Guild Wars 2

Hey guys!

I have always been trying to actually create a build that totally is about our class mechanic instead of a build that is about our weapons and our pet serves as a nice passive bonus. After the trait overhaul and the recent pet stat buffs this build got very strong. I have tested it alot, tweaked it alot and feel like I hit the sweet spot. So here we go.

To start here is the build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQRBHhxG1JlKQrgYJLgLLAXLYIRo60NEOhPAi9Z2T9Vv1L4RC-TJRGABA8EAAa/BmLDg2JBAA
This build is all about buffing our pets. Therefore I chose for axe/warhorn and sword/dagger.
Before we start talking about how to buff pets, I would like to explain fortifying bond. This trait lets you copy every boon you get to your pet, but creates its own duration. It is affected by boon duration. This means that of I receive 1 might for 5 seconds, my pet gets it for 15 seconds.
What to use these weapons for?
Axe autoattack is a very good start giving you and thus your pet might every time the axe hits. This means this attack is very effective against multiple targets. Then we have spitblade. Now at first glance it doesnt seem good, but up close or hits 5 times. This is a potential of 5 crits and because of companions might trait. Another one can be added because of sigil of strength.
Wintersbite is great because of chill ofcourse. Also it can be used tactically to weaken an enemy burst. It allows you to have, in conjunction with other traits, have 100% weakness up time. Then hunters call. Many see this as a bad skill, I see it as kitten. It has a potential of critting 16(!) Times in a small timeframe buffing your pet hugely! Then we have call of the wild which is very important to give your pet 2 might, but even better: fury.
Now sword dagger is your sustained/defensive weapon set. With the autoattack you can keep up a very strong sustain damage up and it offers alot of evade aswell as poison.

Runes
At first I inmediatly tought of rune of strength. However please note that none of the rune effects apply to your pets, so your pet does not get increased might duration. I went for rune of the trooper for more defensive stats but more important to get condition removal on every skill. This gives my pet more surviveability too since shouts also remove a condition from him. Against Burn Guards this can be vital.

Sigils
Sigil of strength is a must. It can give your pet about 15 stacks of might by itself! Next to that it depends on what you like. You can use sigil of generocity for more condition removal. Already feel like you have enough? Take sigil of battle for example. Or maybe sigil of Ice can be good so your pet will even hit more reliably.

Several tips:

• If you want to unsleash a burst on your enemy use sic em in combination with zephyrs speed to get the maximum ammount of damage out of your pet.
• Use the f2 skills just after a regular attack your pet did to do 2 attacks in a very short time.
• Keep your focus on buffing and managing your pet, not on how much damage your are doing.
  If you have enough condi removal you can swap sigil of generosity for sigil of battle for even more might uptime

I hope you guys give this build a nice chance. It is really cool to see your pet deal 8k damage in a second while you are laughing. It constantly will have 25 might if you play it well.
Any questions? Go ahead:)

Greetings, Fvux!

PS: Before starting to ask questions read 2 posts down where I pre-answered some

looks good in theory. ill have to try it out.

FrownyClown.8402:

looks good in theory. ill have to try it out.

It is not just a theory, it works…very well. It is a very fun and strong way of playing the ranger

Questions
Q:Why don’t you use other amulets like berserkers or celestial?
A: In order to buff your pet you need precision. You also need to survive ofcourse you also need toughness. The precision from celestial is not enough and the other stats do not offer enough for this build. I felt this one suited perfect after hours of testing.

Q: Why don’t you use wolves for example or Jungle stalker?
A: Altho both these pets have amazing features it just is not suitable enough for the build. Wolf does have nice CC but is inreliable in hitting it’s enemy since it stands still then does it attack. Any enemy that moves will practicly walk away from the attack. Same goes for feline pets. Birds have 300 range on their AA making them incredibly reliable.

Q: Why don’t you use Skirmishing using spotter for extra precision and dangerous game for more might?
A: In this build you are already having pet at 25 might constantly if you play it well. Next to that you would have to sacrifise alot of defensive options like condi removal on survival skills, the fury for your pet and you and the reduced incoming damage.

Q: Why not take resounding timbre for more boons and shout reduction?
A: To take this trait you would have to give up on companion’s might which is a core part of this build and making it so much stronger. Next to that you already have very high swiftness uptime and regeneration uptime due to warhorn.

Q: Why dont you take empathic bond so you can clear up space the condition removal is taking in right now?
A: NO! NONONO! This build is all about your pet and I definetly do not want it dead. Conditions are my problems and I don’t want to make it his problem

I use something kind of similar. I’m a big fan of bunker builds and have been working on making a build around Soldier for every class. The below is what I currently run and am enjoying it quite a bit.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNBHhN6kSFoVQslFwkFgrFMkJUdyGAHwXDp6E7F+i34Z82JzaA-TphGABB8AA09QAw2+DQVGAgTAQBHBAA

Notice both my pets F2 skills have buffs. When the cat hits you with 5 might it also hits it self with 5 might. Boon share then gives those 5 might back. The cat gets instant 10 stacks of might. Moa gets double duration protection, but you can also use the fury one for the same affect. Basically I try to focus on pets with buffs (birds only have swiftness and we’ve plenty of that).

I’m still iffy on my rune and sigils though. Traveler doesn’t make a ton of sense with all the swiftness, but we have to blow a cooldown to go perma swiftness and traveler does give 15% boon duration boost for all the boons we have. The other ones I’m looking at are soldier and strength runes.

I see some problems with your build, that i also tested a few months ago. The last patch did not change them.

1. Pet ai is really bad. Experienced players are able to prevent hits from our pet by simple moving around. Your build has no immobilze to counter that.
To score a hit when i need it, i have to swap my pet in the moment im standing right to my opponent. But then you loose the mightstacks on the pet.

2. You need dodgeskills on every weaponset. What will you do, if the opponent starts his burst right in the moment you have changed to axe/warhorn. Otherwise you need to maintain pressure while in fights. While in sword/ dagger you cannot buff your pet or deal damage yourself. For this reason condi-builds mix offensive and defensive weapons everytime together. For example axe/dagger and sword/torch. If we use your set up i would recommend axe/dagger and sword/horn. It will make a difference even when i think, that this build will only work in low tier matches.
But dont stop testing builds. We need more build-diversity.

And if you want to test your build, you can write me a ingame message. Ranger against ranger. ^^

worminator.5174:

I see some problems with your build, that i also tested a few months ago. The last patch did not change them.

1. Pet ai is really bad. Experienced players are able to prevent hits from our pet by simple moving around. Your build has no immobilze to counter that.
To score a hit when i need it, i have to swap my pet in the moment im standing right to my opponent. But then you loose the mightstacks on the pet.

2. You need dodgeskills on every weaponset. What will you do, if the opponent starts his burst right in the moment you have changed to axe/warhorn. Otherwise you need to maintain pressure while in fights. While in sword/ dagger you cannot buff your pet or deal damage yourself. For this reason condi-builds mix offensive and defensive weapons everytime together. For example axe/dagger and sword/torch. If we use your set up i would recommend axe/dagger and sword/horn. It will make a difference even when i think, that this build will only work in low tier matches.
But dont stop testing builds. We need more build-diversity.

And if you want to test your build, you can write me a ingame message. Ranger against ranger. ^^

1. Pet AI is indeed horrible. That is the reason why I went for birds. They have proven to be the most effective since their attack is 300 range! Next to that the cripple from Sword AA and Wintersbite chill are very effective in order for pets have their attacks hit. No need for immobilize now
2. When I swap to Axe/Warhorn I make sure I have at least one dodge ready. Next to that I make sure I am at range of my enemy and Lightning reflexes can also be a savior if an enemy manages to burst me.

PS, okay cool, you will soon see a whisper from me (Evil Laugh)

Tried it. Not bad, but loses to builds that can kite it easy.

FrownyClown.8402:

Tried it. Not bad, but loses to builds that can kite it easy.

Play it smart against kiters Try not using your dagger #4 for the evade, but for the poison. Stick to snow owl if (It wont anyway since kiters damage is low) for chill somore attacks hit. Keep in their face with you sword AA. The only thing that might be missing against them is CC, but whatever you can kick their backpieces without it. The fight will just be longer

Bunker BM builds tend to work much better with condi builds. also, if replacing dagger with torch, you can blast for more might(6 for pet if u’r both in range) and ofc do tons of damage. Jungle stalker is easy pick, insta 10 might for himself so much less time to build up the might.
I was thinking somthing in the line of –
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQRBHhx+1IhK0yilsg/KQ1ihEhqT3d9E+AI2nZP1X9WPjfOZ2D-TJRGwAAeCAJOJAg2foZZAA

LughLongArm.5460:

Bunker BM builds tend to work much better with condi builds. also, if replacing dagger with torch, you can blast for more might(6 for pet if u’r both in range) and ofc do tons of damage. Jungle stalker is easy pick, insta 10 might for himself so much less time to build up the might.
I was thinking somthing in the line of –
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQRBHhx+1IhK0yilsg/KQ1ihEhqT3d9E+AI2nZP1X9WPjfOZ2D-TJRGwAAeCAJOJAg2foZZAA

Condi builds limit you more in my opinion since pets do not apply high anmounts of damage. There is much more synergy in power builds between pet and ranger. This leaves more space open for tweaking it for more defense.
Next to that, why do you use signet of renewal? Your pet takes a few stacks of burning and you have a dead pet.

The V.8759:

LughLongArm.5460:

Bunker BM builds tend to work much better with condi builds. also, if replacing dagger with torch, you can blast for more might(6 for pet if u’r both in range) and ofc do tons of damage. Jungle stalker is easy pick, insta 10 might for himself so much less time to build up the might.
I was thinking somthing in the line of –
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQRBHhx+1IhK0yilsg/KQ1ihEhqT3d9E+AI2nZP1X9WPjfOZ2D-TJRGwAAeCAJOJAg2foZZAA

Condi builds limit you more in my opinion since pets do not apply high anmounts of damage. There is much more synergy in power builds between pet and ranger. This leaves more space open for tweaking it for more defense.
Next to that, why do you use signet of renewal? Your pet takes a few stacks of burning and you have a dead pet.

Hi I do not agree with your statment, bunker BM builds are better with condi due to damage distribution(pets physical, you condi) adn stats restrictions(only condi damage). Ranger with axe/dagger and kight amulet does no damage. Ranger with rabid and torch does tons of damae. You cliamed pets do tons of damage on your orignal post and now you claim that pets “do not apply high anmounts of damage”? 8k from tail swipe +10k burn is alot of damage.
SoR passive is the only thing that cures condis from your pet(well also HS), only the active kills them. Use the active only when you must and have F4 out of CD(all your bar are condi removals). Also, the drake is in the build to tank group fights and other condi builds.

LughLongArm.5460:

The V.8759:

LughLongArm.5460:

Bunker BM builds tend to work much better with condi builds. also, if replacing dagger with torch, you can blast for more might(6 for pet if u’r both in range) and ofc do tons of damage. Jungle stalker is easy pick, insta 10 might for himself so much less time to build up the might.
I was thinking somthing in the line of –
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQRBHhx+1IhK0yilsg/KQ1ihEhqT3d9E+AI2nZP1X9WPjfOZ2D-TJRGwAAeCAJOJAg2foZZAA

Condi builds limit you more in my opinion since pets do not apply high anmounts of damage. There is much more synergy in power builds between pet and ranger. This leaves more space open for tweaking it for more defense.
Next to that, why do you use signet of renewal? Your pet takes a few stacks of burning and you have a dead pet.

Hi I do not agree with your statment, bunker BM builds are better with condi due to damage distribution(pets physical, you condi) adn stats restrictions(only condi damage). Ranger with axe/dagger and kight amulet does no damage. Ranger with rabid and torch does tons of damae. You cliamed pets do tons of damage on your orignal post and now you claim that pets “do not apply high anmounts of damage”? 8k from tail swipe +10k burn is alot of damage.
SoR passive is the only thing that cures condis from your pet(well also HS), only the active kills them. Use the active only when you must and have F4 out of CD(all your bar are condi removals). Also, the drake is in the build to tank group fights and other condi builds.

Okay cool, guess thats an option then too:) I guess I just like the flavour of power builds then. And next to that I think we cant compare those builds. Altho they are both focussed on BM, the playstyle is very different. Cant compare apples with pears huh?:)