Curse

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 10, 2005, 05:46 PM // 17:46

I was considering modding my r/mo a bit and going traps, then changed my mind seeing that it's very tough for me with my style to use them in pvp. So I was thinking of this build

[I'm dropping BM down to 12 in order to pump up my secondary stat as well as get some hp back. I wonder if it's worth it... this is for soloing / partying]

10+1+1 Beast mastery
8+1 Expertise
8+1 Marksmanship
10 Smiting Prayers

Ferocious Strike {E}
Predator's Pounce
Comfort Animal
Otyugh's Cry
Call of Protection
Charm Animal
Retribution/Balthasar's Aura
Resurrect/Brutal Strike

Now I'm looking at BA's balancing update and now I can see that it's probably better in a pvp environment then PvE. I'm wondering if it's efficient enough to just let Retribution blow up the mobs I'm fighting rather then waiting for BA to recharge [in pvp, pets are ignored so BA is obviously better]

Soloing, I bring Brutal Strike but in a pve party, I use Ressurect. [res sig for pvp if I can't exclude myself from it]

Also, is going 16 bm a better idea? I lose out on raw power from BA and Retribution. [20 dmg, whoopty do, but can it work?]

Perhaps staying 16 bm and going 8 smiting? [8 marksmanship is the price to pay and finding 8 marksmanship max dmg bows is a pain..]

jesh · Oct 10, 2005, 06:09 PM // 18:09

I'm guessing you want to keep that smiting in there?
You could always do something like my build, that after 144 views, not a single person posted a reply to.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=65442

Ditch the WS for smiting, I suppose. I'm not too sure Retribution would be all too effective, seeing how most of the enemies will be pounding on the tanks, and they aren't taking too much damage to begin with.

Up to you, really, just posting this to give you some ideas on what you can do with your attributes. Good luck on your beast master.

Sum Gai · Oct 10, 2005, 06:58 PM // 18:58

You could drop marksmanship all together, and staff people to death

M3lk0r · Oct 10, 2005, 07:24 PM // 19:24

The 25 energy cost on BA is going to hurt ya. As you are using the pet as the main damage dealer and not as a tank/distractor JI is a good option to look into. If you still want to stick with BA, switch Otyugh's Cry with Call of Haste and use it before casting BA.

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 11, 2005, 02:38 PM // 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sum Gai

You could drop marksmanship all together, and staff people to death

To be honest, I did consider that route, however, when I want to get a monster's attention from WAAYYY out there so my pet can intercept and Maiming Strike it [sometimes I bring it, yay] I can then run like a cowardly bastard that I am using the monster's as their own body blockers. They try to take out my pet, and bam, BA...

Would Bear be physically the beefiest of the tanks for pets? [as well as the hardest hitters on average?]

Everyone says that all pets are the same [almost exact] but the only difference between them is damage type.

I'm hoping Bear makes a better Body Blocker cause he is a huge dude...

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 11, 2005, 02:41 PM // 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesh

I'm guessing you want to keep that smiting in there?
You could always do something like my build, that after 144 views, not a single person posted a reply to.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=65442

Ditch the WS for smiting, I suppose. I'm not too sure Retribution would be all too effective, seeing how most of the enemies will be pounding on the tanks, and they aren't taking too much damage to begin with.

Up to you, really, just posting this to give you some ideas on what you can do with your attributes. Good luck on your beast master.

Good thread, I'm surprised nobody posted. [maybe the build didn't need it] Only problem I see is that you went marksmanship with only one skill in there. Only reason I have marks is so my bow doesn't do 33% of it's listed damage. Not for the bow skills.

I'm still wondering, 20 less dmg from BA to punch Beast Mastery to 16... hmm...

jesh · Oct 12, 2005, 04:36 AM // 04:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukito Kunisaki

To be honest, I did consider that route, however, when I want to get a monster's attention from WAAYYY out there so my pet can intercept and Maiming Strike it [sometimes I bring it, yay] I can then run like a cowardly bastard that I am using the monster's as their own body blockers. They try to take out my pet, and bam, BA...

Would Bear be physically the beefiest of the tanks for pets? [as well as the hardest hitters on average?]

Everyone says that all pets are the same [almost exact] but the only difference between them is damage type.

I'm hoping Bear makes a better Body Blocker cause he is a huge dude...

Pets are all the same besides the evolution/dmg type.. because of the tactics line, I'd stay away from the piercing types. I don't think the rest really matters. As far as body blocking goes, I've heard all of the pets are the same.. however I haven't tested that theory myself. I remember I read once that the bear simply blocks with its actual body, and you can walk through the head, so it's not any bigger than the others.... However I can't vouch for that person's credibility.. Don't even remember who it was. ^^;

Nothing wrong with a teddy, though, go for it!

PS - You'd probably be better off with the hearty version for your pet.. I think it might have a bigger blocking area, and I know it has more health than an elder.

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 12, 2005, 03:39 PM // 15:39

Just curious.

How does one evolve a pet to their respective types?

Hearty vs. Elder.

I'm guessing Hearty pets are the tanks while Elders are the dmg dealers...

I want my bear to eat my enemies for dinner, he can tank later... [finally, I suppose I AM getting a bear...]

I'm sick of everyone and their mother in CA and TA running with snow wolves. [thankfully, my calls affect them all since their masters are too stupid to bring their own pet skills...]

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 12, 2005, 03:43 PM // 15:43

Well, after some testing, these are now my current stats for my Snow Wolf, Elan Vital (eh - lahn vee-tahl) n. My big ass wolf @ lvl 19 bent on having your flesh for supper...

12+1+3 Beast Mastery
8+1 Expertise
7+1 marksmanship
8 Smiting

Ferocious Strike {E} - always spammed
Predator's Pounce
Disrupting Lunge / Melandru's Assault (depends on my enemy anticipation)
Call of Haste
Call of Protection
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal
Retribution / Judge's Insight (for pve and pvp respectively. BA's recycle time just didn't cut it like it used to before the update... ;_

I'll bring a res skill/sig if my team believes we're too sucky to stay alive... Rarely do I do this though... ^_^ Using a max dmg horn bow to keep dmg in a reasonable area.

Now to work on my Bear version of Elan Vital.

Jenosavel · Oct 12, 2005, 03:47 PM // 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukito Kunisaki

Just curious.

How does one evolve a pet to their respective types?

Hearty vs. Elder.

I'm guessing Hearty pets are the tanks while Elders are the dmg dealers...

I want my bear to eat my enemies for dinner, he can tank later... [finally, I suppose I AM getting a bear...]

I'm sick of everyone and their mother in CA and TA running with snow wolves. [thankfully, my calls affect them all since their masters are too stupid to bring their own pet skills...]

The guide has the info you're looking for. If you're interested soley in a damage dealing pet, you want a Dire. If you're interested in a tank, you want Hearty. If you want a balanced pet, go Elder.

M3lk0r · Oct 12, 2005, 04:50 PM // 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3lk0r

The 25 energy cost on BA is going to hurt ya. As you are using the pet as the main damage dealer and not as a tank/distractor JI is a good option to look into. If you still want to stick with BA, switch Otyugh's Cry with Call of Haste and use it before casting BA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukito Kunisaki

Well, after some testing, these are now my current stats for my Snow Wolf
Ferocious Strike {E} - always spammed
Predator's Pounce
Disrupting Lunge / Melandru's Assault (depends on my enemy anticipation)
Call of Haste
Call of Protection
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal
Retribution / Judge's Insight (for pve and pvp respectively. BA's recycle time just didn't cut it like it used to before the update... ;_

*cough* :-/

jesh · Oct 12, 2005, 05:50 PM // 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenosavel

The guide has the info you're looking for. If you're interested soley in a damage dealing pet, you want a Dire. If you're interested in a tank, you want Hearty. If you want a balanced pet, go Elder.

Uh what? That guide is craptastic. Elder is +3 dmg and -0 hp. It's better than dire for damage, and can tank better too.
Don't ask me why Anet made it like that, but they did.

Anyway, Yukito, for a hearty pet, all you have to do is let it die a lot, and heal it a lot... Dire/aggressive can be reached my never healing, and spamming attack skills. To get an elder, you have to do a change in playstyle. You'd go aggresssive->elder, or playful-> elder. So start off healing, then go to attacks, or visa verca. Elder is definitely the hardest evolution to produce, which is why those wolves get so much usage.. work's done for you.

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 13, 2005, 05:45 AM // 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesh

Uh what? That guide is craptastic. Elder is +3 dmg and -0 hp. It's better than dire for damage, and can tank better too.
Don't ask me why Anet made it like that, but they did.

Anyway, Yukito, for a hearty pet, all you have to do is let it die a lot, and heal it a lot... Dire/aggressive can be reached my never healing, and spamming attack skills. To get an elder, you have to do a change in playstyle. You'd go aggresssive->elder, or playful-> elder. So start off healing, then go to attacks, or visa verca. Elder is definitely the hardest evolution to produce, which is why those wolves get so much usage.. work's done for you.

Thanks a bunch, NOW I CAN'T FIND WHERE TO GET AN EASY BLACK BEAR!! GAH!!!

Jenosavel · Oct 13, 2005, 02:28 PM // 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesh

Uh what? That guide is craptastic. Elder is +3 dmg and -0 hp. It's better than dire for damage, and can tank better too.
Don't ask me why Anet made it like that, but they did.

That information you're touting, where did you get it? As far as I know it's from GameFAQs and the Prima Guide, both of which have been horribly wrong before. I've personally tested the Dire's damage versus the Elder's damage, and the Dire does do more damage than the Elder. I really don't care what GameFAQs might say when you can easily test it yourself and find it to be different.

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 13, 2005, 03:09 PM // 15:09

I'm going to try to level myself an Elder. I don't want +3 freakin' dmg at the cost of 60hp and I don't want extra hp when I'm losing a precious 3 dmg. [that dmg adds up if you swing enough times...]

MUST GET ELDER!!!

[btw, when I had a pet, I raised it from 0 - 20 using 7 BM skills and 16 BM. Little surprise, it turned out hearty instead of Dire so I'd like to say that the evolution pathway based on stat/skill selection is wrong...]

I think it just changes depending on the types of skills your pet brings into battle.

I always brought Otyugh's Cry, Call of Protection, and Comfort so I think that maybe made my pet too tanky...

Jenosavel · Oct 13, 2005, 03:20 PM // 15:20

I've leveled all my Dires up using Otyugh's Cry, Call of Protection, Symbiotic Bond, and Comfort Animal to help them through their early levels. If those skills do make them too tanky, as you word it, then perhaps it's the fact that I never leave home without Ferocious Strike (which I use as often as possible) that allowed mine to still become Aggressive/Dire? I generally spam Ferocious Strike and Feral Lunge, and if I have the skill slots for it, I add in Scavenger's Strike as well.

EDIT: Also, I always have 0 marks for this. Did you do so as well? I'm interested in finding out what we have done differently.

Yukito Kunisaki · Oct 13, 2005, 03:30 PM // 15:30

ahhah

I have 7+1 marks to use my max dmg low req. bow...
hmm

Jenosavel · Oct 13, 2005, 03:36 PM // 15:36

I've really, personally, felt that the damage your pet does isn't as important in its evolution as the relative damage your pet does compared to you. I've never tested it though, so I don't really start off mentioning it, but perhaps I should.

EDIT: I say this, because I've always played a Beastmaster, but before I realized there were such things as different evolutions I played a Beastmaster that still could use it's bow. Despite high BM and the use of Beast skills, I had gotten a Hearty. Later, when I was actually trying to train different pets I had no problem, but then I had dropped marks or beast altogether depending on what I was shooting for.