Guild Wars 1-Skill Review Project: Ranger-Marksmanship 

After some time and further consideration, thought I'd create some new builds based on this series to break out of almost always using some slight variant of the same set of skills. Limitations are no PvE skills (so heroes can also use). I also prefer for elites only to be used by the applicable primary profession: ~0:07:47 Broad Head Arrow: Poison Tip Signet, Seeking Arrows, Called Shot, Crossfire, Body Shot, Balanced Stance, Antidote Signet, BHA ~0:15:42 Crippling Shot: Expert Focus, Poison Tip Signet, Crippling Shot, Crossfire, Body Shot, Pestilence/Favorable Winds/Piercing Trap/Volley/[Open], Tripwire, Dust Trap ~0:19:27 Debilitating Mind Wrack: Expert Focus, Mind Wrack, Debilitating Shot, Unnatural Signet, Prepared Shot, Concussion Shot/Penetrating Attack, Signet of Disruption, Signet of Distraction ~0:21:04 I can't test, but can Determined Shot work as divert/disable insurance for key elites like Barrage or Broad Head Arrow? I was able to test an insured Oath Shot build: [Prep], [Attack Skill], [Attack Skill], [Attack Skill], Oath Shot, Shadow Sanctuary, Determined Shot, Antidote Signet ~0:23:12 Practiced Stance [Disrupting]: "Go for the Eyes!", Keen Arrow, [5e Attack Skill], [5e Attack Skill], Anthem of Envy, Dual Shot, Practiced Stance, Disrupting Accuracy ~0:24:48 Not being a reliable rupter as a player, I generally do not slot Disrupting Shot, Distracting Shot, and/or Savage Shot unless I'm facing a mist rupt, slow activation skill. Created two builds that should allow me to shut down a PvE caster with dumb luck.... Frustration [Marksman's Wager]: Expert Focus, Frustration, Web of Disruption, Disrupting Shot, Distracting Shot, Savage Shot, [Open], Marksman's Wager Frustration [Prepared Shot]: Expert Focus, Frustration, Web of Disruption, Prepared Shot, Disrupting Shot, Distracting Shot, Savage Shot, [Open] ~0:29:09 Focused Shot [Conditions]: Seeking Arrows, Scavenger's Focus, Hunter's Shot, Body Shot, Focused Shot, Needling Shot, Poison Tip Signet, "Find Their Weakness!" Focused Shot [Hex]: Mark of Pain, Defile Flesh, Rigor Mortis, Focused Shot, Barbs, Needling Shot, [Open], Marksman's Wager ~0:33:04 After testing several ideas, Marauder's Shot is a complete loser. As a Factions skill, I'm assuming this was intended as a second 10e damage attack skill with Sundering Attack, the developer's assuming that this would be the player's only campaign. With Sundering's duplicate Penetrating Attack from Prophesies, that allows three 10e damage attack skills. Tried just those three at 13 Expertise with Practiced Stance and Expert Focus (both for energy management), and still couldn't keep the cycle going indefinitely. Perhaps with cracked armor + body shot, but unreliable at best. I could generally run two 10e + several 5e indefinitely, but why take Marauder's then? [Did more testing, and one can use Weaken Armor on target for energy and Marksmen's Wager allows two full cycles of 7 10e attack skills, but there's no utility, etc. I just can't ever see using this.] ~0:57:52 Regarding Splinter Shot.... I struggled to create a build that could benefit from this skill. First tried parring with Barrage/Volley as a parting gift upon the block detection and apply nec hexes, but the energy demands were too taxing. Also tried as a parting gift prior to using Practiced Stance + Seeking Arrows, but that would typically mean a single use skill. Ultimately decided this is meant as a fourth attack skill with Arching Shot, Crossfire, and Called Shot (or an alternative to on of those) in a high blocking area. Still could be useful in a Barrage/Volley build as a parting gift as you switch targets. Considered on a Barrage/Volley build for a blocking priority target, starting with this and then unblockable attack skills; however, Splinter still wouldn't get through to that target. That leaves only: [Open], Defile Defenses/Splinter Weapon/[Open]], Barrage, Splinter Spot, [Open], [Open], [Open], Open] ~1:04:53 Regarding Volley/Barrage and your preparation hate-ish. Remember that opposing parties will need to be large, clumped and not scattering. Assuming the player gets in one rain of destruction, their melee is now charging in leaving only the backline which may have scattered a bit. Your backline nukers (if any) will cause more scatter shortly absent effective snares. This means that there will soon be many far fewer foes adjacent to your target. Was curious, and both B and V hit only three including the practice target on the Isle of the Nameless. Both only hit the Suit of 100 Armor. I will note that spirits can't scatter/kite and minions won't either. I'll admit that I was a longtime duh, B/V ranger then I got out of that box a bit. This series got me diving even deeper, and now I'm real deep. I've generally gone Barrage, some other attack skill for the task, perhaps a rupt attack, and Volley for diversion insurance, leaving the rest for utility. Now I'm thinking bringing my own snares, etc.: Barrage [Splinter]: Spirit Siphon, Splinter Weapon, Barrage, Agony, Destruction, Bloodsong, [Open], [Open] Barrage [Conditions]: Poison Tip Signet, Pin Down, Epidemic, Barrage, Hunter's Shot, Body Shot, [Open], [Open]

Some revisit comments on Marksmanship: I've always assumed Keen Arrow is mostly for A/R due to the bonus damage contingent on critial hit. As a ranger primary, I've found it hard to sync the bow attack with skills that up the crit chance. If relying on Broad Head Arrow to take out a boss early, make sure its teammates don't have condition removal or you've wasted your elite slot. I suppose Determined Shot has a niche for facing lots of blocking. The third attack skill after Arcing and Crossfire. On a player Asuan Scan makes useless, but on a hero maybe. I never use Favorable Winds either and likely wouldn't ever if facing other rangers, but it could work similar to having two preps active, namely Read the Wind and whatever prep you are actually using. Could be just be one of those nature rituals to account for when its used by the opposition. I continue to hold the position that you have overvalued Barrage/Volley and undervalued preps. There are just too many areas that are 4-6 man zones and/or are favorable for spike rather that pressure. While I do appreciate the effect B/V has on preps, I just don't think it's as cut and dry as presented in the video.

Bow attacks like Arcing Shot and Keen Arrow are decent low energy fillers for a hero when facing blocking or for other value, but for PvE I would never take AS due to Asuran Scan. These become a 1 for me, 2-3 for heroes. Crossfire would be higher rated due to melee and minions triggering the unblockable and it has such a low recharge. Barrage is clearly a classic 5 rated skill (and one of my go to ranger elites) even if not applicable when facing smaller mobs. Works great with zealous/vamp mods, weapon spells, conjures, and even adrenaline buffs/support. Spammable as well. There's just no real downside when facing large mobs, even if another elite with Volley might be better. Buffed even more if the enemy is using Favorable Winds. Volley is another 5 since it can backup any other attack elite when not using preps (e.g. Punishing Shot/Burning Arrow and Volley), even in 6 man party areas. The only risks are skills like Empathy and getting it disabled (use Volley as a backup for Barrage). If in hard mode and using conditions, I'm using cracked armor and Body Shot. No ifs, ands or buts. Don't really understand the love for Broad Head Arrow. When I want daze, I usually use the PvE Technobabble. That skill can't be used directly on a boss, but it can be spread to the boss (and duration extended) by additional skills. I can see where BHA fills a niche where a more direct and immediate daze is required, but it being niche lowers the rating considerably. While I don't trust the related Concussion Shot on a hero, I will rarely bring on my own bar when facing a must rupt long casting enemy spell, after which the team can quickly pound down. Burning Arrow is another 5 go to elite for me. Most everything burns, the burning lasts thru the recharge, and has strong +damage. Really strong skill in 4-6 man party areas when conditions are optimum. Hunter's Shot is solid in a condition heavy team and really shines with Lacerate and Signet of Infection. Screaming Shot is just trash. I'd rather get two other attack skills in during that 8 sec recharge and use Hunter's for unconditional bleeding. Never tried, but pondering on Disrupting Accuracy with Incendiary Arrows and "Go for the Eyes!". The obvious issue is trying to spec in Expertise, Marksmanship, Wilderness Survival, and Command. I suppose a para primary or secondary as a teammate may do the trick if they shout after each recharge. Giving Melandru's Shot a 1 since it's an elite. The regular hit should give you the bleeding and the +damage rather than making the +damage part of the conditional effects. Overrated, though I do use on occasion. On the other hand, I do regularly use Prepared Shot for a energy heavy build or e-denial area when I'm not focusing on conditions. Basically, when I've ruled out Barrage and Burning Arrow for whatever reason, I'm usually going with Prepared Shot or Punishing Shot for a 4 rated elite. Penetrating/Sundering Attack are about as core, standard bar fare as it gets. Since one (and sometimes both) are almost always on a ranger's bar, how can they be any lower than a 5 as non-elites? If these aren't a 5, what would be in comparison? Rapid Fire is a 1 since there are just too many options for attack speed to sacrifice a prep slot when you are using preps. Read the Wind and Expert Focus are just solid 4 rated default preps to buff bow attacks when not going Barrage/Volley. Seeking Arrows okay on a hero when facing blocking, useless when Asuran Scan is viable. I don't see how I can ever use Sloth Hunter's Shot. In hard mode foes are always using skills. Perhaps against moving foes, but just too conditional. Seems like a PvP skill to counter runners. Splinter Shot seems useless to me as well. First, Asuran Scan negates blocking. Second, I would be looking to remove that blocking via stance removal or enchantment stripping. When I know I will be facing this skill, I will create a team that uses (e.g.) blind rather than block. I can possibly see a situation where I am facing lots of the same foe using the same blocking stance. Since it will take some time to remove all of the stances one foe at a time, this could make sense.