Can you tell me why it is on grandmaster level? No, you can’t.
I haven’t seen any ranger use this trait since it got moved to grandmaster level.
The problem is that this trait would be OP if one of the other professions had it, but it isn’t on ranger and here is why:
When swapping pets, depending on melee or ranged, problems arise for both types.
For melee pets, the ranged loses damage output because the pet has to run to the target. If the ranger is melee, the pet has to run a shorter distance, but the ranger is already taking a risk by being melee based.
Ranged pets suffer the less, but have a completely different problem. They can be used as shield that block enemy projectiles and let’s the ranged freely attack the enemy from range. When swapped, the pet is repositioned which means the ranger has to take damage while (s)he repositions. For melee rangers, the problem is that the pet is in melee range when swapped, which causes cleaves and AoE skills to hit the pet too. This also required the ranger to reposition himself to ease the pet.
Being able to choose two pets can be a difficult decision. Any good ranger knows why these decisions are difficult to make.
Should one pair an offensive pet with a defensive one? Should one take one ranged pet as defensive and a feline as offensive? What will happen with survivability when the ranged pet is swapped for the feline? Maybe a canine is a good idea, but is the ranger able to guarantee (through control) the knockdown leap will hit?
We not only benefit from Zephyr’s Speed but lose on it too. When swapping, we risk putting the swap timer on 60 seconds because the offensive pet dies. Then take two defensive pets? you might say… That is no solution, because taking two defensive pets means less damage done and those two are most likely chosen because the ranger’s survivability on it’s own is low because of build choice.
My suggestion is to move the trait to master level. To make room, Mighty Swap and Vigorous Training can be merged (these two merged into one trait would give good party support ability to ranger and also increase the ranger’s survivability through the pet, but that is another topic.)
Intimidation, Stability Training and Rending Attacks can then be buffed slightly to make them compete with the new traits.
A new grandmaster trait will need to be created after the changes. This trait should be something that makes it really worth taking.
Gives place for one of:
-Active condition cleanse (on swap)
-Big stat bonus to pets (extra 150 in every stat?)
-Pets steal life for ranger (so much life that it would be worth to use movement impending skills to the pets benefit)
-Increase attack range for pets (100 to melee, 300 to ranged pets?)
-and many more that I can’t come up with by me’self
Thanks for reading!
TL;DR
Move ZS to Master, merge existing master traits (which increased ranger’s party support), buff rest to make them compete with ZS, make new GM trait that adds something the ranger lacks.