Best Single Class Ranger Build?

[Stardusk78]

I really want to try out a single class ranger now that they are a decent class and I guess the Ghost Heart is just the way to go but would anyone recommend any of the others; personally sharp shooter seems quite good but there is always that animal companion issue. Any thoughts

 

[Nssheepster]

I really want to try out a single class ranger now that they are a decent class and I guess the Ghost Heart is just the way to go but would anyone recommend any of the others; personally sharp shooter seems quite good but there is always that animal companion issue. Any thoughts

I was the same earlier today. So I posted this thread.

https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/107701-ranger-companions/

I hate Animal Companions as well, they feel like a punishment on the Ranger class as a whole. But the mod linked in that thread allows for a 'No Companion' choice... Works with Arcane Archer. Haven't checked the others.

 

As for Sharpshooter in particular... 4M was often farther away than I realized, so it was at times annoying if I didn't want the extra pen from being up close.

[Sanctuary]

I really want to try out a single class ranger now that they are a decent class and I guess the Ghost Heart is just the way to go but would anyone recommend any of the others; personally sharp shooter seems quite good but there is always that animal companion issue. Any thoughts

 

My opinion on this is heavily biased, but I did not play a single class Ranger.  I played a Barbarian/Ranger, and so I had to split my skills a bit more.  Because of that, the pet well and truly sucked most of the time.  I don't know if heavily investing into the pet passives would increase its durability and damage enough to make a dent, but bonded grief is awful and this was when the game was considerably easier on even Veteran than it currently is, while also only scaling the critical path up.  The only way to get around that was to either always be storing two emergency bond for the pet rez, or simply keep your pet as far away from combat as possible.  Ghost Hearted circumvents this problem, and if I could do it all over again, that's what I would have picked.  No idea why the class is considered "good" now compared to previously either (as a hybrid, it was already pretty good, but all I heard was grief about single class Rangers).

 

If you don't mind babysitting the pet more than anyone else, then maybe Sharpshooter or simply the basic Ranger would be better for you.

Edited January 3, 2019 by Sanctuary

[Ensign]

I must have missed the memo on single class Rangers being good now.  If it is, it's because single class Arcane Archer is carrying a lot of water.

 

Ranger combines really well with other classes, as you can use its accuracy boosts to help land abilities from the other class.  Single class Ranger on the other hand has great accuracy boosts to land...not a whole lot.

 

You do have some really nice high level abilities - Whirling Strikes is a better, cheaper version of Heart of Fury, for instance - but the problem is that you're a Ranger instead of a Barbarian.  While the Ranger's passives boost their pet for the most part, Barbarian's buff the Barbarian, which all get multiplied through by Heart of Fury.  Ranger doesn't get any of that sweet multiplicative goodness.

 

I'm skeptical of Arcane Archer as it still doesn't get any multiplicative goodness and I imagine it to be really bond hungry, but that is worth experimenting with.

[Theosupus]

I liked my stalker dual spear ranger. He was a late game shiner; kind of crap early on though.

[Boeroer]

Twinned Shot with Driving Flight + Watershaper's Focus + Blast + Heaven's Cacophony (Avenging Storm) is pretty bonkers. Add Wild Barrage for even more bonkeritis.

 

Also works well with mortars and Frostseeker.

 

Arcane Archer with the Watershaper's Focus, Driving Flight, Wild Barrage and Death Ring (up to 5 procs per shot) is also very good.

[Elric Galad]

Not to mention the utility of Heartseeker AoE Enfleeble (not even counting the Attack damages). This is a pretty rare afflction since only Forbidden Fist and Woedica Priest subclass can inflict conveniently, and Ranger gets the one with the longest duration.

 

Any Crowd Controller in your party will like it !

[Nssheepster]

 

I really want to try out a single class ranger now that they are a decent class and I guess the Ghost Heart is just the way to go but would anyone recommend any of the others; personally sharp shooter seems quite good but there is always that animal companion issue. Any thoughts

 

My opinion on this is heavily biased, but I did not play a single class Ranger.  I played a Barbarian/Ranger, and so I had to split my skills a bit more.  Because of that, the pet well and truly sucked most of the time.  I don't know if heavily investing into the pet passives would increase its durability and damage enough to make a dent, but bonded grief is awful and this was when the game was considerably easier on even Veteran than it currently is, while also only scaling the critical path up.  The only way to get around that was to either always be storing two emergency bond for the pet rez, or simply keep your pet as far away from combat as possible.  Ghost Hearted circumvents this problem, and if I could do it all over again, that's what I would have picked.  No idea why the class is considered "good" now compared to previously either (as a hybrid, it was already pretty good, but all I heard was grief about single class Rangers).

 

If you don't mind babysitting the pet more than anyone else, then maybe Sharpshooter or simply the basic Ranger would be better for you.

 

 

 

I have tried specifically taking all the pet passives... The damage does eventually get decent if you're applying a sneak attack debuff. The durability is passable for your average fight. For the actually important fights, the pet dies. Every time. All the time. And Bonded Grief is awful. So you either waste resources fighting through Bonded Grief, or for Heal/Revive Companion. That gets even worse if you're rolling Arcane Archer, who certainly do NOT want to be wasting Bond on anything but Marked Prey and Imbued shots.

 

Like I said earlier, I feel like Animal Companions bring the Ranger down. Ranger is the only class specifically built for ranged attacking, and it has this thematic ball and chain around its neck. It's annoying.  Very glad someone helped me out and posted that No Companion mod, because Companions stink.

[brasilgringo]

Twinned Shot with Driving Flight + Watershaper's Focus + Blast + Heaven's Cacophony (Avenging Storm) is pretty bonkers. Add Wild Barrage for even more bonkeritis.

 

Also works well with mortars and Frostseeker.

 

Arcane Archer with the Watershaper's Focus, Driving Flight, Wild Barrage and Death Ring (up to 5 procs per shot) is also very good.

So you trigger Wild Barrage with Kitchen Stove and then switch to Watershaper Focus?  And the effect carries over?  I thought it was only with Kitchen Stove, who knew?  Cool.

[Ensign]

For the actually important fights, the pet dies. Every time. All the time. And Bonded Grief is awful.

 

The problem with the class in a nutshell.

[Boeroer]

 

Twinned Shot with Driving Flight + Watershaper's Focus + Blast + Heaven's Cacophony (Avenging Storm) is pretty bonkers. Add Wild Barrage for even more bonkeritis.

 

Also works well with mortars and Frostseeker.

 

Arcane Archer with the Watershaper's Focus, Driving Flight, Wild Barrage and Death Ring (up to 5 procs per shot) is also very good.

So you trigger Wild Barrage with Kitchen Stove and then switch to Watershaper Focus? And the effect carries over? I thought it was only with Kitchen Stove, who knew? Cool.

It used to. Hope it still does.

[Verde]

 

For the actually important fights, the pet dies. Every time. All the time. And Bonded Grief is awful.

The problem with the class in a nutshell.

And, this is just subjective, but it's painfully boring.

[Ensign]

And, this is just subjective, but it's painfully boring.

The animal companion micro aside, is it any more boring than fighter / rogue / barbarian? What is the difference?

[Nssheepster]

Some people don't really LOVE attack focused builds simply because, after you buff... You can just let the AI do the work. Rogue generally takes a bit more micro, as does the new Barbarian subclass. Arcane Archer can involve decent micro if you want. But just going with basic Ranger, it's pretty basic. Pick a target, and that's all.

 

But that's preference for some people. Personally, sometime I like my Watcher to be easy to deal with, so I can set up an AI for them and then micro a companion. If I'm running Tekehu as Druid, or Aloth, I generally want to be micro-ing them, as well as maybe Xoti as a priest. I CAN, if I have to, micro every member of the party... But I don't find that fun, so I stick to one or two people who actually need micro and plan my Watcher to be complex or simple accordingly.

[Verde]

 

And, this is just subjective, but it's painfully boring.

The animal companion micro aside, is it any more boring than fighter / rogue / barbarian? What is the difference?

I find the Rogue to be one of the most fun classes. The difference is you can talk multiple path for your build and the abilities are fun and effective. I don't think Ranger is fun and I find the abilities lacking in both style and substance. Edited January 3, 2019 by Verde

[dunehunter]

Arcane Archer would be the best single classes ranger once they fix the imbue ability bugs. As Boeroer said, with right combo, 5 Death Ring in a row can be very devastating. And the penalty can be easily overcome by picking right weapon.

[Doxy]

If you're going to play solo ranger, id suggest you install PoE2 Deadfire Tweaks

https://www.nexusmods.com/pillarsofeternity2/mods/72

It makes rangers viable on potd solo. Im lvl 17 now and loving my arcane archer.

My pet Comendante, is a semi decent tank. As long as i throw a heal on him.

[Boeroer]

I played a Stalker/Wizard Geomancer. One of the best chars so far. Not single class of course, but at least half of it is Ranger. My animal companion didn't die too often. You can't use it for tanking but flanking.

 

And this one didn't even use they usual "key" abilities like Driving Flight or Marksman - because melee.

Edited January 4, 2019 by Boeroer

[Ensign]

Did you make use of Defensive Bond on that Stalker/Geomancer?   I feel like that one would make a big difference if it were active reliably, but that is only really true for a Stalker and I haven't been compelled to play one yet.

[Boeroer]

Nope. I think that's too situational for most builds.

 

It can be good against bosses and if you already focus on high defenses. And also if you want to bomb yourself with AoE-friendly-fire spells.

 

The key features of that build were Body Blows, Takedown Combo, Concelhaut's Draining Touch, Essential Phantom, Miasma of Dull-Mindedness and Killing Bolt.

Edited January 5, 2019 by Boeroer

[Ensign]

Nope. I think that's too situational for most builds.

 

It can be good against bosses and if you already focus on high defenses. And also if you want to bomb yourself with AoE-friendly-fire spells.

 

The key features of that build were Body Blows, Takedown Combo, Concelhaut's Draining Touch, Essential Phantom, Miasma of Dull-Mindedness and Killing Bolt.

 

Touch Phantasm is indeed sexy.

 

I'm guessing the extra armor and deflection from Stalker did a lot of work then in keeping your AC alive.  But then again you do micro your characters pretty heavy and moving the AC around to not take heavy fire isn't much of a burden when solo, is it?

 

...trying to figure out what drives such different experiences with pets popping or not.  Am guessing low micro is a major culprit, but unsure if there are other components as well.

[Boeroer]

I don't play with AI since I don't have issues with micromanagement in general.

 

You have to place the Phantom really well though because it's on autopilot. Usually it will attack the nearest enemy so it's not too hard. But if the battlefield is crowded it will sometimes get placed elsewhere because some schmuck ran onto its summoning spot... Good thing that it usually makes short work of trash mobs.

 

Having three rel. sturdy bodies that can deal good damage instead of just one is pretty fantastic.

 

If you don't like micro then Ranger may be the wrong pick per se (maybe excluding Ghost Heart).

Edited January 5, 2019 by Boeroer

[djinnxy]

If you don't like micro then Ranger may be the wrong pick.

I'd have to agree with this. I've played as ranger main and also mostly used ai with hireling rangers. With just the ai and a little adjustment here and there a hireling will pace your best dps mains out there. With a main ranger and micro you'll outpace everyone else in the party. It may not be the absolute best dps in game, but it is close and has the advantage of mobility and distance along with an animal companion you can move or call for a meat shield.  If you use that animal companion just to pick up the scraps that make it past your linemen or the random teleporter it works just fine. Don't expect it to do the job of your main tank.

[Crucis]

Some people don't really LOVE attack focused builds simply because, after you buff... You can just let the AI do the work. Rogue generally takes a bit more micro, as does the new Barbarian subclass. Arcane Archer can involve decent micro if you want. But just going with basic Ranger, it's pretty basic. Pick a target, and that's all.

 

But that's preference for some people. Personally, sometime I like my Watcher to be easy to deal with, so I can set up an AI for them and then micro a companion. If I'm running Tekehu as Druid, or Aloth, I generally want to be micro-ing them, as well as maybe Xoti as a priest. I CAN, if I have to, micro every member of the party... But I don't find that fun, so I stick to one or two people who actually need micro and plan my Watcher to be complex or simple accordingly.

 

I guess the problem I have is that I actually like being able to let some of my party members run off the AI.  I don't like having to micro every single action of every single member of my party.  I don't mind some degree of management, like trying to focus fire some party members onto a single enemy out of a mob.  But having to constantly manage the usage of every single party member's active abilities is over the top for me and boring.  Maybe this works for those of you who enjoy tiny parties or solo-ing your main character, but I prefer playing full parties, because that's always felt like how fantasy games should be played to me.    So, I guess that we're on the same page.

 

I don't like Ranger animal companions.  Even with the Ghost Heart subclass, you're still faced with the problem that far, far too many of the Ranger's skills are linked to the A/C in some way.  So, if you even try to play a GH and not use the ghost A/C, you'll find yourself stuck without all that many good class skill choices.

 

 

===

 

On a related note, I think that the Ranger class would have been much better if Ranger A/C's had been like the pets the main character can have, i.e. nice furry little friends that don't actively do anything in combat, but give the character some little bonus and don't really get in the way of playing a Ranger instead of a "beastmaster".

[Nssheepster]

Ghost Heart seems closest to what we should've gotten.... It makes sense for a Watcher to be able to summon the spirit of a dead animal to aid them in battle. It makes sense for spirits in general to aid the Watcher. A class that has, at base, a chance to summon a Spirit Animal on doing X, probably on hit with Ranged Weapon, would make sense, and then Subclasses that specify which type of Spirit Animal rather than a random one, or one that allows multiple random summons....

 

That I'd go with. Because THEN, the Animals are extra buffs, not annoying meat bags that die and punish you for them dying.

 

Also, I realize, it's a fantasy game, realism isn't a focus... But how did a STAG Animal Companion survive a ship wreck and get to the beach, exactly? Clearly your Watcher didn't get them to the beach, you don't know what's happened when you awake. You don't always have Eder, depending on your history, so it wasn't him. Who exactly got a STAG through choppy seas to the beach? Can't be Chitupec, he's not certain to survive. So you have Old Man, Dwarf, or Woman Who Can't Lift A Crate, as your potential life savers, who supposedly swam to the beach in stormy waters with floatsam around, while keeping a Stag alive.

 

Or are Stags somehow insanenly good swimmers and I just never knew?