Ranger/Warrior: The Melee Ranger [Archive]

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IMMORTAlMITCH

19-05-2005, 00:23

Ranger has always been my type of char in RPGs, but since I kinda liked casting spells I decided my firs char had to have ranger + a caster profession.

Since at that time I didn't think Expertise would benefit me a lot (maybe it wouldnt for a ranger/caster) I took mesmer first.

I've played my Me/R all the way to Lion's Arch and then got kinda bored of using the same spells over and over again, none of them being ranger skills even. (Don't get me wrong I experimented a lot with different skill builds in both PVE and PVP it's just that with any other skill build I wasnt remotely as effective as with the one I used continuously)

I decided to make a new char and experiment a bit with expertise, at first I was planning to get Mo as second class but I really wanted to try something original and focused on melee weapons (thus got warrior second)

All good but since I didnt get a lot of useful skills for my build early on I still had to focus on marksmanship. Then I got Lightning reflexes and Whirling defense and WOW did my ranger turn into a badass character!

With 75% dodge for a reasonably long time and a GREAT axe that even lenghtens my poison I slay enemies left and right while not even getting hurt myself, and if I DO get hit some I just use troll unguent to recover!

Today I gave this char some use in PVP and boy did she slay! In the PVP arena of LA (99% of the people there are lvl 20) my lvl 16 r/w could more often then not take on 2 or 3 characters of the opposing team!

As of now I'm using these skills:
Lightning reflexes:
Who needs frenzy when you have this! Great skill, only drawback is the cooldown.

Whirling Defense:
Decent duration, 75% dodge, even deals some dmg to adjecent ranged attackers, again the cooldown is quite high but believe me, I don't need that much time ^^

Poison Weapon:
Adds more damage and is a great combo with cyclone axe.

Cyclone Axe:
Nice AoE, easy to deal with mobs of small creatures or spread out poison quickly.

Troll Unguent:
I guess I dont need to explain the use of this, great skill!

Disrupting Chop:
Need that healing signet disabled for a while? Disrupting Chop comes to mind here, really great skill, only drawback is the adrenaline cost (I might swap this for disrupting blow)

Zephyr of Quickness:
Cooldowns posed a problem? No longer! Very useful skill.

The 8th slot usually has res signet, for PVE I swap zephyr for SoC.

Has anyone else used similar builds, comments/advice on this one?

I haven't seen many primary rangers that didnt use bows and/or pets.

UberDigerati

19-05-2005, 01:25

Has anyone else used similar builds, comments/advice on this one?

I haven't seen many primary rangers that didnt use bows and/or pets.

This is very interesting!

So do you actually pump points into the Expertise skill?

nSin

19-05-2005, 02:49

I've posted

http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=345663

that guide on several sites. Same basic build.

IMMORTAlMITCH

19-05-2005, 07:48

I've posted

http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=345663

that guide on several sites. Same basic build.

Nice, so I'm not the only one who tries to be original rather then the standard bow and pet using rangers!

Anyways I see you've been using swords/hammers why not axes? Cyclone axe + poison is amazing and I seem to be finding way more good axes then other weapons.

nSin

19-05-2005, 19:13

I've given the axe build a try, I have to agree that it does work wonders against mobs, It's a bit less effective against bosses though.

More PvE suited it seems. Which is good.

Gliffen Amakiir

20-05-2005, 08:32

I was getting a bit bored myself so I decided to give this build a try. It's definately worth that, haven't used it enough to decide if it's more or less effective for my own style and abilities but definately a good idea worth trying!

Thanks for the info

Topshelf

20-05-2005, 08:42

I'm interested in this build myself. Can you give an indepth description of how you approach a PvP opponent and the sequence of skills?
And does LR and Whirling Defense stack?

Thanks :happy53:

Rion

20-05-2005, 08:44

You can only be in one stance at a time, so no, they don't stack.

IMMORTAlMITCH

22-05-2005, 23:30

I'm interested in this build myself. Can you give an indepth description of how you approach a PvP opponent and the sequence of skills?
And does LR and Whirling Defense stack?

Thanks :happy53:

Well, I'm doing PVE mainly atm so I don't know how helpful this advice will be, but I'll tell you what I usually do in PVP.

Skills
Apply Poison
Zephyr of Quickness
LR
WD
Cyclone Axe
Disrupting Chop
Troll Unguent
Res Signet*

*: Optional

Your first move should always be: Walk inside the arena and cast zephyr of quickness.

After that if you expect the fight to start of fast cast Apply Poison otherwise cast it right before charging in.

With your poisoned weapon you will want to find several opponents near each other so you can use Cyclone Axe to poison all of them right away, Activate WD once you're getting focused, about halfway through WD you'll usually want to cast Troll Unguent to restore to full health.

If you poisoned the lot, pick a target, preferred targets are monks and elementalists.

Use Disrupting Chop to disrupt any healing or massive AoE spells they might cast and activate LR when WD wears off.

After that it's pretty much rinse and repeat.

Dont be afraid to do the tanking, this build is far better at tanking then most warriors.

Feynt

23-05-2005, 00:15

By the same token a mesmer/warrior is better than most warriors at tanking, simply because of Distortion giving you a sustained dodge rate of 75%. One Wild Blow though and you're in trouble.

I don't doubt the tenacity of your build in PvP or PvM though, I'm sure it's very effective for either. I had thought of doing this myself at one point, but I'm more of a caster fan than a tank fan.

nSin

23-05-2005, 01:40

Crinaya

23-05-2005, 05:10

I posted ideas for this build before I even got the game... And got laughed at. So far, I'm only level 13, but I'm enjoying a very similar build. I played axe for a while, loved it. Then I tried sword. I didn't like it for PvE, and it just seemed so generic in PvP. Everyone uses a sword. I'm in the process of trying hammer... But, only being in Yak's Bend, I don't have very many skills for any...

Anyway, nice to know I'm not the only R/W melee ranger!

IMMORTAlMITCH

23-05-2005, 08:05

I went from my regular sword/hammer build to the axe build

I feel like I've perfected it as far as my own desire goes

Troll Ungent
Cyclone Axe
Dismember
Cleave/Hundred Blades [Elite]
Lightning Reflexes
Whirling Defense
Dodge/Storm Chaser (rather take storm chaser as it's excellent for chasing, long duration.(
Apply Poison

Optional-
-Res signet, instead of Dismember
-Barbed Trap, same
-Healing Spring for early levels and lack of monks this works decent

I dont have hundred blades yet, but I captured cleave yesterday. It's AMAZING, only 5 adr needed to use so when you hit about two with cyclone axe you're set for high damage. Hundred Blades wold add a more powerful cyclone axe to this build... though I'm not sure if that desirable as you only need one good hit, I'll get back on that when I get it.

I'm using a Axe that lengthens the poison duration , together with a shield that adds +10 armor and life only 3 in tactics needed. On switch I'm using the same shield paired with an Earth damage Axe which is amazing for those high armor warriors/creatures.

Axe Mastery -11
Tactics -3
Expertise -7 (+1 for optimal effects)
Wilderness Survival - 11

Hm, you don't have any disruption skills this way though.

I haven't played PVP enough to know if it's a must to have any, but I sure as hell recommend carrying one around in PVE, stopping that Troll Unguent or Orison of Healing (as well as disabling it for another 20 seconds + cooldown) will help tons for killing that powerful boss!

Anyways, what's so good about cleave? Executioner's strike does more for 8 adrenaline and isn't even an elite skill.

Hundreds blades seems nice though.

Where do you get either? :happy53:

Only elite I've stolen sofar is Gladiator's Defense from the warrior dragon in the Dragon's Lair mission.

Oh and that Attribute Build, is that including the +15 points you can get from a quest somewhere in the desert?

IMMORTAlMITCH

24-05-2005, 00:22

Where do you get either? :happy53:

Ok, never mind that.

Stole it in the first mission after Dragon's Lair.

It doesn't seem to be THAT special though.

nSin

24-05-2005, 02:49

You get them about 3 missions after, cleave that is. Hundred blades pretty much in the last mission (I dont have it yet and still need to see if it works)

As for disrupting skills, I simply dont have it I'll get it soon but didnt find it needed except for the Dwarves on those huge Yak's that keep healing themselves with 5 heal spells.

It's like a Monk with twice the HP of a warrior, and unlimited mana.

As for cleave, mind you, I dont have Evi (which would be the upgraded version of dismember), and cleave is the only elite I can use now, unless I want go bow against with barrage poison arrow or oath shot. But 4 adr is absolutely nothing, one cyclone axe and it's refilled again, 8 adr still is a few more hits Cleave is just a lot more spammable really.

I dont have my extra points yet, havent calculated exact numbers, just estimate

Topshelf

24-05-2005, 06:53

where exactely did you get cleve again? i'm looking for that.

Zeittotschlager

29-07-2005, 22:24

Cool thread. I love the idea of the Ranger/Warrior combo as a melee fighter. I had a W/R and kept getting frustrated at all the AWESOME expertise skills that I would never be able to put points into...

The ranger armor is only 10 or 15 below the warrior, and the awesome stances and other Expertise skills seem to make up for it. Once I have more people to group with online I'll experiment. It's hard enough finding a PUG for a Ranger with a bow...

Fenric

30-07-2005, 07:33

I went from the start to around the desert using more melee skills than ranger. I found it far easier to survive that way, but since then I've focused more on the ranger side of things. The reason is even with the best armor, and lots of extra's to boost AL and HP, a ranger just can't take as much beating as a warrior. With every defensive stance to keep you protected, you become a little less effective at causing damage. I'm not saying its bad, far from it, in many cases it was my R/W saving the *** of many a warrior in melee. But when the team already has 2 warriors, and with the shortage of monks + larger groups of monsters, you become an extra problem for the monk to look after.

While a ranger staying back, poisoning everything from a distance, crippling anything that wants to go for your spellcasters calling targets and being able to judge the battle from a safer distance, then running in while the warriors distract the enemy and dropping a few annoying traps right under them, you can get in and out untouched and cause tons of damage. And while you don't get any thanks for it, it sure does help the warriors, crippling, mass bleeding, blinding, setting on fire. I'm finding traps work great for something like this. You'll rarely be noticed while the enemy is tied up with the warriors and can often lay all four down and get out of there laughing.

As for beastmasters. Still yet to see a ranger using a pet properly. I don't use mine infact I don't think I really have since pre-searing, mostly because using a pet while playing as a melee Ranger is incredibly annoying with it getting in your way all the time, not to mention all the skills it takes up just to make it useful.

But yeah, don't get me wrong, melee rangers are lots of fun, some great combo's that make you grin when you see huge amounts of damage in one go. But later in the game I'm finding regular ranger seems to work better. Though I do miss running in with a large sword sometimes ;) Also if your playing with henchies, a melee ranger works much much better. Since your screwed for most things as a regular ranger and henchies running in when your simply trying to pull targets away from a larger group. With a well thought out human team though, regular ranger mode is very powerful.

As for PvP, I dunno, rarely play that, just use my PvP characters as mules, so a melee ranger could be unstoppable in that for all I know :)

colbey

30-07-2005, 11:40

interesting thread :D

I myself am trying out a similar build, however imo the idea ofa R/W is to dodge attacks, and use more energy requiring attack skills. Granted, power attack is of the str line (if it wasnt, R/W would far outdamage any W) but hte anti stance attacks seem to work well, i mean someting like galrath requiring 10 adrenaline gives out just under 3 dps. seeking blade gives u 4dps... for the cost of 3 energy with 8 expertise. Omg lol, just checked out ripost it gives you a dps of 5.3 :D ( i'm definately using swords in pvp)

so at the moment with axes i have of course cyclone and apply poinson, swift chop, and my last attack being wild blow, i just cn't seem to find a good spabble skill to replace it with.

imo the only way to make adrenaline skills more effective is to bring in some kind of adrenaline stance, or something, which obviously as a R/W u dn't really have the skill slot for..

Elessar the True

30-07-2005, 11:53

I'd be curious to hear from someone who uses Ferocious Strike for the adrenaline boost.

colbey

30-07-2005, 12:20

yeh but then u need to have an animal companion, so thats 2 slots you really cn't spare.
something like for great justice could make it work, or using frenzy or flurry. anyone know much muhc less damage flurry makes u do, is it juts 25% less? cos double damamge from frenzy is kinda risky if enemies suddenly decide to spike you. or how about using tigers fury with no points in beastmastery?

personally looking at my skill slots i find it hard enough to fit in a rez siggy, let alone that and an adrenaline building skill. besides the whole point of R/W imo is that ur not meant to use adrenaline, but to instead stick with energy for more constant damage... ( barring some kind of ene drain)

Zero

30-07-2005, 15:42

I'd be curious to hear from someone who uses Ferocious Strike for the adrenaline boost.
*Raises hand* I Do/Have. It works nicely but to go melee Beast mAster you tend to have to go berserker style, meaning no self heal or res :p You can dish out alot of damage with those builds but your staying power without a monk isn't too good.

There's also the option to use ferocious strike to charge skills up such as "Watch Yourself" wich also works effectivley.

Longasc

30-07-2005, 18:05

This is not a MELEE build, but you can easily turn it in one.

One Word about the build: Tiger's Fury. The main idea behind it.

Beast Mastery: 9 (8+1)
Marksmanship: 12 (10+1+1) or higher
Expertise: 9 (8+1) -> from 9 Exp. all 10 Energy skills cost only 6.
Wilderness: 10 (9+1)

1. Poison Arrow or Punishing Shot, both Elite
2. Kindle Arrows -> PvE: Ignite Arrows
3. Tiger's Fury
4. Dual Shot
5. Troll Unguent
6. Favorable Winds
7. Throw Dirt
8. Rez Spell or Rez Signet

For a R/W, simply go AXE instead of Marksmanship and change to Apply Poison. Then add in the Spirit of Greater Conflagration and wear a Drakescale Armor...

It depends if you really want Tiger's Fury or Frenzy, in PvE when you are in the thick, I would say some 5 Beast Mastery combined with Lightning Reflexes will help you a lot to get something similar to Frenzy without the negative drawbacks!

Elessar the True

30-07-2005, 21:11

I've found Watch Yourself to be the ideal skill for the NON-melee R/W, as it's a nice outlet for the adren you build up naturally using bow attacks - just about the only outlet that doesn't involve melee. Theoretically Rush also falls into this category, moreso for PvP I would imagine.

My R/W that just won the game manages to keep Watch up about constantly, and as he fights with a short bow (Quick/Distracting spammer), he stands close enough that melee warriors and casters in the back both share the armor boost.

chrisbajo

31-07-2005, 01:53

yes the dodging warrior ranger kicks *** i did the same as u at first i didnt even use xpertise then when i got whirlind d and lightineing reflexes i started kicking *** only diffrence is i use sword and beastmastery.

mblackwidow

31-07-2005, 04:31

this sounds awesome,i myself like to pvp alot and i just got engaged in batle vs r/w using a sword that just completly ripped my team witch was kinda crazy thats why i feel tetermined on trying this out

Jenairess

03-08-2005, 05:45

One question about this melee axe ranger without tactics... what do you hold in your offhand? :confused:

colbey

03-08-2005, 15:10

well if you wer'nt using tactics, seems to me you would have to use hammers... use a constant tigers fury to make up for the attack speed of hte hammer.... an interesting build, but with rangers having less armour, and no absorption/knights armour, shields are pretty usefull imo.

having said that having a maz (16) shield, and not meeting the reqs for it, you would still get 12 armour from it according to this site.

Zero

03-08-2005, 16:57

You still use a shield as your offhand. I use an off hand shield that gives +45 life -2 damage while in a stance (gogo tigers fury). You get some defence from the shield and also the +life and - damage bonus because of your stance.

Sadow

03-08-2005, 17:14

The Ranger/Warrior is such a versatile class, and is an excellent, excellent caster killer, due to their very high elemental resistances.

To anyone that has used a Ranger/Warrior with some amount of frequency: Is Predatory Season any good in PVP? It seems like it would be excellent for helping to take out the normally quite annoying Monks.

Zero

03-08-2005, 17:38

It is a nice skill, especially if you have a necro with one of the two curses that lower healing on the target coupled with predatory season. The thing with PS though is its not life steal, just life gain so its not adding extra damage. But yeh, the reduction in heals can be worth it, though it doesn't effect life regen (shielding hands, troll ungent, breeze, etc)