Awesome responses, thanks guys!
Forgive me, I had meant to call it “Armoured Nuker”, not “Ranged Nuker”. Complete brain fart on my part! I acknowledge that Ranger LB and Elementalist (i’ve had no experience with Mesmers so cannot comment on them) can likely out damage this class at range, but are, comparatively, glass cannons.
- No condition removal.
- Brawler + Healing Signet is a bad match.
- Longbow really isn’t a ranged weapon, or at least it isn’t most effective at max range.
- Signet build without Signet Mastery probably isn’t all that ideal either.
Granted, some conditions can be a problem, but with the toughness I find that most DoT’s don’t actually hurt that much, and snares / slows are not an issue thanks to the range. Fear is the only condition that can cause issues.
As to the Brawler / Signets – this is where I really needed some more experienced opinions. I chose the signets (without mastery) as you get the +40 precision for each unused one. Is this the best use of these utility slots… very unlikely. Good point to the Brawler / Healing Signet though, Brawler is a left over from when I used to use Healing Surge so it could do with a second look.
This is interesting, less power and toughness for a little more ferocity.
I do have to ask at the use of a shield though? Also I am guessing that you opted for more adrenaline generation and burst recharge for more uses of the F1 LB shot? Am I missing some other nuances to this?
From what i can see, this build would lose out in terms of sheer DPS to LB rangers, staff eles and GS mesmers…
The reason it loses out is that warrior LB only has one good burst, the #3, all other skills are bad. you may also mis-interpret the auto, it is not 2x 738 it is 2x 369 = 738. Meaning in reality, even melee range damage on ranger LB (ranger LB auto does less damage the closer you get, and at close range it is really weak) will be higher.
It was your post that made me realise I had misstitled the topic, again sorry about that! It’s a class archetype I frequently use in games. Deflock on Shadowbane, Dwarf Hunter on WoW, Caldari Battlecruiser on Eve, etc.
As to the auto shot, nope it does average at around 1200 per “use”. 2×600; two arrows, and each arrow definitely strikes for that much. The sheer rate of attack is also fantastic with the two sigils I have chosen, as I said they tend to proc very frequently. Note those stats are criticals though, normal damage is roughly what you estimated but such strikes are rare thanks to the high critical hit rate this build has.
Regarding PvE:
IMHO bow is more a condition/ hybrid weapon then it is aDPS weapon.
Funnily, the very first edition of this build was condi rather than power / precision but I found it to be entirely underwhelming. The F1 hit had a really nice DoT (especially with Flame Legion rune), but I find it far more effective as an area denial as people tend to just roll out of it (in WvW), and the #3 skill can hit like an AoE truck with Power.
All that, and your notes about the rifle aside though, I don’t tend to do very much PvE anymore now that I am lvl80. These changes could be useful if other people wanted to use it in such circumstances though!
If you will be at range all the time i’d go scholar for rune
I do not understand why you’d need to spec in armor to stay alive at range.
I do agree with this build being usefull in WVW though, but it would be a fringe build
I think your zerg would have more use for you in the front line with hammer or mace..
When close or in the zerrg your damage is less important then staying alive. going 5 points deep for a 10% dmg is well… not too wise.
Point taken with warriors being good in melee – I do not deny that, it’s just not my personal preference is at range. I like being able to hold my own where walls are concerned, but in a field zerg battle I tend to stick close to the commander. My armour and AoE’s shine then too as I can get a lot of multi-target hits off in quick succession, and remain standing at the end of it.
I did also try a rifle in an earlier build, but its lack of AoE’s made it even less viable. Rifle could be good for roaming, but honestly my 1v1 skills are atrocious! As to being armoured to stay alive at range – that’s because of all the marks, DoT’s, area of effects being thrown around, especially at the top of a wall. I tried a full Zerk build and died All. The. Time. without really contributing much. Now with staying power, I can usually keep people off rams until they are destroyed or reinforcements arrive.