Guild Wars 2

Just want to tell people to give this variant a try. MoC ranger is very fun to play, usually the playstyle is more engaging than max range lb power ranger and you swap your weapons into melee way more often.

What makes this build worth considering:

• Skirmishing has dual dps stats while Marksmanship has only power
• Skirmishing has way better minor traits that result in almost permanent fury uptime (together with SotF) and especially the last minor trait is a good dps buff
• buffs of minor Skirmishing traits go nice with the increased boon duration you have anyway
• lower bow cooldowns allow for more frequent RF pressure and highly increase CC and survival capabilities
• high vigor uptime
• MoC is an underrrated trait. While it is true that there is only really hilt bash directly beneffiting from it (unless ranger gets more daze or stun with HoT) a 1 second longer stun can be huge, same with the dps buff. Interrupting their heal can very likely kill them with a 6k Maul. Another scenario is interrupting a rezz followed by a huge cleave.

What to do with the last 2 trait points (I consider SotF must have)?

• 2 points in power are just super good with skirmishing stats so I would get this for the pure dps over decreased survival skills cooldowns (which often arent necessary since you dont want to spam those but remove condis).

So anyone else running this? If you try it tell me what you think!

It’s a variation of the Fury Longbow Ranger build.

I believe someone showed it recently, and I’d consider it better than the standard full glass. Definitely.
I think that it has much more uses than “the meta”. It doesn’t die on sight and still brings the only thing the ranger does – damage. Practically maybe even more of it, considering there’s almost permanent fury uptime.

It went something like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQJATRjEq0waHLusQ1aABhaVAwuergJwdTcDf9AqA-TpBFwACuAAIOCA12fYxhAoaZAAPAAA

Tragic Positive.9356:

It’s a variation of the Fury Longbow Ranger build.

I believe someone showed it recently, and I’d consider it better than the standard full glass. Definitely.
I think that it has much more uses than “the meta”. It doesn’t die on sight and still brings the only thing the ranger does – damage. Practically maybe even more of it, considering there’s almost permanent fury uptime.

It went something like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQJATRjEq0waHLusQ1aABhaVAwuergJwdTcDf9AqA-TpBFwACuAAIOCA12fYxhAoaZAAPAAA

To me it feels like the better your enemies are the more you want to switch to this build because you have better combat performance in general, more swiftness and especially the lower bow cooldowns (hunter’s shot) allow you to survive when you otherwise wouldn’t.

For stomping noobs the read the wind max range LB is propably easier because it offers the most dmg but once there are some decent opponent that actually target you then you will die the moment your SoS is consumed.

My only criticism of it is the 2 points in Marksmanship.
I think they are much better spent in Wilderness Survival for more endurance regen and survival cooldowns.
Besides that, yeah, the build works really well. Actually, the think I like giving up least about the Read the Wind variant isn’t even the ranger, it’s the 10% attack speed haha. I actually notice it very much, though I don’t know about other people.

Still, I think it’s a playstyle difference. One playstyle favors camping range, while the other favors a “skirmish-y,” weapon swapping style that actually favors using the GS more equally/even primarily than LB.

I’ve played them both, I like them both. In general, I don’t think I personally take advantage of MoC enough to make it worthwhile, which is why I’ve ultimately stopped running it in every build.

jcbroe.4329:

I’ve played them both, I like them both. In general, I don’t think I personally take advantage of MoC enough to make it worthwhile, which is why I’ve ultimately stopped running it in every build.

I don’t think MoC is needed at all to finish off enemies either. I run 6/4/4/0/0 variation (protection on dodges and the new Hide in Plain Sight, yum yum!) of the Read the Wind build and it works like a charm for me.

Hell, I’m sure a 0/4/4/6/0 variation of the Survival of the Fittest could also work. Think I’m going to test that out in abit. I like the idea of the build as I’m a very aggressive player and I prefer to fight on point against an enemy than standing on the ledge.

As long as you time your pet immobs and knockbacks well with you weapon skills you can kill anything without the need of Moment of Clarity. Some prefer killing their enemies faster but I think it’s better to stay in the fight longer to eventually bring more damage in the fights.

I used to call these types of builds “training wheels” funny how the meta can make us digress in a sense. Personally, I think 6/6/2/0/0 or 6/4/4/0/0 are the best options we have.

I’ve actually been splitting the difference in WvW and running 6/5/3/0/0. Obviously a huge difference between WvW and PvP, but I haven’t messed around with the new Hide in Plain Sight yet enough to know how truly helpful it is.

My most pressing question; how helpful is it against “typical” bad situations with thieves jumping you (Guard won’t trigger it unless you walk into the ring or they banish you?)?

Is it worth dropping the 10% flanking damage for?

Eurantien.4632:

I used to call these types of builds “training wheels” funny how the meta can make us digress in a sense. Personally, I think 6/6/2/0/0 or 6/4/4/0/0 are the best options we have.

I definitely feel like Read the Wind ranger is the best we have once the player gets better at the class. Signet of Renewal can save both you and your allies’s butts when you try to res them or simply are going to clear condis from someone who has plenty of it (and it’s a fokin break stun!!!!), a utility skill you will most likely not use if you are running Survival of the Fittest trait…

jcbroe.4329:

I’ve actually been splitting the difference in WvW and running 6/5/3/0/0. Obviously a huge difference between WvW and PvP, but I haven’t messed around with the new Hide in Plain Sight yet enough to know how truly helpful it is.

My most pressing question; how helpful is it against “typical” bad situations with thieves jumping you (Guard won’t trigger it unless you walk into the ring or they banish you?)?

Is it worth dropping the 10% flanking damage for?

The trait has helped me alot in Conquest, haven’t tested it that much in WvW yet tho.

Here are some scenarios where it can help you quite abit:

• Thieves when they get a steal on you. This can confuse thieves alot when it happens, and if you get them by surprise you can easily kill them.
• Mesmer #5 skill on the greatsword. It can be hard to dodge that skill.
• Rifle engies knockbacks. Also a kittene to dodge as you have to guess when he will use it.
• Other LB rangers Point Blank Shot. Most of the time they will follow that up with a Rapid Fire, but they won’t be able to do that on you if you get stealthed.
• Any classes in downed state that interrupts you while you are trying to stomp. You get a stealth that can stack with your Longbow stealth then you can continue your stomp safely with the enemy not knowing. This applies mostly to the guardian knockback and ranger thunderclap.

All of these skills put you in stealth. While you are in stealth you have time to reposition yourself to surprise your target and kill it pretty quickly. If you ask me, yes it is worth sacrificing the flanking trait. I have never needed that trait to kill anyone until now.

Skullface.7293:

jcbroe.4329:

I’ve actually been splitting the difference in WvW and running 6/5/3/0/0. Obviously a huge difference between WvW and PvP, but I haven’t messed around with the new Hide in Plain Sight yet enough to know how truly helpful it is.

My most pressing question; how helpful is it against “typical” bad situations with thieves jumping you (Guard won’t trigger it unless you walk into the ring or they banish you?)?

Is it worth dropping the 10% flanking damage for?

The trait has helped me alot in Conquest, haven’t tested it that much in WvW yet tho.

Here are some scenarios where it can help you quite abit:

• Thieves when they get a steal on you. This can confuse thieves alot when it happens, and if you get them by surprise you can easily kill them.
• Mesmer #5 skill on the greatsword. It can be hard to dodge that skill.
• Rifle engies knockbacks. Also a kittene to dodge as you have to guess when he will use it.
• Other LB rangers Point Blank Shot. Most of the time they will follow that up with a Rapid Fire, but they won’t be able to do that on you if you get stealthed.
• Any classes in downed state that interrupts you while you are trying to stomp. You get a stealth that can stack with your Longbow stealth then you can continue your stomp safely with the enemy not knowing. This applies mostly to the guardian knockback and ranger thunderclap.

All of these skills put you in stealth. While you are in stealth you have time to reposition yourself to surprise your target and kill it pretty quickly. If you ask me, yes it is worth sacrificing the flanking trait. I have never needed that trait to kill anyone until now.

Oh I agree, I don’t need the 10% trait, it’s just one of the nice damage modifiers we get so I’m trying to weigh the opportunity cost.

Thanks for the quick response, I’ll have to mess around with it in PvP.

jcbroe.4329:

I’ve actually been splitting the difference in WvW and running 6/5/3/0/0. Obviously a huge difference between WvW and PvP, but I haven’t messed around with the new Hide in Plain Sight yet enough to know how truly helpful it is.

My most pressing question; how helpful is it against “typical” bad situations with thieves jumping you (Guard won’t trigger it unless you walk into the ring or they banish you?)?

Is it worth dropping the 10% flanking damage for?

I must say it is a really good trait to have for a reasonable 30 cd. Imo I would rather get it over the Shared Anguish Trait but that trait happens to be an Adept Major only. But HiPS is really good try it. Saved my kitten a lot in PvP.

Imo, This works great with BS, during those clutch moments when they wanna kill you for having low hp, so they CC you (HiPS proc) then BS also proc making you survive just in time for the Clutch Troll Unguent. It is really fun IMO.

You know Talgo, even with SotF traited. Signet of Renewal RARELY leaves my bar. It’s just soo good!
Aoe condi clear!
Stunbreak
Can be cast in the air

Nice!

@Eurantien:
I don’t know, with SotF, I find myself taking Quickening Zephyr over Signet of Renewal since on top of the cleanse + stunbreak I’m also getting Fury and Quickness … and I likely have traited for 20% reduction on Survival Cooldowns so it is ready 12 seconds faster as well.