Guild Wars 2

I started using axe/axe + sword/warhorn in WvW and PvE (though occasionally switch sword/warhorn out to longbow, especially in PvE).

What principally made me create this thread is two awesome KOs I made earlier in WvW: the first was a warrior on whom I critted a 5.6k on the outgoing and 5.7k on the return hit from Path of Scars (which I feel is the best skill in this build). The second was a 4k/5.5k on an ele, who later accused me of hacking since half his health went to 0 in around 2 seconds.

I also find Whirling Defense incredibly useful, especially when attacking castle gates.

Anyway, when running in to initiate combat: I’ll buff with Call of the Wild for the crit rate, try and get off a Hunter’s Call, switch to axe/axe, hit with Winter’s Bite for the slow, then Path of Scars hopefully for the KO.

Naturally it isn’t flawless since there are many variables in combat, but it works well many times for me.

How many of you guys like running axe/axe?

I think you are the only Ranger running Axe/axe lol

I tried it, its alright…If Axe had 1200 Range vs 900 it would be a lot better, plus Whirling Defense being able to move with it up.

Hell yeah, Bryzy! I run Axe/Axe and Sword/Horn, too. Really fun with a berserker build.

I do think Axe needs a range bump and a few other minor tweaks, but I enjoy it.

PsionicDingo.2065:

Hell yeah, Bryzy! I run Axe/Axe and Sword/Horn, too. Really fun with a berserker build.

I do think Axe needs a range bump and a few other minor tweaks, but I enjoy it.

Heeelll yeah! It’s the most fun i’ve had as a ranger up to now. I will actually try out sword/axe for a while too, since sword is the best DPS and axe would add a great finisher.

Xsorus.2507:

I tried it, its alright…If Axe had 1200 Range vs 900 it would be a lot better, plus Whirling Defense being able to move with it up.

Off hand training raises its range to 1200.

I run Axe/Axe in fractals pretty much all dungeons with some exceptions. It’s great for farming. sPvP not so great, WvW it can be ok while zerging.

I just tried it in sPvP, at it completely rocks.
Like it pretty much. I was using offhand axe anyways for sPvP to block nasty ranged attacks and make use of combo fields in the zerg, but now I made a build completely aroudn mainhand Axe.

So now I run Axe/Axe with Sw/D and I am pretty impressed.
Axe crits for 1-1.5k, axe 4 even up to 4k (+4k on backtravel) so you have really decent damage with nice survivability.

Most exotic builds are effective, because people dont know how to counter them yet.

@Bryzy
I am interested in this since i like the set-up and feel of axes. just a few questions
I am guessing its a pure zerker build with that damage on PoS?
What sort of traits are you using?
how do you deal with the lower mobility from no swoop/ how do you disengage?

I tried this and actually got a triple hit on porting thief that downed him..
It was quite funny.

I actually use it, but only in select instances. Specifically in the Grawl Fractal during the final boss fight. Richochet is really amazing whenever the shield is up because you can whittle down the shield stacks and still thin out the hp of the lava elementals. When the elementals start spitting out their immobilize, Axe 5 reflects it right back at them! Bonus points if the boss targetted you with its agony attack during the channel

Sigmoid.7082:

@Bryzy
I am interested in this since i like the set-up and feel of axes. just a few questions
I am guessing its a pure zerker build with that damage on PoS?
What sort of traits are you using?
how do you deal with the lower mobility from no swoop/ how do you disengage?

Hey there, this is my current build, but I’m tweaking it all the time if I choose a different playstyle. You may wish to put points into wilderness survival for the added boost to the off-hand axes or whatever though.

I use full berserker exotic gear. Everything is pretty much maxed out with prec, power + crit damage.

In terms of disengaging, well the ranger is brilliant at dodging. Lightning reflexes is always good, as is sword skill 2. Use them both consecutively and you can get some good distance between you and the enemy.

But anyway, this is just how I run – there are probably better ways of using this build but it seems to work well for me so far.

http://www.gw2builds.org/create/bwe_1/ranger#3.0.4.3-2.4.10.12.1-30.30.10.0.0-1.4.12.1.6.4.9

Bryzy.2719:

I started using axe/axe + sword/warhorn in WvW and PvE (though occasionally switch sword/warhorn out to longbow, especially in PvE).

What principally made me create this thread is two awesome KOs I made earlier in WvW: the first was a warrior on whom I critted a 5.6k on the outgoing and 5.7k on the return hit from Path of Scars (which I feel is the best skill in this build). The second was a 4k/5.5k on an ele, who later accused me of hacking since half his health went to 0 in around 2 seconds.

I also find Whirling Defense incredibly useful, especially when attacking castle gates.

Anyway, when running in to initiate combat: I’ll buff with Call of the Wild for the crit rate, try and get off a Hunter’s Call, switch to axe/axe, hit with Winter’s Bite for the slow, then Path of Scars hopefully for the KO.

Naturally it isn’t flawless since there are many variables in combat, but it works well many times for me.

How many of you guys like running axe/axe?

I would love to see a video of that build.

Update: just been playing a spot of WvW – had 21 stacks of might and smacked an awesome 8k/8.8k (so 16.8k total) crit – against some mes from Far Shiverpeaks. Again I was party-requested and accused of damage hacking, especially since I’m a ranger. Was party might-buffed + Jungle Stalker F2 skill gave the extra 5 stacks of might. Awesome stuff right here.

nagymbear.5280:

Xsorus.2507:

I tried it, its alright…If Axe had 1200 Range vs 900 it would be a lot better, plus Whirling Defense being able to move with it up.

Off hand training raises its range to 1200.

It just increases the Path of Scar to 1200 range

CaakEE.7109:

I think you are the only Ranger running Axe/axe lol

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/Rework-for-Whirling-Defense/first#post2038618

I´m using axe / axe at the moment. BM bunker with cleric armour and knight trinkets. And I must say it´s working pretty well.

Chopps.5047:

CaakEE.7109:

I think you are the only Ranger running Axe/axe lol

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/Rework-for-Whirling-Defense/first#post2038618

yeah if they rework axe 5 ill be using axe/axe too LOL

Hmmm, I’ve just spent a while playing WvW with sword/offhand axe and have to say it’s not particularly great UNLESS your secondary weapon is the greatsword, which you can use to engage the enemy in melee combat.

I personally prefer to keep it ranged (i.e. axe/axe), dealing moderate consistent damage with ricochet and winter’s bite after activating Call of the Wild with my secondary sword/warhorn, then going in for the KO with Path of Scars assuming i have stacked might and fury activated. Obviously this’ll increase the crit chance and damage which is essential for the KO. However the recharge on Path of Scars is pretty good to be honest, so you’ll get more than one attempt per fight.

Only problem I’m encountering at the moment really is not doing enough damage, as mentioned above, with axe skills 1-3. The thing is, I like to keep warhorn in my secondary weapon set for the fury and to a lesser extent, the might. The only problem is this only leaves the sword to go with it, which just isn’t viable with this build without a melee-engager like swoop on the greatsword.

To summarise: ideally would have sword/offhand axe + Greatsword to engage melee, but the lack of warhorn is really annoying because the fury (and might) is vital for a decent shot at a Path of Scars KO.

HOWEVER, as long as you have Rampage as One as your Elite skill this would replace the need for the warhorn – the only problem being the long kitten recharge time.

compromises! I hate them.