Profesion
R / *
Attributes
BeastMastery - 16 (Superior Rune, Tamer's Mask)
Expertise - 9
Marksmanship 9
Total Points Spent - 193/200
Skills
Brutal Strike
Feral Lunge
Ferocious Strike (Elite)
Predator's Pounce
Call of Haste
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal
Resurrection Signet
Strategy
Keep "Call of Haste" on your pet at all times. If your pet is being attacked, spam "Comfort Animal", "Predator's Pounce" and "Ferocious Strike" (When needed).
If you are being attacked, spam ALL skills, and pray you have a good monk.
I can keep my pet alive for a very long time despite what many say. I have learned to be self-reliant, and don't count on the monk healing my pet (I actually do better when they don't, believe it or not). By doing this, I actually balloon my Health up, so to speak. It's simple - if they are attacking your pet, they aren't attacking you. If they are attacking you, they are being wailed on. It's almost as if you have the health of both you and your pet. If your pet dies (better him than you, right?), you can still res (Having your skills disabled really isn't as bad as it's made out to be, I don't feel it as much, now). If you die, you still have some offence (though not much).
PROS:
"Ballooned" Health
Attack from the grave
Pet Attacks cost low Energy, Ferocious Strike and Expertise further help this, allowing you to spam all skills as fast you can without worrying about energy at all.
Element of surprise (For PvP), so to speak. Few will think to take out your pet when they are at a vital moment (Most assume you have no points in BM and are of little expierience). It is even harder to call a pet as your target and tell your Spike group to focus on it. (Trust me, I've tried. Got cursed out quite a few times on TS/Vent). Many underestimate the element of surprise, but ask any Smiting Monk worth his salt, most of the time when they realize, it's already too late.
If you are using a pet with Piercing Damage, Ward Against Melee does not effect it.
You can keep "Call of Haste" on pet at all times, which is nice - 25% faster running speed for pet, 25% faster attack rate for pet.
Despite what many will tell you, you WILL be doing nice damage. Your pet alone does great damage, but chipping in with your bow won't hurt (yourself) either.
You can spam Pet Attack skills even while casting Resurrection Signet.
Good for soloing
CONS:
One Trick Poney (so to speak), as you rely only on your pet.
You must be attacking someone for your pet to initiate attacking
Stupid pet AI. It can be body blocked if there is enough clutter (but not just by one person). Your pet will only attack random people who wonder near our corpse when you are dead.
Your pet does not respawn with you when you wipe out.
You cannot use pets in the Doppleganger fight (Although you really don't need to).
Monk skill "Heal Area" and "Heal Party" effect Pets.
You can't see how much damage your pet is doing (does that count as a CON?)
Can't tell them when to stay back. This makes pulling a bit more tough and can cause unwanted agro.
Everybody's a critic. Everyone will want to tell you how bad pets suck, how you should give it up, how horrible being original is. They will tell you about how Air Elementalists are the only damage dealers in this game and everything else attempting damage should switch professions.
Hard to find PUGs.
If you aren't paying attention, your pet's health bar can easily slip away.
If your opposing enemy is really quick on the draw, they can all concentrate on your pet as soon as it resurrects and might kill it before you have a chance to start the healing process.
Some people really can't stand the disabled skills. This can come at key moments when you must resurrect an ally imediatly. However, all your skills (save one) are based around your pet - You know if you let your pet die, your offence will die.
Acknoledgement
Ok, before you light my ass up with flames about how much pets are lacking, I will say that I do agree they are lacking some major features (check out my suggestion thread: http://guildwarsguru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26800), but I feel that there is enough for me to keep going. I have plenty of fun with my build, which seems to eat Mesmer, Monks, and Warriors alive. That is what it is all about to me, fun.
IGN: S C A R F A C E (W/Mo), Robin In Da Hood Yo (Ranger Extraordinaire)
