Guild Wars 2

So I’m still leveling my ranger, and having a blast just fooling around on it. I’m not playing this class with any intentions of being a serious contender for anything, and really don’t care to read all the comments about ‘Go play Guardian/Warrior’ etc.

All I want from this topic, and hopefully I’ll get it, is some suggestions on fun and fairly decent builds for PvE. I’ve been playing around with a few builds, and mostly just want to see what other people suggest.

tl;dr: Suggest some PvE builds, don’t complain about how good/bad ranger’s are.

Rangers are not bad in PvE. Its not an opinion, its a fact. The reason why rangers have such a stigma is because the majority of people have no clue what they’re doing. Maximum damage build for ranger IS NOT Longbow/Shortbow/Bear. Maximum damage is achieved through zerker stats and using Sword/Torch and Axe/Warhorn.

My current build is 30/25/0/15/0. I’m hitting roughly 3-4k cleaving autos with my sword, around 2.5k-3k x 3 with axe. On top of that, we have pet damage (carrion devourer f2 usually hits around 6-7k) Warhorn4, and condis from axes. Warhorn brings utility, spirits bring sheer damage (to everyone in the group) and vulnerability stacks thanks to Opening Shots means I’m bringing crazy overall damage to my party.

And I ain’t even full ascended…

That build is what I’m aiming for, from the sounds of it. I love how many different kinds of playstyles this class has available.

jmkmay.3257:

Sword/Torch and Axe/Warhorn

While I agree with most everything you wrote, what’s up with those combos? Torch specifically for fire fields in dungeon running? I’d leave that to an ele and use an offhand axe. Axe 4 is colossal damage* and axe 5 is situationally amazing, as it doesn’t just block but also reflects projectiles.

*Someone posted a video of themselves “1 shotting” a karka with axe 4 the other day, although with a slightly different trait requirement than the normal 6/5/0/3 (<— hard to write.)

Fluffball.8307:

jmkmay.3257:

Sword/Torch and Axe/Warhorn

While I agree with most everything you wrote, what’s up with those combos? Torch specifically for fire fields in dungeon running? I’d leave that to an ele and use an offhand axe. Axe 4 is colossal damage* and axe 5 is situationally amazing, as it doesn’t just block but also reflects projectiles.

*Someone posted a video of themselves “1 shotting” a karka with axe 4 the other day, although with a slightly different trait requirement than the normal 6/5/0/3 (<— hard to write.)

Torch is good, because you don’t always run with elementalists and your blast cds won’t necessarily align with their fire field cds all the time. Axe #4 is good, but the problem with it is that it gives bosses defiant, which is a bigger deal in organized groups where you actually try to interupt key abilities.

I’d probably just keep a torch in the inventory (and 2nd axe) for the rare occasion you need a firefield and no one put one down (ele dagger 4 is on a 15 second cooldown) and use a dagger and warhorn then. Meh, whatever, it’s not a big deal.

OP,

I have been running a full zerker might stacking ranger in PvE for almost a year.
20/25/0/25/0 with Sword/(dagger or warhorn) and axe/axe
Runes: Hoelbrak (for power and might duration; cheaper than runes of strength)
All MH weapons have sigils of strength, all OH weapons with sigils of accuracy.
I use 2 cats (jungle stalker for more might and snow leopard)

I trait heavily into NM for boon sharing with pet and extra damage for both me and pet while boons are up. I can easily put up 25 stacks of might solo, and can sustain might though any encounter.

If I need to go ranged for some reason, i swap to LB/SB both the sigils of battle (might on swap) and constantly swap them when skills are on CD.

Seems the new might ‘meta’ has caught up to my build …

Oooh, that might stacking build looks interesting, I’ve never really considered going that route with my ranger before. I may have to try it out.

I also use 20/25/0/25/0 (now 4/5/0/5/0) but since I don’t like sword, even knowing it is better, I go axe/axe + axe/wh (I have a torch in my inv) I have fire sigil on my MH and accuracy on OH (but I’m in doubt if I change to strength or air or blood sigil, opinions?) I use the zerk/valk asc trinkets and the Minotaur steak as food (cheap +60 precision and crit damage) I hit for around 1.8k w/o any buff in PvE but the AoE from ricochet + fire sigil is great.

I’ll be trying 4/4/0/6/0 with the new SotF trait. I use LB + Axe/WH.

ayimera.7028:

I’ll be trying 4/4/0/6/0 with the new SotF trait. I use LB + Axe/WH.

Where do you need heavy condi removal and survival skills in PvE?

ayimera.7028:

I’ll be trying 4/4/0/6/0 with the new SotF trait. I use LB + Axe/WH.

Taking SotF without Wilderness Survival? Ouch.

Fluffball.8307:

ayimera.7028:

I’ll be trying 4/4/0/6/0 with the new SotF trait. I use LB + Axe/WH.

Where do you need heavy condi removal and survival skills in PvE?

It sounded good in my head

Ha! Take your experimentation in to PvP and WvW where you can actually make use of the new traits! All 5 of them are geared towards competitive modes.

There are a variety of builds, but almost all of the good PvE ones will use berserker gear and aim for % damage increases in all lines except Beastmastery. How you choose to distribute those points depends on your situation.

6/5/0/3/0
4/5/5/0/0
6/3/0/5/0

etc. are all examples of trait setups that are viable and have different uses.

Sword mainhand offers the highest DPS, but it locks you to your target so unless you are very good at controlling the animation it is not ideal to use in situations where precise dodging is required. Warhorn offhand is good in all situations, and whether you take offhand dagger, torch, or axe depends on the type of enemy you are facing and what kind of utility you want. Dagger provides an extra evade, torch gives a nice fire field, axe gives a pull and reflect.

Greatsword is good for perma fury with 3 points in skirmishing and 4 points in nature magic. It also provides a lot of defense, with one of the best blocks in the game (3 second block on 15/12s cd) but its DPS is on the lower side, comparable to shortbow. Longbow, under ideal circumstances, has equal DPS to sword, but is better suited to content outside of dungeons where it is almost never ideal to engage enemies at max range away from your party (and by extension, boon support).

I usually go sword/warhorn + gs.

TheKillerAngel.3596:

6/5/0/3/0
4/5/5/0/0
6/3/0/5/0

I’d hesitate to call 4/5/5/0/0 a “viable” set up since it’s only good in very specific, niche scenarios unlike 6/5/0/3/0 and 4/5/0/5/0. The only times you’d want to go into wilderness survival are when

1. You want offhand training
2. You already have a ranger with Vigorous Spirits
3. You need to reflect something really badly

Otherwise it’s not worth giving up Fortifying Bond and Vigorous Spirits, which are important for any PvE ranger spec.

@Ykfox
Here’s my PvE guide

You’re right that Fortifying Bond and Vigorous Spirits are very important, and I use them almost all the time. However, if if you are solo and moving around a lot or facing enemies that will quickly destroy your spirits/pets, some other traits are better options.

I switch my traits up all the time depending on the situation, but in general I think the important traits for Rangers in PvE to keep in mind are spotter, fury on weapon swap, Fortifying Bond/Vigorous Spirits and offhand training for when its needed.

Zerk Build is OK fro Dungeons/PvE

i use GS+SB but have nearly all weapons in equivalent power
i use GS+2 Axes if boss needs to be stacked only
i use SB+LB if boss needs to be ranged only

i use 6/4/0/0/4
with spotter, piercing arrows in markmanship