Guild Wars 2

So, a basic question about basic 6/x/x/x/x “pew pew” build for WvW roaming purposes. I’ve been stuck with ranger runes for eternity now, thinking to, maybe, switch them for something else (Rune of the Pack seems appealing, and expensive.)

Feel free to explain your choices and/or recommend some of them.

Pack is actually slightly below Ranger runes in theoretical dps, but since its Power/Precision rather than Precision/Ferocity it gives you a more consistent burst.

Mostly depends on how zealous you are with your faith in RNGesus.

There’s also people that run Strength runes, that’s even more consistent damage and even lower ‘perfect storm’ peaks.

A slightly more defensive option I’ve seen people run with signet builds is Hoelbrak – they’re expensive up-front, but over time end up cheaper than -condi duration food as they let you run el-cheapo Tuffle Steaks.

I use Scholar Runes. Ranger Runes might be better and cheaper. Keep the Ranger runes.

Scholar Runes loses the 10% damage when health is below 90%. Retaliation often does this. The main reason I still use Scholar Runes is because I was already using them and don’t feel like changing (expensive). Also, Scholar might give a bit more initial burst while Ranger runes are more sustained damage.

Sigil or Air and Sigil of Fire on Longbow. Just gives it more burst damage and a bit of area effect.

Sigil of Force and Sigil of Accuracy are worth it for more sustained damage rather than burst.

Also, Sigil of Bloodlust on your 2nd weapon and on an underwater weapon. Unless you can’t keep it at 25 stacks most of the time. Sigil of Perception is a good alternative.

Air/Fire on LB, Leeching/Intelligence on GS, Defender runes.

Roaming lonely or put zerging roaming?

If just lb camping on walls and in a zerg and don’t feel like swapping to melee much than air/fire sigils are probably going to serve you best. If you are camping lb once in a while you can swap to second weapon just before an enemy dies to get bloodlust stacks. Also sigils like doom (weapon swap = poison) or leeching (weapon swap = lifesteal) add a pip to your active effects monitor that will stay there a long time until you deal dmg giving your bow a free poison with opening shot or a free 900ish dmg.

For rune this again will depend on how you playing. If camping bow alot ranger runes are fine. You can use other ones like rage which are OK price but you gain little or nothing, just variation.

If you get downed easy while pewpewing from top of walls or while in zerg you could choose rune of vampirism. Even with no + vita it will trigger enough before downed state cause rangers got good base hp. It’s dps loss but its still power stat atleast.

lb: air/fire
s/w: Bloodlust and hydromancy

runes: scholar

Reason, I like to do a lot of damage.

Ranger runes, Predator’s Onslaught, Sigil Of Ice, Jungle Spider, Muddy Terrain