Guild Wars 2

I’ve just returned to the game and boosted a ranger to 80. Working towards unlocking the Druid specialization but I wanted to know how viable a ranger GS build is.

I’m honestly pretty casual, so I won’t be cutting edge here or anything.

Ranger GS is a fairly balanced weapon. In that it offers a strong mix of defense, mobility, cc, and a reliable burst skill in the form of maul. It also has a leap finisher with no wind up enabling it to make use of fields quickly.

When traited with the BM line it is also a source of fury.

If you aren’t intending to do anything heavily end game. GS is a good option. The evade on its auto attack and the leap will help you survive. And the block/counter attack and hilt bash will let you CC mobs out of dangerous attacks.

However. If you intend to go for things that are a bit more group oriented. Specifically fractals/raids you will want to consider learning the sword axe weaponset if you intend to stay power focused. or taking a look at the condition builds that are available. As in those circumstances damage is often seen as being the same as survival. And those other options offer more sustained damage.

GS does what it does and does it kitten well. Its my favorite weapon and I use it over any other weapon in PvP, WvW, and open world PvE. But there are times when other weapons are necessary just for the sake of group play.

You’re going have to be a bit more specific, but it’s decent in all 3 modes.

Are you working on HoT story and maps? If so GS is great for that.

So if your thinking your going to get constant numbers out of gs, don’t.
Just understand it’s designed for defense, utitlity and bursting, so situations that favor it will see it used a lot more (it’s great for PvP/wvw particularly against thiefs, warriors (dangerous positioning required against warriors but can burst them to get past those pesky endure pains if landed right), eles, revs, and other rangers)

Combos really freaking well with tiger and marksmanship line

prototypehydra.6325:

I’ve just returned to the game and boosted a ranger to 80. Working towards unlocking the Druid specialization but I wanted to know how viable a ranger GS build is.

I’m honestly pretty casual, so I won’t be cutting edge here or anything.

If you mean the HoT boost that gets you to 80 and all basic wp unlocked, then elite is already unlocked. You just have to use only the bottom traitline for that..