What is the Best Ranger Elite Skill?

ltccone

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

Near Cville, VA

Hoog's Heroes

W/

For an archer-type ranger?

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

There is no best as some players would tell me if I asked the same question, this is totally subjective, so to my subjective view, the best elite I personally love is cripple, but to tell the truth, I love them all.

ltccone

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

Near Cville, VA

Hoog's Heroes

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by romeo_longsword
There is no best as some players would tell me if I asked the same question, this is totally subjective, so to my subjective view, the best elite I personally love is cripple, but to tell the truth, I love them all. I like cripple, but I also like barrage... I just wish you could equip more than one elite skill.

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

If that was the case, I would like to have, Cripple, Posion Arrow, Marksman Wager, escape, all at the same time.

May be not escape, but the first three would be good.

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

I think for PvE Barrage is pretty much a permanent fixture in many people's skill bars. It's spammable, does extra damage, and attacks up to six baddies at once. It's hard to find a skill that compares to it.

I think Punishing Shot is my favorite skill in PvP, but a close second would have to be Crippling shot. Punish shot is my favorite cause it deals extra damage uncondtionally and is an interrupt to boot.

lord_shar

lord_shar

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

near SF, CA

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnipiousMax
I think for PvE Barrage is pretty much a permanent fixture in many people's skill bars. It's spammable, does extra damage, and attacks up to six baddies at once. It's hard to find a skill that compares to it.

I think Punishing Shot is my favorite skill in PvP, but a close second would have to be Crippling shot. Punish shot is my favorite cause it deals extra damage uncondtionally and is an interrupt to boot. Agreed. Barrage is difficult to beat for PvE purposes. That's why rangers are cleaning house in tombs...

Curlyfry

Curlyfry

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

New York City

No love for melandru's arrows?!?!
I love it for PvP, bleeding is enough, plus the extra damage is almost a given due to the fact that most players ore under enchantments all the time!
Barrage is second best

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnipiousMax
I think Punishing Shot is my favorite skill in PvP, but a close second would have to be Crippling shot. Punish shot is my favorite cause it deals extra damage uncondtionally and is an interrupt to boot. I have to agree actually, it is one of my fav skill as well, just that I have been using it so much I did not see it as one single skill, but together with dual shot and savage as a set.

Yes, I love it, but I dont know if I can love it more then CS, very hard for me to say, which is best.

Aerials

Aerials

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

Somewhere in deep space....

So Easy A Caveman Can Do It [pve]

R/E

Barrage and Punishing Shot are all well and good, but what about some of the elites I seem to hear less about in the PvE environment. For instance, Oath Shot certainly appers to be overlooked in any ranger build tht has nothing to do with trapping ( I have a particularly wicked interupt build that is centered around this skill...haven't tried in in PvP yet though). I would also like to see more builds that make use of practiced stance. That being said i probably use Quick Shot the most, but again, the usage of elites depends completely on the situation.

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerials
Barrage and Punishing Shot are all well and good, but what about some of the elites I seem to hear less about in the PvE environment. For instance, Oath Shot certainly appers to be overlooked in any ranger build tht has nothing to do with trapping ( I have a particularly wicked interupt build that is centered around this skill...haven't tried in in PvP yet though). I would also like to see more builds that make use of practiced stance. That being said i probably use Quick Shot the most, but again, the usage of elites depends completely on the situation. Problem I have with oath shot, is that most ranger attack skills are quick to recharge already, it's very rare that I've used them all and have not a one on my skill bar to use. And with spammable skills like Quick Shot and Barrage, it falls by the wayside in use. Another skill I have little use for is Marksman's Wager. I've never had a problem with energy, even with a monstrous spamming of quickshot, so I don't see why Ranger's need a mediocre, conditional energy management skill.

Quickshot is another I really like. I've not been using it the most effectively (I've been solidly a barrager) but I've been tinkering with it to find a way to use it in PvE.

The elite preperations (Melandru's Arrows, Incendiary Arrows) are alright, but they usually appeal to paticular players, few choose bleeding over poison, and the 'on fire' condition last much to little time.

I like Melandru's Resiliance with Marytr builds. Or maybe anti-VIM. But I don't see much application in PvE.

Spike trap is the best of the the trapping line, but many trappers would rather take Oath Shot as it means more traps down on the ground quicker.

As for other elites...what is there? The elite pet attack isn't all that great (most rangers don't need adrenaline) when compared to disrupting lunge. Escape is great, but most people don't wanna use an elite for a defensive skill. Greater Conflageration is a bit hard to use, and you'll always have someone complain about the fire damage. Practiced Stance would be great, but if you look at your preperations only Incendiary Arrows (which is an elite so you couldn't use both anyway) and Choking Gas would benefit from using this... most of them last 24 seconds, and recharge in 12...so....is there really a point in bringing practiced stance?

Anyway that's what I see in em.

art_

art_

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

My fave is my avatar

Its just one of the most awesome skils in the game ^^

QuixotesGhost

QuixotesGhost

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerials
Barrage and Punishing Shot are all well and good, but what about some of the elites I seem to hear less about in the PvE environment. For instance, Oath Shot certainly appers to be overlooked in any ranger build tht has nothing to do with trapping ( I have a particularly wicked interupt build that is centered around this skill...haven't tried in in PvP yet though). I would also like to see more builds that make use of practiced stance. That being said i probably use Quick Shot the most, but again, the usage of elites depends completely on the situation. I'd have to throw in my hat for Oath Shot. There's a ton of creative stuff you can do with it.

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

For an archer-type ranger (as the OP was asking), I would say my fav is Poison Arrow. Spammable, lengthy degen. Barrage is nice but when you get down to just a couple enemies it kinda loses it's sparkle. Poison Arrow + a poisonous string + 16 WS = 28 seconds of poison, for 5 energy BEFORE expertise is applied, and it recharges in one second. Tab/space FTW.

However, my personal all-around favorite elite is by far Oath Shot. Neverending Whirling Defense is just awesome, and so is Distracting Shot - Oath Shot - Distracting Shot chain, against just about anything.

Joe Martin

Joe Martin

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

Maryland, USA

Xen of Onslaught [XoO]

Mo/

PvP - Crippling Shot
PvE - Barrage/Spike Trap (if you're a trapper)

Murder In China

Murder In China

Banned

Join Date: Sep 2005

/B/Chan

Looking for one

W/

Crippling shot hands down.

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
However, my personal all-around favorite elite is by far Oath Shot. Neverending Whirling Defense is just awesome, and so is Distracting Shot - Oath Shot - Distracting Shot chain, against just about anything. I love the idea of an Oath Shot, however, my problem with it is that, if you play a marksman, there are only defensive stances that the Oath shot would benift from, the rest of the skills rechange pretty quickly, and any quicker, one may not always have the ENG to support it. If I want to keep interup your foe's action, I would rather take another skill beside savage, such as distracting shot instead of Oath Shot. Oath Shot refreshig the skills are good when you are trying to doge incoming blows all the time (when you refresh the stances), but it may not get you to kill much.

So if you actually want to kill some, Oath Shot really benifts if you play a trapper.

kc99

kc99

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

Scotland

Renaissance Desire

R/Mo

1. Barrage- owns all and fits into any situation in pve
2.Poison arrow- highly spammable instant poison on your foes
3. Oath shot- Really for trapping but a great elite none the less

Going to cap punishing shot next (groan) NIGHTMARE!

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

What elite is best, reallly is subjective to the build being used, but my favorites are:

for PvP: Crippling Shot or Punishing Shot
for PvE: Barrage and sometimes practiced stance with choking gas for a good interupt build.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Barrage for PvE and Punishing shot for PvP

But for me, my favorite elite skills are:

-Melandru Arrows, bleeding and +dmg while the foe is under an enchantment (Dual shot with that)

-Incendiary Arrows, I never seen someone with that skill. Its awsome with my builds and I dont care the recharge time.

-Practiced stance with choking arrows (DUH!)

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

Framcis,

Could you share some of your view and perhaps, expereince with Incendiary Arrows?

I onced used to love Melandru Arrows, but I only use it when I am at RA, which I now spent much lesser time in. Also, I think the dmg is not consistant, as its dependent on the target's enchantment.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by romeo_longsword
Framcis,

Could you share some of your view and perhaps, expereince with Incendiary Arrows?

I onced used to love Melandru Arrows, but I only use it when I am at RA, which I now spent much lesser time in. Also, I think the dmg is not consistant, as its dependent on the target's enchantment.
Indendiary Arrows: Set on fire for 1-3 seconds and interrupt target.
Cost: 5
Recharge: 24
During Time: 8 seconds.

Like I said, I dont care about recharge time, its fine like that because is the Recharge is less than 16(after the preparation go off) seconds, it will be too powerful. IA is like Choking gas, but its interrupt any actions the target, even while he/she/it is stand idle. To make better, it set the target on fire to make -7 degen for 1-3 seconds. This is the basic view.

My view

Most of Rangers who want to be Degen spike use poison arrows, apply poison mixed with conjure phantasm/phantom pain/Life siphon, etc. But I never, never seen with Incendiary Arrows. Why? they saw the recharge time (Thinking its too long), How long it last (Thinking its too short) and the degen duration (Thinking its can be beaten by poison duration with wilderness 16). But can you shot an arrow while the other have Incendiary arrows and shot at you?

Experience

I used once in PvP, and still have at PvE.

In PvP, I never seen Rangers feared like this. Ranger in PvP are mostly: Trappers, Interrupt, Poison Degen, etc. My goal was Interrupt the target under a certain circonstance and do some degen. Instead using Distracting shot and Punishing shot, why not using Incendiary arrows. Got monks down, thinking they will set on fire for a long time (mend when the fire is finish WTF) and interrupt their healing skills.

In PvE, I was a poison Ranger with Poison Arrow (YaY)while using preparations like Kindle or Exploding arrows and the same time. But the time got this build away and try something else. I tried the Infinite Energy build (Lack of power but not lack of energy thought with Marksman Wager), Practiced Stance + Choking Gas, Enchanters Bane (Melandru Arrows + Dual shot), Interrupt (DUH!) and even Barrage/pet build (Knowing for tombs farm but good to kill a group of enemies too.). So I checked the elite to see which I never seen used by non-original Ranger (sorry for those who feel targeted) and I spotted Icendiary arrows, Melandru Resilence (love it too).

I too when I saw IA for the first time I said it sucked for recharge/ during. But with the time when I played with, this skill was useful than I expected. Turn caster into a human/monster/mursaat Torch is quite funny. But if they can't use a spell or attack for few seconds, this gives you some time to kill him/her/it or max damage.

KazeMitsui

KazeMitsui

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

pretty sure its all up in yo face

[WHAT]

R/

PVP wise id have to say cripp shot + apply poison FTW!!!

PVE wise either barrage or poison arrow depending on what im doing i guess

Trapper in groups spike trap yea but solo trapping most def oath shot

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

i just unlocked oath shot with factions. since i'm such a poor interrupter, i sometimes simply shower my opponents with interrupts and hope one of them hits something. with this nifty skill, i essentially have 4 interrupts instead of just 2.

Anarki

Anarki

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Sweden

Almost Famous

W/N

I always loved Poison Arrow because I can easily tab/space in pvp arena and quickly cause poison on everyone.
Melandru's Arrows is also a cool elite, and Barrage as well but only with Ranger smiter with apply poison to deal massive damage to everyone, but otherwise I dont find it that great.

The Real Roy Keane

The Real Roy Keane

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Dublin, Ireland

There is no 'best' as such, but in PvP tombs Oath Shot is pretty godly..

Quaker

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

Barrage is my personal fav these days, but Poison Arrow is a close second. In some instances I like Incendiary Arrows for the interrupt, and Melandru's Arrows can substitute for Poison Arrow.

Mezmo

Mezmo

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Mo/W

For PvE it's hard to beat barrage for the most part. There are times when other elites are better but barrage seems to be the best for the most parts.

For PvP I like punishing, cripling shot and oath shot. Punishing in a spike build and oath shot for when i use long re-charging skills(like for spirits). Cripling Shot with apply poison is an awesom combo and monks simply can't remove conditions from EVERYONE unless you have a martyr monk sitting around in the back.

Last Roman

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Black Parades

Mo/

i also like oath shot myself. But it is not just for pvp, you can solo most of what a invinci monk can solo by being a oath shot trapper.

Horace The Great

Horace The Great

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Netherlands

Lament of the Phoenix [LotP]

for dmg: punishing shot
for GvG: crippling shot + apply poison

Diablo Valentire

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Heroes of Old

R/Me

i like punishing shot b.c of the dmg and interupting and mel. resilience b.c, in PvE and PvP, it can keep you alive and with good enegry (especially Grenths Footprint in PvE b.c of Gnashers)

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis Demeules
Indendiary Arrows: Set on fire for 1-3 seconds and interrupt target.
Cost: 5
Recharge: 24
During Time: 8 seconds.

Like I said, I dont care about recharge time, its fine like that because is the Recharge is less than 16(after the preparation go off) seconds, it will be too powerful. IA is like Choking gas, but its interrupt any actions the target, even while he/she/it is stand idle. To make better, it set the target on fire to make -7 degen for 1-3 seconds. This is the basic view.

My view

Most of Rangers who want to be Degen spike use poison arrows, apply poison mixed with conjure phantasm/phantom pain/Life siphon, etc. But I never, never seen with Incendiary Arrows. Why? they saw the recharge time (Thinking its too long), How long it last (Thinking its too short) and the degen duration (Thinking its can be beaten by poison duration with wilderness 16). But can you shot an arrow while the other have Incendiary arrows and shot at you?

Experience

I used once in PvP, and still have at PvE.

In PvP, I never seen Rangers feared like this. Ranger in PvP are mostly: Trappers, Interrupt, Poison Degen, etc. My goal was Interrupt the target under a certain circonstance and do some degen. Instead using Distracting shot and Punishing shot, why not using Incendiary arrows. Got monks down, thinking they will set on fire for a long time (mend when the fire is finish WTF) and interrupt their healing skills.

In PvE, I was a poison Ranger with Poison Arrow (YaY)while using preparations like Kindle or Exploding arrows and the same time. But the time got this build away and try something else. I tried the Infinite Energy build (Lack of power but not lack of energy thought with Marksman Wager), Practiced Stance + Choking Gas, Enchanters Bane (Melandru Arrows + Dual shot), Interrupt (DUH!) and even Barrage/pet build (Knowing for tombs farm but good to kill a group of enemies too.). So I checked the elite to see which I never seen used by non-original Ranger (sorry for those who feel targeted) and I spotted Icendiary arrows, Melandru Resilence (love it too).

I too when I saw IA for the first time I said it sucked for recharge/ during. But with the time when I played with, this skill was useful than I expected. Turn caster into a human/monster/mursaat Torch is quite funny. But if they can't use a spell or attack for few seconds, this gives you some time to kill him/her/it or max damage.
i made quite a good interrupt build...i'm sure it lingers around on this server some where...lemme attach the .txt file i made for it...

Noobie Rank Healer

Noobie Rank Healer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/

For PvE, I like Escape and Melandru's Arrow
For PvP, I like Oath Shot
And for GvG, Cripple Shot.. + Apply Poison =)