Guild Wars 2

This is an sPvP thread

Just for a point of reference, I’m Plat 1. I played my way up to here with a marauder rifle axe/shield build. I’m finding that, assuming I start a fight at range, I have a favorable matchup against everyone except thief and guardian.

Anyhow, I think that Killshot is what holds back rifle compared to other weapons. Its animation is obvious, it has a very long cast time, it’s channeled, and its damage isn’t significantly better than weapon skills until you have T3 adrenaline. Gunflame does a bit less damage than Killshot, but is superior in every other way. Frankly I only bother using Killshot to proc Cleansing Ire and Adrenal Healing, otherwise why bother.

In contrast, Eviscerate is just as good as Decapitate, no aoe but does more damage at higher levels. Skull Crack isn’t quite as good as Skull Grinder but still is quite useful. Earthshaker is a bit weaker than Rupturing Smash, but easier to aim (Rupturing Smash has a semicircular target, Earthshaker is circular). Basically other weapons’ burst skills are worth using, whereas rifle’s is not. I’d be happy with either upping the velocity of Killshot or making it unlockable; it needs something more to make it viable and not completely inferior to Gunflame, a skill that has it all. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Killshot being unblockable would be a nice change. Every other vanilla burst skill has some utility that makes it usable at all adrenaline levels if needed, and there really is no reason to use Killshot as a Berserker at the moment. As one of our longest skills to channel and now ONLY skill that locks you in place to use, a little something to make it a more appealing skill would be appreciated.

Actually, allowing you to move might be change enough, though that might also kill some of the feel of the skill. Outside of that or Killshot being unblockable I’m not sure what other change might be helpful. Rifle has plenty of vulnerability application already, boon and CC application are well covered by other weapons, and velocity increase only helps if your opponent doesn’t notice you channeling the skill.

I’m a little hesitant to say that unblockable is good simply because 1. I hate weapon skills that are base unblockable, like Deflecting Shot, and 2. Unblockable is pretty much covered by signet of might. Velocity increase means people can’t kite it at range, so it forces a dodge or reflect. Right now you can just walk sideways and avoid it, that’s pretty sad for such a high-impact skill. I’d prefer that the root stay in place, post-HOT GW2 is oftentimes bursty in unpredictable ways (looking at you Meditrapper), keeping the highly-visible channel allows people the chance to counter it.

Kill shot you really should be able to move. And Gunflame could see a buff too, i would love if it removed boons on hit. It wouldnt affect PvE, and in PvP it would be a great team tool.

OnizukaBR.8537:

Kill shot you really should be able to move. And Gunflame could see a buff too, i would love if it removed boons on hit. It wouldnt affect PvE, and in PvP it would be a great team tool.

Gun Flame

1. Aoe damage
2. Aoe rupt
3. 5.5k on crit (roughly)
4. 1.1k burn with no condi damage
5. 1500 range
6. Increased velocity (effectively unkiteable)
7. Non-obvious animation

While I’d love boon removal too, does Gun Flame really need a buff? Sounds like unnecessary HoT power creep to me.

Best success with kill shot is using it against targets who are currently engaged, trying to use it in a 1v1 scenario when the enemy is out front and can focus on what you are doing is just asking for 0 damage. Eviscerate is the same way against good players, almost impossible to land against good Thieves and Mesmers. The Warrior has very telegraphed skills and abilities in general, its a very readable class for opponents, as far as I am concerned that’s what makes it not OP.

Right now I am working on a quickness focused rifle build using boon duration. By boosting everything up around the weaker killshot it feels a lot better. Setting up a reliable Killshot is alot easier with a faster Brutal Shot.

Regular rifle feels incredibly weak now, after playing it. I always used rifle on weapon switch, but by making it my main weapon and building everything around it, it feels so much better. I also play it more kiting style like a ranger, chipping the edges and using 2nd line positions like a Necro would.

Before I let this go, I’ll make my point extra clear: Killshot is essentially useless in sPvP and is holding the weapon back. A skill that’s effective at range should be just as or almost as effective at maximum range as it is at melee range. Killshot can simply be strafed without even a dodge, meaning I waste 1.25s on nothing while my opponent laughs. This needs optimization for sPvP not just brainless PvE mobs.

Rifle REALLY needs a buff and rework. It’s mediocre. It’s not ‘bad’, but GS, hammer or axe are much better. Also, like everyone else says, even longbow is stronger overall. The rifle needs more utility, it needs something else going for itself besides Killshot.

At the very least, PUT BACK THE PIERCE. Pierce was unique to the rifle, it had a tangible use. Also, add bleeding like it used to have. That way it can also be used in a condi fashion.

WvW is a different story. Rifle shines there, but PvP not so much.