PvE Ranger Build

[3246251196]

I like my Ranger, but I am still messing with skills and I am researching on the better build. I like to know what people who have been playing for a number of months or years use on their build.

Right now:

Code: R/Mo 20
Armour: Radiant Elite Studded Leather (Black) { 1*Sup Vigor, 1*Sup Marks, 1*Maj WS, 2*Vitae}

Weapon: Sundering Destroyer Longbow of Fortitude {15-28, Rq 9, 20/20, +30, 15^50}

Build (And this is where I need a lot of work because I have not played ranger that well):

-Attribs:

-- 15 Marks (11 + 1 + 3)
-- 12 WS (10 + 2)
-- 7 BS
-- 5 HPrayers

-Skills:

1. Melandru's Arrows;
2. Favourable Winds;
3. Penetrating Attack;
4. Troll Unguent;
5. Storm Chaser;
6. Healing Breeze;
7. Comfort Animal;
8. Charm Animal;

This is very much my current set up. Like I did say I am new to the Ranger thing but I love the profession. Though, the more I have researched the more I have come to realise that people consider Expertise to possibly be THE most important skill to have.

I am wondering if a fellow Ranger could go into more detail about my set up, and consider some changes to be made.

[Etta]

Em...0 point in Expertise for a ranger? Don't bring pet if you're not going to for a beast master build, 7 points in BM your pet won't do much dmg anyway. You don't really need HB at all, Troll Unguent is enough. Put in some interupt, you're ranger for pete sake.

1 sup rune & 1 major rune = - 110 health, not good. Use 1 sup or just 1 major would be better.

[3246251196]

Okay, so because I am a Monk - would anyone recommend any monk skills in the set of skills?

Thanks Etta, but how much Expertise do you think I should use compared to my other attribute points..

EDIT/ALSO: I also heard that rather than interrupting, it is better (for PvE) to have MOBs bleed and be poisoned. However, in PvP this is where interrupts are moreover prefered.

[Sli Ander]

You might get more help if you go over to the Campfire, where there are specific forums for each profession.

But that's just my two cents :ninja:

/edit. As for monk skills, leave monking to the monks, for the most part. Troll Ungeunt will serve you better overall as a self-heal, but since you do have /mo, a hard res can be handy to carry along. It won't measure up to a res with more attr. points invested, but it can save from party wipes or when others have used up their sigs and the monk(s) are dead.

[KANE OG]

Ditch the Monk secondary IMO. Go with Ele or Rit for some nice damage options. Mine used to be Mo secondary just for rebirth, but I've learned to adapt a lot more. You should too.

And you'd better get your expertise points up there or your ranger is basically not living up to his full potential.

KANE

[3246251196]

Okay then guys, thanks for input so far.

How about this:

Att:

-- Expertise 12
-- WS 11
-- Marks 12

Skills:

1. Melandrus Arrows
2. Penetrating Attack
3. Distracting Shot
4. Throw Dirt
5. Whirling Defense
6. Barbed Trap
7. Troll Unguent
8. Storm Chaser (Could replace this)

Is that better?

Also: I do need to unlock more Expertise skills yet! I just made that build with what I had.

[Cebe]

Lesson Number 1: Zero-Expertise = fail. Sounds harsh, but you know what they say...if you catch 'em early.. Expertise is inherent Ranger energy management, you should consider running Expertise between 8-13 in my opinion. The higher the better.

Lesson Number 2: Ranger Forum (http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=209) - lots of Rangers here to give more advice.

As for the runes, yea...too many Major runes or Superior runes mean a lot of health loss, consider using one Superior, or two Majors to spread the attributes out a bit.

8. Storm Chaser (Could replace this)
If you can, consider Natural Stride perhaps.

[Etta]

You can try something basic like, Burning Arrow (E), Distract shot, Savage shot, Apply poison, Lightning Reflexes or Whirling Defense or Natural Stride, Troll Ungeunt, FW or Throw Dirt, res.

And yeah, please do visit the ranger section for more advance couse in builds and tactics.

[3246251196]

Okay, I will view the Ranger section now.

Just FYI my armour has changed:

Rid of {Sup Marks} and {Maj WS}
for: {Maj Marks} and {Maj Exp}

[gsampl4]

Also be sure to look at http://www.pvxwiki.com. Ranger has so may diffrent build combos it will keep you busy for months and months just trying them all out. I would drop the Barbed Trap unless you find yourself getting surrounded by mobs a lot.

[Earth]

You might get more help if you go over to the Campfire, where there are specific forums for each profession.

Indeed. Q&A isn't meant to ask for builds.

[3246251196]

Sorry about this double thread thing.

Could I request that some Mod blends this into the other thread named the same thing OR deletes this one.

[gremlin]

Well I have been all the way through prophesies and factions and almost all the way through nightfall with nary a point in expertise.

Its true its the only way to manage energy properly, that is if you use an energy dependant build which I dont.
When trapping running the pet or interrupting I may use points in expertise.

Standard build that works for me under most conditions with little change.
I use superior runes in my masks so can swap any skill set to 16 quickly in towns

16 pts wilderness survival, rest into marksmanship.
skills
Poison arrow (E) or Poison tip signet
Ignite arrows
Choking gas
Natural stride
troll unguent
antidote signet
Rebirth

The last slot changes all the time depending on local circumstances usually its an interrupting shot from marksmanship.

My energy is fine since my main damage is from ignite arrows which costs 10 but lasts 24 seconds I can also change it to cold damage if I want to with winter.
I can interupt do area effect damage heal myself cure some conditions and res the entire party.
Never understood why people enthuse over barrage as a skill it costs 5 energy is one shot and can be dodged.
Even if they dodge ignite the area effect still hits I can also throw in poison attacks while its running.

[iridescentfyre]

Okay, I will view the Ranger section now.

Just FYI my armour has changed:

Rid of {Sup Marks} and {Maj WS}
for: {Maj Marks} and {Maj Exp}
Personally I use two majors as well, it seems to work awesome.

Yeah, like everyone else said: Expertise is necessary. If you aren't sure exactly how it works, read up on the Wiki article on it. (http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Expertise) True, you could technically get by without Expertise, but it will always make your life as a Ranger easier. There's a reason so many builds use Ranger primary that have nothing to do with being a Ranger. Besides, some of the best survivability skills of the Ranger class are in Expertise.

Furthermore, you should really take a look at a list of Ranger elites and just compare what does what to determine for yourself the worth of each one. I won't tell you Melandru's Arrows is useless if you like using it--it is a game, after all--but you only get one elite slot, its best to make sure you fill it with the best possible option if you want maximum effectiveness. Also, Penetrating Shot is a solid choice, but if it were up to me I'd be taking Keen Arrow or Sloth Hunter's Shot instead.

If you want to keep Monk secondary, the only thing you really should be looking at is Mending Touch in my opinion. But at the very least, think outside the box and choose something that you can't get out of Wilderness Survival and/or isn't what every Wammo in the game is already running.

[3246251196]

Thanks, Irid. I was wondering if some people use Expertise only if it is just for the decrease in Energy for casting skills.

[lennymon]

you may notice that Rangers only have 3 pips of energy regen. We are the *only* profession with 3 and have some insanely expensive skills like
Concussion Shot
The expertise is there to offset the costs and make us be able to function like everyone else. Warriors and Paras have adrenaline (plus Leadership for Paras) as their offset for 2 pips. Everyone else has 4 pips (33% faster energy regeneration) and that is quite a bit. Expertise balances things out efficiently at moderate investment but can really be made freaky at a high investment i.e. with 16 Wilderness and 13 Expertise the amount of high energy spirits and traps that can be laid in a very short period of time is nothing short of awesome. Expertise is not just our compensator, it really makes us FAR more flexible then any other profession in the game. What's more, expertise applies to Rit spirit summon skills, Necro vampiric touch, etc...

There are Ranger builds which don't need Expertise like my lil tanky build:
Obsidian FleshStoneflesh AuraArmor of EarthStone StrikerSerpent's QuicknessTroll UnguentStorm Chaser and Dwarven Stability from the Deldrimore skills. Sometimes I swap out troll for the Asura skill Mental Block
Almost no need for Expertise here, so I run 12 earth and 14 WS about the only useful purpose ANY expertise has here is when I get low on energy I can use Storm Chaser to fill up my energy easier with a lil expertise. Other than that it's not doing anything.


Oh, and that's not even touching on the fact than some of the most seminal ranger skills are in the Expertise line.

[wilebill]

I run the following R/E Lightning build combined with a Paragon hero set up like:

http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Build:P/W_Party_Support which gives the needed extra energy for the ele side of my Lightning Ranger. Plus, if you crank down leadership a bit, add some Command and put GoForTheEyes on the bar, he will increase your critical hits too, not a bad thing.

12 Air Magic
10 Expertise
9 Wilderness Survival
9 Marksmanship

Conjure Lightning
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Strike
Punishing Shot (or your favorite elite)
Distracting Shot
Muddy Terrain (Spirit)
Flame Trap (or Rez or your option)
Troll's Unguent

Does this work? Wow, does it ever! With the P/W_Party_Support feeding me energy, I can blast 'em with lightning (one or two shots per target) and shoot 'em with arrows too! If something is blocking your arrows or making you blind, just zorch them with more lightning! Energy management isn't too critical; I often finish a battle against a group with nearly a full energy bar!

Spirit of Muddy Terrain helps keep mobs with speed boosts out of your face when you are out with heroes and hench. Recommended.

Bow? Any old bow with a Shocking bow string will work fine. I happen to be using a Thornbeard's Hornbow that I had in storage. A Hornbow can be very effective, in spite of general opinion to the contrary.

This same basic matrix will work with the other elements, earth, water, and fire.

[horseradish]

I, personally, wouldn't take the trap, but whatever floats ur boat.

Monk secondary is basically only for Mending Touch and a hard Rez. I've seen Holy Veil too, but you can go Mesmer secondary for epidemic, which is great in Factions. Condition spreading and interrupts are natural for rangers, so i also recommend an interrupt.

Expertise is one of the best primary attributes in the game. Try to take some skills in there. Escape is BEYOND crazy.

Antidote Signet is great too, cuz you're USELESS if you use your bow nd you're blind. Also takes pressure off the proto monks and such.

I like Rit as a secondary. For a while, i've been running Spirit Light and Mend Body & Soul along with Favorable winds and Read the Wind. I've done 100+ damage on the afflicted with the last two skills and Focused Shot, and the 5e heals are great for helping out an idiot wammo who's gone too far from the monks. :mad:

My current build (until i cap Escape) is

Lightning Reflexes
Throw Dirt or Flesh of my Flesh
Focused Shot
Read the Wind
Antidote Signet
Favorable Winds
Spirit Light
Mend Body & Soul

Not a condition spreader or interrupter, but it's a game, and it's a fun, quirky build to run.

[3246251196]

Well like someone said to me, if you going to have any points in BM you may as well go full-whak or not at all.

Right now I am testing out a beast master build which is working fairly well. Of course, I am going full-whak so I do not even have space for secondary profession skills anyway.

[Tyla]

you may notice that Rangers only have 3 pips of energy regen. We are the *only* profession with 3 and have some insanely expensive skills like
Concussion Shot
The expertise is there to offset the costs and make us be able to function like everyone else. Warriors and Paras have adrenaline (plus Leadership for Paras) as their offset for 2 pips. Everyone else has 4 pips (33% faster energy regeneration) and that is quite a bit. Expertise balances things out efficiently at moderate investment but can really be made freaky at a high investment i.e. with 16 Wilderness and 13 Expertise the amount of high energy spirits and traps that can be laid in a very short period of time is nothing short of awesome. Expertise is not just our compensator, it really makes us FAR more flexible then any other profession in the game. What's more, expertise applies to Rit spirit summon skills, Necro vampiric touch, etc...

There are Ranger builds which don't need Expertise like my lil tanky build:
Obsidian FleshStoneflesh AuraArmor of EarthStone StrikerSerpent's QuicknessTroll UnguentStorm Chaser and Dwarven Stability from the Deldrimore skills. Sometimes I swap out troll for the Asura skill Mental Block
Almost no need for Expertise here, so I run 12 earth and 14 WS about the only useful purpose ANY expertise has here is when I get low on energy I can use Storm Chaser to fill up my energy easier with a lil expertise. Other than that it's not doing anything.


Oh, and that's not even touching on the fact than some of the most seminal ranger skills are in the Expertise line.

i use a tank build similar:P(oh yeah....isnt the symbol for armour of earth the symbol for kinetic armour?:S)

[3246251196]

The only problem I have found with a bestmaster build is that there seems to be a lack of healing/health-regen.

I mean, I use Predatory Bond but it is not brilliant.

I would use Companionship, however, I do not have GWEN.

Any suggestions (other than, do not use a Beast build)

[The Shelf]

Have you tried Heal As One? It's an elite, so you won't be able to take Enraged Lunge or anything like that, but I don't think Enraged Lunge is that necessary for a BM build anyway. Heal As One is a lot better than Companionship. I do recommend getting GW:EN anyway if you get the chance, though, because Feral Aggression is a must, imo. Anyway, between Heal As One and Predatory Bond, that should be all the healing you need, but if you're still hurting, you might try bringing an Expertise stance.

[furanshisuko]

i got a nice b/p pve build for r/x

i dont remember the exact atributes cant open gw atm "im working"
main atribute would be for barrage skill wat ever that's called :P

distracting shot
barrage
savage shot
winnowing
poison bite
confort animal
rez
enchant animal

[Stormlord Alex]

Any suggestions (other than, do not use a Beast build)
Heya. I'm a Monk.
Learn to kite, don't fill your bar with crappy self-heals, and do some real disruption/damage; and I'll worry about the red bar. kk?

[3246251196]

Yeah, I agree with Stormlord - I do feel that a BeastMaster build relies quite heavily on a Monk, especially without Heal-As-One and Companionship.

Right now:

1. Read The Wind
2. Penetrating Attack
3. Predatory Bond (The best BM healing I can do RIGHT NOW)
4. Feral Lunge
5. Scavenger Strike
6. Viper's Nest
7. Comfort Animal
8. Charm Animal

14 BeastMastery
12 Marksmanship
8 Expertise

I am considering upping Expertise and thus taking some off of Marksmanship. I do need to get more Attrib Points as I am a newish level 20. Therefore, I need to do some quests for that.

Having tested it out I am doing pretty nice damage - My bow generally hits for 40-80 with my pet hitting for 40-70.

I do not know how to find out what my DMG per Second is, however.

[Stormlord Alex]

Out on the Nameless Isles, outside the Great Temple of Balthazar (PvP zone), there's a Master of Damage, somewhere.
Keep whacking on him and he'll tell you how much damage you do.

[3246251196]

I am wondering if any of you know something similar to Companionship?

Or is healAsOne the only other one as good?