Guild Wars 2

Well, I think we can agree that this class has been repeatedly kicked in the groin punched in the teeth and then anet forced them to massage their eyeballs with a pizza slicer but do we still have some nice burst?

P.S. Anet bring back the GS as it used to be please.

While we may not have access to the good old fashioned GS that once was we can still get some nice burst out of the GS.

Like seriously I’m talking like 15k in a 2 seconds. Lets get started shall we.

Pets: Juvenile Jungle Stalker
Juvenile Reef Drake
Weapons: GS
2nd set: Axe or Sword and Warhorn ( Could go Axe offhand if you are a fan of PoS)

Sigils: Greatsword but on a Sigil of Fire
and the others are personal preference, I recommend either blood lust or might on swap

Runes: runes of the scholar
Wvw: knights until you hit the DR, then use zerkers

Utilities: Healing Spring for a water field easily blasted by the Juvenile Reef Drake
Signet of the Hunt
Signet of Stone/ Quickening Zephyr Only take the quickness if you want to sacrifice your chances of living.
Signet of the Wild
Rampage As One

Traits:
Marksmanship: 30
I, IX,XI
Skirmishing: 25
VI, I
Wilderness Survival: 5
N/A
Nature Magic: 10
V

Pros
Huge Burst
Lots of Might
Lots of Stability
An Invuln, and a Block
Your own combo field that is blasted
GS allows for lots of options

Cons
Pretty easy to go down if you are focused
Condition spam might kill you
Heavily centred around GS 2 skill

Alright Bounty this all looks like a lot of random stuff how do I use it?

Start with your Warhorn 5, for a might stack, Juvenile Jungle Stalker f2 for 5 more stacks of might, Signet of the Hunt, Signet of the Wild, for 6 more stacks of might, Rampage As One for more might, Signet of Stone 3 more stacks of might.

You should be at 15+ Stacks of Might As should your pet.

Engage, if you are flanking them even better from the +10% flank dmg in Skirmishing and 10% more when endurance is full. Don’t worry about not getting a crit on Maul you should have opening strike.

Use your Maul, laugh as you hit them for a stupid amount, burn your GS skills. finish with a daze and swap to Axe/Warhorn and your reef drake
If you are using a sigil yay you have more might.
Chill them
Bleed them
Bird Them
Warhorn 5 if it is up
Auto attack until GS is done on its cool down
Healing spring if needed, fight in it for the drakes blast finisher.
Rinse and repeat.

So far, I have been easily getting 10k plus crits on most classes, I have even one shot a few people on the maul alone.

This is also an easy counter to the “Terror Necro” Due to a intense amount of stability.
Almost any engagement I am able to force any class to withdraw or burst them down.
HOWEVER, if you kitten up your maul you are going to be on the back peddle the whole time. This happened to me against a warrior from Ebay in a fight club, a glassy little guy, but when I had him immobilized I had forgotten to use my GS BURST, I managed to get him to about a quarter but alas I died. The build is heavily centred around the GS 2 so do not kitten up. /tiphat Ebay Charr warrior you had my number.

Very good for group fighting, especially if you are not being focused you can instantly take someone out of the fight.

Weak against: Good Thiefs ( But then again what isn’t ffs)
Mesmers since you could kill yourself with your own burst

Asides from that go wild.

Note: This is still a fairly beta build

P.S. Arena Net restore GS to its former glory please. Thanks

TL;DR You have 16+Stacks of Might You hit for 10k your pet hits for 6k and that’s only the first attack…

Aw. Being able to kill people within a couple seconds is so boring.

You should give it a try.. you might find one shotting is fun.

Or you could just use Axe/Axe and do the same or potentially more damage from Auto attack+bleeds+path of scars with the 10% crit damage while wielding an axe.

I can do at least as much damage if not more using Axe/Axe + LB with out burning 3 sigs and timing pet summon+combo fields.

I use RaO + Axe 2, 3, 4 weapon swap to LB 3, 4, 2 for the same burst, but with far more CC. Chill + drag from PoS then knock back and rapid fire. This can do close to 18-22K in about 6 seconds with QZ. Path of scars alone can hit for around 6K between the outgoing and incoming hits.

Although I will admit there is something really fun about slamming someone up side the head with a GS.

It just seems to me that Anet has decided at this point that rangers should be using Axes, swords and Longbow. So why fight it? Just go with it and let it happen its easier that way.

Laiboch.4380:

Or you could just use Axe/Axe and do the same or potentially more damage from Auto attack+bleeds+path of scars with the 10% crit damage while wielding an axe.

I can do at least as much damage if not more using Axe/Axe + LB with out burning 3 sigs and timing pet summon+combo fields.

I use RaO + Axe 2, 3, 4 weapon swap to LB 3, 4, 2 for the same burst, but with far more CC. Chill + drag from PoS then knock back and rapid fire. This can do close to 18-22K in about 6 seconds with QZ. Path of scars alone can hit for around 6K between the outgoing and incoming hits.

Although I will admit there is something really fun about slamming someone up side the head with a GS.

It just seems to me that Anet has decided at this point that rangers should be using Axes, swords and Longbow. So why fight it? Just go with it and let it happen its easier that way.

Oh absolutely, I just like the weapon combo for the offhand. I pick GS because Maul already has a very high base damage. Offhand is up to you I use warhorn for the might.

Edit: I like the Axe/Axe for path of scars, but the Long Bow has a much slower burst even with QZ because its a fairly long channel.

Im not saying what you are using isn’t an effective burst, its just the LB has a very long channel and even with the buffs is still a very meh weapon.

Don’t invest in Wilderness Survival, just go full out in Markmanship and take Moment of Clarity for Maul after Hilt Bash.

I would also take Longbow over Axe, Warhorn due to the 20 stacks of vulnerability you can apply as you move in.

Erro.2784:

Don’t invest in Wilderness Survival, just go full out in Markmanship and take Moment of Clarity for Maul after Hilt Bash.

I would also take Longbow over Axe, Warhorn due to the 20 stacks of vulnerability you can apply as you move in.

I have used 30/30/0/10 before, an extra practical signet of the hunt active is nice, but I chose to put the few in wilderness just so in my WvW gear I can hit the toughness needed to hit the DR, instead of sacrificing a food slot.

If you really want the Vuln you can go wild with LB I suppose.

Personally I find I am usually at a range where I do not benefit from having a long bow on me. The hawks on warhorn 4 also hit for me 2.5k and upwards, and warhorn 5 is a nice swiftness and fury buff with an additional stack of might.

But I suppose one should use what they are comfortable with.

RaO doesnt give might to you,, only your pet, it gives fury, stability and swiftness to you.

Prysin.8542:

RaO doesnt give might to you,, only your pet, it gives fury, stability and swiftness to you.

Rampage as One: Rampage with your pet, gaining stability fury and swiftness. You and your pet also grant MIGHT TO EACHOTHER when you attack.

Your pet attacks you get might you attack your pet gets might.

Unless it has been changed should be working as intended?
Learn how your skills work :P

Longbows if used properly can nearly kill most people in a matter of seconds as is. Giving the Ranger a melee weapon that can do the same just isn’t going to happen. Can you imagine the complaining that would ensue from other classes if this ever came to be?

To me, it doesn’t even make sense that a Ranger would lug around a GS as is. Seems more fitting for heavier set classes, not ones running around in medium armor

Those people must not be the best at dodging then. LB is meh. It’s burst is an incredibly long channel.

Ranger is capable of bursting people in seconds as is with the GS yet to really see any complaining.

I used LB for awhile it has it’s time and place but I would never bring one to a one on one fight against someone decent. They will close the gap and you will lose a lot of your damage.
Someone however suggested earlier using it for vulnerability stacks before entering the fight. I enjoyed the thought of it and began to test it in the mists. You can hit a fair amount harder on the opening maul assuming they don’t cleanse it before you are there.
However I find still the axe works better for me it may not for some but I find it pretty much the best main hand off hand at the moment.

Does it rule LB out as a burst weapon completely? No LB can have great burst but at a longer channel, a decent range and hope who ever you are engaging doesn’t know how to dodge the arrows. It has it’s place.

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Prysin.8542:

RaO doesnt give might to you,, only your pet, it gives fury, stability and swiftness to you.

Rampage as One: Rampage with your pet, gaining stability fury and swiftness. You and your pet also grant MIGHT TO EACHOTHER when you attack.

Your pet attacks you get might you attack your pet gets might.

Unless it has been changed should be working as intended?
Learn how your skills work :P

the pet get might, but ive never gotten it from the pet as far as ive noticed

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Those people must not be the best at dodging then. LB is meh. It’s burst is an incredibly long channel.

Ranger is capable of bursting people in seconds as is with the GS yet to really see any complaining.

I used LB for awhile it has it’s time and place but I would never bring one to a one on one fight against someone decent. They will close the gap and you will lose a lot of your damage.
Someone however suggested earlier using it for vulnerability stacks before entering the fight. I enjoyed the thought of it and began to test it in the mists. You can hit a fair amount harder on the opening maul assuming they don’t cleanse it before you are there.
However I find still the axe works better for me it may not for some but I find it pretty much the best main hand off hand at the moment.

Does it rule LB out as a burst weapon completely? No LB can have great burst but at a longer channel, a decent range and hope who ever you are engaging doesn’t know how to dodge the arrows. It has it’s place.

if used correctly, you can burst really well with LB… a few conditions should be met though;

high power and crit chance, quickness and a well timed LB #5 followed by LB #3 and 2.

Prysin.8542:

the pet get might, but ive never gotten it from the pet as far as ive noticed

I know for a fact you get might from your pets hits. I often use RaO on my ranger in PvE to quickly stack 25 might through the river drake’s F2.

A lot of pets have slow attack rates though, and even more lack cleaving, which severely hampers your personal benefits with RaO.

You kinda forgot to mention which armor/trinket/weapon set you are using.

1 boon corrupt remove and then what?

Cempa.5619:

1 boon corrupt remove and then what?

Cleanse your conditions, start over again.
I am yet to lose to a Nero.

Any ranger that loses to a necro needs to examine her build and play style, I guess I had havoc groups in mind.

Cempa.5619:

Any ranger that loses to a necro needs to examine her build and play style, I guess I had havoc groups in mind.

Exactly, either way you should have enough burst to burn a Necro

Prysin.8542:

RaO doesnt give might to you,, only your pet, it gives fury, stability and swiftness to you.

Ummm Wrong. RaO gives both you and your pet might. Or should I say when using RaO you give your pet might and your pet gives you might. Reading the full description would really help.

Rampage as One: Pet. Rampage with your pet, gaining stability, fury, and swiftness. You and your pet also grant might to each other when you attack.

Prysin.8542:

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Prysin.8542:

RaO doesnt give might to you,, only your pet, it gives fury, stability and swiftness to you.

Rampage as One: Rampage with your pet, gaining stability fury and swiftness. You and your pet also grant MIGHT TO EACHOTHER when you attack.

Your pet attacks you get might you attack your pet gets might.

Unless it has been changed should be working as intended?
Learn how your skills work :P

the pet get might, but ive never gotten it from the pet as far as ive noticed

Look at your buffs. Typically I am sitting at between 9-12 stacks of might the whole time.

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Wvw: knights until you hit the DR, then use zerkers

What’s this about “hitting a DR” on toughness?

I thought the damage formula was (weapon damage * power * skill coefficient) / (toughness + armor)

I just checked and that’s the formula listed on the wiki too. There is no mention of diminishing returns or different formulas used at different stat levels.

Using that formula, there is no diminishing return on toughness. Every point will provide the same relative percentage of damage reduction no matter how much or how little you had before. There might be a practical value for each individual player where you feel like you have enough and can focus on other stats, but there isn’t a breakpoint you can just aim to hit.

Stice.5204:

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Wvw: knights until you hit the DR, then use zerkers

What’s this about “hitting a DR” on toughness?

I thought the damage formula was (weapon damage * power * skill coefficient) / (toughness + armor)

I just checked and that’s the formula listed on the wiki too. There is no mention of diminishing returns or different formulas used at different stat levels.

Using that formula, there is no diminishing return on toughness. Every point will provide the same relative percentage of damage reduction no matter how much or how little you had before. There might be a practical value for each individual player where you feel like you have enough and can focus on other stats, but there isn’t a breakpoint you can just aim to hit.

This is correct, there isn’t a DR the way they are thinking about it. You can set a breakpoint for your individual setup, but that should be based off your damage reduction in relation to your max health.

I’m kind of shocked at how far behind the ranger forums seem to be on theory crafting compared to other forums. Hell I think in the guardian forum everything that can be known is known.

sucks that buildcraft is down (gw2buildcraft.com if anyone doesn’t know). It’s much easier to get an idea about what breakpoint you want using it than the other sites imo.

I tried this build in sPvp and it works wonders the first few seconds IF you can land GS 2. But if you fail you are pretty much useless until your might chain comes off CD again. So pretty much it’s not THAT viable right? In terms of survival, you might be okay against ONE player in WvW who is not that experienced (knows not to dodge rangers GS2). Vs 2 people,I haven’t tried that but I can imagine you won’t win any 1v2,1v3 fights due to the relatively low time your might is up O.o But those few awesome seconds with 15 stacks of might is pure fun,I bet most enemies didn’t see 8-15k crits coming their way from a ranger GS 2 Really takes them by surprise.

GSSBlunaspike.4153:

Stice.5204:

IBountyHunterI.4601:

Wvw: knights until you hit the DR, then use zerkers

What’s this about “hitting a DR” on toughness?

I thought the damage formula was (weapon damage * power * skill coefficient) / (toughness + armor)

I just checked and that’s the formula listed on the wiki too. There is no mention of diminishing returns or different formulas used at different stat levels.

Using that formula, there is no diminishing return on toughness. Every point will provide the same relative percentage of damage reduction no matter how much or how little you had before. There might be a practical value for each individual player where you feel like you have enough and can focus on other stats, but there isn’t a breakpoint you can just aim to hit.

This is correct, there isn’t a DR the way they are thinking about it. You can set a breakpoint for your individual setup, but that should be based off your damage reduction in relation to your max health.

I’m kind of shocked at how far behind the ranger forums seem to be on theory crafting compared to other forums. Hell I think in the guardian forum everything that can be known is known.

sucks that buildcraft is down (gw2buildcraft.com if anyone doesn’t know). It’s much easier to get an idea about what breakpoint you want using it than the other sites imo.

This is true, lots of people I know like to aim for 2400. But it really comes down to your HP