Spirits could be the new meta?

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Kishandreth.2798

Kishandreth.2798

The Build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNBmYDbkQF6VxWWwhFIaxykg1EAaATA4faRtp6U5ucjgSk+YA-TZxHABAcRAU+IAIfZA/fAAiv/AA

Been testing out this build in off season sPvP. Features are, second highest mobility (only thief gets around faster), good survivability, and plenty of team buffs. I still feel it needs something, any constructive criticism is welcome.

Starting with Call of the wild to buff swiftness out of the gate. Then switching to staff to either drop staff 5 or 4 if you catch them before they enter the cap. Spirits can be deployed on the run, I only wish they had more HP. Troll unguent cleanses 4 conditions, your pet takes the first stun and lightning reflexes breaks a second stun while cleaning 2 conditions. This build packs 3 means of immobilize (4 if you can take fall damage), decent Crowd control from pets and enough swiftness to kite like a mad man.

To disengage; Call of the wild for swiftness, sword 2 for some space staff 3 and drop staff 5 right behind you. Staff 4 can be spammed to attempt to snare anyone chasing you. Alternatively, you can just disengage avatar form for stealth and superspeed.

This works best with teammates, but can sustain 1v1 if needed. Can also beat most classes to a cap point for defense.

Runes of leadership is used for the +25% boon duration (unfortunately it does not affect spirit pulse buffs). Not entirely sure this is the best rune, and sigils are just basic ones, could be improved.

Also, Evades, lots of evades, these are your main defense.

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Ranys.4028

Ranys.4028

Soften the fall can be quite good now, but remember that it is one ICD for both the fall and the heal activation.
I can imagine this build being good in teamplay, the amount of protection and heals you can give out to your teammates should be quite good.
Normally I’d say take Ancient Seeds, but you don’t have any CC in your utilities and weapons, but remember that you can still proc Ancient seeds with if you combo with your pets CC. Depending on use-case and how good it works for you you should maybe still consider using it. You’re running SS/Wyvern after all.

If you’re good at staying over 75% percent health on this build and you find you don’t need the Shared Anguish, consider refined toxins. I like it a lot in WvW since you can deny a lot of heal with it. Though I have to say that I didn’t test how well it works now, since they changed Bark Skin to Rugged Growth.

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582

Soften the fall can be quite good now, but remember that it is one ICD for both the fall and the heal activation…

I can’t see needing it for fall damage an issue in sPvP all that often though, eh?

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Mr Greggles.5908

Mr Greggles.5908

Soften the Fall now casts Muddy Terrain on Heal Skill cast, so it’s mostly used as an extra survival skill to synergise with Wilderness Knowledge.

House of Horrors [HoH] – Dragonbrand Server

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Fluffball.8307

Fluffball.8307

Why spirits? Not saying it’s bad I’m just not following the thought train.

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: mistsim.2748

mistsim.2748

are you thinking for PoF, or now? in the current meta, this just doesnt have enough damage output. Mender’s LB/Staff druid is incredibly strong, and way better than any other specs we have.

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Kishandreth.2798

Kishandreth.2798

are you thinking for PoF, or now? in the current meta, this just doesnt have enough damage output. Mender’s LB/Staff druid is incredibly strong, and way better than any other specs we have.

Mender’s LB staff is good, but with the changes to traits and skills I think there is room for a more buff based build. Also in my personal testing I have yet to see a LB/Staff build that can match this builds staying power. If they ever allow +boon duration% to affect spirit boons this would become obscenely powerful.

Going to test with GotL to see if the team damage buff kicks this into high gear.

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Pvt Frosty.6973

Pvt Frosty.6973

@fluffball the 2 spirits proposed by op actually cover one of the 2 weaknesses the new tank-druid has (stability) I do quite like the thougt process here. The stability actually allows use of the res trait aswell. They also offer another way of support for allies which the druid lacks if it does not go beastmaster /shouts. While I am uncertain about a few facets of the proposed build (warhorn/res trait/lightning reflexes/the tunes and sigils ), overall I think the proposal of spirits is intriguing, one I look forward to play around with myself.

@mistsim any old menders build has been nerfed into the ground and longbow is far from the best and only option for druids, regardless you can play the proposed build with longbow too

@op, good thinking I sure am intrigued to play around with these ideas

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Spirits could be the new meta?

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Posted by: Kishandreth.2798

Kishandreth.2798

@op, good thinking I sure am intrigued to play around with these ideas

I came here for a second set of eyes. I’ve seen a few possibilities, but my brain is kind of tapped out on improvements. I didn’t even mention that spirits pulse their AoE buffs until their corpse disappears. This means spirit of stone is only down for 10 seconds or so without applying protection. Warhorn is mainly for the additional buffs and swiftness. I could see the build running with dagger or maybe a completely different weapon set.

Looking like Grace of the Land will be the druid grandmaster trait. Still need to find better runes and sigils.

Spirits could be the new meta?

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Posted by: arnitheking.8427

arnitheking.8427

This looks like a very interesting and potentially very viable build, I’ll check it out after I eat some pasta

Spirits could be the new meta?

in Ranger

Posted by: Pvt Frosty.6973

Pvt Frosty.6973

@Kishandreth Grace of the Land will certainly not be the optimal choice considering its suboptimal uptime without glyphs and their trait

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Spirits could be the new meta?

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Posted by: Durzlla.6295

Durzlla.6295

I’ve ran a spirit/glyph build myself in PvP, I just went full hog with the buffs though, even taking grace of the lands, glyph of empowerment and alignment and heal.

My pet choice was way different than yours though, and I ran BM over WS in favor of the AoE taunt.

They sing dark, delicious notes about power and family.
As their mother, I have to grant them their wish. – Forever Fyonna