Build:R/any Barrage Ranger

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This build has been designed for the following use:

This build is part of the current PvE meta.
Remove this tag if it is no longer used in the current PvE meta.

This build is a basic Barrage Ranger that can be used and modified for many situations and secondary professions. The main goal is to use the common elite skill Barrage so as to synergize with other skills for a better effect or at least other skills that compliment it in its most common uses. Barrage is most often used to target groups of enemies while using increases to damage output or other effects on each barrage.

Attributes and Skills

<pvxbig> [build prof=range/any marksm=12+1+1 expert=8+1][barrage][distracting shot][savage shot][optional][optional][optional][optional][Lightning reflexes][/build] </pvxbig> Optional slots for:

Marksmanship, Expertise (put remaining attribute points in Expertise)

Favorable Winds for more damage, and faster arrows means you won't get strafed.
Sloth Hunter's Shot for increased single target damage.
Triple Shot for increased single target damage when combined with nightmare weapon and/or a conjure.

Wilderness Survival (make Wilderness Survival 10)

Winnowing to add 4 damage to each arrow.

Beast Mastery (make Beast Mastery 10)

Comfort Animal Adding a pet to the build will then turn you into what is referred to as a B/P ranger.

Call of Protection and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.
Otyugh's Cry and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.
Symbiotic Bond and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.
Predatory Bond and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.
Feral Aggression and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.
Melandru's Assault and many other pet skills to beef up your pet.

Edge of Extinction additional damage to others upon finishing a foe. Be careful when deciding to use against human foes.

Channeling Magic (make Channeling magic 10)

Splinter Weapon can be used for more AoE damage.
Nightmare Weapon good single enemy damage when combined with Triple Shot.
Wailing Weapon same as Warmonger's
Warmonger's Weapon can add interruption to a mass of foes for the entire duration.
Flesh of My Flesh generic resurrection spell
Death Pact Signet for a res without the health sacrifice

Command (put 10 in Command)

"Go for the Eyes!" to increase damage and chance of crit
"Find Their Weakness!" to increase damage and chance of Deep Wound.
"Stand Your Ground!" to add armor to your party while not moving.
"Fall Back!" to speed your party up
Bladeturn Refrain defense and blocking for your party members
Anthem of Envy can add some minor damage at the easy cost of adrenaline.
Hexbreaker Aria party wide hex removal
"We Shall Return!" is useful as a repeatable resurrection skill, even with zero ranks in Command attribute.
Signet of Return is useful as a repeatable resurrection skill, even without access to the Leadership attribute.

PvE-Only Skills

Summon Spirits can be used to keep Favorable Winds with you, lowering its downtime to 0.
"Save Yourselves!" adrenaline builds up quickly with barrage
"I Am The Strongest!" for additional damage
Ebon Battle Standard of Honor for additional damage per arrow (very effective with Barrage)
Dwarven Stability to extend Lightning Reflexes or another stance.
"By Ural's Hammer!" to boost damage.
Drunken Master for a cheap and constant (albeit low) IAS.

Equipment

Any armor can be used though Survivor insignias are best.
Vampiric or Zealous bow strings are used a lot in Barrage builds as you get multiple hits per shot (provided the build doesn't call for an elemental string) though a Sundering string is a good stand-by if you don't want to worry about the degen and makes a good switch-out weapon.
A Flatbow is commonly used in a barrage build provided Favorable Winds is brought as well to lessen the large arrow arc from a Flatbow and to help speed the arrows to their targets. Otherwise, each bow has its own ups and downs but can be used as preferred. If you wish to use a green Flatbow:
- Ironwing Flatbow or Forgotten Flatbow is ideal.
- Chkkr's Flatbow is good and is easy to farm right outside of Saint Anjeka's Shrine.

Usage

Players

Use Barrage whenever it is recharged
Interrupt skills such as Meteor Shower, Resurrect or Spiteful Spirit with Distracting and Savage Shot.
Use Lightning Reflexes to increase your attack speed before large groups.

Heroes

Set the hero to guard mode.

Counters

Any standard melee/ranger counters such as blindness
attack/hit hexes (like Empathy and SS)
blocking.

Variants

These are less common variats of the barrage ranger. Tactics (make Tactics 10)

"Watch Yourself!" charges quickly and can increase the party's AL
"Shields Up!" can be used to reduce the damage your party members take from projectiles.

Curses (make Curses 10)

Mark of Pain may cause scatter but can be most useful in narrow passages.

Elemental Damage (put 10 in the appropriate Magic type)

Conjure Flame (and other Conjures) with the appropriate bow string can add damage to each barrage.

Notes

Heroes do not prioritise spamming barrage, however, to maximise their use of Barrage it is suggested to take shouts as they have no cast time.