[PvE] Two ideas to help rifle deadeye.

[ZeftheWicked.3076]

Rifle deadeye is severely lacking means to keep mobs at bay as he snipes them, unlike longbow ranger.
That being said, DE is it's own beast and should handle things his own, less boyscout'ish way...

1. Sniper! Sniper! SNIPER!!!! - Ever notice something missing in our sniper fantasy? Like some minor panic in enemy ranks after someone gets sniped?
    Yeah, me too. Let's fix that, shall we?

    Collateral Damage trait - change blind to fear (2s) + chill(3s) if marked target is killed with your rifle skill.

   This doubles  triples down on sniper fantasy and gives you powerful tool to control whole packs of enemies.
   And with each kill other mobs take more and more damage (trait's splash damage) becoming easier pickings, amplifying the Predator feel of the spec.


2. Just you and me. 

   Shadowflare is a good cantrip all things considered. If we can't kite mobs out like the ranger, then it's fair that we have access to "another snipe spot" via long range shadowstep.
   But it feels unfair that it's tied to a 30s cooldown. Sniping is generally a 1v1 affair where I feel each kill is it's own match and should have same rules applied, including the reposition.

  Shadow Flare - when you kill marked target with rifle skill, this cantrip's cooldown is reset.

 

Edited September 11, 2022 by ZeftheWicked.3076

[Curennos.9307]

You have a retreat teleport on rifle 4, a cripple on standing rifle 2 that comes with swiftness, and an immob/cripple  on kneeling rifle 2.

 

You're also not really intended to try and use rifle as a one-weapon-does-all playstyle - that's why you have another weapon to swap to. You can make it a melee weapon.

 

 I could go for some shadowflare love though.

[ZeftheWicked.3076]

6 minutes ago, Curennos.9307 said:

You have a retreat teleport on rifle 4, a cripple on standing rifle 2 that comes with swiftness, and an immob/cripple  on kneeling rifle 2.
 

You're also not really intended to try and use rifle as a one-weapon-does-all playstyle - that's why you have another weapon to swap to. You can make it a melee weapon.

 

 I could go for some shadowflare love though.

1. All of which are generally 1v1 tools while in PvE you'll most likely have a pack of monsters running at you the moment you even fart in general direction of one of them.

2. Deadeye is supposed to be #1 sniper among all professions and specs. A sniper that has to go into melee all the time is kitten not a sniper. Just look at longbow rangers. They got second weapon sets too. But how often is a good longbow ranger forced to go melee?
Pretty sure almost never. Pet, tons of immobs/cripples, stealth, knockback. Longbow ranger stops going pew pew when he so chooses, not the enemy.

[Curennos.9307]

1 hour ago, ZeftheWicked.3076 said:

1. All of which are generally 1v1 tools while in PvE you'll most likely have a pack of monsters running at you the moment you even fart in general direction of one of them.

2. Deadeye is supposed to be #1 sniper among all professions and specs. A sniper that has to go into melee all the time is kitten not a sniper. Just look at longbow rangers. They got second weapon sets too. But how often is a good longbow ranger forced to go melee?
Pretty sure almost never. Pet, tons of immobs/cripples, stealth, knockback. Longbow ranger stops going pew pew when he so chooses, not the enemy.

Again, it's a thematic thing. That's just now how GW2 combat works where you can camp a single weapon all the time and have an answer to everything and never have to swap out. They are generally 1v1 tools, yes, though both rifle 2 versions pierce, and that's a limitation of the spec it trades for other advantages. Longbow rangers go melee all the time - axe is pretty common, as is greatsword, shortbow (2 skill is best in melee), etc. Rifle also has an extremely easy retreat skill that even does damage and can crit (so it still counts for building malice and your ini sustain through M7).

 

I think the best way to go about this would be to put AoE cripple on standing rifle 4 instead of poison - that would be more thematic to the skill and spec, filling in a gap while not breaking the theme and balance (that is, being single target focused). A lot of things you list ranger as having, thief has as well. Stealth is obvious, Shadow Gust gives knockback and stealth, spammable immob/cripple. Ranger in fact goes into melee more because it's cooldown based and so once the longbow skills are used, it either waits it out or swaps, whereas thief can pewpew as much as it wants and - again - has a *much* easier distance creator in death's retreat. Ofc thief still really probably should swap, but it has a much easier time keeping its range.

Edited September 11, 2022 by Curennos.9307

[ASP.8093]

2 hours ago, ZeftheWicked.3076 said:

1. All of which are generally 1v1 tools while in PvE you'll most likely have a pack of monsters running at you the moment you even fart in general direction of one of them.

If you bottleneck them together, that Immob can keep 4-5 enemies locked down while you make them explode one-by-one. Both Spotter's and Skirmisher's Shot pierce, and they hit hard enough that you can take down lighter enemies with them pretty easily. After you clear the trash the 1v1 skills work great. You also have the option of just switching to Shortbow or Sword if you want more cleaving.

[Ashgar.3024]

It could use some help in group content as it currently lacks any meaningful cleaving potential and Rifle is way too clunky to use on most raid fights.

 

But the kit is actually insane for openworld. If you struggle with mobs reaching you, try a build using Shadow Arts traits and learn how to kite using the About Face camera keybind allowing you to Rifle 4 Forward.

 

If that fails just play P/P with the renewing gaze, be quick or be killed and Invigorating Precision traits and mash Unload lol.

Edited September 12, 2022 by Ashgar.3024