Guild Wars 2

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jklDsZkJrNg

Build overview:

10 Marksmanship : Major trait I
25 Skirmishing : Major Trait IV and X
30 Wilderness Survival : Major trait VI, X, and XI
5 Beastmastery

Gear: (not essential, customize to taste)
Soldier’s Armor with Superior Runes of the Ranger
Soldier’s Ring and Back Item
Rabid Ring
Knight’s Accessories and Amulet
Rampager’s Shortbow with sigil of Strength
Berserker’s Greatsword with sigil of Bloodlust

Resulting Stats: (approx with shortbow)
2700 Attack – 500 Condition Damage
45% Crit Chance – 33% Crit Damage
2800 Armor – 18000 Health

Pet preference: Krytan Drakehound and Snow Leopard

Utilities: Lightning Reflexes, Quickening Zephyr, Signet of the Hunt, Entangle

Well, that’s fairly low Crit Chance, and Crit Damage.

“45% Crit Chance – 33% Crit Damage”

Thats low? Egads – more than twice what I get.

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Well, that’s fairly low Crit Chance, and Crit Damage.

Relative to what?

This build is what I am considering a standard ranger build without any glaring weaknesses, gimmicks, or difficult mechanics. A good starting point for any up and coming ranger in my opinion.

I don’t generally do min/max builds. The build that I am working on next will show a completely different playstyle.

Relative to almost any other build lol.

Yes its a fairly good starter point, but I depending on the build have anywhere between 47-50% Crit chance, with 80% Crit Dmg. And it can get higher.

I really enjoyed the video. I know this is supposed to be a basic starting guide, but how do you deal with condition removal/management? The only thing that I notice you have is Empathic Bond.

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Relative to almost any other build lol.

Yes its a fairly good starter point, but I depending on the build have anywhere between 47-50% Crit chance, with 80% Crit Dmg. And it can get higher.

It just depends on the situation. Rangers with such stats as your´s die a very quick death in WvW. You´ll have your moments while keep defending sure, but as soon as someone engages on you, you´re in big trouble.

Beardmonger.4692:

I really enjoyed the video. I know this is supposed to be a basic starting guide, but how do you deal with condition removal/management? The only thing that I notice you have is Empathic Bond.

Condition removal is one of my pet peeves at the moment. I find Empathic Bond is fine, but it really is pure luck whether or not it saves me from a sticky situation. I wish there was some way to control it, even on a 20s cooldown it would be much more useful.

Other options:
-Signet of Renewal takes up a much needed utility slot and once used it leaves me completely vulnerable to conditions for 60 seconds.
-Prayer to Kormir removes 3 conditions but has a 40 second recharge and no passive benefit otherwise. Also takes up a utility slot.
-The brown bear removes 1 condition on demand in 30 seconds. Not amazing, and since it has no useful CC or damage, it really doesn’t work for this build.
-Healing spring is great, removes a condition every 3.5s, except this build is extremely mobile so standing in the spring isn’t really an option. Troll Unguent gives much more overall healing without any healing power.

So ultimately I find none of those seem really viable for this build. Might have forgotten one or two options, let me know.

I think this build is fine, but to pull it off you need to already have some experience because it’s not as tanky, for a starter build i think BM toughness/healing is better.

this is a great video, interesting build, you obviously make it work! Can i ask whether QZ and troll ungent synergize well though? with troll ungent, you’re being healed around 40% of the time, so if you popped QZ when needed, wouldn’t there be a 40% chance that you’re hurting yourself? (QZ 4 second duration = 4 ticks of heal, so 40% chance for up to 40% less healing) Or do you only use it after troll has run it’s course etc?

Funky.9762:

I think this build is fine, but to pull it off you need to already have some experience because it’s not as tanky, for a starter build i think BM toughness/healing is better.

You might be right, but I feel like beastmaster builds are very situational and pet AI can be frustrating. Builds that rely heavily on the pet require a certain level of experience as well.

Valroth.7138:

Beardmonger.4692:

I really enjoyed the video. I know this is supposed to be a basic starting guide, but how do you deal with condition removal/management? The only thing that I notice you have is Empathic Bond.

Condition removal is one of my pet peeves at the moment. I find Empathic Bond is fine, but it really is pure luck whether or not it saves me from a sticky situation. I wish there was some way to control it, even on a 20s cooldown it would be much more useful.

Other options:
-Signet of Renewal takes up a much needed utility slot and once used it leaves me completely vulnerable to conditions for 60 seconds.
-Prayer to Kormir removes 3 conditions but has a 40 second recharge and no passive benefit otherwise. Also takes up a utility slot.
-The brown bear removes 1 condition on demand in 30 seconds. Not amazing, and since it has no useful CC or damage, it really doesn’t work for this build.
-Healing spring is great, removes a condition every 3.5s, except this build is extremely mobile so standing in the spring isn’t really an option. Troll Unguent gives much more overall healing without any healing power.

So ultimately I find none of those seem really viable for this build. Might have forgotten one or two options, let me know.

I’ve been running a very similar build in WvW for a while now, and I can attest to the conditional removal concerns. My solution as been to run both Healing Spring AND Signet of Renewal. I run in a large coordinated group with my guild so these options have certain payoffs:

1. Both provide condition removal for my allies as well as myself. I’m not the only one in my group running removal so I can cope with the cool downs.
2. Water field combos with blast finishers for AoE healing.

The AoE healing mitigates the lesser healing when compared to troll unguent, and signet of the hunt is redundant when I have perma-swiftness from my group.

Beyond that, my skill load out is identical to yours, and my traits are almost all the same as well. Glad to see I’m not the only one running this weapon combo in WvW.

Wanderer.5471:

this is a great video, interesting build, you obviously make it work! Can i ask whether QZ and troll ungent synergize well though? with troll ungent, you’re being healed around 40% of the time, so if you popped QZ when needed, wouldn’t there be a 40% chance that you’re hurting yourself? (QZ 4 second duration = 4 ticks of heal, so 40% chance for up to 40% less healing) Or do you only use it after troll has run it’s course etc?

Thanks for mentioning this, it really didn’t occur to me but I should have explained in the video. I’m in the habit of using QZ near the beginning of an engagement, then using Troll Unguent immediately after the quickness ends. The end of quickness is my semi-conscious queue to use TU.

QZ lasts 4sec and has a 48sec recharge, Troll Unguent lasts 10sec and has 25sec recharge.

If used on cooldown timing goes something like this:
0: QZ on
4:QZ off
5: TU on
15: TU off
30:TU on
40: TU off
48:QZ on
52:QZ off
55:TU on
1:05:TU off
1:20:TU on
1:30:TU off
1:36:QZ on

So it takes a while before it ever overlaps.

Cool vid, will be a nice starting point for me, though I really like traps, even in zerg fights in WvW (I run with a fairly organized group). I was using flame trap, spike trap and muddy terrain tonight and it seemed fairly good. I’m only a low level and I got so many badges. :P
Anyway do you think a hybrid setup could work for something like that, with say Soldiers armor and rampagers and/or rabid jewelry. Using SB/GS. Was thinking a 0/30/30/5/5 build.

Valroth.7138:

Wanderer.5471:

this is a great video, interesting build, you obviously make it work! Can i ask whether QZ and troll ungent synergize well though? with troll ungent, you’re being healed around 40% of the time, so if you popped QZ when needed, wouldn’t there be a 40% chance that you’re hurting yourself? (QZ 4 second duration = 4 ticks of heal, so 40% chance for up to 40% less healing) Or do you only use it after troll has run it’s course etc?

Thanks for mentioning this, it really didn’t occur to me but I should have explained in the video. I’m in the habit of using QZ near the beginning of an engagement, then using Troll Unguent immediately after the quickness ends. The end of quickness is my semi-conscious queue to use TU.

QZ lasts 4sec and has a 48sec recharge, Troll Unguent lasts 10sec and has 25sec recharge.

If used on cooldown timing goes something like this:
0: QZ on
4:QZ off
5: TU on
15: TU off
30:TU on
40: TU off
48:QZ on
52:QZ off
55:TU on
1:05:TU off
1:20:TU on
1:30:TU off
1:36:QZ on

So it takes a while before it ever overlaps.

Wow great answer, you’ve clearly done the math! I’m definitely gonna try this build – i think i’ll try using beastmaster’s bond (vi) in marksmanship instead of steady foucs (i) though, as i tend to dodge a lot, and i’m guessing with only 5 in BM your pet’s health drops below 25% quite often before swapping? and the fury could synergise well with already high crit chance; what d’ya think?

also i was thinking if you have high crit chance and problems with conditions you could try sigils of purity?

Loving the build, cos it’s not bunker or trapper, and those are the only viable ones i’ve managed to pull off so far, this certainly looks interesting.

Kinoro.7594:

I’ve been running a very similar build in WvW for a while now, and I can attest to the conditional removal concerns. My solution as been to run both Healing Spring AND Signet of Renewal. I run in a large coordinated group with my guild so these options have certain payoffs:

1. Both provide condition removal for my allies as well as myself. I’m not the only one in my group running removal so I can cope with the cool downs.
2. Water field combos with blast finishers for AoE healing.

The AoE healing mitigates the lesser healing when compared to troll unguent, and signet of the hunt is redundant when I have perma-swiftness from my group.

Beyond that, my skill load out is identical to yours, and my traits are almost all the same as well. Glad to see I’m not the only one running this weapon combo in WvW.

Sounds good, running with a coordinated group changes the situation entirely.

Wanderer.5471:

Wow great answer, you’ve clearly done the math! I’m definitely gonna try this build – i think i’ll try using beastmaster’s bond (vi) in marksmanship instead of steady foucs (i) though, as i tend to dodge a lot, and i’m guessing with only 5 in BM your pet’s health drops below 25% quite often before swapping? and the fury could synergise well with already high crit chance; what d’ya think?

also i was thinking if you have high crit chance and problems with conditions you could try sigils of purity?

Loving the build, cos it’s not bunker or trapper, and those are the only viable ones i’ve managed to pull off so far, this certainly looks interesting.

After looking at the video again, you’re right, I’m not getting any real benefit from steady focus except in cases where I would have easily won anyway. Beastmaster’s bond seems like a much better choice. As a variation I was thinking of putting those 10 points in Marksmanship into Beastmastery bringing BM up to 15 for the faster swap and to get a little more use out of pets. I’m a little conflicted now, but it’s good to have options.

Lifeson.4352:

Cool vid, will be a nice starting point for me, though I really like traps, even in zerg fights in WvW (I run with a fairly organized group). I was using flame trap, spike trap and muddy terrain tonight and it seemed fairly good. I’m only a low level and I got so many badges. :P
Anyway do you think a hybrid setup could work for something like that, with say Soldiers armor and rampagers and/or rabid jewelry. Using SB/GS. Was thinking a 0/30/30/5/5 build.

Yea actually, I used to run something similar to what you’re talking about, it worked quite well. Video of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfZ6-pPnd84

I used Knight’s armor and Soldier’s/Rabid jewels though, but essentially the same.

Valroth.7138:

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jklDsZkJrNg

Build overview:

10 Marksmanship : Major trait I
25 Skirmishing : Major Trait IV and X
30 Wilderness Survival : Major trait VI, X, and XI
5 Beastmastery

Gear: (not essential, customize to taste)
Soldier’s Armor with Superior Runes of the Ranger
Soldier’s Ring and Back Item
Rabid Ring
Knight’s Accessories and Amulet
Rampager’s Shortbow with sigil of Strength
Berserker’s Greatsword with sigil of Bloodlust

Resulting Stats: (approx with shortbow)
2700 Attack – 500 Condition Damage
45% Crit Chance – 33% Crit Damage
2800 Armor – 18000 Health

Pet preference: Krytan Drakehound and Snow Leopard

Utilities: Lightning Reflexes, Quickening Zephyr, Signet of the Hunt, Entangle

Content and editing of this guide are excellent, I think many will benefit from it, thank you!

Auto target is off as to swoop away right?

Quick idea:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-FV-g;2FFx-r2gDF-0;9V2E;2OT-E;139-53A;15;0P-V5;2NV05NV055BE

While I agree that the crit chance and crit damage are below my personal preference for any sort of direct damage build (I prefer 50% chance and 60% damage), this is a decent starter build for new rangers. Nice post!

Cempa.5619:

Content and editing of this guide are excellent, I think many will benefit from it, thank you!

Auto target is off as to swoop away right?

Quick idea:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-FV-g;2FFx-r2gDF-0;9V2E;2OT-E;139-53A;15;0P-V5;2NV05NV055BE

Thanks

That build looks good, the traits and purity sigils are nice and it is something I will try. I try to aim for at least 1600 toughness though for bit of staying power. There is always a trade-off, so I guess it comes down to preference.

Just as heads up, if anyone is thinking of trying purity sigils (outside of t/sPvP) then use Sigil of Generosity instead. It not only removes conditions, but transfers it to whoever you’re fighting (with the same cooldown). http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Sigil_of_Generosity

Beardmonger.4692:

Just as heads up, if anyone is thinking of trying purity sigils (outside of t/sPvP) then use Sigil of Generosity instead. It not only removes conditions, but transfers it to whoever you’re fighting (with the same cooldown). http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Sigil_of_Generosity

Great didn’t even know about that Sigil, thanks!

Yea generosity sigils definitely look good on paper, I’m going to do some testing.

Thanks for testing. It would be great if the sigil prioritizes which condition is transferred based on stack amount or duration, but I doubt it does.

Great build!

I was wondering why you picked the greatsword as weapon. There is an entire thread about this weapon and why some players don’t like it. What about the sword for example? I am just curious.

Narya Firering.9301:

Great build!

I was wondering why you picked the greatsword as weapon. There is an entire thread about this weapon and why some players don’t like it. What about the sword for example? I am just curious.

People seem to be complaining mostly about GS damage. I didn’t play beta so I didn’t get burned by the damage nerf. I use GS because it has great utility. Swoop is the key skill for me, being able to engage and disengage easily is very important, #4 and #5 are very useful as well. I have Shortbow for single target DPS, although its not like GS doesn’t have similar damage in a standing fight, but standing fights are not a ranger’s forte. Sword is fine, but it is also a single target DPS weapon and doesn’t do significantly better than Shortbow, the range of the Shortbow gives it every advantage. If there were an offhand weapon I could use with sword that had a good movement skill I’d be much more interested in using it.