User:Abedeus/Build Archive/Build:R/Mo Mending Touch Cripshot

This build concentrates on the Ranger's snaring abilities gained from the elite skill Crippling Shot. With other utility skills from the Wilderness Survival line, the user is able to spread conditions throughout the enemy team. In combination with condition removal provided from the Monk's Protection Prayers line, and the use of the Ranger's Expertise attribute, Touch and Ranger skills have reduced energy costs. This results in an extremely versatile build that can provide both excellent defense as well as offense for a PvP team.

Equipment

 * Preferred bow combinations (although really, any bow can be used):
 * Crippling Recurve Bow
 * Poisonous Recurve Bow
 * Crippling Longbow
 * Vampiric Flatbow
 * A Recurve Bow is usually preferred, for maximum accuracy and minimum flight time. The Flatbow is for speeding up NPC kills.
 * Runes of Minor Wilderness Survival, Minor Expertise, Minor Marksmanship, Superior Vigor.
 * You may wish to take a +5 Energy main hand and a Shield for Flagging or for escaping from enemies.

Usage

 * Keep Apply Poison active when you're attacking to spread Poison with each arrow fired.
 * Snare enemies using Crippling Shot. Remember that this can be used both for offensive purposes (slowing down fleeing targets) and defensive purposes (slowing down foes chasing you or your team).
 * Interrupt enemies with Distracting Shot and Savage Shot. Note each skill's inherent effects besides just the interrupt.
 * Remove harmful Conditions with Mending Touch.
 * Use Natural Stride for a general-purpose speed boost.
 * Heal yourself and counter health degeneration with Troll Unguent.
 * Revive fallen party members with Resurrection Signet.

Counters

 * Illusion Mesmer's fast cast and hexes make them them the natural bane of Cripshots. Depending on your skill, the safest solution lays usually in either interrupt Crippling Anguish and then staying out of range, or using height advantage as leverage for the first shot, and, again, keeping the foe out of range at all times.
 * With little to counter enemy attacks, it is often best to Cripple the enemy and flee when targetted.
 * Because of the slower degen compared to a Burning Arrow ranger, it may become very difficult to take out opposing gankers using Feigned Neutrality.

Variants

 * Natural Stride can be replaced with other speed boosts such as Storm Chaser, Zojun's Haste, or Dodge.
 * For Alliance Battle or Competitive Mission usage of this build, consider taking an evasive or blocking stance such as Whirling Defense, Dryder's Defenses or Lightning Reflexes.
 * Screaming Shot, or, less reliably but more affordably, Hunter's Shot, can provide more Degen and a cover condition.