R/any Partner in Heresy

Using a combination of Marksmanship and Beast Mastery, this build demonstrates how a Ranger and his/her pet can work together effectively. This is a PvE build used for soloing or working with henchmen and heroes. Skills from both Prophecies and Factions are required.

Attributes and skills

Equipment

Druid's Armor for the extra Energy
Sundering or Vampiric Longbow, depending on taste, with +15% damage (when Health above 50%) and customized for an additonal +20% damage.
A Hearty animal companion. In this build, the pet does damage via conditions; extra hit points (from a Hearty pet) are more valuable than extra damage (from a Dire pet).

Usage

The key to this build is working with your pet. This can be challenging due to the awkward nature of the pet AI, but with practice, you can anticipate your pet's actions, and use them to your advantage.

When initiating combat, cast Call of Protection and Read the Wind, followed by Penetrating Attack and Savage Shot on your intended target. This gives a quick spike of damage, and sends your well-protected pet into the fray. Just as your pet reaches the enemy, use Poisonous Bite to initiate degen.

Once the enemy is close to death (say, with only 10% of their health remaining), switch to a new target with your bow, leaving your pet and degen to kill the original opponent.

Use Heal as One whenever you or your pet gets below 75% health. This is a cheap spike heal that affects both you and your pet. If you get into a situation where enemies are overwhelming your ability to heal, run away to fight again another day.

When soloing, do not take on more than three or four enemies at a time. Carefully pulling will help you avoid being overwhelmed.

Counters

This build lacks a good defense against degen, and is ineffective against enemies that do not bleed or react to poison. See "Variants" for solutions.

Variants

The Optional skill allows you to adjust for specific situations. For example, Pounce and Bestial Mauling work well against undead, while you can counter spellcasters using Bestial Pounce or Disrupting Lunge. Using Predator's Pounce gives your pet a self-heal, and can help counter degen on your companion.
When playing with humans (or henchmen who can actually heal!), Heal as One can be replaced by Resurrection Signet or Antidote Signet. Doing this frees you to use a different elite skill as well.
Consider using Toxicity to increase the degen from your pet's Poisonous Bite.
When playing with Nightfall skills, consider using Crossfire or Screaming Shot in place of Penetrating Attack
Consider playing as an R/Mo and use Mending Touch to remove conditions.

Notes

The "heresy" part of the build name comes from the common (and mistaken) belief that pets are only useful to bunny thumpers and pure Beast Masters. Also, this build uses a Hearty Pet, and an oft-unloved Elite (Heal as One), and two superior runes - all of which fly in the face of conventional wisdom. However, the build does work very well everywhere from Lornar's Pass to Mourning Veil Falls, and it can solo many areas with level 20+ monsters, such as parts of the Crystal Desert.

See Also

Pet aggro model