Guide:Zaishen Trapping

Zaishen Trapping is a common method of quickly farming Balthazar Faction. It makes use of the Battle Isles mission Zaishen Elite or, to a lesser extent, Zaishen Challenge, and powerful Ranger Traps, along with the predictability of Zaishen AI.

What to do

Zaishen Elite trapping can be broken down into the following steps:

• upon spawning, place all of your Nature Rituals (i.e. QZ, EW, and FS. Possibly Earthbind for stronger snares)
• Hit Trapper's Speed/Serpent's Quickness, and place all of your traps at the gateway to your spawning point.
• Identify the team you are up against.

• If it's an "Easy" team, such as the IWAY warriors, IW mesmers, or the VIM trapper rangers, continue placing your traps. They will run into your traps and die.
• If it's the Obsidian Spiker Elementalists, move to the back of the spawn point and recast FS. They will usually spike a spirit and proceed into the traps, killing them all. Gang up around any surviving eles and trap them to death.
• If it's the mixed Degen team, go to the back of the spawn point and allow the ranger(s) and warrior(s) to die at the traps. proceed to recast FS and trap the remaining mesmer(s) and necromancer(s) to death. This team is considered the hardest to kill with trappers, and some teams go so far as to bring a character with hex/condition removal for the sole purpse of countering this.

What to bring

Generally, a trapper team consists of 4 Trapping Rangers, with the occasional caster exception.

Attributes

Keep in mind that a trapper's most important attribute is Wilderness Survival, so one would normally run a 12+1+3 setup on it. The rest of the points should be placed in Expertise. The remaining 6 attribute points may be put in beast mastery for the sake of Energizing Wind or Viper's Nest. One may also choose to take a rank off of expertise to put more points into beast mastery, for a stronger EW and/or viper's nest.

Equipment

A trapper should bring a high-energy set, such as:

• a +20 energy staff of Fortitude/Defense
• a Crippling/Barbed/Poisonous +5 energy sword/spear/axe of fortitude/defense and a +12 energy focus.

Skills

Ranger Skills

Traps

• Dust Trap

The most powerful trap in the game (in raw damage), and causes blinding. It is considered a vital part of any trapper's repertoire.

• Flame Trap

This trap has the second most damage of all traps, and causes burning.

• Barbed Trap

This trap has both a snare and some degeneration.

A ranger soloing the zaishen trappers at Zaishen Challenge

• Snare

Usually is considered inferior to barbed trap as it doesn't inflict bleeding or damage.

• Tripwire

This trap is a good non-elite alternative to Spike Trap for a knockdown, if combined with Barbed Trap or Snare.

• Viper's Nest

This inflicts poison, for extra degeneration after the burning wears off from Flame Trap. Good for finishing off survivors from the Degen or Obsidian teams.

• Spike Trap

This trap is the strongest trap snare in the game, as it both knocks down and cripples. Note that it is elite.

Utility

• Trapper's Speed
• Serpent's Quickness

Trapper's Speed is usually considered superior to Serpent's Quickness because it lowers the activation time as well as the recharge of traps.

• Trapper's Focus

This skill is useful for fighting survivors, as it prevents interruption of traps. note that one could bring Mantra of Resolve as a non-elite skill for the same purpose.

• Energizing Wind
• Quickening Zephyr

The trappers must have these spirits between them. They help to reduce the energy cost and recharge time of the traps.

• Frozen Soil

Essential to prevent the enemies resurrecting each other with their Resurrection Signets.

• Distracting Shot
• Apply Poison

These skills can help counter the degen team if you are having problems.

• Troll Unguent
• Whirling Defense
• Healing Spring
• Natural Stride

Useful skills to consider bringing for countering the degen team. They add extra healing or defense, allowing more active trapping to take place.

Secondary Skills

• Echo
• Arcane Echo

When used with Dust Trap can greatly increase your damage output.

Trapping in the Zaishen Elite Mission.

• Mantra of Resolve

This stance can help very much as a non-elite alternative to Trapper's Focus, as it prevents interruption.

• "Victory is Mine" "Victory is Mine"

VIM is a useful heal against survivors. Note it's elite status and attribute requirement.

• Well of Blood
• Well of Power

Using these wells can be useful against the degen team. Keep in mind the attribute requirement and elite status.

• Grenth's Balance

Can be used to spike off survivors from the degen team. Note however, that it is elite.

• Earthbind

Increases knockdown time for stronger snares. Not necessary, as 2 seconds of KD and cripple is usually enough.

• Shelter

Can help counter the obsidian spike team, by reducing the spike damage.

• Dismiss Condition
• Remove Hex

These and other similar skills can be used to help counter the degen team.

• Cry of Frustration
• This and other interrupts can also be used to counter the obsidian spike, as all of them will be casting at the same time.

Trapping in action

Youtube Solo Video

Youtube Solo Video 2

See Also

• Trapping Guide