User:Azuri/RangerSolo

The Storm Chaser R/Mo build utilizes an extremely self-sufficient Energy/Life cycle to solo mobs and small groups.

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=Ranger/Monk HealingPrayers=8 Expertise=11+1 WildernessSurvival=7 Marksmanship=8][Barrage][Dual Shot][Needling Shot][Storm Chaser][Vigorous Spirit][Optional][Live Vicariously][Essence Bond][/build]

Equipment

 * Radiant Mask of Attunement
 * Radiant Vest of Attunement
 * Radiant Gloves of Attunement
 * Radiant Leggings of Attunement
 * Radiant Boots of Attunement

You will have to mod this bow yourself - any gold drop will work, try for one with +%dmg while enchanted, and with a requirement of 8 Marksmanship.
 * Zealous Flatbow of Enchanting

Usage

 * Entering the PvE area

Once you enter the PvE enviroment, cast Live Vicariously, allow your Energy to regenerate to full, then cast Essence Bond. Now, recognizing that you are wielding a Zealous bow (1/-1), your energy will cease to regenerate. You now depend on your Expertise (to lower the skill cost for all of your skills), Storm Chaser (provided you will be taking elemental damage) and Essence Bond (recieving 1 energy whenever damaged, physically or elementally) to keep your Energy loss to a minimum. Since your current max Energy should be 43 due to the full set of Radiant/Attunement armor, you will still have usable energy in your bar.


 * Entering a Fight

Before you enter the fight, cast Vigorous Spirit on yourself.

Since you have no other means of healing yourself, you now must constantly deal damage to heal yourself.

In conjunction with Barrage (to mob self-heal) and Dual Shot (to solo self-heal), Vigorous Spirit and Live Vicariously will heal you when you attempt to and hit an enemy, respectively.

You may also carry an alternate bow, so that between battles, you can have +1 Energy Regeneration (maxing out energy before starting again)


 * During a Fight

Make sure that Vigorous Spirit is replenished every 30+ seconds or so. Barrage any mobs in the area for mass energy and health gain. Dual Shot will be just as effective when fighting a single opponent. Use Needling Shot to its fullest once an enemy is past the 50% health mark, as it will replenish both your health and energy in order to fight the next enemy.

Wash, rinse, and repeat.

Counters

 * A problem I have run into is when you encounter a large mob (e.g. in Tahnnakai Temple) that is spread out too far for Barrage to be used.
 * Another problem you may run into is any sort of Disenchantment hex used against you. Not having either Live Vicariously or Essence Bond will great decrease your chances of survival.
 * Degeneration poses a mild threat over time.
 * Blindness will take away most of your health gains.
 * Becoming dazed will take away your recasting of Vigorous Spirit or an optional spell you are using.

Variants
This can also be used in a team, with Live Vicariously and Essence Bond being used on a tank who takes and deals damage out often.
 * You do not NEED a full set of Radiant/Attunement armor. You can get by with 4/5 or 3/5 set. That is not recommended, however.
 * Nor do you NEED to use a Zealous/Enchanting bow, but the build loses effectiveness due to lessened energy gain. Again, it is not recommended to deviate from the suggested equipment.

Optional
For the optional slot in the skill bar, there are a number of recommended possible skills.
 * Healing Breeze (Healing Prayers) To counter degeneration.
 * Purge Conditions (No Attribute) To rid yourself of conditions
 * Healing Spring (Wilderness Survival, trap) If you find that a mob is too much for you, have these in a path leading away from the mob. Retreat and be healed.