Guild Wars 2

At least in spvp I feel rangers are the most balanced class.

The main reason is because they lack burst skills. You can have great long battles on a ranger- on a thief or HB warrior for example it is usually over in a few seconds. Another important reason is because ranger builds have clear trade-offs that some other classes do not have.

Rangers have no obviously OP ability, no moa, no group quickness, no evade spam underwater etc. You can spec as glass canon and do more damage but are easy to take down, you can tank it up without being nigh unkillable, you can do a condition build that doesn’t pump out high direct damage, a tough power build that has moderate sustained direct damage, a modest support build that sacrifices damage for said support and without the support being so overwhelming that you are a required member of any group. You can even make a beastmaster build which is uniquely “rangerish” and balances more pet power for less personal power.

There are still some technical problems like “obstructed” arrows, but the main issue I see with ranger is that while ranger is well balanced other classes are not.

Warrior is close to balanced, but you can still pump out too much damage even with a control/tanky build, and the glass canon build leads to the 2 second fights that are just unexciting- it reminds me of the twinks in WoW BGs that could one shot you, and while this would be fine in WvW, in spvp where everyone is on a level playing field it really stands out as an unusual and undesirable game mechanic.

Basically this is what forces all rangers that don’t want to be living in respawn camp into high toughness builds. Other classes are extremely unbalanced in this respect- the most obvious examples are thief and Mesmer which can go full glass canon and have good survivability. Yes they have trade-offs to go glass canon, but not to the extent that ranger does, and I think it is the Ranger that is in a more balanced state.

I know this is an essay but the tdlr is Ranger is actually a very well made class and I think the devs could do well to bring the other classes back in line with the Ranger by making clearer trade-offs between builds and by lowering spike damage overall, especially for the outliers.
Long 1 on 1 or even group battles over a point or are great fun-2 sec and dead even if you are quite tanky is not.

So since almost all other classes are OP this makes ranger “balanced”?

If you search for the definition of a balanced class this is guardian and that’s all for me…

necros, elementalist and rangers lack options especially in sPVP whereas as you mentioned already thieves, mesmers and warriors can either one-shot you or just kill you (having of course several ways to escape battle in case something goes wrong like “falling asleep on the keyboard for some secs while fighting” whereas ranger does not)

Deathbearer.2438:

So since almost all other classes are OP this makes ranger “balanced”?

If you search for the definition of a balanced class this is guardian and that’s all for me…

necros, elementalist and rangers lack options especially in sPVP whereas as you mentioned already thieves, mesmers and warriors can either one-shot you or just kill you (having of course several ways to escape battle in case something goes wrong like “falling asleep on the keyboard for some secs while fighting” whereas ranger does not)

I think rangers are balanced because of the clear trade offs for taking a build in a certain direction, something that seems to be comparatively lacking in other classes.

BTW guardian is a profession I also like to play a lot partly because you can enjoy those long tactical fights and it doesn’t have insane burst damage.

Don’t think you really understand what balance in an mmo means. You need to see the bigger picture.

The Ranger is fiddly to play… winning on one is very satisfying as a result though.

The problem is more the bugs rather than the class design… pets and the long bow have fundamental issues (pathing and moving targets being the biggest problems).

When the pet works you are on par, when it can’t land a hit you are working uphill the hard way for the entire fight.

No class currently is balanced, they’re all under powered and over powered.

Actually, I kind of agree with the op, it’s the other classes that in many aspects are quite a bit overpowered if you compare rangers to them. So, buff the ranger, or bring the others down?

I think what Yasha is getting at is that burst damage kills too fast and that the fight is over too quickly most of the time, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had many fights with other classes where it’s lasted a decent amount of time but against like Yasha said thieves and warriors it is over much too quickly due to them being OP.

The other point i think Yasha is making (and many most people know) is that warriors and thieves have no downside, for example if thieves go in for an attack and it doesn’t go as well as they’d hoped they can just stealth and get away entirely or heal up and try again, rinse and repeat, there is no punishment.

However, i will say that ranger’s need fixing in terms of getting effective skills, traits and pet AI to see where they stand against the other classes before they get buffed or other classes get nerfed on the numbers side of things

That’s one way to look at it lol…

The ranger is the black sheep from all the professions. It doesn’t stand out in anything that’s true, but in such a way that it’s beatable by every other profession in the aspect where the other profession excels in which makes ranger heavily underpowered.

Xander.4539:

Don’t think you really understand what balance in an mmo means. You need to see the bigger picture.

Could you elaborate on this a bit more?

My primary view on balance is from an spvp viewpoint- the forum where all classes have access to all skills, equal gear, and max level. Its great that GW2 has this level playing field.

Now when you look at Ranger, you can see that if I go pure burst I can do lots of damage (but not enough to kill anyone in 2 secs) but that I will be truely squishy and exposed to enemy burst. Its a clear trade-off. Its balanced. Other classes, like thief for example, can go pure burst (and kill even tanky builds in 2 secs), but they still retain strong survivability; ie relatively they are not balanced.

This is just an example, I see a similar degree of balance in any choice available to Ranger build wise (perhaps some areas can be tweaked -like spirits- but overall its good).

I’ll also add that Rangers are trapped into only a few viable builds in spvp not because the builds themselves are bad, but because other classes don’t play by the same rules so to speak.

For example if a thief couldn’t just teleport through your teams back line, kill the squishy in 2 secs, stealth get to safety rinse and repeat a Ranger burst build suddenly is not kittened (mind you a good thief can do this or nearly do this even to a tanky ranger, that is how far out of wack some classes are balance wise).

So i think the devs have actually hit a sweet spot with Ranger- a class that cannot kill someone in 2-secs, has clear trade-offs for various builds, and has an interesting mechanic with the pet.

And let me add, that if the other classes had to make harder choices-especially the line between burst and survivability, the way pets are now seems fine to me. On the whole, they provide some cc, utility, some extra damage, and can be used to apply pressure on weak targets. If you go full beastmaster you’ll feel kittened compared to a baseline mesmer- but that is more because mesmer is unbalanced than because of a problem with Ranger. However I will admit there may be room for improvement in the traits for going full beastmaster/spirit support build.

Edit: “kittened” appears in a couple of places, but I did not use foul language. I used a word starting with gi and ending in mped.

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

Haha! I know the feeling about killing other rangers! They are usually the best thing to target first as they are usually the squishiest and present the least threat damage wise, plus I know all their moves pretty well.

In spvp I stopped playing glass canon about 1000 games ago; you either go at least somewhat tanky or you get to chat often with babes at respawn.

that’s the reason I didn’t mention sPVP. I quit doing sPVP with my ranger ages ago after a couple of matches after I realized I am useless and I refuse to “reroll” into GS, swords and other silly ways of TRYING to be a warrior, thief etc

@Deathbearer, I don’t use glass cannon in WvW you don’t need to, I run condition ranger and when I’m with the zerg I change to longbow/shortbow combo, but rangers tank comes from dodge & protection.

and you want me to believe you kill ppl by stacking conditions to them? like which classes exactly?

Deathbearer.2438:

that’s the reason I didn’t mention sPVP. I quit doing sPVP with my ranger ages ago after a couple of matches after I realized I am useless and I refuse to “reroll” into GS, swords and other silly ways of TRYING to be a warrior, thief etc

Now I have to say that I really enjoy my ranger in spvp, I like ranged too so usually sport a shortbow and horn (for the speed buff). Of course you have to go tanky, but you can do condition tanky (best but direct damage is verrry low) or a powertoughness build (ok, good for taking out new players). Of course tpvp is a no go, but if you get a decent group in hotjoin spvp you can play a tough kiting type style that is a lot of fun-you do need to learn a new playstyle though, I remember the transition from a longbow sniper (aka thief fodder) to the tanky short range kiting style (actually very exciting).

Whats so hard to believe its WvW allot of nubs there its easy to faceroll as a conds ranger, but I do spend allot of my time solo or roaming with small groups there more fun then following the mindless zerg.

it’s hard to believe it because most of the noobs you are referring to knowing they are noobs have rerolled the easy-mode classes of thieves, mesmers and warriors and since you play a lot in WvsW you know that 70% of players are these 3 classes. I can’t count the number of times where I am having 1vs1 and when i try to finish the opponent the thief that camps the area comes and kills me

I know what your saying, server I’m on doesn’t seem to have the problem of thief camps and I don’t know if its me but thief’s seem to be getting easyer to beat, It’s Ele/Mesmers that I think are one’s you worry about, a good Ele is allot harder then a thief to beat same with a Mesmer. But that could have allot to do with the build I run or the tactics I use might not cater so well for them 2 classes.

Cloud.7613:

No class currently is balanced, they’re all under powered and over powered.

BAH! Just use the Elementalist Exploit. (Also works for Rangers)

http://youtu.be/Hh5zjK7ITpQ

=)

This is pretty funny and highly inaccurate. Also what “support” options do we have?

The way you’re describing your views of balance then it’s the Engineer that are THE balanced class.

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

Yasha.5963:

Xander.4539:

Don’t think you really understand what balance in an mmo means. You need to see the bigger picture.

Could you elaborate on this a bit more?

My primary view on balance is from an spvp viewpoint- the forum where all classes have access to all skills, equal gear, and max level. Its great that GW2 has this level playing field.

Now when you look at Ranger, you can see that if I go pure burst I can do lots of damage (but not enough to kill anyone in 2 secs) but that I will be truely squishy and exposed to enemy burst. Its a clear trade-off. Its balanced. Other classes, like thief for example, can go pure burst (and kill even tanky builds in 2 secs), but they still retain strong survivability; ie relatively they are not balanced.

When I think about balance in an mmo, it’s not about skill #1 being balanced against skill #2, or trait #1 being balanced against trait #2 and so on. It’s about whether or not the other professions are killing stuff five times as fast as you, and this is especially important in the pvp area of the game.

As it stands right now, the ranger in all its glory, is not balanced against the other professions, not even close in most cases.

I do understand what you mean though, just dont let the devs believe for even one second that “the ranger is balanced, and everything is good”.

Xander.4539:

Yasha.5963:

Xander.4539:

Don’t think you really understand what balance in an mmo means. You need to see the bigger picture.

Could you elaborate on this a bit more?

My primary view on balance is from an spvp viewpoint- the forum where all classes have access to all skills, equal gear, and max level. Its great that GW2 has this level playing field.

Now when you look at Ranger, you can see that if I go pure burst I can do lots of damage (but not enough to kill anyone in 2 secs) but that I will be truely squishy and exposed to enemy burst. Its a clear trade-off. Its balanced. Other classes, like thief for example, can go pure burst (and kill even tanky builds in 2 secs), but they still retain strong survivability; ie relatively they are not balanced.

When I think about balance in an mmo, it’s not about skill #1 being balanced against skill #2, or trait #1 being balanced against trait #2 and so on. It’s about whether or not the other professions are killing stuff five times as fast as you, and this is especially important in the pvp area of the game.

As it stands right now, the ranger in all its glory, is not balanced against the other professions, not even close in most cases.

I do understand what you mean though, just dont let the devs believe for even one second that “the ranger is balanced, and everything is good”.

Thank you Xander, I totally agree with you.

My message is not “the ranger is balanced, and everything is good”, more that the ranger is an example of how other classes could be balanced in a way that would make spvp more fun.

Compared to other classes ranger looks weak because rangers can’t have their cake and eat it too and because there is no burst build capable of killing even tanky builds in a few seconds. Unfortunately at least some of the other classes have OP (unbalanced) options which make the ranger class look unappealing.

Nearly everyone says we should buff the ranger to make it competative, however after lots of spvp I’ve come to the conclusion its more that the devs should tone down other classes, primarily by giving them starker trade-offs and lowering the burst overall. I just think that would make the game more enjoyable.

That said, I can still see room to improve Ranger- there is always room to improve but that is a discussion for another time.

At one point Ranger was the most close to balanced class, but while rangers got nerfs and nothing, the other classes got improvements and tweaks. Currently Rangers just need something to be good at, since every class has a uniqueness. APART from the ranger.

Mobility – Thief.
Range damage – Warrior.

nldixon.8514:

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

How do you do against conditions? How often does that trait tick where pets take a condition from you? I’m using signet of renewal and healing spring, but both of those are long cooldowns. Also, how often do you crit? I see you have sigils that react based on when you crit. Do you see those sigils being activated a lot?

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

How do you do against conditions? How often does that trait tick where pets take a condition from you? I’m using signet of renewal and healing spring, but both of those are long cooldowns. Also, how often do you crit? I see you have sigils that react based on when you crit. Do you see those sigils being activated a lot?

Empathic Bond removes all conditions every 10 seconds. Between the regen from Natural Healing, Rejuvenation, Troll Unguent, Signet of the Wild, and Oakheart Salve, conditions that aren’t removed quickly are basically nullified.

I’m pretty sure crit chance is around 25-30% (I’m at work, I can’t check), but with Call of the Wild and Rampage as one I can get over 50 seconds of Fury (with Water and Monk runes) which puts me around 50% crit chance. It doesn’t proc much with the axe, but with sword it goes off pretty regularly. I can’t say how often exactly, but I see the fire burst regularly enough to know that it’s working.

nldixon.8514:

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

How do you do against conditions? How often does that trait tick where pets take a condition from you? I’m using signet of renewal and healing spring, but both of those are long cooldowns. Also, how often do you crit? I see you have sigils that react based on when you crit. Do you see those sigils being activated a lot?

Empathic Bond removes all conditions every 10 seconds. Between the regen from Natural Healing, Rejuvenation, Troll Unguent, Signet of the Wild, and Oakheart Salve, conditions that aren’t removed quickly are basically nullified.

I’m pretty sure crit chance is around 25-30% (I’m at work, I can’t check), but with Call of the Wild and Rampage as one I can get over 50 seconds of Fury (with Water and Monk runes) which puts me around 50% crit chance. It doesn’t proc much with the axe, but with sword it goes off pretty regularly. I can’t say how often exactly, but I see the fire burst regularly enough to know that it’s working.

Natural healing only effects pet correct? What is this rejuvenation you speak of? I’m using dwayna runes as well as longer regen trait and healing spring and i usually have regen up at all times. This is interesting though since you have different kinds of health regen that all stack on top of each other rather than just stacking in duration like me. I wonder if I should try the same thing.

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

How do you do against conditions? How often does that trait tick where pets take a condition from you? I’m using signet of renewal and healing spring, but both of those are long cooldowns. Also, how often do you crit? I see you have sigils that react based on when you crit. Do you see those sigils being activated a lot?

Empathic Bond removes all conditions every 10 seconds. Between the regen from Natural Healing, Rejuvenation, Troll Unguent, Signet of the Wild, and Oakheart Salve, conditions that aren’t removed quickly are basically nullified.

I’m pretty sure crit chance is around 25-30% (I’m at work, I can’t check), but with Call of the Wild and Rampage as one I can get over 50 seconds of Fury (with Water and Monk runes) which puts me around 50% crit chance. It doesn’t proc much with the axe, but with sword it goes off pretty regularly. I can’t say how often exactly, but I see the fire burst regularly enough to know that it’s working.

Natural healing only effects pet correct? What is this rejuvenation you speak of? I’m using dwayna runes as well as longer regen trait and healing spring and i usually have regen up at all times. This is interesting though since you have different kinds of health regen that all stack on top of each other rather than just stacking in duration like me. I wonder if I should try the same thing.

No, Natural Healing also heals the Ranger. Rejuvenation is the minor Nature Magic trait. It applies regeneration at 75% health.

Yes, there are multiple heals applied to me at all times, which is pretty nice. In addition, a good portion of the heals can’t be stripped or stolen, unlike the regeneration boon.

nldixon.8514:

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Joey.3928:

nldixon.8514:

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

This is so incredibly incorrect it hurts my brain. There are actually a few “tanky” Ranger builds that are difficult to kill and can still put out some serious damage. I know there’s at least one other person on the forums who has a tanky build that’s similar to the one I’m about to post that I use in sPvP. It’s really tanky with relatively high armor and health, lots of evasion, lots of healing, and good condition removal.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcoVMzmzMmvagMmvagM9MxaxcRqcmsb8kir7khV7kir7khf7070z7kIM70V7owY8ofy

How do you do against conditions? How often does that trait tick where pets take a condition from you? I’m using signet of renewal and healing spring, but both of those are long cooldowns. Also, how often do you crit? I see you have sigils that react based on when you crit. Do you see those sigils being activated a lot?

Empathic Bond removes all conditions every 10 seconds. Between the regen from Natural Healing, Rejuvenation, Troll Unguent, Signet of the Wild, and Oakheart Salve, conditions that aren’t removed quickly are basically nullified.

I’m pretty sure crit chance is around 25-30% (I’m at work, I can’t check), but with Call of the Wild and Rampage as one I can get over 50 seconds of Fury (with Water and Monk runes) which puts me around 50% crit chance. It doesn’t proc much with the axe, but with sword it goes off pretty regularly. I can’t say how often exactly, but I see the fire burst regularly enough to know that it’s working.

Natural healing only effects pet correct? What is this rejuvenation you speak of? I’m using dwayna runes as well as longer regen trait and healing spring and i usually have regen up at all times. This is interesting though since you have different kinds of health regen that all stack on top of each other rather than just stacking in duration like me. I wonder if I should try the same thing.

No, Natural Healing also heals the Ranger. Rejuvenation is the minor Nature Magic trait. It applies regeneration at 75% health.

Yes, there are multiple heals applied to me at all times, which is pretty nice. In addition, a good portion of the heals can’t be stripped or stolen, unlike the regeneration boon.

Ok THIS is why ArenaNet NEEDS to have better tooltips for traits specifically. I did not know this. I’m pretty happy with my traits right now, but I am liking that Natural Healing trait now. Thanks for all the info!

Deathbearer.2438:

I am playing a ranger for a long time now…the way the traits/skills are functioning right now at least for pve/WvsW you have practically only 1 option: glass cannon. just stay as far as possible from zerg/mobs etc and dps…everything else is a joke. “Tanky ranger” simpkly does not exist unless you are referring against another ranger. The only benefit I have right now having played ranger is that i am 95% confident that I can kill one when I see him in battlefield while playing my alts even my guardian:)

I don’t think that this is true in all scenarios WvW or PvE, even in PVP. If you know your ranger and understand that it’s greatest asset is adaptability + control, you can dare to fight close ranged/mid ranged and win a battle. This of course applies to fights on 1v1 or 1v2, which in almost all cases you’ll be stuck fighting very near your opponents.

I will agree with anyone who says rangers are squishy, even more so in large group scenarios, I find mine squishy as it is. But a glass cannon build is completely unnecessary unless you have a dedicated tanker in front of you.

If you can balance your ranger well enough to give good damage output and decent survivability stats, then you can dominate other classes as long as you know what you’re doing, which takes time and patience to learn. That being said, for any ranger thiefs and mesmers should be a pain to fight against. At least I managed to know how efficiently kill warriors, guardians with relative ease; necros, other rangers, elementalists I can accurately say a 40~50% chance, all depends on how skilled the other player is, and mind you this took me a lot of time to get my ranger to adapt and kill the way it should.

Putting bugs aside I believe rangers as a profession are balanced. They are greatly adaptable to many situations and if used properly and can be an asset to sticky situations if used properly.

But let me very clear on this: in order for a profession to be truly balanced in the GW2 world, it means that it stands a relative even chance against other professions, specifically speaking PVP and WvW. That’s not yet the case for rangers, for a ranger player must REALLY know what they’re doing if they want to be feared in an environment where other players hunt each other. You can compare other professions as ‘requiring skill’ to be good, my greatest example is of course the guardian which provides a truly solid set of assets to all situations. Whereas professions like the thief and in many cases the warrior, do not require as much dedication to detail to be an unstoppable force of nature.

Perhaps Yaha is right, rangers are balanced and other professions are not, or just hope devs elevate the ranger to a more even standard.

So OP, basically what you’re indirectly telling us is that Anet don’t really know how to balance the game? Because according to you, they only got 1 out of 8 right.

[quote=894785;awge.3852:]

a difference between a good ranger and bad ranger is that, if you see a ranger trying to fit a single role 100% they are going to fall flat on their face. while another ranger is focusing on 3 roles, he’s gonna love life and stomping their enemies.

Cloud.7613:

At one point Ranger was the most close to balanced class, but while rangers got nerfs and nothing, the other classes got improvements and tweaks. Currently Rangers just need something to be good at, since every class has a uniqueness. APART from the ranger.

Mobility – Thief.
Range damage – Warrior.

If they could fix the pets and have them not take so much damage from AoE and also attack while moving then that would be a BIG help for rangers right there.

I think the ranger class has some internal balance issues, but it’s not quite as rough as some other classes. For external balance, I’m not sure. Their sustained DPS is really very good, but it’s all rather passive. Pet attacks on it’s own mostly. Main weapon is pretty much just for auto/1 for your best DPS.

BTW, you can do some mean stuff with a BM30 Jaguar in WvW. The F2/stealth lets it jog over to the other zerg and rip the hell out of an unsuspecting target.

I think a cool change to Ranger would be to let the Ranger possess the pet. Leave your bow-bot standing wherever botting away and play the pet. Change up the Fn bar to let you remote control the Ranger: follow, attack, passive, stay. Keep the utility bar the same for both ranger and pet mode.