Ranger build advice
I mainly solo in PvE. I was using a 10/10/0/0/5 spec. However, I just reached level 40 and bought the new manual. Surprisingly, it gave me back all my traits points, didn’t expect that …
So, I decided to try 0/0/10/0/20 for more survivability and pet love. Most of my kit has power/precision boosts, so felt I wasn’t going to miss too much. I have not yet played with this build, so will see. I think my next 5 points will go back into power, though.
Ranger weapon selection can be confusing and a lot depends your play style and if you do a lot of group play or solo. Since I mainly solo, my main weapon is Longbow, secondary is either Shortbow or Greatsword, depending on where I am. I use Traps and my pet a lot, so these work for me.
There is controversy with Longbow, many do not like the auto-attack skill (too slow). Shortbow is faster and better at DPS, but has less range. Personally, I prefer the longer range of Longbow and the 4 other skills are great.
Greatsword seems to be generally accepted as the better Ranger melee weapon, as sword kicks you around a lot.
Not sure if this helps you much ..
Lvl 80’s: Ranger; Guardian; Mesmer; Necromancer; Thief
Gandara Megaserver
You want to have 10 points in Wilderness Survival to have the option to reduce the recharge time of Survival skills by 20% and 5 points in Beastmastery for the Quickness.
I would suggest putting 20 point into Skirmishing to get Trapper’s Expertise and try out traps:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fMAQNBlODZkoquOuSwOA0KkJTxhO+FA
Put more points into Marksmanship as you level. For solo PvE you have to option to switch Trapper’s Expertise with Quick Draw and Shared Anguish with Wilderness Knowledge to play a Survival Ranger.
If you like traps you can go for Trap Potency at level 60 and eventually have a build like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fMAQNBlODZkoquOuSwSAsUsXg9DZyecojP+FA
If traps are not your style you can go for a Survival Ranger:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fMAQNBlODZkoKyOzSwSAsUsXgNFZyJnxhO+FA
The utility skills in both builds are optimized for solo PvE, for Dungeons you certainly want to switch Signet of the Hunt and maybe skill #8 for something else.
There is controversy with Longbow, many do not like the auto-attack skill (too slow). Shortbow is faster and better at DPS, but has less range. Personally, I prefer the longer range of Longbow and the 4 other skills are great.
Unless you take the Master Marksmanship trait the range of the Longbow and Shortbow are identical.
(edited by DesertRose.2031)
I’ve respecced many times and find this is the must have:
20 Marks – for Piercing Arrows – arrows go through mobs, kind of like a mini-aoe.
5 Skirmishing – for swiftness when swapping weps.
15 Wilderness Survival – for 50% more endurance generation – more dodges and protection when dodging for yourself and pet.
15 BM – Swiftness when swapping pets and reduced pet swap CD
This means you are swapping weps and pets on just about every cooldown in longer fights. And for me, it’s short bow and axe/warhorn.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Played around with traps, but they’re not really my style. I think i prefer the longbow, which i feel the auto attack has become faster? Correct me if i’m wrong.
I’ll probably go with qwints build of 20/5/20/0/15, which then gives me another 10 points to spend. 20 in marksmanship is a must for me due to piercing arrows. Plus, this means i won’t have to respec, just add onto my current build.
Is a signet build viable for PvE? For dungeons ill go with desert rose’s suggestions. But i may try the trap build in sPvP.
To clarify, I start my traits at 20/5/15/0/15 and add from there. Adding more to BM improves the pet and is nice for soloing. Adding more to WS and Nature improves your survivability.
My 6 – 10 is:
healing spring
signet of renewal/hunt/stone/spike trap (mostly renewal for group efforts and hunt for soloing)
Signet of wild
Sharpening stone
Rampage as one