Guild Wars 2

Lower cooldown on Stalker’s Strike to 8. Maybe give a bigger radius/cleave or a poison field and put crippling/torment/weakness to it.

Unblockable or/and Piercing on Crippling Talon and has 3 bounces between targets (can bounce on the same target again). Also, lower cooldown to 12.

Sword : Agree and I was disappointed the Sword trait evade wasn’t working on GS. Serpent’s Strike is your way to get evade with sword. What I hate with sword is all that animation wiggle (Losing damage, so must of time you just AA if you don’t need to evade). The evade backward of Hornet Sting/Monarch’s Leap and the evasive roll of Serpent’s Strike.

What annoys me, is that we need to evade to get the quickness. If you look how they changed the Warrior equivalent on Axe, it’s unfair. (Dual Strike : Strike your foe with both weapons. Gain quickness with each hit. This skill cleaves, hitting up to 6 times. Since quickness stacks only up to 5 times, it has a potential of 7.5 seconds of quickness without boon duration.). They don’t need to trait and just hit.

Axe : Axe is always problematic. I don’t believe it’s a pure condition weapon. Right now, it’s a hybrid weapon that excel better at condition, because of Splitblade and Winter’s Bite. When it comes to Ricochet, this thing is one of the highest damage AA we have (lol, ikr). To confuse even more, they make the trait gives 250 ferocity. So, which one is it really ? Ah, funny/sad thing, Warrior is throwing axes harder than Rangers now.

Last Warrior Lord.7248:

I think y’all are confused. They way it is if you have 10 stacks of stability and a Nerco used a boon removal that removes 3 it would remove only 3 stacks of stability you still have 7 stacks on stability which in this case of the stability change.

You’re the one calling other noobs ? Playing Ranger for 5 years and still don’t know how corrupt/removal boon work ? Maybe go play other classes, you apparently need it.

Holland.9351:

Jim Hunter.6821:

As it stands right now I’d rather just take an extra utility skill in the elite slot because several of them would end up being more useful.

That sentiment has been voiced many times over the years. There is nothing elite about many elite skills and basic utility skills would simply be better in the slot most of the time.

Signet of the Wild is rarely used, but it’s probably objectively better than Strength of the Pack at this point:

• Shorter cooldown,
• a passive effect,
• more movement speed,
• +25% damage instead of fury.

This is what I ended up thinking last night. The constant 25% damage over Remorseless fury is better, despite not getting Vulnerability and the little damage buff from Opening Strikes.

I would have switched RaO to SotW if it was possible. They used to be at the same cooldown before, but instead to rollback the cooldown duration, they leave it the same.

Ansau.7326:

Also, change the might granted with iSwordsman to become an AoE effect on you for 5 allies.

That would have been the sane decision, but mesmer is stuck with gimmicky things like this : do something to get something.

I still don’t even understand why they are promoting a phantasm playstyle now, which got killed by them since HoT. ‘’The mesmer has to shatter’’ they were saying. Now it get boons that doesn’t work to buff iSword you have out ?

Let’s see what annoying things the mesmer has to do in order to get buff :

- Fencer’s Finesse, where you need to keep hitting to get the 6 sec of 15 ferocity that stacks to 150 ferocity. Meanwhile Axe warrior get a constant 300 ferocity with either Axes.

- Chaotic Dampening, use Chaos Armor to get reduction ! Can’t even be stacked. Get nerfed since June 2015.

- Harmonious Mantras, spam mantra to get buff.

You get the idea… Why can’t they just simplify those things ?

Elenire.7306:

Strider’s Defense: This trait no longer has a chance to destroy projectiles on melee attack. It has gained new functionality: when you evade an attack, gain quickness for 3 seconds.

This could be kinda fun with greatsword evade auto-attack. Don’t think it will be very effective though.

I was excited for GS when I wasn’t in game yet, but it’s Sword only.

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.

AEFA.9035:

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?

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’’

My observations :

RIP Remorseless build, because of “Strength of the Pack!” nerf. You’ll need Skirmishing or Warhorn to trigger Remorseless. A niche power build just became useless. If they wanted to nerf the pulsing Stability, they could have done it without touching pulsing Fury.

PvP Healing nerf.

Honed Axes, still useless if you don’t change the skills on Axes. I can see people using Sword/Axe more often now, because of Strider’s Defense nerf/buff/newfonction. (Meanwhile they give another BOUNCE and buff to Thief’s AA and SB).

Real winners :

Condi ranger (Despite Torch small nerfs). SB buff (solid) and Wilderness Survival buff.

Ranger

Condition rangers have been pretty potent largely on the strength of torch skills and Quick Draw. We’d like to preserve the tactical play of Quick Draw, so we’re nicking bits of burn duration from torch skills at this time. While we’re at it, we’ve taken the opportunity to revisit a few older weapon traits for short bow, axe, and sword to grant them a bit more synergy with the core weapon skill function.

Lunar Impact: The amount this skill scales with healing power has been reduced by 20% in PvP only.

“We Heal as One!”: Shared regeneration duration has been reduced from 5 seconds to 3 seconds in PvP only.

Resounding Timbre: Regeneration duration of this trait has been reduced from 10 seconds to 4 seconds in PvP only.

Ancient Seeds: The cooldown of this trait has been increased from 10 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP only.

“Strength of the Pack!”: This skill has been reworked and no longer pulses boons on the ranger. When cast, this skill will now apply 10 stacks of stability for 8 seconds, along with 12 seconds of fury and 12 seconds of swiftness.

Smoke Assault: The damage of this skill has been reduced by 15%.

Bonfire: The duration of burning applied by this skill has been reduced from 3 seconds to 2.5 seconds.

Throw Torch: The duration of burning applied by this skill has been reduced from 6 seconds to 5 seconds.

Evasive Purity: This trait now removes one damaging condition and one non-damaging condition.

Honed Axes: This trait now grants a ferocity bonus whether axe is in the main hand or the off hand.

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

Crippling Shot: This trait now immobilizes if you are beside your target, in addition to when you are behind your target.

Poison Volley: This trait now has increased effect if you are beside your target, in addition to when you are behind your target.

Refined Toxins: Reduced the effective cooldown from 10 seconds to 5 seconds.
Reduced the required health threshold from 90% to 75%.

Strider’s Defense: This trait no longer has a chance to destroy projectiles on melee attack. It has gained new functionality: when you evade an attack, gain quickness for 3 seconds.

Troll Unguent: Reduced total duration of this effect from 10 seconds to 8 seconds. Increased healing per second by 25%. Reduced casting time from 1 second to 0.75 seconds.

If the last living story of season 3 is not the gen 2 legendary longbow, then we are going to wait even longer. Maybe in a year.

Just saying.

Rukia.9860:

Ben Phongluangtham.1065:

Apolo.5942:

Ramoth.9064:

I think they arent unlocked if you dont have HOT. Either that or theres a tab that sells non hot stat trinkets. Theres something about that on wiki i think

Have hot, there is only 1 tab.

If you have HoT, we hide the Central Tyrian vendor to prevent people from buying the wrong item.

I just checked the Mist Talisman and it definitely has the HoT stats as options.

That last name tho

That comment tho. Does it bother you that he has a southeast asian last name ?

kiwituatara.6053:

Is hilt bash range fixed?

OP hilt bash seems to fail 40-50% of the time for the range part. So, I would say it’s still not fixed.

If Hilt Bash is supposed to do the kind of leap and hit at 12:47, 100% of the time, it would be perfect.

That Hilt Bash at 12:47 tho… Is it because you’re a Charr ? I don’t think I ever seen my ranger do this kind of leap (Sylvari).

Many good fights, good job. You keep enough pressure on them at range with Hunter’s Call.

EthanLightheart.9168:

I should have been more precise about the rooting. Namely skill 2. Also you have to go very close to get the bleeds and someone can very easily just walk around you and splitblade fails completely…

Oh, totally ! To use a skill at point blank to be 100% effective is really a bad design when most of its skills are from range. Now before raids player come chime in because it’s a godsend for instance condi ranger, ask yourself when are you able to use Splitblade effectively in other modes ?

It should be a cone and not damage divided by 5 (I mean how is one Ricochet do more damage than 5 point blank axes?). Yes, nerf the 5 targets per blades (which rarely happens in PvE anyways and laughable in WvW zerging), leave the 5 bleeding, buff the power damage. Whatever they do, it needs to change without nerfing the condi part (5 bleeds, 20% projectile chance).

Why can’t ONE axe of Splitblade do the same SINGLE damage as now (170 damage per blades, total of 850 for point blank) ? I mean, it’s already risky to do a point blank attack and it should be encouraged to be used with a higher damage. It would still do lower damage than a third wave Coalescence of Ruin (Revenant 1200 range hammer), just fyi… It would also make it in the same range of damage as Power Creeped skills/weapon skills from HoT elite specs.

EthanLightheart.9168:

My complaints:
- only bouncing once is not enough
- cast time of the skill and aftercast way too long. Any melee kills you in pvp before you can throw ur axe once and throws have a very high chance to fail (maybe you could change the skill to bounce regardless of it gets blocked or not, which would actually also be mroe logical.
- the skill is rooting too much – you’re not mobile
- damage very low

I play Axe a lot.

Bouncing : Yes, they nerfed it and removed a bounce. What for ? I really don’t know. It’s not even bouncing the same way as thief shortbow AA. I mean, beside Barrage and piercing projectiles/beam, we have it bad when it comes to ranged AoE.

Cast time and after cast : Could get a shaving, yes. Mostly the after cast.

High chance to fail : Axe 2 and Axe 3 should get power buff instead. They are projectiles after all, so good luck with all the projectile hate. Axe 2 should never be used on a Power ranger, since the damage is divided in 5 axes and it already does overall lower damage than a single AA (lol ANet please).

Rooting : Uh, no ? Axe main hand is very mobile. Axe off hand tho is not mobile and PoS is hard to land.

Damage : I see Axe potential with 25 might stacks and the damage is the highest of all weapons. Only longbow beats it at 1200 range and more.

With all the minimal changes they have done with past 3-4 balance patches, I gave up all hope for any changes on weapons of any professions.

Yah… the options are pretty small. I tried to be creative and find ways to remove condi or manage them :

If you’re traited in Corruption, you have Demonic Defiance with Resistance. The problem is that you need to trait.

If you have Jalis and traited Versed in Stone (Retribution), use both Rite of the Great Dwarf and Vengeful Hammers to have 70% reduced incoming condition damage. The problem is that you need to trait, again. Energy management is pretty bad when you just used you Elite and draining energy Utility.

If you have Ventari, you can blast Protective Solace (light field) and of course Purifying Essence. Problem with Ventari is the bad self healing.

Direct self condi clear : Jalis Heal, Staff Renewing Wave, Invocation trait Cleansing Channel (Should be 2 or 3 at best ! Not one).
Other options : Sigils and Runes. I think they gave a QoL buff to rune of Lyssa especially made and tailored for the Revenant, look it up.

tldr : it’s underpowered.

GS Maul is really good.

Wyvern (Electric) is probably one of the most viable pet now. It lands hits finally. Good CC, best AoE pet. Surpassing Drakes now. I may have said it too fast, but it’s probably the best well rounded pet now.

Random buff ??? : Throw Torch

But then your arrows won’t hit them if they are at 1500 range + 400 kb… We will need 2000 range longbow !

As told, use the timer and look up LFG. DS is done every cycle.

Justine.6351:

Use a devourer.

Yes, the devourer is so OP. Why is it the the only pet to be able to retreat ? Wow at those 10% chance to poison on its AA.

Nerf please ANet or give Retreat to my dear loved Fire Wyvern instead of Wing Buffet.

InsaneQR.7412:

I dont even notice it a lot, except that my might stacks are much lower-> which maybe the reason why they nerfed it.

It’s still very easy to stack 25 might with Nature Magic, WHaO and Axe. Then slap Sigil of Strength on the MH or OH and you’re back to square one. Also, it’s only a self buff. Meanwhile, other professions such as Ele, Rev and Warrior are farting might to others. Ranger can’t (I mean they can, but not as easily).

I tend to play lots of professions, so I’m always disappointed by the lack of AoE on the Ranger and, for me, the third bounce on Ricochet was the only way that was close to it.

Again, it’s mostly an open PvE request and for zerging purpose. Axe is meta only on the condi instance ranger and beside that, it’s hardly used.

Eh, doing AB right now and the pets can’t even hit the Octovines with their AA.

I have lots of things to say about the pets, but… Just saying how ridiculous it is. I loved one of the ranger players here posting on PvP forum about the OP Devourer. I had a good laugh.

Meanwhile, I see plenty of Druid Staff 1 with Fire Wyvern in open PvE, but that’s open PvE…

Edit : Found it https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/pvp/Carrion-Devourer-is-OP

Since Balance Patch is in 2 weeks or 4 weeks (or more…), I hope ANet devs reconsider bringing Axe AA (Ricochet) bounce back.

1) It was requested nowhere and not OP.
3) The damage buff was nice, but not enough to warrant a bouncing nerf.
4) Axe is the only ’’AoE’’ tagging ranged weapon (LB Barrage, Winter’s Bite, then what ?)
5) Ricochet’s Bounce wasn’t even bouncing (Look Thief SB’s Trick Shot for an example or real bouncing).

Finish once for all the Axe hybrid/identity crisis. Both Axes (MH/OH) need to be looked on, period.

As a player that main Ranger and Mesmer… I remember the patch that removed the bounce, it was the same patch that gave the Mesmer its bouncing back on Mirror Blade. If well rotated, a mesmer can have Mirror Blade on 2-3 secs cooldown, which is nearly a spammable AA. Take in consideration it does true bouncing, is unblockable and has 1200 range. Anyways, Apples and Oranges, right ?

I just let my phantasms/chronophantasma do the dirty work as I ran in circles to throw the shards. Solo, no deaths.

Same on my ranger… It’s probably harder on professions with no way to remove aggro from yourself.

Amaranthe.3578:

Krispera.5087:

Condi Pistols and Flamethrower works, so is Power Rifle with Proc traits such as (Takedown Round, Aim-Assisted Rocket, Static Discharge, Siege Rounds) with Mortar as the only kit.

What would a pistol/flamethrower condi build look like?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAqalUUhatYfXw+KQ7FLsF1YOOG/YYKeRvG4HWiBAA-e

It’s a little glassy, so change Inventions trait line or put a Shield on if you’re struggling. Change Rocket Boots for Elixir C if conditions are a problem for you.

As for stats, if you’re poor go Rabid or Rampager. If you’re richer, go Viper or Sinister.

As Dawdler.8521 said, Mass Momentum and Juggernaut is pretty too.

Amaranthe.3578:

Krispera.5087:

Condi Pistols and Flamethrower works, so is Power Rifle with Proc traits such as (Takedown Round, Aim-Assisted Rocket, Static Discharge, Siege Rounds) with Mortar as the only kit.

power rifle? is that a thing?

It works fine for Open PvE, which is what OP is asking. Of course Hammer is better for trash mob and self support it gives.

Rifle only works well with the traits I typed in my earlier answers (+Suprise Shot). Jump Shot is an okay-ish ’’leap’’ and good damage, Overcharged Shot is stupid but a strong CC.

Rifle trait could be at least 20% or 30% speed. Net Shot is boring and useless, this thing should be unblockable and piercing, make it AoE if you want… Blunderbuss is good for closer fights, but the targetting is wonky AF.

Use Mortar when lots of mobs, use Rifle when you’re bored to aim the ground.

I don’t use it in PvP and a little more serious instances lol.

Condi Pistols and Flamethrower works, so is Power Rifle with Proc traits such as (Takedown Round, Aim-Assisted Rocket, Static Discharge, Siege Rounds) with Mortar as the only kit.

Sick Em can interrupt your pet skills. Are you using it when they are ’’channeling’’ their F2 ?

Too dependant to Mender’s Purity and Inspiration line, agree.

iDesenchanter needs a target and is a ranged projectile.
Arcane Thievery also needs a target.
Well of Eternity is a pulsing 3 condi clears.

You’re left with the only viable skill : Mantra of Resolve. So what I do, is Signet Trait + Mantra of Resolve, but again… Ehhh not getting any success in ranked PvP with that.

Signet of the Ether is healing too little and have a long cooldown. You’re only left with Mantra of Resolve.

Kaizoku.1298:

Makes it overpowered it isn’t good buff, I go through blocks, reflections, and projectile destructions.. I was basically unstoppable having the trait AND the skill. Also makes it harder for anyone to kite you since the skill gives you movement speed and increases your damage output

Yes, that’s what unblockable is and that’s what many professions have. Jim Hunter has a good first list of buff. Now look at this list https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Unblockable

I feel it’s pretty balanced for being on a long cooldown and a huge tell. You are taking out something else from your utility bar to put the signet.

At last, Clarion Bond have a competition.

Justine.6351:

Lmao at people defending sotw/trait in its current form.

I don’t know what its like in spvp but I can only imagine the Hunters Shot + SotP + SotW + PBS + RF + CB/Zephyr’s Speed Smokescale opener just rolling everyone in wvw small scale. Makes me want to run power LB again.

Now that you used all your utilities and the player used a single immunity skill, what are you gonna do ?

For now, I feel I can do something against auramancers, blocking burn guardians, blocking chrono and the nasty condi warrior build. Before ? Nah, just 1111111111111 staff.

What if you don’t have Druid ? Well, you only have Sword and GS that won’t be reflected I guess, but still blocked.

Anyway, back to its initial intended work or not, there’s a serious need in ranger skills to have unblockable with the blocking, reflect, projectile reflect, evade and immunity meta. ANet needs to tone them down or give us and other classes tools to bypass these. Glad it opened this discussions.

Just tested, it makes unblockable.

Wow ! Hope it’s intended ANet, it’s a good buff !

Is it ? Been playing congi engi lately and didn’t use Signet of the Wild often on my main ranger.

Or a small change on PvP balance went out unnoticed or server based ?

A little game changing tbh, if it’s intended. Can someone test ? I will go test when I can… (I always wanted unblockable on this signet…)

Fluffball.8307:

You have to be careful of a couple things. It will howl at a target, so if you’ve got a guy 2000 units away selected, it’ll run off and try to howl at that guy. The other thing you have to be careful is to not interrupt your own wolf. Like if you’re spamming F2 and hit attack or recall the pet to reposition, it’ll put the howl on a short cool down.

The surest way to get it to go off where you want it is to have no target selected and hit only F2, it should go off right where the wolf currently is with no hitch. Well the final hitch is that it is a big tell, so someone else might interrupt it.

Isn’t it bad design to have a checklist in order to be able to land it ?

1 and 1/2 sec to cast, with a checklist to be able to land on time : https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Terrifying_Howl

A necromancer use its skills or warrior uses its shout and everyone fears. It’s that simple.

1/2 sec casting time : https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Terrify
Instant : https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/%22Fear_Me!%22

After 4 years… How many time I could have saved stomps or have a clutch moment, only to see my wolf do nothing despite spamming F2 like a mad man.

It’s not the only pet either.

ps : title too long, left a word.

anduriell.6280:

So you start with Sb#4 if you are behind otherwise SB#5 to proc ancient seeds and proc quickness so the shortbow begins the machine gun song.

[…]

If possible try to use the dreamer so they can enjoy the continuos neighing from that wonderful and amazing bow.

I’m guilty of that…

When trying different things for fun. People : ‘’Oh my god that bow sound is so annoying’’.

anduriell.6280:

In small scale Guard is better than SoS as you usually will have protection and guard will transfer (or should at least) 33% of that damage. to you’ll be hit for the 67% or the 67% from the original damage, and get might instead. and it’s CD is much lower.

Been considering Guard too, since it would be one Condi Cleanse with Trooper, but not 100% immunity. Getting Might is actually good too for the build.

anduriell.6280:

Without druid you are gimping yourself, ranger is a very incomplete class that has not the required utility to make it work. Druidic clarity and celestial shadow gives you the needed breathing room to reposition yourself and be able to have some chance to fight.

Totally agree. I was just trying to toy with a core ranger build, but I always have the itch to put Druid instead of Marksmanship, get a Stun Break/Condi Clear that won’t hurt the Pet and Stealth/Super Speed

anduriell.6280:

My advise is to Just go for the meta Lb\Sw-x with trooper and druid and try to have fun.
After this pvp season we will see if Anet decide to actually improve ranger.

I will probably change to Druid back if I struggle too much, since I’ve been climbing in Gold rank and people been using mostly cancerous builds. So many DH.

Hello all,

I’ve been tinkering back and forth a Core Ranger build that won’t use Longbow and mainly use Axe as a power weapon. You can give me suggestions or feedback.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNBHhF6kSFofFsVQwhFgrFM8HU7rvABg37/ew/pxP0AnwqrTD-TpBFABFt/g6HBAxLDwwhAAiHAAAnAAA

It comes to a simple rotation :

Strength of the Pack -> Call of the Wild (either from Pet Swap or Warhorn) -> Sick Em -> Smokescale’s Smoke Assault -> Hunter’s Call -> AA.

What more can you do ?

Use GS for mobility, blocks, close range AA Evade/Maul spamming and Hilt Bash (Interrupt). A good landed Hilt Bash and Pet Swap (Call of the Wild) is good too.

Hide and send your Smokescale wears (bait their defenses) them down while you Hunter’s Call, Sick Em, Call of the Wild and Strength of the Pack.

Remember that every Fury proc Remorseless that gives Opening Strike. You can use We Heal As One to reapply your boons, hence Fury again. Also, GS trait gives a Fury application.

Use Smoke Cloud with GS’s leap, Pet Swap or Warhorn’s #5 for invisibility. Works well when stomping or running away.

Pros :

• Burst is incredible : Anything under 15K hp that don’t have damage immunity will go down.
• Not as squishy because of Weakness (Winter’s Bite and Protective Ward). 23k HP.
• 25 Vulnerability.
• 25 Might + Fury, Regen, Swiftness. Near Perma.
• Brown Bear is a good condi dump (Signet of Renewal) and clear (F2) in a team fight.

Cons :

• Condition removal with long cooldowns (Rune of the Soldier helps for small condis)
• Stun Breaker is linked to your single condi removal (Signet of Renewal)
• Loss of a more usefull pet. CC or DPS pet (Brown Bear).
• Reflects from Axe AA (Since you hit hard, beware).
• Smokescale is dead ? Both pets are dead ? Tough luck. Learn to Pet Swap.
• Don’t Hunter’s Call with Confusion on you.

Good against : Thief (Sick Em. You should be able to bait their evades with your pets), Guardian (Low HP, send your pet to trigger traps, lots of active defense and immunity damage Elite), Ranger (After Signet of Stone, burst is open), Mesmer (Squishy, Sick Em, beware of Distortion damage immunity)
Ok against : Revenant (Don’t burst when it has Herald’s Heal), Engineer (Lots of tools and AoE. Long fights. Sick Em, lots of them use Stealth Gyro), Necro (After F1, they are open for burst)
Bad against : Warrior (Too many damage reduction, immunity and CC immunity), Elementalist (Tempest support is just overall annoying with lots of active defense and damage reduction), Condi Corrupt Boon Necro (Ugh, probably the worst. Play cautiously and from range), Condi Mesmer (Ugh, send your pet after them and try to manage your condi removals. Play cautiously and from range).

You can change (alternatives) :

• Put Enlargement for extra damage boost and stability (Sometimes you won’t Pet Swap as much, only when you need to use Brown Bear for condi clear). Lose blast and unblockable.
• Put Bountiful Hunter for extra damage boost. Lose condi clear and support potential.
• Put Beastly Warden for CC. Lose overall damage potential.
• Go Assassin or Berserker amulet if you feel deadly and don’t care being squishy. Marauder gives breathing room.

PS: Brown Bear AA do nearly the same damage as Smokescale AA, but not the same range. They have nearly identical stats. Brown Bear only has 1374 more Vitality. Actually a better pet than Wyverns.

Have fun !

SpellOfIniquity.1780:

Krispera.5087:

Dagger is actually a very sad weapon. We have Torch as the supreme condi offhand and Dagger that does nothing. Low cooldowns, but not usefull (Look I don’t care if your niche build work with Dagger, we know it’s not a good weapon)

I just want to add that dagger is a good weapon for a power build. Although it does apply 3 different conditions, Crippling Talon hits quite hard and is good for keeping your target in or at range. Stalker’s Strike is an evade and debuff, not a damaging skill. Sword/Dagger is a really solid duelling weapon pairing for a power based Ranger. Warhorn is more about support and well, as has been covered, offhand Axe is just generally pretty awful.

I know Dagger can be useful, but it’s outclassed by Warhorn and other off hands. Crippling Talon should do more damage, be unblockable, pierces or even bounce.

Why use Dagger in a Power set, when you can use GS instead that gives evade (1), leap/evade/mobility (3), block/knockback/throw (4) (2x damage of Crippling Talon and cripples too btw) and a daze/stun (5).

In a Sw/D set, you have no way to put Vulnerability, that’s why Warhorn then becomes better. Hunter’s Call is a fire and forget skill that need no LoS (Line of Sight, but it can be obstructed) and Call of the Wild gives unblockable to your pet.

Crippling Talon needs LoS and is projectile based. It will mostly be miss, reflected or hit something else.

anduriell.6280:

• While your pet is alive, transfer one condition to your pet every 3 seconds. Your pet transfer one condition to it’s target every 5 seconds.

Why are our cleanses have to hurt the pet ? I mean we have Signet of Renewal that doesn’t work if your pet is not in range (make it any range from you to your pet). They already die super fast in WvW and PvP. We should call PETA at this point.

anduriell.6280:

Also, just for the sake of diversity: Can we have the minor Fortifying Bond as baseline?

That would make TOO MUCH SENSE. Why are our pets not having the same boons as us ? We don’t even have a pet UI to see what buffs our pets have.

Kinda sick to go NM just for this trait. It would open so many possibilities…

anduriell.6280:

Once we are talking about pets: Why our pets do not benefit from our cleanses and evades? I don’t even mean the pet to do that magically, but at least whenever the ranger uses an stunbreak, cleanse or evade the pet should get the same effect.

Again, too much sense.

anduriell.6280:

Even after the buffs in shortbow still that weapon is pretty bad, and why? because it lacks any utility. Every single weapon set in the ranger needs mobility or burst. Shortbow has none of those it’s just pewpew to play from 1 to 5.

People will argue ‘’but it’s meta!’’. Yes meta raid and niche condi build, indeed…

anduriell.6280:

Axe: This weapon needs a leap. Needs also improvements in the offhand skills, Path of scars doesn’t hit like ever and Axe#5 being rooted for a class that is about mobility and re-positioning has no sense what so ever.

Agree totally. Path of Scars super hard to use and Whirling Defense useless for a mobile class like ranger.

anduriell.6280:

Dagger: Dagger#4 is wonky as hel and has no range at all, misses most of the time because of that. Dagger#5 could be a gap closer, if it hits it shadowstep the ranger to the target for example, but it is not and it’s mostly useless.

Dagger is actually a very sad weapon. We have Torch as the supreme condi offhand and Dagger that does nothing. Low cooldowns, but not usefull (Look I don’t care if your niche build work with Dagger, we know it’s not a good weapon)

anduriell.6280:

Warhorn: Warhorn#4 could be also a blast finisher, so that weapon may give 2 blasts and the ranger doesn’t have to waste their only blast to cast unblockable for the pet.

Could give a blast, could have more targets, could become the best offhand for power ranger that want to play something else than LB, GS or Sword.

Also, every hit procc retaliation and confusion. Have fun if you’re against a condi mesmer.

Lord Drekar.4619:

Forgotten Legend.9281:

it looks like the notes got accidentally cutoff in the middle of Thief section.

i say this due to mention of buffing pistol mainhand in the commentary, and suddenly there’s no mention of HOW pistol mainhand is getting buffed…

not to mention there’s no mentions for warrior, ranger, and necro

I really hope this is true lol. It gives me some faint hope for my necro :P

At first I thought it was that, but if you do your alphabetical counting, they jumped over Ranger (which would come before Revenant) and Necro (after Mesmer). Then Warrior at the end.

It’s all guys…

Nothing, lmao ANet. Q.Q, did they forgot Warrior, Necro and Ranger ?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/pvp/Upcoming-Changes-to-Skills

Ok, not really trying to sh1etpost (a little). Those two new things are actually interesting :

New PvP Amulet: Deadshot Amulet: 1050 Precision, 1050 Condition Damage, 560 Vitality, 560 Expertise

New PvP-only Rune: Rune of the Lynx: +175 power, +100 Condition Damage, +25% Movement Speed

Looks like a little buff to trapper or condi ranger in PvP to me. When I’m trying to build a condi ranger, I’m always struggling to find way for movement and sometimes took Runes of the Traveler to compensate. With Rune of the Lynx, it’s actually more interesting.

I tried SB poison master condi trap build back then in S1. Maybe I shall try again.

What do those two new things open up for you ?

From the new post on the gw2 website, it looks like not. Last balance patch was mostly number tweaking.

Pity.

Yes, it is a huge problem. No wonder we have people asking for petless ranger.

Pet is supposed to be our main mechanic and it has not been updated since launch. Have you guys seen the last Balance Patch ? Good luck all !

apocalypso.4895:

Tbh, if we were to have a power equivalent of condi ranger, we would need much better non-support direct damage utilities. They won’t bring the power build up to par with condi dps by just tweaking weapon numbers, because that will make any druid build overpowered in their view.
So I’d start buffing a lot things not used in support builds, like Ice trap traited direct damage, for example, traited Signet of the wild /of the hunt, cooldowns/effects, and even Sick them.

Oh yah, I totally agree. I nearly forgot Frost Trap existed.

Sic ’Em still interrupt some pet skills and I wish it could be used with and without a target (so you can still buff your pet with no target). Target to reveal, no target for buff.

Signets have glaring issues, mostly from cooldowns that make them noncompetitive :

Signet of Stone is ok.

Signet of Renewal needs the pet to be close or it won’t work and be completely useless. Why even put a range ?

Signet of the Hunt is only used when the ranger needs movement speed, which is really not a problem with ranger/druid. It should proc more often to be usefull. Something like Wrath of Justice : Striking an enemy with justice’s active effect triggers signet of wrath (But for Ranger, of course). It needs serious buff or rework. Maybe give it an Unblockable effect duration too !? (https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Might and https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_Mastery)

Signet of the Wild is weird AF. It should be a stun breaker and instant, it would fit with the stability and give a way for the ranger to time its burst instead to cast then burst. Cooldown is more or less ok, a shorter one would be great.

To come back on Axe, Winter’s Bite should be like Ele Conjure Flame’s Explosive Lava Axe (https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Explosive_Lava_Axe). A blast and an AoE ground target.

Community is probably 50/50 about this one. Half think Axe is power, half think it’s condi.

Problem with the trait, is that not many weapon skills work well with it. On Main Hand (MH) Axe, it works for Ricochet, but Splitblade and Winter’s Bite are mostly condi oriented and has a very low power damage. Even point blank Splitblade on power Axe sucks.

Now, it comes to Off Hand (OH) problem.

OH Axe : As you said OP, Path of Scar is hard to land (are very hard to see too) and Whirling Defense is just a bad version of Warrior’s Whirling Axe with a target limit of 3 + projectile reflect. It forces Axe+Axe ranger to yo-yo between long/mid/close range, which is a pretty weird gamestyle. In my wildest dream, I want Whirling Defense to be something throweable like Scrapper’s Gyro or Mesmer’s Warden instead of us. It forces the player to have Stability or a good defense to use it.

OH Dagger : Barely used condi weapon. Long cooldown on both skills that do so little effect. Doesn’t really get buff from Honed Axe.

OH Torch : Excellent instance condi weapon. Doesn’t really get buff from Honed Axe.

OH Warhorn : Is the best OH for Honed Axe and MH Axe. Still, beside the Call of the Wild buff (which is good), Hunter’s Call could give a little more, like 3 to 5 targets.

We can say we have 2 power OH (Warhorn is support-ish, but still Power) and 2 condi OH. In order to get more use to Honed Axe, I believe we should get Power coefficient buffed on all OH and a QoL on the clunkyness of OH Axe.

The only build I can come up with Honed Axe (which I play), is to play with NM/BM/MS or Druid and stack 25 might to get those sweet 3-4k damage per Ricochet.

When I look at other Ranger weapon skills, I believe we have a problem with AoE power range. Beside Barrage, what skill do the Ranger have to make AoE damage from range ? Ricochet was in a good spot with 2 bounces, but they nerfed it to 1, nerfing our AoE power potential.

So far, Honed Axe seems to promote Ricochet Spam to keep the might stacks, also because it’s the only reliable skill to do high damage at range. Only Path of Scar and Hunter’s Call can surpass it, but one is clunky at best and the other one is a single target on a mid-long cooldown.

Anet, if I wanted to melee, I would go to GS or Sword instead.

atheria.2837:

Nuzt.7894:

atheria.2837:

Nuzt.7894:

Why is there no pets that Grant AoE stability on a reasonable CD (25-30 Sec)? With all the Boons and Conditions that pets have a variety of I don’t understand why this was left off the table.
You want to make Ranger/Druids more desirable in WvW team play ? This would be a quick easy fix to help in that department.

You have stability.

Now if you want a character that was left always at the mercy of others who share stability – Revenant.

Rangers/Druids have 2 stabilities both on 60 CD and are not AoE, you will note I said AoE, the point is to give them more Grp/Raid/Squad utility.

If you’re unhappy with Rev please direct yourself to the Rev forum, it’s below this one.

I have 12 seconds of stability every 60 seconds as a traited druid.

My comparison was to show that we have some where others have absolutely none.

Or people don’t want to use what they already have.

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Inspiring_Reinforcement

Reminds me of Revs crying over condition removal when they only play Herald/Shiro. They have stance swapping, Jalis heal, removal on dodge, Resistance and Staff 4.

Griffons aerial chill AoE > Fire Wyvern super delayed fire field.
Ice wolf super long range leap aoe chill > All dogs leap.

Yes, that would be nice.

Yes, it is possible. Are you missing out on the whole potential of the ranger ? Yes. Should ANet focus on fixing our CLASS MECHANIC ? Yes.

If you want to go that way, I would suggest you to see your pets as an utility slot. Keep your pet on defensive (so it will always do nothing). Use pets like Brown Bear for cleansing, Red Moa as Fury bot and Jungle Stalker as Might bot.

Then use more selfish trait line such as MM, Skirmishing and WS.

Or, go play a Warrior LB or a DH.

Or with a boon removal (a Chak with the AoE goop?). Hunter’s Call on a target with Retal ? RIP, it can’t be stopped like Rapid Fire.

Each pet should do something specific and useful, but hey don’t hope for too much. They could have made Forage from the pigs like Thief’s Steal, but they don’t. By just doing it, pigs would become useful to use.

What’s worse, is that the Pig can give an egg, that gives Health and INITIATIVE. Yes, rangers use initiative ! They didn’t even bother to change the Forage’s Egg steal skill from the Thief. https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Forage_

They don’t care about pets.