Guild Wars 2

Hey all,

I have several 80s, and can’t figure out what I want my next one to be. I currently main an engineer and I exclusively play WvW on all of my toons. I enjoy the ability to roam and zerg as I see fit. I’m leaning towards ranger but haven’t really read up much on any of them, I only know from what I’ve faced in WvW. Based on what I want in a class(and your bias towards/against ranger in WvW) what would you suggest?

I would like:
-range
-mobility
-good DPS
-survivability
-preferably to not have to change specs between roaming/zerging if I don’t have to
-one solid gear set that I can build several solid builds around

Which of these three classes in your opinion fit my niche?

I came to these forums because I’m leaning toward ranger for the ease of leveling and the range the have. I also wanted to hear the opinions of rangers, whether they tell me ranger is the correct choice or to run far far away from the class.

Thanks in advance,
Mord

the front page is filled with threads stating our opinion of the class. As you can see they’re mostly unfavorable

I’d say try each for a week in sPvP and see if it’s something you like. But your criteria isn’t specific enough to give you a definitive answer. Do you want a power based ranged class? A condition one? Would you consider a Warrior?

I have a warrior, and I’d prefer power, though obviously conditions reign supreme in roaming, power does a lot better in zergs and fares well in roaming. My main beef is that I’m constantly having to change gear sets/builds to fit my niche in roaming or zerg combat, I’d like to have 1 set or maybe a couple different pieces for each different build to switch in/out but entire set changes are becoming expensive! I have a warrior and it’s not really for me, I prefer range and the ability to snipe from towers while defending or snipe enemies defending their own towers.

Well the Warrior condition build with longbow and swrd/swrd is one of the strongest warrior builds in WvW now. That’s why I brought it up. Power builds for the Ranger are the worst you’re going to come across probably for any class. So if you’re serious about a power build I wouldn’t go ranger. Thief SB is strong with a power build, but you’re going to get bored quick with it imo. Mesmer power builds are insanely powerful and bursty, but you’re going to fall over quick as even perma chaos armor isn’t enough to keep you standing.

But of the 3 you mentioned, I think Mesmer ranged as power is your strongest option. It’s an absolutely pain to level though just FYI. If you can swap between ranged and melee with ease, then Thief would be my second choice. Ranger power just isn’t worth it imo.

If you want a condition build then you’ll be fine with Thief or Ranger. Thief pistol/dagger is probably one of their strongest builds right now. Shortbow is also very strong for a condi build (if used in melee range). Ranger is equally powerful with a condi/regen/bunker build (full apothecary gear), but it’s also quite boring to play (a lot of auto attack). If you were to play a condi build I’d have suggested Warrior as it’s more dynamic than a Ranger and more powerful overall.

I play a power ranger and I have fun, but I’m not the least bit impressed with what the class is capable of at range. I’m about 3 crystals away from trying full celestial as I’m curious how that will work for this class.

Really I’d just give each some time in soloQ sPvP and see if it’s something you enjoy. I think if you enjoy playing the class, even if it’s ineffective, you’ll still have fun.

Power rangers are horrible. If you want to hit hard and kill fast from range, go full zerker Mesmer. With decoy and blink alone you’ll have enough survival.

Thank you for your answers! I’ll have to give my warrior another shot roaming. I appreciate it!

You’re post indicates that you want a warrior;

Range (best ranged damage in game),
DPS (see above about ranged damage)
mobility (second only to thieves)
survivability (that’s not a word, but still, warriors have decent sustain with the current overbuffed Healsig)

Not sure about not needing to swap build – I stopped playing my warrior almost as soon as I got him to 80. Damage was there, but it felt far too much like easy-mode for most of the game. Equip greatsword, berserker armour, lay face on the keyboard and profit. (note, that’s only pve, dungeons and fractals – you actually have to put some effort into winning in wvw, and playing capture the node has no appeal to me, so I’ve no opinions about their viability in that snoozefest.)

Only reason I stuck with ranger as long as I did was because I miss my GW1 ranger, and the flavour of the class suits me better.

I’d say Mesmer, they are AMAZING at 1v1, and have a large amount of utility in zergs, ESPECIALLY if you’re a glamour Mesmer, I personally am a manipulation a Mesmer so I’m just better in 1v1 environments, but still. They have several builds that use the same handful of gear sets, I’m a condi mes so rabid is essentially all I want to touch out of all the variations of condi I’ve used on my Mesmer (my favorite is 0/20/20/0/30).

Rangers and thieves are both equally good at roaming as the Mesmer, and if argue they’re better at it due to their mobility being great both in, and out, of combat where mesmers just have movement while in combat (I’d argue they have THE BEST in combat mobility though).

However, rangers kittening suck in zergs, pets useless regardless of what you do, which cuts your attack and utility by a large chunk right there. Thieves don’t do as well as a Mesmer in Zerg warfare, but they certainly do better than ranger, they can still go into the enemy Zerg and assassinate people before escaping.

In short, if you only want to WvW, don’t pick ranger unless you only wanna roam, it’s not worth the headache if you have other options.

As a player, who plays all of those professions (but my main is Mesmer), I may give you some comparative impression from each professions standpoint. But don’t take my word for it. It is only my opinion. More down you’ll see a more detailed description, how I come to my conclusions (kind of).

In short

• Range: Ranger 1st, Mesmer 2nd, Thief 3rd
• Mobility without much effort: Thief 1st, Ranger 2nd, Mesmer 3rd
• Mobility with effort: Mesmer and Thief 1st, Ranger 3rd
• Good DPS: That is a tie
• Survivability: Thief 1st, Mesmer 2nd, Ranger 3rd
• Specs roaming/Zerging: That is a tie too
• One solid gear set for different builds: no idea^^

Range
That wins the Ranger with no doubt. Longbow can be traited with 20 points in marksmanship to 1500 ranger with all 5 attacks on it. Next comes Mesmer with 1200 range on Greatsword and Staff, but Staff works best at middle range. Thief is limited to 900 range maximum.

mobility
Hm… that is a not easy. All can be mobile, but it requires some times speccing it accordingly. Both Ranger and Thief can equip a signet that gives them +25% speed. All 3 professions have some kind of leap or teleport skills. It all depends on the build. Thief can via Shortbow #5 teleport travel in hight better than the other 2 professions. By default mesmer would be the one with the least mobility. However, many mesmer like to equip Rune of the Centaur that gives you on heal a 12 second Swiftness. Together with Focus and/or prolonged boon time you can sustain the Swiftness boon indefenetly. Also mesmer Blink (a teleport) can be traited to reduced CD and longer distance (1200). It all but limits your build, because you rely on those skills and/or equipments.

good DPS
On the scrubs level I’d say full Zerker Backstab thief. But you don’t wanna be stuck on scrubs level. You can achiev with all professions fairly high DPS in condition and direct dmg builds, although many say that going Zerker with Ranger is bad on the higher levels. I can’t support that statement personally. Over all, all professions have good DPS.

survivability
Thief wins that. Stealth allows you to survive really long, if you know how to utilize it. Especially if you are ready to not go full glass cannon and trait 30 points in stealth with the right traits, you can survive a whole Zerg with thief. Mesmer comes next here, cuz Mesmer also got stealth and Portal and Blink. Also with Mesmer you can equip 2-3 stun breakers as utilities without sacraficing in other areas, cuz most Mesemr utilities are defensive. Also #2 on staff works as a back teleport that can be used when stunned. However, good players might sill catch you in stealth by “guessing” right. Ranger has a more direct approach. With stun breaker skills and mobility through Leaps on Greatsword or Sword. Also a 3 second invisibility on Longbow.

specs roaming/zerging
That is complicated. Trapper condition ranger is fairly good in 1v1, roaming and Zerging. Also Longbow with 1500 range is a good advantage. Thief with Shortbow can use constand blast finishers, what is very improtant in Zerg fights and Mesmer has glamour skills that are quite powerfull. Over all I can not see the advantage of one profession over the others here. They fill but different tasks in a Zerg.

one solid gear set for different builds
Hm… no I think no profession has an advantage here. That depends also on your own creativity.

as for me rangers are best small-group roamer class in WvW – in zerg fights they are loosing much because in such there are nearly no possiblity to keep pet alive in such situation like zerging.

whichever You will pick with the ranger first eq shot will be full knights + maintenance oils food – good survi good dps. eventually there are some builds that are using better another sets.

I will not agree with that statement about power-based ranger builds – I’m running the one and I’m far from being useless in smallscale battles.

Trejgon – I actually tossed the math up with regards to the deficiencies of ranger power builds vs others – the difference in potential damage is huge – you can nearly double your damage simply by playing the berzerker spec on any class but ranger. (it’s in a thread about pets – but nontheless; https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/If-the-pet-couldn-t-become-a-handicap/first#post2657877 ) I only covered mainhand sword and 3 classes in the post, but the skew of the numbers remains the same when you compare ranger to any other class specced for DPS.

Simply put – rangers are the lowest direct damage class in the game.

Based upon your initial list, you want to either stay as engineer lobbing grenades or go Warrior with a rifle.

I know many prefer the longbow however the simple fact is if you want long ranged aoe, stay engineer and spec the grenades. If you want ranged dps then even post-nerf, the Rifle warrior in full berserkers with a sword and warhorn for escapes will give you all you ask for. It’s also immensely fun to melt someone’s HP so quickly.

Also for edit sakes – the warrior is by far the easiest if not the easiest class to level assuming you’re not crafting it up to 80

Tricare.2946:

Power rangers are horrible.

Do you prefer Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

My impression:
Don’t believe the “XYZ is useless”-people. I remember back, when all said Phantasm Mesmer is underpowered and they adviced to go Shatter. I went Phantasms instead and had very very very good experiences back then with Phantasm Mesmer.

if your choice ranger your pet will die. but i use a 30/20/20 build with knight armor zerk jewels. i use gs/lb. i trait signets to affect me. 6 sec invu and evaid with every 3rd auto attack + 4k maul dmg. i have 3200+ attack and 2800+ armor. ii give nothing to the team but im a good sniper and i survive in the zerg

What server are you on. From what I know the zerging is far different between t1 and t3+. A class that may be great for 0-10 may be next to worthless for 30+ groups.