Curse

Paeyne · May 30, 2006, 12:02 AM // 00:02

R/Rt - Brutal Predator

PvE Build

Damage

Beast Mastery 8+1=9
Expertise 7+1=8
Marksmanship 8+3+1=12
Communing 10
Restoration 8

There are no left over skill points. There are some who may be concerned at the moderate level of 4 of the 5 attributes but I can assure you that this build's skills are optimized and gain very little by taking them higher.

Skills:

1. Barrage (Elite)
2. Brutal Weapon
3. Tiger Fury (or Bestial Fury)
4. Weapon of Warding
5. Resilient was Xiko
6. Predatory Season
7. Recouperation
8. Flesh of My Flesh

Usage:

This is a very inuitive build with an extremely high damage output. While Barrage, Brutal Weapon and Fury do not need to be always up at the same time, you will be doing some devasting damage while they are.

Weapon of Warding, Resilient was Xiko and Recouperation are all Health regen skills whose efficacy is not reduced by Predatory season. Use Weapon of Warding while under melee attack. Resilient was Xiko will also give you regen, gives you some protection from hex stackers, and deals with conditions.

The linchpin of the build is the much underused and often misunderstood skill Predatory Season. Many don't use Predatory Season for two reasons, the 20% reduction in healing and the fact that if affects both friend and foe. After exhaustive testing I can say that neither reason is a very good excuse to not use the skill. During most of my testing with friends and Henchmen the reduction was not noticable. Most monks heal for huge amounts and are prone to overheal (healing for alot more then you are hurt). Having a 150hp heal reduced to 120 does not mean alot if you were only hurt for 100. Predatory season, in fact, helps healers by allowing them to concentrate on damage spikes rather than minor general damage. In this particular build, Barrage will gain you 5-25 pts of healing under Predatory Season per volley. Should you need a little extra general healing, skills like Recouperation, Weapon of Warding, Mending and Healing breeze are unaffected by Predatory Season. It is also not as good for the opposing side as you might think. When hunting, groups generally focus on one target at a time. That target will fall very quickly reguardless. The other foes will be at full health and gain nothing from the spirit. High damage barrages and AE spells from your group will easly deal with pockets of mobs if your group is co-ordinated.

Predatory Season should never be used against any foe that raises minions. Minions attack swiftly and Predatory Season easily counteracts their degen for a considerable period of time. You will be overwhelmed very quickly.

The only major weakness I have come accross is a vulnerability to concentrated spike damage. Damage spikers should be your priority target with this build.

This build has been thoroughly tested in PvE and works extremely well. I have done a limited amount of testing in PvP where it also performed well, however I would replace Barrage with Punishing Shot.

I came up with this build myself, although I did take some inspiration from the Brutal Bombardier pre-made build.

Morgan Blackwood - R/Rt

majeh456 · Jul 23, 2006, 09:02 AM // 09:02

Where do you get Recouperation and Resiliant Was Xiko? Also, what type of bows and armor do you recomend?

Amy Awien · Jul 23, 2006, 09:37 AM // 09:37

They are Rt skills, Resilient was Xiko is similar to Melandru's Resilience and Resilient Weapon. Recuperation is a ritual that provides a moderate amount of health regeneration for all allies.

For equipment, it appears that energy might be a problem, so a zealous bowstring sounds good to me.

Looks interesting, I've thought about Predatory Season, it could really hinder monk based healing while prevention and regeneration based health management remains untouched and could thus greatly influence a battle in your favour, if your team is prepared for this spirit. Predatory Season is also used in a monkless B/P variant.

When used in a team I'd suggest specializing the tasks, so that your ranger doesn't need to spread attibutes so thin.

Since you seem to have done some extensive testing with Predatory Season, the 5 hp gained for each attack, I assume - also from it's use in B/P - that is on every attack from every creature in it's range? That would (greatly) favour physical attackers over caster. Interesting.

majeh456 · Jul 23, 2006, 09:53 AM // 09:53

I know what the skills do, but where/how do I obtain them?

Amy Awien · Jul 23, 2006, 10:44 AM // 10:44

I would have thought from skill trainers, Recuperation is available in Kaineng Center and Senji's Corner, but Xiko has no trainer listed, mhh.

majeh456 · Jul 23, 2006, 11:51 AM // 11:51

What type of bow do you think would work best? I kind of like the short bow because of the faster firing rate, but what do you think? Also, the zealous string would be nice, but what handle? Or is that all judgmental?

Amy Awien · Jul 23, 2006, 02:12 PM // 14:12

The eternal struggle between the health and defense bowgrips, I suppose whatever you like best.
The build might get some energy problems, if so, a zealous string could help out. If energy is no problem, whatever other string you normally prefer.
Afaik, barrage dictates the firing rate (this is under debate I think?), so type of bow doesn't really matter. My preference, with barrage, would probably go towards a recurve or hornbow.

majeh456 · Jul 23, 2006, 06:27 PM // 18:27

Thanks, you have been extremely helpful.

SnipiousMax · Jul 23, 2006, 06:49 PM // 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

Afaik, barrage dictates the firing rate (this is under debate I think?), so type of bow doesn't really matter.

Afaik?

Anyhoo, this was discussed in this thread here.

Turns out, Short/Flatbows still pump out more damage while barraging... The difference is just smaller than the difference between normal shots.