Guild Wars 2

Honed Axes would perfectly supplement the other Condi-Traits in WS, while Empathic Bond would give another Defensive Option in BM instead of Beastly Warden. Thematically, both would fit like a glove.

Furthermore, we would have more Build-Options for Condi Removal, WS being mandatory for it as is, with Druid as the only alternative coming in HoT.

What do you guys think?

In its current form, Empathic Bond would be terrible in the Beastmastery line, as it promotes sacrificing your pet to conditions in order to save yourself, particularly since pets get basically no condition removal outside of Healing Spring. Which is extremely contrary, since BM is all about keeping your pet alive and using it as a more powerful source of damage and support.

Now, if they changed Empathic Bond to where the pet takes a condition from the Ranger and converts it into a boon or something rather than just becoming laden with conditions themselves, then it might work. But people have been asking for something like that for ages and its never happened.

Honed Axes doesn’t really fit in WS either, I don’t feel. Axe has a single condition on it, sure, but the trait itself is more direct-damage and support based (Ferocity + AoE Winter’s Bite). It actually works pretty well in Beastmastery, since it gives you an AoE chill (sets up foes for pet attacks) and axe in general is a great weapon for pet support if you have Fortified Bond.

Actually i posted this suggestion long time ago in the forums, you can follow the link in my signature about the trait changes to read more about that.

Honed Axes trait should be changed because now is underwhelming, and move it to WS trait line.
Empathic Bond should be placed in BM line where the honed xes is right now. Reasons other than common sense:

• The BM trait line has 2 weapons traits while WS has none.
• Empathic Bond is a pet trait, it’s a no common sense to not to be in the trait line for pets.
• To have all the cleanses in WS lock you in that trait line. It does not promote different builds or experimentation.
• Empathic Bond should changed to work like the plague sending trait. More explained in my thread but this is to remove the RNG factor and make the trait actually worth a GM slot.