Guild Wars 2

Locuz.2651:

In the current system those players arent playing at all if their teammates arent playing.

Perhaps this is the case in ranked, but in order to avoid medium MMR 5 man teams, the players you refer to (the true top 250-500ish) will often be found soloing in unranked. My gameplay experience has been excellent in unranked at all hours of the day, with fair and exciting matches throughout.

I agree with the problems mentioned above, don’t get me wrong, and I don’t touch ranked other than in a team, to avoid skewed MMR. However, it would be unfair to say that those same players are not still around, having great games. Solo Q unranked is rewarded just the same as ranked (other than in leaderboard rewards, which many of those players don’t care about anyway due to tournament rewards!) and it’s going strong.

As long as you play on an NA server you’ll be fine.

I play from NZ, and have very few issues with lag – it’s far better than most games, from what I’ve found.

In terms of WvW population (the only place where megaservers dont exist) you’ll probably want something in Tier 1 or 2, for constant roaming or large scale action. I know that you get this in tier 1, and I imagine it’s similar for tier 2, but not sure past that – it might be too quiet at oceanic times (though there is no doubt you’d be appreciated in tier 3, you don’t want a ghost town). The tier 1 and 2 servers are currently Blackgate, Tarnished Coast, Jade Quarry, Fort Aspenwood, Sea of Sorrows and Yaks Bend. All of those have plenty of oceanic players to team up with, and will be a welcoming home. If there are still more oceanic players on SoS than on the other servers, you probably won’t want to join SoS, as you’ll feel like you’re stomping all the time! Not sure if that’s the case though, it’s probably far more even than it used to be.

Good luck finding a spot – at least you’re on at the best possible time to find one open =D

The first version is my preference (though I personally take mobile strikes instead of DotE). Also I would find it hard to take bulls charge or bolas over endure pain, as I would probably end up using bulls charge primarily defensively anyway?

I wonder if you shouldn’t also put a cele greatbow build into consideration? No question it’s very strong, and well worth considering. Would never be my preference, but hey! Something like this: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQJARTjMdUFahHmhwJaAmgCZnPBHjgAQdV85LBA-TpBHwAAuAAGeAACOEABOCAl2fAZZAA

Another vote for fresh air ele, shatter mesmer and condi necro!

As a fellow NZ’er who has tried accounts on both NA and EU, your only real choice to play with her would be to both go for NA. Our 3rd world internet definitely doesn’t handle EU very well in my experience!

Hi nightclaw,

It is viable to build a team around a bunker warrior, as demonstrated in NA with Radioactives comp.

There are basically two options, as I see it, one is using some elements of healing, which this build on metabattle follows: http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Warrior_-_Banner_Bunker

This will be a fun build for you to try, and the personal sustain is pretty crazy.

If you want a bit more teamfight presence, try the sword/warhorn and hammer combo.
You can see the other version in this clip – it’s the build run by the warrior sir crysis: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wNZCZHDYurE

It exchanges the additional heals for the flexibility of fast hands, and some other things!
Basically your role with this build (or even the one above) is as a rez bot for your allies, and locking down targets (with stuns or sword adrenaline skill immobilise) for your teammates to burst.

I particularly recommend the second build – give it a shot!

Oh – I always associate Schwahrheit with the manmode 6 stance build =D I was just assuming it was that. My bad! Will have a look when I’m at home.

Larynx.2453:

Assassin X.8573:

BurrTheKing.8571:

BlackTruth.6813:

YuiRS.8129:

That’s the question. I hate the Longbow bunker brainless playstyle with a passion. Is there any way to play something else without being a detriment to your team? Metabattle.com doesn’t have an answer.

http://www.twitch.tv/blacktruth009/c/6259903

http://www.twitch.tv/blacktruth009/c/6152446

But they take A LOT of skill to play. You have to be patient.

P.S Try to not listen to the whiners like the guy above me, listen to yourself and just keep being a better player while you’re at it.

You keep listing those videos, but how are people supposed to try them without the traits/runes/sigils? I’m pretty sure I can tell just from the gameplay but to someone not into theorycrafting it helps to have a reference.

im not 100% sure of the sigils, but i think its something close to this for the Doom Hammer 2nd link (http://www.twitch.tv/blacktruth009/c/6152446)

From what I’ve seen, it looks like he runs maybe 0/4/6/0/4, and doesn’t take cleansing ire. Takes Balanced Stance + Defy Pain in Defense.

edit: Actually I see might on weapon swap. 6 in discipline, no idea what the other 2 points go to. Strength seems like the only option, but with a build like this for all we know he’s taking immob on cripple. Might make up for his zero mobility, I guess.

They definitely are in strength – for dodge roll ownage and extra hp.
I can’t watch the videos on my phone, but I think that if he’s using the greatsword variant he goes 4/0/6/0/4 instead. So 2/0/6/0/6 for mace/shield axe/mace, and 4/0/6/0/4 for greatsword axe/shield(/mace).

I can post the full build with sigils etc. later if you’re keen.

If you’re specifically looking for a 1v1 build this is probably the strongest overall: http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Warrior_-_Mace/Sword_Lb_Condition.

Note that the post on metabattle takes battle on the longbow – I’d be more inclined to use energy.

I wouldn’t recommend this as a first warrior build though, or as a primary build for queues (though it does just fine)… But if you’re looking for a really strong 1v1 it’s a solid bet.

Kagamiku.9731:

Siroso.2769:

and it’s a hard burst to avoid.

Oh now that’s funny.

Everything about GS is easy to avoid. It’s only useable because of stuns, knockdowns and immobilize.

Out of curiosity, what skills on the greatsword are only useable because of stuns, knockdowns and immobilise?

Are you referring to hundred blades? If you are using hundred blades for anything other than cleaving downed corpses, you’re doing it wrong.

Though it would never happen due to an obvious gulf in MMR, I would love you to come up against Tarcis on zerker lb/gs, or Rom on his cele variant. For that matter, anyone with basic skills in using the weapon would do – the greatsword is a very bursty weapon, and it’s a hard burst to avoid.

Hambow has great on point pressure, and the cc, immunities and damage are hard for new players to deal with. Those new players happened to be using greatsword (where they would be best with shoutbow or hambow until they improve), and you happened to win… But it’s definitely not the fault of the weapon!

D/d p/p, 6/0/2/0/6, with smoke wall, the one I’ll have seen a unyielding Shadow (if I remember the name right) play? That is such a good thief vs. thief build!

It’s a very tricky question, as many of the best 1v1 builds are not seen in PvP tournaments. It’s tricky to compare Falselights’ condi guard, Sikari on MM or Bioshock (with that nasty leeching cele thief) etc. with tournament builds. Definitely Dragon isn’t far off with a condi survival ranger either, they did very well in the gambling servers – similarly phantasm type mesmer (ie. similar builds to Saekim) are pretty nasty for some.

Then again there’s no denying the 1v1 ability of d/d cele (particularly on node), rabid or cele engi, s/d thief etc.

Nos on condi necro is a sick 1v1er for sure… I might back him.

For WvW, the best ranged class would be ranger, though perhaps for PvP a mesmer might edge it out – ranger would be in the mix for PvP too though. That’s if we’re talking ranged physical damage anyway!

The celestial variant that you link from Rom is certainly interesting.

I’m pretty sure that Tarcis uses the standard zerker with pack runes, and 4/0/6/0/4? Also I think he normally goes air/fire, energy/hydromancy, and often three stances instead of the shake it off? If it was between the cele build and the soldier build you posted I’d go for the cele one, but it sounds like you’re looking for the classic version.

If you are interested in how to play the build, and you’re on NA, feel free to hit me up!

EDIT: I’ve re-read and see you’re perhaps looking for more of the might stacking version, but I still think you’d find running the zerker build useful first.

Ignore Darkness, the answer to your question is definitely yes.

It’s an interesting thought, and I haven’t played much hambow since the might changes, so I don’t speak from experience.

I would tend towards thinking that even if I were to swap out the sigil I would still prioritise geomancy, hydromancy or leeching over impact (assuming your other sigils are intelligence, energy and doom)?

Sigil of Battle would still be a strong option though!

What are your thought on impact vs. those other sigils?

Overall the PvP community is amazingly supportive.
Unfortunately, exactly as SobeSoul said, there are mediocre (at best) players who are paired with new players and have a toxic attitude. There certainly has been lots of negativity in ranked q’s (other than high MMR ranked) recently.

All you can do is try and let those players who are being verbally attacked know that whoever is doing it is an idiot! A quick supportive whisper letting them know they’re doing just fine might save another potential PvPer from leaving forever.

I would worry about the “trying to get my team to use a portal”. Some of the uses of portal, such as bringing teammates back into the fight from spawn, or lord rotations, won’t work without communication. As someone suggests earlier, dropping the utility slot for a condi clear may be a good idea in solo play.

From what I’ve seen, the vast majority of mid-level MMR players who are soloing in unranked or ranked will open with a 1/4/0 split (or sometimes 1/3/1). Frequently the randomness of the comps will leave them lacking in mobility too. What this allows is for you to go open to far, barely engage (you could throw out a iZerker to see if it will be an easy 1v1), drop your portal and then go mid. Whoever they had cap home will then be stuck there worrying about your portal while you range down into mid. If they have had someone escort home you can just head to mid and teamfight normally.

While mesmer is a difficult class to carry a low MMR pug team on, frequently portal will help rather than hinder – but don’t expect to use it for your allies!

And don’t quote me on this, as I never play PvE, but I believe that ranger PvE rotations often start with longbow, blowing the rapid fire for vulnerability before switching to your sword/axe. Not sure if this is the case, but it means you get to carry your longbow all the time, even if you are only sometimes fighting at range!

It’s not that you don’t ever use longbow or range in PvE, the problem people have is with players who stay in longbow when it’s suboptimal.

uberkingkong.8041:

kitten.1685:

uberkingkong.8041:

kitten.1685:

If flawless victories have more points people like noscoc would have 300-400 points in 100 games

Oh ya… Sure… Like I said before, mine was a solo que vs solo que.
Wasn’t a premade vs solo que.

Also, I doubt he gets many if any flawless victories against other premades. Probably 1 or 2 tops.

They should, and I’m assuming they do, if you lose by other team flawless victory over you, you should lose just as many points, as in -2 or -3. Should be incentive to keep playing and try instead of throwing in the towel at the moment game begins.

Haha don’t quote me but I would bet 90% at least of abjured teamqs are 500 0

Aint hard to get at least 1 point.

That’s where I would have to disagree, if Abjured was q-ing full strength and with their meta builds there are unlikely to be people in queue who can take a single point from them.

Luckily you often will have swap outs (like phanta playing d/f fresh air, or nos on power necro etc.) which will allow you to break out of bottlenecks! Also from what I’ve seen it’s rare to have full abjured doing team q’s – from what I’ve seen scrims and 2v2 practise are more common).

It can also be done from horseback or from a motorbike…

Mounts (and the asuran racial technological mount) confirmed!

Eurantien.4632:

What you REALLY want is a support mesmer because it provides everything you need. But… people don’t play those.

That 2v2 tourney you won (if I remember correctly) vs. Nos/Backpack when you played the support mesmer and condi survival ranger duo was brilliant!

As you seem to be talking WvW I would agree that guardian stats can be varied better in WvW to make them a fantastic duo partner for necro. I personally would either mix it then with total condi overload (engi, which also lets your team stealth, maybe condi ranger and potentially shout condi warrior, or perplexity interrupt for lulz), or something like thief, cele Ele, cele engi.

That’s all personal taste though!

You’d have a hard time arguing shoutbow had even a tiny bit more mobility than d/d Ele when you are up against ride the lightning…

The best that I’ve seen are gladomer (he may have youtube, but I’ve watched only on twitch) and PotatoVeg (streams on twitch, and his youtube is https://m.youtube.com/user/BlueFlopy). By no means are they necessarily the best rangers (they wouldn’t match up with some of the PvP’ers for sure), but they are the best I’ve seen streaming WvW!

Oh wow, I’m pretty impressed we reached the ideal team already. At least have a try, I’m not suggesting this has anything to do with meta – I’m saying most viable 5 man ranger comp.

If you had to create a team that only consisted of rangers, what builds would you choose?

Feel free to use any build – condi or power roamers, bm or spirit bunkers, whatever you think best! Try to keep in mind various types of team synergy, clearing conditions with signet of renewal or healing spring might allow a power ranger to run double physical endure and lightning reflexes (or similar, that’s just an example).

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Now before I say this, don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the build or comparing it to normal cele engi at high level play in this particular post (though we all have our opinions!).

I can definitely see this build helping a newer player who found the extra kit, making good use of slick shoes, and correctly utilising healing turret a bit too much to handle. The players who fall into that category (the pretty casual ones) will find the invulnerability and Rez elixir particularly useful, won’t keep having their heal interrupted, and don’t necessarily need the team support of healing turret much.

Thanks for sharing your build and the footage – I’ll definitely be recommending it to some people!

Mystogan, your best bet for a mix of WvW and PvP is probably GotBoons’ twitch channel: http://www.twitch.tv/gotboons/profile/past_broadcasts.

There are plenty of videos on youtube as well!

Very detailed slick shoes addition to the previous guide! As pretty much nothing else has changed you could perhaps rename it to slick shoes guide, or similar?

I would completely recommend going into unranked. Sure, avoid ranked until you’ve fulfilled all of the above, but IMO unranked is exactly where you should be. If you’re worried, feel free to add me and we can q together so you can at least have some back up if the trolls start a’ raging!

Some people take unranked far too seriously – if you’re annoyed by new players in unranked, go and play in ranked and get annoyed with them there…

“Just keep clapping and maybe he won’t hurt me” (Random Chinese Girl, 2014)

Looks like fun! I’ve always kind of liked the hyenas, even if just for the extra knockdown. I love that you’ve kept the spirits untraited, as among other things this lets you combo your point blank shot into a quicksand immobilise off-point, a la turret engi!

I would agree with everyone so far that there is little place for cleric bunker or zerker staff elementalist, though both can be a lot of fun and quite useful. However, celestial staff Ele is definitely still part of the meta, and can certainly be better in some team comps IMO.

What staff Ele provides is slightly better AoE support and cc in team fights, at the expense of slightly less mobility (only slightly) and slightly worse 1v1 ability. This is why cele staff ele’s often still take rune of the pirate to help guarantee many 1v1s.

But to answer the original question, one area that a cele staff Ele excels in and d/d Ele doesn’t is in decapping (which goes a long way to make up for it’s somewhat lesser mobility). Due to the staff’s excellent line of warding, stunning field, knockback, ability to reflect overcharged shot and soft cc immobilise, I’ve seem staff Ele make more decaps against good players than any other class.

Let’s imagine that for whatever rotational reason you want to leave a team fight mid on forest, and the enemy is going to chase with say…d/d Ele. If you’re a d/d trying to peel off mid perhaps you’ll lightning flash off point and burning speed + ride the lightning to get to the point. Once you’re there, you’ll have magnetic grasp and updraft to try and stop the chasing d/d Ele, who will pretty much have caught up with you. On staff Ele you can similarly peel off the point with burning retreat and lightning flash away, but unfortunately that only puts you as far as the archway. However, you could throw your static field in the archway to force stability (otherwise they’ll get decapped), and have line of warding and immob to stop them getting to the point, and if that doesn’t work there is your gale to knock them off afterwards!

As many people have said, counterattack will block an infinite number of ranger attacks. However with some clever positioning you can also block infinite melee attacks.

The range of most melee weapon skills is larger than the activation range for the kick from your greatsword block. If you stand near the max range of your opponents attacks, the kick will not activate and you can continue blocking.

Just yet another reason it’s my favourite weapon set in the game!

Kid Koala.7905:

Tragic Positive.9356:

I found twice the effective BM build.

No link to a build or anything helpful whatsoever, so good.

I would think it obvious that such a powerful build (created by someone who is clearly a tier 1 player) would be a closely guarded secret!

I definitely know what you mean about mobility being super important when teammates don’t know how to rotate. While your in combat movement is good, you lack out of combat swiftness. Personally I find the sword leap keeps me about even with swiftness, and so I would rather sacrifice the out of combat swiftness for better fighting potential. However I get that perhaps it’s not enough for everyone, and to make up for a lack of mobility from your team, in which case I guess travellers runes would be a pretty decent call? It’s definitely a sacrifice. You should experiment with a beastmastery sword/dagger + greatsword build for carrying low level solo and team queues too!

Rune of the afflicted is an interesting one =D
I haven’t run it personally, so I don’t know what kind of damage it does from the death nova, how long the field lasts etc. I think it would be tough to take it over krait, nightmare, privateer, or traveller runes. Another fun set to play around with is runes of rata sum – but again, you’ve probably already got enough poison!

Just to reiterate Fluffball’s point, “strongest” is absolutely debatable.

I would also suggest that for anything but really organised team q’s (where shortbow focus can become useful), s/t a/d is unquestionably better. Even then it’s a question of whether you are being used for team fights (so want shortbow) or more of a side point role (so you want s/t a/d).

Additionally the same applies to signet of renewal over muddy terrain. Muddy terrain is fantastic for setting up bursts, and is a very useful utility for decaps etc., no question. However the full team condi clear that signet of renewal provides is almost always more important in NA meta, IMO. You can save your teammate from that nasty necro/engi burst or similar. It’s a different decision if you have a bunker guardian, particularly if you play with double burst thief/mesmer or something.

I think your personal condi clear is sufficient, so would take poison master instead for extra damage (and healing lockdown, again important for all the ele’s you’ll face taking a side point role). Empathetic bond is a bit RNG for my tastes.

With the s/t, a/d weapon set you will then swap oak heart salve for offhand training, because it’s amazing for torch and dagger, and circle of life (or natures protection if no-one ever rezzes you) instead of the increased regen duration trait ’Nature’s Bounty’. I’m pretty horrified they suggest that trait instead of circle of life to be honest.

tl:dr The metabattle build witcher posted is most effective in team fights with double burst comp and bunker guardian or staff Ele. For 99% of ranger players on NA I would recommend sword/torch, axe/dagger and signet of renewal instead of muddy terrain. You then would take offhand training and circle of life instead of the regen traits.

Always keen to hear your thoughts!

Nice one, Haematic, it’s always cool to see new videos. Don’t forget that using a pet command (F2 ability) removes the sic ’em effect, taking off the 40% damage and move speed bonus.

I personally would run entangle instead of RaO in order to land that pet burst with sic ’em… Well actually I would use owl/raven (for the normal attack into command burst) and signet of the wild (allowing better use of healing power too) but each to his own. I know many people prefer cats.

Also it could be good to start with your pet stowed to get the quickness and other pet swap bonuses on engage.

Looking forward to more videos!

Position 1 is Wakkey, position 2 and 3 are Wakkey’s tornadoes.

Haematic.4913:

I like that 2nd build you posted, I can only imagine how much damage those birds dish out, haha. Diggin’ the double Leeching sigil too, do you see a huge benefit from that, or is it just personal preference?

Sigils are definitely a matter of personal preference in this case. Sigil of leeching has always been a really solid choice, granting you a 1k spike, and a 1k heal. This is basically a full zerker fire sigil proc, plus a really nice heal. It makes me feel far burstier on any tanky spec.

Prioritising energy might be better, but I feel like I have plenty of evades and defence already!

I think part of the reason beastmastery builds with Zephyrs speed are powerful at the moment is because people really aren’t expecting it! Your build looks like a lot of fun.

There are two builds I’ve been running at the moment.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/external?l=http%3A%2F%2Fgw2skills.net%2Feditor%2F%3FfNAQNAR8YjMq0yaFL%2BrQ1aAOhqdAMsX67NNUbYXFbBreA-TZBHwAMLDU4iAA4BAoa%2FhBHBAA

and

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/external?l=http%3A%2F%2Fgw2skills.net%2Feditor%2F%3FfNAQNAR8YjEq0yaFL%2BrQ1agDhiVA8uYX2b2972CVdBPSA-TZBHwAMLDU4iAA4BAM4IAsZ%2FBA

On the second build, don’t forget that you can use your birds F2 skill immediately after it’s normal attack for a four hit combo (with no delay).

Also I would, for your build, start with my pet stowed to get the additional quickness on the opener.

Although I find the condi build I run (the same as Eurantien) to be more powerful overall, the first build I listed is probably a stronger solo q carry for most people. Beastmastery is the way of the future!

It absolutely is achievable – I don’t know exactly how close some people are, but there are definitely some in the 7000-8000 wins range!

Nice one, it’s definitely a lot stronger now!
I think going back to empathetic bond would be the right call.

I’m still struggling with the increased regen – wouldn’t you have permanent regen for yourself and your allies without the trait? Or is it just for a few extra ticks if your ally goes out of range? Circle of life or natures protection could still be better…

Settlers vs celestial is an interesting one. If you go settlers you should absolutely take signet of the wild (on passive) instead of protect me, IMO. It will give you far more sustain in the long run. I think settlers may in fact be the best call – even though it’s not one I would frequently recommend!

I would disagree with Lugh on taking soldiers runes, I don’t think your shouts (even with reduced cd) benefit enough from soldiers. I’d definitely agree with going troll unguent, and evasive purity instead of increased regen IMO. Then you can choose between natures protection and circle of life, depending on if your allies are aware you run CoL in advance.

I personally would stick with the spider/wolf or hound/wolf. Another change would be to add a stun breaker, probably lightning reflexes in the place of sick ’em. You would then swap shared anguished for reduced survival skill cd.

I would also consider testing krait runes or runes of water with settlers, or pirate runes with celestial just to see how they feel for you. Rune of undead with settlers would be a big condi damage boost too.

Definitely do the troll unguent and evasive purity instead of regen duration swap though!

Good luck =)

I’d love to sign up – I don’t have a regular team at the moment, but hopefully can make whatever meetings there are.

Sounds like fun!

Keep it going if you play ranger! This is the kind of postitive thread (and experience overall) that will always benefit the community. Even if you’re not confident, give it a shot – there are plenty of builds that should beat what I’m currently king with =D

It’s also vital that your longbow no. 3 doesn’t get blocked or dodged. Your best targets for stealthing off are other ranger pets, mesmer phantasms (clones may die or be replaced before the shot lands, but are still ok targets), necromancer minions, or any other AI (spirit weapons, Ele summons, engineer turrets etc.). If you are playing in WvW, nearby NPC or ambient creatures are perfect targets too.

Hi Mitzy,

After giving your post a careful read I can think of three excellent options that provide everything you are looking for.

Skyhawk mentioned the effectiveness of dagger/dagger Ele, and this definitely fills your requirements with the tools to win 1v1s, be mobile, and provide group support. Unfortunately (while nowhere near as difficult as some builds) it may take a lot of practise to get the best out of your Ele – though it’s easy to learn if you like a challenge.

Two other options are shout heals warrior and beastmastery ranger.

The warrior would be a sword/sword and longbow condition warrior, with a bit of healing power, loads of condi damage, and plenty of tankiness. It lets you clear condis and heal your allies from your shouts, and is easy to melt face with in 1v1s. The sword mainhand leap gives you a bit of mobility too.

My personal favourite option would be a clerics ranger build focussing on tankiness and pet damage. With it you can provide group support through permanent regeneration for your allies at 300+ a second, plus an additional 1300 heal for your allies every 10 seconds. You can also easily do enough damage to win any 1v1.

Do any of those sound promising to you? The Ele (with it’s attunement dancing between damage and support), the tanky warrior (shouting to heal allies while applying condis), or the ranger (regenning and evading through the roof while balancing your damage and that of your pet)?

If you like one of those classes particularly, let me know and I’ll write out an appropriate build for your requirements!

Have you considered running sword/dagger with energy/geomancy instead of greatsword with energy/intelligence? The greatsword is one of my favourite weapons, but the s/d combo allows you to get a condi burst of 9 bleed stacks as well as potentially opening yourself up to taking frost trap instead of vipers neat (which won’t reveal you)… Worth a thought! You could also take entangle for additional condition pressure.