Guild Wars 2

So after playing my Mesmer for a while I’m noticing that my Lvl80 Ranger just feels… weak. Whether it’s dealing with groups of adds in Cursed Shore or running Dungeons or Fractals (I seldom WvW and never PvP), I feel like I faceplant a lot compared to my Mez…

Up till now my current strategy was to run SB/LB running with Moas (for their conditions and general tankiness) or sometimes Wolves (for their F2 skills and occasional knockdown). Skillswise, I used things like Muddy Terrain/Radiation Field (Asura racial skill) to debuff my targets + Golems for the times when I need a bit more hitting power (dealing with Vets, etc.). Armor is Pirates (for the extra Magic Find) and Traited mainly BM+ Conditions. This combo served me well while leveling up in the lower PvE areas, but now that I’m “all grown up” I’m wanting to hit harder, plus the reticle skills like Muddy Terrain (even with fast cast) are a bit difficult to launch with 100% effectiveness since I’m kiting/dodging/running so much.

After reading some threads I came up with a more direct-damage-oriented build, but it still feels like I’m missing something.
Here’s the link (with proposed gear and everything): http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mzom0M9cmvGhMMVNhcxx9MaMmqzmaz8khG707khs7070M7kNs70V7ofD70z7owY70M

This is a Signet build that uses 30 Markman (for the Signet of the Beastmaster trait and faster signet recharge), 30 Skirmish (so my pets hit harder and my shortbow skills recharge faster), and 10 Beastmastery (for increased pet skill speed). Armor uses Superior Runes of the Fighter for Power/Toughness. Weapons I’m thinking are SB/GS. Sigils are Battle for the GS (so I get Might when I need it – when I get rushed by an angry mob) and Agony for the SB (to stack as much Bleed as I can even though I’m traited more for Power/direct damage than conditions). I ditched Longbow because things rush me so much (took GS instead) but will probably keep a LB in my pack for Cursed Shore event farming or any time a good Barrage would come in handy against big groups of minion-level mobs… Pets would be Birds or Cats (for max damage).

Toughness and HP look good, and this has significantly more direct-damage numbers than my current build… my question is: how can this be better?

I’d make a few slight changes to this build, here is what I’ve run and found doing extremely well in PvE.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fMIQJAVTjAVR2VW+VsWCi1j90nA1PwJmC+zovgSUlUA-jwxAYrAREAoCQZvioxWULiGruGT5SEVDA-e

Basics of this build are simple. You stand from afar and rain terror on your foes. Start a fight out in your shortbow wait for the correct moment, swop to longbow, use QZ drop barrage and rapid fire (pointblankshot if needed) and swop back to shortbow.

The changes in your build I’ve made are 15 into wilderness survival. The extra 50% endurance regen = NEEDED. And with the 2 sec protection on dodge. It will save your kitten more then once. This build however negates your pet completely. It will be weak and it will die. I personally use only ranged pets with like poison to weaken the foes, boss or maybe a blackbear for aoe weak. But I don’t count on them for damage.

As for armor. I’d say it’s up to your preference. I’d go somewhere around 18k health with decent armor and rest just full zerker. I think I ran full pvt armor with zerker trinkets back then.