Guild Wars 2

Please fix ANet this was during my rank pvp match

Ranger Soulbeast

To provide a solid foundation to Soulbeast gameplay, will be focusing more into merging and not camping Beastmode type of plays. I will try to give options for all Ranger playstyle while keeping other trait line in mind.

PLS NOTE passes thru meaning the moment when your pet turn into a little green wisp when you go Beastmode.

1. Twice as Vicious current : Disabling a foe increases your damage and condition damage for a short duration. (5%)

Proposed changes

a.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet deals # damage within 360 radius. Gain fury for 6 seconds.

b.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet enhances your bond, grants 10% damage and condition for 6 seconds.

c.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet slows and bleed foes that it passes thru and apply conditions to nearby foes when you meld.

d.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet blind and dazes foes that it passes thru and apply conditions to nearby foes when you meld.

e.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet grants barrier (10% of your pets maximum health) kitten you necro. LOL

2. Oppressive Superiority current: Deal increased damage to foes who have less health than you. Conditions you apply to foes with less health than you last longer. (10% ) Doesnt indicate if percentage or not.

Propose Change

a.) Oppressive Superiority Beast abilities grant boons and apply conditions (if damaging ability apply condition ; if support type abilities apply boons)

b.) Oppressive Superiority Beast abilities have reduced cooldown and does # increase damage.

c.) Oppressive Superiority gain 7% vitality. Increases damage/condition duration to foes who have less health than you. Percent base.

d.) Oppressive Superiority exiting Beastmode you and your pets attacks become unblockable for 6 seconds. Cast Lesser Vulture Stance.

with these changes I believe I cover most of Rangers trait design which is condition type, power type, and support type.

Last is

3. Fresh Reinforcement current: Entering beastmode grants you the boons affecting your pet.

Proposed Changes

a.) Fresh Reinforcement entering beastmode grants you the boons affecting your pet, exiting grants boons affecting you to your pet.

b.) Fresh Reinforcement entering beastmode grants you protection.

c.) Fresh Reinforcement entering beastmode heals area for #.

d.) Fresh Reinforcement entering beastmode grants you 25% movement speed for 6 seconds. Your next attack is an attack of opportunity and causes knockdown to adjacent foes.

Please also revisit Marksmanship Major Master traits for us Power Rangers

Aomine.5012:

Pirax.6172:

In my opinion Soulbeast should be quicker and with more evading abilities. Main hand dagger is too slow.

It’s slow, no evade, and very long cd non-existent gap closer that take ages to cast.

IMO i think the dagger skills are OK, its just the role of it that needs some tuning. https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Dagger. Self preservation. WTF.

I would like to point out as well since I havent seen that its been getting the attention that it needs that some of the traits for Soulbeast need to get look at IMO like:

Twice as Vicious DISABLING a foe increases your damage and condition duration by a mere 5%. I dont see where this is coming from, Spellbreaker should have this trait with their role being the anti mage, being able to daze and shut them down completely yet we have this as a Grandmaster thats not worth it. ANet is confused with the role of Soulbeast clearly, a little too much of everything again with no clear direction on where they want to take Ranger with this specialization. Its called specialization for a reason, granted that Anets direction is merging for Rangers then let that be the case.

Proposed change

a.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet deals # damage within 360 radius. Gain fury for 6 seconds.

b.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet enhances your bond, grants 10% damage and condition for 6 seconds.

c.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet slows and bleed foes that it passes thru and apply conditions to nearby foes when you meld.

d.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet blind and dazes foes that it passes thru and apply conditions to nearby foes when you meld.

e.) Twice as Vicious merging with your pet grants barrier (10% of your pets maximum health) kitten you necro. LOL

PLS note passes thru meaning the moment when your pet turn into a little green wisp when you go Beastmode

OPPRESSIVE SUPERIORITY pls clarify, for our PVE lads this is pretty much useless. Bosses health is around millions so youre basically going to be using this during the last 5 seconds of the fight? lol. Should change to percentage, but still pretty weak though even if IMO.

I would have to disagree with SB gaining range, its a skirmishing weapon. But I do agree that some of these skills need to be revisited and change. Heres my opinion:

Shortbow skills should be consider in the ammo mechanic that is being introduce, similar to when we had PREPERATIONS in GW1, sample:

2. Poison Volley change to Poison Tip (5 ammo) your next attack inflict 2 stacks of poison per ammo for 8 seconds. CD 15 seconds. Should reset attack animation per use, so you can combine this with auto attacks to inflict major pressure to an enemy. this will enhance game play as well with SB so youre not just spamming your ammo you will need to time it right to maximize your pressure.

4. Crippling Shot (2 ammo) CD 20 seconds. Make this skill unblockable similar to https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Crippling_Shot.

as for Axe main hand IMO they really should change skill 2 to compliment condi/power builds.

heres a little video of some plays. im not promoting Soulbeast in general is great as it is, but look at where a soulbeast swap wouldve benefit in some situations if ANet made it possible. Like I said Dagger/Axe with quickness then Whirling Defense, its nice but could be better.

Corwin.6397:

Very very disappointed.

Dagger is weak, animations are clunky and basically recycled from other classes.

Stances look nice but half of them are trash and useless (endurance increase? Might when evading? What?)

Traits are weird too. In most cases it’s hard to figure out which you want cause they all are mediocre, for both power and condi there isn’t a spectacular setup.

Beastmode is alright, some of the pet’s abilities are really nice but I feel like playing around being in and out of beastmode is barely affecting ranger’s effectiveness. Just an additional mechanic that you need to follow but there is not enough reward for it.

Overall, definitely the biggest letdown out of all elites. Look at how amazing holosmith is, how deep and complex weaver is, how different scourge is! Soulbeast barely adds anything and half of the things it does add are trash and were not needed.

Unless they seriously buff some of the traits, dagger damage or redesign it partially, ranger will stay where it is now. Might even be in a worse state cause necros seem to rise up with their scourge spec.

Memes about necros are already shared with rangers, I feel after PoF they will be exclusively about rangers.

Someone asked what is the role of soulbeast in GW2? Casual open-world exploration spec – that’s what it is. At least at the moment, it doesn’t seem good for anything else.

Already started playing some other alts more, might need to stop torturing myself and main something else.

Agree with you on this one, ANet has a choice to either buff soulbeast to some degree not all traits, or revisit some of our core traits like kittenty marksmanship trait line cough all 3 master traits, all trash. Skirmishing and others are there, but how do you combine them with Soulbeast? I only have 1 build that I enjoy and Soulbeast is not even needed, sure we have a one trick phony power build with new specialization, but look at Guardian new spec, Thief, Warrior, and Godlike HOLOSMASH. WTF moving holosmacking shield that blows up in your face? wth and we cant do that with whirling defense? and whats with Wordly Impact in slow motion i thought if you trait this with Beastly Warden it would Taunt right away, but no it happens when you land which is like after 1hr after. not buying expansion till new skill patch

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

AEFA.9035:

Swagger.1459:

And meanwhile we are pumping out mediocre melee damage…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1WXn0jljaCE

holy kitten wtf? LOL

It’s just utterly absurd! ANet needs some malevolent testers.

Favoured classes by ANet: Warrior, Thief, Engi. Repeat.

Swagger.1459:

And meanwhile we are pumping out mediocre melee damage…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1WXn0jljaCE

holy kitten wtf? LOL

ANet should really consider pet swap while in Beastmode, I tried for quite some time now to really have a good gameplay experimenting but one thing is just lacking, going out of Beastmode for your pet to use their F2 or Beast skill. I know some would disagree and say that youre not supposed to camp in Beastmode which is true youre not, cause I figure you would be losing damage if your pet is not out, but then that would be the players choice, like it would be if you decided to release beastmode. I think its just solid gameplay if we are to be able to pet swap while in beastmode. And probably update some of the BM traits that benefit the pets to benefit us while in Beastmode. I really dont see any play from this specialization, unless youre in PVE.

can anyone confirm if Sword auto give us might while in Beastmode? I tried Potent Ally trait and it doesnt give might while doing critical hits in Beastmode

Kreed.2768:

At first, I didn’t like the Soulbeast as I began hitting some golems in the PvP lobby. The dagger is incredibly clunky as it is right now. It just feels… slow. As suggested by others, some reduced cast times might be the solution here. Other than that, if it’s supposed to be a condi weapon, it’s disappointing me terribly so far in that regard. It needs to be buffed.

Then I moved on to trying power, after reading what some of you were saying. Boy, is it a lot of fun! As I began digging around in the trait-lines, I noted how much work was actually done to adjust them to work with Beastmode. Well done for that. One thing I’ve found that I’d like to note though: Potent Ally works with Beastmode, thus allowing you to self-stack might on crits, but the tooltip has not been adjusted to mention this.

Some of the stuff you can do with a Soul Beast power build is pretty nuts though. Sic ‘Em + Maul, for example. Also, my rock gazelle managed to score a 7.8k crit with its charge on a golem (with BM equipped). That’s going to hurt unsuspecting squishes a lot.

Speaking of the Gazzelle, this pet is OP as kitten eventually it will be nerf to kitten. Just hit a warrior with this thing F2 pet skill at 12k not sure if I was dreaming or what. And good to know Potent Ally works while on Beastmode definitely opening up some Power build with this, just wondering does it proc twice for might? cause I noticed as well that while in beastmode or Dagger 2 skill double strikes.

FrouFrou.4958:

AegisFLCL.7623:

So whats everyone estimate on shouts applying to you being nerfed.

I don’t see devs allowing Sic’ Em for very long.

I was 1 hitting people with booned Gazelle and using Sic ’em. Nerf incoming :x

Yeah im afraid so, that Gazelle pet is hilarious. LOL.

one word: disappointing.

though I will give it to Fanged Iboga as best pet so far. Team composition Stance is under where it should be, not a lot of team play with this specialization. Though the new dear pet I will give a thumbs up, I tested power play with this pet LOL. Good burst IMO funny too, 2 hit a necro with this pet while in Beastmode.

If you guys are pretty bummed out about synergies of soulbeast to other traits and skills and boon sharing for out pets etc. just look at Renegades specialization and traits. LOL

jcbroe.4329:

sigh

So, the guild chat video, while not verbally adressed, visually showed that entering Beastmode counts as a weapon swap.

Such a hype killer.

There goes a lot of cool combos and trait synergy. Not to mention the ability to actually get/maintain boons is wasted by Beastmode.

It makes the traiting options so, so weak. I just don’t understand what ANet was thinking with these traits based on what they just highlighted.

Hypothesis;

• PvE DPS improvement over current condi core ranger, but in optimal conditions going into Beastmode will be a DPS loss, so you’ll be taking the traitline just for the daggers and passives.
• PvP dueling will be strong, but it always has been. Less team support than Druid, more damage. Ultra ultra ultra shoehorned into pets, as always.
• WvW Leader of the Pack makes or breaks this elite spec in WvW. If no boons are shared, it’s worse for party comps than taking Druid.

Sorry if you guys think I’m being hyperbolic, I’m not trying to be dramatic, I’m just disappointed in how overall poorly designed the spec functionally seems so far.

Discuss (I guess, not much to say, the ball was dropped).

Theres no way it will be a pet swap when youre melding with your pet going into beastmode. Still dont understand the disappointment cause having control not only with your pet moves but with archetypes moves in addition, and the player who is show casing the Ranger during Guild Chat was using a Rampagers amulet if I remember correctly? WHO THE kitten uses Rampagers? LOL! kitten me. Im just happy the kittening Dagger 3 is ammo base so Essence of Speed with perma Protection… confirm!

I would just leave SotH be and change SotW active. Good theme suggestion though. Speaking of Signets, they should definitely rework Brutish Seals, this is like Lesseer Spotter IMO I get that this is to synergize with Remoreseless. The Whole Marksmanship Master trait needs a rework to be honest. lol. Such crappy choices for Marksmanship line.

1. Moment of Clarity, how often do you really interrupt someone lets be honest. And how many times can we do this as a Ranger class.
2. Steady Focus, youre basically a sitting duck trying to keep that 10% increase in damage with this trait. Regardless of equipping sword dagger and why would you want to lock in your self with sword dagger thats not a good gameplay ANet.
3. Brutish Seals, how often can you activate a signet now a days for a mere 6 kittenty seconds of Fury when every other class can have better access to fury. Failed support idea.

Agree, this trait is not competitive enough. I would combine it and put it in Master trait line. Create an adept trait line for skirmishing that would benefit Power builds. Some samples :

Energizing Wind Your next # of attacks are unblockable when you have Swiftness.
Antidote Signet Using a Signet cures # condition on you.
Beastial Fury Beast. Attacks are 20% faster while you have Swiftness.

Wulf.5431:

AEFA.9035:

Wulf.5431:

AEFA.9035:

As for me, Im more excited about traits like Live Fast, Essence of Speed, Second Skin, and the newly introduced Rugged Growth thanks to recent patch. Protection with healing and reduced condition damage, depending on your choice. Pair with 10sec CD Beast skills like Swoop, Bear Bite, or Crippling leap from Canines thats almost perma protection if you take Nature Magic on the line too. You can be either condi or power. Lots of choices coming up looking forward to it.

I was thinking of this too, but I feel there’s too little protection available for ranger to really focus on it. Remember you can’t take Essence of Speed and Second Skin together, which is a bit of a bummer. So you just have 2 seconds of prot on dodge and protective ward.

Thats a good thing, we have choices on which traits to take, would you take increase in boons with Essence of Speed or Condition dmg reduction with Second skin, with this build sample: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJAzXnUqA1Ci9CCmsAUtAhMhyL8Eox7kNAOgTaVjXB-TJR6gA+XAgs9HAeAAxlBAA

you can increase Protective Ward up to 8 seconds on an 18 CD. Per dodge 4 secs of protection. With Essence of Speed per quickness gain you get an increase of 2 seconds, not considering the type of pet youre melding with, not sure how much a Versatile pet can add for these boons, plus Moa stance (if youre running it) and your main dagger 3 in 15secs CD. Not sure about the numbers but I think we’re pretty close to perma protection.

Ah I get you. Thought you might’ve been thinking we could get 100% uptime with Second Skin. Personally I think going for more healing power for less concentration would be the way I’d like to go I think. You lose on a bit of protection uptime but the scaling on healing power is nuts for Rugged Growth. Something like this – http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJAzXnUqA1Ci9CCmsAUtAhMhyL8Eox7kNAOgTaVjXB-TJR6gA+XAgs9HAeAAxlBAA

I had this in mind as well it seems your link is the same as mine :P. But if youre going to run menders amulet in PVP focusing on healing power, Protective Ward would heal you for a total of 2987 for the duration. With Diviners amulet you get 2712. But keep in mind that you want protection to last long not only does Rugged Growth mitigate damage but it also reduces incoming damage while you have protection on, I guess it all boils down to timing when your protection would proc in the most useful situation, with Second Skin thats another story if you have it on

Wulf.5431:

AEFA.9035:

As for me, Im more excited about traits like Live Fast, Essence of Speed, Second Skin, and the newly introduced Rugged Growth thanks to recent patch. Protection with healing and reduced condition damage, depending on your choice. Pair with 10sec CD Beast skills like Swoop, Bear Bite, or Crippling leap from Canines thats almost perma protection if you take Nature Magic on the line too. You can be either condi or power. Lots of choices coming up looking forward to it.

I was thinking of this too, but I feel there’s too little protection available for ranger to really focus on it. Remember you can’t take Essence of Speed and Second Skin together, which is a bit of a bummer. So you just have 2 seconds of prot on dodge and protective ward.

Thats a good thing, we have choices on which traits to take, would you take increase in boons with Essence of Speed or Condition dmg reduction with Second skin, with this build sample: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJAzXnUqA1Ci9CCmsAUtAhMhyL8Eox7kNAOgTaVjXB-TJR6gA+XAgs9HAeAAxlBAA

you can increase Protective Ward up to 8 seconds on an 18 CD. Per dodge 4 secs of protection. With Essence of Speed per quickness gain you get an increase of 2 seconds, not considering the type of pet youre melding with, not sure how much a Versatile pet can add for these boons, plus Moa stance (if youre running it) and your main dagger 3 in 15secs CD. Not sure about the numbers but I think we’re pretty close to perma protection.

While it does look good on paper and looks cool aesthetic wise, you won’t be running SB with D/D. Any condition that Dagger off hand gives (besides cripple) Dagger main can dish out in seconds. Power builds would be running D/A while Condi/hybrid would probably run Torch with rotations faster than current A/torch, SB build.

As for me, Im more excited about traits like Live Fast, Essence of Speed, Second Skin, and the newly introduced Rugged Growth thanks to recent patch. Protection with healing and reduced condition damage, depending on your choice. Pair with 10sec CD Beast skills like Swoop, Bear Bite, or Crippling leap from Canines thats almost perma protection if you take Nature Magic on the line too. You can be either condi or power. Lots of choices coming up looking forward to it.

ProtoMarcus.7649:

It would seem that the F1 and F2 Soulbeast skills (when melded) are the last 2 pet family skills, and the F3 is based on one of the 5 pet archetypes (which also affect the attribute bonuses)

That said, here’s a quick list of all the F1 & F2 skills for the melded Soulbeast (alphabetical order)
Note that while the skills are based on pet family skills, some may and will act differently for balance purposes

Armor Fish

• F1 – Protection
• F2 – Chomp

Bear

• F1 – Bite
• F2 – Defy Pain

Bird

• F1 – Swoop
• F2 – Quickening Screech

Canine

• F1 – Crippling Leap
• F2 – Brutal Charge

Devourer

• F1 – Tail Lash
• F2 – Devourer Retreat

Drake

• F1 – Chomp
• F2 – Tail Swipe

Jacaranda

• F1 – Call Lightning
  Calls lightning to small area (15s CD, Five hits, 1 vuln per hit, ground targetted)
• F2 – Photosynthesize
  Restore health, gain regen and remove (2) conditions
  (20s CD)

Fanged Iboga

• F1 – Crippling Anguish
  Launch a projectile that inflicts conditions
  (6s CD – 3 confusions, 1 torment)
• F2 – Narcotic Spores
  Spit a glob of confusing spores at a foe, inflicting confusion for a while at that location.
  (15s CD, AoE 6 pulses, 1 confusion per pulse)

Feline

• F1 – Bite
• F2 – Maul

Jellyfish

• F1 – Healing Cloud
• F2 – Dark Water

Moa

• F1 – Harmonic Cry
• F2 – Frenzied Attack

Porcine

• F1 – Maul
• F2 – Brutal Charge

Saurian

• F1 – Sharpen Spines
• F2 – Rain of Spikes

Shark

• F1 – Charging Bite
• F2 – Fear

Smokescale

• F1 – Takedown
• F2 – Smoke Assault

Spider

• F1 – Entangling Web
• F2 – Poison Gas

Wyvern

• F1 – Tail Lash
• F2 – Wing Buffet

---

F3 (Beast) Skills

• Deadly Pets – Primal Cry
  Tap into your primal essence and unleash a debilitating roar._
  (20s CD 3 Bleeds, 9 Vulns – 3 pulses, 1 bleed per pulse, 3 vulns per pulse)
  This is the Condi? Archetype – Attribute bonuses are Extra Precision and Extra Condition Damage

• ??? Pets – Prelude Lash
  Pull foes toward you and bind them briefly
  (25s CD)
  This is the Control Archetype

• ??? Pets – Spiritual Reprieve
  Restore health to your allies and grant them a reprieve from conditions
  (40s CD – mega heal burst + resistance 3s for 5 allies in a 600 radius)
  This is the Healing Archetype

• ??? Pets – Worldly Impact
  Jump up and slam the ground beneath you, severely damaging nearby foes.
  (25s CD, high damage, leap finisher, 240 radius, 5 targets)
  This is the Power? AoE? Archetype

are these pet skills F1-F2 legit? its the actual skills that we will be getting per pet family when in beastmode? then F3 would be Beast skill depending on the pet family youre in, is that how it works?

LughLongArm.5460:

Earix.5684:

From the few details revealed so far, I can’t be any happier.

We lacked a melee condi/hybrid mainhand weapon. ANet delivered. The three skills look great, built with trait synergies in mind, some mobility and quickness as a bonus. Not boring at all. I honestly can’t complain.

We lacked an insta-cast stability, some of us even dreamed of group stability in WvW. ANet delivered. Dolyak Stance paired with Leader of the Pack looks quite promising. Something closer to a 600 radius on Leader of the Pack would have been better though.

We lacked a reliable condition clear on shorter cooldown. ANet delivered. Bear Stance looks great and pretty well balanced. I even suspect a first tier trait on the middle line which will reduce stances cooldown. Can’t wait to discover what’s hidden here.

We lacked more DPS / more gap closers / more condition clears / more mobility / resistance / [you name it]. Beastmode WILL provide. From the few pets revealed, I just love what they have been introducing with Soulbeast. More spells to choose from. More build options. More flexibility.

Regarding the Elite Spec and dropping your pet completely: I can’t agree yet. The spec may perform better with a rotation on your Beastmode cooldown. We will still have to use our pet in a traditional way between cooldowns and go Beastmode when it really makes sense to benefit from extra stats / skills / bonuses. Camping in Beastmode will lock you away from switching quickly to your second pet’s Beastmode when you need it. It may be funnier and more challenging than you would expect. Wait and see.

All in all, I feel like ANet is listening and did a great job with the Elite Spec. Of course we don’t know everything about it yet, but in my opinion it looks promising.

I agree on all points. The expansion is literally designed to be a crowd pleaser. You can see on several class forums how some of the announced elite specializations were intentionally suggested by forum members, to the point A.net even embraced some of the names suggested(Weaver, Deadeye). It’s the same with ranger, the mechanic of the soulbeast was discussed and suggested for years, and A.net delivered. Looks great so far. I’m hyped.

I really wish ANet look into the forum, cause everyones been calling Soulbeast, Beastmode. LOL. Change of name before expac hits would be nice.

Been reading the forums lately, since the expac announcement. ANet is it possible to change the name of Ranger Elite from Soulbeast to BEASTMODE? since a lot of players in the forums are calling it Beastmode. Lel.

Fluffball.8307:

SB has perma swiftness with the trait.

Edit: Actually after looking at the weapon (I don’t use it much) you don’t even need the trait to get perma swiftness.

second this, SB has perma swiftness without trait, just have to play it like sword #2 skill

AEFA.9035:

LughLongArm.5460:

jcbroe.4329:

mistsim.2748:

https://youtu.be/nqj-yOPEudA?t=2120

One of the GM traits literally gives you a second life if you’re in beastmode when you get downed. looks like an incredibly powerful elite spec overall. as per usual ANet antics, there will be no reason to roll with any GM other than Eternal Bond in pvp.

For the GM traits from a different thread, thanks to mistsim. Can’t screenshot right now or I would.

Personally I think the stance sharing GM alone is incredibly strong support, especially given that some of the screenshots imply that you can bring AoE heals and boons with this spec too. Ultimately we’ll have to see how it works, but sharing out Bear, Dolyak, Wolf, and even Griffon stance looks like strong group utility, at least for PvP and WvW.

WoW, this is amazing and exactly as I theorized from the trailer videos. Everyone that saying this specialization is “boring” doesn’t have a clue. This specialization got probably the most depth to it among the other specialization. Some things I noticed:

1)Beastmode will give you 3 new abilities(F1-F3) depends on pet pick(Pet F2 abilties are being replaced with “pet group” abilities, so NO henya clone). You can still swap pets(in normal form) SO you can basically be adding up to 6 new utility skills to your build which you can pick from several kit options.

2)Beastmode will also give you passive buff depends on “pet group”-(In the video, the flower pet is giving the “deadly” passive, adding precision and condi dmg). You can swap pets so you can shift passive bonuses depending on the situation. The first minor is stating that some of the traits/abilities that effect pets, will be modified to effect the character(so you can theorized around that as well). So soul beat mechanic alone is giving you new skills, passive bonus and trait modification.

3) 3 new pets(the lightning thing is the plant tree skill).

4)Dagger movement ability(with the quickness) got a stacking mechanic(like mantras), you can use the skill at least twice. Dagger is not a condi weapon, it’s an hybrid like SB. Can be good on both power and condi.

5)Its seems that this specialization is really tapping into the all “reaver” play style, with the tresholds , which always was always very cluncy on a ranger, but it can work now. The GM trait is giving you the option to push this concept to the limit. It also seems that this specialization got good synergy with the “Skirmishing” trait line, with all the evading/thresholds buffs. It all also may be the first time players will be able to use MM/SM builds, as the new specialization giving you the option to get defensive abilities, condi defence and utility boons(swiftness/regen) from stances and/or pet kits while in beast mode.

Exactly my thought. Our Elite together with Ele Elite is probably the most flexible there is right now, yet we still see a lot of players still not satisfied. I see a lot of support coming from our Elite and I understand that some players are not into that, we have to look into the traits and combination with pets to see where we could go with some power builds, which is my prefer play for Ranger.

Curious though, with Beastmode Elite since pets are merging with Ranger do we get an increase in Damage? cause isnt it that 33% of our damage comes from pets? Just wondering if anyone got any idea on that, would be nice if we get increase in stats if we merge with different type of pets. e.g. 150+Precision for Felines, 150+Power for Canines etc… cause if not then ANet really kittened us over xD

Sorry for double post I just answered my own question and for those who are wondering as well. You get a portion of your pets stats their primary stats e.g. Fanged Iboga is a condition pet, (no surprise if you played GW1) added to your stats. So it would be possible to build around Beastmaster with pet increase in stats plus Soulbeast for those power ranger looking for some build. GG Anet. Source Reddit

Another question then, how will shout function now if we go into Beastmode since there will be no pet? e.g. Guard etc..

LughLongArm.5460:

jcbroe.4329:

mistsim.2748:

https://youtu.be/nqj-yOPEudA?t=2120

One of the GM traits literally gives you a second life if you’re in beastmode when you get downed. looks like an incredibly powerful elite spec overall. as per usual ANet antics, there will be no reason to roll with any GM other than Eternal Bond in pvp.

For the GM traits from a different thread, thanks to mistsim. Can’t screenshot right now or I would.

Personally I think the stance sharing GM alone is incredibly strong support, especially given that some of the screenshots imply that you can bring AoE heals and boons with this spec too. Ultimately we’ll have to see how it works, but sharing out Bear, Dolyak, Wolf, and even Griffon stance looks like strong group utility, at least for PvP and WvW.

WoW, this is amazing and exactly as I theorized from the trailer videos. Everyone that saying this specialization is “boring” doesn’t have a clue. This specialization got probably the most depth to it among the other specialization. Some things I noticed:

1)Beastmode will give you 3 new abilities(F1-F3) depends on pet pick(Pet F2 abilties are being replaced with “pet group” abilities, so NO henya clone). You can still swap pets(in normal form) SO you can basically be adding up to 6 new utility skills to your build which you can pick from several kit options.

2)Beastmode will also give you passive buff depends on “pet group”-(In the video, the flower pet is giving the “deadly” passive, adding precision and condi dmg). You can swap pets so you can shift passive bonuses depending on the situation. The first minor is stating that some of the traits/abilities that effect pets, will be modified to effect the character(so you can theorized around that as well). So soul beat mechanic alone is giving you new skills, passive bonus and trait modification.

3) 3 new pets(the lightning thing is the plant tree skill).

4)Dagger movement ability(with the quickness) got a stacking mechanic(like mantras), you can use the skill at least twice. Dagger is not a condi weapon, it’s an hybrid like SB. Can be good on both power and condi.

5)Its seems that this specialization is really tapping into the all “reaver” play style, with the tresholds , which always was always very cluncy on a ranger, but it can work now. The GM trait is giving you the option to push this concept to the limit. It also seems that this specialization got good synergy with the “Skirmishing” trait line, with all the evading/thresholds buffs. It all also may be the first time players will be able to use MM/SM builds, as the new specialization giving you the option to get defensive abilities, condi defence and utility boons(swiftness/regen) from stances and/or pet kits while in beast mode.

Exactly my thought. Our Elite together with Ele Elite is probably the most flexible there is right now, yet we still see a lot of players still not satisfied. I see a lot of support coming from our Elite and I understand that some players are not into that, we have to look into the traits and combination with pets to see where we could go with some power builds, which is my prefer play for Ranger.

Curious though, with Beastmode Elite since pets are merging with Ranger do we get an increase in Damage? cause isnt it that 33% of our damage comes from pets? Just wondering if anyone got any idea on that, would be nice if we get increase in stats if we merge with different type of pets. e.g. 150+Precision for Felines, 150+Power for Canines etc… cause if not then ANet really kittened us over xD

Most Dangerous Game deal 10% extra damage to nearby foes, receive 5% extra damage.

you mention all around then you need to go viper stats on all gear that extends to raids pve and dungeon and WvW you just need to change your utilities, im sure youll figure them out depending on your playstyle.

Weapons primary use / secondary

Shortbow – condition/dmg
Sword – Dmg / condition
LB – Dmg
GS – Dmg
Warhorn – Utility
Dagger – Condition / Dmg
Torch – Condition
Axe main – Condition/ dmg
Axe off hand – Dmg

ANet I know we have super adventure box but please bring this mini game back. I could see so much potential for this mini game specially if we can battle players. It can even be extended/ improve I personally enjoy playing this in GW1 reminded me of Monster Rancher card game that i played in Playstation back then, so much fun.

Reference for those who doesnt know what im talking about

https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Polymock

its shortbow not LB and will be condition base

Any chance that this event is bug? been trying to start this event for legendary but the start chain quest NPC appears then disappears.

Been playing Ranger since GW1 as my main, I play a mix of both PVE and PVP. As Ranger you can have easy access to swiftness and might, you can even have it as permanent might swiftness vigor and regen with the right gear of course. Primary damage for physical is of course longbow (LB), Sword, and Greatsword.

As a player you might want to invest in other gear like zerkers, or condition build depending on your play style I think thats for all professions too? I have berzerkers and carrion gears cause I use traps as well in PVE.

PVP were in a pretty good spot though our main role i believe is healer/support? but if its unranked its good to play whatever you feel like playing, Trapper runes as condi ranger is fun to play at times. Though my play style is more on zerks.

What we lack the most would be burst damage cause as Ranger we cant really burst like thief or mesmer, not yet anyway until next expansion comes. Ranger is more of a straight line damage IMO. We have a lot of ways to survive, with Ranger weapons if you look into them, most has a dodge mechanic build into them, favourite weapon of mine is sword which can save your life with that extra dodge without consuming your endurance.

Proposal

Pet Icon/visibility within huge group or events

This is for Ranger QOL changes/addition, when you’re in a big group its pretty hard to see your companion specially if they’re in a AOE circle or if they need to move to a different space etc. I was experiencing this when i was in Straits of Devastation and realized that my pet from half health died and I wasnt fast enough to switch my pet cause I dont even see whats happening when youre in a train.

My proposal is, would it be possible for us to have like an Icon for our pets? to help us manage within a big chunk of groups and to keep track of where our pets are in the map?

this could be … invigorating bond : whenever a boon is remove/expire on you heal # amount 360 radius

Dadnir.5038:

Auras are basically the things that the elementalist is able to spam in this game. Thematically those auras are not really easy to add to the ranger… Beside, I’m not sure that we would really gain anything by having a spec based on auras.

I think they already explored thoroughly the aura theme with tempest, let’s leave it at that.

Edit : If anything, I’d rather see them deepened our bond with movment skills by adding some effect when we use this kind of skills. With just our core ranger, we have incredible potential for an e-spec that capitalize on such mechanisms.

how do you mean by that?

Chokolata.1870:

Hey everyone, just wanted to put this out there. Has anyone used the Invigorating bond nature magic grandmaster trait?

Ass it stands it heals for 2500 every 20 seconds when a pet uses its F2 attack. And that is it.

Given the core ranger severe lack of condition removal and in line with giving more control on special skills proc, i suggest the following:

- Invigorating bond procs on pet swap with an ICD of 15 seconds (to be in line with the traited pet swap CD)
- Invigorating bond additionally removes 2 conditions in an AOE

Thoughts? Opinions?

we need something new, we already have a dodge trait that removes 2 conditions. maybe… Invigorating bond heals for # gain resistance for 3 secs. cooldown 15 secs

kappa.2036:

Nice concept AEFA Although i dont think we will get something like “Major adept: Primal Choice – While wielding a Dagger you gain 150 power. Reduce recharge of dagger skills by 20%.” since:
1) Our dagger offhand is more an utility-condi weapon than a power weapon;
2) We already have a trait that reduce the recharge of dagger skills called Ambidexterity;

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the next E-spec:

• Dagger mainhand = we will get more melee oriented playstyle
• Melee playstyle means that we need more invulnerabilities-blocks-evade-stability on demand. I would say that Stances would fit this perfectly but we will see.
• Our dagger offhand is basically a condi weapon with some utilities, like evade and cripple. I think our dagger mainhand will probably use both power and condi damage, exactly like d/d ele, d/d necro and d/d thief can do (dont forget that our trait Ambidexterity increase our condition damage while wielding a dagger).
• I was hoping for some sort of shapeshifting skills but i dont think we will get those. Why? Because the image shows a big…spirit-pet around the ranger, not a ranger transforming into something else. This might make me think that new “spirit-pet” will be our E-spec mechanic, not a skill, and something that will protect us and fight with us.
• Traits seems really connected to this new spirit-pet. We will get more than 1 spirit-pet, and with different skills/playstyles? Maybe.
• Dagger means that our AoE melee cleave will probably come from the spirit-pet since most of the time dagger hits 2-3 ppl max.

These are my speculations

ok is it just me or… if you guys look at the leaks again and look into the art closely, do you guys think that we will be getting Auras instead for next expansion? let me know what you guys think.

Overview

RANGER

To fill another role for Rangers in melee combat form with specialization of burst/ skirmishing with main application of vulnerability condition and quick strikes. This specialization introduces Stance to Rangers coming from Guild Wars 1 and main hand Dagger.

Weapon Skills

Dagger main hand can strike up to 3 foes in 180 radius

1. Savage strike- deal physical damage. Targets gain mark for 5 secs.
>Feline strike – deal physical damage. Gain fury 3 secs.
>Callous swipe – deal physical damage. You and your pet apply vulnerability 3 stacks.

2. Gaea – leap (300 range) and slice your foes knocking down mark targets and deal extra damage to mark foes. (cooldown 8s)

3. Predatory strikes – Three fast moving attack slowing your foes. Refreshes instantly if target is killed. (down in pvp) (cooldown 12s)

Healing skills

Bestial scars – Stance for 3 seconds gain quickness and regeneration. Heals for 6500.

Utility Skills

Celestial Stance – Stance for 3 seconds. Reduces incoming damage by 50% gain 3 might.

Nature’s Resilience – Stance for 3 seconds. Stun breaker. Convert incoming damaging condition to Regeneration 3 secs. Stacks duration.

Expertise – Stance for 3 seconds. Apply weakness to foes your attacks are unblockable.

Escape – Stance for 3 seconds. Reflect incoming projectiles. Cures 2 immobilizing condition from you.

Elite
Way of the Alpha – Stance for 5 seconds. You move 25% faster. Charge in a direction damaging and marking nearby foes, launches foes adjacent to you.

List of traits

Minor Adept : Inner Beast – Access to Stance. Able to wield Dagger main hand.

Major adept: Turtle Shell – Reduces incoming condition on you by 20%, interval 3 secs. (cooldown 10 secs)

Major adept: Beasts Focus – You and your pet gain attack of opportunity to disabled or movement impaired foes. (cd 8 secs)

Major adept: Primal Choice – While wielding a Dagger you gain 150 power. Reduce recharge of dagger skills by 20%.

Minor Master: Never Rampage Alone – Deal plus 5% damage whenever you have your companion with you.

Major master: Serpents Quickness – Reduces Stance skill recharge by 20%. Stance last 25% longer.

Major master: Savage Hunter – Deal additional 5% damage to foes. Deal plus 2% extra damage to foes within 300 radius.

Major master: Symbiotic Bond – You and your pet gain resistance for 3 secs when breaking out of stun. (Cooldown 20secs)

Minor Grandmaster: Symbiosis – You and your pet gain 10% extra health. 2% of your maximum health is converted to power.

Major Grandmaster: Strike as One – you shadowstep behind your foe whenever you use your pet skill. Gain attack of opportunity for you and your pet. (cooldown 15 secs)

Major Grandmaster: Way of the Pure – You and your pet deal 10% more damage to foes with boons.

Major Grandmaster: Predatory Bond – Your pet gain 15% of your attributes.

Predatory Bond – Your pet gain 20% of your attributes

Overview

To fill another role for Rangers in melee combat form with specialization of burst/ skirmishing with main application of vulnerability condition and quick strikes. This specialization introduces Stance to Rangers coming from Guild Wars 1 and main hand Dagger.

Weapon Skills
Dagger main hand can strike up to 3 foes in 180 radius

1. Savage strike- deal physical damage. Targets gain mark for 5 secs.
> Feline strike – deal physical damage. Gain fury 3 secs.
> Callous swipe – deal physical damage. You and your pet apply vulnerability 3 stacks.

2. Gaea – leap (300 range) and slice your foes knocking down mark targets and deal extra damage to mark foes. (cooldown 8s)

3. Predatory strikes – Three fast moving attack slowing your foes. Refreshes instantly if target is killed. (down in pvp) (cooldown 12s)

Healing skills

Bestial scars – Stance for 3 seconds gain quickness and regeneration. Heals for 6500.

Utility Skills

Celestial Stance – Stance for 3 seconds. Reduces incoming damage by 50% gain 3 might.

Nature’s Resilience – Stance for 3 seconds. Stun breaker. Convert incoming damaging condition to Regeneration 3 secs. Stacks duration.

Expertise – Stance for 3 seconds. Apply weakness to foes your attacks are unblockable.

Escape – Stance for 3 seconds. Reflect incoming projectiles. Cures 2 immobilizing condition from you.

Elite

Way of the Alpha – Stance for 5 seconds. You move 25% faster. Charge in a direction damaging and marking nearby foes, launches foes adjacent to you.

List of traits

Minor Adept : Inner Beast – Access to Stance. Able to wield Dagger main hand.

Major adept: Turtle Shell – Reduces incoming condition on you by 20%, interval 3 secs. (cooldown 10 secs)
Major adept: Beasts Focus – You and your pet gain attack of opportunity to disabled or movement impaired foes. (cd 8 secs)
Major adept: Primal Choice – While wielding a Dagger you gain 150 power. Reduce recharge of dagger skills by 20%.

Minor Master: Never Rampage Alone – Deal plus 5% damage whenever you have your companion with you.

Major master: Serpents Quickness – Reduces Stance skill recharge by 20%. Stance last 25% longer.
Major master: Savage Hunter – Deal additional 5% damage to foes. Deal plus 2% extra damage to foes within 300 radius.
Major master: Symbiotic Bond – You and your pet gain resistance for 3 secs when breaking out of stun. (Cooldown 20secs)

Minor Grandmaster: Symbiosis – You and your pet gain 10% extra health. 2% of your maximum health is converted to power.

Major Grandmaster: Strike as One – you shadowstep behind your foe whenever you use your pet skill. Gain attack of opportunity for you and your pet. (cooldown 15 secs)

Major Grandmaster: Way of the Pure – You and your pet deal 10% more damage to foes with boons.

Major Grandmaster: Predatory Bond – Your pet gain 25% of your attributes.

wishful thinking.

Warrior Elite: Spellbreaker art

any chance ANet that we can get some animation about Guild Wars universe similar to these type of artwork like every month? just to cover some culture, time line, character background about some key areas, story, or characters about Guild Wars universe? that would be pretty awesome.

foste.3098:

time for community to tell me how bad my builds are.
So since i detest the healbot role i made 2 variants of a marksman build, one of which can fulfill the support/far point assaulter role very well.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJATRnUqA1CiNsAWsActgl/AD+s2WvrLvuFQA4JN8DOalI80A-TpQWABAs/AvlBAA
This is a offensive version of the build, the idea is to forego healing power for toughness so that you heal less but since your hp pool is smaller and you take less power dmg you heal a larger % of your total hp pool, which is not good enough to support allies BUT is enough to sustain yourself.
Has good sustained damage and superb burst (can do 20k rather easily and on a short cd). On this variant you should only ever cast rejuvenating tides when you can swap pets to gain quickness, most of the time avatar is used by going in casting lunar impact and exiting avatar, or if you are not under much pressure lunar impact followed by a full channel of natural convergence (this deals a lot of dmg with demo amulet).
sigils are cleansing and separation on longbow, energy battle on gs.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJAWRnUqA1CiNsAWsActgl/AD+s2WvrPphfwRb51tACAlI80A-TpgNABAs/w2lBAA
This is more of a standard support build, difference to the previous go to metas is you have much more mobility and a much better burst that is harder to avoid (projectile deflection does not stop the 8k tiger hit)
Sigils are energy and cleansing on staff, escape and cleansing on gs. This build is somewhat weaker to conditions, but a good build none the less.

Astral force comes from regen effects that are not the boon so both builds are more resistant to corruption (especially the mender one).
Remorseless is mainly proced by tiger f2 and used to burst with it, but keep in mind that your heal will also almost always proc it due to your pets having high fury uptime. (also if you can get a buddy who is good with revenant the amount of damage you can dish out thanks to him pulsing fury is hilarious).

The basic burst combo is: start to attack from range with smoke scale -> swap weapons to gs -> swoop -> as you get in to melee swap pets to tiger -> f2 & maul (using maul slightly before f2 such that you land the hit before the tiger but early enough that you still get the fury from the f2 and thus get a remorseless proc on maul and apply 10 vuln as well as buff the tiger wit attack of opportunity for 50% more dmg on next hit…which is furious pounce) -> hilt bash and maul again.
One interesting defensive option you can do is jump while channeling the gs block. Since skills and actions cannot be preformed while in mid-air if you block melee attacks while jumping you will not counter attack and continue to block for up to 3 sec depending on how good your timing is (it is super easy to get a full 3 sec block vs melee attacks when you are fighting 1 person).
Lastly both builds can self blast rejuvenating tides by swapping pets due to clarion bond which is a blast finisher (look for the icon on next to the boons to see if it is off cd), which gives more aoe healing.

this is for your first link. I would say drop signet of the wild and get a condi cleanser and stun breaker like signet of renewal, you already have strength of the pack, im guessing you just want more damage right i get that. its a cover for burst condi like necro and engi who can drop a ton of condi in like 2 secs. im not really a fan of signet of stone but if thats your gameplay then go ahead, im guessing this is your panic button when you get burst down right? with more than a minute of cd, personally i would rather run guard for protection of 6 secs. protect me IMO probably the best stun break right now, with taunt on next foe who attack you, saved my skin countless times. everything else is pretty good, just get a different rune i guess if youre getting signet of renewal i personally prefer movement speed over everything else but thats just my gameplay. cheers.

wow thank you so much. this should be sticky for Ranger forums so everyone can see. good job

jcbroe.4329:

Here’s my opinion on list of viable sigils:

• Energy
• Cleansing
• Courage
• Revocation
• Doom
• Fallibility
• Agility
• Annulment
• Exploitation
• Separation
• Compounding

extending this, heres mine and reasons:

Sigil of Stagnation: Cripple nearby foes when swapping to this weapon while in combat for 3 seconds in a 240 radius. (Cooldown: 9 seconds.)

Sigil of Opportunity: Deal 5% extra damage to movement-impaired foes.

Im not a pew pew Ranger or a conditard player and I use melee, specifically sword. Power build zerk my build revolves around Predator’s Onslaught and having lots of vigor regeneration. If I want to go all out, I also use Light on your Feet with Strider’s defense. But since meta is condi I need either Druids trait or Wilderness trait with the unusual axe/axe for secondary swap cause i like to toy around and just perma weaken warrior metas, dragonhunter meta, daredevil meta, and my favourite of them all reaper metas. Love kiting these guys.

Substance E.4852:

lordhelmos.7623:

Wondrouswall.7169:

It’s a dagger. If it’s the traitline image being referred to, don’t look at the image and guess. The first trait on each one of those leaks has a weapon symbol. For the Ranger’s, it’s the one below. The sword weapon symbol is diagonal.

There is a valid reason for this, spellbreaker was the first elite specialization created so the dagger icon was build first and likely used as a placeholder.

Take a close look at the actual picture (I can’t repost it do to forum rules):

1.) If it was a dagger, why wouldn’t the weapon’s form be accentuated. There is no blade and the outline of the object resembles many of the focuses in the game. There is no way that is a dagger.

2.) The item held is in the right hand, which is traditionally the offhand slot since all GW models wield mainheand weapons in the left.

3.) A class that manipulates spirit energy from pets, it would be fitting for the object held to be a totem of some sort.

4.) Compare the design to things like the Crimson Lion focus and the Krytan Focus, the shape and aesthetic is very similar.

You’re basing your entire argument on over stylized art while trying to hand wave away obvious evidence to the contrary.

You sound like the people who were absolutely convinced the Daredevil art was just a thief with an insanely long rifle that he was holding wrong.

1. The whole lower arm area is muddled by what appears to be some kind of eagle gauntlets that will be our “class armor part” as well as a bird (because ranger) and the trait wheel itself. It could also very well be a hand scythe like the Dragon Kama but held correctly. Based on the image alone, it could just as easily be some kind of mace like Brahm’s.

2. Every PC is right handed in this game. When do you ever pull out a sword on a ranger and hold it in your left hand?

3. Dagger could also work just as well. Either as a “sacrificial ceremonial dagger” or as a bestial “rip enemies apart with my hands” kind of weapon.

4. Again, muddied art work where the artist did a terrible job of placing the weapon front an center like every other class does.

Also, what purpose would another offhand even serve? We already have a support, utility, power dps, and condi offhand. There’s essentially no niche left for it to fill. We DO, however, need a power mainhand that is focused on pure damage without sacrificing dps for evades as well as a condition melee option.

*We DO, however, need a power mainhand that is focused on pure damage without sacrificing dps for evades *

this right here is what we need as Rangers, we never truly have a burst main hand and I think dagger will fill that role. together with physical attacks/ fist attacks would be nice combination (wishful thinking)

Krispera.5087:

AlanCMD.9205:

Krispera.5087:

If you trait it, you don’t need to flank/behind anymore. So, exemple Concussion Shot without flanking was dazing and stun from flanking. Now you can just be in front and stun (traited).

The trait changed to ‘’Short bow skills always behave as though you were behind your target’’

Tested it. it doesn’t work even if the trait is triggered. Can’t immobilize or stun foes/npc heading toward you.

Oh boy, just went to check and you’re right. It doesn’t work.

tried the trait as well and as you guys mentioned trait doesnt work, its supposed to be as if youre hitting from behind but it really doesnt work. well, i thought it would be a nice trait if it did work.

in regards to that im more interested about

Light on Your Feet: This trait now enhances flanking/behind aspects for short bow skills.

anyone care to test this out? how enhance is this trait? or can someone explain the difference now?

and LOL at ANet buffing sword, already dominating with this weapon already, thank you ANet.

there’s still a lot of problem with Ranger as of the moment as Spirit like you guys mentioned is one of them. Coming back again to GW2 and seeing how things change I really wish ANet/ Balance Team could’ve ask us for some suggestions with this. Im not sure if most of you guys were here in Collaboration but there were a lot of suggestions for Spirits too, its in a difficult situation to balance. Rangers right now is in a pretty good spot you can have : burst, support, condi with a few mix ups or “gimmick” builds in between.

The question I guess is how do you see or whats your suggestion for Spirit game play? Back in GW1 Spirits is insanely powerful, it changes the whole atmosphere of PVP if you lay one down in the field and its global (still limited by radius)

In GW2 I think ANets problem is that exactly, if they follow GW1 like some of you guys are suggesting, to a good Ranger that is a deadly weapon.

My idea would be similar to Revenants consume facet of (insert). You put your Spirits down similar to how the game is, when you need to move you can activate the 2nd skill of the spirit to consume it and share the benefit to nearby friendlies. At least that way, you have a choice. The 2nd skill should be a bit toned down, like lets say Storm spirit after consume would give attack of opportunity/ vulnerability on next attack.

Khenzy.9348:

Players that want to play a pet-less Ranger are going to be very happy with this one.

I’m guessing you were in CDI back in 2014 when we revamp Ranger skills? I have a feeling I know what Soulbeast meachanics would be like cause I’ve read a few suggestions back in 2014 about this.