Curse

uby · May 09, 2007, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Hey rangers,

This is my first odd-skilled ranger, and I didn't find this build as I looked around. Tell me what you think!

R/Rt
Expertise: 11 + 1 + <Choice Rune>
Beast Mastery: <Choice Rune>
Communing: 10
Channeling: 10

Skills:
Oath Shot
Energizing Wind
Painful Bond
Bloodsong
Anguish
Pain
Anguished was Lingwah
<Option slot>

Usage:
Setup with Energizing Wind. Even at low Beast Mastery, it will be up long enough for you to save energy on your binding rituals.
Cast your binding rituals. (You will have 3 spirits summoned, plus a fourth once you drop Lingwah's ashes.)
Cast Painful Bond on the enemies.

This allows for 4 spirits to attack for fairly substantial armor ignoring damage.

Here's the fun part:
Now, switch to a bow and use Oath Shot on a stationary target. Assuming it hits, you now have recharged your rituals (circumventing the energizing wind issue)! For added oomph, summon more spirits and (likely) recast painful bond.

The optional slot can be used for energy management via Siphon Spirit (basically 5 net energy every 3 seconds), heals, rez, whatever the situation might call for. You might find that you can also substitute one of the spirits for one of these utility spells.

Healing is not really needed, since you should be pretty far removed from the frontline and you shouldn't really be getting targeted.

It might not be as fun as spreading massive interrupts and degen around, but the damage seems top notch! Plus, there are opportunities for synergy with other ritualists in the group.

Freneticweasel · May 09, 2007, 05:56 AM // 05:56

Mmm this is a very different approach to the R/Rit. I thought it would be a Splinter-Barrage build, but good way to use the Oath Shot with Rit SPirits. Is this for PvE or PvP?

uby · May 09, 2007, 04:32 PM // 16:32

This is intended for PvE. In PvP, you wouldn't really have the time to set all of this up.

Here's the end mana costs to setup one round through assuming you have 13 expertise using a minor rune. In parenthesis is the cast time:

Energizing Wind 2 (5)
Bloodsong 2 (3)
Anguish 5 (3)
Pain 2 (3)
Anguished was Lingwah 5 (3)
Painful Bond 5 (1)
Oath Shot 5 to recharge

Total mana cost -> 26
Can then setup additional spirits as needed.

Things to note: Energizing Wind increases recharge time of Oath Shot if you use it while Energizing Wind is active. This is why I think it's best to keep beast mastery to 0 - energizing wind will only last 30 seconds in that arrangement.

With the setup of Energizing Wind and Expertise bonus, the 25 energy spirits end up costing you 5 energy @ 13 expertise. So, you can also choose to use the spirits that strip enchants, cause blindness, or help your team with block rate or damage reduction.

Also note that spirit damage is armor ignoring. So, with the 4 spirits setup as mentioned, they each attack every 2 seconds. At 10 in each category, and assuming painful bond is up, their sustainable, armor ignoring combined DPS is about 80 !

Of course, with the cast times, it takes up to 18 seconds to set everything up. But, the majority of this is setup outside of combat just like a normal trapper would do. This is why a ritualist staff with Half Cast Time stacked on would do nicely.

Evilsod · May 09, 2007, 05:10 PM // 17:10

Using Energizing Wind is just gonna annoy the rest of the team while getting no more benefit than you'd get by playing a Rit using Ritual Lord and Boon of Creation or SQ + Attuned was Songkai. Its slightly too much to set up before every single fight, specially as they can't be moved to reach foes stood out of range. And also very slow set up vs Popups.
If you wanna screw around lures, just use Traps. Smoke Trap ftw!

Edit: well i guess they can be moved with Draw Spirit... but its not exactly worth using a primary ranger for.

lennymon · May 10, 2007, 12:26 AM // 00:26

Be aware of a few things: anguished was lingwa drops a spirit of pain, if you already are in range of your other spirit of pain it will be replaced. Doubling the spirit is only possible by running to like longbow range on the opposite side of foe... not practically useful. Also, expertise will not affect either Hold Item spells (painful was) OR any spells (Painful bond)... you WILL pay full price (modded by EW or not as the case may be). EW pisses people off... a LOT. I don't think it's really worth it except in a solo build.

Personally I would swap in dissonance and/or disenchant *AND* shadowsong. Skills to look at swapping out in my opinion: EW and Anguished was Lingwa.

seven · May 10, 2007, 01:56 AM // 01:56

agreed. EW also affects everyone else in range, perhaps only using it when your group knows you are going to; or soloing (it's better with qz)

as for energy, high expertise seems enough for me when using a spirit ranger build. spirits take long to bind, and you are regaining energy as you do that anyway.

however the painful bond hex is a hefty 15en that can't be reduced. if i may suggest using essence strike, at 12ch it's a 51 lightning dmg spell which is essentially free with spirits and gives a +2en net every 8secs. if siphon spirit isn't meeting all of your energy requirements, it may be a nice addition.

synergies with other rits in the parties are made if they don't carry the same spirits. also, doesn't the half cast staff only affects spells and not binding rituals?