Guild Wars 2

Frost.5017:

Keep in mind that Leg Specialist has a five second internal cooldown.

Would you rather know that you an immob available when you use one of your weapon skills that applies cripple OR do you want to have it randomly proc when you crit with any skill/utility while you have that weapon set equipped? Personally, I would prefer the former of these scenarios.

I thought of this too….Especially when thinking about the weapons this would be good with.

Rifle*******for great kiting and kill shot.
Axe******** for landing the eviscerate almost guarantee
Great sword*******so they can’t move away from 100b and burst skill

Rifle and Axe have great cripple skills, especially rifle. Greatsword on the other hand doesn’t the cripple is only on the way back. and not as reliable.

I think Rifle is the correct secondary weapon though because it’s adept trait is the perfect trait to take on your wait to opportunist.

So the base of the build would be GS / Rifle or Axe/X Rifle
Cracked shot, opportunist, leg specialist with incapacitation only on the GS or Axe as rifle is consistent and on a short CD ( 8 secs)

Also Cleansing Ire not necessary if not using LB

0/20/0/10/0

Some options include
0/20/10/10/30 (condi removal on swap)
30/20/10/10 (burst mastery?)
What would you do?

Here are 2 build Examples I came up with
Axe/Horn + Rifle
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQNBHhRakpjGPrCxLEORDsEUHb7AQdUcEFfyXYIA-w

GS + Rifle
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJAQJARUjMd04ZVIehwJaglg6cbHAFg6oI0L+UvAA-w

This sigil just looks like its was MADE to be paired with Leg Specialist.
Both on 5 s cd’s omg it looks great. and then add opportunist…..

So any ideas to utilize this combo? Rifle maybe? What type of build would capitalize on this synergy the most?

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Superior_Sigil_of_Incapacitation

What happened to this podcast.

My craving for it has returned with ranger glory!

For 2 years ranger has had sup par ranged damage.

Then comes along balance philosophy that and Anet says ranger is suppose to be the best single target ranged dps in the game and mes 2nd.

So longbow buff comes around and all QQ. But this isn’t the part I care about.

Does the ranger create a trinity? where there is finally a ranged DPS class?

Runes of trapper + Remorseless anyone?

Took me forever to decide on something. Lots of options out there. like SotF builds and such.

But eventually settled on the build Oak da Vite.9054 posted.

Except 3 tweeks

Tweak 1
Axe over sword. I do not trust sword AA in Melee and Axe will have good might stacking from range and hits 3 targets when it gets rough

Tweak 2
I opted for Merrellow instead of Drake

Tweak 3
I opted for MT over sig of renewal. With Brown bear and melandru and food, i dont need the sig of removal condi removal with all the cleansing going on. I also don’t need its stunbreak as I have a passive stunbreak called ENLARGEMENT that procs at 25% when I need it. and gives me stability. I’ll be able to walk out of hard CC. And I have tons of stability already so I don’t put myself in those situations a lot.

Muddy terrain on the other hand is good on choke points and can split up a zerg a little creating a tail. It can also snare the backline. GREAT tool and ability to bring to the frontline.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBhODbkRtU1wWsrYHWes/Ku2rdAChaZA8utbhS4YdmE7QKz6KvRC-TljDwAyPgAOuAAyUnA3+D9Uq8SllBHIAgKrAcQECY+DxDIYkGBQ6YSoEkUAMpMC-w

So if I were to do it Tweak 4 in smaller zergs would be Entangle over RaO. I might consider it for a gvg

Like the topic. While I’m not sure LB is the best route for this build. Vuln is good for a cover condition i guess. Gut says SB when not taking LB traits but who knows.

I took the trap off and went for intimidation training + malicous training. If there is no ICD, my eagle will have perma cripple on them and owl for chill.

Great burst with Sig of wild + sickem. High stealth uptime to evade around and stall till burst back up. Perma cripple to keep the pew pew going.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQJATRnEqQ/KWxCuCCXLGAQoWHA37BwsCygnT71exDFUB-TFCEABEcBA2SJITKzmU9HpUaIz+DH8IAA4IAEAABwRP6RP6RPaXXnHdnHdnlCQshRA-w

Has anybody tested this besides to OP or are we just taking his word.

Seems crazy this would happen as a dev in the past even mentioned there is suppose to be no ICD on FS

I bounced MANY ideas around and came to the conclusion that you need more of a selfish build. Spotter lacks in useless in front line tanky builds that don’t use crit or crit damage and frost spirit dies to much.

This has good stability up time, good soft CC. Condi removal on WS skills, run PVT and Melandru. Not to mention Enlargement and Bark skin will be a GREAT combination.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBhODbkRlWW7YxiFqWDQIUrCg2xQJcsur3dYrT5HXhtGA-TFSDABOcgAwR9HDVCe8BQILlfAcACC4ACkiunAAIAkPv5P/ZpA6XZE-w

Skrim line is for Axe MH and SB which utilize bleed well.

Therefore

Strider’s Offense.
Your pet deals 35-40% more damage to bleeding foes.

I wanted to post a couple Ideas for LB as well as of course I think its an option.

For zergs though you gotta bring something to the backline besides just single target damage. One version I came up was to bring frost spirit. and a little toughness / panic button as to not die to a breeze. So give me the LB ideas.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQJATRjMq0warKmsQ0ag9gadA0AnNzBeEcWFZRG78xLI-TVCHwA42fAwhAgk6PT0w8UJIQlfGOCAh1BERTAZAYGDA-w

excelsior.2168:

rpfohr.7048:

excelsior.2168:

Something I threw together using the weapons, trinkets, etc that I currently have on my ranger. Might just get another greatsword to use in zergs.

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQNBHhFakRlOWrYxhFqWEQIUrCgWxAz4dAcnE7wWnxOf8CC-TFjDwAOOEAyU/ZqSMvKBH8AAAcCACphJ4+DUVGQ5IA8UpxH9BkBgZBA-w

Still excited for this patch though. Might actually get bags in zergs. (I main mesmer in WvW and they don’t get jack taco on loot)

I came to something very similar and I must ask. How did you arrive at this.

When after taking SOTF , I looked at the traits and settled on the same thing.
But I would have LOVED to have had spotter in there as well. Martial mastery might have been nice too.

So I ask why did you opt for Horned axes over these options? (for me it was the stats of skirmishing line and better minors) what about you?

Hey! That is an excellent question. So, I looked at both builds, the 2/4/2/6/0 and 4/2/2/6/0 and stat wise not that much of a difference between the two builds. I went for honed Axes mainly because when I saw it gave me 210% crit dmg I kind of did a happy dance in my chair.

I will say that with 4 in Marksmanship, it might be a waste of the pet having opening strike. For me at least, I plan on having my drakes on passive only to activate for the lightning breath and frost breath with the occasional command to attack to to the blast finisher drakes do (love them for that). On the flip side of having 4 in MM is that you have Spotter and are contributing to the zerg. But I do like the minor traits in Skirmishing more than opening strikes.

So really, I guess it comes down to preference. I plan on using this build when the patch comes out and of course changes might happen but if multiple rangers are in a zerg (O.o) I guess a few could run Spotter and others focus more on their damage. Both will be contributing to the zerg, one providing crit chance increase and the other higher damage to kill people. Also, Healing Spring has been underrated for so long that more water fields can never be a bad thing.

Hope that answered your question!

Builds: (I put in the Sharpening stones because those made the build hit a tiny bit harder)

Spotter
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQNBHhFakRlOWrYxhFqWEQIULDg3tVMwKednE7wWnxOf8CC-TFjDwAOOEAyU/ZqSMvKBH8AAAcCACphJ4+DUVGQ5IA8UpxH9BkBgZMA-w

Honed Axes
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQNBHhFakRlOWrYxhFqWEQIUrCgWxAz4dAcnE7wWnxOf8CC-TFjDwAOOEAyU/ZqSMvKBH8AAAcCACphJ4+DUVGQ5IA8UpxH9BkBgZMA-w

So like me you did it for the better minor traits
Have you had any thoughts of taking both in a
4/4/0/6/0 build and forgoing the WS cool down? it will already be quite low with the Entangle CD reduced. I’ve been hesitant to do it but it is a variation I’m going to try. Currently doing 0/4/4/6/0 (cause signets not buffed yet and I like minors in WS more)

excelsior.2168:

Something I threw together using the weapons, trinkets, etc that I currently have on my ranger. Might just get another greatsword to use in zergs.

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQNBHhFakRlOWrYxhFqWEQIUrCgWxAz4dAcnE7wWnxOf8CC-TFjDwAOOEAyU/ZqSMvKBH8AAAcCACphJ4+DUVGQ5IA8UpxH9BkBgZBA-w

Still excited for this patch though. Might actually get bags in zergs. (I main mesmer in WvW and they don’t get jack taco on loot)

I came to something very similar and I must ask. How did you arrive at this.

When after taking SOTF , I looked at the traits and settled on the same thing.
But I would have LOVED to have had spotter in there as well. Martial mastery might have been nice too.

So I ask why did you opt for Horned axes over these options? (for me it was the stats of skirmishing line and better minors) what about you?

Atherakhia.4086:

You guys are greatly overstating the value of axe IMO. While the might will help boost the damage some, please keep in mind that Axe is easily the lowest DPS weapon this class has (per target) and it has a 900 range. At 900 range you’ll likely be running more with the melee train as opposed to outside of it which means you being glass is a poor option. The change to axe is far more valuable to a condi build imo.

In a zerg, LB will be far more viable overall. You’ll still be able to run glass. The 1200+ range will help you stay back line where your only threat is from Thieves where your defensive options can work better with fewer opponents to avoid. And Rapid Fire will allow you to assist your Thieves to finish off enemy glass without you needing to be in harms way.

Unfortunately I don’t see this same strat working in organized group fights, but I’m hoping the mere threat of Rangers being in GvG will now cause fewer teams to run with such a heavy hammer train and maybe we’ll see more spreading out and glassier targets to hit.

I might be. I know that I cant run glass if I run Axe, I’d prolly run knights. That said, my line of thinking is new stability and Entangle bombs are soft cc support zergs would not mind having. This is part of the lure of running a new axe / gs midline build as opposed to glass LB where the only support is damage and killing an opponent ASAP.

I can’t imagine dedicating 6 in WS for axe in zerging. Where is the condi removal? your pet prolly gonna die.

Thats why I feel SotF is almost madatory. which is why i’m looking at 6/0/2/6/0 or /0/4/4/6/0. and Zergs need power not celestial.

@ Cufufalating.8479
Thing is with SotW for stability plus reduced duraiton on Entangle for bombs, I do think that ranger support has increased significantly. The immob bombs will slow zerg movement even if for a second or two. and create a tail allowing your train to capitalize on them being separated.

So its been a couple days since the ready up and I still can’t figure out what I’m leaning towards post patch,

What is going to help the hammer train more.

A Glass as kitten LB ranger than focuses down 1 target at a time with VERY high damage.

VERY tempted by this with LB buffs!

Or an Axe ranger (now that axe will be buffed) running midline with all them might stacks, hitting multiple people from midline and throwing out immobilize bombs (New Entangle and MT)

I currently run this as 0/4/4/6/0 but it will get way more effective with stability. but predators onslaught also seems VERY tempting for a MT Entangle type build.

Or perhaps Sentinel front line (though not my style its about to get very effective).

Thoughts? Comments? What will you run?

I have and I liked it.
But I found 0/20/20/30/0 more effective.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQJAVRjEq0xaLLmsQ1aADhqZLECMDgGwdREDXdKzJIs9A-TVTAABpq+DFXABbVC2kyPHM/NjOEi2foiDJAAPAgBOSAwohgFNBPcACIEg5FA-w

Rangers and Mesmers are VERY alike…..

According to Anet these should be the king of long range damage and both rely on AI (ugh)

similar weapons too

GS = LB
Staff = Axe
Sword = Great sword / sword
scepter = short bow

What bugs me the most though is all the mesmers complain that they are nothing but a utility bot. Just be happy you have the freakin utilities…..Rangers don’t and since beta have been a poor man’s mesmer. Rangers can’t be utility bots, commanders call them worthless bots but I hope that will change with future patch for both classes.

So for the reasons mentioned above, it will be REALLY good in PvE and kiting.

But i think you’re underestimating pvp and wvw value.

It could work really well in a power trap build (6/6/x/x/x) with frost and spike trap.

It also work would really well in a (6/0/2/6/0) build with SotF’s and revamped entangle and MT. I think with the other changes to intimidating training and entangle, the trail will be better in spvp and wvw (lol im imagining a midrange ranger w/ the entangle bombs and axes with might going everywhere.) that people think.

Also could really help skrimishing SB….crip shot says hi. That’s where they are going with this.

Casey.9687:

Eurantien.4632:

Casey.9687:

Prysin.8542:

Casey.9687:

nagymbear.5280:

Casey.9687:

Well after 5,022 hours on ranger and this is all ranger gets?

Rly? Apart from all these changes being pretty sweet, there are quite a number of them too. Don’t be so negative. I think this opens up some build variety. There are a lot of possibilities if you look past the longbow changes.

Yay you zerg runners will finally be able to sit in your zergs and be helpful. It doesnt change anything for spvp ranger. They will still get destroyed. This isnt anything to celebrate. Wait till all the other class buffs and changes come out and ranger will be right back in its useless spot.

kk, then delete your ranger casey. Ive spoken with you ingame, and you are one of the thousands that relentlessly paint a black picture of this class, but still miraculously keep playing it.
Now for once, stop insulting every ranger player there is and do what you tell everyone else to do instead, your negativity is not helping a darn soul. These buffs are well deserved, they are needed. Most of them have been asked for since forever, and if you fail to grasp how much this means to the average ranger player, then i can only conclude that you are playing THE WRONG GAME.

Thank you ArenaNet, Thank you for listening to our wishes!
Not just myself, but most ranger players are HAPPY about these changes.

and 90% of all these ranger players are bad and have no idea what they are doing in spvp. So of course they will be happy when they dont really understand its not changing much for spvp

Only the zerg runners in WvW who can beat scrub players and the pve’rs are goin to celebrate these changes

You are either:
A. On a god tier level at sPvP ranger.
B. Horribly confused.
C. Didn’t see the future changes.
D. Close minded.

It’s not A.

These are great buffs for sPvP ranger.

Eh i was just in a kitteny mood. I think the changes are pretty good its just i’ve ran trapper since beta and traps havent been touched since beta weekend 3 and i also have The Dreamer and now i gotta put it away since Longbow will be the new viable bow to have and i was really hoping for SB buffs, so i got kittened at the updates cause none were what i wanted so i went on a childish rant.

SB is getting buffed via preditors onslaught! Crippling shot BABY.

There is a new trap build in town! POWER TRAPPER

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNAV8YjMq0va5K2rQ1aAAhadAcvalDsz3O4DK4RF

Here is what I’m thinking for wvw now

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBHhFakRlKWbZxjFqWDQIUrDg3VrYwd9uDbdBPqA-TVhRwAPVCSV9HA7PsR5HO9BAA-w

I’m say 3 things.

WOW Axe is the new zerg weapon. 3 hits = 3 people = 3 stacks of might.
Great new might stacking weapon makes ranger viable. Very excited to theory craft this.

INCOME HIDDEN BUFF
Enlargement won’t needed to be traited. 25% more damage and stability is NICE!
This should be also HUGE in zergs

And predators onslaught will make Pve Meta go back to 30/25/0/15/0 because sword applies so much cripple

Hey, I’m do a fair amount of WvW and sPvP myself here and there.

But I really need a group to PvE with and I need to do guild missions.

My WvW guild require I rep when I do wvw with them so I’m just hoping that I can just rep the PvE guild for Missions and when we run dungeons (or i feel like doing PvE content like living store)

Must do weekly guild missions.

Would prefer JQ but I guess with megaservers it doesn’t matter. Please no new guilds. I don’t want to build something, I just want to be part of something that has been good at this for a while.

80’s include
Ranger (map completion)
Warrior
Guardian
Necro
Mesmer
Thief

It’s a hybrid weapon so you want more of a hybrid build.

Try this. its good for tagging in wvw. it can also duel some of the mediocre dueling classes (might have trouble against top stuff like PU)

It has good escape (sword 2) and engage (axes and axe 4)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQRAnX8fjMq0yaHLGsw1aAGhqZIUrMD3Awd5OCLdKzqCV9A-TlSBABPt/QjKBf4gAExDAoMlfpohBP9DYq+zCHBAAOBAECQ3YA-w

I feel bad that you have 300+ views and no reply so I’m gonna help you out.

Your build can improve.

Let’s start off with your goal which is soft CC.

Unlike HARD CC in which it is good get get upclose and get some burst damage in moments they cant do kitten – soft CC still allows the enemy to attack back. That said soft CC really shines in ranged damage builds because the enemy cannot catch you. To utilize soft CC to its max, you’ll want to incorporate a ranged weapon. If you want more single target, take a bow, if more aoe an axe.

Next, your traits…..to use 2 swords and not take martial mastery….ugh. I get you want it to be frost and power but CD reduction on evades skills and maul will greatly increase your damage and survivability. And if you do go this route, you might as well just end up taking 30 in WS and use EB as your condi removal.

To use 2 swords with leap finishers and not take advantage of heal spring water field. IDK I can see you want to be mobile but I’d use healing spring

I have a feeling a soft CC trap build would suit you better
SB/ S/T X/30/30/X/X with frost trap, spike trap, sig of renewal, heal spring and if you really want more chill grenth runes. (I like forge for burning and extra duration on protection)

Wow I can’t believe you guys forgot about Guang.

GuanglaiKangyi <———-This guy 100%

This is the guy who 2 years ago taught us about frost spirit spotter and inspired Brazilhue to create his legendary PvE build that has been the meta for +2 years. He kept telling us the truth but didn’t have video to back it up. Finally Brazil took a video with his build and BAM instant meta. Everyone thought he was on crack but he sure showed us.

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/84456-ranger-vs-the-cof-world-record/

Read this thread.

I need a little help. I’m always giving advice and I have 3 other sets of gear on my ranger but having trouble for this 4th set and goal.

Somehow during the update to runes of strength, they also stealth nerfed runes of rage. It’s damage also went from 7% to 5%. This kittened me off. The damage drop was noticeable. I have enough furry anyway and I was using it more for the Damage.

It puts me back to square 2 on my knights WvW build I love.

Here is the base of the build. Traits and weapons non-negotiable

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQRBMfdGyIjqts4xCXrB0DqlBwA3sIyW3dRC/2A-TFSBABapMzMlgXp0IijAAmq/swDAIP9DAcSAAA-w

I need some help figuring out Pets, My 3rd utility slot, and runes (since my set got Nerf, I would love it if the runes wern’t super expensive) Gear while negotiable I would prefer to leave alone because I have it already.

Anyone have ideas? Goal is 10-15 man wvw squad

F3 is a good idea but it could become spammable

F1 F3 F1 F3 to spam pet evade

And F3 is important for movement, you don’t want to put a cooldown on it…

Okay there are really 2 types of ranger builds you can go for in a zerg.
Back line Single target and frontline / midline for more AOE

That said what do you want to do.

If you go backline your going to need RTW. since you will be shooting LB from the back to try to snipe down targets. You won’t take spotter because you wont really be to close to your allies. Thus the 2nd trait will be not support but LB orientated, EE or Pierce ( i prefer pierce so I can always hit the target I want. )

If you go glass your 2nd set is a GTFO set and LB is your main. So your build might look like this. A standard 6/0/2/6/0 Backline LB ranger with GS or sword/wh/dag for GTFO moments.

You will use pets like Moa/spider that stand in the back out of harms way / buff you so you can hit protect me when you need and your pet not insta dead. If it does die you’ll have gotten fury and might. (i didn’t change your gear)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNEQNAT8YnEqQtg2yCmsAXLGQPoWHAPQa3qIc3FJ8bXwqG-TlSDwA53fIqSjDPAAhKxScBAep+TXlBg0FsQJIATcBAQA4mD9mhQAlHDA-w

OPTION 2

You can also go midline supportish Use the Axe for AOE cleave and either sword or greatsword for mobility.

You can use traps for AOE utility but if you do go traps you won’t be able to use EB cause pet insta dead and you arn’t using WS skills so no condi removal there. Thus the weakness will be condi removal. (again no gear change but it would be pvt)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBHhFakRlWWLXxeFuWDoHULDgBmdBnCrgrEukVEF-TlxCwAQUCC4ABIc/hmK/8p+jbzfkCYSpRA-w

Here is a build of midline option 2 that still has some support (spotter) but drops the aoe traps in favor of WS to get more direct damage and condi removal

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBHhFakRlCWbZxjFuWDoHULDgBmZBfBuT4k4tLZFRB-TlxCwAQUCC4ABIc/hmK/8p+jbzfkCYSpRA-w
(This is something i have played around with recently and like)

Option 3 is a full front line with signets where you can just be a beast for 6 seconds but unfortunately you will not last long once on cool down, I wouldn’t recommend that.

I run this too.

1) get traveler runes for 10% condition duration
2) I also think this is a very offensive build. I would add a little more defense by taking 10 out of marks for Natures protection OR doing 2 traps plus sig of renewal.

Take it from experience, I’ve been running this build since traveler runes came out

Also Classes I find you should run from include Condi PU (confusion hits hard when you have SB) and Necros (you can win but you have to be careful to spread condis out over time and its a difficult fight)

Unfortunately if you have the poor luck of running up against diamond skin ele, they have the decent mobility and can hinder your run away ability

It should have removed conditions (and small heal) on pet swap like I posted in the CDI

Ya, it happens all the time,
I run my warrior without longbow and have no problems.

UGHH.. I forgot to change the weapon to longbow.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBjYD7kRF6XxWWwVQ4aBBAC1yA4eZ+AZwvp1X/exVH5A-TZBEABScRAsZ/hqLDAwRAggHAAA

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBhYD7kRF6XxWWwVQ4aBBAC1yA4eZ+AZwvp1X/exVH5A-TZBEABScRAsZ/hqLDAwRAggHAAA

Use this,
Your power and pet hits like a beast. Sickem will help you against theif.

@ Prysin
Aww you gave it away.
Pulsing Murellow F2 hitting 5 people plus ROA gains might very quickly.

@ Coldtart.4785

Your post shows your lack of knowledge really. First of your not using this just for might but for stability as well, You can never have enough stability. I wouldn’t waste the elite for might alone. It’s a bonus most of the time. You can never have enough stability in a zerg.

And bad mouth the pet cause its a bear….lol of course you don’t use bears when roaming but when in zergs you need a pet thats gonna last a little bit and has a half decent F2 cause your not gonna make much use out of its auto attacks…

Lastly, getting 25 stacks is not Trivial, there is a reason why so many guilds stack on fire fields before a fight. It makes a difference.

Look there are very apparent weakness in the ranger. Most players arn’t good enough accept those and move on.

But Rangers can be built for anything. Here is an AOE build for example of one of my favorite builds.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBHhFakRlWW7YxeFuWD4IUt6A2dbAMAuD3Q4oTZVZhNVA-TVSBABQqE8iDBQQ7PwlyvIeAAVq+zCHBg80HAwJAIAACghO0hO0hO0uZgUAMpMC-w

The problem is your commander probably is too stupid to know how to utilize a ranger.

Here I’ll prove it can you answer this question?
How can the ranger in the build I just posted gain 20+ stacks of might within 3-4 seconds?

If you don’t know, it just shows you don’t know anything about the class or how to utilize it.

Edit: Ranger mains don’t answer, I want to see how many noobs get it wrong.

jcbroe.4329:

I think I’m finally on the verge of breaking down and going with Jon Peters on taking the evade off of autoattack. Yes, zerg surfers will forever cry, and there are of course a million different ideas and none of them are truly wrong, but GS4 should gain Autoattack3s evade and animation, while still attempting a knockback on the person who triggered the skill, and Swoop should also be an evade during the leap animation at the very least (maybe not the entire run duration, because it’s a harder to control variable). The new autoattack 3 should restore endurance, similarly to how the thief dagger works.

Couple that with a longer range hilt bash, and we have a very, very nasty weapon on our hands that can still do decent damage, and has the defensive utility that it currently feels as though it’s lacking.

Longbow, oh longbow. I will forever hate rapid fire, and an extension of that is hating barrage, because both skills make the weapon very clunky to use and seemingly slow down the pace of combat and the weapon.

Durz and I were talking about how we agreed that shortbow gets one thing right (all the damage focused in the autoattack is not it) in the sense that it has “an arrow for every occassion.” It’s very Green Arrow or Hawkeye style (don’t start a DC vs Marvel debate here please, that’s what the rest of the internet is for haha), and should conceptually be applied to the longbow as well.

So I personally still think that the best way to handle it is to turn the number 3 skill into a toggle, so that you don’t need your arrow to hit anything to go stealth. You go into a stealth, and then the part 2 of the skill is debatable, though I’d make a push for some sort of soft CC (cripple, chill, immobilize from stealth even, similar to a thief but nowhere near the duration?).

At this point, due to the nature of Moment of Clarity, I would also like to see either Rapid Fire or Barrage be turned into a single hit, bit damage style skill, in order to have so play off of moment of clarity and be able to combo LB4 into the damage skill. I wouldn’t begin to have a suggestion, other than single hit damage, and please no holding a key to charge a skill, the controls can already be clunky to those of us keyboard warriors as it is without trying to strafe around AND hold ANOTHER button down while trying to strafe. I only have so many fingers and a thumb, and I already actively use all of them when I’m playing.

Just spitballing, maybe turn Rapid Fire into an inverse Hundred Blades of sorts, functionality wise. Let’s take Rapid Fire and make it 5 shots With like a 3 second total channel. The first shot is a big damage hit that is essentially 5 of the old arrows combined into a single hit of damage, and applies 5 stacks of vulnerability, followed up by 4 regular shots, fired at a “rapid” pace. Picture it looking like a single, aimed, precise shot that hits for big damage because it was aimed and precisely fired, followed by a volley to down the person in case they aren’t dead, if that makes any sort of visual sense.

I don’t know what to do with Barrage. I mean, my idea right now is just to keep it as is but have it remove a boon per hit (so yes, if a person gets hit all 12 times, then 12 boons removed). Also, it’s a bandaid solution to Barrage doing half our half because of retaliation against groups that have it, on top of it being the boon removal I so desperately want.

Sorry guys, I know I write text walls, but I want to reason out everything for discussion purposes. I know it’s a lot.

/agree

I brought many of these points up on the CDI.

Ranger power builds CAN exist through moment of clarity.
The issue is there is a lack of weapon synergy with the trait.
And the long bow as the ranger power weapon needs this synergy
PBS to a new #2… YEA !

as for zerg surfing. It will hurt a little but not much. You do a little more damage with faster AA and just build a little tankier.

As for zergs, a point was brought up that rangers lack aoe but that is just not true.
Axe + Traps is fantastic midline AOE.

The issue is when you do this you are midline and have no condi removal, thats because your taking traps instead of WS skills and your pet is dead so EB won’t proc.

I still feel that a BM should be more of (when you swap a pet they do this) that way a player can put points in BM, take tanky pets so they don’t die. and use swap traits to make use of them.

Examples
Pure swap
(you remove 3 conditions from yourself when you swap pets)
Sheltered Swap
(You and your pet gain 5 pets gain 5 seconds of protection when activated)
Trick swap
(Your pets automatically use F2 upon being swapped in) (allow for 2 F2’s)
I will avenge you
(Dead pet swap reduced by 20%, you gain might and quickness when your pet dies)

SOO many rangers would rather run melee cleave swords or bows in zergs. And I feel that they are doing it wrong.

Axe is the master of hitting multiple people. As of late I have been testing a build and am starting to like it. I was curious if anybody else had an opinion on if they ran something similar as well.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNBHhFakRlWWLXxeFuWDoHUrDgBeBYXwpwK4qLO4XtH-T1CEAB2s/wTKniSJRcaCM4BAIlSEFV/pNtAAcCAMUJob6AAA-w
-fyi since pet gonna die might as well take beastmaster bond!!!
Tag em and bag em. Hit Lots of enemies and proc your remorseless, run PVT tanky gear.

I have to rant.

Megaserver has been really messing our guild up. Multiple times for guild missions, even though we are on the same server JQ, and in the same guild-

Due to other “events” going on in these maps, our guild cannot seem to join the same megaserver and thus we have been failing our guild bounties.

<<<———- AM kittenED

GSSBlunaspike.4153:

rpfohr.7048:

Thanks for the advice, I’ll look into that. If I do I might just go Axe and drop the rifle.

I have another question, Does burst precision proc every single strike of a burst skill (thinking sword)

Yes it does. It also procs every pulse of the aoe from lb. At least it did right after the patch. I tested this with sword/lb and both got a huge chain of crits. The AOE on lb can actually net you more potential damage because of the size of the aoe. It only pulses like 3 times though, but still it’s great aoe denial. It works with all of the aoe skills as far as I know, making every hit from them an auto crit.

Just tested again and yeah every single pulse from lb aoe will crit on all targets that it affects. I’m not sure if even intelligence can match that. It gives a potential 15 crits in a row.

Not saying it’s the best damage though.

Also makes every hit from hammer burst crit too, just like sword. My favorite test so far was crack shot, rifle burst. So many crits, I know it’s not really that usable, but still.

Wow that is powerful. I need to give more thoughts to this.
Anybody else have ideas for build that might utilize Sword or LB like this?

Thanks for the advice, I’ll look into that. If I do I might just go Axe and drop the rifle.

I have another question, Does burst precision proc every single strike of a burst skill (thinking sword)

Been running this in Spvp as a far point assaulter.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNAQNAV8fjEq0va5KerQ1aADhqdLEslA7AICmAXxbBbqA-TZhAABT8EAIc/ByKDAwBBQiLAAA

Do you have any idea how awesome the combo field is?
Canines and cats leap through and apply weakness. completely dominating the foe.
We completely nullify their damage and limit the ability to dodge ours.
Malicious training also really freaking good!
And a drake swap into blast onto combo field is nice too (just wish I had more control over where the drake would spawn. Thats my one drawback with that)

This change is under rated but has really been helping out trappers. I have played traps since Beta and I finally feel like they are coming back a little with this.

Just wanted to share how happy I am.

Share your awesome experiences!

I need some advice on a burst precision build. I really want to take advantage of Kill shot and Eviscerate..

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fJUQNAneUj8cUFaZIedQHagfgycAUAV/pCXdak7lBA-TVCEABOp0LKlBcpEkgHBQiq/YwRAAn9HaTfAAnAAyAwMGA-w

Question I keep asking myself is am I doing it wrong but not going into the defense line? I feel like Burst precision, Cracked shot, and the 30 in the bottom line are all pretty mandatory for what I want to do.

Anybody trying similar things for wvw?

AEFA.9035:

Durzlla.6295:

Additionally if you had a measly 885 condi damage your super poison completely nullifies healing signets heal, and with the pet applying poison + the poison uptime via dagger and sword they will NEVER not be poisoned, they can cleanse as much as they want but no cleanse will make them free of it.

And the new Rampager build is born:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vMAQNAV8YjEq0yaHL2sQ1ago9gTWCAsCGy9w/dCAFsJB-TsAg1CtI0SplTLjWStsaNoYZx2DA

GM: Survival of the fittest. Poison master.

Yea, Pretty much this was my first thought when I saw the traits. Everyone was thinking 10/0/30/30/0 but I was thinking 0/10/30/30/0 and converting my trapper gear (rampage and rapid) into this. Might go OH training and torch instead of dagger, will have enough poison as is but you get the idea.

@ Durzlla and Jcbroe,

I also agree that every one of these traits has a place in the game except for stiders defense. That thing is TRASH. I’m not even sure I would take it if it were an adept trait.

People underestimate this, not ALL ranged attacks are projectiles (EG mes great sword anyone?) This trait will be EXTREMELY useless. What skrimishing needs is more power traits inline with crit and crit damage. that would intrigue a zerker ranger going down this line. Not this crap.

I’d like to follow up on my previous comments. This is related to this build.

According to the traits and balance ready up. “Fear” will now count as an interrupt.

This MIGHT mean wolf fear would be another proc to moment of clarity and worth taking a wolf. But can a PET proc moment of clarity? OR does the interrupt have to come from the ranger? That could be HUGE in this build.

Oh, Sorry for posting that then, A few things

A. Great Video, I love raw video’s rather than highlights because it shows your true skill. Not only that you speed up the boring parts!

B. Your comments further solidify why I think offhand training is the best trait we have HANDS DOWN. I can’t think of another trait in the game as versatile, affecting 4 weapons in 2 ways.

C. I actually think Bark skin is a good choice for your build, when going power, best to stay the course of active condi removal with the sig. Your weakness of course was heavy condi application builds that could reload once you activated it.

D. Overall good job. I’ve wanted to do this for some time and was gearing towards it, but got really scarred by the crit damage nerfs coming in.

E. Get hyped for sigil of intelligence, Auto crit Mauls, I would love to see this in action again post patch

Looks like with S/A and GS a MoC build.

Things I noticed (he gained vigor when he got hit)
Is using offhand training for larger axe radius.
Not taking reduced fall damage or vigor on heal.
Don’t think I ever saw him activate signets so he isn’t using those traits in marks.
No opening strike
Gaining regen at 75%
Not seeing EB proc
Considering he is using 2 pets that applies boons that is prolly concentration training

So to take a stab
0
4/5/12
3/7/12
2
0

Decent play and decent build.
Considering you use 2 swords, why not martial mastery if you are already in that line?
Also, its just me but i HATE power builds that go 30 in WS. it just feels like I am wasting stats and picking up condi damage.
If I were you I would think about 0/30/15/25/0
You always seem to have a boon on you with weapon swap and pets, and you could pick up vitality → power converter for even more damage. Or Natures protection.
I think when new traits come out I would run 0/30/10/30/0 and swap out your 2 signets for WS for active condi removal + fury.

QZ will go nice with sword 1 attack Just use it when TU is down. LR would be your other utility as the GTFO and save me button.

Okay -

Couple points I think didn’t get hit hard enough in the CDI.

Skrimishing traitline is BAD……Full of traps and pet traits. There is NOTHING in this traitline worth taking unless you are traps but the stat combo is GREAT for power builds. There needs to be more POWER based traits in skrimish. (Ex/ Why would anybody want to take something like carniverous appetite when I can just swap the pet if it gets low)

2. This class is REALLY hit hard by traits that affect only 1 weapon. By default, traits that affect only one weapon really need to be looked at and should be stronger than those affecting multiple
(Looking at you RtW and Axe Mastery)

There is more – but I think those are my two strongest so lets start there.

NemesiS.6749:

Chokolata.1870:

I think a 30 0 10 30 0 power build will be pretty solid.

yea i saw around that someone make a post with a build like that, seem also like it will work. In the end the purpose is to be able and remove conditions in wvw and do good damage so that could also work and honestly seem like a better option.

Ya I think thats what I am leaning towards for small group WvW

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vMUQNBjYDbkRlOWbZxkFuWDErHAqPAoVgTuHoy/AogTVA-zkCBYfAofRmgAiuAg+AO1sIaslRFRjVXDT5KpaYCykCQXlRA-w

2nd LB sigil depends on how the new sigils look.

Doing some testing today, 2 LB shots from max range and I took a Backline Ele down to 50% health and made her squirm.

If I can proc sigil of intelligence prior to combat I’ll use that. that way I can just WH 5 and 3 shot the backline Ele.

New GM trait, burst skills now crit for 100%…………………

ya ok Axe now OP

Strider would be good if it was 15% chance to block ALL incoming attacks, not just projectiles,

It might also be good if its within a certain range, so you can get this proc on your skirmishing SB or Axe ranger that likes to fight between 0-500 range.

I do feel that power builds got whacked again which is the wrong direction it needs to go.

I really liked the combine eagle eye and read the wind ideas. I thought of that too when it first came out, others just beat me to posting.

As for striders it seems to be trying to help the power melee builds which have built in evades, Something like “When you evade an attack your next attack crits” would have worked much better.