Guild Wars 2

Hi guys,

Can some of you who consider themselves “pro” Rangers give the rest of the community an idea of what weapons you use, what kind of damaging stat you invest in (power, pres, or cond dmg), and what your build is in general that you find most effect in PvE (meaning DE’s, solo questing/farming, and dungeons).

Right now I’m really enjoying being a shortbow/axe+torch Ranger (I sometimes switch the torch with a horn when I know I’ll be doing a lot of running around the map) and I really enjoy this playstyle. I wish I could find some use for the Longbow but in reality, I just keep finding the shortbow consistently better (in terms of damage output and “feel” for the playstyle – I really hate the fact that my damage gets puppied whenever the mobs get close).

Also, is there a viable/competitive power build for Rangers or is conditional damage really the best way to go for now?

I won’t come close to calling myself a pro but I use the following and it seems to work well. I only do PvE so keep that in mind.

• Pets:
  – Jaguar (Any cat due to their high precision)
  – Black bear (some use brown bear)
• Weapons:
  – Shortbow
  – Sword & Horn (if you can stand the sword locking you in place)
• One of the following trait builds:
  – 30/30/0/0/10
  – 20/30/10/0/10
• Stats to focus on:
  – Power → Precision → +Crit

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#Mcom0Vm0mvgGMmvgGMxx9MazRczVaM
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#Mcom0Vm0mvgGMmvgGMGxa0azRzVaVM

I often swap Signet of Stone for Signet of the Hunt

Key to this layout is to make sure you never let your pet die else you lose the Master’s Bond stacks. Swapping to your secondary pet will also clear the stacks. Use the Jaguar’s F2 ability to stealth it if it gets aggro (in a dungeon) or just call it back to you and use your heal if needed.

Also keeping your pet alive in a dungeon is a real challenge. You spend a big part of your time monitoring your pet then focusing on yourself and putting out the most damage you can. Those that claim that their pets never dies in a dungeon most likely have their pet next to them most of the time.

krojack.4920:

I won’t come close to calling myself a pro but I use the following and it seems to work well. I only do PvE so keep that in mind.

• Pets:
  – Jaguar (Any cat due to their high precision)
  – Black bear (some use brown bear)
• Weapons:
  – Shortbow
  – Sword & Horn (if you can stand the sword locking you in place)
• One of the following trait builds:
  – 30/30/0/0/10
  – 20/30/10/0/10
• Stats to focus on:
  – Power -> Precision -> +Crit

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#Mcom0Vm0mvgGMmvgGMxx9MazRczVaM
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#Mcom0Vm0mvgGMmvgGMGxa0azRzVaVM

I often swap Signet of Stone for Signet of the Hunt

Key to this layout is to make sure you never let your pet die else you lose the Master’s Bond stacks. Swapping to your secondary pet will also clear the stacks. Use the Jaguar’s F2 ability to stealth it if it gets aggro (in a dungeon) or just call it back to you and use your heal if needed.

Also keeping your pet alive in a dungeon is a real challenge. You spend a big part of your time monitoring your pet then focusing on yourself and putting out the most damage you can. Those that claim that their pets never dies in a dungeon most likely have their pet next to them most of the time.

Hi Kojack, thanks for answering. This looks very viable on paper. Is this comparable to a condition damage build? Also, some questions:

1. Why use shortbow? (I had the impression shortbows are only good for condition damage and if you wanna go power, you switch to longbow)

2. Based on your personal experience, is Pet Prowess (Skirmish Adept 1) better than Sharpened Edges (Skirmish Adept 2)?

Thanks!

1. Shortbow still does far more damage then a Longbow due to it’s speed. Focus of this build is crits and getting Master’s Bond buff up on your pet so it’s crits are big.

2. Honestly I’m not sure. Here is a pretty nice pet guide that might have that info in it. http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/47239-sycthrexs-pet-guide/

Here’s a different take:
Pet – Dual Devourers
Traits – 0/10/20/20/20 or 0/10/30/30/0
Weps – Short bow or Greatsword, Axe/Warhorn
Heal – Healing Spring
Utility – Sharpening Stone/Signet of the Wild/Signet of Renewal
Elite – Rampage as one

I’ve tried all pets and Devourers survive the longest. They also don’t get in the way. No pet survives long in most Dungeon fights. I am tempted to keep a buffing pet like a Stalker and Moa by my side in the next dungeon I do and just have them buff and recall them back so they don’t attempt to fight (and immediately die). It will nerf my dps, but it’s already nerfed because pets rarely survive to their swap cooldown.

The first set of traits improves your heals and devourer. The second adds more survival skills and opens up the better Spirit traits should you decide to use them.

Long Bow is too slow and Sword locks you into an annoying dance although some players like both these. There’s lots of debate on Greatsword. I have a nice exotic L80 one and currently use it. I still keep a Short Bow in my inventory in case it looks like the fight will require me to stay ranged the whole time. Axe/Warhorn is almost a must with the huge warhorn swiftness, might and fury buff. I swap weps about every 30 seconds on long fight to blow the warhorn buff.

I hope this helps.

Weapons: Shortbow/Axe/Horn (Long bow situational for aoe)
Traits: 30/30/0/0/10
http://gw2.luna-atra.fr/skills_tool/?lang=en&code=36i0001p151tm6mc00uu00a3c3d3j3m3rfugr

Stat focus: Precision—>Crit Damage—>Power (once you are at 100% crit damage precision provides more dps than power)

Sup. Runes of the Ranger in all my gear. I use Sup. Sigil of Str. on my bow (chance to gain might on critical). I put the +10 precision on kills (stacks to 25) on my axe.

How it works:
The build is based on quickness, in my opinion the most overpowered source of damage for rangers. I use quickening zephyr immediately after I pop signet of the wild and rampage as one. When zephyr runs off I switch pets to get the quickness bonus from pet swap (I switch pets every 20 seconds, it is important to keep your pet alive so you don’t get the full 60 sec cd). I will switch to axe/horn once my pet/zephyr is on CD, blow all axe cds except call of the wild. I use call of the wild right before I switch back to sbow. Finally, right before the mob dies I switch to axe to allow myself to proc the axe sigil to gain the precision stack.

The synergy between shortbow/quickness and Sigil of Str is amazing, allows you to keep 10+ might stacks up while quickness buffed.

As for pets, I use the stalker for the might buff and the hyena for dps (2 is better than 1).

I think my first link failed, hope this works.
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#Mcom0zm0ovgGMovgGMxx9MazRqMVaofunction(a,b){for(var c=this.length>>>0,d=0;d<c;d++)d in this&&a.call(b,this[d],d,this)}function(a,b){for(var c=this.length>>>0,d=Array©,f=0;f<c;f++)f in this&&(d[f]=a.call(b,this[f],f,this));return d}function(a,b){for(var c=[],d=0;d<this.length;d++)a.call(b,this[d])&&c.push(this[d]);return c}function(a){var b=this.length>>>0,c=0;if(0=b&&1=arguments.length)throw new TypeError;if(2<=arguments.length)var d=arguments¹;else for(;;){if(c in this){d=this[c++];break}if(+c>=b)throw new TypeError;}for(;c<b;c)c in this&&(d=a.call(null,d,this©,c,this));return d}function(a,b){var c=this.length,d=b||0;if(!c||d>=c)return-1;for(0>d&&(d=c);d<c;d++)if(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(this,d)&&a===this[d])return d;return-1}

longbow is if you want to auto-attack for 1800 damage, shortbow’s pretty decent for the bleed stack and if you want to use a sigil that procs on hit. axe is good for condy and something i’ll use with flame/poison trap in those de aoe dps races (i like it with torch…the 4 is a CRAZY long burn and the 5 is another burn field). warhorhn is what i’m currently using for the swiftness (running to nodes).

for melee (rangers seem to not realize this becuase we have so many safety nets) DISABLE AUTO-ATTACK NOW! this fixes the tweaky rubber-bandy bs from longsword and gives you the opportunity to chose to use your 3rd swing evade with gs when you actually want to evade.

dagger is a decent offhand that works pretty well with ls for the poison but i don’t really use it for pve. ever since i started really paying my guardian, i’ve found melee ranger kinda bad and since i have no condy in my build axe is aweful so for just killing-stuff purposes it’s all about both bows. axe/wh is pretty good for running around frostgorge and orr grabbing nodes.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fMAQNBlODbEoquOuytC1OQsKkn2jMJJMxewfH9oTmSVUB;TsAgyCnogxAjAGLMOYkwsCYEw2DA

Basic condition damage 1470 full set in PvE

lvl 80 ranger tested many builds and i found out condition damage is just amazing, it works in sPvP, PvE, WvW.
one thing you need to remember ranger does not deal burst damage so don’t expect to see 10k damage pop up^^ what you expect are 200 damage per cross fire at lvl80 LOL so lets forget about auto attacks and i’ll go into traps

Why traps they look weak http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Spike_Trap with 638 damage on the page is it even worth looking into it? Well it does^^

Rune and Skills:
First you need Marksmanship 10points not FOR DAMAGE ITS FOR 10% longer Condition Damage Duration!! And with Rune of the Afflicted (+% bleeding/poison duration) and with Sigil of Superior Agony (10% bleeding duration) you got a total of 35% in bleed and 25% in poison

so here’s how much damage traps will deal xD * Trap Potency is a must *

Spike Trap 3stack of bleed for 5 sec (with 35% extra duration its 6.75sec) with Trap Potency : Conditions caused by traps last twice as long and traps recharge 20% faster. meaning 6.75sec x2 = 13.5sec so 13.5sec x3 stack of bleed with 115 damage per second you deal 13×3×115=4485 condition damage in 13sec

Flame Trap : Burning: 1 s 3 second duration
6second x 690 burning damage = 4140 damage in 6sec

Viper’s Nest : Poison: 3 s per pulse (there’s 3 pulse)
18sec with 25%extra = 22.5sec x 225 damage = 4950 damage in 22sec

Pet : Black bear F2 Enfeebling Roar : Roar fiercely, weakening nearby foes. —- here’s what GOOD weakening —→ Endurance regeneration decreased by 50%; 50% of Non Critical hits are glancing blows (50% damage); stacks duration. for 10sec<< 10sec Range: 600

In PvE build as mine killing 1 or 6 are the same so lure as many as u can find and just throw traps and running round and round xD
In its the same in dungeons^^ with this build you might be consider to be invite into a party dungeons^^ if you are into power/precision/crit. damage well all the best to those all^^

Imma put this way too simple:

Use shortbow > longbow. It’s been tested. SB out dmgs longbow by TWICE as much. Only reason to go with is for AoE dmg and cripple.

Other than that I recommend Warhorn for +20% CRIT, MIGHT AND OP SPEED.
and sword or axe in mainhand.

Utilities: QZ+Sharp stone is OP for single targets. Traps are weak, but decent AoE.

pets: If you ever consider NOT using a pet that doesn’t have max vit, it’s your loss. Try roaming Orr with a weak kitty who gets one-shotted. high precision mykitten it’s useless when you’re DEAD. I suggest the uglykitten OP Murellow for AoE poison and tanking-like-kitten-boss. +bears.

Sources: over 200 hours on my ranger. No alts.

On PvE i am using a condition build with Shortbow/ axe warhorn and thinking of having a torch on the side for certain situation. I have tried most weapons and i IMO the best is the shortbow definitely, axe even tho is weak with a single target with AoE it shines, good AoE weapon.

Condition build even tho some people might thing is more for sPvP works alright in PvE.

By the way i have a question, which stats are better for a condition build? i have my rampegers exotic with condition damage but i am thinking of crafting rings, amulets etc with power, vitality and +crit. Should i do that, or still crafting amulets with power, prec and condition damage even tho i have low HP.

@Zelvoka: (my quote button isn’t working again)

“Pet : Black bear F2 Enfeebling Roar : Roar fiercely, weakening nearby foes. —- here’s what GOOD weakening —? Endurance regeneration decreased by 50%; 50% of Non Critical hits are glancing blows (50% damage); stacks duration. for 10sec<< 10sec Range: 600”

This is amazing. Thanks for this info. I’ve never bothered to look at what weakness does. Didn’t realize it how synergistic it would be for tanky pets/characters.

Holmes.9362:

Weapons: Shortbow/Axe/Horn (Long bow situational for aoe)
Traits: 30/30/0/0/10
http://gw2.luna-atra.fr/skills_tool/?lang=en&code=36i0001p151tm6mc00uu00a3c3d3j3m3rfugr

Stat focus: Precision—>Crit Damage—>Power (once you are at 100% crit damage precision provides more dps than power)

Sup. Runes of the Ranger in all my gear. I use Sup. Sigil of Str. on my bow (chance to gain might on critical). I put the +10 precision on kills (stacks to 25) on my axe.

How it works:
The build is based on quickness, in my opinion the most overpowered source of damage for rangers. I use quickening zephyr immediately after I pop signet of the wild and rampage as one. When zephyr runs off I switch pets to get the quickness bonus from pet swap (I switch pets every 20 seconds, it is important to keep your pet alive so you don’t get the full 60 sec cd). I will switch to axe/horn once my pet/zephyr is on CD, blow all axe cds except call of the wild. I use call of the wild right before I switch back to sbow. Finally, right before the mob dies I switch to axe to allow myself to proc the axe sigil to gain the precision stack.

The synergy between shortbow/quickness and Sigil of Str is amazing, allows you to keep 10+ might stacks up while quickness buffed.

As for pets, I use the stalker for the might buff and the hyena for dps (2 is better than 1).

This sounds like it’ll take a lot of practice to get used to what with all the swapping and the cooldown monitoring you have to do but kudos to you. Do you do the same rotation in AoE situations (like DE’s) or was the rotation you described for “boss”-type fights?

Depends on the AOE situation. If it is non-elite mobs I use longbow to get damage before the group kills everything. For Elite groups I line them up as best as possible (groups tend to line up at the beginning while CDs are being used).