Ranger with a secondary.. - Guild Wars Forums

ub3rjosh · Sep 24, 2006, 03:11 PM // 15:11

I want to know whats a great secondary class for a Ranger since ive always been a fan of Ranging ever since Runescape lmao but whats a good Contrasting 2cnd class

The Pointless · Sep 24, 2006, 03:25 PM // 15:25

Really, the secondary depends on whatever floats your boat. Most would probably say Monk, but Mesmer's a personal favourite for me (A trip to Profession Changer is in order when my R/Mo gets Ascended).

I'd be careful about choosing Necromancer though. A lot of people associate R/Ns with the dreaded Touch Ranger build that's a nasty thing to be on the receiving end of in PvP.

Kazuya Lightbearer · Sep 24, 2006, 03:26 PM // 15:26

The main ranger 2ndarys i've always seen have been Necro, Mesmer, and Ele.
Me personally I like the ele for its conjure spells like lightning and fire and other elements.

Age · Sep 24, 2006, 04:28 PM // 16:28

Mine is a R/N and no I don't use a lot of Necro spells like a touchie and yes/ Mo isn't bad if you may have to res. henchies.I usually through death nova on Alesia and used wells.It doesn't matter about your secoundary really as it is just for unlocks for pvp.That is the whole reason for a secoundary so you can make pvp char. up.

Kook~NBK~ · Sep 24, 2006, 10:39 PM // 22:39

A mesmer secondary is a good one for e-management, which is quite important for trapper builds. I didn't care for Elemenatalist as a secondary, because the energy available to rangers limits the usefulness and effectiveness of most Ele skills - unless you're using an ele staff with +10 or more energy, but even then it's still not a great improvement.

Nestaron · Sep 24, 2006, 11:11 PM // 23:11

Monk for PVE(Purely for unlimited res which is a huge plus in PVE, especially as a Ranger as your usually one of the last party members alive. That doesn't mean your any less effective in the damage, support or energy management area. Rangers are very self sufficent and can be just as effective as sole skill class than a Ranger with a Mes or Ele skills.)

Ele/Mes/Nec/War for PVP(unlimited res isn't majorly important in PVP so it's best to choose a profession that can tork up a little more damage against more challenging foes)

Painbringer · Sep 25, 2006, 05:18 PM // 17:18

PVE – Ranger/Elementalist- Conjure Flame- Enchantment +1-13 dmg for 60 seconds, Barrage +1-13 dmg on up to six adjacent foes add any stance and use The Forgerunner (Firebow) +15% dmg while in stance Customize it for 20% more dmg (it is a cheap bow 10k or so)

Or

Ranger/Necromancer- Flesh golem running around with a level 20 pet this would be a fun solo farming build

TwinRaven · Sep 26, 2006, 06:29 PM // 18:29

Always consider HOW you want to play before deciding WHAT you want to play. There are a huge number of builds out their suited for various purposes. A few of them have been listed already, and there are many opinions stated here and throughout the forum. Here's a quick summary of what I've learned from personal experience playing the same ranger since beta:

R/Mo: Good general purpose ranger with extended options for self preservation esp. in running builds where hexes AND conditions need removal, Mending has its advantages and Rebirth allows the running party to keep from losing memers (esp. in Raisu Palace runs in Cantha)...

R/Rt Same as the R/Mo, but with interesting advantages in chest running when it comes to healing and dealing with conditions and hexes (with the right skills(actually:"weapon" spells), hexes and conditions improve your armor AND cause regen instead of degen). Dropping ashes (Generous was ...uh...what's-his-face) is a great spammable insta-heal that can be sed effectively.

R/W Not always what you might expect...from the ViM trapper that uses conditions caused by traps to give spikes in health and energy, to the Bunny-Thumper (hammer build) and other melee builds...these are often up-close ad personal damage dealers that can take advantage of the decent armor of a ranger AND energy management of skills through the primary attribute "Expertise"...huge variety, but for advanced players who know this is a hit-and-run build more than the Tanker so many mistake it for.

R/A Trade in your ability (primary attribute) for critical hits and gain energy management for skills and better armor as a dagger-weilding fool. While some play this combo as melee effectively (even featured as a pre-made template)...I have little patience for it personally. That said, Assassin skills can be used effectively in offensive trapper builds...teleport to your target, set traps, teleport out...anoying as hell, but deals less damage than a pure trapper.

R/Me The classic interruptor combo. Ideal for shutting down casters and annoying the hell outta everyone else. Want to cause grief without being a griefer...well...there you are.

R/N Unfortunatley assocated with the "Touch Ranger" and all its controversy, this is a great secondary for conditions and condition removal...Plague Touch, Plague Sending, Plague Signet are all great fun...If you like the idea of spreading poison, disease, bleeding, blindness, etc...a necro secondary can be used. Curses can increase the effectiveness of certain bow attacks as well. Pet builds with minions are not all they are cracked up to be...energy management prevents them from beig as effective as some might suggest...Pet builds based on conditions, however, can be a lot of fun...Poisonous Bite followed by the elite Virulence...ouch. Offering of Blood is a great elite for energy boosts (not just for touchers, but for trappers as well).

R/E There are, of course, ways of buffing your bow attacks for shocking, cold, and fire damage...but at the higher cost of many ele skills/spells you must choose wisely. I picked ele as my very first secondary and soon learned to play as a pure ranger, ignoring the secondary class all-together...I did defeat my doppleganger by dropping Meteor Shower on her head...but rarely had occasion to call upon the skills of the elementalist.

as for R/P and R/D...I can see I have some playing around to do before forming an opinion...I spent some good number of hours playing a Dervish and can see that there may be room in my heart for a scythe-weilding ranger...but that will have to be left for another day...

Guildwiki is your friend, here. Go check out the build combinations listed there...they are not fully comprehensive, but they do list builds that are considered viable or have fallen from favor in the general community as well as template and pre-made builds.

The best advice I can give you is to decide HOW you want to play and then decide WHAT you want to play...Can't decide? Experiment...it'll only cost you time.

Have Fun!!

Sep 24, 2006, 03:11 PM // 15:11	#1
ub3rjosh Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Sep 2006	Ranger with a secondary.. I want to know whats a great secondary class for a Ranger since ive always been a fan of Ranging ever since Runescape lmao but whats a good Contrasting 2cnd class

Sep 24, 2006, 03:25 PM // 15:25	#2
The Pointless Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Stuck in the UK Guild: Rage International [RAGE] Profession: W/Me	Really, the secondary depends on whatever floats your boat. Most would probably say Monk, but Mesmer's a personal favourite for me (A trip to Profession Changer is in order when my R/Mo gets Ascended). I'd be careful about choosing Necromancer though. A lot of people associate R/Ns with the dreaded Touch Ranger build that's a nasty thing to be on the receiving end of in PvP.

Sep 24, 2006, 03:26 PM // 15:26	#3
Kazuya Lightbearer Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Sep 2006 Guild: Your Demise is Inevitable (UDie) Profession: Mo/Me	The main ranger 2ndarys i've always seen have been Necro, Mesmer, and Ele. Me personally I like the ele for its conjure spells like lightning and fire and other elements.

Sep 24, 2006, 04:28 PM // 16:28	#4
Age Hall Hero Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California Canada/BC Guild: STG Administrator Profession: Mo/	Mine is a R/N and no I don't use a lot of Necro spells like a touchie and yes/ Mo isn't bad if you may have to res. henchies.I usually through death nova on Alesia and used wells.It doesn't matter about your secoundary really as it is just for unlocks for pvp.That is the whole reason for a secoundary so you can make pvp char. up.

Sep 24, 2006, 10:39 PM // 22:39	#5
Kook~NBK~ Grotto Attendant Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A little chalet outside Drok's Guild: Natural Born Killaz	A mesmer secondary is a good one for e-management, which is quite important for trapper builds. I didn't care for Elemenatalist as a secondary, because the energy available to rangers limits the usefulness and effectiveness of most Ele skills - unless you're using an ele staff with +10 or more energy, but even then it's still not a great improvement.

Sep 24, 2006, 11:11 PM // 23:11	#6
Nestaron Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Guild: Banished Dragons Profession: A/	Monk for PVE(Purely for unlimited res which is a huge plus in PVE, especially as a Ranger as your usually one of the last party members alive. That doesn't mean your any less effective in the damage, support or energy management area. Rangers are very self sufficent and can be just as effective as sole skill class than a Ranger with a Mes or Ele skills.) Ele/Mes/Nec/War for PVP(unlimited res isn't majorly important in PVP so it's best to choose a profession that can tork up a little more damage against more challenging foes)

Sep 25, 2006, 05:18 PM // 17:18	#7
Painbringer Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota Guild: Black Widows of Death Profession: W/Mo	PVE – Ranger/Elementalist- Conjure Flame- Enchantment +1-13 dmg for 60 seconds, Barrage +1-13 dmg on up to six adjacent foes add any stance and use The Forgerunner (Firebow) +15% dmg while in stance Customize it for 20% more dmg (it is a cheap bow 10k or so) Or Ranger/Necromancer- Flesh golem running around with a level 20 pet this would be a fun solo farming build

Sep 26, 2006, 06:29 PM // 18:29	#8
TwinRaven Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Apr 2005 Profession: W/	Always consider HOW you want to play before deciding WHAT you want to play. There are a huge number of builds out their suited for various purposes. A few of them have been listed already, and there are many opinions stated here and throughout the forum. Here's a quick summary of what I've learned from personal experience playing the same ranger since beta: R/Mo: Good general purpose ranger with extended options for self preservation esp. in running builds where hexes AND conditions need removal, Mending has its advantages and Rebirth allows the running party to keep from losing memers (esp. in Raisu Palace runs in Cantha)... R/Rt Same as the R/Mo, but with interesting advantages in chest running when it comes to healing and dealing with conditions and hexes (with the right skills(actually:"weapon" spells), hexes and conditions improve your armor AND cause regen instead of degen). Dropping ashes (Generous was ...uh...what's-his-face) is a great spammable insta-heal that can be sed effectively. R/W Not always what you might expect...from the ViM trapper that uses conditions caused by traps to give spikes in health and energy, to the Bunny-Thumper (hammer build) and other melee builds...these are often up-close ad personal damage dealers that can take advantage of the decent armor of a ranger AND energy management of skills through the primary attribute "Expertise"...huge variety, but for advanced players who know this is a hit-and-run build more than the Tanker so many mistake it for. R/A Trade in your ability (primary attribute) for critical hits and gain energy management for skills and better armor as a dagger-weilding fool. While some play this combo as melee effectively (even featured as a pre-made template)...I have little patience for it personally. That said, Assassin skills can be used effectively in offensive trapper builds...teleport to your target, set traps, teleport out...anoying as hell, but deals less damage than a pure trapper. R/Me The classic interruptor combo. Ideal for shutting down casters and annoying the hell outta everyone else. Want to cause grief without being a griefer...well...there you are. R/N Unfortunatley assocated with the "Touch Ranger" and all its controversy, this is a great secondary for conditions and condition removal...Plague Touch, Plague Sending, Plague Signet are all great fun...If you like the idea of spreading poison, disease, bleeding, blindness, etc...a necro secondary can be used. Curses can increase the effectiveness of certain bow attacks as well. Pet builds with minions are not all they are cracked up to be...energy management prevents them from beig as effective as some might suggest...Pet builds based on conditions, however, can be a lot of fun...Poisonous Bite followed by the elite Virulence...ouch. Offering of Blood is a great elite for energy boosts (not just for touchers, but for trappers as well). R/E There are, of course, ways of buffing your bow attacks for shocking, cold, and fire damage...but at the higher cost of many ele skills/spells you must choose wisely. I picked ele as my very first secondary and soon learned to play as a pure ranger, ignoring the secondary class all-together...I did defeat my doppleganger by dropping Meteor Shower on her head...but rarely had occasion to call upon the skills of the elementalist. as for R/P and R/D...I can see I have some playing around to do before forming an opinion...I spent some good number of hours playing a Dervish and can see that there may be room in my heart for a scythe-weilding ranger...but that will have to be left for another day... Guildwiki is your friend, here. Go check out the build combinations listed there...they are not fully comprehensive, but they do list builds that are considered viable or have fallen from favor in the general community as well as template and pre-made builds. The best advice I can give you is to decide HOW you want to play and then decide WHAT you want to play...Can't decide? Experiment...it'll only cost you time. Have Fun!!