Game changer ranger items

[kjs86z]

Originally Posted by gildor [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

cleric epic

the most accurate answer

[Smellybuttface]

Whatever item lets you get death touched faster in a raid .

[fadetree]

Originally Posted by RipVanFish [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Insofar as a ranger can be effective, what are the best items to (realistically) get them? A guide recommended paying attention to their survivability as well as their dps, so outside of dragon loot what is the best way to kit one out?

I have an fbss, dual EBWs and a gigantic zweihander on mine, not sure whether to emphasize strength gear, ac/hp gear, or some combination of the two for his armor slots though.

You should maximize both if you can. The advice about having 2 sets, a str set and an hp/ac set is good advice, but expensive. I used to use stat rings to swap in str and/or dex when I wanted it and trade down some hp. The truth is that STR/DEX is easier to buff/get on armor than HP/STA is, so I would usually always focus on HP/AC over STR/DEX when gearing. A dead ranger does no DPS at all.

In my experience, many people tend to play rangers like they are wanna be rogues - they just try to be dps machines, standing next to the MOB and hitting 'A' and the kick button, maybe occasionally nuking and snaring runners if they remember to and the group harasses them. They wind up feeling meh because they are usually not close to the DPS of a decent rogue.

Rangers can be very effective when played to the full extent. They have great aggro tools and just enough tankiness to survive an off-tank or parking event. (Actually, they are one of the better tanks at lower levels because snap aggro: root+snare+flamelick. Geared well, that lasts well into the 40's.) They are also great outdoor pullers.

But main tanking isn't really the deal, they make even better off-tank parkers for ghetto CC, especially since the chanters/bards are all out soloing. If it can't be parked they can kite it around with snare and sow or just "Ranger mezz" (stand in front of the mob while it beats on them until it gets actually mezzed). They are great at peeling mobs from over-excited clerics and nukers and parking them. If the chanter or cleric knows he does not need to take evasive action if he pulls minor aggro because his friend the ranger will immediately peel then he is free to be more effective.

Even the stupid little ranger heals have a use - "Ranger clarity". Got a canni shammy or a liching necro or a healer with a ms? Then in between pulls when they are trying to regain mana, spam them with your heals, it will be converted into to mana for them and normally unless you have aggro control issues it will do better for the group than you using it in nukes or aggro control.

When in a group trying to deal with repeated 3 pulls (or more), tell the chanter that you'll grab one on inc with snare and keep it rooted/busy/ranger-mezzed while they get the rest CC'd or dead. Know to never use flame lick while a chanter is in the group trying to CC.

In high level raids that need hard aggro fast (and inexplicably no one has a mallet), then a weaponshield ranger can aggro the crap out of a raid mob on inc for 24 seconds. A couple seconds after ranger has aggro the MT also engages, but doesn't taunt. This can be enough time for the slow to land and maybe not pull aggro causing a dead slower. When weaponshield drops the MT starts taunting and if he gets it off before the ranger dies then he has much aggro to work with...if he doesn't he still has a good aggro start and with luck will be above the slower, and meanwhile the ranger has performed 'ranger gate', and can be 'ranger ported' back by the cleric. Since people are devoted to clickies for aggro nowadays it's not as important as it used to be but it's a good usage of skills.

Anyway, unlike many classes, Ranger is not an easy class to play well. If the group is fully balanced and doing small pulls on a regular basis, then yeah you are basically DPS and runner control, maybe off-tank occasionally. If the group has missing capabilities or is under heavy pressure, however, then a well played ranger can make a big difference.

[fadetree]

Also - Rangers make great aggro kite partners, they can keep aggro, can snare and (eventually) sow, plus they can throw some bow hits in there while aggro kiting.

As far as 'gamechanger items', there aren't many I can think of in classic. In kunark, Swarmcaller, epics, and of course a fungi.

[Kirdan]

A sword that procs a pet.

[fadetree]

Mistwalker.