Guild Wars 2recently releasedEnd of Dragons, and with it, nine new Elite specializations. Each of the new Elite Specializations adds a unique spin on how the nine professions are played, complete with a new mechanic, a new weapon proficiency, and new skills.
RELATED:Guild Wars 2: End Of Dragons – How To Unlock The Raptor
TheUntamedis the new Elite specialization for theRanger profession. It gains proficiency withhammersfor maximum damage and disruption in close environs and gains access to newcantrip skillsand theUnleashmechanic. Though the Ranger is a medium armor-wearing Adventurer profession inGuild Wars 2, the Untamed brings heavy hits and unparalleled survivability to a class that otherwise thrives as a mid-range, evasive opponent.
Best Specialization Builds For The Untamed
The Untamed’s core mechanic is calledUnleash–a buff bounced between the Ranger and their pet. AnUnleashed pethas its abilities transformed intodebilitating AoE attacks, while anUnleashed Rangercan activate anUnleashed Ambush–a powerful upgrade to their basic weapon skill–immediately after Unleashing.The Elite specialization operatesbyUnleashing their pet and themselves back and forth, functioning similarly to switching weapons and pets.
The other minor traits of the Untamed areNatural FortitudeandVow of the Untamed. The former grants bonusVitalityandlife stealon theirUntamed Ambush, while the latter givesbonus damagewhileUnleashedanddamage reductionwhile theirpet is Unleashed.
For major traits, building around becoming an unstoppable force of nature complements this particularEnd of DragonsElite specializationbest.Nature’s Shieldgrants a small health barrier for eachCantripskill used, whileCleansing Unleashremoves 2 conditionswhenever the Ranger or their petUnleashes. Lastly,Restorative Strikesheals the Ranger for apercentage of their strike damage, further increasing their survivability and synergizing with its minor traits.
TheWilderness Survivalspecialization is a good companion to the Untamed Elite specialization. The minor traits allow a Ranger to dodge roll more, and grant Protection and healing while doing so. TheTaste for Dangertrait can grant additionalVitalityand Expertise for even more survivability, while theShared AnguishandEmpathic Bondtraits allow a pet totake disablesand share conditions with the Ranger.
Finally, theBeastmasteryspecialization complements the pet-focused Untamed perfectly. The minor traitsincrease a pet’s abilities, making theirUnleashed skillseven more devastating. For major traits,Potent AllygrantsMightto the Ranger or pet when the otherscores a critical hit, andTwo-Handed Traininggives a boost togreatswordskills and grantsFurywhenever afoe is disabled.
Lastly,Zephyr’s SpeedgivesQuickness and movement speedwheneverswitching pets–which should be done frequentlyto maximize buff uptime and ability cooldownsfor most Ranger builds inGuild Wars 2.
Best Equipment And Stats For The Untamed
The Untamed has free range of theRanger profession’s normal weapons, as each one gets a uniqueUnleashed Ambush, but the Untamed-specifichammergains awider variety of unique abilitieswhile Unleashed, making it a natural pick. As the Untamed shines when in the thick of combat, a melee weapon withheavy damageanddisablesis a prime pick, making thegreatswordthe perfect companion to the debilitating hammer.
As far as statistics are concerned, the Untamed should focus on increasing theirPowerandVitality, with a healthy amount ofPrecisionandFerocityas well.Toughness, Expertise,andConcentrationcan’t hurt but aren’t the focus of this build.
For this reason,Maraudergear is a powerful choice, as it gives a high amount of Power and Precision, and lesser amounts of Vitality and Ferocity. This lends tomore critical hitsfor more Might stacks withPotent Allyand more strike damage forRestorative Strike’s life steal.
RELATED:Guild Wars 2: End Of Dragons – How To Unlock The Springer
Though severalRunesets can shine on Untamed armor sets, theSuperior Rune of Vampirismis a powerful choice. In addition to a healthy package of Power and Vitality, it also grants apassive 10% heal on a killing blow. With a health pool that can easily reach over 30,000, healing for3000 health after each killis significant, especially when paired with its other sources of life drain.
Sigilsthat grant astacking buff on killsare especially powerful, as they can be preserved with the Untamed’s insane survivability. TheSuperior Sigil of Perceptionis a powerful pick for thegreatsword, allowing for quick kills to stack 250 bonusPrecision, which should raise their critical chance toover 70%–or90%withFury.
For thehammer, theSuperior Sigil of Blood heals on critical hits, which will happen just about every 5-second cooldown. For the second Sigil slots for each weapon, aSuperior Sigil of Strengthis a great pick, as it grantsMighton the frequentcritical hitsthe Untamed will score.
Best Skills And Pets For The Untamed
Many of theskillsavailableto the Untamed can make for powerful picks, but their specialization-specificCantripssynergize with it perfectly, especially with the barrier granted fromNature’s Shieldand thesituational buffsthey give based onwho is Unleashed.
ThePerilous Gifthealing skill is a strong emergency button that makes theminvincible for 3 seconds, and then healshalfof the Untamed’smissing hit pointsfrom its massive health pool. For utility skills,Unnatural Traversal,Nature’s Binding, andExploding Sporesmake a devastating combo, allowing the Untamed to engage, trap, and devastate them with a powerful AoE attack. The Might and Swiftness granted by these skills while the Ranger is Unleashed will ensure whoever is stuck within the Untamed’s cage will feel the wrath of nature.
TheMutate Conditionscantrip is useful, butnot necessaryfor this build, as it has other mechanics to mitigate conditions.
The CantripElite Skill,Forest’s Fortification, is a powerful defensive cooldown thatreduces incoming damage by 50%along with granting other buffs, making it a perfect skill for the unkillable Untamed.
For Rangers,choosing the rightpetis as important as choosing the right skills. Thoughall pets share the same Unleashed skills, their normal abilities will still be useful for the intervals when the Ranger is Unleashed.
The bestoffensiveoptions for the Untamed are theJungle StalkerorTigerfeline pets, with their AoE Might and Fury buffs. Fordefensiveoptions,Moasmake for strong choices, as they share an AoE heal, withBlackandPink Moashaving a dazing debuffandRed Moashaving anAoE Fury buff. Lastly, theBrown Bearis a solid choice as well, with extreme survivability and the ability to cure conditions on itself and nearby allies.
Having all of these pets on hand is wise, so Untamed Rangers can change them out depending on their needs, though the best strategy is to have1 offensive and 1 defensivepet equipped at any given time.
The Untamed gives the Ranger access to an aggressive and disruptive playstylenormally reserved for Warrior professions inGuild Wars 2. By snowballing into an unstoppable, self-healing heavy-hitter, an Untamed can persevere through all but the most unrelenting of assaults and can trap and punish any enemies who get in their way.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragonsis available now on PC.
MORE:Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons - A Digital Tour of New Kaineng City, the Jadepunk Heart of Cantha
