Bows

Even though I have been playing with my Ranger for, like, ever I still dont get bows. I know LongBows shoot farther and have the best ranger and vice versa for ShortBows. But everyone tells me that Composite Bows are good and Flatbows are bad but aren't they both in the middle? And I dont get Bow Grips and Strings. Some people tell me Vamprics and Zealous suck and others tell me its the best. And same for most others (grips n strings.) Now I currently want to get some type of longbow, well actualy a Storm Bow and I have a Sundering String (20/19) and a Shelter Grip. I'm planning to get a Fortitude Grip but some people tell me it stinks and same with Sundering. People just tell me too many things without reasoning. So can someone tell me the pros and maybe cons of each bow type n mods and which they think is the best.

you just have to know how to take advantage of everything. some people say vampiric and zealous strings suck because they dont know how to do this. use a vampiric string to help increase your DPS (damage per second) while spiking and such. zealous can be used for energy management. some people say that you get more energy from just using another string that doesnt give energy degen. however, if your running a barrage or quickshot build, you can easily make up for the degen. as for the bows, ill just advise using a recurve bow while interrupting and a hornbow while spiking.

In a nutshell:

Longbows:

Longest range. Mediocre refire. Mediocre arch (how long it takes for arrow to reach target.)

Flatbow:

Longest Range (tied with Longbow). Fastest Refire. Largest (worst) arc.

Horn Bow:

Mediocre range. Slowest Refire. Mediocre arc. 10% Innate Armor Penetration.

Recurve:

Mediocre Range. Mediocre refire. Smallest (best) arc.

Short:

Shortest Range. Fastest Refire (tied with flatbow). Mediocre arc (actually doesn't make a difference because of range).

Pretty much I'd suggest using a Flatbow if you are prone to using Read the Wind, as you'll get more damage than with a Longbow.

If you don't like Read the Wind, then I'd use a longbow to pull with and a shortbow once you've engaged the baddies. Again, you'll get more damage out of a shortbow.

If your primary function is interrupting, then I'd use a recurve bow.

If you are running a Quickshot build, or a spike build (or maybe a TF Barrage build...but I'm suddenly not sure about that one) then you'll want to use a hornbow.

But to be honest, if you were only going to get one bow, then I'd use a flatbow and learn to love Read the Wind.

you forgot hornbows!

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+marksmanship is sometimes used in r spike, sometimes. it's also the only time I'll vouch for 20/20 sundering.

i would also tell you to use search because there is a million threads on here with the same question...

But I do know that searching is almost always disabled when I try to use it. what's up with that?

I also always wondered what/how to Ranger Spike.

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I'm a huge recurve fan. For one, they have the best skins in my opinion. Secondly, they have a huge versatility. They aren't slow by any means and they go a decent length so you feel like a ranger. They are perfect interupt bows because the arc is low.

The arc is low = more DPS. Why you ask?

Guildwars has alot of moving targets in both pve and especially pvp. If you stand still in PvP your as good as dead in most cases. Anyways, with a decently high arc like a longbow, arrows are sure to miss. This is a big problem because it cuts your DPS down by a great amount.

Dodgeing arrows is a big part of pvp. I learned this when crip shot rangers were still in major pvp buisness. You naturally come into some encounters. I personally can dodge any bow type except Recurve. Unless the enemy ranger had impecable timing and could time their shots perfectally, I would always will the battle against a non-recurve bow.

In my opinion:

Recurve Bow > Long Bow > Flat Bow

This list is situational of course, however, it is overall a good bet.

RtW or/and FW makes Flatbows the best... Makes their arc like Recurves but the Refire is like Shortbows. Anything else other than those two conditions its up to what is happening and what your strategy would be. I personally like Recurves as they built for interrupting but not if I am using RtW or/and FW.

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It's all variable by situation. As a longtime ranger, I have in my weapon bar usually
2 flatbows, a shortbow and a recurve, if running a build in which FW or RtW will be in play.

If using a build without RtW or FW in play

Longbow, 2 shortbows and a recurve.

I don't even own a Hornbow, as I typically don't use one. The exception is ranger-spike groups, but that's PvP, and I typically just roll a PvP character for that.

Any good ranger has a pack full of bows and isn't afraid to swap them around for his role. Any good player knows how to play multiple builds, and adapts to the situation.

Unfortunately, my ranger has next to no room in her pack at this point - with 4 suits of armour (2 Druids and 2 Frost, one with all sup and one with all minor for each, allowing any combintaion of headgear/runes) about 10 bows, a hammer, sword, axe, shield for warrior secondary (as thumper/axe/sword ranger), staff (trapping if not oath shot/ViM), blood focus (yup, just in case I play touch) and so on, the pack is a little bit crowded...

chec this out:

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow

For no particular reason I just am not a fan of shortbows, though I do realize their usefulness.

I'd still pick a Recurve over a Flat Bow anyday, I can see where your coming from. I don't like the idea of having to always use a skill to keep my bow useful. I like having the effects that are important to me constantly active no matter what happens.

my weapon bar has

Flat bow (sundering)
long bow (poisoners or fire damage)
long bow (zealots)
recurve bow (vampiric)

never have to change my wep bar