Improving my ranger

Ok, here's the build I currently have:

R/Me
Illusion Magic: 9
Expertise: 8 (9 with rune)
Wilderness Survival: 10 (13 with mask + major rune)
Marksmanship: 10 (11 with rune)

Skills:
Kindle Arrows
Poison Arrow
Conjure Phantasm
Power Shot
Dual Shot
Troll Unguent
Whirling Defense
Res Signet

Basically I start the fight by whacking on Kindle Arrows, for the extra 20 damage per hit. Pick my target, Poison and Phantasm for -9 degeneration. After that I'm just hitting them with Power/Dual shot and recasting Poison/Phantasm when needed, with Unguent and Defense for when someone hits me.

This build has been fine for 4v4 arenas, but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas to improve it.

Some suggestions I've had:
Swap Power Shot with Penetrating Shot
Swap Dual Shot with Hunter's Shot and Phantasm for Epidemic (spread the pain).

This will be much more effective:

Skills:
Signet of Midnight [E]
Kindle Arrows
Conjure Phantasm
Power Shot
Dual Shot
Troll Unguent
Whirling Defense
Res Signet

Do you know how signet of midnight works? Without antidote signet in there as well, you are just as blind as the warrior you used it on...

As for power shot, I'd definitely swap it for penetrating.

1) Penetrating is better than power, no reason not to switch.

2) Epidemic Stinks. The enemies have to be shoulder to shoulder for it to work.

3) How in the world will signet of midnight improve that ranger. Itll make it worse!

Quote: Originally Posted by Neo-LD

Drop Illusion Magic and put those points into Ranger attributes.

Get 4 Beast Mastery and add Tiger's Fury to your lineup.

Drop Whilring Defnese, if you really need a defnesive skill then take Dodge or Dryder's Defenses, since Whirling D won't help you escape from anything but another Ranger or a Warrior. With Dodge you can at least try to get out of casting Ranger.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bast

actually, thats a pretty good build.

the kindle+psn arrow is a great fast way to do dmg and psn ur apponents, and with the conjure phantasm the 9 degen is quite nice.

also, in my opinion the penetrating arrow is a DEFINITE switch, especially if your using a horn bow. i have one with a sundering on it, so 1/10 times i get a total of 40% armor pen which is absolutely devastating (on avg 30% though with Pen Arrow).

also, i would HIGHLY recommend lighting reflexes, because first of all u do not have to take off any points top put into beast mastery (it works off expertise) and its a great way to protect urself while prepping a troll or for an offensive because of the increased attack speed. i use it in conjuction with kindle arrows and pen arrow/dual shot, because u can spam dual and pen arrow for really sick amounts of damage.

also, u want to keep dual shot because of ur kindle flame preparation. this way u get dual 20 fire dmg, plus the dmg of your bow, and it has a fairly fast recharge time.

otherwise nice setup, i hope that helps

I'm encouraging you to experiment.

Think about what you want to do and figure out how to do it with only 7 or 8 skills.

The Poison Arrow was a misread. My eyes read Poison Arrow, my brain said Apply Poison. However, it matters little because they're both trash. Woo~!

Well, fun new update.
Just had a few hours' experiment in 4v4, and here's something that's worked well:

Same stats as before, but in 9 BM instead of Illusion.

Kindle Arrows
Tiger's Fury
Poison Arrow
Penetrating Shot
Hunter's Shot/Dual Shot/Distracting Shot (Depending on what I want to do)
Troll Unguent
Dryder's Defenses
Res Signet

Sort of removes the degeneration theme, but it's working well. May need to get a Half Moon to make full use of Tiger's Fury though.

Peanut, you may do just a little better with the mineral springs shortbow as second weapon set, rather than that crappy purple longbow I sold you.

Just wondered why you have Dryder's defense. Rangers already have superb armor against elements, and it doesn't last long for the recharge time to warrant its inclusion in the build...

@ Bast: Jesus forgives you