Curse

ZigZag Rollmeister · Jun 27, 2005, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Like most other rangers, I've had to put up with all the newbies out there who think rangers are useless.

Unfortunately, when it comes to undead, some of these newbs have a small point. I've actually become quite frustrated with the lack of DPS we can do versus non-flesh creatures.

I've seen all types of suggestions, but most everyone agrees that Ignite Arrows is probably the best skill of choice for these encounters. Having tried this myself, I still wasn't satisfied with the DPS result (as compared to other mobs.).

So I started experimenting with different types of bow damage....Earth, Fire, Lightning......My earth bow showed the best results, but not enough to really make me jump for joy.

Then it happened.....a loot drop. Having ascended 3 characters so far, I'd never seen this drop, and I was curious to know if it was possibly a new drop added in from a recent patch. Anyway, patch or no patch.....my new DEATHBANE FLATBOW rocks the house versus undead.

NOW....FINALLY.....I can liberally enjoy the benefits of Ignite Arrows, while my max damage bow does an extra 13% to all undead creatures.

Has anyone else seen a deathbane weapon or bow? Is this a new drop? Anyone?......Bueller?......Anyone?

Epinephrine · Jun 27, 2005, 03:02 PM // 15:02

I've never had an issue with undead, but I am R/Mo, so I just sub Judge's insight onto my skill bar and deal holy damage on them. Cuts them down fast. If you aren't R/Mo though I'd say that fire works adequately, and it does really well vs hell hounds.

Kishin · Jun 27, 2005, 03:43 PM // 15:43

Kindle/Ignite Arrows are probably the best damage buffs against just about anything. I've personally never encountered any real problems with undead, either. The only thing you can't do use on them is Hunter's Shot, but Penetrating Attack still does good damage, as do buffed Dual Shots.

And no, Deathbane isn't new. It's another of the slayer weapon mods (ie. Dwarfslaying, Charrslaying, Giantslaying and my personal favorite 'Pruning', when you absolutely need that extra damage against thorn stalkers and life pods *snicker*). Oddly enough, they seem fairly rare, as I've never seen them in much widespread use or sale.

Night · Jun 27, 2005, 04:50 PM // 16:50

I have to second or third those above and say using iginite arrows did more than enough damage for me when hitting the undead.

Ryoushi · Jun 27, 2005, 05:05 PM // 17:05

Personally, since I am an R/Me, when fighting undead I pretty much used Penetrating Attack, Energy Burn, and Chaos Storm over and over. That seemed to work for me.

It's nice to see that those slaying things are actually useful though, as I've always found them kinda funny.

ZigZag Rollmeister · Jun 27, 2005, 05:07 PM // 17:07

Thanks for the info on the deathbane thing.

Btw- I acknowledged that ignite arrows did better versus undead than other stances, but if you check the damage ratios versus undead, it's still noticably lower than with other MOBs. Also, The prima guide says (And I've verified it) that many undead creatures (primarily skeleteons) have resistance to penetration attacks. Which is the only type of physical damage we do).

Buffed Dual shot is really good, but it doesn't recharge fast enough to spam when you've got multiple mobs to deal with.

Anyway, thanks for the info everyone. I'm still interested to hear your creative thoughts too easily taking down those flesh-less creatures with the same kind of DPS as you would other mobs.

dargon · Jun 27, 2005, 06:02 PM // 18:02

I like lobbing a Judges Insight Barrage onto a group of undead

Works real well. Lich sure doesn't like Judges Insight, I just watched his health drop each time I hit him. Way more damage from me than the two warriors beating on him

. And he never got to teleport anyone away, just himself, once

Bazooka · Jun 27, 2005, 08:38 PM // 20:38

If you can't do smite, you can always do ignite arrow+dual shot. Undead dont like fire either. Maybe its that whole dessication due to rot process.

Imp · Jun 27, 2005, 09:18 PM // 21:18

Just plop a fire bow string on your bow, that does a fair amount to them.

the_grip · Jun 27, 2005, 09:54 PM // 21:54

If you have poison arrow, i would suggest using kindle arrows and poison arrow against the ones that receive poison (most undead bosses do i think, and some of the undead mobs that you wouldn't expect... damned clerics take it i think as do grasping ghouls - just a few among others).

However, if you are thinking about uber-undead (like the FoW mobs) then i have no idea... haven't brought my ranger down there yet.

Zon2000 · Jun 28, 2005, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Interestingly enough, I have a bow that does extra % damage to skeletons.

So what I'm wondering is, if the % dmg to undead implies fleshy undead only, or also to skeletons as well. I'm hoping it's the former.

But yeah, I've found the pure ranger skills to be particularly wanting against the undead. It'd be nice to be able to have skills that affect conditions on undead only.

GranDeWun · Jun 28, 2005, 01:17 PM // 13:17

Undead seem to have no special elemental defense, so use a bowstring like shocking, fiery, etc. And, since that's not a prep, it works with Barrage

Darkest Dawn · Jun 28, 2005, 04:50 PM // 16:50

My friend let me play his ranger(my four slots are used up!) I laid down that spirit that makes arrows move twice as fast, and does +6 damage. Add the ignite arrows, powershot, and such to it and you can rip right through them. I did the Gates of Kryta mission with that Ranger, and had no problems.

Also, it depends on your attribute level for marksman, and wilderness survival(for some buffs).

RandomEngy · Jun 28, 2005, 09:43 PM // 21:43

If you've got a monk sub, put some points into smiting and take Balthazar's Aura and Signet of Judgement along, then put on some Kindle Arrows and fire away while the aura does its magic. (put it on your pet or a warrior; having Druid's set helps for the mana cost) It cuts down undead like nobody's business.

Shamblemonkee · Jun 29, 2005, 11:31 AM // 11:31

I use my fiery flatbow of defence and support it with smiting skills.

orzage · Jun 29, 2005, 11:23 PM // 23:23

As Imp said, get Conjure Flame and upgrade your bow with a Fiery bow string. You'll do TONS of damage to undead.

Dreamsmith · Jun 29, 2005, 11:32 PM // 23:32

Yes, I love the undead, especially hellhounds. They are so flamable...

Tactical-Dillusions · Jun 30, 2005, 08:01 PM // 20:01

My R/Mo has no problem with whole groups of undead. Depending whether they have scorcerers or not i usually keep my build pretty static in PvE.

Mending
Balthazars spirit
live vicariously
Healing breeze
Barrage
Symbol of wrath - for Hounds/melee undead
Banish - for scorcerers when blinded
Whirling defence

Sometimes i may swap Symbol of wrath with vigorous spirit to double the health gain from live vicariously.

Zon2000 · Jul 01, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Ok, it's apparent that certain R/*** builds do easier than others.

R/Mo -> obvious, smite skills
R/El -> fire (?)

What about a "pure" Ranger build (ie no secondary skills)?
And other secondaries? I have a R/Nec and it's not as easy as I would assume a R/Mo would be, since a lot of necro skills depends on fleshy npc's or fleshy corpses...

Dreamsmith · Jul 01, 2005, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zon2000

R/Mo -> obvious, smite skills
R/El -> fire (?)

What about a "pure" Ranger build (ie no secondary skills)?
And other secondaries?

Same as R/E: Fire. Doesn't matter what your secondary is, your best fire skills are under Wilderness Survival (Kindle Arrows for individual targets, Ignite Arrows for hordes).