Guild Wars 2

Since SNR is nerfed.

What do we actually do now?

Ranger conditions are still subpar compared to other classes, I just don’t see ranger doing 400k+ condition damage on a competitive match like engie, necro, etc.

I feel like you just HAVE to go LB/Staff and play menders.

SB buff was still underwhelming.

WH is crap, Sword does not cleave anymore..

So what good build do we actually have?

>Sword doesn’t cleave anymore
It still does, just not on the second strike. First and third work line normal. We also got a slightly stronger Whirling Defense as additional cleave-age.

>Condition Builds
We’re still mostly Bonfire/Torch throwers, but unless we got throwable traps again, I don’t expect much to change. I guess Axe is a -little- better since you have 2 reliable bleeds over Shortbow’s situational one.

LB/Staff (or GS) is still best imo. Sword’s not the worst case, but the DPS loss from aftercasts is kinda harsh.

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

Fluffball.8307:

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

But its still the Staff/X right?

I have been experimenting with core ranger SB a lot and the damage is just… This is even with remorseless.

Euthymias.7984:

>Sword doesn’t cleave anymore
It still does, just not on the second strike. First and third work line normal. We also got a slightly stronger Whirling Defense as additional cleave-age.

>Condition Builds
We’re still mostly Bonfire/Torch throwers, but unless we got throwable traps again, I don’t expect much to change. I guess Axe is a -little- better since you have 2 reliable bleeds over Shortbow’s situational one.

LB/Staff (or GS) is still best imo. Sword’s not the worst case, but the DPS loss from aftercasts is kinda harsh.

yep, sword does not stick to the target, the second and third attack does not follow. also it does not cleave: the second and third only hit one target(manly) although i could be wrong there.

also the aftercast to see the nice animations make the attacks slower.

Anet could have go for changing the viper nest, that is actually kinda buggy not hitting your target unless is in melee, for a short CD short leap with evade.

put the poison in the AA(1sec for example) or in monarchs leap and i think they have made everyone happy.

condition builds will never work for the ranger in its actual state. we need more 4 stats sets that include condi and healing. the actual are more focused to other classes with stronger condition application. Also the ranger does not apply much condi pressure with almost any of the weapons.

it seems Anet have the idea of conditions for the ranger to be like a plus, but our main damage coming from power. or at least what i could see with the last buffs to power damage in the SB.

but strangely enough Anet still doesnt make the weapons real hybrid ones… focused in power with some condis flavour. So its kinda confusing.

so you end up with power healing build, that mostly locks you in LB\staff.

so yeah still one build choice. Man this is boring…

i’d be tempted to run a GS, Sword+axe build now with Power/toughness/ferocity stats types MMor skirmishing/BM/druid still with the buff to off-hand axe you could quickdraw it often to stack might/bleeds and plenty of PoS and mauls/blocks.

its the battle cry build on youtube i think floppy made the build and posted a druid version too.

it still buffs with Grace of land ect and menders provides lightfield , 4x shouts with soldiers runes plent of condi clear , if you have less shouts you can use leadership runes instead for a condi conversion on SotP and take more glyphs.

simple things to cure some condi on allies , Glyph= light field > POS + WD or kiting throw gs after counter attack block kiting.

this build type is still strong does the same things but focuses more on single target attack damage / Aoe defence+fast decap rotations.

i’ll put up a quick break down of it
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNAsXRnUqA9Ci1CCmsCctgFGB75JUCaZwN1qaWlJcd0CAlshwA-TZBFABtv/gDnAAEOEAA8EAmqMAA (cleric version) still high damage when buffed up)

having the 540healing power and bonus boon duration is key to the druid version to work without those two it won’t work , you can get away without leadership runes but does require the 540healing power+menders to really stack up the outgoing healing.

choice to change protect me for empowerment or Equality.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNAsXRnUqA9Ci1sCmsCctgFGBDupWVzqMhrjWA45JUCaZlI8GA-TZBFABA8EAc4EAgwhAI8yAtv/AA ( Crusader version) higher toughness+burst damage slightly lower health sustain pretty much the same but this one i’d go for soldier runes instead to keep the condis off as you have less healing power you’ll need more consistancy for condi removal.

could use smoke skale + heal as one for a might source + leadership grants 12seconds each way , combine smoke scale assualt with Ancient seeds combo at the middle of the damage chain for a huge burst then right after use heal as one (while quickness is active finish with cleave or kite leaving the pet to chew on a immobile target.

anduriell.6280:

Euthymias.7984:

>Sword doesn’t cleave anymore
It still does, just not on the second strike. First and third work line normal. We also got a slightly stronger Whirling Defense as additional cleave-age.

>Condition Builds
We’re still mostly Bonfire/Torch throwers, but unless we got throwable traps again, I don’t expect much to change. I guess Axe is a -little- better since you have 2 reliable bleeds over Shortbow’s situational one.

LB/Staff (or GS) is still best imo. Sword’s not the worst case, but the DPS loss from aftercasts is kinda harsh.

yep, sword does not stick to the target, the second and third attack does not follow. also it does not cleave: the second and third only hit one target(manly) although i could be wrong there.

also the aftercast to see the nice animations make the attacks slower.

Anet could have go for changing the viper nest, that is actually kinda buggy not hitting your target unless is in melee, for a short CD short leap with evade.

put the poison in the AA(1sec for example) or in monarchs leap and i think they have made everyone happy.

condition builds will never work for the ranger in its actual state. we need more 4 stats sets that include condi and healing. the actual are more focused to other classes with stronger condition application. Also the ranger does not apply much condi pressure with almost any of the weapons.

it seems Anet have the idea of conditions for the ranger to be like a plus, but our main damage coming from power. or at least what i could see with the last buffs to power damage in the SB.

but strangely enough Anet still doesnt make the weapons real hybrid ones… focused in power with some condis flavour. So its kinda confusing.

so you end up with power healing build, that mostly locks you in LB\staff.

so yeah still one build choice. Man this is boring…

The part where our damage comes from power is kinda misleading.

Although it is partly true, almost 50% of that power damage stats comes from pets, which has nothing to do with the power stat.

StickerHappy.8052:

The part where our damage comes from power is kinda misleading.

Although it is partly true, almost 50% of that power damage stats comes from pets, which has nothing to do with the power stat.

you are right, but the pet is really very unreliable so yet i dont really count on it.

Old pets are simply annoying. the bristle had a harsh nerf and the AA is not that strong and have a lot of LoS issues.
the smokescale only hits when it shadowstep, after that any enemy with swiftness will avoid its damage just moving.

so unless you are hitting a golem i cant count the pet as a reliable source of damage.

anduriell.6280:

StickerHappy.8052:

The part where our damage comes from power is kinda misleading.

Although it is partly true, almost 50% of that power damage stats comes from pets, which has nothing to do with the power stat.

you are right, but the pet is really very unreliable so yet i dont really count on it.

Old pets are simply annoying. the bristle had a harsh nerf and the AA is not that strong and have a lot of LoS issues.
the smokescale only hits when it shadowstep, after that any enemy with swiftness will avoid its damage just moving.

so unless you are hitting a golem i cant count the pet as a reliable source of damage.

oh yea the f2s of the new pets are more reliable than the old ones. If you can time the bursts really well, they account for atleast 30-50% of your power damage.

But meh, i have no idea what to do with ranger anymore. Trapper build before was fun but now…..

anduriell.6280:

yep, sword does not stick to the target, the second and third attack does not follow. also it does not cleave: the second and third only hit one target(manly) although i could be wrong there.

The skill rotation hits the same amount it did before 3-1-3. It doesn’t make much sense to limit stab to 1 target for balance reasons but it’s the same set of skills minus the leaps.

What context is this? PvP/WvW, or PvE/Raids?

StickerHappy.8052:

Fluffball.8307:

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

But its still the Staff/X right?

I have been experimenting with core ranger SB a lot and the damage is just… This is even with remorseless.

Ew, why are you running remorseless on SB? It’s a hybrid sustain damage weapon, there’s absolutely no big single hitting attack in its whole kit. Go with like BM/Skirmishing/WS with companions might, and sharpened edges, it’s much more effective, especially if you run a cat +something tankier to hide the injured cat behind

Durzlla.6295:

StickerHappy.8052:

Fluffball.8307:

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

But its still the Staff/X right?

I have been experimenting with core ranger SB a lot and the damage is just… This is even with remorseless.

Ew, why are you running remorseless on SB? It’s a hybrid sustain damage weapon, there’s absolutely no big single hitting attack in its whole kit. Go with like BM/Skirmishing/WS with companions might, and sharpened edges, it’s much more effective, especially if you run a cat +something tankier to hide the injured cat behind

Oh I just tried remorseless for the heck of it just to test if the new SB damage buffs will scale well now with Damage modifiers, but apparently they didn’t

StickerHappy.8052:

Durzlla.6295:

StickerHappy.8052:

Fluffball.8307:

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

But its still the Staff/X right?

I have been experimenting with core ranger SB a lot and the damage is just… This is even with remorseless.

Ew, why are you running remorseless on SB? It’s a hybrid sustain damage weapon, there’s absolutely no big single hitting attack in its whole kit. Go with like BM/Skirmishing/WS with companions might, and sharpened edges, it’s much more effective, especially if you run a cat +something tankier to hide the injured cat behind

Oh I just tried remorseless for the heck of it just to test if the new SB damage buffs will scale well now with Damage modifiers, but apparently they didn’t

Ya, but all remorseless does is make your NEXT attack deal more damage and crit, but SB is all about hitting them with a ton of little attacks, if anything take Predators Onslaught to benefit from the 2s daze/stun on your 5 skill (4s with MoC), and the cripple from your 4, that’d up your damage A LOT more than just 150% crit on your next auto/single poison arrow from 2

Durzlla.6295:

StickerHappy.8052:

Durzlla.6295:

StickerHappy.8052:

Fluffball.8307:

Any of the builds from before the S&R buff are still fine. Two CC gylphs and PM or whatever floats your boat. We still have massive CC and movement.

But its still the Staff/X right?

I have been experimenting with core ranger SB a lot and the damage is just… This is even with remorseless.

Ew, why are you running remorseless on SB? It’s a hybrid sustain damage weapon, there’s absolutely no big single hitting attack in its whole kit. Go with like BM/Skirmishing/WS with companions might, and sharpened edges, it’s much more effective, especially if you run a cat +something tankier to hide the injured cat behind

Oh I just tried remorseless for the heck of it just to test if the new SB damage buffs will scale well now with Damage modifiers, but apparently they didn’t

Ya, but all remorseless does is make your NEXT attack deal more damage and crit, but SB is all about hitting them with a ton of little attacks, if anything take Predators Onslaught to benefit from the 2s daze/stun on your 5 skill (4s with MoC), and the cripple from your 4, that’d up your damage A LOT more than just 150% crit on your next auto/single poison arrow from 2

wait.. does PO affect each arrow from Volley? (15% each arrow?)

how is that more than remorseless? since remoresless is 25%?

I was trying out BM/NM/Druid Zerker. With A/A + LB
Getting 25 might is now super easy. Pair it with Quickness from BM and Rapid fire – and you have some nice burst over there.

It’s nothing competitive since it’s hard countered by reflects… But it’s a blast in solo queue.

I think we’ll be staying bunkers for competitive play. That’s my guess.

Tragic Positive.9356:

I was trying out BM/NM/Druid Zerker. With A/A + LB
Getting 25 might is now super easy. Pair it with Quickness from BM and Rapid fire – and you have some nice burst over there.

It’s nothing competitive since it’s hard countered by reflects… But it’s a blast in solo queue.

I think we’ll be staying bunkers for competitive play. That’s my guess.

Menders/Cleric.

I have no idea why there is so much projectile hate now.

StickerHappy.8052:

wait.. does PO affect each arrow from Volley? (15% each arrow?)

how is that more than remorseless? since remoresless is 25%?

PO affects all attacks as long the required conditions/cc are on the target. Remorseless affects only one single hit. If used for poison volley, it will apply to only 1 of the 5 arrows, resulting in a 25/5 = 5% dmg increase for the whole skill (against multiple targets the dmg loss compared to PO is even higher).

StickerHappy.8052:

Menders/Cleric.

I have no idea why there is so much projectile hate now.

Engies reflect projectiles by breathing. And since a single reflect breaks the table upside down (by 200% literally) – that’s something you just cannot ignore if you are holding onto a projectile-based weapon or build.

I think we stay bruiser-support, or bunker-support. I don’t know, I’ve managed to make some high damage Condi builds without Staff, but they just aren’t competitive, outside trolling unranked.

For ranked, Shortbow is still way too weak. The skills are rather lame. There might be some kind of Axe/D, Staff build, but…. I have not found one yet…

The real problem for Druid is the amulet selection. Druid kinda needs some sort of healing component, and there are only a few amulets that have it. I still can’t believe they removed crusader.

Sword is just terrible with a ping time of over 200, half your attacks don’t even hit..

Being Australian i gave up on Ranger sword build years ago..

Archon.6480:

The real problem for Druid is the amulet selection. Druid kinda needs some sort of healing component, and there are only a few amulets that have it. I still can’t believe they removed crusader.

I would love to see some sort of Power, Precision, Vitality, Healing power amulet.

Or something like Crusaders with vitality instead of the toughness. Having more vitality might be useful since it looks like we’re entering into a condi meta, and vitality could be a decent enough buffer.

Archon.6480:

I think we stay bruiser-support, or bunker-support. I don’t know, I’ve managed to make some high damage Condi builds without Staff, but they just aren’t competitive, outside trolling unranked.

For ranked, Shortbow is still way too weak. The skills are rather lame. There might be some kind of Axe/D, Staff build, but…. I have not found one yet…

The real problem for Druid is the amulet selection. Druid kinda needs some sort of healing component, and there are only a few amulets that have it. I still can’t believe they removed crusader.

This is the part where I kinda disagree, Druid healing heals very well even with 0 healing power, this is why maruader druid works.

Although you are right in a certain degree, We need healing power/condition damage amulets that are not squishy, I have no idea why they removed settler.

If we had that ammy back this would promote condition support builds

Tragic Positive.9356:

StickerHappy.8052:

Menders/Cleric.

I have no idea why there is so much projectile hate now.

Engies reflect projectiles by breathing. And since a single reflect breaks the table upside down (by 200% literally) – that’s something you just cannot ignore if you are holding onto a projectile-based weapon or build.

Do not forget eles with magnetic aura and swirling winds.

StickerHappy.8052:

Do not forget eles with magnetic aura and swirling winds.

Of course. Those, naturally, too.