Build:R/Me Famine Farmer

The Famine Farmer is a Ranger build meant to easily solo many bosses in the Factions and Nightfall campaigns by using Famine combined with energy denial provided by Mesmer skills.

Attributes and skills
[build name="famine farmer" prof=range/mesme wilder=12+1+3 exp=2 inspir=8 domina=10][famine][mind wrack][spirit shackles][spirit of failure][empathy][troll unguent][storm chaser][optional][/build] Damage Energy Denial: Get to the Famine/Mind Wrack triggers faster. Skill Disable: Prevent annoying skill use and force the boss to attack. Survivability: Mostly to aid in running to the boss, as when done correctly, the boss should not be outdamaging Troll Unguent, if dealing any damage at all. Note: Troll Unguent may also be replaced for a skill on this list if it's unneeded for a particular boss
 * - spam Mind Wrack faster and have more leeway in maintaining hexes.
 * / - more damage
 * - to damage spell caster bosses before their energy has drained. Note that mobs will never cast under Backfire when that cast would kill them, unlike attacking under Empathy.
 * - interrupt with essentially unconditional damage.
 * : works on everything and nets some energy, but relatively weak.
 * : requires a target spell that can be reliably interrupted, but very effective.
 * : slightly less effective than Power Leak, but easier to use and nets energy.
 * - disable spammable skills for a long time
 * - disable all signets
 * : Block + faster IMS in one, with decent uptime. Note the early end conditions.
 * : Lengthen stances and prevent knockdown if drunk (can combine well offensively with Serpent's Quickness).
 * : Prevent knockdown and cripple.

Equipment

 * Radiant Insignia
 * Superior Vigor Rune
 * Wilderness Survival Mask with Rune of Superior Wilderness Survival
 * 3 Attunement Runes
 * 40/40 Domination Magic and Inspiration Magic Wand and Focus sets.
 * A flatbow or longbow on which the modifiers do not matter (this bow is merely to pull some bosses with).
 * A second set of armor with more survivability may be used to run to and pull some bosses. Tailor this set to the area you need to run through.

Usage

 * Run to the boss with Storm Chaser and pull him into a location where he and his mobs cannot hit you with their attacks (Behind a tree, around a ledge, etc.).
 * Set Famine and put Spirit Shackles, Spirit of Failure, and Empathy on the boss. Refresh these as needed.
 * Do not use Empathy (or other damage spells) on healer bosses until they have drained their energy, as it will slow down the build as they periodically stop attacking to heal, negating the advantage of inflicting early damage. During Hard Mode farms in particular, their attacks will drain energy faster than most of their healing spells can.
 * If the boss can cast spells on you, keep Troll Unguent up during this time. If these spells inflict elemental damage, maintain Storm Chaser as well to aid energy management.
 * Once the boss is out of energy due to Spirit Shackles begin to spam Mind Wrack on him in addition to the hexes.
 * Most bosses fall very quickly after their energy is gone, in under a minute.

Bosses

 * Chkkr Thousand Tail: Easy boss to practice the build on, no special tactics or specific optional/variant skills are required.
 * Byzzr Wingmender: Usually easier in hard mode. Bring Diversion or Ignorance to disable Signet of Rejuvenation.
 * Meril Stoneweaver: The pillars in the room will not stop her from wanding you. Use the wall at the entrance for cover. Cover your hexes with Mind Wrack, or disable Smite Hex with Diversion before using your other hexes.
 * Ritualist's Construct: Easier in Hard Mode due to the increased attack speed, which overcomes Song of the Mists' energy regeneration buff.
 * Chkkr Brightclaw: Be watchful of the Undergrowth/Dragon Moss patrol that goes by the stairs every minute or so.
 * Zarnas Stonewrath: Spams Stone Daggers instead of attacking with his wand. Take either Backfire or Diversion, noting that he will not kill himself through Backfire so you have to use Empathy on him when he is low.

Hero Flagging
The following must have surrounding mobs cleared before you can farm with this build. Bring heroes (preferably that do not have so much AoE that they will kill the boss by accident) to kill the surrounding mobs and then flag them out of radar range (their names in the party window will turn grey if done correctly). This will prevent them from reducing drops from the boss.

Storm Chaser can be dropped for another optional skill, and "Fall Back!"/"Incoming!"/"Charge!" can be used on some heroes to boost run speed instead.


 * Razortongue Frothspit
 * Chehbaba Roottripper
 * Meynsang the Sadistic
 * Nundak The Archer
 * Stsou Swiftscale
 * Craw Stonereap
 * Terob Roundback
 * Nehpek the Remorseless
 * Chidehkir, Light of the Blind: Bring Ignorance for Signet of Devotion. Spirit Shackles may not be enough to keep his energy down (he can spawn with unusually high energy regen), so bring another energy denial skill in case.
 * Chiossen, Soothing Breeze
 * Lieutenant Shagu
 * Eshau Longspear

Counters

 * Because of the nature of how the build works it is only effective against bosses that use ranged attacks and have poor spell damage.
 * Bosses with copious hex removal are difficult to shut down long enough to kill.