Curse

Zahr Dalsk · Nov 13, 2007, 12:28 AM // 00:28

One day I felt like playing as a Ritualist with a bow in AB, so I made this. Can completely shut down a single caster target when timed properly. Couldn't I have just used a ranger or mesmer interrupter? Sure, I could. Why didn't I? Because I love the Ritualist class.

Short name of this build is the Spirit Sniper.

Rit primary is best but a ranger can do it too. Just replace some stuff as needed.

Ritualist/Ranger

Spawning Power 10
Marksmanship 10
Channeling Magic 11

[skill]Rapid Fire[/skill]
[skill]Keen Arrow[/skill] (optional, any attack is fine, doesn't even need to be an attack skill)
[skill]Power Shot[/skill] (optional, any attack is fine, doesn't even need to be an attack skill)
[skill]Nightmare Weapon[/skill] (optional, Splinter Weapon recommended for utility, also recommended if you're thinking the enemy might try mobbing.)
[skill]Warmonger's Weapon[/skill]
[skill]Sight Beyond Sight[/skill]
[skill]Spirit's Strength[/skill]
[skill]Wielder's Strike[/skill]

Skills template code: OAKjkpiLpSUg4aKGbMXbKbIbFbA

Flatbow (must be flatbow for speed) with +5 energy inscrip and optional bowstring/grip components, recommended to have a set to swap between zealous, elemental, and sundering.

Superior Channeling (or Minor, but longer downtime for WW may not be worth it)
Minor Spawning Power
Vitae
Vitae
Superior Vigor
Radiant on chest and legs
Survivor on others
Channeling headgear

Equipment template code: PkpxbOrjgSqIo5I90Mo5IDLtopItVHopIDrLopITFA

Usage: apply Spirit's Strength, SbS as cover (and blind immunity), Rapid Fire. Apply Warmonger's Weapon just before entering cast distance. Start shooting and interrupting your chosen caster enemy. Monks and elementalists are good candidates to die since elementalists have high damage and shutting them down improves team survivability, and monks of course when interrupted can't heal the enemy team. Spirit spammers also can be targeted, and curse necromancers... anyone, really. Keep an eye on which enemy is giving your team consistent trouble and prioritize in future encounters. Note that WW has a small downtime, reapply enchants or use Wielder's Strike or something during that time and get it back up as quickly as you can.

Counters:
- Damage, of course, since the Ritualist is pretty fragile.
- Block skills, these will prevent your interrupts, so try to interrupt the block skill or spam wielder's strike if this happens.
- No run skills here nor any evident way (to me) to put them in it.

Try to sync so your attacks are constantly hitting their castings since most people will start casting again as soon as interrupted. Use your other weapon spell during the brief Warmonger's Weapon downtime and get it back up as soon as possible. Use Wielder's Strike when they go behind targets, as a finishing move, and during battle to add damage.

Intended for AB where you have a guild team that syncs well and knows everyone's role. Might also work as a shutdown character in an HA team.

Variants:
- For rangers you could take BHA or BA instead of Spirit's Strength, and replace SbS with something else.
- Could take OoS instead of SS for less damage but more energy management.
- Works also as Rt/P with Paragon attacks and a Spear replacing Ranger skills and the bow, less distance but greater accuracy this way.
- The build is very flexible, all you really need is WW and an IAS, but this is the way I found works best for me so far (actually there are probably better ranger attacks, but I didn't really unlock many so I don't know them too well. Please let me know if you have better ideas on them.)
- Ancestor's Rage could replace something there, such as Wielder's Strike.

Constructive advice is appreciated.

Marverick · Nov 13, 2007, 01:28 AM // 01:28

[skill]Needling Shot[/skill] replace one of the bow attacks with this. Will pretty much screw over any caster below 50% health with its fast activation, armor ignoring damage stacked wit SS, and no recharge.

Also I'd use a recurve, lower flight time, more reliable interrupts. Yes it doesn't shoot as fast, but with a flatbow your arc is so high that you won't ever hit a moving target. Maybe carry a shortbow as a swap.

Zahr Dalsk · Nov 13, 2007, 03:42 AM // 03:42

It doesn't need to hit a moving target, since it's for interrupts

and of course the target will stand still to use a skill that has an activation time.

Good call on the skill though, looks like it would work very well. Probably replace Power Shot which has somewhat high cost for low return.

Hong Kong Evil · Nov 13, 2007, 04:01 AM // 04:01

I think you should use spear( faster attack speed=better interrupt) if you accept the shorter range

Zahr Dalsk · Nov 13, 2007, 06:34 AM // 06:34

I do indeed use a spear sometimes, however I find the shorter range restricting as it keeps me closer in battle to the melee enemies. I also like the IAS a Rt/R can use. But it does work.

defect · Nov 13, 2007, 11:29 AM // 11:29

umm...you only have one heal tho(nightmare wep)

so you're either going to be running a lot, or your going to be well...dead

What if you take points out of spawning and put into restoration or even wilderness survival instead?Probably you'll still need to run away but at least you'll live a bit longer

Qdq Swi · Nov 13, 2007, 02:40 PM // 14:40

:S Whats wrong with A/R interupt builds? Far as I can tell theyr a hella lot safer... probably better in the long run too.

Painbringer · Nov 13, 2007, 04:17 PM // 16:17

I don’t know why but I am tempted to try this with [skill]Heket's Rampage[/skill]

Zahr Dalsk · Nov 13, 2007, 08:53 PM // 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qdq Swi

:S Whats wrong with A/R interupt builds? Far as I can tell theyr a hella lot safer... probably better in the long run too.

True, and I've tried them and while they are good, they don't have the capacity to interrupt every single non-attack skill from an enemy. Besides, then I would not be using a Ritualist. Which was one of the primary goals of this build; to create a way for Ritualists to run a complete caster shutdown build.

Quote:

Originally Posted by defect

umm...you only have one heal tho(nightmare wep)

so you're either going to be running a lot, or your going to be well...dead

People who go on 1v1 noob-fests fail at AB. This is a team build. Your healer is going to be doing the healing. Truth be told it's probably safer than being a nuker elementalist, for example, since you can stay farther back.