User:Attackofthecold/Build:Team - Eskimos

The Eskimos team build relies on Greater Conflagration, Winter, and Mantra of Frost to convert and reduce damage. The energy and safety given from Mantra of Frost lets the team focus more on high amounts of damage than other sources of healing and defense.This should be used mostly in well coordinated PvE.

The Team should consist of:

Team of four
 * 1 Ice ranger
 * 1 Healer
 * 1 Damage Dealer
 * 1 Support

Team of six
 * 1-2 Ice Rangers
 * 1-2 Healers
 * 1-2 Damage Dealers
 * 2 Support

Team of eight
 * 1-2 Ice Rangers
 * 2 Healers
 * 2-3 Damage Dealers
 * 2-3 Support

Ice Ranger
Attributes and Skills


 * There are many suggestions for the optional slot
 * Needling Shot to bring a target down once they are below 50% health.
 * Try adding wilderness survival traps to protect the spirits.
 * Antidote Signet or Hex Eater Signet for condition or hex removal.
 * Savage Shot for an interrupt.
 * Pin Down for crippling kitting targets.
 * Favorable Winds for extra damage.
 * Splinter Shot for countering blocking foes.
 * Serpent's Quickness could be used just before casting the spirits and then replaced with Mantra of Frost as soon as the spirits are set.

Equipment
 * Frostbound Armor is recommended.
 * Druid's Armor could be useful for pieces such as arms and feet if you find you are low on energy.
 * Any bow with "Damage +15% (while in a stance)".
 * Note that Elemental Bow Strings are basically useless.

Usage
 * The Ice Rangers' main job is to lay down the spirits. At the beginning of the battle cast Greater Conflagration and Winter near your base. As they recharge space them out along the battle field. When you are not laying down spirits use Kindle Arrows and fire Focused Shot on every other attack. Remember to keep Mantra of Frost on you at all times.

Counters
 * Simply killing the spirits is the best counter.
 * Armor-ignoring damage works just as well against this as normal balanced builds.
 * Removing Mantra of Frost with Wild Strike, Wild Blow or Wild Throw will take away the Ice Ranger's advantage.

Variants
 * Apply Poison instead of Kindle Arrows and a poison bow.
 * Choking Gas could also replace Kindle Arrows for interrupts.
 * Elemental Resistance is not as effective as Mantra of Frost but could be used.
 * Ignite Arrows for AoE damage to replace Kindle Arrows.
 * Read the Wind for extra damage and a replacement for Kindle Arrows.
 * You could add some extra utility with some Inspiration magic skills. However their energy costs must be watched.
 * Using a superior Wilderness Survival rune would help your spirits last longer at the expense of your maximum health

The rest of the team
Builds for various primary professions for the remainder of the team.
 * Note that everyone Must be a mesmer primary or secondary to have Mantra of Frost.
 * Also you should not have other stances in your build. Mantra of Frost is a stance and will be removed if you use another stance.
 * If using Nightfall armor Sentry's Insignia is usually the best choice for armor.

Notable Skills:
 * Dervish - Grenth's Grasp
 * Necromancer - Spinal Shivers / Shivers of Dread
 * Elementalist - Conjure Frost

Warrior
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:W/Me UW Solo
 * Build:W/any Axe Rune Farmer
 * Build:W/any Basic PvE Hammer
 * Build:W/any Cleave PvE Soldier
 * Build:W/any Flailing Dragon
 * Build:W/any Steady Warrior
 * Build:W/any Triple Chop PvE Tank

(Note: It is best to use Dreadnought's or Legionnaire's Armor)

Ranger
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:R/Me Feverish Archer
 * Build:R/Me Fissure Forest Farmer
 * Build:R/any Chkkr Thousand Tail Farmer
 * Build:R/any General Interrupter
 * Build:R/any General Barrager
 * Build:R/any Tank Master

(note: It is best to use Frostbound Armor)

Monk
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:Mo/Me Barrier Bond Monk
 * Build:Mo/Me Blessed Light Bond Monk
 * Build:Mo/Me PvE WoH Monk
 * Build:Mo/Me Elona's Bonder
 * Build:Mo/any Canthan Bonder
 * Build:Mo/any Word of Healing Monk

(Note: Wanderer's Armor Works well)

Necromancer
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:N/Me FoC Spiker
 * Build:N/Me Midnight Solo
 * Build:N/Me SS Nuker
 * Build:N/any BiP Necro
 * Build:N/any Icy Blighter
 * Build:N/any Minion Master
 * Build:N/any Aura of the Lich MM

Mesmer
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:Me/E Flashfire
 * Build:Me/N Incetol Farmer
 * Build:Me/any PvE Domination Mesmer

(Note: It's best to use Savant's Armor)

Elementalist
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:E/Me Echo Nuker
 * Build:E/Me Terra Tank
 * Build:E/Me Underworld Tank
 * Build:E/any Dual Attunement Air Spiker
 * Build:E/any Renewal Nuker
 * Build:E/any Searing Flames Elementalist

(note: It is best to use Hydromancer's Armor)

Assassin
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:A/Me Solo Sin
 * Build:A/any Blind Promises
 * Build:A/any Chkkr Locust Lord Farmer
 * Build:A/any Critical Fox
 * Build:A/any Deadly Promise
 * Build:A/any Shadow Blossom

(note: Armor sets with resistance against specific damage types will not provide a helpful armor bonus.)

Ritualist
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:Rt/Me Painful Echo
 * Build:Rt/Me Vengeful Farmer
 * Build:Rt/any Attuned Restorer
 * Build:Rt/any Continual Channeler
 * Build:Rt/any Ritual Lord
 * Build:Rt/any Spirit Nuker

Paragon
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:P/any Commanding Support

Dervish
Builds that could be modified for this team
 * Build:D/any Mystic Renewal

(Note: It is best to use Windwalker's Armor)