Guild Wars 2

I’m returning to GW2 after being away from the game for a long time. I plan to run with my Ranger. Problem is, I hate longbow (feels too slow to me). I’d love to run a Shortbow + Axe/x build, but I’m unsure how to build it. It’s for open world PvE (map completion & living story mainly). I’ve heard numerous times that it doesn’t matter what I run, but that doesn’t mean I can’t optimize as much as possible. With that said, I’d love to get some help on a decent SB + Axe build and gear tips. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Castien.1872:

I’m returning to GW2 after being away from the game for a long time. I plan to run with my Ranger. Problem is, I hate longbow (feels too slow to me). I’d love to run a Shortbow + Axe/x build, but I’m unsure how to build it. It’s for open world PvE (map completion & living story mainly). I’ve heard numerous times that it doesn’t matter what I run, but that doesn’t mean I can’t optimize as much as possible. With that said, I’d love to get some help on a decent SB + Axe build and gear tips. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

For open world PvE? Equip 2 bears, stand behind them and pew pew to your hearts content. As far as gear goes, you can be completely naked and you’ll be fine.

Jim Hunter.6821:

For open world PvE? Equip 2 bears, stand behind them and pew pew to your hearts content. As far as gear goes, you can be completely naked and you’ll be fine.

I get that most people feel that anything works out in open world PvE, but like I’ve mentioned in my original post, I’d still prefer to optimize. I’m not trying to sound rude, but if you’re not going to actually help me, can you please not bother posting?

Suggestions for Axe/X +Shortbow are going to be reduced to condition/celestial builds, which are generally less than ideal for PvE

For open world PvE especially if map completion and living story are your goals you’re probably going to want a Greatsword simply to get around the map faster.

I run SB with axe/torch. Rune runes of the undead, sigil of earth and bursting. cond food and potent crystal.

2/6/6 for traits. I run mostly wvw but works just fine in pve. For pve can move WH in for torch for some speed. also WH4 will give you a ton of crit procs for your bleeds.

Oh yeah, all rabid gear.

I have over 3k armor, about 17k health and 1.7k in condition damage. 60% condition duration.

Zero issues with this build. Run spider and wolf for pets.

I’d recommend Krait over Undead assuming you’re using Entangle.

SB + A/T or SB + A/D if you want evades.

Then you spec for either toughness or vitality. If toughness, then I agree with Siobhan, if vitality then you could run dire and eat rare veggie pizza. I do this and have 24k health, 2.4k toughness, 1.6k condition damage (with 25 corruption stacks) and 50% condition duration (unless bleeds, as I run Krait so its slightly more than 50% duration on those).

For pets, dual canine or canine + bird works well. Cats are nice too, but they die rather fast. I’d stay away from bears and devourers (unless going in a dungeon then devourer is ok). Drakes may be an option, I’m not a huge fan from an aesthetic point.

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions guys. You’ve been a big help! I’ll probably run with drakes. Ultimately I’ll probably go with Sinister armor, but until I can get the recipes I’m not sure what I’ll run between Rabid or Dire. Luckily I have a few days to decide. Again, thanks for the help! If you guys have anything to add, let me know. I’ll probably check back in here tomorrow.

Before the quickness nerf, quickness on pet swap nerf and SB range nerf, i was running a fun mostly-power SB build for wvw. Can’t remember all the details but it was based on Piercing Arrows, Steady Focus, Hunter’s Tactics, pet swap for regular quickness, and a set of rune with additional flanking damage (possibly Thief runes).

So with full stamina and flanking, that was a neat +30% damage to piercing 1200 range arrows that caused bleeds on autoattacks, with pet-swap for on-demand quickness.

Not sure what it’s worth these days, since the 300 lost range is a big deal in wvw, quickness has been nerfed by half, and pet-swap quickness is insanely costly now.

cafard.8953:

Before the quickness nerf, quickness on pet swap nerf and SB range nerf, i was running a fun mostly-power SB build for wvw. Can’t remember all the details but it was based on Piercing Arrows, Steady Focus, Hunter’s Tactics, pet swap for regular quickness, and a set of rune with additional flanking damage (possibly Thief runes).

So with full stamina and flanking, that was a neat +30% damage to piercing 1200 range arrows that caused bleeds on autoattacks, with pet-swap for on-demand quickness.

Not sure what it’s worth these days, since the 300 lost range is a big deal in wvw, quickness has been nerfed by half, and pet-swap quickness is insanely costly now.

Moving Zephyr’s Speed from a 5 point investment to the full 30 (or 1 point to 6 point by today’s standards) is probably my most hated of all the Ranger nerfs.

SB being nerfed so that LB could be less awful (ANets logic) is a close second. You are right about WvW, I cannot tell you how many times someone has escaped with a sliver of life because I get out of range’d…or even worse, randomly obstructed then out of range.

Man I really, really miss the original days of the Ranger. Just simple stuff like sending your invisible Jaguar half way across the BL map to absolutely own someone. Or the absolute death dual birds used to be….

Castien, here is my short bow build that I used for 100% map completion (“Been there, done that”):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNIQNAV3fjEq0yaHLGsQ1aAAhaVA0OFyhY49YUtFNA-TRRTwAqU/Bw+Dp0N0WJIKlfkBoYDA-e

Essentially:
2/0/6/0/6
All Settler for armor and weapons (I buy exotics off the TP when I hit 80)
Superior runes of the undead
Shortbow
Axe+Torch
Troll Unguent, Lightning reflexes, Muddy terrain, Signet of the hunt, Entangle
Pets are totally up to you but I was full on ranged tank so I used Devourers (it’s also a Charr thing)

My two cents on Sword/Dagger for your second weapon set: I did not care for it. Yes the evades are fine but you’re not really killing anything, you’re just dodging and applying poison. With Axe +Torch you can really ramp up the condition damage, not to mention torch was just improved in latest balance patch.

Also: Even if you’re maining short bow, I don’t think you really need the reduced cool down trait. Short bow cool downs are pretty good to begin with.

I also use this build in WvW and sPvP and do fine. Not great, but fine. Just keep your distance and always, always open with Muddy Terrain to put your opponent on the defensive. Once they burn their “cure immobilize” skill to escape Muddy Terrain, you can hit them with Entangle.

I’ve had enough fun with this build that I consider it my main. I have five 80’s in different classes but this odd little condition/toughness ranged tank build is the most fun, even if it’s not the most powerful.

Gotejjeken.1267:

Man I really, really miss the original days of the Ranger. Just simple stuff like sending your invisible Jaguar half way across the BL map to absolutely own someone.

Yeah, i’ll never forget that infamous “Leash Range increased to 2000”…

that baby stealing dingo.7216:

Castien, here is my short bow build that I used for 100% map completion (“Been there, done that”):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNIQNAV3fjEq0yaHLGsQ1aAAhaVA0OFyhY49YUtFNA-TRRTwAqU/Bw+Dp0N0WJIKlfkBoYDA-e

Essentially:
2/0/6/0/6
All Settler for armor and weapons (I buy exotics off the TP when I hit 80)
Superior runes of the undead
Shortbow
Axe+Torch
Troll Unguent, Lightning reflexes, Muddy terrain, Signet of the hunt, Entangle
Pets are totally up to you but I was full on ranged tank so I used Devourers (it’s also a Charr thing)

My two cents on Sword/Dagger for your second weapon set: I did not care for it. Yes the evades are fine but you’re not really killing anything, you’re just dodging and applying poison. With Axe +Torch you can really ramp up the condition damage, not to mention torch was just improved in latest balance patch.

Also: Even if you’re maining short bow, I don’t think you really need the reduced cool down trait. Short bow cool downs are pretty good to begin with.

I also use this build in WvW and sPvP and do fine. Not great, but fine. Just keep your distance and always, always open with Muddy Terrain to put your opponent on the defensive. Once they burn their “cure immobilize” skill to escape Muddy Terrain, you can hit them with Entangle.

I’ve had enough fun with this build that I consider it my main. I have five 80’s in different classes but this odd little condition/toughness ranged tank build is the most fun, even if it’s not the most powerful.

Since Malicious Training may or may not be bugged (I haven’t tested lately) I’d go with Keen Edge and some other changes. Oakheart Salve could easily be swapped to OffhandTraining if you wanted. The flowers since there are no Settler jewels I’m aware of. Pets are a preference. I just went with birds for the high crit chance to go with Rending Attacks.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNIQNAV3fjEq0yaHLGsQ1aABhaVA0uGu3W49XEtBdBTOA-TRSFABAY+LMdDip+TpKBT4JAAmyPEOIAps/gCXAACBoYOA-e