Viable Hard Mode Builds - Ranger Addition

Then why make such a useless and off-topic comments. You do understand the use, but you have never found a use for it.

The cast time is 2 seconds, btw, which hardly removes a lot of damage potential.

Archers Signet works in energy denial areas since it essentially makes ur skills free to use this is one of its greatest assets It also allows a large number of uses from Concussion show that even with 12 Expertise is going to cost 15 energy which is going to give u 1 shot and then ur going to need energy gain to be able to use it again and the same between every usage. Another advantage to it is the energy save is uncondional unlike most energy gain skills.

Other energy gain methods are effective too but they struggle with multiple concussion shots especially in a short period of time. Archers shot losing some effectiveness when using non Concussion shot builds where other energy regain skills work more effectivly. But imo if u want to use Concussion shot then there is no more effective way than using Archers signet as ur elite.

The Cast time is no problem, its no different than equipping a preperation.

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The energy saving of [skill=text]Archer's Signet[/skill] enables you to launch and repeat 3-4 high energy skills, i.e. [skill=text]Concussion Shot[/skill] that you wouldn't be able to combine with such immediacy in other circumstances, even with high Expertise. It's not just its benfit with one other skill. It's difficult to imagine that anyone that uses it isn't aware that they're giving up their Elite slot.

Having said that, my sense is that degen, particularly poisoning, is the key to what I've played of Hard Mode and there are several interesting variations within that theme that are possible. [skill=text]Needling Shot[/skill] and an IAS are almost always constants with me in that context.

An exception to my previous posts comes to mind: the dock's mission in Elona, (which I've always particularly enjoyed.) [skill=text]Splinter Weapon[/skill] and [skill=text]Barrage[/skill] are phenomenal there, particularly with two rangers thus equipped. In that case, it's useful to bring along Olias and his entourage to play interference.

Well, the point I was trying to make, is that in HM dazing with BHA is not always enough, specially with godly protect monks, or fast casting mesmers. Its also VERY helpful to bring the mesmer illusion skill Frustration, as this adds dmg upon interrupts making kills much quicker, and lengthens casting speeds back to that of a dazed normal mode boss. Not that its only bosses, this completely shuts down any normal monster almost certainly, the extra dmg and time to interrupt helped ALOT I found.

I <3 Frustration

Since when do you have to actually use Concussion Shot once every 5 seconds? Unless your fighting a mob of 3+ spellcasters that for some reason your team can't kill any within 30 seconds... Archers Signet is bollocks. Prep Shot lets you manage energy properly when you need it, gives you additional damage and lets you use all THREE interrupts WHEN and WHERE you need them. Archers Signet lets you spam Concussion Shot, which sadly is completely useless if you use it vs a Healing Signet and using a Savage/Distract while under Archers just wastes its charges and makes it even less effective.

Until Rangers get a *good* 25 energy bow ATTACK that doesn't do crap damage and only really works on a spellcaster Archers Signet will be useless. I don't give a crap what people have to say about this elite, much like i don't about Primal Rage. Archers Signet at least has potential whereas Primal is just useless, Experts Dexterity is another example. There is nothing to discuss on how useless Archers Signet is. No point saving 80 energy if you have nothing to use it on, what you gonna do, spec Healing and use Heal Party?

Throughout this thread ive encountered a lot of builds which did NOT make use of a preparation. I find that every bow-wielding ranger should nearly always carry a prep, as this gives such a big boost to your arrows, is unstrippable, and lasts a decent time. It allows u to simultanuously apply 2 conditions, e.g: screaming+apply poison.

Anyways, i often run epidemic ranger builds or incendiary arrows coupled with mimicry (practiced stance on magrid). The 3 incredible stances for me are Whirlng Defence, Dryders' Defences and Lightning Reflexes. Also i find shortbows much more useful in HM so i strongly advise u to use one.

Yeah i never understood the point in making a bow build without using a prep... there is no way another skill will be more beneficial than a prep.

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Are we talking about Ether Seals here... not Wells...?

Because personally i found them quite easy to take out by.... STANDING OUT OF RANGE USING A FLATBOW.

And the fact that your having to bring a completely haxxord endgame e-denial enemy into this to say that Archers Signet is decent just means the skill is absolutely bollocks.

Can i just ask which groups with huge numbers of casters we're talking about here?

Any mesmers cast extremely fast, especially in HM, very hard to interrupt. Necros, Eles, Monk, why are these even alive for long enough? And are we also going by the fact that you manage to hit every single Concussion Shot?

No matter what you say with regards to Archers Signet it sucks, its only use is to 'spam' a 25e interrupt, using any other attack skills makes it a much less effective elite. Prep Shot will always win. You don't have to spam Concussion Shot, we were given 3 very good interrupts for a reason, Prep Shot utilizes that, Archers doesn't.

C'mon peeps, this topic isn't about Archer's Signet and there's no point in trying to argue with Evilsod, who will never change his opinion anyway, no matter what you say because he simply can not accept different opinions. Even when faced with the plain fact is that someone states they actually put Archer's Signet to use in a build designed for Hard Mode and had success with it.

Thats because your definition of success obviously means something entirely different from mine. There has been no successful build involving Archer's Signet, end of story. Everything i've heard has revolved around spamming Concussion Shot, which is pretty far from a success.

Practiced Stance is a bad elite. But it has some successful builds.

You see, it is exactly as I said, there is no way that you can be wrong.

If thats how you want to interpret it... of course your tune doesn't seem to be changing either, you refuse to acknowledge how bad Archers Signet is and how all builds for it are too. So really, stop trying to act like you're 'better'.

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Evilsod isn't the only one to realise Archer's Signet sucks.

I have a screenshot of me in Thunderhead Keep with only henchmen (pre-heroes, no flags to control them) smacking it down with NO SKILLS on my bar. Just because you can do it doesn't mean it's good. No skills on the bar isn't a good build because ANY build is better, as any build can get the same or better performance - they can simply opt not to use their skills.

Same with Archer's Signet, sure, you might be able to make it work, but only because you didn't need a decent build. I can probably make an archer's signet build and beat many areas with it, but I'd have beat them more easily with other builds. Archer's Signet is a lousy skill, but you get 7 others to make up for its crappitutde.