’ll see on Monday.
