Rangers can camp some good SSF items like Swarmcaller, Hangman's Noose, and Ceremonial Iksar Chestplate in their 50s. All of those are found in outdoor zones, and track is obviously great for TT Forager Cycle. But yeah they are going to have problems with any items that drop in a dungeon.

A swarmcaller ranger could certainly break onto and take down the frenzied velium stalker/broodling and crystal eyes.

Oh sure. By the time a Ranger can self farm a Swarmcaller, they are basically in their mid to high 50s. You can farm some dungeon stuff with any hybrid just by outleveling it at that point.

But a Ranger isn't going to be able to farm dungeon items as well when the dungeon is level appropriate for the most part. No Harmony, no refreshing SoW without running out, and not a lot of animals to lull when breaking camps or getting around see invis mobs.

I am not trying to suggest Velks isn't level appropriate for mid to high 50s, I am just saying camping frenzied velium stalker/broodling and crystal eyes is basically "endgame farming" for an SSF ranger.

SK/Paladin should be able to kill Frenzied Ghoul when they get to mid/high 50's for their 20% haste item. Haven't tried using my SK in Velks too much. The mobs are fearable, but pathing is trash in the vertical ramps where frenzied velium stalker/broodling and crystal eye spawn. You might need to train the named down to the ent so you can fear kite, assuming there is no group in the way hehe.

Ranger does fine in velks. Roots, snares, sneak… and you of all posters know cycling camp goes a long way.

This is true for sure, especially if hunting level appropriate content. An alternative approach is to simply “get by” with sub-par gear (even for a SSF toon) and intentionally level up higher to then go back and hunt/farm.

Player crafted bows and arrows will go a long way towards Ranger viability - and all of these are doable with plat drops off of mobs and a bit of sweat-work with a fletching kit.

I didn't say Rangers do poorly in Velks. I have seen quite a few at frenzied velium stalker/broodling and crystal eyes.

I said that the ability for a Ranger to camp Velks hinges on basically being in the endgame for SSF after they have already farmed a number of good items, like Swarmcaller and Ceremonial Iksar Chestplate.

At level 60 with decent gear, a Ranger can indeed do fine in some dungeons, especially if they are overleveled for the content. The same is true for other classes. But Paladin/SK will be able to farm dungeon items before a Ranger can. Rangers are overall weaker at dungeon diving, which will affect your ability to farm some items when the dungeon is level appropriate. It will also affect your ability to farm some items even when you are 60, because you cannot use Harmony in dungeons, Animal Lull is highly restricted in dungeons since animals aren't too common in dungeons, and invis alone doesn't work everywhere.

This is absolutely true. I would wager a high level Knight could function in Seb with a lot of caution/care. With ONLY solo, self found gear I'm not confident a level 60 knight could handle named mobs for the drops to equip - but they can likely get by hunting. A ranger with only solo, self found gear likely won't have much if any success in a dungeon like Seb.

So I guess it depends how far you want to take a SSF character.

The ceiling for what is possible will be better for either knight.

The ease of the road up until the high end for SSF I'd argue is easier for the ranger. Their spell toolkit just comes with a lot more creature comforts, especially hunting outside. As previously mentioned, player crafted bows will be very powerful and competitive relative to the true solo self-found weapon options either knight will have access to. Probably better ... and the beauty of them is they don't require anything other than coin drops and sell-ables off standard mobs and the time/patience to sit down and work the fletching.

Opmeter solos seb like a boss.

seen sudz do the same right after he got his vulak axe

Yeah just gotta SSF solo Vulak to unlock soloing Seb.