Build:R/any PvP Apply Poison

This build is provisionally vetted great pending more votes. This build has received a provisional rating in the range from 4.75 to 5.0 and thus qualifies for the highest category of working builds: Great. This build has been designed for the following use: PvP GvG PvP RA PvP AB PvP FA PvP JQ

This build is significantly affected by the Flux: Jack of All Trades. See the build's talk page for discussion and ramifications not noted here.   Notes: Decrease Expertise to 9 + 1 + 1 and increase Protection Prayers/Domination Magic to 8. If using Curses or no attribute for utility skills, pick your attributes as 11 Expertise, 10+1 Wilderness Survival, 10+1 Marksmanship.

This build combines quickly recharging interruptions with the ability to spread degeneration for pressure on multiple targets. The standard elite skill is Melandru's shot, as it features both additional damage and the ability to snare targets, but other options are available to focus on a specific aspect of the build.

Attributes and Skills

Ranger / Any 11 + 1 + 2 Expertise 10 + 1 Wilderness Survival 10 + 1 Marksmanship The energy cost of attack skills, rituals, touch skills and all Ranger skills is reduced by 56%. Distracting Shot CoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 Savage Shot CoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Savage ShotBow AttackIf Savage Shot hits, your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a Spell, you strike for +24 damage.4½5 Melandru's Shot FactionsRanger. Marksmanship 11Melandru's ShotElite Bow AttackIf this attack hits, your target bleeds for 20 seconds. If it hits a foe that is moving or knocked down, that foe takes +21 damage and is crippled for 12 seconds.218 Lightning Reflexes (PvP) CoreRanger. Expertise 14Lightning Reflexes (PvP)StanceFor 11 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block melee and projectile attacks, and you attack 33% faster.445 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Apply Poison CoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.7212 Natural Stride NightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Natural StrideStanceFor 6 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.212 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code

Variable skill slot 1

• Mending TouchNightfallMonk. Protection Prayers 1Mending TouchSpellTouched ally loses two Conditions and is healed for 18 Health for each Condition removed in this way.5¾6 – for general use. Remove blind from self, take care of cracked armour, weakness or degeneration in skirmishes.
• Holy VeilCoreMonk. UnlinkedHoly VeilEnchantment SpellWhile you maintain this Enchantment, any Hex cast on target ally takes twice as long to cast. When Holy Veil ends, one Hex is removed from target ally.-15112 – if anticipating to play against a Lightning SurgeCoreElementalist. Air Magic 16Lightning SurgeElite Hex SpellAfter 3 seconds, target foe is knocked down and struck for 106 lightning damage, and has Cracked Armor for 21. This spell has 25% armor penetration.10110 elementalist. Simply maintain the enchantment and the elementalist won't be able to kill you.
• Rend EnchantmentsCoreNecromancer. Curses 1Rend EnchantmentsSpellRemove 5 Enchantments from target foe. For each Monk Enchantment removed, you take 53 damage.5220 – anti elementalist skill both for split and main team purposes.
• BlackoutPropheciesMesmer. Domination Magic 6BlackoutSkillFor 4 seconds, all of touched target foe's skills are disabled, and all of your skills are disabled for 5 seconds.10112 – total shutdown of monks in key situations. Decrease wilderness survival and marksmanship to 9+1 each so you can run 6 domination magic.

Variable skill slot 2

• Resurrection SignetCoreNo Profession. UnlinkedResurrection SignetSignetResurrect target party member. That party member is returned to life with 100% Health and 25% Energy. This Signet only recharges when you gain a morale boost.3
• Troll UnguentCoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Troll UnguentSkillFor 13 seconds, you gain +8 Health regeneration.5310 – if you plan to split or fight splits a lot with the ranger and need the healing.
• Point Blank ShotPropheciesRanger. Expertise 14Point Blank ShotBow AttackShoot an arrow that has half the normal range, but strikes for +38 damage.23 – for the factions PvP modes Fort Aspenwood and Alliance Battles.

Variants

There are several variants which are sometimes played to focus on a specific aspect of the build.

Variant: R/any PvP Apply Poison Crippling Shot

Ranger / Any 11 + 1 + 2 Expertise 10 + 1 Wilderness Survival 10 + 1 Marksmanship The energy cost of attack skills, rituals, touch skills and all Ranger skills is reduced by 56%. Distracting Shot CoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 Savage Shot CoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Savage ShotBow AttackIf Savage Shot hits, your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a Spell, you strike for +24 damage.4½5 Crippling Shot PropheciesRanger. Marksmanship 11Crippling ShotElite Bow AttackIf Crippling Shot hits, your target becomes Crippled for 8 seconds. This attack cannot be blocked.44 Lightning Reflexes (PvP) CoreRanger. Expertise 14Lightning Reflexes (PvP)StanceFor 11 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block melee and projectile attacks, and you attack 33% faster.445 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Apply Poison CoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.7212 Natural Stride NightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Natural StrideStanceFor 6 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.212 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code Advantages: Unblockable, unconditional crippling with a short recharge time. Disadvantages: Easy to interrupt. Less targeted and pressure damage. Drains more energy.

Variant: R/any PvP Apply Poison Magebane Shot

Ranger / Any 11 + 1 + 2 Expertise 10 + 1 Wilderness Survival 10 + 1 Marksmanship The energy cost of attack skills, rituals, touch skills and all Ranger skills is reduced by 56%. Distracting Shot CoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 Magebane Shot NightfallRanger. UnlinkedMagebane ShotElite Bow AttackIf this attack hits, it interrupts target foe's action. If that action was a Spell, it is disabled for an additional 10 seconds. This attack cannot be blocked.4½5 Pin Down CoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Pin DownBow AttackIf Pin Down hits, your target is Crippled for 12 seconds.78 Lightning Reflexes (PvP) CoreRanger. Expertise 14Lightning Reflexes (PvP)StanceFor 11 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block melee and projectile attacks, and you attack 33% faster.445 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Apply Poison CoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.7212 Natural Stride NightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Natural StrideStanceFor 6 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.212 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code Advantages: Second hard rupt which disables spells. Bypasses blocking if the target is enchanted. Superior caster shutdown. Disadvantages: The snare consumes more energy and is easy to interrupt. Less targeted and spread damage.

Variant: R/any PvP Apply Poison Burning Arrow

Ranger / Any 11 + 1 + 2 Expertise 10 + 1 Wilderness Survival 10 + 1 Marksmanship The energy cost of attack skills, rituals, touch skills and all Ranger skills is reduced by 56%. Distracting Shot CoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 Savage Shot CoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Savage ShotBow AttackIf Savage Shot hits, your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a Spell, you strike for +24 damage.4½5 Pin Down CoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Pin DownBow AttackIf Pin Down hits, your target is Crippled for 12 seconds.78 Burning Arrow NightfallRanger. Marksmanship 11Burning ArrowElite Bow AttackIf this attack hits, you strike for +25 damage and cause Burning for 5 seconds.45 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Apply Poison CoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.7212 Natural Stride NightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Natural StrideStanceFor 6 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.212 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code Advantages: More targeted and pressure damage. Disadvantages: The snare consumes more energy and is easy to interrupt. Consumes a lot of energy in general. Can't bring lightning reflexes without sacrificing utility.

Variant: R/any PvP Apply Poison Incendiary Arrows

Ranger / Any 11 + 1 + 2 Expertise 11 + 1 Wilderness Survival 8 + 1 Marksmanship The energy cost of attack skills, rituals, touch skills and all Ranger skills is reduced by 56%. Distracting Shot CoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 Savage Shot CoreRanger. Marksmanship 9Savage ShotBow AttackIf Savage Shot hits, your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a Spell, you strike for +22 damage.4½5 Pin Down CoreRanger. Marksmanship 9Pin DownBow AttackIf Pin Down hits, your target is Crippled for 10 seconds.78 Incendiary Arrows PropheciesRanger. Wilderness Survival 12Incendiary ArrowsElite Bow AttackShoot arrows at target foe and up to 2 foes near your target. Those foes are set on fire for 3 seconds.25 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Apply Poison CoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 12Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 13 seconds.7212 Natural Stride NightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 12Natural StrideStanceFor 7 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.212 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code Note: Deviant attributes. Advantages: Superior degeneration spread. Disadvantages: The snare consumes more energy and is easy to interrupt. Can't bring lightning reflexes without sacrificing utility. Less targeted damage.

Equipment

Runes and insignias

• 5 scout's insignias.
• Rune of superior vigor.
• Rune of restoration.

Weapons

• Crippling recurve bow of defense.
• Crippling long bow of defense.
• Poisonous recurve bow of defense.
• 40/40 protection prayers or curses or a 20/20 set depending on the utility spell.
• Poisonous spear of defense, 10%hrt with
  • Strength shield of fortitude, -20% cripple duration.
  • Strength shields of fortitude, +10 armor against each damage type.

Additional weapons

• Vampiric flatbow of defense against NPCs.

Usage

For a thorough explanation of how to use this build in general and specific situations read the GvG Ranger Guide.

• Maintain Apply PoisonCoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.15212 and switch targets to spread pressure.
• Interrupt key skills with Distracting ShotCoreRanger. Expertise 14Distracting ShotBow AttackIf Distracting Shot hits, it interrupts target foe's action but deals only 15 damage. If the interrupted action was a skill, that skill is disabled for an additional 20 seconds.2½10 and other relevant skills with Savage ShotCoreRanger. Marksmanship 11Savage ShotBow AttackIf Savage Shot hits, your target's action is interrupted. If that action was a Spell, you strike for +24 damage.10½5.
• Cripple targets and apply additional pressure with Melandru's ShotFactionsRanger. Marksmanship 11Melandru's ShotElite Bow AttackIf this attack hits, your target bleeds for 20 seconds. If it hits a foe that is moving or knocked down, that foe takes +21 damage and is crippled for 12 seconds.518.

Counters

• Melees with stance removal.
• Low activation time hexes which break Natural StrideNightfallRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Natural StrideStanceFor 6 seconds, you run 33% faster and have a 50% chance to block incoming attacks. Natural Stride ends if you become Hexed or Enchanted.512 on spikes, such as Wastrel's DemiseNightfallMesmer. Domination Magic Wastrel's DemiseHex SpellFor 5 seconds, target foe is hexed with Wastrel's Demise. Each second while hexed, target foe and all foes adjacent to that foe take 1..8..11 damage and an additional 1..8..11 damage for each second this spell is in effect. This hex ends prematurely if target foe uses a skill. 5¼3.
• Constant camping of Apply PoisonCoreRanger. Wilderness Survival 11Apply PoisonPreparationFor 24 seconds, foes struck by your physical attacks become Poisoned for 12 seconds.15212.
• General anti-physical.
• "It's Just a Flesh Wound."NightfallParagon. Motivation "It's Just a Flesh Wound."Elite ShoutTarget other ally loses all conditions. If a condition was removed in this way, that ally moves 25% faster for 1..8..11 seconds.52
• RecoveryNightfallRitualist. Restoration Magic RecoveryBinding RitualCreate a level 1..11..15 Spirit. Conditions on allies within range of this Spirit expire 20..44..52% faster. This Spirit dies after 30..54..62 seconds.15¾30

See also

• GvG Ranger Guide.
• R/E HA Melandru's Shot.
• R/N Turret Ranger – focuses on direct damage and interruption, neglects pressure.