Is a ranger capable of holding his own without pets?

[Blahzie]

I hate pets. I really do. I don't know why... I just do.

But I really want to play a ranger. To that end, I've begun wondering whether to play a ranger, but all the ranger discussion seems to involve conjuring wolves and such.

So has anyone developed a ranger build that is viable without the wolves?

Or should I just look to another secondary mastery?

Thanks.

Edit: I'll be using spear and bow with equal attention should I go this route.

[nuts]

Hmm. I love pets irl, but not ingame. I prefer to die due to my own screwups and not because of some silly pathing/agro issues from some furry animals that's supposed to be my companion (or those without fur, for that matters).

So I chose the trapless brigand as my main and died alot when I get mobbed. It's fun, it's viable and suicidal when you get careless (in legendary mode).

If you want spear and bow, imo rogue is a pretty good combo to go with.

[jog]

I'm playing a ranger, using only Heart of Oak and Regrowth as the nature part. She is now in Egypt Legendary, deaths: zero. Does that answer your question? ;)

[UnDefiler]

Yes. Definitely.

My ranger with max Heart of Oak and the resist synergy, one point in refresh, has pretty much everything else in the Hunting tree.

Breezed through Legendary with about 6k hp, with insane ranged dps. Melee fell before they ever touched me, usually. Ranged needed a little dodging, not hard with my 166% movespeed. Helps that I have 33% melee dodge and some 50% ranged evasion too. Herbal Remedy gave me a steady 30-50 regen even back from late normal, which is HUGE for a ranged who doesn't take much dmg anyway.

You'll probably want a point or two in Ensnare for some orange monsters, if you're going this build. I didn't get lure, but some people swear by it's effectiveness. Do you count it as a pet? =P

Mobbed? I'm happy when that happens, a quick dodge out, and a Volleyed Puncturing Scattershot leaves bodies falling everywhere.

Only thing you have to worry about is stuff that charges at you... eg. Draconian Lancers, hate them. Can't do much but kite, unless you have lure...


edit: Regrowth, hmm, I didn't particularly like it personally, because I had almost everything in STR and DEX, with 70ish int + some armor buffs. Between Heart (2 energy/sec) and Art of the Hunt (1energy/sec) and Marksmanship, my mana was visibly going down with every shot, haha. Didn't have anything left to spam Regrowth...barely had enough to perma-Call of the Hunt when I needed it=P

[Viperace]

Legendary difficulty is not going to go easy with you. With pet(s) or without pet(s) make a whole big difference!

Since mobs hit very hard, you rather want them to hit your pet not you.

[Sapphire]

If you have very good dps the only mobs pets are super helpful for are those with a charge attack or very fast run speed.

[Felexitus]

or pets with a buff that gives you +15% total speed and +70% damage. thats why people take the wolves

[Paksiw]

Click me please :P (http://www.titancalc.com/TitanCalc.asp?mastery=Ranger&master1=4&master2=7&m1=32-0-0-12-0-0-8-0-0-8-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-8-0-0-0&m2=32-0-0-6-12-10-0-0-8-0-6-8-12-0-8-10-6-0-6-12-6-0)

It's been a few days since I've even fired up TQ but I was playing around with TitanCalc.

No pets unless you count the inanimate lure, no refresh.

For Perma-hunt, would look for -% recharge and I wanted to play a plague build. Group a mob with lure (and I hear lure is TOUGH to kill in Legendary) drop a plague and sent forth arrows for great justice. Viable?

[Felexitus]

yes but why do you bother with plague? it doesnt reduce pierce resistance and thats mainly the damage you deal
plague wants wolves! well at least it doesnt really want a ranger

[Carney_Folk]

I tried the Plague build, it seemed decent, but not as helpful as pets. Plague is good against larger groups of mobs but almost worthless vs small groups and worthless against single mobs. I am currently trying a few builds without pets to see how they hold up (After taking numerous deaths in legendary in act 3 i decided the standard pet build was more trouble for me then it was worth). I miss the pet buff (call of the wild) but the extra points i was able to place in other skills helped cover the gap some and I did not have to rely on the randomness of the cast. Since moving away from pets i completed legendary but i still have yet to find a build that really clicks with me. I still have a few options however. Also I need to improve my gear somewhat, farming legendary typhon will hopefully alleviate that problem.

Regards,
Carney_Folk

Gustav Fenris
55 Ranger