Guild Wars 2

I’m curious: are there any ranger builds in common use that don’t include the quickdraw trait? Browsing the various common sites doesn’t show any.

This is mostly for personal curiosity, and partly driven by the fact that I can’t identify any build where it wouldn’t be the best, or close to the best, choice for traits in use — but maybe you can?

Nah, that’s one of the weaknesses of the Skirmishing traitline. Not only is Quick Draw good – the other two traits just can’t compete.

As OP said QD is beat among these 3 traits. When you are taking skirmishinging QD it is.
Most dangerous game is too much risk reward and only works well with troll ungient as heal. The might goes as fast as it comes and doesnt help the ranger at all.
Light on your feet isnt that bad of a trait but you have always to keep escaping to keep the dmg up. LoyF is only worth taking if using SB and still inferior to QD.
All sad facts. Trait improvements are needed.

Wondrouswall.7169:

Nah, that’s one of the weaknesses of the Skirmishing traitline. Not only is Quick Draw good – the other two traits just can’t compete.

Seems like it out-competes all the other trait lines, too, so it’s “skirmishing plus 2”. At least my feeling was confirmed, and it’s not just my impression that it’s powerful enough that nothing else beats it.

I’ve tried running bunker builds in wvw without it but i always come back. No matter your build - condi, healing, power - the Skirmishing line is best mainly because of QD. It applies to every possible build and therefore almost has to be used.

QD is in my opinion the best trait in the game.

However as far as I know most people don’t use it in PvP in favor of NM. I personally prefer QD over NM there as well, but high protection up time from NM (or WS) is very nice.

You can run most dangerous game with a trapper build. Makes for some nasty damage but its high risk high reward. I recommend sword/torch and axe/dagger with trapper runes.

Are there any traits like Quick Draw for other professions, that reward weapon swapping on cooldown?

Sister Saxifrage.7361:

Are there any traits like Quick Draw for other professions, that reward weapon swapping on cooldown?

Warriors and thieves can gain adrenaline and initiative on weapon swap. There are a few other weapon swapping traits and of course sigils.

Yes there’s 2 power based PvP/wvw ones. The beast Master nature magic shout build and beast Master marksmanship remorseless build. Quick draw other than the trait wouldn’t add anything to those 2builds

For PvE, yes Skirmishing is important. Power and healer builds take Spotter and Quick Draw. Condition DPS takes sharpened edges, hidden barbs and Quick Draw.

For PvP on the other hand, people usually take Nature Magic, Beastmastery and Druid.