A Ranger, but not a Ranger... that is the question.

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

So, I've got a bit of a weird class-race combination question. When Guild Wars 2 first launched on Steam, I created a Human Necromancer, but around Lv30 got bored (don't remember why) and took a break. Now, I'm looking to give GW2 another go. I've been inspired by Goblin Slayer (a dark fantasy anime, don't watch it if sexual horror isn't your thing), particularly the High Elf Archer character, to create a "wood elf" character. The obvious expression of that is a Sylvari Ranger.

The problem is, A: that's one of the most popular race-class combinations, so my liking for wood elf girls is clashing with my desire to stand out, and B: back when I played the game on ArenaNet, I played a Sylvari Ranger as my first character as well. When GW2 first launched on Steam, I wanted to create an Engineer character, but I heard its one of the hardest classes (I'm not experienced at any MMO but Runescape 3), and went with a minion Necromancer instead.

Are there any other good bow classes that aren't Ranger? Or should I just go with a Sylvari Ranger anyway? Or should I create an Engineer instead despite being a novice player (probably Norn or Asura, Sylvari Engineer is probably the LEAST logical race-class combination)?

[SinisterSlay]

dragon hunter guardian is a long bow class, feels like a ranger but without the pet. Is that what you want?

https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Dragonhunter_-_Power_Dragonhunter

I find the build fun, greatsword and long bow

There is also a raid variant of this build if you want to take it into high end content.

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

Originally posted by SinisterSlay:

dragon hunter guardian is a long bow class, feels like a ranger but without the pet. Is that what you want?

Sounds interesting as an option. Alternately, are there poison builds for the Thief?

[SinisterSlay]

Originally posted by Fear Denies Faith:

Originally posted by SinisterSlay:

dragon hunter guardian is a long bow class, feels like a ranger but without the pet. Is that what you want?

Sounds interesting as an option. Alternately, are there poison builds for the Thief?

Condi builds for thief, yes they exist. This one looks based on torment and poison. I have never used it.
https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Specter_-_Condition_Specter
I like the thief deadeye instead.

[Hefutoxin]

Originally posted by Fear Denies Faith:

Originally posted by SinisterSlay:

dragon hunter guardian is a long bow class, feels like a ranger but without the pet. Is that what you want?

Sounds interesting as an option. Alternately, are there poison builds for the Thief?

There are.

I mainly use a Dagger/Dagger hybrid build. Auto attack bleeds and poisons. #3 Bleeds and Poisons. #5 Stealths, which automatically gives stacks of Spider Venom - that poisons. Depending on traits, of course.

Alternatively, Ranger also has good poison damage.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Originally posted by Fear Denies Faith:

So, I've got a bit of a weird class-race combination question. When Guild Wars 2 first launched on Steam, I created a Human Necromancer, but around Lv30 got bored (don't remember why) and took a break. Now, I'm looking to give GW2 another go. I've been inspired by Goblin Slayer (a dark fantasy anime, don't watch it if sexual horror isn't your thing), particularly the High Elf Archer character, to create a "wood elf" character. The obvious expression of that is a Sylvari Ranger.

The problem is, A: that's one of the most popular race-class combinations, so my liking for wood elf girls is clashing with my desire to stand out, and B: back when I played the game on ArenaNet, I played a Sylvari Ranger as my first character as well. When GW2 first launched on Steam, I wanted to create an Engineer character, but I heard its one of the hardest classes (I'm not experienced at any MMO but Runescape 3), and went with a minion Necromancer instead.

Are there any other good bow classes that aren't Ranger? Or should I just go with a Sylvari Ranger anyway? Or should I create an Engineer instead despite being a novice player (probably Norn or Asura, Sylvari Engineer is probably the LEAST logical race-class combination)?

I wish i could make a cute wood elf :P

But Sylvari are more like salad girls..

Revenants Renegade Elite Spec with Short Bow, can be kinda cool "archer but not ranger". It's tanky and easy to put in plenty self sustain, heavy armor, but damage is good and fun to play with, demonic growls while switching stances, and talking to ancient dwarven voices in your head occasionally. ^^

Also Warrior, with a Longbow is a BEAST when goes Berzerker. That longbow berserk mode aoe blasting aaahhhh.. I am remaking my Human Warrior as a Norn, so can get one cool Norn with that "mommy energy" as guys keep saying lmao. It's actually kind of fun to play as Longbow/Rifle warrior in casual open world, usually the Warrior archetype is big melee weapons.. but Warrior can use pretty much any weapon (next year Staff also) so whatever idea gets, Warrior can almost certainly use that weapon, so it's flexible. :)

[Teratus]

Engineer has plenty of build options that are pretty low effort tbh.

I used to think the class was "hard" as well a good while back which is why I only played it for a short while many years ago.

However i've been playing a New Engineer character (Charr) lately since I really wanted to go back and give the class another shot, and I had a racial themed build in mind for a Charr Scrapper which I thought seemed fun and wanted to give a shot.

Playing Engineer with the keybinds im using now is significantly easier than it was back when I created my old Engineer.
And that has greatly enhanced how fun the class is to me.
Makes me kinda wish I started playing it again a lot sooner tbh.

So yeah, find a keybind setup that really works for you cause it really does make a huge difference tbh.

If you want to copy some of mine that's all good too.
Will only list combat relevant skills though.

Dodge - Click mouse wheel aka Mouse 3
Special Action Key - TAB
Weapon Swap - §.. whatever the key is left of 1 and above TAB.
Healing Skill - SHIFT F
Utility Skills - SHIFT 2-3-4
Elite Skill - SHIFT 5
F1 - Mouse 4 (Thumb button)
F2 - E
F3 - SHIFT Mouse 4
F4 - SHIFT R
F5 - SHIFT E

I got other things bound in nearby keys which is why I don't use say Q and R for combat.
Did try for a while but im just too used to them assigned to other things.
But that's basically how I like my binds setup.

They were mostly designed with Ranger in mind since that's the most common class I play.
That's why F1 and F3 are bound to Mouse 4, and F2 is E.
I can use the same button press to control my pet depending on whether shift is pressed or not.
M4 = Go attack, while S+M4 = Come back.
And then E is the pet's attack command skill with S+R being the swap making it hard to hit by accident.
I wanted E for the pet attack specifically because I rely on it a lot on some builds.

Like Electric Wyvern's F2 for example, Lightning Assault which is a hard hitting CC that leaves a lighting Field behind which I can then leap combo into using Sword 2 and 3 to inflict more CC damage with double Dazing Strikes.
Combined that's an easy 432 defiance bar damage from 3 skills, very nice if you lack CC on your weapon and utility skills.

I also didn't want to in any way affect my movement either as positioning is very important for any ranged weapon with piercing attacks.

I have so much control over my pet with this setup but i've found it to be severely good on Engineer as well, more so since what toolbelt skill you have depends on your utility skills so it's very customisable by cooldown and all that.

Also works for Elementalist as well since Fire and Air are the two most common elements I use on them, so having them bound to the same key works great for me.