Curse

Zethy · Jul 10, 2009, 05:55 PM // 17:55

What are the best mods for a bow?

LMK if this is the wrong place to post such a question.

Grim Aragorn · Jul 10, 2009, 06:45 PM // 18:45

depending on ur build its different, but u really cant go wrong with vamp/sundering 15^50 and fort mod use sundering if ur ur running a prepared shot sundering/penetrating attack build.

SpyderArachnid · Jul 10, 2009, 07:07 PM // 19:07

Like the poster above, it all depends on what you are running.

The normal basic good bow is Sundering (something) (type)bow of Fortitude. That's your 20/20 Armor penetration, 15^50 or Strength and Honor inscription, with a +30 HP Bow grip.

Now if you're an Ele that uses a bow, you can make use out of your element. Get yourself Conjure Lightning, Conjure Flame, etc etc, and use a Shocking Bow String or a Fiery Bowstring for the extra damage, instead of a Sundering Bow string.

If you find yourself eating alot of energy, get a Zealous Bowstring. This way, while you're waiting for your Energy to come back, you can auto attack for extra energy.

Also if you're a Mesmer using a bow, I'd suggest getting a "Too Much Information" Inscription instead of Strength and Honor. I use Hexes all the time and with Ether Nightmare and Barrage, it helps out alot.

Those are just some ideas for ya. But the basic bow is the one stated at the top. That's the "perfect" bow that everyone uses. Hope this helps.

IronSheik · Jul 10, 2009, 07:29 PM // 19:29

My PvE ranger has about 15 bows, 4 longs, 4 flats, 3 shorts, rest recurves.

Each version has a vamp/sunder/Vamp/Zealous, all 15^50

Recurves of mine have different bowstrings (Silencing, fire, earth, etc) because I run such a variety of builds, so as above posters, you use for what build you have.

For barrage, vamp/zealous, Turret you use sundering, etc.

Captain Bulldozer · Jul 10, 2009, 07:55 PM // 19:55

It certainly depends on your build, but I personally find the sundering is a waste. I'd much rather go for either Zealous or Vampiric (both are great when using Barrage/Volley for example). Fortitude is a given, as.. let's face it.... not much reason to use something besides that. For the inscription, a lot of people seem to prefer a 15^50, but I find that extra damage to be minimal, especially in hard mode. I personally prefer a +5 energy inscription, to make using those PvE only skills easier to use, or just to spam more bow attacks.

_Nihilist_ · Jul 11, 2009, 01:02 AM // 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Bulldozer

It certainly depends on your build, but I personally find the sundering is a waste. I'd much rather go for either Zealous or Vampiric (both are great when using Barrage/Volley for example). Fortitude is a given, as.. let's face it.... not much reason to use something besides that. For the inscription, a lot of people seem to prefer a 15^50, but I find that extra damage to be minimal, especially in hard mode. I personally prefer a +5 energy inscription, to make using those PvE only skills easier to use, or just to spam more bow attacks.

Say what?

A +5e inscription is only going to help you at the beginning of a fight. Sure, you have 5 more Energy. While it might seem like a lot, a higher Expertise might be more beneficial to you. Expertise reduces the energy cost of skills - Traps, Preparations, Attack skills - and is going to far outdo any extra Energy you toss on.

Now... go for the 15^50 inscription. That's 15% more base damage from your Bow. 15-28*1.15 = 17.25-32.2 base damage while your HP is over 50%; that's a minimum increase of 2 damage per hit, a maximum increase of 4 damage per hit, which isn't even counting a Critical (28*1.41*1.15 = 45.4, increase of 6 damage over a normal Critical). As a Ranger, you have 70AL (10AL more than any Caster), and you are fighting at range (if you are using a Longbow or Flatbow, you will be further away than any Caster), so there is no reason that you shouldn't be getting your bonus damage because you shouldn't be under (or even near) 50% health at any time if you are positioned correctly in your engagements.

How many arrows do you think you're going to be firing in a Zone? At +2dmg per arrow (minimum) if you fire off 30 shots, that's an additional 60 damage (minimum); take into account your Critical Hit rate (~17% give or take with 12 in Marksmanship) and 5 of those arrows would hit for +6dmg each - that would take your tally to 80 damage over what you would normally do. A +5e inscription isn't going to net you an additional 60 to 80 damage in the 1 to 2 shots it's going to give you, and saying you'll only fire 30 arrows in a Zone is a ridiculously low estimate in the first place, not to mention that's saying that 25 of your attacks hit minimum damage and the other 5 hit a Critical. If I actually did the math including the average base damage + Critical %, the minimum would be above 60, and the max would be over 80, but again, that's only for 30 shots fired...

OP:

Stick with a 15^50 inscription. It's hands down the best you're going to get. Other than that, +30hp is the standard Bow Grip to upgrade with, and a Zealous, Vampiric, and possibly Sundering or Elemental strings.

If you customize the Bow you are using (don't do this is you are planning or thinking about possibly selling the bow), you'll gain an additional +20% damage as well.

**Marty Silverblade** · Jul 11, 2009, 02:12 AM // 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrael_Eveningsong

How many arrows do you think you're going to be firing in a Zone?

Just highlighting this point. If you're using Barrage or Volley, an extra 2-4 damage ends up stacking up quite quickly.

Euphemism · Jul 11, 2009, 05:23 AM // 05:23

Is +30 hp better than the +5 armor? Especially if you're already runed up with a bunch of survivor runes, plus vigor?

moriz · Jul 11, 2009, 05:42 AM // 05:42

15/50 as default, switch to a +5e if your energy gets low enough. with expertise thrown into the mix, that's equivalent of getting +12ish energy.

WhiteAsIce · Jul 11, 2009, 06:23 AM // 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euphemism

Is +30 hp better than the +5 armor? Especially if you're already runed up with a bunch of survivor runes, plus vigor?

More armor only saves you from damage that can be reduced, it doesn't save you from damage that ignores armor. More health will save you from everything... except sacrificing, which mostly happens to touch rangers, who have Radiant armor anyways.
If you must have more armor, Shelter > Defense. Rangers already have obscene elemental defense, so just opt for Shelter for that extra bit of +2 physical armor.

Tenebrae · Jul 11, 2009, 08:48 AM // 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteAsIce

More armor only saves you from damage that can be reduced, it doesn't save you from damage that ignores armor. More health will save you from everything... except sacrificing, which mostly happens to touch rangers, who have Radiant armor anyways.
If you must have more armor, Shelter > Defense. Rangers already have obscene elemental defense, so just opt for Shelter for that extra bit of +2 physical armor.

Yeah , that coupled with Explorer insignia is what im using right now.

Redvex · Jul 12, 2009, 09:02 AM // 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Bulldozer

It certainly depends on your build, but I personally find the sundering is a waste. I'd much rather go for either Zealous or Vampiric (both are great when using Barrage/Volley for example). Fortitude is a given, as.. let's face it.... not much reason to use something besides that. For the inscription, a lot of people seem to prefer a 15^50, but I find that extra damage to be minimal, especially in hard mode. I personally prefer a +5 energy inscription, to make using those PvE only skills easier to use, or just to spam more bow attacks.

Agree.
Pve skills that are normaly 3 on a bar it's not influenced by expertise so +5 energy may be useful especially in hm.
Customize the bow than you have +20% dmg that substitute 15^50 better.
In any case 15^50 is not a wrong choice.

Kendel · Jul 13, 2009, 04:04 AM // 04:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteAsIce

More armor only saves you from damage that can be reduced, it doesn't save you from damage that ignores armor. More health will save you from everything... except sacrificing, which mostly happens to touch rangers, who have Radiant armor anyways.
If you must have more armor, Shelter > Defense. Rangers already have obscene elemental defense, so just opt for Shelter for that extra bit of +2 physical armor.

More health only helps you when your nearly dead. More armour helps you the moment you take armour effected damage and can easily count up to more than 30. Depends whether you can be arsed to weapon switch as you take more damage.

But wtf is the point in taking a +5e mod. If your burning through energy so fast thanks to your PvE skills +5e won't make the slightest bit of difference. You need to stop spamming and/or get better energy management (ie Prepared Shot). As something like Asuran Scan goes, a good choice of PvE skill on Ranger, 15^50 combined with Dual or Triple Shot and upto 75% more damage adds up alo.

Hugh Manatee · Jul 13, 2009, 03:36 PM // 15:36

I have a "high" bow, it's gotten me quite a few emergency D-Shots or savage shots, very useful if damage isn't the main goal.

_Nihilist_ · Jul 13, 2009, 09:22 PM // 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Manatee

I have a "high" bow, it's gotten me quite a few emergency D-Shots or savage shots, very useful if damage isn't the main goal.

The difference here Hugh is that you have a Bow specifically for swapping to when your energy is low, just like most casters carry a "high" or "emergency" set. That's fine, but sitting on a +5e Bow rather than a 15^50 Bow is a mistake. Sacrificing the extra damage (even if it is only +2dmg on the low end) over the course of a Zone is going to lower your effective DPS and total efficiency by quite a bit.

gw_poster · Jul 14, 2009, 12:44 AM // 00:44

bow grips can be equally important as bow strings, depending upon the situation...for example, when fighting charr - I much prefer my zealous recurve bow of charrslaying over one of fortitude. The +25% vs. charr (nerfed to 20% since 2007) will definitely be more beneficial than the +30hp, imo...(that with EBSoH and EVSS makes charr very unhappy). Same can be said for a pruning grip (+20% vs. plants), which comes in handy when doing Urgoz or FoW forest, for instance. I also have a deathbane bow for undead. Also, there's a lot to be said for customizing weapons...the extra 20% can make a big difference too (I customize all of my hero's weapons as well)...gl

_Nihilist_ · Jul 14, 2009, 02:07 AM // 02:07

Good point poster. If a person is comfortable enough doing so (and seeing as how you should be outside range of most aggro anyways), I'd agree with using the +20% damage vs. [enemy type] Bow Grips if you happen to have them. Not taking advantage of the potential extra damage is... sad.

Tenebrae · Jul 14, 2009, 10:53 AM // 10:53

Well if you are into doing damage thats a general advice that can be given on any weapon ( or shield if you are into defense ). I think thats inside the "suit your build , style and equipment for the thing you are going to do" that any player should do ...... part of that uncommon "common sense" lol .
Ofc , doing orr with some smitters that are going to buff you with JI , equip a 20/20 custom bow +20% vs undead , some IAS and asura scan for laugh and big numbers.

tasha · Jul 14, 2009, 11:41 AM // 11:41

If you're going for damage, surely you should be using a vampiric hornbow?

This thread has been helpful in outlining how you should tailor bows to your bar but most people, unless they really get into ranger won't have a huge array that I'm sure many that have posted here have (or indeed have said). And even those who do, I'm sure only use 4-5 over the course of a week unless they're running an unusually wide variety of bars. Yes, I used to have charrslaying and undead specific bows that I would keep in my storage, but 8/10 times I'd forget to think about it and leave them behind. Did my team miss the damage? Nope, I can still interrupt and do a fair amount of damage with the ones I carry with me.

In my experience, all you really need are a couple of recurve bows (one silencing for BHA, one other depending on your bar, poison perhaps), a vampiric hornbow, a sundering flatbow and maybe a longbow or defensive set (I've had to play tank a few times cos the warrior died in an awkward place and no one had rebirth). If you intend to Conjure Barrage, then get an elemental bow, otherwise don't worry about it. Yes that set won't have you tailored for every eventuality but it will do for most builds.

IronSheik · Jul 14, 2009, 03:27 PM // 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tasha_darke

If you're going for damage, surely you should be using a vampiric hornbow?

Slowest bow, the attack speed lost by it isn't worth the 10% Pent. Vamp hornbows stay in pvp. Vamp flat/shortbow would give most DPS if all hit, unless you're running high single target spike, then sundering might sneak in there.