Returning player, need help choosing a main (WvW)

I just returned after a few years (before HoT) and Im completely lost about professions.

Here are some general points so you can help me with my choice =)

• While I play both WvW and PvE, I will be playing mostly WvW.
• In WvW I would go either zerging or in medium/small groups depending on the amount of players in the map but in general I'm a group oriented player so, no roaming (unless I can't find any group lol).
• I don't care about meta or being the best. I only care about not being useless.
• I don't like a hammer as a ranged weapon so hammer revs aren't a choice for me despite being so good (from what I can read in the forums).
• The class should have a "secondary" spec so in case my build get a huge nerf I could still play the class but with a healer/support build or something. But as I said, I enjoy both but I prefer ranged DPS.
• I don't mind doing combos but I dislike overcomplicated combos/rotations (compared to other classes). Usually that make me use the elementalist as a last resort profession when I go full altoholic despite being everything I wante (ranged, aoe, suppor, heal...).

I would like to hear your opinions bout which profession/build should I main.

And what are your opinions about: shortbow or rifle deadeye, longbow soulbeast, shortbow renegade and longbow berserker. Again, for group PvP in WvW.

Thank you in advance!

Bows and rifles in general arent that useful in wvw since they dont bring any significant damage, cc or utility. Most of their damage comes from projectiles too, so it's easily counterable in big fights. LB ranger (soulbeast) and rifle deadeye do have very good single target pressure, so they can be pretty strong in small scale; others you mentioned are pretty underwhelming currently. Besides ele and rev, there isnt any actual ranged build for zergs. Scourge is more of a mid range caster, but it also does quite a lot in melee. Mesmer has strong ranged output on greatsword, but it's mostly single target; it also has very good support/interrupt build for zergs.

Ele, rev and ranger have very strong healing specs, but are not seen often due to firebrand offering a lot more support. New wvw/pvp patch might shake meta builds a bit and bring up some underwhelming ones.

• small scale: ranger, mesmer (dps), thief, necro
• large scale: ele, rev, mesmer (support), necro

@steki.1478 said:Bows and rifles in general arent that useful in wvw since they dont bring any significant damage, cc or utility. Most of their damage comes from projectiles too, so it's easily counterable in big fights. LB ranger (soulbeast) and rifle deadeye do have very good single target pressure, so they can be pretty strong in small scale; others you mentioned are pretty underwhelming currently. Besides ele and rev, there isnt any actual ranged build for zergs. Scourge is more of a mid range caster, but it also does quite a lot in melee. Mesmer has strong ranged output on greatsword, but it's mostly single target; it also has very good support/interrupt build for zergs.

Ele, rev and ranger have very strong healing specs, but are not seen often due to firebrand offering a lot more support. New wvw/pvp patch might shake meta builds a bit and bring up some underwhelming ones.

• small scale: ranger, mesmer (dps), thief, necro
• large scale: ele, rev, mesmer (support), necro

Thank you!

And just one more question, which professions are good for support in WvW besides guardian?

@samathana.1254 said:

@steki.1478 said:Bows and rifles in general arent that useful in wvw since they dont bring any significant damage, cc or utility. Most of their damage comes from projectiles too, so it's easily counterable in big fights. LB ranger (soulbeast) and rifle deadeye do have very good single target pressure, so they can be pretty strong in small scale; others you mentioned are pretty underwhelming currently. Besides ele and rev, there isnt any actual ranged build for zergs. Scourge is more of a mid range caster, but it also does quite a lot in melee. Mesmer has strong ranged output on greatsword, but it's mostly single target; it also has very good support/interrupt build for zergs.

Ele, rev and ranger have very strong healing specs, but are not seen often due to firebrand offering a lot more support. New wvw/pvp patch might shake meta builds a bit and bring up some underwhelming ones.

• small scale: ranger, mesmer (dps), thief, necro
• large scale: ele, rev, mesmer (support), necro

Guardian is the best one since it offers literally everything. Tempest, rev and druid are very strong healers, but besides heals they dont offer as much utility as firebrand so they are mostly seen in small scale or not at all. Chrono falls somewhere between since it has great utility, cc and boon support, but heals are rather weak.

I am looking at swapping from hammer rev to glassbow soulbeast stance-share.

Taking marksmanship for pierce and a couple unblockable buffs so I can rip up the zerglings.