View source for Soulbeast - Poisonbeast Roamer

{{Build
| profession = Ranger
| specialization = Soulbeast
| designed for = WvW Roaming
| focus = condition damage, mobility
| rating = good
| difficulty = 1
| xpac = PoF
}}

==Overview==
A well-rounded condi Soulbeast WvW roaming build with good damage, mobility, CC and sustain built around {{Trait|Predator's Cunning}} synergy and {{Tooltip|Poison}} spam. While designed primarily for 1v1s, the build can also hold its ground in smaller group fights and has no trouble soloing camps and other objectives roamers tend to go for. 

Uses evasion and mobility to survive pressure while waiting for an opening to show where it can unleash its CC and condition burst.


==Skill Bar==
{{Skill bar
| profession = Ranger
| specialization = Soulbeast
| weapon1 = dagger
| weapon2 = dagger
| weapon3 = shortbow
| weapon4 = 
| healing = Bear Stance
| utility1 = Dolyak Stance
| utility2 = "Protect Me!"
| elite = "Strength of the Pack!"
| pet1 = Janthiri Bee
| pet2 = Alpine Wolf
}}


===Skill Variants===
'''Utility

Viable choices for the 3rd utility slot:
* {{Skill|Spike Trap}} - unblockable CC on low CD.

* {{Skill|Griffon Stance}} - on-demand evasion and improved endurance regen/superspeed on low CD is never bad.

* {{Skill|Signet of Renewal}} - constant passive healing and a mass cleanse when used.


'''Elite'''
* {{Skill|Entangle}} - this could help you set up kills and contribute some extra damage, at least in theory. In practice it's way too easily countered these days to the point where it might barely do anything on a 48s CD. The current elite at least has {{Tooltip|Stability}}.


'''Pets'''
* {{Tooltip|Fern Hound}} over {{Tooltip|Alpine Wolf}} - they share the first 2 skills in Beastmode, but Fern Hound offers better healing and a chance to cleanse damaging conditions, while Alpine Wolf has a stunbreak with 100% damage reduction that also cleanses some non-damaging conditions. Alpine Wolf is better against strike damage and CC, while Fern Hound is better against condition builds.

* {{Tooltip|Siamoth}} over {{Tooltip|Alpine Wolf}} - they both have {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}} and a CC, but Alpine Wolf has better mobility and 2 leap finishers in Beastmode while Siamoth has a better F2 skill, slightly longer CC duration and a bit more damage in Beastmode. Very similar pets, this one comes down to personal preferences.

* {{Tooltip|Hawk}} over {{Tooltip|Janthiri Bee}} - if you don't have access to the '''Janthir Wilds''' expansion, you'll have to use the older version of the build with Hawk. The merged F3 is the same. You lose a burst skill and a CC but gain much better mobility.


==Template Code==
{{TemplateCode|
code = [&DQQhNhk2Nx8uFy4X+harARsAwgC7ALgA7QDtAEcIAQsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACLwBrAAA=]
}}


==Specializations==
{{Specialization|Nature Magic|mid|top|bot}}
{{Specialization|Wilderness Survival|mid|top|bot}}
{{Specialization|Soulbeast|bot|bot|top}}
'''Variants'''
* {{Trait|Leader of the Pack}} is worth considering when you're running at least 2 stances and roaming in a group. 


===Specialization Variants===
{{Tooltip|Skirmishing}} over {{Tooltip|Nature Magic}}: lower sustain in exchange for higher damage.
{{Specialization|Skirmishing|mid|bot|mid|variant=y}}
'''Variants'''
* {{Trait|Quick Draw}} is also a viable option, trading an offensive passive buff and bow skill recharge for more flexibility.


==Equipment==
{{PvE equipment
| weight = Medium
| stats = Trailblazer
| rune = Superior Rune of the Trapper
| rune-qt = 6
| weapon1 = Dagger
| weapon2 = Dagger
| weapon3 = Shortbow
| weapon4 = 
| sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Cleansing
| sigil2 = Superior Sigil of Energy
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Geomancy
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Doom
| infusion1 = Malign WvW Infusion
| infusion1-qt = 18
| amulet = Apothecary
| ring1 = Apothecary
| ring2 = Apothecary
| accessory1 = Apothecary
| accessory2 = Apothecary
| back = Apothecary
| relic = Relic of the Blightbringer
}}


===Equipment Variants===
'''Relics'''
* {{Relic|Relic of the Demon Queen}} - the extra healing reduction could help you kill some high sustain builds.

* {{Relic|Relic of Nayos}} - passive healing increase for a more tanky build.

* {{Relic|Relic of the Fractal}} - improves your burst damage and condition variety.

* {{Relic|Relic of Cerus}} - adds a strong offensive proc whenever you use an elite skill. Enemies under the eye get hit every second, so the value of this relic goes up significantly if you can root them right under it with {{Skill|Entangle}}.

* {{Relic|Relic of Evasion}} - defensive option that could give you permanent {{Tooltip|Vigor}} uptime which also means higher {{Tooltip|Protection}} uptime and healing from the trait {{Trait|Rugged Growth}}.

* {{Relic|Relic of the Mirage}} - adds a new condition to the build with a high uptime, making it harder for enemies to cleanse your more important conditions while providing a small damage boost.


'''Runes'''
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of the Sunless}} - a bit more defensive option that retains the most important stats of Trapper, and you don't need to craft this. Quite cheap too.

* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Leadership}} - the added boon duration could boost your sustain. Improving {{Tooltip|Protection}} and {{Tooltip|Vigor}} uptime even increases your healing and condi cleansing through various trait synergies.


'''Sigils'''
* You could run {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Cleansing}} and {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Energy}} on both sets if you want more sustain, especially if you're struggling against condition builds.


=== Consumables ===
'''Food'''

There are several viable options:
* {{Food|Spherified Peppercorn-Spiced Oyster Soup}} - this food offers passive damage mitigation and a general stat boost.

* {{Food|Peppered Cured Meat Flatbread}} - keeps the 10% mitigation of the Oyster Soup, but focuses only on your offensive stats.

* {{Food|Bowl of Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew}} - great defensive option with {{Trait|Companion's Defense}} and {{Trait|Rugged Growth}} synergy.
** Budget version: {{Food|Bowl of Meat and Winter Vegetable Stew}}


'''Utility'''
* {{Utility|Magnanimous Tuning Crystal}} - optimal but expensive.
** Budget version: {{Utility|Compact Quality Tuning Crystal}} - comes from Canned Food Crates, way easier to get and barely weaker.


==Usage==

'''Elite specialization basics'''

*Soulbeast allows Rangers to meld/merge with their pet, becoming one. This is done through {{Skill|Beastmode}} which has a 10s CD.

* Traits related to swapping pets now activate upon entering/leaving {{Skill|Beastmode}}.

* Pet related traits and skills such as {{Trait|Poison Master}} continue to function even while merged, but this time you'll be the one who benefits from them, not the pet (although sometimes the effects are lessened).

* Melding with a dead pet and then exiting Beastmode instantly revives them.


'''General'''

* {{Trait|Eternal Bond}} allows you to swap pets while in Beastmode! This makes it significantly easier for you to adapt to any given situation. For example you could use both pets' mobility skills back-to-back while traveling between capture points, or you could quickly swap to Alpine Wolf for the stunbreak even if you're on Bee.
** With this trait you should usually rotate through the abilities of both pets before leaving {{Skill|Beastmode}}.

* Most of your time will be spent in Beastmode, but it's worth unmerging every ~20 seconds so your pets can unload all their CDs before merging again.

*{{Skill|Crippling Shot}} and {{Skill|Double Arc}} should be used a few seconds before entering a fight, preferably while merged with your pet. When used in Beastmode, these give you a buff that makes your next attacks inflict {{Tooltip|Bleeding}} and {{Tooltip|Poison}} - these buffs stay active while the skills continue to recharge.
** This provides a relatively small benefit, but a benefit nonetheless.

* {{Skill|"Strength of the Pack!"}} is more of a defensive skill on this build, used for its {{Tooltip|Stability}}. Using this skill to counter CC allows you to keep {{Skill|Dolyak Stance}} for emergencies.


'''Mobility'''
* {{Skill|Quick Shot}} provides a high amount of {{Tooltip|Swiftness}} uptime, but not permanent. Staying in Beastmode also give you a passive 30% boost, which is basically just as good.
** Quick Shot makes you leap back a bit, which is not ideal when your goal is to move forward faster. To fix this you should consider using the keybind for "about face" in order to perform a 180  degree turn ''before'' using this skill, then turn back around again at the end of the leap.

* Both pets offer mobility skills in Beastmode.


'''Damage'''
* '''Playstyle:''' there aren't any key rotations or combos you need to know for this one, only a few high priority skills to use after CCs. Use CCs to set up burst and play defensively when those aren't available.

* The basic gameplan is simple: CC targets with {{Skill|Crippling Shot}}, {{Skill|Concussion Shot}} (from behind or the sides), {{Skill|Bumble (soulbeast)}} and {{Skill|Brutal Charge (soulbeast canine)}} then spam as many weapon skills on them as possible + the Bee's {{Skill|Stinging Sorrow (soulbeast)}} and {{Skill|Primal Cry}}.
** Use the immob from {{Skill|Crippling Shot}} to root targets into stronger CCs like {{Skill|Concussion Shot}}.

* Merging with the Bee increases your condition damage. Always merge when you're doing bursts.

* Bee's merged F3 {{Skill|Primal Cry}} is your best burst skill. It's both a good followup to CC and potentially also a CC source with {{Tooltip|Taunt}} at the end of the cast if {{Trait|Beastly Warden}} isn't on cooldown. Use it as often as you can, and protect the cast with {{Tooltip|Stability}} if necessary.
** This skill works outside of melee range, making it your most threatening ranged ability that could be used from a safe distance. You could even use it behind walls and pillars to hit enemies on the other side!

* Bee's merged F2 {{Skill|Stinging Sorrow (soulbeast)}} is quite a strong skill too, but has quite a long cast time. Both other Bee skills could be used for the CCs to set this up.

*On bow spamming {{Skill|Crossfire}} from range is a decent filler, especially from behind. Many shortbow skills have increased effectiveness when striking from behind or the sides.

*{{Skill|Poison Volley}} is a cone-shaped attack and should be used in melee range (point-blank) to ensure that all the projectiles hit the main target. This is your highest damage attack on bow, and fits really well into burst combos because of the low cast time, even if the target got out of the CC.

* Dagger/Dagger is filled with fire-and-forget skills that don't require much thought. There are only a few things to note:
** {{Skill|Instinctive Engage}} is a good opener at the start of burst combos. The {{Tooltip|Quickness}} makes it easier to pull off skills with long cast times.
** {{Skill|Double Arc}} will buff your attacks if used in Beastmode.
** If you want to use {{Skill|Stalker's Strike}} offensively, use it after {{Skill|Crippling Talon}} or a CC. That way you'll apply more {{Tooltip|Poison}} stacks.
** {{Skill|Crippling Talon}} is the only ranged skill on this set and can be used for some ranged poking if you're stuck on D/D but don't want to go into melee.

* Swapping to bow procs {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Geomancy}} and {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Doom}}, delivering instant burst damage. Following up with a {{Skill|Poison Volley}} is enough to put some serious pressure on your enemy in no time.


'''Burst combo examples'''

These are merely supposed to give you some ideas, the combos in the build are rather flexible and not set in stone. Just try to maximize CC duration while spamming high damage attacks on enemies and weave in skills with evade frames when they escape the CC.

''Wolf + Shortbow''
:# {{Skill|Brutal Charge (soulbeast canine)}} to knock down the target.
:# Swap pets in Beastmode with F4 (Eternal Bond), you'll gain better offensive stats.
:# {{Skill|Poison Volley}} in melee range.
:# {{Skill|Crippling Shot}} from behind.
:# {{Skill|Concussion Shot}} from behind.
:# {{Skill|Primal Cry}}


''Bee''
:# Start in Beastmode on Bee and the D/D set.
:# {{Skill|Bumble (soulbeast)}} to apply CC. 
:# Weapon swap to {{Tooltip|Shortbow}} for sigil procs in melee. '''Note:''' you may do this at any point before the last step, but the earlier you do it the sooner the sigils can start doing damage. Just don't swap in the middle of casting a skill since that'd interrupt it.
:# {{Skill|Primal Cry}} for conditions and to {{Tooltip|Taunt}} at the end.
:# {{Skill|Stinging Sorrow (soulbeast)}} while the Taunt lasts.
:# {{Skill|Poison Volley}} as a quick followup with high damage.


'''Sustain'''
* You're heavily reliant on CC, evasion and mobility to avoid taking damage. Stance skills and {{Skill|"Protect Me!"}} are there to let you fix some mistakes and patch gaps in your defenses. Once stance CDs have been used you should play much more carefully as you could become an easy target.
** {{Skill|"Protect Me!"}} and {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}} can be used more freely for damage mitigation while other stunbreaks such as Dolyak Stance are available. If only one of these skills is available, keep it for emergencies to serve as a stunbreak.

* Both weapon sets and both pets provide ways to avoid damage (not even counting all the CC):
** Dagger 4 has an evade frame on {{Skill|Stalker's Strike}}.
** Shortbow has an evade frame on {{Skill|Quick Shot}}.
** Bee is more offensive but still has {{Skill|Bumble (soulbeast)}}, which is a rather lengthy CC. It's also  mobility skill you could use to run away.
** Alpine Wolf has {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}} to help you mitigate incoming damage.

*Dodging applies {{Tooltip|Protection}}, which also heals thanks to the trait {{Trait|Rugged Growth}}. When playing with Nature Magic, dodging also removes 1 condition.

* Wolf's {{Skill|Unflinching Fortitude}} is perhaps the most powerful defensive skill in the build. It breaks stuns, grants immunity to direct damage and even cleanses some conditions.

* {{Skill|Dolyak Stance}} is useful in just about any situation. It mitigates both conditon and strike damage, makes you immune to any form of CC, and even cleanses some conditions.

* Condition cleansing is rather limited. {{Skill|Bear Stance}} is more of a last resort for when you've taken too much damage and need to survive. Under heavy pressure use the time while your healing skill is active to disengage and reset fights using your mobility skills.

* {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Cleansing}} is one of your best tools for managing condition levels before having to resort to Bear Stance. Adding it to both sets is definitley worth considering if condi builds are giving you a hard time, or if you're not playing with Nature Magic.

* {{Skill|Griffon Stance}} is basically an extra dodge which improves your endurance regen so you can avoid even more attacks right after. Great skill when you're being pressured and need to play more defensively.

*{{Trait|Unstoppable Union}} grants {{Tooltip|Protection}} and as {{Skill|Beastmode}} has no cast time, this can be used even while CC'd in order to survive enemy burst!


==Related Builds==
* [[Build:Soulbeast_-_Poisonbeast|Soulbeast - Poisonbeast]] - sPvP version of the build.