Arhurt's All around support Ranger

Arhurt's All Around Support Ranger guide

WIP

(pls, if you have the time to correct any grammar or spelling mistakes, fell free to do so)

Intro

Hi all! This guide is supposed to give some insight into my own discoveries about the support ranger class. I have been using this build trough the mid part of the game, finally getting ascended and ready to make the Elite Runs.

This build is made for that. It does not require Storm Bows, does not require heavy armors neither any Elite Skills. It is simply a collection of strategies/skills I used it trough most of the mid-part of the game, with great sucsess.

Ok, lets get to the basics then:

Being the support

Support in GW is what makes a group viable against a number of different situations. So, as a support ranger, you must be ready to make decisions on the fly, or else find that your character feels kind of "useless". That is becouse any group could go by without support troops, they just need to be tougher, play better or have good luck. The presence of a support ranger will make the life of the party a little easier, as it helps everyone, be it keeping them from harm, helping the monks heal or disrupting the enemy key skills.

Thus, you must keep in mind that while you are not the engine of the group, you are a key piece that will make everyone's life a little bit easier.

Skills

Instead of listing eight skills that will make you "teh besto ranger" (tm) I rather comment on the few skills I have been using regularly, and then comment on a few sucssesfull builds.

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Expertise

Distracting Shot - The must-have skill for the support Ranger. This skill will interrupt ANY action the target was taking when the arrow hits. If that action was a skill, that skill is interrupted and is disabled for 20 seconds. Ok, the damage is a little low, but who cares for damage? Save this skill for the nastiest skill the enemy can use (eg.: Hydra's Meteor). Sometimes it is a little tricky to use this skill. Refer to the Using Distracting Shot guide for this particular skill.

Whirling Defense - Stance - Use this stance for casting traps near the enemies, or when your group really needs the trap placed at that time. This skill takes a while to recharge, so be sure it is the right time to trigger it. I usually prefer to save this skill to use in conjunction with Healing Spring when facing Area of Effect heavy attacks, or when facing mass party-poison, bleed or disease.

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Marksmanship

Determined Shot - Cheap extra damage, and is useful even when the enemy can avoid your attacks. Use it as one of your attack skills for the extra cheap damage.

Favorable Winds - If you have one or two extra rangers in your party, be sure to be you carrying this skills, unless the other rangers are support as well. A Marksman ranger will benefit more carrying more attack skills than you, and you can have the time to recast the spirit if it happens to die. If it's only you, then there is no point in taking this skill, as it will eventually benefit enemy rangers more than it benefits you.

Wilderness Survival

Apply poison - A very good skill to use, especially against numerous weak enemies. It is better to cast it and then star firing one arrow at each of the enemies for mass poison on the opposing party. Tough as a support ranger you might not have the time to shoot at every enemy before you need to cast a trap. Use this as personal taste (I prefer Dual Shot + Ignite Arrows)

Barbed Trap - The poor man's love trap. Barbed trap will deal a small amount of piercing damage, cripple and bleed those caught on it. With good team work it is easy to set traps so that the opposing party runs right trough it. You can either combat cast or set it to protect monks and elementalists after engadgement. Check my Trap setting guide for details.