PURE Ranger PVP Build

I havent found many, in fact ANY builds that are PURE. I can see why you would like to diversify, but I challenge the idea that pure builds are inherently weaker. Let me propose this pure ranger build...

Im not sure on the EXACT attributes, but it would be generally:
MAX Markmanship
MAX Wilderness
Remaining into Expertise ( to gain benefit of reducing energy costs )

Now, for the skills (keep in mind this is a PVP char...
numbers in () refer to the modified quanitity in this build with respect to the attributes...

1. PIN DOWN - your target is "Crippled" for 3-13 seconds (13)
2. SAVAGE SHOT - your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a spell, you strike for 13-25 damage (25)
3. HUNTER'S SHOT - you strike for +3-13 damage. If this attack hits a moving foe, that foe begins bleeding for 3-21 seconds (13, 21)
4. POISON ARROW (Elite) - your target becomes Poisoned for 5-17 seconds (17)
5. KINDLE ARROWS - your arrows deal an additional 3-20 Fire damage
6. TROLL UNGUENT - For 10 seconds, you gain health regeneration +3-9.
7. STORM CHASER (Stance) - For 8-18 seconds, you move 25% faster and gain 1-4 Energy whenever you take Elemental damage.
8. BARBED TRAP - When Barbed Trap is triggered, all foes in the area take 20-56 piercing damage, become "Crippled" and begin "Bleeding" for 3-21 seconds. Barbed Trap ends after 90 seconds. While activating this skill, you are easily interrupted.

I played this build over and over again in PvP matches on the map with the two bridges and the lava river, where there is a relic and ghostly hero, 8v8, and it was wonderful.

Firstly, I was almost always the last to die. If a caster tries to kill me, I cast savage shot and interrupt. A warrior I cast PIN DOWN, and cripple, and cast STORM CHASER to run away. In any situation, once I have gained some distance from any class by crippling and then casting storm chaser and running, I can cast troll unguent to heal myself and get back into the battle. Survival with this class is wonderful.

This class is a caster killer. SAVAGE SHOT can be cast 3 times in a row, back to back, interrupting whatever spell the caster is trying to cast, and dealing damage at the same time. It requires little energy, and is instant, without prep time. After that, I can cripple the caster with PIN DWON if he tries to run, then use hunters shot to deal extra damage and cause bleeding. I can top it off with poison arrow. By this point, the caster is in major trouble. If he tries to run, cripple again, and cast storm chaser to stay on his tail. This class eats up casters... AS a bonus, if an elementalist hits me while im using storm chaser, I gain energy.

As far as other rangers, its the same idea. Rain down all the conditions first (cripple, bleed, poison), and if he does have casting, I have the savage shot to interrupt. Once I hvae the conditions rained down, I can use kindle arrows to rain down extra damage to finish him off.

Warrios are the toughest, but still even TOE to TOE with a warrior this character can withstand and eventuall kill a warrior 1v1. Cripple will keep warriors at a distnace, while using STORM CHASER to also keep distance. Keeping the warrior poisoned, and bleeding (with hunters shot) will quickly eat away at life. Eventually use the prep of fire arrows once warrior past 1/2 life to start to finish him.

The trap comes in very useful, as I can use storm chaser to get to that area first and plant it at a common area where many enemies will feel its area effect, crippling them and dealing damage to all of them. I can also use it as a backup plan, planting it at an escape route if I need to run away, where enemies will follow and become crippled by it, allowing me to escape quickly.

This character can hold his own 1v1 against any class as I have mentioned, but he really shines when he is supporting other characters. I can prep kindle arrows and rain down damage while also putting conditions on whatever enemies I choose, causing them to bleed and be poisoned and cripped.

What do you think?

Many people only take skills from their primary. It isn't unusual in any way - Monks in particular are often pure healers or pure protectors. Looks fine but I don't play ranger, so I can't judge that well. I think that if you think that you'll win 1 on 1 vs a warrior by crippling and running you aren't giving the warrior much credit - he could well pack a snare for just such times, a knockdown spell or a slow (yeah, he'll have 2 classes - possibly elementalist, necromancer, mesmer... you name it). Pure classes can be good, but there is no harm in having a second class, and many secondary classes have a skill or two that you can pick up, possibly unlinked, that would improve your build.

Sounds pretty good. Not too sure how useful storm chaser is, maybe you could replace it with read the wind.

I would also suggest getting a secondary anyway, as there is absolutely no downside whatsoever.

Gives you twice the options/combinations

agree with above as you can have it but not put anything in it

and for some reason all the pvp people with the most experience with what works are dual profession

maybe the experts know something..............

I don't beleve that. I think having a pure Ranger or anything for that matters opens just as many doors as having a secondary. Personally I am still debating using my Elem. as my secondary or just Ranger!

So it isn't what you got it's how you use it!! ( i saw that somewhere...)

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What Lovitar is saying, is that you can choose to have a secondary and not put any points into it at all, and you would still be a pure ranger in a practical sense, because it costs you nothing at all to pick the secondary.

So, I would probably choose monk or something as secondary but I wouldnt put anything into it, I would keep the build I originally posted and maybe use the healing spells in PvE group quests or something if I needed.

Oh, and Xelthus, Storm Chaser is VERY useful, as it provides me with an escape route if Im dying (+25% run speed) and has saved me MANY times, additionally, Storm Chaser allows me catch those who are trying to escape my wrath!

But yeah, I cant wait to unlock these skills and start PvPing, currently Im lvl 5

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Bump...


I just noticed that I coudl change troll unguent for the healing spring trap, which would act as a team healing device for 10 seconds... very useful

Also, still looking for more criticism on this build.. any takers?

If ya go with healing spring, don't take monk as a secondary. It makes you a target, and since healing spring is "easily interruptable" any hit you take will keep it from being set, and you'll have to wait for the cooldown to try it again.

You'll want a good amount in Expertise otherwise you won't be doing much more then normal attacks alot of the time while you wait to rebuild your energy pool. Comes down to getting in over twice as many hits (round 66% energy saved at max) vs doing an extra 4 to 6 damage on each of your abilities.. Expertise is a must have for rangers. I recommend atleast 10 in it plus runes. And since your going pure there is absolutely no reason why not to have high expertise.

With your build right now if you max'd out those other two skills that would leave you with 4 attribute points for expertise which would get you level 2 in Expertise.. plus with runes you could get up to 6 expertise. Though if you cut back on one or both of the other skills by just a few points you would have alot more to spend on Expertise to get it to an acceptable level.