Playing Ranger Effectively Post-Revamp

[maser88]

<div></div><p>Many of you are probably feeling frustrated after the combat revamp on rangers. The inability to kite as well as the difficulty to drop into stealth mode during combat mode made it very difficult for rangers to solo.Never fear though, there is a excellent solution to these problems that actually made us a much more powerful class of characters. The secret lies in the cheapshot spell which is now effective at any level. This spell stuns the creature allowing you to use your uber-bow skills and take down the creature quickly.Method:1.) Initially drop into stealth2.) Unleash your hidden shot spell, or your highest damage bow skill3.) Hit target with a cheapshot to stun it.(here is where it gets a bit tricky)4.) Now you must disengage attack mode and get behind the target5.) Engage your combat stealth skill6.) hit it with your most powerful flanking stealth attack7.) hit it with a flanking skill that does damage and puts you right back into stealth mode8.) hit it again with another stealth attackBy now the creature has become unstunned and then you proceed with your HOs and other melee attacks until your cheap shot skill is up again and then get a distance away from it and unleash every powerful bow skill you have in your arsenal.With this method I can take down a yellow creature with the loss of 2 bubbles of health with my level 32 ranger.  It takes about a day to get this method down. It is quite a bit more challenging then kiting but it does far more dps. If you do not use cheapshot effectively your ranger will be forced to use his terrible frontal melee skills to take down a beast. Your be lucky to kill a white opponent even with decent poison.In a group setting rangers have gained the ability to rain large dps on opponents. Rangers can sit back and unload their bow skills unleashing thousands of damage with 20-30 seconds. You combine that with poison you have a dps machine. In fact few tanks can hold the agro if a mid level ranger where to unleash all of their skills at once, so be careful. Rangers can do similar damage as a warlock if not more.These are the tips that I can give to all the rangers out there who are still trying to find their stride. Keep in mind that if you get a good distance away from the target before you intiate combat can get 2 to 3 bow skills in before the creature reaches you. Rangers are meant to unleash their skills as quickly as possible, and are not good at prolonged combat. This is a benefit since after defeating one encounter your downtime is only about 15 seconds until you can jump into another encounter.Rangers have not been nerfed, their playing style has just changed. It takes far more skill to play as one than it did before. So be proud of your ranger, they are currently one of the most powerful adventurer classes, and are quite good at dueling.</p><div></div>

[Vakl]

<P>"3.) Hit target with a cheapshot to stun it."</P> <P> </P> <P>Why stop with the hidden shot?  Before the mob gets to melee range, you have time for a couple more bow CA's.  For me, I like Wounding Arrow and then follow with Triple Shot.   You should be able to get even red mobs below 50% before you even touch your blade.</P> <P>Rangers kill.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P><BR> </P>

[Rikare]

<DIV>Interesting, I have never thought of entering stealth the seccond time. Got to go home and practise on that one <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers are a lot more fun to play now. Kiting was easy, but boring. I think that the changes have made combat more challenging, rewarding, and most of all it makes me wanna find new tactics and ways to bring down the enemy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by Rikare on <span class=date_text>09-19-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:25 AM</span>

[Johnd]

<DIV>Yes, before step 3 you can do a lot more damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I mostly start with a heavy damage bow attack ( in sneak or not depends on wich ones are up ).</DIV> <DIV>Then fire a snare arrow. Walk back a few steps ( you will outrun the monster in backpedal ) you get enough distance for another heavy damage shot and most likely 2 shots even.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>By then you can go on with step 3 and follow what is written down. Its a perfect way, but most likely you won't make it to the last step, unless you killing a heroic *grins*</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I love being a ranger...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>on a side-note.. play with your different stances. The agro ( team ) stance can be very effective in solo play. I found out that in defense mode I could kill monsters very well when they got closer. But in agro mode ( for me its arrow frenzy ) I killed them before they got in melee range. Being a faster kill and I didn't miss the lack of avoidance.</DIV>

[Sollum]

<P>I don't think you need to switch off auto attack any more. I was experimenting in SS on white yellow mobs. After using cheap shot to stun, i immediately got behind the mob, used the combat art that gets you stealthed then used the stealthed back stab. All done with auto attack left on.  No stuns broke during this manovure. </P> <P>On the pull, some mobs were dropping at my feet before they had a chance to take a swing at me. HIdden shot and triple fire with a nice dose of poison was enough. I'm using offensive stance too btw. Those that did reach me only took a couple of swipes to finish off. Now that I'm getting use to the changes, my ranger is awsome! In groups I really have to watch aggro now. Its easy to get it.</P>

[Zutan]

Stun doesnt break when they are damaged now so you dont *have* to turn off auto attack.. I still do pretty frequently out of habit but its definitely not necessary now. <div></div>

[gribuz]

Just remember that Cheap Shot only works on normal mobs or below, that means no solo mobs with ^ or heroics.I upgraded my Cheap Shot(Apprentice 1) to Cheap Shot(Adept III) stats is all the same and it doesnt seem to have any difference if someone planning on upgrading it.

[Zutan]

I stun heroic all the time.. but its much much more likely to be resisted..  Of course the heroic I am fighting are typically level 21-22 when I'm 24-27.. (they are green or low blue) <div></div>

[Axxon]

<P>I have been doing something similar at level 40/41 and have been taking down level 46, orange cons:</P> <P>Stealth and get to max longbow distance</P> <P>Hidden Shot</P> <P>Triple Shot</P> <P>While running back, use cripping arrow</P> <P>Melee a HO</P> <P>Stun</P> <P>EITHER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING AFTER STUN</P> <P>A: </P> <P>while running away, behind the mob, hit sniping shot (on the run)</P> <P>Flaming Shot</P> <P>B:</P> <P>get behind mob</P> <P>hit with Shrouded stirke, which immediately puts me out of combat and stealthed</P> <P>hit with shadow lunge</P> <P>If there's anything left of the mob, finish with melee.  I am seldom even in the yellow when I finish.</P> <P>The only drawback I see is the long reset time on bow skills.  Really, with the increased DPS I am sorry I even complained initially.  Hidden shot is hitting over 1100 (1382 is my current high) and  the shadow lunge is hitting from 700-894 .  In a group, forget about it - we are fierce.  IIRC, Hidden shot is adept 1, shadow lunge and crippling arrow are Master II.</P> <P>With vitality and the bonus XP, I am getting greater than 1% per kill on the level 46, orange con caimans in Sinking Sands.</P> <P>I hope this helps my fellow rangers.</P> <P>Oh - and by the way, I am still using the light armor:  Enchanted Thicket Wovem while doing this, even though I have a full set of Fulginate (thanks to a guildie armorer) in my bag.  The STR on the ETW armor is just too good to pass up, and I do notice that my hits are lower in the Fulginate.</P> <P> </P> <p>Message Edited by Drakkonius on <span class=date_text>09-19-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:51 PM</span>

[Jay]

<P>Good tips all, any ranger making his or her way past 30 needs to practice this routine. Fortunately most of us have been using the 'stun and gun' move for quite a while, and it's just easier now. I do tend to maximize the damage on my pulls with three bow CAs (Culling or Hidden, Triple or Sharp Shot, and Leg Shot or Debilitating) and most of the time any solo mob is in the yellow to red by the time it gets to me, assuming it actually lives that long. Remember to stack Culling and Leg Shot for a nasty snare effect that will give you more freedom to inflict damage on the initial pull.  </P> <P>RE: Cheap Shot and ^ mobs - basically the stronger the mob, the more likely damage will break the stun. So it may be a good idea to preserve the old method of manually disabling autoattack to prevent any damage prior to dropping the hammer. If a Triple Fire breaks the stun, that's fine, you're getting some hefty dmg out of it, but melee auto breaking the stun is a waste. </P>

[Halade]

<DIV>I'd like to add: use your snares!  Entrap is pretty decent now, and with the bonus of decreasing mob heat resist, it can give you a little extra damage on raven embers/sharp shot and blazing strike. </DIV>

[Aringi]

<P>One thing I'd like to point out is remember to use your Creature Mastery Attacks when possible as they are very nice now.  I solo in Zek all the time and have the Orc Mastery Attack.  It only works from behind but you do not need to be stealthed.</P> <P>I would usually pull with a few Bow CAs, HO, stun and use Creature Mastery, sneak, and shadow lunge (I think the name is).  The Orc Mastery hits around 500-800 and debuffs pierce for about 300.  Thats  a nice debuff and follow that with Shadow Lunge I can usually get a hit with that around 700 as well (Master II option).</P>

[chanaho]

   Good post, I think most all Ranges are coming to the same conclusion on post revamp that after starting with bows(nothing new here) ...get into the cheapshot- backstab/bow fire routine...that of course, is  assumming they get that close!    I just wanted to add that (most Rangers are probably on this page)...make macros for the cheap shot / stealth combos then get behind and another macro for crippling blade and another stealth hit  or backup and macro for..... Bottom line is macros for 2 or more combos are great when you only have 6 secs to do everything in.    Also a note on autoattack off or not. I found thru playing around that if one of your combat stealths is in the shadow/surveil line then you will need to turn auto attack off (couldnt hit with crippling blade more than 30% with this method until I turned auto off...now 100%) but with the shrouded strike/pouncing attack line i didnt need to turn off and you also get a hit in. So many choices and for once all are good. <div></div>

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>Is there a more precise way to determine when you are at maximum bow range, other than just using a hunter's eye?  </P> <P>This seems to be a rather important thing for Rangers now, and means the difference between getting in two ranged CAs or three ranged CAs before melee.</P> <P>I stealth myself at range; use 'Hidden Shot', followed by 'Triple Shot', and then 'Flaming Arrow' (if I have the time).  I save 'Crippling Arrow' as I can cast that while back-peddling. </P>

[Axxon]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mary the Prophetess wrote:<BR> <P>Is there a more precise way to determine when you are at maximum bow range, other than just using a hunter's eye?  </P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>I wish.  I had it down pat, but when they changed the long bow range, it messed me up a bit.  I suggest starting from a position you know is too far, creep up, try again, etc, until it goes off.  A bit annoying with the trial and error, but you are correct:  if I am in the EXACT right spot, I can get off Hidden, triple and flaming before the mob closes, then backpedal crippling.  If I am just a step too close, I can only get off the first 2 before backpedaling.  I can easily get off 3 if I open with sniping, but since the damage is so much higher on Hidden, I usually don't....unless Hidden is still refreshing and I do not feel like waiting for it to be available.<BR>

[Teksun]

If I am not mistaken, culling the herd also procs a snare giving more time to get off more CA's. If it's not Cull, I KNOW there is one besides leg shot that does this, and it LOOKS like they stack... <div></div>

[maser88]

You can open with sniping shot which slows the enemy instead of hidden shot which gives you the ability to get another skill off, however sniping shot does about 30% less damage. A stun and a impedement at the same time can be extremely effective if your going to use your bow skills against the creature. My usual combat goes like such: 1.) Stealth 2.) Hidden Shot (435-725) 3.) Triple Shot ( 200 - 240) 4.) Cheapshot 5.) Shadow 6.) Shadow Lunge (291-485) 7.) Pouncing Attack (which puts me right back into stealth) (104 - 174) 8.) Shadow Flame (82-13<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> 9.) HO (200) So around 1230 to 1762 within the first 20 seconds of battle and thats discluding my legendary posion and normal melee damage from my weapons. When you add in those your looking around 2300 damage. This is a huge amount of dps. When in a group scenario you can unleash unmatched damage in a matter of seconds. 1.) Stealth 2.) Hidden Shot (435 - 725) 3.) Sniping Shot (287 - 479) 4.) Triple Shot (200 - 240) 5.) Crippling Arrow (367 - 613) 6.) Flaming Shot (102 - 170) 7.) Miracle Shot (179) Between 1570 to 3131 damage in the first round of skills plus the immense damage done by the bow itself and the large dps the posions do. So your looking around 3600 damage. Very few classes can match such dps. The problem many rangers face is that unleashing all of this at once will generally produce enough hate to pull the beast off the tank. So mix in a few threat decrease spells such as hate. Rangers rock. Level 34 Ranger <div></div>

[Stormhawk]

I work my CAs in a 2 mob cycle while soloing. Mob 1 1) Stealth 2) Hidden Shot 3) Flaming Shot 4) Entrap 5) Run back while firing Crippling Arrow 6) Stun 7) Rip while moving behind the mob <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Pouncing Attack 9) Crippling Blade / Raven Embers depending on mob health 10) DoTs / Lightning Strike if there is anything left Mob 2: 1) Sniping Shot ( Snare component ftw ) 2) Triple Shot 3) Flaming Shot ( yay fast refresh ) <-- Sometimes the mob dies here <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> 4) Stun (Entrap before this if you plan on using Raven Embers) 5) Rip while moving behind the mob 6) Pouncing Attack 7) Raven Embers / Crippling Blade <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> DoTs / Lightning Strike if there is anything left. <div></div>

[Takot]

<DIV>culling the herd slowsthe target by 54% and does an extremely high amount of damage, followed up with tripple shot in adept3 or master one, and the target is nearly dead before it gets to you</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[BlackAdderDr]

Solo Tactics - Kiting in Revamp Arrow Frenzy up for starts - Culling Herd (dmg and Snare) - Leg Shot(snare again) - turn on aut atk - Triple shot - Sharp Shot Mob should be close now so use entrap  to snare again - Leg Shot - back pedal with Debliitating Arrow or Storm Of Arrows Mob should be quite slow again.  Save cheap shot for when u need to kite by or snare breaks.  Rinse and repeat, dont use high hitting bow CA til one of your of your snares is back up, keep back pedaling/auto atk and snare first then High dmg CA again.  Snares break easy on orange con heroics but not white con.  I can solo 48^^^ giants easy and 50^^^ are still dicey for me.  I dont like to get in melee range of them so I havent used my mastery strike.  I also use the high dmg DD poison as the low ticks are less likely to break snares than high tick ones.  The trick is to keep snare up at the cost of all else... you cannot tank or cheap shot heroics for squat. I know that we are not *supposed* to be able to solo heroics but compared to what certain caster classes can solo now 50^^^ heroics are chump change to them.  In groups my general strat has been blade flurry HO start, spam melee CAs, arrow frenzy while pulling back from mob ... evade...  unload Bow CAs... run back in while bringing up blade flurry, mellee CAs again. Rinse repeat, I love hidden fire for the dmg but it takes a while to use and is agro city if used on opener.  Consistently get 400-500dps now, with some spikes going up to 800, however this is single target mob.  300+ dps on mob encounters. -Alaulai 50 Ranger of Nektulos

[Jay]

<DIV>Along the lines of the Hidden Shot pull - if you're trying to grab mobs a long ways off or you just want to mess with your friends' heads, try pulling with the Surveil line. It has a huge range and it'll trick the mob into attacking one of your companions, since the skill itself lowers hate with the target. I use this while soloing to get off long pulls, and obviously Hidden Shot is the CA of choice when I pull in the manner. Unfortunately you don't have enough time to do much else on the pull, but it's a handy way to grab a mob that's already out of bow range.</DIV>

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>I'm a bit confused about Combat Abilities with Snares.</P> <P>I would like to know exactly which CAs snare an enemy, and by how much, as well as at which level those Combat Abilities are gained.</P> <P>I have knowledge of the following: (I think):</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 1:</U></STRONG></P> <P>09.0    <EM> Ensnare</EM>               [slows an enemy by 30%]  Range:  15</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 2:</U></STRONG></P> <P>15.0     <EM>Back Shot</EM>            [slows an enemy by 0] No snare attached to this CA</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 3:</U></STRONG></P> <P>23.0     <EM>Impede </EM>                [slows an enemy by 35%] Range:  15</P> <P>29.6    <EM>Sniping Shot</EM>         [slows an enemy by 43%]  Range:  50</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 4:</U></STRONG></P> <P>37.0     <EM>Entrap   </EM>                [slows an enemy by 33% (for 24 seconds)]  Range:  15</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 5:</U></STRONG></P> <P>43.6    <EM>Culling the Herd</EM>    [slowas an enemy by 54%]  Range:  ?</P> <P>44.0     <EM>Leg Shot</EM>                [slows an enemy by ?]  Range:  ?</P> <P>47.0     <EM>Natural Selection</EM>  [slows an enemy by ?]  Range:  ?</P> <P><STRONG><U>TIER 6:</U></STRONG></P> <P>? ? ? ?</P> <P>Will these snares stack with each other?</P> <P> </P> <P><EM><FONT size=2></FONT></EM> </P> <P><EM><FONT size=2>edited to fill in some of the answers to my own question.</FONT></EM></P> <p>Message Edited by Mary the Prophetess on <span class=date_text>09-21-2005</span> <span class=time_text>07:57 AM</span>

[Professor E.]

<P>I thank you all for sharing your trials and tribulations with the unfortunates like myself.  Time does not permit me the luxury of experimentation.</P> <P>For all those posting on how to handle mobs, I have one lingering question.  I used to handle multiples with ease, but now I must flee after killing only one.  My 30's ranger had astounding difficulty fighting a group of four goblins (level 22 or 23) the first day I tried this new system.  Before the revamp, such group would have been grey'd out and a quick kill.  Now .... sigh!</P> <P> </P> <P>Any suggestions are deeply appreciated.  Thank you.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[maser88]

<span><blockquote><hr>Professor E. wrote: <p>For all those posting on how to handle mobs, I have one lingering question.  I used to handle multiples with ease, but now I must flee after killing only one.  My 30's ranger had astounding difficulty fighting a group of four goblins (level 22 or 23) the first day I tried this new system.  Before the revamp, such group would have been grey'd out and a quick kill.  Now .... sigh!</p> <p>Any suggestions are deeply appreciated.  Thank you.</p> <p>  </p> <p>In regards to this, its possible to do. I just requires a change in the way you handle the mob. Instead of using cheapshot and going into stealth, you cheap shot and run away a bit and shoot the beast full of arrows. It can be done, I can generally take mulitple yellows at once with the loss of two bubbles of health. Give your character some time. </p> <div></div><hr></blockquote></span><div></div>

[Professor E.]

<P>Thanks for the info!</P> <P> </P> <P>Of course, I hear stories about players taking on multiple yellows (as stated above), and I cringe.  I just don't see myself possessing the gear GOOD enough to handle two yellows let alone one.  My hats off to those that can!</P> <P> </P> <P>Perhaps someday, when I win Who Wants To Be A Qeynosian Millionaire, I can achieve this prestige.  Unfortunately, till then, I'll whittle away at my blues, greens, and sometimes whites.</P> <P> </P> <P>Again, thanks for the info.</P>

[Trei]

Kill the lowest con'd mobs in a group first and stun/root the biggest ones. <div></div>

[jarlaxle8]

<div></div>hmm. this thread needs a /bump <span>:smileyhappy:</span> or perhaps even sticky. i think it has good tips. -------------------------- <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/pplayer.vm?characterId=383113204" target=_blank>Ryilan Nightbreeze</a> -------------------------- <span><span></span></span> <div></div><p>Message Edited by jarlaxle888 on <span class=date_text>10-06-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:20 PM</span>

[Teksun]

<span><blockquote><hr>Mary the Prophetess wrote:<div></div> <div></div> <p>I'm a bit confused about Combat Abilities with Snares.</p> <p>I would like to know exactly which CAs snare an enemy, and by how much, as well as at which level those Combat Abilities are gained.</p> <p>I have knowledge of the following: (I think):</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 1:</u></strong></p> <p>09.0    <em> Ensnare</em>               [slows an enemy by 30%]  Range:  15</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 2:</u></strong></p> <p>15.0     <em>Back Shot</em>            [slows an enemy by 0] No snare attached to this CA</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 3:</u></strong></p> <p>23.0     <em>Impede </em>                [slows an enemy by 35%] Range:  15</p> <p>29.6    <em>Sniping Shot</em>         [slows an enemy by 43%]  Range:  50</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 4:</u></strong></p> <p>37.0     <em>Entrap   </em>                [slows an enemy by 33% (for 24 seconds)]  Range:  15</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 5:</u></strong></p> <p>43.6    <em>Culling the Herd</em>    [slowas an enemy by 54%]  Range:  ?</p> <p>44.0     <em>Leg Shot</em>                [slows an enemy by ?]  Range:  ?</p> <p>47.0     <em>Natural Selection</em>  [slows an enemy by ?]  Range:  ?</p> <p><strong><u>TIER 6:</u></strong></p> <p><font color="#00cc00">51) Forester's Noose Slows enemy by 42% (appIV)  Range 15m Dur:24sec ??) Thorny Trap </font></p> <p>Will these snares stack with each other?</p> <p><em><font size="2"></font></em> </p> <p><em><font size="2">edited to fill in some of the answers to my own question.</font></em></p> <div></div><p>Message Edited by Mary the Prophetess on <span class="date_text">09-21-2005</span> <span class="time_text">07:57 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote></span><div></div>