Guild Wars 2

Is condition dmg just not as good at 80 as it is at 30?

I don’t think its humanly possible for me to care less about PvP garbage, so I’ve never considered short bow in pvp. could that be the reason no one uses a short bow?

idk what game you’re playing, all i see is shortbows, be it pve or wvw (dunno much about pvp)

I think most people run with Warhorn in sPvP cause I always have stupid birds eating my face. But in WvW all you hear is whistling noises. Im starting to see more SB Rangers running with zergs than Eles, at least on my server. But it is a decent weapon for open field. It has a snare, a disengage, and a stun. And if you rock a high crit build it can mow people down.

Dabrixmgp.4758:

I think most people run with Warhorn in sPvP cause I always have stupid birds eating my face. But in WvW all you hear is whistling noises. Im starting to see more SB Rangers running with zergs than Eles, at least on my server. But it is a decent weapon for open field. It has a snare, a disengage, and a stun. And if you rock a high crit build it can mow people down.

i like running rampager gear and using the “arrows pierce” trait.

quite fun vs zergs and allows you to be effective against all classes (unlike pure damage vs warriors and guardians)

im running a pure shortbow build for single DPS then axe/warhorn as secondary for mobs… i rarely switch though, stay back with the shortbow, get some conditions mounted and let me ice drake do the rest..

Szitler.4802:

im running a pure shortbow build for single DPS then axe/warhorn as secondary for mobs… i rarely switch though, stay back with the shortbow, get some conditions mounted and let me ice drake do the rest..

hmm, i use red moa for fury, and fern hound for regen.

Methal.9045:

Is condition dmg just not as good at 80 as it is at 30?

I don’t think its humanly possible for me to care less about PvP garbage, so I’ve never considered short bow in pvp. could that be the reason no one uses a short bow?

-Condition damage is fine.
-Your reference to PvP as “garbage” makes me sad.
-Lots of people use shortbows.
-Again, your reference to PvP as “garbage” makes me sad.

A rough estimate… but I’d say 90% of Rangers in this game use SB.

Honestly I don’t use shortbow because Sword (with a complementing offhand, depending on the build/situation) does more single-target damage.

I use sb/sword+warhorn most of the time in pvp although I’ve seen a lot more gs/lb double bird bunker rangers kicking around recently. I guess it’s just the current popular build.

I actually use SB power crit build.

Dude, SB is by far the most commonly used Ranger weapon in all areas of the game. Only in WvW zerging is it overshadowed by another weapon (LB).

Ryoki Hokishami.2756:

Honestly I don’t use shortbow because Sword (with a complementing offhand, depending on the build/situation) does more single-target damage.

I find that very hard to believe especially if you are able to flank your target and stack bleeds nonstop.

I’m traited for survival and LB therefore a short bow is only situational to me. I probably should use it more when I’m running in a small guild group looking for small combat. However in keep work, either defense or taking, the LB is the better choice. Or in large zergs where the LB AoE really helps. Also, in Large zergs using a sword/GS is problematic as you tend to die quickly to AoE if you’re trying to play in the front lines.

Oh, I use Axe/Horn off hand. I find the Axe to be a semi counter to Culling as it will hit invisible (to me) targets.

RapidSausage.4620:

Szitler.4802:

im running a pure shortbow build for single DPS then axe/warhorn as secondary for mobs… i rarely switch though, stay back with the shortbow, get some conditions mounted and let me ice drake do the rest..

hmm, i use red moa for fury, and fern hound for regen.

ive got ice drake/eagle at the moment, that buffed tail whip by the drake is too good not to have..

kidbs.8920:

Ryoki Hokishami.2756:

Honestly I don’t use shortbow because Sword (with a complementing offhand, depending on the build/situation) does more single-target damage.

I find that very hard to believe especially if you are able to flank your target and stack bleeds nonstop.

I don’t have the numbers, but using a condition build, Sword and Torch seemed to do more than constant flanking shortbow. Granted, it was very close, but still more.

And in power based builds, the sword does more with almost any offhand. (at least from what I’ve seen personally.)

Ryoki Hokishami.2756:

kidbs.8920:

Ryoki Hokishami.2756:

Honestly I don’t use shortbow because Sword (with a complementing offhand, depending on the build/situation) does more single-target damage.

I find that very hard to believe especially if you are able to flank your target and stack bleeds nonstop.

I don’t have the numbers, but using a condition build, Sword and Torch seemed to do more than constant flanking shortbow. Granted, it was very close, but still more.

And in power based builds, the sword does more with almost any offhand. (at least from what I’ve seen personally.)

I’m guessing that this would have more to do with the torch (burning) damage than what you’re actually getting from the sword, but yeah that would make sense in that case. I tend to like using axe/torch for pretty much the same reason (burn damage).

I love my SB/LB Ranger

I barely use anything else really since i dont do much PVP.

ampy.1387:

I love my SB/LB Ranger

I barely use anything else really since i dont do much PVP.

Yeah outside of PvP you can get away with running SB/LB practically anywhere. I find they mesh together better than you’d expect. In WvW I trade the SB for a GS though, better escape

really? wow. thats funny. at level 47, all the rangers i’ve met talk to me like i’m kitten “dude y u no use LB? way moar damages”

that sort of thing.

I loath pvp so…maybe that has something to do with it?

Edit: actually loath is to kind a word. I’d rather stick my junk in a blender, beat a dry cactus with them and then sprinkle some lemon juice with Tabasco sauce on them than PvP. That almost explains how I feel about PvP…..

I don’t WvW on my ranger, and I personally am not a fan of the bows. SB is a good condition weapon, but I prefer flat damage. LB is really good for flat damage, but it really drops in strength when a target is running closer to your face.

Personally, I run S/D and GS as both my weapons for PvE and sPvP. I evade EVERYTHING.

SB is to me one of our better designed weapons. The skills have great synergy and it has everything you need for any situation. You have a disable and a slow when you need one. You have the ability to create distance when you need it. Combined with the Sword or GS for secondary weapon set and you have a very versatile weapon mix.

You must not be playing with them. Even after the stealth nerf the shortbow is one of the best ranger weapons. People successfuly build for crit and still do fine with it. I personally prioritised crit (you lose too much DPS if you go condition and can’t flank, especially in dungeons) and built up condition with my trinkets. Making use of both gets more milage and reliable DPS out of the weapon than just using one. Building crit also makes swapping to longbow midnight a lot more useful because blowing all the longbow cooldowns and making use of it’s valuable DPS can really edge out your effectiveness. Condition damage alone doesn’t really allow for too much weapon variety.

Keyce.8137:

I don’t WvW on my ranger, and I personally am not a fan of the bows. SB is a good condition weapon, but I prefer flat damage. LB is really good for flat damage, but it really drops in strength when a target is running closer to your face.

Personally, I run S/D and GS as both my weapons for PvE and sPvP. I evade EVERYTHING.

SB flat damage is roughly on par with LB flat damage at max range for a power crit build, even without taking into account bleeds and poison. At short range it obviously does far more damage. The main reason people slot LB is barrage, it’s a good enough reason for me!

Shortbow all the way. Personally i run with S/WH and SB (both got good evade skills).
There aren’t many full condi rangers, but sb works great with ‘’some condi’’ (personally i got 300-420) and precision, so even more often than every 2nd hit should be critical.

I don’t know why did you come with conclusion that SB is rather bad. Personally I think it’s the best weapon for ranger.

Also remember, if you’re a cond ranger and you group up with a necro for pve, you will prolly cap bleeds fast so in that case, a LB would be better. I personally use LB/GS. Love the debuff you can keep up on mobs to boost everyones dps plus popping barrage and then QZ and then RF for the speed on both skills is great for burst. And as for evading, don’t need SB skills to evade. Rangers get stupid fast endurance regen plus if something tries to close the gap with a LB, use the pushback shot and you’re good to go.

Daemon.4295:

Keyce.8137:

I don’t WvW on my ranger, and I personally am not a fan of the bows. SB is a good condition weapon, but I prefer flat damage. LB is really good for flat damage, but it really drops in strength when a target is running closer to your face.

SB flat damage is roughly on par with LB flat damage at max range for a power crit build, even without taking into account bleeds and poison. At short range it obviously does far more damage. The main reason people slot LB is barrage, it’s a good enough reason for me!

Actually, SB’s autoattack damage without bleed is about 5% higher than LB’s autoattack damage from max range. And LB#2 is the same DPS as autoattack from max range, so SB’s autoattack beats that too. Spamming barrage as often as you can, LB barely beats out SB’s autoattack. Go grab the steady weapons in the Mists and test it yourself if you don’t believe me. Time to kill heavy golem (no traits, no amulet, only default ranger PvP armor):

SB autoattack: 348 sec (+ /- 3% error margin due to roundoff)
LB autoattack: 370 sec (+ /- 2% error margin due to roundoff)
LB #2 spam: 372 sec (have to be careful not to interrupt autoattack cast bar)
LB #5 spam: 334 sec

Add in bleed and it’s no contest. You can’t test bleed with the steady weapons because bleed’s damage is fixed while the steady weapons do much less damage than regular weapons. And since it’s fixed, bleed’s benefit will decrease with increasing power. But in the above minimal power/condition config with a regular PvP bow, SB bleed delivers about 75% the DPS of the physical attacks, so it’s a huge boost.

Pretty much the only reason to use LB is barrage for AOE or if you need to cripple. Hunter’s shot for vulnerability if you’re in a group (10% added to your damage is not worth giving up SB, 10% added to everyone’s is).

Solandri.9640:

Daemon.4295:

SB flat damage is roughly on par with LB flat damage at max range for a power crit build, even without taking into account bleeds and poison. At short range it obviously does far more damage. The main reason people slot LB is barrage, it’s a good enough reason for me!

Actually, SB’s autoattack damage without bleed is about 5% higher than LB’s autoattack damage from max range. And LB#2 is the same DPS as autoattack from max range, so SB’s autoattack beats that too. Spamming barrage as often as you can, LB barely beats out SB’s autoattack. Go grab the steady weapons in the Mists and test it yourself if you don’t believe me. Time to kill heavy golem (no traits, no amulet, only default ranger PvP armor):

SB autoattack: 348 sec (+ /- 3% error margin due to roundoff)
LB autoattack: 370 sec (+ /- 2% error margin due to roundoff)
LB #2 spam: 372 sec (have to be careful not to interrupt autoattack cast bar)
LB #5 spam: 334 sec

Add in bleed and it’s no contest. You can’t test bleed with the steady weapons because bleed’s damage is fixed while the steady weapons do much less damage than regular weapons. And since it’s fixed, bleed’s benefit will decrease with increasing power. But in the above minimal power/condition config with a regular PvP bow, SB bleed delivers about 75% the DPS of the physical attacks, so it’s a huge boost.

Pretty much the only reason to use LB is barrage for AOE or if you need to cripple. Hunter’s shot for vulnerability if you’re in a group (10% added to your damage is not worth giving up SB, 10% added to everyone’s is).

So what you’re telling us is, SB is better than LB in most cases. Or use LB’s vuln and switch to SB right afterwards. Seems like a very good reason to be a crit of condi build.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the SB ends up beating every weapon in damage, primarily due to the bleeding it can do. That you need to be flanking is a (minor) hinderance, but that depends on the player and the fights they go through.

I’ll still prefer to use the melee weapons, even if it means I am in a lot more danger than at a range. I’m not seeking to put out the most damage possible, I’m just looking for a way to entertain myself in combat.

Keyce.8137:

So what you’re telling us is, SB is better than LB in most cases. Or use LB’s vuln and switch to SB right afterwards. Seems like a very good reason to be a crit of condi build.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the SB ends up beating every weapon in damage, primarily due to the bleeding it can do. That you need to be flanking is a (minor) hinderance, but that depends on the player and the fights they go through.

I’ll still prefer to use the melee weapons, even if it means I am in a lot more danger than at a range. I’m not seeking to put out the most damage possible, I’m just looking for a way to entertain myself in combat.

SB is better for damage than LB. LB is good for control and utility with a damaging cripple field, a knockback, and a vuln spike. LB primary attack is pretty terrible. I only use the LB for a few skills, then wait (impatiently, normally) for the weapon switch timer to reset so I can return to actually dealing decent damage.

Keyce.8137:

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the SB ends up beating every weapon in damage, primarily due to the bleeding it can do. That you need to be flanking is a (minor) hinderance, but that depends on the player and the fights they go through.

If you can stack the bleeds, SB is the top damaging ranger weapon against single targets. If you can hit two targets, sword and greatsword do better. I suspect even axe does better against 2 targets.

Solandri.9640:

Keyce.8137:

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the SB ends up beating every weapon in damage, primarily due to the bleeding it can do. That you need to be flanking is a (minor) hinderance, but that depends on the player and the fights they go through.

If you can stack the bleeds, SB is the top damaging ranger weapon against single targets. If you can hit two targets, sword and greatsword do better. I suspect even axe does better against 2 targets.

Run piercing arrows. Then SB damage and bleeds against multiple targets. Still the top weapon. ^.^

Solandri.9640:

Keyce.8137:

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the SB ends up beating every weapon in damage, primarily due to the bleeding it can do. That you need to be flanking is a (minor) hinderance, but that depends on the player and the fights they go through.

If you can stack the bleeds, SB is the top damaging ranger weapon against single targets. If you can hit two targets, sword and greatsword do better. I suspect even axe does better against 2 targets.

The axe is good when your targets aren’t in a straight line, like you would need to make piercing shortbow arrows to be effective, but its damage is small in comparison and I find is really only useful as a reason to stay at a range with an offhand (like the warhorn). There is the chill to account for, as it’s a better slow than cripple, but the only way to get any benefit out of a mainhand axe’s #2 skill is to be in melee combat, where all the axes can hit and bleed the target before they get too spread out.

At that point you might as well use a sword, as it’s got a cripple built into its auto, it hits three targets, and grants a Might stack to your pet every third hit. It’s got two evasion moves; one of which has a leap finisher as a second attack, and the other one deals poison damage at the end. Oh, and it strikes faster than the greatsword.

Shortbow does more single target damage than any other weapon, but LB is better for AoE, simple as that. Personally I like opening with LB and then swapping to SB once i’ve blown LB skills and quickness.

I’d be surprised to see any ranger that doesn’t at least have a short bow in their inventory. It’s like the multi-tool of the ranger class. An effective, high dps auto-attack, a number 2 poison to nerf enemy heals, a number 3 evade w/ a speed buff during active combat for evasiveness/escaping foes, a number 4 to cripple foes so that you can kite them and stay away from melee threats for much longer, a number 5 stun that can interrupt most conventional attack threats when timed correctly.

The short bow is a great utility for any ranger assuming you have the right trait build, and especially for berserker gear rangers who are looking to increase their survivability.

Detharos.3157:

I’d be surprised to see any ranger that doesn’t at least have a short bow in their inventory. It’s like the multi-tool of the ranger class. An effective, high dps auto-attack, a number 2 poison to nerf enemy heals, a number 3 evade w/ a speed buff during active combat for evasiveness/escaping foes, a number 4 to cripple foes so that you can kite them and stay away from melee threats for much longer, a number 5 stun that can interrupt most conventional attack threats when timed correctly.

The short bow is a great utility for any ranger assuming you have the right trait build, and especially for berserker gear rangers who are looking to increase their survivability.

Um… surprise?