Guild Wars 2

I made a thread a number of days ago endorsing the axe/axe serker build.

Link to this thread (my build is in the comments): https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/axe-axe-serker-build-awesome-KO-spec-wvw/first#post2062388

Well i’ve been playing around a lot since and found that what works best for me in terms of damage, against a single target, is greatsword + axe/axe OR sword/axe. In most cases the target will panic at the sheer amount of damage inflicted and try to flee, or you will get a great KO.

Assuming all goes smoothly, you may swoop into melee range with the GS, stun with skill 5 so you can get off a smooth maul (skill 2), for anything up to an 8k crit depending on how much might you have stacked. Then switch to secondary weapons and smack them with the offhand axe Path of Scars for a potential 5k/5k crit.

It’s proving to be a very effective KO build in wvw. I like to keep axe/axe as my secondaries in case distance comes between me and the enemy, in which case winter’s bite is very useful.

However, you may wish to switch your secondary weapons to sword/axe if you want even more DPS. I’m not the best at fighting other players so tend not to be able to maintain melee range with sword, so i like to keep to axe/axe.

Quickening zephyr is also incredibly useful in this build for obvious reasons.

So yeah if you run berserker you should definitely try this out. Keep your elite as Rampage as One, and stack might from your Jungle Stalker before you enter combat and you’ll just watch the enemy melt.

Please make a video of some fights with this build. I want to see it in action.

Sorry I don’t have a youtube account and I don’t have enough time at the moment due to dissertation to do a vid. This build is definitely worth trying out first in the Mists or PvE first to get a feel for it.

Two issues I see off the bat.

1. No where do I see a build, just weapons. This quickly leads me to believe it works as a moderately skilled player vs bads since any good player will show a build and be able to explain the synergy.

2. Axe 5 is terrible in zvz warfare at t3 and up as the way to win these fights is to keep up movement, stability, and heal stacks. (Making one useless skill on the offhand axe). Axe main hand isn’t bad, but I find a weapon evade practically mandatory on most ranger builds.

@Indoles

1. If you read the second sentence you’ll see that the build along with some feedback is in the comments section of the link I gave. Also, this build is designed for novice to moderately skilled players who enjoy dealing a lot of damage without the need for a lot of skill. It can also be used by experienced players to take down single targets (as I stated in the thread, “single”). Also, this build is incredibly malleable. There is lots of room for changes to traits and utilities.

2. First of all, this build isn’t centered around axe 5. Secondly, nor is it centered around zerg warfare. Also, I actually find axe 5 to be very useful, and if you continue with this build in PvE and dungeons (perhaps subbing GS out for LB) then axe/axe with skill 5 works fantastically.

Indoles.1467:

any good player will show a build and be able to explain the synergy.

So the guy doesn’t conform to some apparent board norm and you dismiss him as a possible “good player”. W O W!

I play a soldier/berserker build, and I’m very surprised how well axe/axe works. I tried changing my exotic longbow out with a pair of rare axes (I use greatsword as 2nd), and the difference is quite noticeable. I manage to down a Thief quite easily, something I’ve had a lot of trouble with when using a longbow and greatsword, due to their slow rate of attack. Using Entangle with Whirling Defense is incredibly powerful as well, even more so then using Entangle with Rapid Fire. Axe/axe is also a better AoE weapon set then the longbow, as it has three AoE skills, compared to the longbows single AoE skill. I also found a sense of freedom in the fact that I can use all five weapon skills with axe/axe, for different purposes, as opposite to the longbow, that has Point Blank Shot, which is extremely situational, and Hunter’s Shot, which is always on cooldown.

So yeah, I’m sticking with axe/axe until ArenaNet figures out that longbow needs a serious buff.

Indoles.1467:

Two issues I see off the bat.

1. No where do I see a build, just weapons. This quickly leads me to believe it works as a moderately skilled player vs bads since any good player will show a build and be able to explain the synergy.

2. Axe 5 is terrible in zvz warfare at t3 and up as the way to win these fights is to keep up movement, stability, and heal stacks. (Making one useless skill on the offhand axe). Axe main hand isn’t bad, but I find a weapon evade practically mandatory on most ranger builds.

The Ranger is the best professions when it comes to CC stacking, so snaring foes isn’t necessarily a problem. As an example, using Muddy Terrain with Winter’s Bite will stack immobilize, cripple, and chill. If the foe gets out of that, follow up with Frost Trap or Entangle.

I play as a beserker build, full exotics/ascended etc etc the whole deal… I use lb/gs but in the past have used lb/axe/axe.

From my perspective, I do not like axe/axe as a main choice of weapon because it just does not have the range that a beserker ranger desperately relies on to be effective. I am not sure about you, but as far as 1v1 goes having the initial range advantage and being able to get off the first hit is huge with a beserker build, and having to close the gap to 900 range when one can stay as far as 1500 range has issues (our vit/tough is really low to begin with). The base attack of an axe is mediocre unless there is more than one target around, the #2 and #3 are very low damage, #4 is an amazing burst so I understand why it is useful and #5 is just too annoying in a 1v1 fight because it immobilizes you and only is really effective assuming you are fighting a ranged opponent.

Also, a similar concept applies with zergs, just too hard to get that close to the action without taking serious damage that a beserker ranger just cannot take. An example would be asking yourself if you could do more damage to a zerg with barrage at 1500 range or an axe at 900 range, for me at least barrage easily outdoes it and keeps me at a great distance away from most people.

I am not bashing the build, I am just making observations from how I have played with axe/axe in wvw. I LOVE having duel axes because I personally think it looks cool and I enjoy the skills, but as far as practicability goes it just cannot replace the longbow (although that has it’s own flaws).

What server are you on? Send me an email in game if you want I would love to see your play style, always nice to talk about the beserker ranger build

Also, for Indoles, as I have played with a build like this before, I can try my best to explain.

Most players when 1v1 will charge at you, if you are against a melee player then send a pet out (duel dogs preferably) use #3 on axe which will chill opponent, allowing dog to knockdown opponent. Use #4 on axe while opponent is downed, and progress close to opponent while switching to dog #2. Use #3 on axe and switch to gs, your secondary dog should be able to land his second knockdown knocking your opponent down again. Use #3 to swoop to opponent, use #5 hilt bash and assuming you have moment of clarity trait use #2 then for a huge maul attack. That should do it for a lot of players from my experience.

Of course this is in an ideal situation, but the main point in my experience is to get good control of the opponent and dish out damage at a close distance.

Update: I’ve switched out Rampage as One for the Entangle Elite, and like Kasama mentioned it works brilliantly with Whirling Defense and Path of Scars, providing the enemy struggles to get free. If you activate quickness you can get some REALLY high damage – entangle will provide an awesome bleed while you can easily get around 8k total with Whirling Defense, and Path of Scars almost always gives great damage. Because they’ll be immobile it also increases the likelihood that both hits will strike.

I’ll give this a whirl, Bryzy.

Paz Shadow.9715:

I play as a beserker build, full exotics/ascended etc etc the whole deal… I use lb/gs but in the past have used lb/axe/axe.

From my perspective, I do not like axe/axe as a main choice of weapon because it just does not have the range that a beserker ranger desperately relies on to be effective. I am not sure about you, but as far as 1v1 goes having the initial range advantage and being able to get off the first hit is huge with a beserker build, and having to close the gap to 900 range when one can stay as far as 1500 range has issues (our vit/tough is really low to begin with). The base attack of an axe is mediocre unless there is more than one target around, the #2 and #3 are very low damage, #4 is an amazing burst so I understand why it is useful and #5 is just too annoying in a 1v1 fight because it immobilizes you and only is really effective assuming you are fighting a ranged opponent.

Also, a similar concept applies with zergs, just too hard to get that close to the action without taking serious damage that a beserker ranger just cannot take. An example would be asking yourself if you could do more damage to a zerg with barrage at 1500 range or an axe at 900 range, for me at least barrage easily outdoes it and keeps me at a great distance away from most people.

I am not bashing the build, I am just making observations from how I have played with axe/axe in wvw. I LOVE having duel axes because I personally think it looks cool and I enjoy the skills, but as far as practicability goes it just cannot replace the longbow (although that has it’s own flaws).

What server are you on? Send me an email in game if you want I would love to see your play style, always nice to talk about the beserker ranger build

I’ve found that when playing with longbow, I quickly fall into bad habits. Like not moving enough once I get into close range, and failing to realize that my health is low. I’ve also found that longbow attacks are very easy to dodge, especially at long ranges. Rapid Fire is very easy to spot, and you always know it’s coming when you see a Ranger with a longbow. And once you start dodging, Rapid Fire basically deals half damage. Next to that Barrage is also very easy to get out of, as the red ring appears long before the skill hits, and the cripple has a very short duration (although still nice to have for CC stacking). And as said in my earlier post, Point Black Shot is very rarely used at long ranges, and Hunter’s Shot is always recharging, because it’s always the first skill you use.

Axe/axe deals faster damage then longbow, and for that reason alone, it’s just plain out better. And opposite to longbow, the #1 skill on axe/axe is also less important, as your other skills are more “available”. Meaning you don’t blow them all in the first few seconds of your attack. Overall, axe/axe is more of a reactive weapon set, compared to longbow which is more of an active weapon. For instance, I use Path of Scars to deal some good initial damage, which also means it will recharge faster, allowing me to use it again. After that it depends on what my opponent does. If he gets closer I use Splitblade, if he tries to get some distance I use Winter’s Bite, and if he tries to burst me down in melee I use a snare skill (Frost Trap, Entangle, or Snow Leopards F2 skill), and follow up with Whirling Defense. Meanwhile Ricochet makes sure that I can keep the pressure up, as the axes are flying out very fast. I also use Sigil of Earth (bleed on critical hit) and the trait Sharpened Edges (also bleed on critical hit), which helps a lot. Even though I only have little over 100 condition damage.

But as you say, it is harder to go axe/axe if you run full berserker. I use soldier armor with berserker weapons and tickets, which gives me around 19000 health and 1500 toughness (using Signet of Stone), so that allows me to be in close range. I would never use axe/axe with longbow either, as Swoop on the greatsword is too valuable as an escape skill. Plus, since I’m already at “close” range, the burst from greatsword is just easier to follow up with (Maul and Crippling Throw hurts a lot, if you get a critical). However, I still switch out my greatsword to my longbow whenever I’m defending a gate, as it’s just easier to defend with the longbows superior range.

As a side note, if you guys haven’t tried it yet, use the River Drake. It is by far the best burst pet when it comes to F2 skills. Entangle, Lightning Breath, and Whirling Defense (or Rapid Fire/Barrage) = very dead player.

Bryzy.2719:

Update: I’ve switched out Rampage as One for the Entangle Elite, and like Kasama mentioned it works brilliantly with Whirling Defense and Path of Scars, providing the enemy struggles to get free. If you activate quickness you can get some REALLY high damage – entangle will provide an awesome bleed while you can easily get around 8k total with Whirling Defense, and Path of Scars almost always gives great damage. Because they’ll be immobile it also increases the likelihood that both hits will strike.

Don’t forget that Whirling Defense also reflect projectiles. So if the foes you’ve hit with Entangle try to hit you with a ranged attack, they are dealt even more damage. Whirling Defense also works very effectively against Rapid Fire by the way :p

Indoles.1467:

Two issues I see off the bat.

1. No where do I see a build, just weapons. This quickly leads me to believe it works as a moderately skilled player vs bads since any good player will show a build and be able to explain the synergy.

2. Axe 5 is terrible in zvz warfare at t3 and up as the way to win these fights is to keep up movement, stability, and heal stacks. (Making one useless skill on the offhand axe). Axe main hand isn’t bad, but I find a weapon evade practically mandatory on most ranger builds.

You ever try using it when enemies are trying to hit you from ranged? I’ve seen damage counters flying up just from spinning in place in zvz. Granted ground targeted aoe’s don’t do anything, but with the right timing you can really mess some people up. Also you can reflect a thieve’s daggerstorm right back into his face, since a projectile can only be reflected once.

I’ll come back for one final remark. I never disregarded the build, you guys read into what I said too much. I simply stated a build wasn’t available to critique (later found it after a response from the op that it was buried in the other thread (personally think it should have been edited in the top post)). If you seriously think you can safely use axe 5 in zvz, you obviously haven’t played any high level wvw (tier 3 and up). If you stand still for just a second within 1200 units of their zerg you will eat about 5 necro marks, 2 static fields, 5 confusion stacks, every condition available on long durations, and at least 5k direct damage == practically dead. If you are running full zerker, axe/axe would leave you incredibly open to attack if they ever get within melee range. Due to amount of gap closers in this game, I just don’t recommend the setup for full zerker as your only line of defense is either a weapon swap (leaving you open to range attacks for 10s) or a short chill and attempt to run.

I don’t doubt that axe/axe has a use for the ranger. Though I ask myself, and of you, how often do you find yourself in a one-one situation in WvW, and if so, how long does it last until a friend or two of the enemy comes to your opponent’s aid?

If you’re with a few friends of your own, then there’s your balance, but not necessarily the best indicator of how you can survive on your own against 2-3 enemies IMO.

I think if you like playing in small groups, the axe/axe shines a lot more. However, as a solo mechanic, it’s only so good as long as you’re dealing with 1-1. The Ranger class just isn’t as resilient as the d/d ele, thief, or even guardian for surviving such encounters of multiple enemies.

If you go full on bunker with traps etc, you’ll fair much better in the resilient department, though your damage output won’t be as good.

I think if we see the pets F2 abilities increased and the casting time for them lowered more in WvW(I think they did this in PvE already), and the LB gets some more love, we’ll indeed see the Ranger class become as scary to content with such as the Thief.

Yamato Shinobi.4378:

I don’t doubt that axe/axe has a use for the ranger. Though I ask myself, and of you, how often do you find yourself in a one-one situation in WvW, and if so, how long does it last until a friend or two of the enemy comes to your opponent’s aid?

If you’re with a few friends of your own, then there’s your balance, but not necessarily the best indicator of how you can survive on your own against 2-3 enemies IMO.

I think if you like playing in small groups, the axe/axe shines a lot more. However, as a solo mechanic, it’s only so good as long as you’re dealing with 1-1. The Ranger class just isn’t as resilient as the d/d ele, thief, or even guardian for surviving such encounters of multiple enemies.

If you go full on bunker with traps etc, you’ll fair much better in the resilient department, though your damage output won’t be as good.

I think if we see the pets F2 abilities increased and the casting time for them lowered more in WvW(I think they did this in PvE already), and the LB gets some more love, we’ll indeed see the Ranger class become as scary to content with such as the Thief.

Axe/axe is superior in 1v1, as ranged direct damage. It deals faster damage then longbow, which is vital against professions like the Thief, and it even deals more direct damage then shortbow, thanks to off-hand axe. When it comes to straight direct damage output, then longbow and sword will always be better. But I’ve found that longbow lacks the versatility of axe/axe, and sword makes you way too vulnerable in melee range. Axe/axe is like a nice middle way. Plus it has the best AoE of all the Ranger’s weapons, so no, it’s not only good in 1v1.

You do realize that you just mentioned the only three professions that can survive playing against three opponents on their own, with a berserker build, right? The Elementalist survives only off boons, nothing ells. If you play a Mesmer, try throwing Null Field under an Elementalist, and watch his health melt away. The Guardian survives mostly off boons as well (boon removal is equally effective here), plus his constant regeneration, and aegis. The Thief survives off stealth alone, and by downing foes so fast, they can’t recover. All of these advantages the Ranger just doesn’t have with a burst build, regardless of which weapons you use.

The bunker-beastmaster Ranger is very capable of defeating 2-3 players in WvW. You have to consider that pet damage isn’t affected by player stats, only the beastermaster trait line. So the pet makes sure your damage isn’t low.

The Ranger needs a lot more fixing then that. But that is going off topic a bit. We are really only talking about berserker builds here, which is one of the builds that the Ranger is having a lot of trouble with.

Good stuff, I like that a wider spectrum of the community is thinking outside the box and that multiple viable builds and styles are coming forward. Only a good sign for Rangers as a community.

I play on Far Shiverpeaks, don’t shoot my mesmers you hear!
>.<
IIII

For true burst I like to use my berserker gear with signets.

Blackbird.4382:

Indoles.1467:

any good player will show a build and be able to explain the synergy.

So the guy doesn’t conform to some apparent board norm and you dismiss him as a possible “good player”. W O W!

Made me “lol”; seriously, you can hit many, many enemies with back and forth 5000 crits using path of scars and reflection is very powerful when properly timed. I’ve been a fan of offhand axe for a long time. I recommend a MM/SM build utilizing honed axes. If I remember right, with full bloodlust and clerics gear, indeed, path of scars is ~5000 damage each way. As we all know, the strongest defensive skills in gw2 directly negate damage (dodge roll, weapon evades, aegis, block, reflection, -condition duration). In my opinion, these skils are valuable whether you stand still or not, which is the biggest complaint about the offhand axe.