Guild Wars 2

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief. It’s going to compete with the mesmer. With the changes coming, I could easily see something like this being run. Both the mesmer and the ranger have a strong ability to achieve high stacks of vulnerability. Both classes have moderately good mobility. And power ranger plays more like mesmer in general because of the range it has. It has a really strong auto attack, from range, as mesmer does. But you can’t shatter boons with ranger. Your pet has its uses in side fights, and an aoe fear or immobilize is really strong. Ranger not using spirits has a real tough time in teamfights because the cleave damage that’s present destroys pets (increase the invuln duration on bears and decrease its cooldown anet). Rangers don’t have distortion ether. Most importantly though, a ranger can’t use portal.

That being said: You don’t need much condi clear because you’re going to have 1.2k range on you, so your guardian should be enough to keep you clear. So really only spring would be used because you’re probably going to be able to bring some sustain to a small 2v2 – which is something that a mesmer can’t do. A mesmer also can’t readily give everyone around them fury like a ranger can – but a thief can do it just by using their steal. Although, you’ll get longer duration fury+might+swiftness. Just use it when approaching a point. You can get 5k auto crit attacks on your longbow auto attack on a target with 2k armor. I picked signet of renewal to have SOME relevance in a team-fight and for the additional stunbreaker. And you get a freaking boss signet called signet of the wild for a 25% dmg increase, stab, and movment increase. You also get a nice passive, mixed in with Nature magic 5 or healing spring, you get about 250 healing per second. It would be nice if it was in the 300 range, but I don’t see how it could get up there.

Overall though, power rangers are going to compete with other long ranged bursty support classes. Mesmer is the most dominant right now. The competition will be there, and we’ll see if power ranger has it in them to compete. Portal is REALLY hard to pass up.

While I certainly respect your enthusiasm, I’m not as optimistic as you are about these changes. Mesmers do quite poorly in group battles despite how powerful their clones are because of LOS issues. Rangers can avoid these LOS issues thanks to piercing arrows, but their attacks are largely single target in nature unless you are very good at positioning. But even then, you’ll likely never hit 5 targets and certainly not provide the type of AE pressure a zerg really wants or needs.

Conditions are also not something you can rely on others for. Especially at 1200 range. Why? Because why would that Guardian be sitting on the backline with you? The only hope for condi cleanse needs to come from other back line classes, but most of their condi solutions are on long cooldowns or self only. No, conditions are still the largest hurdle this class is going to face imo. Much like they are for most classes. It’ll be even harder now because you’ll have fewer survival skills on your bar thanks to the signet changes.

The next issue is having real burst. While rapid fire is certainly going to hit hard, and our auto is probably the hardest hitting auto in the game. It’s still sustained damage that only hits for about 1.2k damage on average. Criting for 5k is not common. Rapid Fire is only going to hit for 6-8k on average. Most classes can do this with ease and follow it up with more than an auto attack.

Now that all said, the changes are still quite good and it’s certainly a great first step to making power Rangers a real thing. But truthfully, the larger problems with the class relate to what they bring to the group and why people simply don’t want them. Mediocre burst on top of the pre-existing issues that weren’t addressed isn’t going to have much of an impact on the class’s standing.

Patch isn’t too far away though. Hopefully I’m wrong.

Power ranger already competes against these classes….

I want a biker helmet in this game then i would use the tron out fit make it all one color and be a power ranger !

Atherakhia.4086:

Conditions are also not something you can rely on others for.

I’m talking spvp not WvW.

In Soloque, you can’t always expect a player to play a support role (most people want to carry and not support), but in a team setting most classes who have longer range (mesmer included) really only need guardian shouts to help remove conditions on them. Otherwise a condition applier is going to overextend to apply conditions to someone that is over 1.2k away – so bottom line, good positioning is required. Range for these types of classes (engie with nades included) does a lot to keep a person alive. On the negative note, you’re going to need someone to peel for you because if someone gets in your face, you’re going to have troubles dealing with it (#thief).

Strongest power option we have in PvP is glassbow. The only question is will a celestial axe ranger beat it after the patch.

Atherakhia.4086:

While I certainly respect your enthusiasm, I’m not as optimistic as you are about these changes. Mesmers do quite poorly in group battles despite how powerful their clones are because of LOS issues. Rangers can avoid these LOS issues thanks to piercing arrows, but their attacks are largely single target in nature unless you are very good at positioning. But even then, you’ll likely never hit 5 targets and certainly not provide the type of AE pressure a zerg really wants or needs.

Conditions are also not something you can rely on others for. Especially at 1200 range. Why? Because why would that Guardian be sitting on the backline with you? The only hope for condi cleanse needs to come from other back line classes, but most of their condi solutions are on long cooldowns or self only. No, conditions are still the largest hurdle this class is going to face imo. Much like they are for most classes. It’ll be even harder now because you’ll have fewer survival skills on your bar thanks to the signet changes.

The next issue is having real burst. While rapid fire is certainly going to hit hard, and our auto is probably the hardest hitting auto in the game. It’s still sustained damage that only hits for about 1.2k damage on average. Criting for 5k is not common. Rapid Fire is only going to hit for 6-8k on average. Most classes can do this with ease and follow it up with more than an auto attack.

Now that all said, the changes are still quite good and it’s certainly a great first step to making power Rangers a real thing. But truthfully, the larger problems with the class relate to what they bring to the group and why people simply don’t want them. Mediocre burst on top of the pre-existing issues that weren’t addressed isn’t going to have much of an impact on the class’s standing.

Patch isn’t too far away though. Hopefully I’m wrong.

Power is ok but in many domination battles you’re better off being a glass staff ele and clean out the whole point with spikes AND CC at range if you want to play this way. I won’t say it’s undeniably better since you won’t be roaming as fast in a glass staff ele but just think about the comparison and note that there were glass eles in recent TOL along with the standard d/d celestial and hambow to take the heat off them (not many power rangers…if any?).

Also this buff is not happening in a vacuum but in a patch where many other classes are receiving buffs. The relative position of the power ranger will not change that much.

A glass Ele is much more viable alone and in a group than a glass Ranger IMO. An Ele can kite Warriors and Thieves for days and days while still providing pressure on a point/group. Ranger must change target to the aggressor and is counter productive because he’s not on the point. Since the damage is largely single target (I imagine most PvP Rangers don’t run piercing whereas in WvW everyone runs it?) the Ranger can’t really pressure people off a point well either.

Even the single target advantage the Ranger has is quickly outpaced when you consider staff + lava font or even just a burning tick etc.

I think if the Ranger’s pets/spirits were more viable/valuable and the class as a whole provided more utility we’d see them more often in both PvP and WvW. Unless ANet plans to give Rangers acccess to the kind of burst S/* Ele and Thieves are capable of, the class needs more utility to earn a spot on a team imo.

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Firstly the amount of conditions we are going to see, from rangers, engineers, mesmers, and celestial ele will be greater than before and not bringing condition removal will literally make you a free kill to those classes that can out sustain you while spiking you with conditions. The damage of a power ranger isn’t anywhere near enough to beat these classes before they can kill you, unlike the burst of an ele or a thief.

Celestial with axe/dagger or carrion with either SB or axe will be the new meta for sure. There are many variants of condi ranger and most have adequate condition removal. Spirits on celestial with better might stacking will allow for greater team support options and using entangle with krait runes on more survival or trap oriented builds (carrion probably) will be extremely strong as you will probably be able to entangle every fight, and krait runes will be a huge AoE condition bomb. I also view celestial builds without spirits that focus more on regen and survival skills to be extremely viable as well.

In the coming meta I wager we’ll see fewer thieves and fewer warriors, but more engis, eles, rangers, mesmers, and necros (necros because they counter the new cheese options so well and will be better with less warriors around). But we’ll have to see what happens.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Firstly the amount of conditions we are going to see, from rangers, engineers, mesmers, and celestial ele will be greater than before and not bringing condition removal will literally make you a free kill to those classes that can out sustain you while spiking you with conditions. The damage of a power ranger isn’t anywhere near enough to beat these classes before they can kill you, unlike the burst of an ele or a thief.

Celestial with axe/dagger or carrion with either SB or axe will be the new meta for sure. There are many variants of condi ranger and most have adequate condition removal. Spirits on celestial with better might stacking will allow for greater team support options and using entangle with krait runes on more survival or trap oriented builds (carrion probably) will be extremely strong as you will probably be able to entangle every fight, and krait runes will be a huge AoE condition bomb. I also view celestial builds without spirits that focus more on regen and survival skills to be extremely viable as well.

In the coming meta I wager we’ll see fewer thieves and fewer warriors, but more engis, eles, rangers, mesmers, and necros (necros because they counter the new cheese options so well and will be better with less warriors around). But we’ll have to see what happens.

I heard necro is getting improved passive heal trait while in shroud along with the ability to res and stomp in shroud. That’s huge for them and they will be a popular home bunker. They’re one of the classes rangers can reliably kill also so it got a little bit harder for rangers there for instance.

My ranger build has plenty of anti-condi but torment on auto attack will cause it to be shelved. Already I’m not too keen on wvw due to perplexity runes. I think the new meta is going to be a lot like this meta with the addition of necro. Ranger & engi won’t be in it. Mesmer might be. It will still be war and ele at the core.

I really hate torment in the first place because kiting is a hard enough strategy to employ in PVP that you didn’t need something specifically anti kite and passive effort damage in a game already full of it. I feel like it was designed by a bad who raged at getting kited and it invalidates a lot of formerly legitimate playstyle out there while keeping the power in the hands of the bunkerish, evades and stealth.

ranger will be in the meta as roamer. The ability to use signets in a power build while not having to INVEST in it is massive and opens up incredibly strong builds. As i type this i am running signet glassbow. And i can tell straight away that no thief comes close to the pressure i can churn out atm. With improved Rapid fire, longbow attack speed and the signets, we will be more then viable, albeit the skill floor is higher then say a celestial condi setup is

what prysin said.

I plan on going full zerk qz SotW RtW rapid firing in wvw lol

And signet of the hunt for the initial autoattack

Otaking.4675:

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Firstly the amount of conditions we are going to see, from rangers, engineers, mesmers, and celestial ele will be greater than before and not bringing condition removal will literally make you a free kill to those classes that can out sustain you while spiking you with conditions. The damage of a power ranger isn’t anywhere near enough to beat these classes before they can kill you, unlike the burst of an ele or a thief.

Celestial with axe/dagger or carrion with either SB or axe will be the new meta for sure. There are many variants of condi ranger and most have adequate condition removal. Spirits on celestial with better might stacking will allow for greater team support options and using entangle with krait runes on more survival or trap oriented builds (carrion probably) will be extremely strong as you will probably be able to entangle every fight, and krait runes will be a huge AoE condition bomb. I also view celestial builds without spirits that focus more on regen and survival skills to be extremely viable as well.

In the coming meta I wager we’ll see fewer thieves and fewer warriors, but more engis, eles, rangers, mesmers, and necros (necros because they counter the new cheese options so well and will be better with less warriors around). But we’ll have to see what happens.

I heard necro is getting improved passive heal trait while in shroud along with the ability to res and stomp in shroud. That’s huge for them and they will be a popular home bunker. They’re one of the classes rangers can reliably kill also so it got a little bit harder for rangers there for instance.

My ranger build has plenty of anti-condi but torment on auto attack will cause it to be shelved. Already I’m not too keen on wvw due to perplexity runes. I think the new meta is going to be a lot like this meta with the addition of necro. Ranger & engi won’t be in it. Mesmer might be. It will still be war and ele at the core.

I really hate torment in the first place because kiting is a hard enough strategy to employ in PVP that you didn’t need something specifically anti kite and passive effort damage in a game already full of it. I feel like it was designed by a bad who raged at getting kited and it invalidates a lot of formerly legitimate playstyle out there while keeping the power in the hands of the bunkerish, evades and stealth.

The SoV buff to necro was a kittening joke, as its still the most pathetic heal in the game, and the unholy sanctuary “buff” is for old or blind people who can’t press f1 in time. They will not be effective bunkers in real pvp, but maybe decent for lower solo Q on minion builds.

The meta for necros will still be some form of terror set up.

Anyway @Prysin, while I respect your opinion and authority on ranger greatly, I personally don’t think they will be truly viable in higher level pvp, for many reasons, including relative lack of condition clear, as well as the inefficiency of using such a long range weapon in a game where fighting on or near a point wins matches. Do you have room in longbow builds to take empathic bond or SotF?

I’m sure it can work well with proper team support, similarly to how power necros can in theory, but I still don’t think it will truly be “the” definitive ranger build to win games at higher levels. We’ll have to see what the patch brings, but I don’t think any of the builds I run like condition ranger/ele or burst ele will have too much to fear.

I personally never viewed rangers as a counter to condition necromancers that are competent. Conditon specs can’t touch a necro 1v1, and nightmare rune procs and reaper’s protection mitigates a lot of the “burst” from the longbow.

nearlight.3064:

Anyway @Prysin, while I respect your opinion and authority on ranger greatly, I personally don’t think they will be truly viable in higher level pvp, for many reasons, including relative lack of condition clear, as well as the inefficiency of using such a long range weapon in a game where fighting on or near a point wins matches. Do you have room in longbow builds to take empathic bond or SotF?

Condition clear isn’t as important on classes which effectively operate at 1.2k range. Correct positioning does a crap ton for you. As an example, helseth with his greatsword mesmer runs traveller’s runes and zero condi clear.

I think if you’re playing a point defender spec, it definitely is needed as you’re going to try and fend people off without easy access to your main support.

The ranger isn’t as mobile as the mesmer, but does have easier access to condi clear and more sustain options: Signet of Renewal is very good for the team as an extra source of mass condi clear (with a 1 condi clean per 10 sec passive), and a 10 second water field is very hard to pass up. The biggest problem in my eyes is: Would you rather take portal and extra boon removal, or a ranger.

There is nothing inefficient about long range combat in this game. It’s very strong if used correctly, but most people just suck at the game so whatever.

nearlight.3064:

Otaking.4675:

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Firstly the amount of conditions we are going to see, from rangers, engineers, mesmers, and celestial ele will be greater than before and not bringing condition removal will literally make you a free kill to those classes that can out sustain you while spiking you with conditions. The damage of a power ranger isn’t anywhere near enough to beat these classes before they can kill you, unlike the burst of an ele or a thief.

Celestial with axe/dagger or carrion with either SB or axe will be the new meta for sure. There are many variants of condi ranger and most have adequate condition removal. Spirits on celestial with better might stacking will allow for greater team support options and using entangle with krait runes on more survival or trap oriented builds (carrion probably) will be extremely strong as you will probably be able to entangle every fight, and krait runes will be a huge AoE condition bomb. I also view celestial builds without spirits that focus more on regen and survival skills to be extremely viable as well.

In the coming meta I wager we’ll see fewer thieves and fewer warriors, but more engis, eles, rangers, mesmers, and necros (necros because they counter the new cheese options so well and will be better with less warriors around). But we’ll have to see what happens.

I heard necro is getting improved passive heal trait while in shroud along with the ability to res and stomp in shroud. That’s huge for them and they will be a popular home bunker. They’re one of the classes rangers can reliably kill also so it got a little bit harder for rangers there for instance.

My ranger build has plenty of anti-condi but torment on auto attack will cause it to be shelved. Already I’m not too keen on wvw due to perplexity runes. I think the new meta is going to be a lot like this meta with the addition of necro. Ranger & engi won’t be in it. Mesmer might be. It will still be war and ele at the core.

I really hate torment in the first place because kiting is a hard enough strategy to employ in PVP that you didn’t need something specifically anti kite and passive effort damage in a game already full of it. I feel like it was designed by a bad who raged at getting kited and it invalidates a lot of formerly legitimate playstyle out there while keeping the power in the hands of the bunkerish, evades and stealth.

The SoV buff to necro was a kittening joke, as its still the most pathetic heal in the game, and the unholy sanctuary “buff” is for old or blind people who can’t press f1 in time. They will not be effective bunkers in real pvp, but maybe decent for lower solo Q on minion builds.

The meta for necros will still be some form of terror set up.

Anyway @Prysin, while I respect your opinion and authority on ranger greatly, I personally don’t think they will be truly viable in higher level pvp, for many reasons, including relative lack of condition clear, as well as the inefficiency of using such a long range weapon in a game where fighting on or near a point wins matches. Do you have room in longbow builds to take empathic bond or SotF?

I’m sure it can work well with proper team support, similarly to how power necros can in theory, but I still don’t think it will truly be “the” definitive ranger build to win games at higher levels. We’ll have to see what the patch brings, but I don’t think any of the builds I run like condition ranger/ele or burst ele will have too much to fear.

I personally never viewed rangers as a counter to condition necromancers that are competent. Conditon specs can’t touch a necro 1v1, and nightmare rune procs and reaper’s protection mitigates a lot of the “burst” from the longbow.

actually my current build is 62600 signet glassbow ranger.
I found that by using pirate runes, dual bird pets and signets, i can maintain much much higher bursts then i can running 66200, 66020 or 62060.

The Survival Traits i use is; Shared Anguish, Martial Mastery and Empathic Bond.
I do struggle against pure condi necros and condi engis. However ive found a tactic against these classes. its called “GTFO, find some higher terrain and pewpew them to death”. Other then that i play with GS as “offhand”.

For GS i use intelligence sigil + hydromancy for guaranteed crit full signet boosted maul on initial swap. It allows me to hit insanely hard with “relative ease”.

As for utilities themselves.

Spring
Hunt (for mobility and burst)
Wild (for extra damage and stability)
Stone (ZOMGWTFHALP button)
Rampage (MOAAAAR stability)

it may take a little getting used to, but this build has helped me hard carry my team in SoloQ for almost 4 days now.

Unfortunately GW2skills seems down, so i cannot post my build in a more “tidy and structured manner” as of now.

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

There is so very much more wrong with the class than its ability to kill people. I fully expect to see ‘rangers suck’ to continue after the patch. We’ll know when things improve because commanders will ask the Rangers to do something. I don’t care if it’s 1 or 2 things like Mesmers. Something isn’t asking too much.

Atherakhia.4086:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

There is so very much more wrong with the class than its ability to kill people. I fully expect to see ‘rangers suck’ to continue after the patch. We’ll know when things improve because commanders will ask the Rangers to do something. I don’t care if it’s 1 or 2 things like Mesmers. Something isn’t asking too much.

What has that to do with power build rangers? Hell what has that to do with anything. Rangers are usefull where they need to be. We have our roles in both spvp and pve. We have our builds for small group/roaming.
WvW zergs do not require any skill. You could let your cat walk on the keyboard and none will even notice. If you have more numbers, your zergtrain wins and that’s all about it.

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Atherakhia.4086:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

There is so very much more wrong with the class than its ability to kill people. I fully expect to see ‘rangers suck’ to continue after the patch. We’ll know when things improve because commanders will ask the Rangers to do something. I don’t care if it’s 1 or 2 things like Mesmers. Something isn’t asking too much.

What has that to do with power build rangers? Hell what has that to do with anything. Rangers are usefull where they need to be. We have our roles in both spvp and pve. We have our builds for small group/roaming.
WvW zergs do not require any skill. You could let your cat walk on the keyboard and none will even notice. If you have more numbers, your zergtrain wins and that’s all about it.

GvGs require skill, and right now rangers are almost never taken over an additional theif, memser, warrior, or even ele on gank squads, because in that environment, longbow rangers are a one trick pony. They might be able to instagib an out of place necro or staff ele once, but if they’re fighting a team who’s gank force has a modicum of intelligence, they’d adapt the next round, focus the ranger, and dispatch him before he can do anything.

Its not as bad for them in pvp to be sure, but against a team that has a decent player filling their roaming DPS role (ie thief, mesmer, fresh air ele or condition necro) the ranger won’t be able to do anything for various reasons that should be obvious. And in pvp, a ranger will be ineffective because the ranger “Restrictions” make it more difficut for them to hold or contest a point properly. Mesmers have that issue as well like you’ve noticed, but its not nearly as bad because they have shatter burst which is arguably more effective at close range, making assualting points easier for them. Plus they have team support stuff like portals blah blha blahhah

And @pyrisin that sounds like a really balanced build. Do you have videos of it in action? (for pvp I mean) just because whenever I see longbow rangers in solo Q (the most common ranger build I see) they tend to be horrible players who will camp longbow even when I get into melee… so they probably aren’t built “properly”. I just have never had a longbow ranger ever give me a run for my money.

@nearlight
I can do a stream sometimes during the upcoming weekend. Most likely at sunday or friday night (night in EU)

Also, LB in melee range is fine IF YOU CAN USE IT. Meaning, control the enemy and be fluent with it, not just pewpewpew AA till you get rekt

Prysin.8542:

@nearlight
I can do a stream sometimes during the upcoming weekend. Most likely at sunday or friday night (night in EU)

Also, LB in melee range is fine IF YOU CAN USE IT. Meaning, control the enemy and be fluent with it, not just pewpewpew AA till you get rekt

Yeah exactly! And I’m sorry if I seem like a bow hating kitten. I am biased towards condition builds though, so honestly I should stop even posting about it. Night at EU is pretty hard for me to be awake during, but if you put highlights on your channel I’d love to check them out.

nearlight.3064:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Atherakhia.4086:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

There is so very much more wrong with the class than its ability to kill people. I fully expect to see ‘rangers suck’ to continue after the patch. We’ll know when things improve because commanders will ask the Rangers to do something. I don’t care if it’s 1 or 2 things like Mesmers. Something isn’t asking too much.

What has that to do with power build rangers? Hell what has that to do with anything. Rangers are usefull where they need to be. We have our roles in both spvp and pve. We have our builds for small group/roaming.
WvW zergs do not require any skill. You could let your cat walk on the keyboard and none will even notice. If you have more numbers, your zergtrain wins and that’s all about it.

GvGs require skill, and right now rangers are almost never taken over an additional theif, memser, warrior, or even ele on gank squads, because in that environment, longbow rangers are a one trick pony. They might be able to instagib an out of place necro or staff ele once, but if they’re fighting a team who’s gank force has a modicum of intelligence, they’d adapt the next round, focus the ranger, and dispatch him before he can do anything.

Its not as bad for them in pvp to be sure, but against a team that has a decent player filling their roaming DPS role (ie thief, mesmer, fresh air ele or condition necro) the ranger won’t be able to do anything for various reasons that should be obvious. And in pvp, a ranger will be ineffective because the ranger “Restrictions” make it more difficut for them to hold or contest a point properly. Mesmers have that issue as well like you’ve noticed, but its not nearly as bad because they have shatter burst which is arguably more effective at close range, making assualting points easier for them. Plus they have team support stuff like portals blah blha blahhah

And @pyrisin that sounds like a really balanced build. Do you have videos of it in action? (for pvp I mean) just because whenever I see longbow rangers in solo Q (the most common ranger build I see) they tend to be horrible players who will camp longbow even when I get into melee… so they probably aren’t built “properly”. I just have never had a longbow ranger ever give me a run for my money.

How often proper GvG’s happen? …
Even so, a spirit ranger could still be very effective depending on the numbers.

About sPvP, spirit rangers are top.

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

nearlight.3064:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Atherakhia.4086:

Yelloweyedemon.2860:

Chicago Jack.5647:

I’m super psyched over the power ranger changes, but let’s face it. It’s not going to compete with the thief.

nearlight.3064:

Power ranger will not be viable after this patch for several reasons.

Traits for max LB damage, RtW. —> RaO,activate signet of hunt, signet of wild, quick. zeph. From max range.

I’m gonna laugh if I read “ranger sucks QQ” after this patch.

Oh and yeah, power thieves will stand a chance with 6s sic ’em…

There is so very much more wrong with the class than its ability to kill people. I fully expect to see ‘rangers suck’ to continue after the patch. We’ll know when things improve because commanders will ask the Rangers to do something. I don’t care if it’s 1 or 2 things like Mesmers. Something isn’t asking too much.

What has that to do with power build rangers? Hell what has that to do with anything. Rangers are usefull where they need to be. We have our roles in both spvp and pve. We have our builds for small group/roaming.
WvW zergs do not require any skill. You could let your cat walk on the keyboard and none will even notice. If you have more numbers, your zergtrain wins and that’s all about it.

GvGs require skill, and right now rangers are almost never taken over an additional theif, memser, warrior, or even ele on gank squads, because in that environment, longbow rangers are a one trick pony. They might be able to instagib an out of place necro or staff ele once, but if they’re fighting a team who’s gank force has a modicum of intelligence, they’d adapt the next round, focus the ranger, and dispatch him before he can do anything.

Its not as bad for them in pvp to be sure, but against a team that has a decent player filling their roaming DPS role (ie thief, mesmer, fresh air ele or condition necro) the ranger won’t be able to do anything for various reasons that should be obvious. And in pvp, a ranger will be ineffective because the ranger “Restrictions” make it more difficut for them to hold or contest a point properly. Mesmers have that issue as well like you’ve noticed, but its not nearly as bad because they have shatter burst which is arguably more effective at close range, making assualting points easier for them. Plus they have team support stuff like portals blah blha blahhah

And @pyrisin that sounds like a really balanced build. Do you have videos of it in action? (for pvp I mean) just because whenever I see longbow rangers in solo Q (the most common ranger build I see) they tend to be horrible players who will camp longbow even when I get into melee… so they probably aren’t built “properly”. I just have never had a longbow ranger ever give me a run for my money.

How often proper GvG’s happen? …
Even so, a spirit ranger could still be very effective depending on the numbers.

About sPvP, spirit rangers are top.

Proper GvGs happen frequently in my tier of WvW.

Spirit ranger might be effective in 5v5 GvGs, but those aren’t really that frequent or popu;at compared to 10v10s, 15v15s, and 20v20s. A spirit ranger would be completely useless there, in part because condition damage is negligable in these sorts of set ups, unless you have 7 necros and engis epidemicing everyone (which isn’t a good comp). All the support a ranger can offer can be provided by other classes, leaving long range gank as their one niche, but like I said, thats a one trick pony.

Dunno…. I believe the only thing that may seriously hamper power Rangers next patch is just the gamemode and maps themselves. Give it a wider area and gamemode not being all about being tanky and staying on nodes and it will be all right.

In current Conquest, I don’t know. Only good ones.