View source for Soulbeast - Condi Trapper

{{MBuild
| profession = ranger
| specialization = soulbeast
| designed for = Open World, Open World Solo, Open World Roaming, Open World Zergs
| focus = condition damage, single target, ranged damage, melee damage, mobility, dps, defense, solo play, group play, roaming
| rating = Archived
| xpac = pof
}}

==Archived Build==
reason: moved to https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Soulbeast_-_Condition_Skirmisher

==Overview==
An extremely strong build which can swap from DPS to defensive variants. This build can do well in almost all areas of open world. 

:'''Pros'''
* Very versatile
* High DPS even with defensive gear
* Mobile

:'''Cons'''
* Low sustain
* Dagger Mainhand is very sensitive to high ping.

==Skill Bar==
{{Skillbar
|profession = Ranger
|specialization = Soulbeast
|set1 = dagger, torch
|set2 = shortbow
|healing = Troll Unguent
|utility1 = Viper's Nest
|utility2 = Sharpening Stone
|utility3 = Vulture Stance
|elite = One Wolf Pack
|pet1 = Warthog
|pet2 = Lynx
}}

===Pets===
* You'll be spending most of your time merged with the pet of your choice. Here are some options:
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Warthog}} - provides condition damage with {{Skill|Maul (soulbeast porcine)}} and crowd control with {{Skill|Brutal Charge (soulbeast porcine)}}.
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Lynx}} - more damage than Warthog when crowd control isn't needed.
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Bristleback}} - ranged damage with {{Skill|Rain of Spikes (soulbeast)}}.
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Carrion Devourer}} - provides crowd control with {{Skill|Tail Lash (soulbeast devourer)}} and an evade with {{Skill|Devourer Retreat (soulbeast)}}.
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Murellow}} - defensive option with {{Skill|Defy Pain (soulbeast)}}.

* Your second pet doesn't really matter, feel free to equip your favorite pet for Fashion Wars. If you're having trouble surviving you can bring a Supportive or Stout pet for extra survivability with skills like {{Skill|Spiritual Reprieve}} or {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}}:
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Black Bear}} - an old favorite, provides {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}} and {{Skill|Defy Pain (soulbeast)}}.
** {{gw2skill|Juvenile Jacaranda}} - provides {{Skill|Spiritual Reprieve}}, {{Skill|Photosynthesize (soulbeast)}}, and {{Skill|Call Lightning (soulbeast)}}.
* When unable to mount, you can also merge with a bird like {{gw2skill|Juvenile Hawk}} to use {{Skill|Swoop (soulbeast)}} and {{Skill|Quickening Screech}} to go faster.

===Weapon Variants===
* Main hand '''Axe''' provides better cleave damage than dagger but is less effective against single targets.

===Skill Variants===
:'''Heal Skills'''
* {{Skill|Bear Stance}} - Condi clear
* {{Skill|"We Heal As One!"}} - extends boons; extremely effective with Concentration

:'''Utility Skills'''
* {{Skill|"Sic 'Em!"}} - Very high damage buff against single targets
* {{Skill|Dolyak Stance}} - if you're getting stunned a lot.
* {{Skill|Sun Spirit}} - alternative damage option, useful if there are allies around.
* {{Skill|"Protect Me!"}} - Powerful stun break
* {{Skill|Signet of Stone}} - Invulnerability

:'''Elite Skills'''
* {{Skill|Entangle}} - high damage and soft crowd control.

==Specializations==
'''Build Code'''
{{BuildTemplate
| code = [&DQQhNyAeNzp4AAAAugAAAL8AAADpFgAALhYAACUDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
| id = build-template-1
}}
{{Specialization|Beastmastery|mid|bot|top}}
{{Specialization|Wilderness Survival|bot|top|bot}}
{{Specialization|Soulbeast|mid|mid|bot}}

===Trait Variants===
Soulbeast is extremely versatile and part of its gameplay is setting up the right traits for each situation. 

====Axe Variant====
Take {{Trait|Honed Axes}} if running axe main hand.

====Poison Variant====
This variant focuses heavily on dealing high poison damage, which can help with sustain
* In Wilderness Survival: {{Trait|Ambidexterity}} {{to}} {{Trait|Refined Toxins}}
* In Soulbeast: {{Trait|Essence of Speed}} {{to}} {{Trait|Predator's Cunning}}

====Skirmishing Variant====
Replace Beastmastery with Skirmishing for a significant DPS boost at the cost of utility. This can also pair with the Poison Variant above. If using the {{Trailblazer}} or {{Rabid}} variants below, use this variant.
{{Specialization|Skirmishing|top|bot|mid|variant=y}}

==Equipment==
===Viper Equipment===
For the vast majority of open world content, use this variant
{{PvE equipment
| stats = Viper
| rarity = Ascended 
| runes = 6 Superior Rune of the Krait
| s1w1 = Ascended, Viper, Shortbow, Superior Sigil of Bursting+Superior Sigil of Earth
| s2w1 = Ascended, Viper, Dagger, Superior Sigil of Bursting
| s2w2 = Ascended, Viper, Torch, Superior Sigil of Earth
}}

===Trailblazer Equipment===
For harder content, it may be worth using this variant
{{PvE equipment
| stats = Trailblazer 
| rarity = Ascended 
| runes = 6 Superior Rune of the Krait
| s1w1 = Ascended, Trailblazer , Shortbow, Superior Sigil of Doom+Superior Sigil of Bursting
| s2w1 = Ascended, Trailblazer , Dagger, Superior Sigil of Doom
| s2w2 = Ascended, Trailblazer , Torch, Superior Sigil of Geomancy
}}

===Variant Equipment===
====Gear====
* {{Sinister}}, {{Grieving}} - Budget replacement for {{Viper}}; run {{Sigil|Agony}} with these
* {{Rabid}} - Budget replacement for {{Trailblazer}}; run {{Sigil|Agony}} with this

====Runes====
* {{Rune|the Nightmare}} - Less bleed-focused condition duration
* {{Rune|the Undead}} - budget option for {{Trailblazer}}
* {{Rune|the Berserker}}, {{Rune|the Renegade}} - higher burst option; not generally recommended

====Sigils====
* {{Sigil|Strength}} - Possibly superior to {{Sigil|Bursting}} for the {{Viper}} variant?
* {{Sigil|Doom}} - strong ranged option
* {{Sigil|Energy}} - more dodges

==Consumables==
===Event Farming===
'''Food:'''
* Any ascended food is superior to any other food you could use. Steak for power, flatbread for conditions.
* {{food|Peppermint Omnomberry Bar}} - Use for general farming.
* {{Food|Chocolate Omnomberry Cream}} - Use for when you need to max out magic find.
* {{food|Scoop of Mintberry Swirl Ice Cream}} - more sustain
* Anything - Any food is better than none, but you should prioritize the food above before using any other food. 

'''Utility:'''
* {{Utility|Sharpening Skull}}, {{Utility|Lump of Crystallized Nougat}}, {{Utility|Flask of Pumpkin Oil}} - general farming
* {{utility|Tuning Icicle}} - good damage option with +karma

===Solo Play===
:'''Food'''
* {{Food|Koi Cake}}, {{Food|Rare Veggie Pizza}} - DPS
* {{Food|Super Veggie Pizza}} - Budget DPS
* {{Food|Bowl of Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew}}, {{Food|Bowl of Meat and Winter Vegetable Stew}} - Dodges + Might
* {{Food|Scoop of Mintberry Swirl Ice Cream}}, {{Food|Prickly Pear Pie}} - Gives sustain for the {{Viper}}, {{Sinister}}, and {{Grieving}} variants

:'''Utility'''
* {{Utility|Tuning Icicle}} - +Dmg, +Karma

==Usage==

===Damage===
* Your most damaging skills are {{Skill|Bonfire}}, {{Skill|Throw Torch}}, {{Skill|Poison Volley}}, and {{Skill|Crippling Shot}}. Use these skills whenever available.
** Fill in the gaps with {{Skill|Maul (soulbeast feline)}}/{{Skill|Maul (soulbeast porcine)}}, {{Skill|Primal Cry}}, and autoattacks.
** Never interrupt your autoattack chain.
* Flanking enemies is important with this build, as your shortbow skills deal significantly more damage when hitting from the back or the side. Dodge through enemies before unloading your condition burst.
* Use your traps and stances off cooldown.
* If crowd control isn't important, you can use {{Skill|Concussion Shot}} for a damage increase.

===Survivability===
* Use the endurance regeneration from {{Trait|Natural Vigor}} to dodge incoming attacks.
* You have a good amount of passive healing from {{Trait|Rugged Growth}} and {{Trait|Predator's Cunning}}.

===Crowd Control===
* {{Skill|Brutal Charge (soulbeast porcine)}}
* {{Skill|Concussion Shot}}