any rangers use spears?

[free_fall]

I was standing around Kamadan the other day and someone kept asking this. A few people discussed it a bit and I thought this might be a good topic for the forum here.

The one advantage I could see right off would be the ability to carry a shield, giving +16AL and an additional +30H (assuming a +30 spear and a +30 shield).

That and some some nice chants.

[Jetdoc]

Spears provide more raw damage (and armor) than bows, but bows provide more utility in the form of conditions and interrupts than spears (and range, of course).

I've never really relied on my ranger to be a damage per second character, so I rarely use my R/P as a spear chucker.

[makosi]

R/P with a spear is a Packhunter and they're common in Arenas and Hero Battles. They abuse Expertise to spam attack skills with constant IAS and use a dog to chew at their target. They don't use chants/shouts often and don't meet the req. for their shield so they only get the 8 armour bonus.

Gimmicky, but much like a bunny thumper, it's quite effective.

[Windstriker]

R/P with a spear is a Packhunter and they're common in Arenas and Hero Battles. They abuse Expertise to spam attack skills with constant IAS and use a dog to chew at their target. They don't use chants/shouts often and don't meet the req. for their shield so they only get the 8 armour bonus.

Gimmicky, but much like a bunny thumper, it's quite effective. Pretty much what I run if I tend to use a spear. It would be interesting though to focus on the chants and drop the pet but I doubt it would be effective since expertise wouldn't reduce their cost.

[lyra_song]

R/P with a spear is a Packhunter and they're common in Arenas and Hero Battles. They abuse Expertise to spam attack skills with constant IAS and use a dog to chew at their target. They don't use chants/shouts often and don't meet the req. for their shield so they only get the 8 armour bonus.

Gimmicky, but much like a bunny thumper, it's quite effective.

Well you must remember that the Packhunter has been nerfed.

Spear attack speeds used to be MUCH MUCH faster, and shouts used to affect pets as if they were party members.

[Deadlyjunk]

Acolyte Jin uses spears.
Margrid the Sly uses spears.
I mainly see Pyre Fierceshot is mainly seen playing toucher for some reason...

They're quite common in the HvH metagame (if there is such a thing, it's basically A/W or A/R with an occaisonal Mo/A and N/A).

There are also a few interesting PvE builds using rangers and spear attacks, I know a couple of people who play spear dps instead of bow. But as far as (at the risk of getting a severe flam-o-rama in my face) "serious PvP" is concerned, the spearchucking ranger still needs its breakthrough. But I'm all ears (or eyes, to avoid gimmicky forum jokes) for something new!

[Deathly_Overlord]

I used a R/P Spearchucker build on my Ranger, it was very effective and with RaO you chuck those spears pretty fast :D. Works in PvE and PvP, so its extra cool ;)

[notLurker]

I use spear pet build. I use it with Never Rampage Alone (sunspear) with Ferocious Strike [e] to maintain it constantly. Very fun :D

[moko]

R/P with a spear is a Packhunter and they're common in Arenas and Hero Battles. They abuse Expertise to spam attack skills with constant IAS and use a dog to chew at their target. They don't use chants/shouts often and don't meet the req. for their shield so they only get the 8 armour bonus.

Gimmicky, but much like a bunny thumper, it's quite effective.

18 AL* if you get the best out of it. taking +10 AL vs a specific type (well, vs all) would definately rox moar.

Packhunters have been around forever, kinda rock PvE with a nice splinter on them, or a Warmonger on a boss and it's geegee.

Spearchukers can be abused nicely in HvH (in HvH for decent pressure and good survival) and TA for brainless buttonsmash with good results. anything above this completely results on a gimmick (although they do too in TA and HvH).

but anyways..i can imagine a couple of R/P with a rit and some monks to back them up rocking through various areas with ease.

lame but effective, i'm afraid.

[distilledwill]

I always use a R/P Packhunter as my main PvE and PvP build:
Spear Of LightningBlazing SpearMerciless SpearPoisonous BiteTiger's FuryHeal As OneCharm AnimalRun As One or Resurrection Signet

It has great survivability and is easy and fun to run.

I also run similar builds on 2 heroes (with slight variants -discussed in the "Physical Damage Team" thread on the Heroes and AI forum), then a necro (orders, MoP + barbs)
or a rit (Splinter/warmongers) for damage support. Its pretty good at vanquishing due to the high survivability of the packhunters.

[Marverick]

Expert's DexterityBarbed SpearDisrupting ThrowMaiming SpearMerciless SpearLightning ReflexesThrow DirtResurrection Signet

With 79% faster recharge on Disrupting Throw, you can use it after every normal attack for a mass flood of interrupts. Damage is quite good since you're spamming 1/2 activation attacks, which gives an effective artificial IAS.

[cebalrai]

That build looks good, Mav.

[inchino]

Usually you'll have a hex necro with barbs etc to add the damage up you can take targets down quickly.

R/P with a spear is a Packhunter and they're common in Arenas and Hero Battles. They abuse Expertise to spam attack skills with constant IAS and use a dog to chew at their target. They don't use chants/shouts often and don't meet the req. for their shield so they only get the 8 armour bonus.

Gimmicky, but much like a bunny thumper, it's quite effective.