Curse

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 08:10 PM // 20:10

So is [Burning Arrow] and [Apply Poison] effective in PvE (Mostly NM, maybe HM)?

Try not to get caught up in the other skills, just think whether or not those two skills could be used effectively.

It seems most people would prefer [Barrage] or [Broad Head Arrow]

Taurean · Apr 07, 2009, 08:22 PM // 20:22

I've read [Conjure flame] + [Ignite arrows] + [Incendiary arrows] is a good pve combination.

Archress Shayleigh · Apr 07, 2009, 08:23 PM // 20:23

Yes. They wouldn't definitely work in NM, and with the right build, even in HM. There are better skills, but because you asked not to get caught up with different ones, i'll stick to what i said. Hope this helps u!

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 08:26 PM // 20:26

You can talk about other elites or even elites and skill combinations, but I wanted to avoid getting into a discussion about complete builds, for example D-shot, savage shot, stances, rez's, etc... Taurean is a good example.

TheodenKing · Apr 07, 2009, 08:36 PM // 20:36

[burning arrow]+[apply poison] is very good. If you have a hero with [searing flames], or [they're on fire] you will breeze through most of NM, and some of HM.

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Would you use [Apply Poison] and [Burning Arrow] to just spread poison and burning among foes? Or would a ranger focus on key enemies, like monks or an elementalist to poison, burn & minor spike damage, with interruption? Or a mix of both? And is this a good role for rangers? Or do they serve better in a different support role?

Xenomortis · Apr 07, 2009, 08:46 PM // 20:46

[Burning Arrow] + any other synergising skills will easily get you through most of Normal Mode and probably parts of HM.
[Barrage] is often preferred because it's area of effect and works brilliantly with skills like [Splinter Weapon] and [Mark of Pain]. BA is only single target damage but still has its uses and causes burning for a good duration.

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 08:51 PM // 20:51

I always seemed to have trouble with [Barrage], I often find enemies don't clump that often so more often then not I am just hitting with +18 dmg and not helping the team. I figured [Burning Arrow] and [Apply Poison] allows for spreading of poison (which there ARE more effective skills for doing that), but I can also do a little spike damage to single targets, taking down key enemies. Still not sure which role a Ranger is supposed to fill, and saying they can fill any is just another way of saying they don't have one of their own.

ac1inferno · Apr 07, 2009, 08:56 PM // 20:56

Instead of [[Burning Arrow] and [[Apply Poison], I like [[Incendiary Arrow] and Apply Poison for the AoE. [[Dwarven Stability] and [[Lightning Reflexes] is also a good combination.

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 10:08 PM // 22:08

So are rangers that use poison and burning effective in PvE (effective being the key word, not doable; I am already well aware that PvE can sustain just about any gimmick build) or is Barrage still more useful? I am having trouble understanding the Ranger's place.

ac1inferno · Apr 07, 2009, 10:43 PM // 22:43

AoE is better for PvE than single target, so most people think [[Barrage] for Rangers. But if you want to burn and poison, that can work too, but with [[Incendiary Arrows] and [[Apply Poison] being more effective than [[Burning Arrow] and Apply Poison.

iToasterHD · Apr 07, 2009, 11:01 PM // 23:01

Does that apply poison to 3 foes, or just the first foe it?

EDIT: And this would suggest that an effective use of a Ranger is to spread poison and burning, am I correct? Often I hear Rangers are not meant for damage dealing, yet Barrage/splinter is the most common usage. And with poison, it seems Necro's can spread poison a lot faster and more easily then a ranger. Even interruption can be done better by mesmer, or is the ranger to do a little of both? Gah! I don't know why I have such trouble understanding this game.

riceangel · Apr 07, 2009, 11:12 PM // 23:12

poisons all of them

ac1inferno · Apr 07, 2009, 11:41 PM // 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by iToasterHD

Does that apply poison to 3 foes, or just the first foe it?

EDIT: And this would suggest that an effective use of a Ranger is to spread poison and burning, am I correct? Often I hear Rangers are not meant for damage dealing, yet Barrage/splinter is the most common usage. And with poison, it seems Necro's can spread poison a lot faster and more easily then a ranger. Even interruption can be done better by mesmer, or is the ranger to do a little of both? Gah! I don't know why I have such trouble understanding this game.

It would poison all 3 foes that it hits.

Rangers are good condition pressure so spreading Poison and Burning is effective. Rangers not dealing damage were things of the past until various buffs that lead to a Turret Rangers changed what a Ranger can do. Necromancers don't really condition pressure much. They hex pressure more. Mesmers are good through disruption of casters. Most of their interrupts are for spells and chants while Ranger interrupts can interrupt anything (provided it has a cast time).

All of the above was for PvP. Now in PvE, there really shouldn't be Profession roles since just about anything can work in PvE, but I can't really say that because most PuGs won't take you in unless you have a set in stone build that has been proved to work.

MagmaRed · Apr 07, 2009, 11:58 PM // 23:58

Most anything works in PvE, but my personal favorite is massive spike damage.

[glass arrows][triple shot][asuran scan][conjure frost]

Any conjure works, just depends on what you want/have.

ac1inferno · Apr 08, 2009, 12:42 AM // 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagmaRed

Most anything works in PvE, but my personal favorite is massive spike damage.

[glass arrows][triple shot][asuran scan][conjure frost]

Any conjure works, just depends on what you want/have.

Massive spike damage would only work if it recharges fast enough. With a 10 second recharge on [[Triple Shot], I feel that having AoE would result in more damage being dealt.

iToasterHD · Apr 08, 2009, 03:09 AM // 03:09

So would [Incendiary Arrows] and [Apply Poison] do enough AoE damage (through burning and poison) to match that of [Barrage]? And I am still curious if Rangers could act almost as Assassins in that they take down specific targets and kill them quickly. But I suppose even Sin's have been reduced to AoE damage (in the form of [Moebius Strike]) I guess AoE is just better in PvE.

MagmaRed · Apr 08, 2009, 03:33 AM // 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac1inferno

Massive spike damage would only work if it recharges fast enough. With a 10 second recharge on [[Triple Shot], I feel that having AoE would result in more damage being dealt.

Yes, and you may notice I only listed 4 skills, not a complete bar. [dual shot] and several other skills can easily fill in for a more consistent damage output. However, when things die with 1-2 hits it doesn't need you to do more than move to the next target. And since this isn't solo farming, you certainly have damage coming from the rest of your team. Taking out that pesky Monk or Rit in the back healing the monsters your team is trying to kill is very useful. And if you can kill it before it has time to do anything but blink, it is effective.

AoE damage is by far better with a [barrage]+[splinter weapon] build than a degen build. Degen in PvE isn't terribly useful. So no, in my opinion, the degen from Incendiary and Apply wouldn't match Barrage at all. Even without Splinter, the degen is slow damage, while Barrage is instant. Toss in a weapon spell or a conjure and it jumps even higher, and if you are on a team with someone who can cast a weapon spell on you, use [barrage]+[conjure flame]+[splinter weapon] for serious damage.

Axel Zinfandel · Apr 08, 2009, 03:34 AM // 03:34

If you are going to use Incendiary arrows, I highly advise the use of [Ignite Arrows] instead of [apply poison] because of the damage increase. Condition pressure sucks for PvE because degen generally sucks in PvE

I seem to go against the logic of the rest of PvE when I say that Adjacent range AoE -sucks- in PvE. there are only select areas and mobs that stick together THAT close enough to warrant it's use. It's the reason I could never understand the use of [Barrage] instead of [volley].

Unless the AoE is greater then Adjacent, I tend to go with massive single target damage.

iToasterHD · Apr 08, 2009, 04:14 AM // 04:14

Well Axel, you just stated my issue with Barrage. More often then not I find that groups don't clump and at least not for very long. But it seems to be the general consensus that AoE is best in PvE, not single target take down. However, this may be, in part, due to our failure to have a proper tank. Perhaps with skill, barrage can be amazing.

I can never tell when my lack of skill is having an effect on me.