Guild Wars 2

Just logged in to comment that adding some pet traits to certain weapon skills sounds like a very promising idea. I hope Anet takes that one into consideration as it makes the pet much more active for us instead of keeping us handicapped.

Had a good little pug fight at SBI Lake tower just now... saw AUS and some other guilds defending the hell out of that tower. Hope to see more of you guys, let’s do it again!

Niim.9260:

Why do people in zerg guilds think they should get a free pass when they do not want to fight? Like your guild doesn’t run over every solo up-level they meet all night long.

Right, because I’m in a larger, organized guild I am never entitled to run by myself to do anything. Ever. This coming from a server that relies on massive numbers to do… anything and everything. Probably took 20 of you to come up with that response.

To the DB I waved at near BPBL ruins, you’re cool. /wave

To the endless stream of Maggots that decided to stomp me (an uplevel Assaulter) near BPBL lake camp 5v1 or more even though I knelt, waved, sat, whatever... Go kitten yourselves. Just trying to get some map completion and have some fun before reset and you left a bad, bad taste in my mouth.

Yes, the GS #2 and #3 definitely fit with the Norn better than the Sylvari. I just keep telling myself one day I will go for Kudzu. One day...

Atherakhia.4086:

Sylvari ranger is a good choice. If you ever decide to get Kudzu it will feel more appropriate. The problem I have with Sylvari is if you don’t run with the cultural or TA stuff it doesn’t look good. That said, sylvari with the thief starter hood actually look good with the glow and bright eyes.

Couldn’t agree more!

Chopps.5047:

Thief’s hood transmuted to karma armor: awesome or amazing?

How about amazesome? IMO it’s one of the better looking hoods, and one of maybe two cowl-type hoods (Whispers being the other, iirc). The others are mainly mask-oriented, which I guess is fine if you’re a ninja or a bandit.

I hadn’t thought of this until just now, but what if Piercing Arrows wasn’t tied to a trait at all? What if a couple attacks on each bow pierced? Like Rapid shot and Point Blank Shot for longbow each are piercing attacks, and autoattack has a chance to pierce? That wouldn’t be OP, I don’t think...

Perfect timing at your bay just now, Kaineng! One tick away from capping

Immobilize would be OP. To make Barrage more viable, take away line of sight requirement... after all, we’re firing arrows up into the air, do we really need line of sight?! Extend the cripple to 2 or 3 seconds instead of 1.25 seconds. And lower the cooldown since it’s our only AOE attack.

+1
enough said.

^ Ditto. Earth tones would go a long way on that armor to complete the ranger feel.

Aeri.5738:

The Problem:
we are cornered into Tanky Condition based builds.

Solution

An untraited pet now is an utility, like it should be on a Powerbuild.
This makes room for exotic pets to be used aswell.
The general DPS should not be bigger than before these changes, the difference is just that the Ranger now deals 80-90% of the damage.
This will make the Power Ranger in sPvP alot more viable while keeping the same overall damage. The ability to controll the whole damage and dont let the miserable Pet AI decide win or defeat finally brings Ranger Power to the level of condi-bunkers (in terms of viability)

If you want increased Power, tuning down pets is a must have.
Just increasing Power would lead to extreme damage spikes once a pet actually hits.

These are spot on. I don’t think this change would be too difficult to implement if anet really wanted to do it. I’d rather not be forced to deal condition damage simply because I am forced to use this class mechanic. I’d rather deal power and use my pet for its F2 ability, as stated above. Fixing the trait lines is something that needs done anyway, as there are pet traits in lines that have NOTHING to do with pets. Again, I don’t want to have to be forced to use a pet… maybe I just like shooting things with a bow and arrow.

@Jericho: The fourth pic you posted is really sweet! Where was that taken?

I once believed in the same build for wandering around WvW, but have moved away from it to a 20/20/30 with more toughness/vit/healing while maintaining sufficient power/prec/crit damage. With a full zerker setup you shouldn’t have any problems flipping unguarded camps - skirmishing 1v1 or 1v2 may be a different story.

Since you are always critting (if you keep your fury up) take Sharpened Edges in Skirmishing. It may not tick for huge numbers but you’re getting condition duration from MM so why not. I ran Eagle Eye and Piercing Arrows with my zerker build because, let’s face it, you get next to no toughness from SoS passive and the active is really just an "oh kitten" button if you have SotBM. If you can part with QZ (and I would) then run SotBM with SoS and SotW - invulnerability and stability, yes please. Running this way also lets you run a different elite like Entangle if you wanted to change things up. Otherwise, run your QZ and LR with SotH until you get where you’re going, then switch to SoR.

I’ll start by saying I’m stubborn and really feel like using bows. I play mainly WvW and currently use LB/axe+horn. There’s nothing I love more than being able to sit on tower walls and rain down Barrage on the enemy, and I run axe+horn to tag zerglings and blast water fields at tower gates. I drifted away from glass cannon towards more toughness while retaining some power and crit damage, utilizing as much fury as I can to keep crit % up. However, after having my face melted by a mesmer last night I am looking for something with more survivability. Here’s my current build.

Could someone please point me in the direction of a survivable build that still offers damage, whether it be direct or condition damage, that doesn’t rely on melee weapons? Please feel free to critique my build if you have some constructive suggestions, and I will be more than happy to try them out!

If you’re running with a group and just trying to tag things (Crown Pavilion, WvW zergs, farming Cursed Shore, etc.) then definitely bring the axe mainhand.

Meowinator.8594:

I’ve been playing with Longbow/GS for some time, but then realized it’s not the optimal weapon of choice im looking for.

What’s your input on this, and do you have any other suggestion for the weapons a DPS-ranger should have?

What are those?!

I built around crit damage and run a longbow/axe+horn most of the time, both PvE and WvW. I’ll swap axe for sword if I need that mobility in a 1v1 situation. The horn is just too nice to not have.

Atherakhia.4086:

As for me personally? I run 30/20/20 or 30/20/10/10 or 30/20/0/20 etc etc. Some combination of this with longbow and greatsword. It’s awful. I wouldn’t advise it. But it’s the only way I can have fun on this class.

Same here. 30/20/20 longbow and axe/horn. My repair bills suck but I do enjoy playing it this way and refuse to change. Hopefully anet makes a build like ours viable someday….

It’s cliche but it depends on how you play or what you’re doing. Everyone rants and raves over GS, but I refuse to use one. I like going mainhand axe for tagging, warhorn for blast and longbow for dat range. I typically run with the zerg and solo the occasional camp, and this combo works for me.

My main is and always will be my ranger. The class certainly doesn’t excel at anything, especially DPS, but I do find it fun to play. Ranger still really needs some tweaks on weapon skills and trait lines, but I enjoy it.

Shademehr, just so you understand... Fire Trap only has a fire field when it is activated. Throwing down Fire Trap at a tower door your zerg is knocking down will not create a fire field for might stacking. I’ve learned that the whole notion of a ranger zerg support build is very situational, like you eluded to in your last post.

You should only need one axe if you’re only swapping off hand weapons. Definitely keep Healing Spring and blast with your horn. Take Entangle if you’re in ZvZ open field combat to hold some still... or take RaO for stability to run through (open field or tower doors) and set things like Frost Trap and Muddy Terrain. Hopefully your group is cleaning conditions enough that you can keep SotW and not have to rely on SoR.

Fomby.4295:

I’m not a fan of spirits in WvW. I’d trade it out for lightning reflexes for more survivability or quickening zephyr for faster burst.

And trade for primal reflexes for more dodges, cause those bleeds aren’t doing much. Also, I noticed your condition removal is healing spring which is ok, but sig of renewal might be a good choice, it’s also a stun breaker. Also, it can allow you to use a different heal if you so desired.

I also prefer the toughness sig instead of the regen sig on power builds, because you need a lot of healing power for it to be useful.

I’m going to echo all of this. Spirits, unless traited for, aren’t useful. Regen sigil is only good if you’ve got the healing power to make it worthwhile. My honest opinion on a full zerk build is to run Healing Spring (a must if you’re carrying a horn), QZ (get that dmg in quick) Signet of Renewal (more cond clearing) and mix up SoS/Lightning Reflexes/SotH, then Rampage As One elite for stability and fury. Between all those, you’ve got stun breakers, quickness, stability, fury and condition clearing… what more could you ask for?

Duke, I have low condition damage too but still use Sharpened Edges. Companions Might wouldn’t be terrible, if you’re actually using your pet. Since you don’t have much in the way of defense, what about Primal Reflexes? That way you can gain some endurance back if you need to dodge roll your way to safety. I ran full zerk for the longest but was way too squishy, had to swap some out for knights. Hope it’s treating you well!

Chiming back in to try to get you going... your traits are there, but your gear leaves some room for improvement. Currently, you’re not really hitting either crit damage or condition damange very hard. Try swapping out more of your knight’s trinkets for either rabid/carrion for condition damage or zerk to bring crit damage up. Remember to get food that will help you as well. As a base, I wanted around 2700 armor for WvW with over 40% crit chance and as much crit damage as I could muster. I put my build in for you, not saying it’s the best but it’s suiting me well so far. I’m also on the fence about going back to a red moa for some more fury access....My power/prec/crit/tough build

From what I hear, the regen on Dolyak runes is worthless. I’ve been playing with two runes of Rage and four runes of Earth on my mix of knights/zerker gear... gives me some protection and a little more fury.

I’m also running a 30/20/20 build right now, and much like you I run LB but with axe/horn instead. Unless they’ve fixed it, Remorseless isn’t working like it should so you may change that trait for now (maybe for Piercing Arrows). Personally, I would change your adept traits around to Steady Focus (MM) and Sharpened Edges (Skirmishing). Since you run warhorn, I would change to Healing Spring to help your group out. Entangle or RAO are probably going to be way more useful as well. As for gear, you’ve got a lot of zerk mixed with some knights. Your crit chance is already over 50% so swap in some more knights to get your toughness up (you really need toughness in WvW). Remember, when you fury your crit chance goes up 20% and you have fury on horn and RAO.

Hope that helps!

Depends on your play style. What weapons are you using?

Malpractice.7850:

im afraid to buy mine, since i just started, and only have like 30 laurels. I would think clerics trinkets for the bunker build is good, but im sure the zerker style ones are prob better in the long run…
Not sure, though

I started out with a cond build but just got it into my head that I was gonna run power/prec/crit dmg. As such, all but one of my trinkets are zerker and the last is celestial. I am constantly playing with traits, armor, runes and weapons to find the right balance of tough/power/prec/crit. I am definitely building around the trinkets, because that’s what I had my head set on. If you just got your first 30 laurels, maybe just maybe wait til you complete your next monthly and see if you’re really set on your build before you go spend them all.

^

I run a power build in WvW with all ascended trinkets, and believe me I would love to see the power scaling changed... but if you like what you’re running now then go ahead and get the trinkets to max it out.

My Sylvari ranger wears mostly TA armor with the Anonimity Hood and uses the Invaders Longbow and Axe/Horn. For dyes I like Envy, Emerald and some lighter colors from the green spectrum to break it up. Definitely a tree-hugger ranger type. :P

I’d like to add Borlis Pass to that list. Solid mid-tier server with a great community, both PvE and WvW. Evening Eastern Time hours are really fun-filled with lots of events going on... WvW is active then and Lions Arch gets a little, um, unique. Stop by borlis.org and see what our community is up to!

SMH at SoS trolling the kitten out of eternal jp... your TS guild ought to stand for Troll Squad.

Allisa Wonderland.8192:

Ranger is the bow class for this game, so why make bows so unattractive?

Please a) fix targeting and b) give us back at least SOME range.. 1200. Heck, how about making LB even more range?

OMG this ^ Give the ranger something to actually have an edge on other professions that try to use bows. Warriors out-bow us, thieves out-bow us… what gives? Extend the range on longbow #1 to 1700 or something, give the shortbow back its 1200 range and let us be the archers we’re meant to be. Make barrage better at hitting siege on walls by adjusting the whole line-of-sight thing… after all, we’re raining down arrows on top of them, aren’t we? My main is and will always be a ranger because I love the archer archetype, but it needs some serious work on the bow aspects. And either let us run without pets or fix them too, please and thank you.

This man speaks the truth, I was there for it. :’(

Vhampire.4132:

I get out ranged, out meleed, out healed, out CC’d and out escaped better by every other class.

This is the most accurate and concise statement ever made about the Ranger!

Seriously, ANet… you’ve gone a little crazy on the nerf button this time. You’ve effectively turned a class that is supposed to excel with ranged weapons into… I don’t even know what yet, but now it’s even weaker than every other profession in every imaginable aspect. What’s been said above about the ranger not filling any niche is spot on, and even more so after this patch. This is pure ridiculousness and needs addressed.

My ranger main was the first character I created because I’ve always loved the archer classes. I leveled some alts to 80 to play around and learn, but I just seemed to come back to the ranger and you’re really trying to take ALL the fun out of it. I’ve bought thousands of gems for him and really do want to continue using my SB/LB, but I’m gonna get laughed off the field and spend way too much silver on repair bills.

No more buying gems until the ranger is brought up to par. And if it never does, guess I’ll go back to Elder Scrolls – I hear they have an online game coming out… :P