User:Nks.gambit/R/Mo Basic Ranger Runner

This is a basic ranger running build, capable of completing all runs from Ascalon to the Crystal Desert, some of the Southern Shiverpeaks runs, most runs in Cantha, and even with a variant for the Droknar's Forge run. The build is also suited for mapping if you are going for the Grand Master Cartographer title.

Armor
Note #1: It is possible to mix Druid's Armor for energy with Sentry's Armor for higher armor. Note that the armor bonus is location specific.
 * Full Druid's Armor set for maximum energy.
 * Full Sentry's Armor for extra armor (+10 AL in stance).

Note #2: If you use Sentry's Armor only, it is advised to polish up your energy pool with weapons as explained below.

Runes

 * Rune of Vigor

Weapons

 * Any one-handed weapon that increases health, energy and/or lengthens enchantments:
 * 1) Sword with +5 Energy and +30 hp or +20% Longer Enchantments
 * 2) Rajazan's Fervor
 * 3) Totem Axe

Note: Of course, you are free to use the collectors' shield versions instead of the Green ones.
 * Any shield with either stance and/or health modifications:
 * 1) Emboldened Carapace Shield from Hagnon Warblade [Health +60 (while hexed), Received damage -3 (while hexed)] - for hex passages of specific runs.
 * 2) Grognar's Defender - the Runner's Best Stance Shield Choice.


 * Fires in the East staff with a +5 energy Staff Head (+18 energy), and either a health or an enchantment lengthening mod.

General
The Running Sequence gives you a constant high speed boost and a high chance to evade missiles, and attacks. Holy Veil against hexes and the healing skills against conditions and degeneration help you survive.

Running Sequence
Note #1: Dodge and Zojun's Haste only evade missile attacks.
 * Use Dodge, Zojun's Haste and Escape for a constant speed boost.
 * Only Dodge and Zojun's Haste boost your speed to 33%, whereas Escape only provides you with 25%.
 * Use Escape to avoid mass damage as it provides a 75% chance to avoid attacks. It also protects from knockdown from melee attackers.

Note #2: Avoid knockdown if possible.

Healing

 * Cast Mending when entering a new area.
 * Use Restful Breeze before engaging large damage dealing mobs. Remember to activate run skills first.
 * Use Heal Area when taking large amounts of damage and when you are in need of instant healing. Be aware of your energy level.

Note: There are enemies which strip enchantments such as Stone Summit Heretics or Avicara Guile. You have to decide then which enchantment (Holy Veil or Mending) you want to use as cover, and which you do not want get stripped right away. Cast the cover enchantment that you want to get stripped last. Pay attention to Chilblains which mostly strips two enchantments.

General

 * Use Storm Chaser to regain energy when running through elemental damage dealing mobs.
 * Use Troll Unguent instead of Healing Breeze for lower energy cost. Remember to set points into Wilderness Survival.
 * Use Smite Hex instead of Holy Veil.
 * Use Smite Hex instead of Purge Conditions or Heal Area for a second hex remover.

Bold Forge Runner
The Bold Forge Runner variant can be used to solo-run Droknar Forge. It is highly reliable and you will notice that it is easier to run Lornar's Pass with, actually. Snake Dance and its Tundra Giants need a bit practice, though. Below are specific Ranger hints for this run:

Note #1: It is advised to use a weapon with 20% longer enchantments for the sake of Healing Breeze.

Note #2: Mend Ailment can replace Purge Conditions for countering two or more Barbed Traps. Crippled will always hit you last.

Worm Tunnel

 * Cast Mending, and Holy Veil (in this order). You don't want the Avicaras to strip Mending right away. Holy Veil represents a cover enchantment here (unlike later).
 * Use Healing Breeze before and during encountering dangerous situation, such as a run-through.
 * Use Zojun's Haste and Dodge to outrun the worm(s).
 * Use Escape when expecting mass damage from attacks, especially in melee by groups of Avicaras. It helps you survive grave danger situation by evading most attacks.

Worm Path

 * Use Healing Breeze after you got knocked-down by the worm(s) and when he is just outside your aggro bubble. This helps to avoid interruption again. Recast Mending on you between knockdowns, in case it got stripped through Chilblains. Without Mending in coordination with HB you might get into trouble regarding your health.
 * Use Escape for running through the groups of Grawls and when you get slowed down by hexes and take attack damage from melee.

Dreadnought's Drift
Note: When HB fades out, and after a Giant Stomp recast it as often as needed. Mending and HB should keep you alive without problems.
 * Cast Holy Veil, and Mending (in this order). This time Mending is the cover enchantment for Holy Veil due to the high risk of encountering Heretics.
 * Lose aggro and regenerate before encountering the Tundra Giants.
 * Use Healing Breeze and Escape before running through groups of Giants. Make use of a Stance Shield here.

Attention: When Stone Summit Heretic(s) and Ice Golem(s) get spawned and you cannot avoid them, immediately run back and rezone. Reasons: 1) Two different slow-down spells (Crippling Anguish & Deep Freeze), 2) covered with different hex-spells 3) accompanied by Gnashers & companions 4) with a Tundra Giant group to be passed at full health with Healing Breeze, and fully recharged Escape only. Smite Hex and Holy Veil will not make you survive this - no matter how high your running level is.

Snake Dance

 * Try to only aggro one group of Giants at a time.
 * Aggro them before running through to make them stomp before your run-through comes.
 * Use Healing Breeze as often as possible between stomps. The chances for an interrupt between two stomps are low.

SB Ranger Runner
The variant SB Ranger Runner is optimal for solo-running Copperhammer Mines -> Iron Mines of Moladune and vice versa as ranger. Spell Breaker lasts long enough to overcome the Mesmer spawns at the hardest parts of the run. The success rate with this build is very high.

Note: A weapon with 20% longer Enchantments is a must.


 * Activate Holy Veil as Mending coverage, and as additional hex remover when Spell Breaker wears out.
 * Follow the main ranger running principles listed above.

Note #1: It is known that bosses will still follow you, especially when running the route in a reversed way. This is the point where Holy Veil is of good use to get rid of the last hex-spell being a slow-downer if a Mesmer boss, or Golem boss got spawned.

Note #2: Mend Ailment can replace Purge Conditions for countering multiple traps. Downside is the longer casting time, and that you cannot clean up from all conditions at a time.

Elona Reach (Mission) Runner
Variant skills could be


 * Rebirth for Heal Area if you want to make sure no one dies. (Very Much recommened because Heal Area is 10 energy and almost never needed, and when you do use it you end up with low energy resulting in a death.

This Variant Elona Reach (Mission) Runner is a perfected build to solo run the mission easily. With the use of constant running and condition removals it is possible to complete this runnable mission within 10 minutes..

Attributes


 * Expertise = 12 + 3 + 1


 * Healing Prayers = 12

Equipment

Full Sentry armor is recommended for +10 AR(while in stance), Very useful for tanking out hex's and crippling conditions.

Weapon


 * A Axe/Sword of Fortitude
 * With +5 Energy
 * 30 hp

AND

or a Max Armor shield with equivalent stats.
 * Crimson Carapace Shield


 * -2 received damage (while in stance)
 * +45 Health (while in stance)

Runes
 * Major vigor / Superior Vigor
 * 3 attunement runes
 * Superior Expertise
 * Minor Expertise

Usage
Hug the right wall once you go under the bridge and run around to the Ghostly Hero
 * Minotaurs can be easily outran at the start of the mission. Head left at the start and follow straight down the hill until you come to a bridge, run under the bridge, maintaining a running stance at all times.

Note #1 Make sure your team does not follow you from the start because it is likely they will drag minotaurs to the cutscene, and killing the Ghostly Hero, which will result in the failure of the mission. Make sure you do not aggro any groups to the Ghostly Hero!!


 * Once you pass the first cutscene decide which way you will go first.. Either NW or E.

Note #2 Make sure to try and maintain running skills and mending at all times!

Note #3 Make sure before running into mobs to see if the mesmer boss is there, if so cast a pre Holy Veil and Healing Breeze then run in.

Note #4 If you need another 75hp then you can always drop the crystal and gain 75 hp from your wepons, running away then returning at full hp for the cystal, this is very helpful and saves you much of the time.


 * Make sure when you reach the vision crystal, look for mesmer boss (for pre Holy Veil, then cast Healing Breeze then run in, pick it up and try to avoid Enchanted Swords, if you become crippled from the Enchanted Swords, use Mending Touch,and run away. Try to maintain your hp above 100 and use Heal Area RARELY when needed (Use healing breeze instead to recover health. Run away from the Enchanted Swords and Elementalists (Arcanists, they spike you with large amounts of dmg) as quickly as possible. Try and use Dodge or Zojun's Haste when picking up the crystal because you run 33% faster instead of 25% faster.


 * Try not to aggro any groups that are avoidable, make sure not to aggro groups of enemies up to the Ghostly Hero when returning the crystal.This is rare that they will continue following after you get clearly by the alter/ghost. The ghostly hero must stay alive to suceed.

After some practice this run can be mastered.

Possible Routes
Listed below are all the possible high-level routes that this build and its variants can be run with:

Prophecies

 * 1) Beacon's Perch -> Camp Rankor -> Droknar's Forge
 * 2) Camp Rankor -> Deldrimor War Camp -> Granite Citadel -> Copperhammer Mines Using henchmen as cannon fodder is important on most parts of this trip.
 * 3) Copperhammer Mines -> Iron Mines of Moladune and reversed.
 * 4) Iron Mines of Moladune -> Marhan's Grotto -> Thunderhead Keep
 * 5) Elona Reach (Mission) + bonus