Curse

True Dreamer · Mar 21, 2012, 06:35 AM // 06:35

New to game and wanna know if they are good(good damage and surv). I catch on quickly so if its difficult ill learn. Ive always played archer classes in games and they tend to be very good hope its the case here as well

_Aphotic_ · Mar 21, 2012, 07:06 AM // 07:06

That's a really broad question.

Long story short:
-Aside from gimmicks or full-team builds, all of their builds are incapable of dealing near the amount of damage other classes can (reliant on conditions/heath degen)
-For raw damage in PvP, use a Burning Arrow or an R/P Enraged Spear Chucker build.
-If you actually want to get anywhere/a name with a Ranger in PvP- get good at interrupting- it's the only role they can do better than other classes; it's the only competent role for them sought in PvP.
-Great survivability... but not the best.

sun strike · Mar 21, 2012, 07:38 AM // 07:38

you need good ping(under 150 atleast) to play a ranger effectively because some skills need to be rupted on recharge to bring full potential of the class.

you need to spread poison to keep dps high, burning arrow is average compared to magebane and melshot, which is an unblockable interrupt with a additional 10 second disabled and for the latter which does cripple and bleed and damage with a decent activation.

pets are useless everywhere except for 4v4 formats( random arenas and codex) and sometimes used in heroes ascent.

Mesmers are much better at shutdown than a ranger, rangers are a jack of all trades, decent survivability, decent dps when played correctly and has some of the best disabling skills but the latter depends on your ping due to flight time of arrows and your reaction time, also great mobility.

depeche · Mar 21, 2012, 07:48 AM // 07:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Dreamer

New to game and wanna know if they are good(good damage and surv). I catch on quickly so if its difficult ill learn. Ive always played archer classes in games and they tend to be very good hope its the case here as well

Short answer : Yes.

Long(er) answer :
Speaking from the viewpoint of a GvG-er :
The ranger is one of the most versatile professions in Guild Wars.
A good ranger :
* controls the field
* interrupts key skills
* spreads conditions (poison, bleeding, cripple)
* can flagpush hard and still survive

At the moment the best build (imo) for a ranger in GvG (or RA) is the melandru shot build.

Missing HB · Mar 21, 2012, 12:54 PM // 12:54

Posts above don't take into account that you're a beginner. Ranger will be useful in organized formats, but only if you're warmed enough and experienced. If you can interupt resurection skills, spread poison, and interupt other key skills( something which might not be easy, especially when most earth eles( example) are camping a 40/40 set), then you will be very useful...

Generally, ranger can be good in JQ/FA because you can kill targets without getting hit, kill juggernauts/turtles easily.. You need to rely more on conditions than pure damage, spirits, or pet skills..

tealspikes · Mar 23, 2012, 04:31 AM // 04:31

Rangers are valued in PvP, but not for their damage. Anet doesn't want rangers doing damage - every build that has allowed rangers to significant dps with a bow has been nerfed hard.

In serious PvP, Rangers' primary duties are poison spreading and interruption. In GvG they are also responsible for movement control. However, the ability to interrupt is what sets good rangers apart from the mediocre ones. If you have a high latency, I would recommend you try something else.

Gabs88 · Mar 23, 2012, 04:58 AM // 04:58

Not to mentioned that even if your ping is awesome. You also need to be a very experienced player to do good as a ranger. Because you need to instantly recognize the skills in game, judge the field and decide who deserves your attention. Do you shut down the elementalist? Or the monk? Or do you make sure the mesmer doesn't get diversion off?

superraptors · Mar 23, 2012, 10:16 AM // 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealspikes

Rangers are valued in PvP, but not for their damage. Anet doesn't want rangers doing damage - every build that has allowed rangers to significant dps with a bow has been nerfed hard.

In serious PvP, Rangers' primary duties are poison spreading and interruption. In GvG they are also responsible for movement control. However, the ability to interrupt is what sets good rangers apart from the mediocre ones. If you have a high latency, I would recommend you try something else.

poison is damage/dps, you can do the math and it is also the reason why they are valued, you basically contradicted yourself.

I Jonas I · Mar 23, 2012, 04:23 PM // 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Aphotic_

That's a really broad question.

Long story short:
-Aside from gimmicks or full-team builds, all of their builds are incapable of dealing near the amount of damage other classes can (reliant on conditions/heath degen)
-For raw damage in PvP, use a Burning Arrow or an R/P Enraged Spear Chucker build.
-If you actually want to get anywhere/a name with a Ranger in PvP- get good at interrupting- it's the only role they can do better than other classes; it's the only competent role for them sought in PvP.
-Great survivability... but not the best.

Yes and No. Yes you are correct that rangers don't do the best damage (although there are a few pet builds that do scary DPS with little to no burst potential), and that most of the damage that they do do comes from the conditions that they inflict. And yes you are correct that ranger interrupts have the lowest cooldown in the game (outside of PD, but that doesn't really count).

But to say that that is the only role that rangers have in PvP is wrong. A crippling shot ranger when played correctly can dictate the entire pace of the game and demand a response from the other team. The survivability and movement control when combined with the interrupt, IMS, and condition removal present on the standard cripshot template provides utility unlike anything that any other bar in GW's history can provide

InStars · Mar 24, 2012, 02:24 PM // 14:24

You just have to predict enemy monk movements and rupt their Patient Spirit and WoH

Rangers are good at that...

Wilton Payce · Apr 13, 2012, 09:21 PM // 21:21

Im a ranger person and I hate following the meta builds and what not, right now, Ive been using a build that can deal about 88 damage a second using needling shot

its fun, easy, though it doesnt have heals so you need a monk, but the only way to counter is to block and blind, but thats for anything physical damage. I also can spam needling shot forever since I can never run out of energy, and I mean never the skill I use prevents it. Its R/D btw