Curse

XvArchonvX · Aug 17, 2006, 06:25 PM // 18:25

I'm kinda curious on how well a R/W sword based ranger could work. From my experience playing various builds, I know that a R/A can play an assasin just as well if not better than most assasin builds due to superior energy management with Expertise and superior defense due to Expertise based defensive stances such as Escape {E}. I have however never tried a R/W, let alone a sword based ranger and am kind of tempted to try one out. I would like to find a find a build that could work well in PvE if possible.

SnipiousMax · Aug 17, 2006, 06:45 PM // 18:45

This is what I've used in the past, and I can't remember the attributes off the top of my head, and I'm at work, so I can't play with the character creation screens...

1.) Tiger's Fury
2.) Pure Strike
3.) J. Strike (Pure St.'s clone)
4.) Wild Blow
5.) <utility>
6.) Escape {E}
7.) <utility>
8.) Rez Sig

Wild blow is key here. Because you are limited to 12 in Sword, you are also limited on the number of critical strikes you have. Wild blow is a guarenteed Crit every five seconds, and because this is an energy build, the loss of adrenaline doesn't even phase you. You also have the advantage that ALL your attacks are unblockable/undodgeable. This is especially helpful against enemy rangers.

For my utility skills I like the old standby of Throw Dirt. For the other, I usually bring savage slash or another defensive stance (WD). Another option is adding Apply Poison to the mix. (yes it does work with swords) You're not going to be trying to appy it to everyone, so you don't need to put many (any) points in wilderness survial, as the poison will be re-applied often enough to have constant degen.

CONS:

1.) No self heal
2.) No warrior runes
3.) Lower armor
4.) In order to get max armor from shield you'd have to spec into tactics or strength, so the most I generally get is 8 armor from my shield.

PROS:

1.) Guarenteed hits with your skills
2.) GREAT evasion stances
3.) Constant or near constant IAS with no downside
4.) Wild Blow!

Pick Me · Aug 17, 2006, 07:56 PM // 19:56

This could work:

Sever Artery
Gash
Final Thrust
Hundred Blades
Apply Poison
Troll Unguent
Deadly Reposit
Rez Sig.

Danger Russ · Aug 17, 2006, 08:14 PM // 20:14

Sword-no sword evasion build for warrior killling and degen
Sword 9
Tactics 12
Wilderness rest
Expertise 12

Apply poison
Sever
Deadly riposte
Escape
Whirling
throw dirt
Healing signet
Troll

Make sure to poison all foes before you kill one. Posion and bleeding and not getting hit back. Good healing as well.

Rofl_Pwnt · Aug 18, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

I beileve i used something like this in the past..

Sever Artery
Gash
Apply Poison
Melandru's resilience
Something
Something
Something
Something

I dont remember, Sorry!!

Shuuda · Aug 18, 2006, 03:25 PM // 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

I know that a R/A can play an assasin just as well if not better than most assasin builds .

That is not true

, no R/A build can ever beat my A/E. All I have to do is way of the fox, that bypasses any defencive/blinding that rangers can spam. Shock - falling spider - blinding powder - twisted fangs = Owned.

SnipiousMax · Aug 18, 2006, 03:42 PM // 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuuda

That is not true

, no R/A build can ever beat my A/E. All I have to do is way of the fox, that bypasses any defencive/blinding that rangers can spam. Shock - falling spider - blinding powder - twisted fangs = Owned.

The comment wasn't meant as a 1v1 circumstance (although it COULD be argued), what he was saying, that side by side, a R/A can preform as well as a A/x doing the same thing.

-=THOR=- · Aug 18, 2006, 04:11 PM // 16:11

Funny thing happend few days ago in aspenwood, my A/mo vs an A/E with the exact sme build you posted, i had the classic GPS-Hoto-FS-TF, he had the exact same combo as you. We Both AOD'd i got gps off then he shocked me - falling - blinding poweder, i just undid AOD.. he ran after me thinking i was gona die, the blind wore off when he got to me - HoTo - FS - TF.. dead A/E, soo... i dont see why an R/A cant do what i just did.

Shadow-Hunter · Aug 18, 2006, 06:35 PM // 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rofl_Pwnt

I beileve i used something like this in the past..

Sever Artery
Gash
Apply Poison
Melandru's resilience
Something
Something
Something
Something

I dont remember, Sorry!!

Belive that build was:

Sever Artery
Gash
Distracting blow
Salvage Slash
Apply poisen
Mels Resilience
Troll u
Rez sig

mainly 12 sword and then 16 WS.. belive thats the build you speak of

~Shadow

Epinephrine · Aug 18, 2006, 08:41 PM // 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuuda

That is not true

, no R/A build can ever beat my A/E. All I have to do is way of the fox, that bypasses any defencive/blinding that rangers can spam. Shock - falling spider - blinding powder - twisted fangs = Owned.

Lol, yeah, you're so great. You win automatically, obviously. Even if he had the same type of combo.

First off: Way of the fox can't hit through blind.

Secondly: You have NO idea what the R/A will be bringing. They're not all the exact same build. An R/A may well simply remove your Way of the Fox. Expunge Enchantments FTW, works for taking out monks AND annoying assassins. Maybe he decided to take an elite skill like Siphon Strength; if so you may knock him dow and all that, but you do no damage essentially, and he'll smear you all over the place. It's entirely possible to face an R/A that isn't a clone. I get tired of arrogant posts claiming that "I'm so uber, I pwn u 4LL" - the fact is that there are many builds out there, and each has strengths and weaknesses.

Remember, it's Rock/Paper/Scissors. You can say that your rock beats scissors, but there's paper out there waiting for you.

HalPlantagenet · Aug 18, 2006, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Here's a build I use when I want to go wacking with the cat:

swordsmanship 12
tactics 8
Expertise 7 + 1 + 3
Beastmastery 8 + 1

Hudred Blades {E}
Pure Strike
Savage Slash
Tigers Fury
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal
Watch Yourself
Predatory Bond

I just played it again with 6 henchies from the Vasburg Armory to the Durheim Archives and was nearly as quick as I am when I play my beastmaster/supporting archer build which is the most effective all purpose build for me lately. Of course, it requires four attribute lines but I don't know how to avoid that when using sword and shield. Like many other builds its an energy build capitilizing on expertise to keep TF on nearly always and to ensure that there's always a skill charged and the energy to use it.

Fun from time to time? Absolutely. World's best? Probably not.

But I'd be very interested in seeing where this thread goes as I'd be very interested in a very effective, innovative sword build for a ranger. Thanks for the starting the thread XvArchonvX.

Sir Mad · Aug 18, 2006, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

From my experience playing various builds, I know that a R/A can play an assasin just as well if not better than most assasin builds due to superior energy management with Expertise and superior defense due to Expertise based defensive stances such as Escape {E}. I have however never tried a R/W, let alone a sword based ranger and am kind of tempted to try one out. I would like to find a find a build that could work well in PvE if possible.

I tried sword R/W builds but despite the fact that I love my ranger, I always found a warrior better at that. The reason is the skills you can use are either adrenaline based or cost only 5 energy. Expertise is kinda useless then, except for the defensive stances.

I dont know... some interesting builds have been posted in this topic and sound definitely fun to play, however I still think a warrior would do a better job.

PS - I found this build in the sticky "Ranger Basics":

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scaphism

Ranger/Warrior melee fighter

Expertise: 11+1+hat
Beastmastery: 3+1
Swordsmanship: 11
Tactics: 8

Skills:
Pure Strike
Savage Slash
Hamstring
Final Thrust
Hundred Blades {E}
Throw Dirt
Tiger's Fury
Bonetti's Defense

Just a duelist. It's your chance to look like Aragorn from LOTR™! You too can wear disheveled clothes with leaves in your hair, call yourself a ranger, yet use a sword!

Rikimaru · Aug 18, 2006, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikimaru

This is kind of like a thumper, but with higher damage rather than knockdowns, and the ability to heal yourself rather than evading.

Weapons: Zealous Sword of Defense/Fortitude, Focus with +30 health always, and whatever other mods you want on it.
Armor: +10 AL while in a stance.
Pet Evolution: Preferably Dire for the extra damage.

Attributes:
12 Swordsmanship
11 Beasmastery (+1+2)
11 Expertise (+3)
8 Wilderness Survival (+1)

Skills:
Quivering Blade (E)
Gash
Bestial Fury/Tiger's Fury
Troll Ungeant
Feral Lunge
Apply Poison
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal

This build has a simple learning curve, and it's obvious how to use it, so I won't explain. Except that you use Feral Lunge to cause Bleeding on a foe, and then Gash for the Deep Wound.

It doesn't have a way to stop a foe from running, but I wiped out an RA team full of casters and rangers in less than a minute as the only damage dealer. Obviously the other team sucked, but you get an idea of how great the damage is.
If I remember right, it can kill a 60AL Target Dummy in like 5 or 6 seconds.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...+Bestial+Blade

andrewf · Aug 18, 2006, 11:47 PM // 23:47

Swordsmanship: 12
Expertise: 10
Wilderness: 12

15% Stance Sword
Sentry Armor
Stance Shield

Apply Poison
Sever Artery
Gash
Escape
Whirling Defense
Lightning Reflex
Dryder's Defense
Troll Unguent

This build is made for replacing the pve toucher build against normal mobs.

credit goes to Vallen Frostweaver of gwonline.net

vapor311 · Aug 19, 2006, 01:44 AM // 01:44

This is a build that I've used in the past. It's a condition engine for sure and puts out pretty good dps.

Swordsmanship: 12
Expertise: 9 + 3 + 1
Wilderness Survival: 9 + 1

1> Apply Poison
2> Sever Artery
3> Gash
4> Final Thrust / Frenzy
5> Hamstring
6> Escape
7> Troll Ungent
8> Resurrection Signet

HalPlantagenet · Aug 19, 2006, 02:03 AM // 02:03

Question for Rikimaru, Andrewf and vapor311: what do you do for a shield? Carry one with no tactics requirement? Ignore the requirement and accept the reduction in armor? Not carry a shield?

How well does that work?

Thanks.

XvArchonvX · Aug 19, 2006, 02:53 AM // 02:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuuda

That is not true

, no R/A build can ever beat my A/E. All I have to do is way of the fox, that bypasses any defencive/blinding that rangers can spam. Shock - falling spider - blinding powder - twisted fangs = Owned.

The key in my statement was "most" primary assasin builds. I won't say that a R/A will beat a primary assasin anytime, but the ability to use most of the Assasin skills in combo with a ranger's defensive stances and Expertise energy management (which imo is more reliable and easier to measure than chance energy gain from critical hits) can often be a strong advantage. The build you use does seem like a strong one and I wouldn't like to face it without an enchant removal.

As for everyone that posted, thank you for your contributions. Some guildmates and I had been playing with the idea of making some pirate themed characters and a swashbuckling ranger with a beard seemed like a good way to go should I decide to follow through with the idea. It looks like there are indeed some legitamate ways to go about such a build, so it is becoming tempting to follow through on this. Now I just have to decide if I have enough patience to level up a fourth ranger >.<

Shuuda · Aug 20, 2006, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epinephrine

Lol, yeah, you're so great. You win automatically, obviously. Even if he had the same type of combo.

First off: Way of the fox can't hit through blind.

Secondly: You have NO idea what the R/A will be bringing. They're not all the exact same build. An R/A may well simply remove your Way of the Fox. Expunge Enchantments FTW, works for taking out monks AND annoying assassins. Maybe he decided to take an elite skill like Siphon Strength; if so you may knock him dow and all that, but you do no damage essentially, and he'll smear you all over the place. It's entirely possible to face an R/A that isn't a clone. I get tired of arrogant posts claiming that "I'm so uber, I pwn u 4LL" - the fact is that there are many builds out there, and each has strengths and weaknesses.

Remember, it's Rock/Paper/Scissors. You can say that your rock beats scissors, but there's paper out there waiting for you.

Actually, using way of the fox, I could beat a memser who cast inpitude( ro what ever it's call) on me.

XvArchonvX · Aug 20, 2006, 03:28 PM // 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuuda

Actually, using way of the fox, I could beat a memser who cast inpitude( ro what ever it's call) on me.

How exactly does way of the fox help you beat a mesmer with ineptitude. I know of two ways to beat a mesmer using ineptitude using only melee skills and that is to either stop attacking when Ineptitude is cast and wait for it to wear off or fight through it and try to take out the mesmer after the blind wears off and before Ineptitude recharges (which is about a 10 second time period).

Shuuda · Aug 21, 2006, 11:47 AM // 11:47

Way of the fox, it makes it so my next 4 attacks always hit, and 4 attacks is all I need.