Guild Wars 2

im planning on using lb and sb with power precision and ferocity stats but i heard that sb hits like a rubber chicken since its a condi weapon

Bleenko.2763:

im planning on using lb and sb with power precision and ferocity stats but i heard that sb hits like a rubber chicken since its a condi weapon

Some Rangers here use double bows. SB damage is fine using a power build. It has 1 bleed and 1 poison on 9-12 second reuse timer. It bleeds from behind target. I don’t consider it a condi only weapon.

You’re better off using another weapon set to complement your longbow.

GS is a somewhat the preferred weapon for zerk rangers but sb is fine. Just dont forget to use qz to pump it up.

SB is a really solid Direct Damage weapon, it will never hit as hard as LB or GS (in one strike) but it makes up for that in the speed of the shots easy.

Also, please for the love of Melandru, do NOT be one of those idiot SB rangers who keeps auto attacking even when the enemy has retal, you’ve got like 10+ confusion and your shots are being reflected….

SB is actually pretty competent with a zerker build. If you can flank and get the bleeds, it does almost as much DPS as sword. The fact that it’s 900 range makes the trade-off of your damage being split DD/condition worth it I think.

Its problem though is that it’s single target. Once you get to multiple targets, sword, GS, longbow (barrage), and even axe (bounces) surpass it. Some will argue piercing arrows offsets this. But piercing requires you to line up your shots, which more or less defeats the ranged advantage since the further away you are, the longer it takes to line up. The only place piercing is reliably multi-target is in target-rich environments (zergs, massive quantities of mobs), or in close range combat. And if you’re at close range, why not just use sword or GS?

Solandri.9640:

SB is actually pretty competent with a zerker build. If you can flank and get the bleeds, it does almost as much DPS as sword. The fact that it’s 900 range makes the trade-off of your damage being split DD/condition worth it I think.

Its problem though is that it’s single target. Once you get to multiple targets, sword, GS, longbow (barrage), and even axe (bounces) surpass it. Some will argue piercing arrows offsets this. But piercing requires you to line up your shots, which more or less defeats the ranged advantage since the further away you are, the longer it takes to line up. The only place piercing is reliably multi-target is in target-rich environments (zergs, massive quantities of mobs), or in close range combat. And if you’re at close range, why not just use sword or GS?

PA only makes SB competitive with the others due to the piercing daze, making it so that you can interrupt your target (and anyone caught between) effortlessly.

As you said, the damage bonus from PA shouldn’t be considered unless you plan on zerging. IMO PA should be taken more for the utility it brings (no longer body block able, the main flaw with ranged).

thanks for the insight guys) and feel free to post more insight it would really help

If you flank and stack the bleeds, you’ll be fine.

That said, I personally as an archer run double longbow. Seems crazy I know, but on-swap fury keeps the damage as high as it’ll get and keeps crits consistent.

You HAVE to play smart with stealth and use LR though and time #4 if you plan on keeping your ranged advantage/plan on staying alive.

SB/GS berserker is pretty great. You get two stuns, a defensive knockdown, and whatever you wanna bring with your pet (more stuns/knockdowns).

Throw a little condition damage in there, and you’ve got something really nice to work with.

SB and GS are my two favourite weapons. So I’m glad to read these comments, but if I join a PUG dungeon group with a short bow and LS will I be kicked? (assume I’m taking frost and the ferocity trait)

Lace.9472:

SB and GS are my two favourite weapons. So I’m glad to read these comments, but if I join a PUG dungeon group with a short bow and LS will I be kicked? (assume I’m taking frost and the ferocity trait)

LS?
Problems with being essentially distant in dungeons is that lack of buff sharing.
In non-speed-run/zerk only group, should not be a problem. I personally usually run both a melee and a distant weapon in dungeon (pug runs – not speed clears), and select weapon according to how the rest of the group place themselves…
In pugs, I don’t often see the vulne stack pile up to 25, so I feel the GS is not a bad choice… but, again, this is not for speed runs. Avoid those groups, and you shouldn’t have problems…

As for SB vs LB, below 1000 range, given faster rate of fire of SB, they deal approximately the same base direct damage. Over 1000 range, without taking bleeding in consideration, LB is better.

Jocksy.3415:

Lace.9472:

SB and GS are my two favourite weapons. So I’m glad to read these comments, but if I join a PUG dungeon group with a short bow and LS will I be kicked? (assume I’m taking frost and the ferocity trait)

LS?

Sorry I meant GS so the set is Great Sword and Short Bow. Waited all day for a reply and just noticed my typo ¬_¬

Is there any way a speed run would take any bow?

Bow ranger isn’t a viable build for speed runs or high end PvE.

anyone have a video of a zerker sb ranger roaming in wvw? preferably not full glass, but w/e

PvE
Use SB+GS
If the Boss should be stacked i go GS+ 2 Axes
If the Boss should be ranged i go SB+LB

WvW
LB+GS

I like so much more to use SB in PvE, all that LB has is the 2 skill.
I have tested stuff, and so far i have found that SB trumps LB.
Maybe its the Rampage as One though, works far better on SB

My Masteries are 6/4/0/0/4
Piercing arrow, spotter on markmanship tree
Oh i use mostly Zerk gear

I do feel Ranger is a bit weak compared with some classes

Zerk Dungeon Path groups kick all classes except Warrior, Guradian, Mesmer btw.