User:DeadlyBleed/Team - Mantra of Winter

The Mantra of Winter team combines Winter,  Greater Conflagration and  Mantra of Frost or  Elemental Resistance to achieve party wide damage reduction. This team build can be run be one primary Ranger and any amount of primary or secondary  Mesmers, all of which can be played by  heroes (though the spirit placement needs microing). You will probably need just one healer for a party of eight, even in high-level areas like the Ring of Fire Islands or the  Realm of Torment.

Spirit Ranger
Minimum Skill bar: [build prof=Ranger/Mesmer WildernessSurvival=12+1 Expertise=9+1 InspirationMagic=9][Serpent's Quickness][Greater Conflagration][Winter][Optional][Optional][Optional][Optional][Mantra of Frost][/build] Sample bar: [build prof=Ranger/Mesmer WildernessSurvival=10+1 Expertise=9+1 Marksmanship=9 InspirationMagic=8][Serpent's Quickness][Greater Conflagration][Winter][Needling Shot][Point Blank Shot][Zojun's Shot][Rapid Fire][Mantra of Frost][/build]

Variants:
 * Use more skills from the Inspiration Magic line, like Power Drain,  Drain Enchantment, etc. (You can move points from Expertise to Inspiration Magic if you feel you can manage your energy.)
 * Go as Ritualist secondary and replace Serpent's Quickness with  Summon Spirits or  Draw Spirit on heroes to teleport Winter around. Note, however, that you will lose your Mantra and therefore lose the 40% reduction against all elemental and physical damage, making you less capable of tanking.

Equipment:
 * Any Minor Attribute Runes you want, highest affordable Vigor, rest Runes of Vitae or Attunement. Full Frostbound insignia for 115 AL against cold damage (= 61% damage reduction against all elemental and physical non-armor ignoring damage)
 * Max damage q9 Shortbow if using a Marksmanship build, otherwise use a + energy/health staff or wand/focus set.

Role in the team:
 * Set up your spirits before battle, be sure to use Serpent's Quickness if you have it. Then let your stand stand approx. half an aggro bubble away, lure the mob and tank them near your team. Make sure you are in range of spirits while tanking.
 * If any spirit dies in combat, it is vital that you replace it as soon as possible on a safe location. These spirits are your teams protectors.
 * During battle keep attacking the enemy for pressure, especially if your team has Spinal Shivers or  Shivers of Dread.