Guild Wars 2

#1: Cats apply vulnerability on auto-attack. Birds use Quickening Screech off cooldown – results in lower DPS.
#2: Yes, it will work. If pet dies, swap anyways for a fresh one and a Blast.
#3: Don’t use Predator’s Onslaught unless you take sword.
#4: No, Rangers aren’t expected to be might blasters. Clarion Bond means no need to bring a Warhorn in combat. Use Warhorn to blast in fields for might/swiftness/stealth, provide team with swiftness running from point-to-point, and swap it out before entering combat.

DnT Updated PVE Ranger Specialization

PierPiero.9142:

Sorry , i was speaking only from a spvp point of view . In my opinion for spvp firearms is better than explosive

Wasn’t responding to what you said. That was just my own opinion on that one trait.

Zantmar.5406:

if it got combined with the axe traits as well as making it work every DS entry it would be a strong trait

This would be nice.

Only thing I have to say about Grenadier is that I wish they made the radius increase baseline and the trait increase velocity and reduce cooldowns of grenade skills by 20%. Really miss that cooldown reduction like in the old Short Fuse.

Seems like icons created for traits that were conceived during the core specialization process but didn’t make the cut or were eventually changed/scraped.

One small QoL that could benefit Rangers is having food and utility consumables (such as sharpening stones) applying to our Pets as well. Runes and Sigils could be overly strong, however, Foods and Utility nourishment items only apply small stat boosts and/or a minor effect (such as life steal on crit).

This can go a long way with helping out our companions in instances such as dungeon potions reducing and increasing damage against specific enemy types, or more/less condition durations applied by/to our pets in WvW.

Thoughts? +1 if you support!

Spartyr.6795:

I’d like to see a vid of a dev using this trait how they thought it should be used.

Though there is no vid of any of the devs using MDG, how they thought it should be used was explained here.

https://youtu.be/Pbdl5WoAI90?t=1h57m16s

Paraphrasing: “Drop below 50% health, rack up those might stacks, heal up, and then smack things harder.”

kiwituatara.6053:

I’d rather have
1% more damage and 1% more condition damage for you and your pet per boon that is on you

Kind of surprised they didn’t update most of these traits like Compounding Power which has an increase of both power and condition damage.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

Even +300 to power/condi while under 50% health is not as good as +20% damage to foes below 50% health ie; Close to Death, Bolt to the Heart or Executioner. Why do we ourselves need to be under 50% health for 8s to get 8 might, which equates to say 10-15% damage at best when 3 other classes get an identical trait that is miles better in the same slot?

Exactly. It might as well be turned into a trait like Bolt to the Heart etc. No reason for Anet to further attempt polishing a kitten – keep it simple and be done with it, devs.

There is a method to Anet’s madness when it comes to Spirits. I want to say that when the boons were discussed, they looked at that list and thought amongst themselves that it was “Pretty Good.” ;3

Sadly, Anet would most likely never allow a regular utility spirit access to such a great boon, GM trait or not. I think they made that very clear by having Stability on Spirit of Nature.

Best we can hope for is an increased amount of might stacks on Frost Spirit, but even then, there was a post that pointed out the synergy with Fortifying Bond in that trait line. I bet when the devs read that, one of them probably screamed, “Someone gets it!” and a change probably won’t happen.

Can’t change sword to allow a dodge without removing the leap, at least by how Anet has eluded in past posts. You can’t even dodge out of Eviscerate on Warrior which is similar to Pounce, but when a move isn’t an auto attack, it isn’t as noticed.

Oh, well!

Dude, you’re blowing unnecessary smoke. All the OP did was share his opinion on some of the changes then asked this little bit after describing his play style:

Anyways, any tips on a good build that has proven useful that is RANGED? I do NOT want to play melee.

He mentioned PVE but never went into detail as to whether it was open-world, dungeon, or both.

I like how some responses bring in PVP and in the OP’s first line:

I solely play PvE.

Kubrick, you don’t like some of the changes, man, that’s fine. I don’t know what mode you play in PVE, whether it be open-world, dungeons, or both, but if it’s mostly open-world, then keep trying things out.

Hopefully, something will stick and you’ll start to get a feel for a build you like. As for ranged options, yeah, traits are kind of limited for your selection. At the very least, there’s some silver-lining that longbow had some extended range and arrow velocity thrown as a baseline.

If you also do dungeons, find some like-minded peeps that don’t mind a ranged ranger playstyle and have at it. I’m all up for melee and optimal stuff as a Ranger, and seeing how you prefer to think Ranger = Range, then keep playing it that way. Cheers.

Well, even if Thief doesn’t get a rifle in this Elite Spec, there is always a chance it will eventually get it as a weapon in future specs.

AegisRunestone.8672:

I’m not against the idea. I’ve never had my armor broken.

Question is: what do you do about fractals? I’ve had my guildies break their armor in fractals and die. :S No waypoints exist in fractals.

Could still have the checkpoint prompt.

You are not alone. Even when traits were condensed, I haven’t felt as though it was a solid “less is more” for the mode, more or less due to some exclusions and removal of former traits.

Off-hand training, peak strength, master’s bond, and spirits unbound are the ones that come to mind that I had fun with using from time-to-time in open-world and even dungeons during casual fun runs.

Traps and Signets feel all right (to me) now. The arming time is noticeable but it does not hinder my love for using them. As for Spirits, it sounds crazy, but Spirits Unbound was a fun trait to take. I know there are people out there that hated the mobile petting zoo, but it was buff-on-the-go and I personally was fond of it. Was a shame to see it go.

Aomine.5012:

Good point, f1~f6 is not much different from f1~f5
Donnu why Anet have the impression of rangers are all idiotic and incompetent to control basic stuffs like that.

It’d make ALOT OF PETS more VIABLE!

Example:
1. Boars = on demand knockback
2. Bears = on demand endure pain for pet
3. Birds = on demand swiftness.
4. Lizards = on demand blast finisher
5. Dogs = on demand knockdown
6. Moas = on demand heal
7. Felines = on demand burst

Cmon Anet, stop treating us like idiots and make ranger more viable!

+

Puck.9612:

F1 could be a toggle for attack/return, f2-4 pet skills, f5 pet swap.

Yes to both of those mixed together. +1 also for removing the cast time on QS on Birds.

1st suggestion I can’t say that I like it much. It seems like going back to where traps once were but punishing if we need them on the spot.

2nd suggestion though… I like that idea, but have it as a trait, as that being default would be a bit much. Also, what field would Healing Spring turn into after it depletes?

Ah, my bad on that mix up. I did quote you on that and misread it. As for the ICD and protection, I would still rather not have that since it’s so similar to Companion’s Defense. Seems like another copy/paste of a trait reworked to just affect the Ranger now.

If there were to synergy with primal reflexes, while still retaining the concept of SD, would rather have it be something along the lines of, “Your next attack destroys projectiles when you gain Vigor.”

At least then it works like Remorseless and an icon would indicate when the next attack procs vs RNG and works with PR. Dodge, gain Vigor, next attack deflects a shot.

Edit: Would also make projectile destruction work with all weapons, melee or range. Seems fitting for a Ranger to knock an incoming arrow with an axe or another arrow just as with a sword/gs.

Same. Got it on Day 1 release. I’m not a huge fan of most miniatures, but I had to have this one.

Light on Your Feet – Grandmaster trait in Skirmishing allows Shortbow attacks to pierce.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

There is really no difference between blocking/evading/destroying, at the end of the day, you still did not take that damage. How would it be less annoying and broken if you could just swoop and block everything?

You can’t really just have it apply to all projectiles at a certain time, with the other evades it would be too OP, imo. better to keep the RNG and make the mechanic evade 25% of projectiles or change it to a short Prot on evade, that would be the best option as it covers all bases. To quote myself from earlier…

Yes, there is a difference. I’m referring to destroying only projectiles, you said to have those entire skills evade. Big difference between only working against one form of attack vs evading all forms (both melee and range).

Also, no thanks to RNG or an ICD. As stated before, the cooldown on these skills, specifically sword, is enough cooldown. And yes, you can have it apply to all projectiles at a certain time. It’s on demand and does away with that RNG garbage while the windows are short enough to not be OP minus Monarch’s Leap, but even then, you will be susceptible to melee and AOE damage.

I want my wind-dome back on Whirling Defense. Why the reflect radius has to be half the size of the attack radius is beyond me. Comon’, Kui – You got this. Or just give us a Mortar Kit that fires bears. We’ll take either at this point!

+1 to those. Though, I’d like to see Resounding Timbre, Beastly Warden, AND Invigorating Bond @ 600 range. Technically, it’s all shouts – coming from the pet or not

+1 again to 1200 range Shortbow. I miss those days…

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

Monarch’s Leap, and Swoop now evade projectiles.

Nah. Projectile blocks are fine. You know how annoying and broken that would be to ML or Swoop point blank at people swinging at you melee and you evade EVERYTHING? I know you want synergy and all with evades, but really, Ranger has enough vigor and evades to go around.

Suggested before and multiple times. I’ll +1 it just to keep the idea a float. Not sure if Anet wants Ranger pets to have what Necro minions have as traits.

Looking at each class balance, Robert and Kui have their own “flavor” to where they want to take a profession. Kui’s doing good, but he can do better (I think) if he has more room to go crazy like he did with Engineer.

Spirits are mediocre. Water Spirit is atrocious and Storm Spirit has a very limited and niche use. Here are some suggestions to make each Spirit viable and effective in all game modes.
(image below)

Notes about the suggestions:

• Spirits provide 2 passive benefits, one is a “%” increase that is continuous (no ICD) while the other is a trigger effect that happens once every 10 seconds guaranteed.
• Water Spirit trigger effect has no ICD. It heals for a small amount on attack.
• Some Spirit actives have been re-imagined as a buff that applies to the Ranger’s next attack. Buff lasts for 10 seconds – Spirits can no longer deal damage (Q.Q)
• Spirit actives are instant and can be used as long as the Spirit is alive.
• Spirit summons are ground-target. No more worries about odd placements or moving to one spot to place a Spirit only to move back to where you were before.
• Some actives apply to only 1 target while a secondary effect applies as an AOE (Coldsnap and Call Lightning specifically).
• Water Spirit active will occur around the Ranger instead of the target so you can heal your friends that are sniping with you.
• One Spirit active provides a Stun Breaker (cray).
• Nature’s Vengeance boons were changed, application interval changed, and has something powerful attached to it that enhances the trigger effects on Spirit passives. (Inspiration taken from a Reaper trait).

Disclaimer: Some balance was taken into account. The rest was thrown down the skritt hole.

StickerHappy.8052:

No love for GS tho?

Oh, all right.

Strider’s Defense:
“Sword, Greatsword, and Spear skills now destroy projectiles.”
(does not include auto attacks)

There’s enough evades on Sword to have synergy with other things by default.

“Hornet’s String, Monarch’s Leap, and Serpent’s Strike now destroy projectiles.”

Projectile destruction is controlled, on-demand, and the cooldown reduction can be taken more advantage of while on sword. Projectile destruction is done during the cast when there are no evade frames (ie: cast and damage portions only).

This way, you can actually Monarch’s Leap back into or Hornet’s Sting away from incoming fire safely. Since these skills have decent cooldowns, it’s not overly strong or random as the current trait.

ProtoMarcus.7649:

And casting SoS at the same time as Enlargement would be amazing:
Unstoppable for 6s with a crapload of Might + 25% more damage. Now THAT’S a real Dangerous Game.

Enlargement and MDG with Signet of Stone Effect

• 6 base Might + 2 every second for 5s
• 8s Stability
• 6s Invulnerable to Direct Damage
• 8s 50% Movement Speed
• 25% Damage Increase

They have different cooldowns aswell, so while MDG would still apply the might effect, the SoS effect would be on cooldown.

Copy/paste Enlargement but change the signet for MDG. Egh.

StickerHappy.8052:

EDIT: Haven’t tested it before but Having the signet trait brings enlargment to 36 seconds, dont know if this is a tooltip error

That’s a bug currently. A few traits that reduce the cooldowns on a certain utility category will reduce it an additional 20% if a trait procs said utility. It also appears on “Flanking Strikes” for Thieves when you take the trait to reduce Trick skill cooldowns.

As to whether or not it actually reduced the cooldown by 40%, I haven’t tested it. Might just be a tooltip error.

Yeah, I’d rather keep Hunter’s Tactics as well. Though, I do agree to have MDG activate when the foe is below 50% health. Having the Ranger under 50% is a bad concept that should be reserved for all of those “Gain Regeneration” recovery type traits. Even then, it needs to be something better than 1 stack of might every 1s for 8s.

Odd you mention that, as Necromancer’s have a MINOR trait that grants them 2 stacks of might for 10s when striking a foe under 50% health with a 1s ICD!

It seems like an odd suggestion, but Quick Draw is unique and one hell of a fantastic trait for all modes. That said, I’d rather see MDG turned into a PVE only trait similar to “Bolt to the Heart” and “Close to Death.” Just a flat 20% damage boost against foes under 50% health.

Would rather it grant 1s of Fury whenever you evade or block an attack. Works well with Remorseless and both GS and Spear have an evade tied to the end of their auto chains and a block → counterattack.

I’d also make that apply to any weapon like the “Light on Your Feet” bonus. Balance and power creep seems to be tossed out the window at this point so might as well.

I would also prefer the standard bomb found as open-world bundles.

Lazze.9870:

The fact that Clarion Bond’s version of Call of the Wild has a 750 radius compared to the 600 radius of the actual weapon skill just further pushes my impression of Anet being rather sloppy about certain ranger changes

Where do you people see this? I had to check in-game after reading this and tooltips list 600 range. Images traited and untraited for Windborne Notes out of curiosity.

+1

Yeah, I replied to the wrong quote. My bad lol

Tragic Positive.9356:

It does.

-snip-

Again, no, it doesn’t. So, Rangers become more acceptable? Great small change there. Utility-wise? We’re still the same as before. Nerfing Frost Bow won’t change much – Rangers will still be a Ranger.

Give the class a unique support, buff, or boon that can fit into both old and new PVE content – now we’re talking.

Well, they could always turn Barrage to work like Ice Storm, but then that would be strong in its own right. Anyway, at least it is currently fine to have 1 Ranger in a group and I’m okay with that.

That’s not the whole picture. Even if they nerfed Frost Bow into the ground, nothing changes. We stack up staff eles and burst stuff down some more. As for DPS comparison vs Thieves, Guards, and Warriors – that’s an awful point to bring up. Even if all 4 of those classes were on par with each other, Rangers bring DPS and only DPS.

Providing and sustaining max Might stacks? Group Aegis and Stability? Stealth? Reliable projectile blocks/reflects chaining? Nope. Any change would be negligible because we don’t have anything unique to offer besides DPS. Again, look past the damage.

I personally love seeing record runs and kills, with or without a Ranger, but in terms of party composition, the class needs to offer something stronger and unique besides Frost Spotter.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

What do you suggest then? Frost bow on a zerk ele will damage Lupi for over 6k per hit and hits 24 times in just a few seconds. That is like hitting with Maul 15 times. Unless that damage is reduced by at least half, Frost Bow will always be the Meta. In order to reduce it enough you can either reduce the base damage, or just make it unable to crit, which would also reduce the zerk meta.

A damage reduction is fine, but even then, people would still take another staff Ele for Meteor Shower. Ice Bow would still be used to CC a boss for 5 seconds, or in the future, break the defiance bar faster.

I would rather some of our own utilities be reworked so Rangers can have a spot providing something unique to the party besides an increase in critical chance and RNG damage with mediocre boons.

Yes, Frost Bow is powerful, but that never stopped Thieves, Guardians, Warriors, and Mesmers from being accepted into the meta since they are able provide something that no other class can and do it exceedingly well.

Look past the damage, mate. Asking for straight up nerfs does not accomplish much.

I like the idea of people wanting Keen Edge being brought back and merged into Hidden Barbs. As for swapping places with MDG – that will never happen. Anet loves MDG too much for it to be lowered tiers.

Keep the fruit hanging low and ask for just the merger into Hidden Barbs.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

imo, Frost Bow should be nerfed so as to not be able to critically hit, unless a nerf of that calibre happens, it will always be the Meta, sadly.

No… As much as I don’t necessarily like other classes being squeezed out due to a single class’s utility, that kind of nerf is unwarranted – ever.

Chokolata.1870:

Wow really? The pets did not receive the base 150 stats?

Just wow…

Bugs be plentiful, man. At least Rangers don’t have as many bugs as Engineers, granted, we don’t have bugs that work to our advantage (looking at you Grenadier).

Anet would never make Call of the Wild grant 3 stacks of Might. That notion died when it was made into a Blast Finisher.

You mean something like this?