Curse

LightsEdge · Jan 01, 2006, 11:02 AM // 11:02

I'm making a new ranger, and I want to be able to farm with it. I haven't actually tried any of this out yet, but here's how it looks to me on paper. Warrior, elementalist, and necromancer secondaries seem to add the best survival and killing (aoe damage and degen) capabilities. However, if you have a good monk or mesmer farming build, I'd like to hear it.

Foundation: Oath Shot {E}, Whirling Defense, Throw Dirt, Troll Unguent
My thinking is to use Oath Shot and Whirling Defense to tank with 75% evade, along with some Throw Dirt for extra protection. Then I need Troll Unguent for healing. Does Apply Poison work with Whirling Defense? I'm guessing no, but that would be awesome. As for the remaining 4 skills...

Defense:
Warrior: Watch Yourself! or Healing Signet
Elementalist: Armor of Earth (or Armor of Frost/Armor of Mist) with option of Wards
Necro: Healing Spring, Consume Corpse, or Soul Feast (extra healing)

Elementalist gets more defense (with the option of even more defense), but has to use energy. The warrior only needs adrenaline, but has limited options. Necro probably has to rely on healing, but consume corpse could be a good source of energy.

Killing:
Warrior: Cyclone Axe + Apply Poison + Barbed Trap (or Shout/Axe Skill)
Elementalist: Apply Poison + Aftershock (or Frozen Burst) + Barbed Trap
Elementalist: Crystal Wave + Whirlwind + Aftershock
Necro: Putrid Explosion, Rotting Flesh, Well of Suffering, Barbed Trap, Apply Poison (pick 3)

The warrior doesn't need much energy, and can poison/bleed everything around him. Will these conditions work on all enemies though? Additionally, you have to weapon switch to use Cyclone Axe and Oath Shot. The elementalist should be able to produce a lot more damage, but I'm worried if he would have enough energy, and I can't use Marksman's Wager because I'm using Oath Shot. The necro's damage potential looks pretty good too, and should use less energy than the elementalist, but perhaps still too much. You would also have problems without corpses and enemies that don't bunch up.

Questions:
Will R/E and R/N have enough energy?
Does R/N rely too heavily on corpses?
Does R/W have more options besides Cyclone Axe + Apply Poison for killing?
Which build would you guys pick?

I'm leaning towards R/E, if energy isn't too big of an issue. R/E seems to be pretty versatile in the skills you can choose from - lots of defensive and offensive options. R/W seems like it would work for sure, but slower, and you have to weapon switch. I don't like having to rely so much on corpses (both quantity and position of) for R/N, and I don't know if it will be able to take the hits.

Druids Arrow · Jan 01, 2006, 01:06 PM // 13:06

Quote:

Does Apply Poison work with Whirling Defense? I'm guessing no

Correct. As far as I know Apply Poison will not work with Whirling Defence.

Quote:

Will R/E and R/N have enough energy?

Yes, however I would recommend use of a Zealous Mod as it helps.

Quote:

Does R/N rely too heavily on corpses?

Not necessarily depending on your style of play, from your description of what you may want to do it seems pretty corpse reliant.

Quote:

Does R/W have more options besides Cyclone Axe + Apply Poison for killing?

Yes, however, IMO Cyclone + Poison is a good combo.

Quote:

Which build would you guys pick?

Personally, when I farm with my Ranger, I tend to have either Monk or Warrior as a Secondary Profession.

I tend to use warrior moreso now as since the update, monsters run out of AoE.

The Ranger/Monk build used was this, I would typically farm Grawl outside Port Sledge.

1. Whirling Defence
2. Oath Shot {E}
3. Throw Dirt
4. Symbol of Wrath
5. Lightning Reflexes
6. Dodge
7. Troll Unguent (spelling?)
8. Edge of Extinction

What I would do is plant the EoE, Troll Ungeunt, Run through the grawl using Dodge and then Lightning Reflexes, Find a nice spot, Whirling Defence + Throw Dirt, Symbol of Wrath for extra damage, when Whirling runs out Oath Shot, Throw Dirt, Whirling again, another Symbol of Wrath, at this point at least one grawl will die. EoE triggered another Grawl should die, EoE triggered, eventually they were all wiped out. Don't think this build worls any more you are welcome to try.

Ranger/Warrior, this works quite nicely on Griffins, Trolls, etc.

1. Cyclone Axe
2. Apply Poison
3. Healing Signet
4. Troll Ungeunt
5. Gladiator's Defence {E}
6. Whirling Defence
7. Lightning Reflexes
8. Sheild Stance

Apply Posion + Cyclone = Nice damage output

Use Glads and Whirling to evade, Sheild Stance when glads and whirling are down and for Lightning Reflexes the increase attack speed helps.

I wouldn't suggest making a ranger for farming, as there are other professions more suited to the task.

Kassad · Jan 01, 2006, 01:54 PM // 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druids Arrow

Correct. As far as I know Apply Poison will not work with Whirling Defence.

Why not? Poison is a prep, whirling is a stance, am I missing something?

pagansaint · Jan 01, 2006, 02:06 PM // 14:06

The damage dealt from Whirling Defense will not be Poisoned

I was thinking more along the lines of a R/N with Barrage and Mark of Pain, Barbed Trap to root them close using Whirling Defense, Dryders Defense and either Throw Dirt or Dust Trap.

I think I need to retrain a Ranger up for PvE and see if any of this stuff actually works

Druids Arrow · Jan 01, 2006, 02:26 PM // 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kassad

Why not? Poison is a prep, whirling is a stance, am I missing something?

I did say As far as I know.

But not to argue, yes apply poison is indeed a preparation and whirling is a stance. I'm going to test this, just to confirm or disprove what I have previously said. I shall return.

Kassad · Jan 01, 2006, 02:31 PM // 14:31

Be specific next time, I thought you were saying if you can have both up at same time.

Druids Arrow · Jan 01, 2006, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Oh in that case, yes Whirling and Apply Poison can be up at the same time. However, after just testing Whirling Defence does not trigger Apply Poison, so when you evade a projectile with Whirling Defence on that target will not become poisoned.

LightsEdge · Jan 01, 2006, 08:15 PM // 20:15

Edge of Extinction looks pretty interesting, but I'm not sure I'd use other skills from that line, except for a beast mastery build (which looks fun). Plus there's that AOE thing with it right?

The R/W build (Rezon's I presume) is a nice option, but I don't like how you have to use so many stances. The extra damage from gladiator's helps though.

The reason I'm looking at ranger for farming acutally is for its tanking ability. It has the 2nd best base armor, plus 75% evasion for melee and ranged attacks, great elemental defense, and self-healing. Another big advantage is that the ranger doesn't have to rely on enchantments. The 75% is quite nice to me too, because you get interrupted a lot less. If you add some elementalist armor, the ranger has some super defense. You still have some slots left for offense too.

The warrior also has some good defense, but falls short of continuous 75% block against melee AND ranged. And for decent healing you have to combo with monk, which can't provide much offensive punch. Combo with elementalist and you get more armor and offense, but no healing. You probably have to use bonetti's for energy too, which unfortunately ends if you use a skill. Combo with necro and you get more healing and offense, and a few more options for energy, but no extra defense.

Elementalist seems like a good primary with all the armors and offense. Monk secondary could provide healing and energy, but the build would be heavy on enchantments (which could probably be compensated for), but is easily interrupted. Warrior secondary seems like W/E, with less armor and more energy. I'd probably go E/Mo for Elementalist.

Haven't thought much about others.

Anyway, I picked ranger for survivability. Do you guys think any other defenses are as good as the Ranger's?

HawkofStorms · Jan 03, 2006, 10:53 PM // 22:53

EoE is not affected by the AoE update.

Druids Arrow · Jan 04, 2006, 09:26 PM // 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightsEdge

Do you guys think any other defenses are as good as the Ranger's?

When played correctly and with skill and timing the Ranger has possibly the best defence in the game. If anything was going to beat it I personally would say a Warrior because of many AL boosting skills and armor, or Elementists with Armor of Earth, etc.

LightsEdge · Jan 05, 2006, 03:09 AM // 03:09

The barrage build is pretty interesting too...

The mark of pain combo looks pretty devastating. Anyone know how well this works?

I guess I can try it out with a conjure elementalist spell, though it sucks that your weapon has to match the element.

What are other good barrage combos?

The monk's Judge's Insight and Live vicariously seem pretty good.

Relentless Range · Aug 11, 2006, 07:32 PM // 19:32

on guild wars wiki thers a "grawl bomber" build that has been tested for grawl farming outside the back of droks. id like to try it and it looks really effective, it usees mark of pain like that one guy suggested (too lazy to scroll up and look)

andrewf · Aug 12, 2006, 02:34 AM // 02:34

Only an inexperience ranger willl believe rangers aren't suitable for farming =]

http://beacon.wiseelben.com <-- under pve, i have written many guides and filemd many videos.

Sir Mad · Aug 12, 2006, 12:30 PM // 12:30

Quote:

Will R/E and R/N have enough energy?

I definitely have to disagree with Druid Arrow. A R/E will not have enough energy. You have 32 energy with full druid armor. As spells are not affected by expertise, your 3 elementalsits spells will cost 35 energy. That's way to much for a ranger.

Rangers are great with non-spell skills, thanks to expertise - the golden rule is generally to avoid spells. Sometimes a ranger may bring a spell (often an enchantment), maybe 2 under some circumstances, but that's it (popular choices are JI, Conjure X, or Brutal Weapon for example). The ranger's energy is needed to spam his attack skills.

Now there is also a big problem with your attribute points - let's take your R/E build for example. You have the following skills: Crystal Wave (air) + Whirlwind (air) + Aftershock (earth) + Armor of Earth (earth) + Oath Shot (exp) + WD (exp) + Troll (WS) + Throw Dirt (exp). And you need 8/9 in markmanship to use your bow, unless you wanna drop it completely to deal damages with your spells only. In this case you can bring a staff and have 47 energy, which still wouldn't be enough to keep spamming your spells recharged with Oath Shot.

---------------------------------------------

I really liked one thing in your first post: the fact you grouped your skills in defensive/offensive skills, and the feeling I had you definitely know solo farming is the balance between enough skills to stay alive, but not to much as well to have enough free slots to kill quickly.

It won't be exhaustive, but let's give it a try.

Let's focus on the defense skills now. Popular choices include:

Ranger skills:
- defensive stances
- throw dirt (I wouldn't use this one on a map where warriors and foes with ranged attacks work together, prefering a more versatile defense skill - you can put dusttrap in the same category I guess)
- troll unguent (great regen when you have a WS based build)

Mesmer skills:
- Mantras: if you're facing foes dealing the same kind of damage, then Mantra of Frost/Flame, etc are great. Physical resistance is always nice when you fight foes dealing physical damage only. If you're facing mixed group, Greater Conflagration + Winter + Mantra of Frost will give you an amazing defense, however your arrows will deal cold damage too, which may be problematic in Southern Shiverpeaks. It also let no room for another elite.

[EDIT]I wanted to post about warriors and monks as well but I've already typed too much I gues, sorry. I'll try to do that later[/EDIT]

Now the offensive part:

Wilderness Survival Based: the combo Kindle/ignite arrows + dual shot + poison arrow is great. And with 16 WS you also have a 10 arrows troll unguent.

Barrage: depending on the maps, barrage may be a great addition. It can't be used with preparations, but there are other skills adding more damage. Weapon Spells may be nice. Brutal Weapon adds a fair amount of damage for a few attribute points for ewample.

Markmanship based: Read the Wind, Punishing Shot, Penetrating Attack an another attack skill would do the job.

And there is more, including what you can invent

PS: here is a list of the solo ranger builds posted on guru: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3001252

pedrostrik · Aug 16, 2006, 10:36 AM // 10:36

i used a build like this (before the last patch)

R/mo
12 xp
16 mrk
10 heal (the rest) long bow or flatbow

barrage E
savage shot
dodge
Light. reflexes
live vicariously
heal area
vigorous spirit
essence bond

against ice imps and ice golens it was 20min=30 deaths

after the patch AoE, its different, now they came over you so:

R/mo flatbow-longbow
trol ungueant
barbedtrap
kindle arrows
lightning reflexes
storm chaser
poison arrow
needle shot
holy veil

wsurvival 14
exp 12
mrk 11
with this buiding you can farm solo in a lot of places, its not fast but it can do the job, i.e. holy veil its magnific cause they take double time yo cast their hexes, so you have time to spread dmg and poison on their butts. very important if they are really a lot: put the 2traps , and spread poison/needle before you flee. usually i never die with this build. flee always dont be a hero.