New player needs help deciding class

[Zlaraki.8945]

I think this is the first time I created a topic regarding mmo class selection. Like this game confuses me so hard. Sure I found my answers on google but it seems a lil dated so I would preferably like to compare the data.

Im a really bad player to start of. Im looking for a easy going class. I can press around 9 buttons while moving at best. The fact that this game sorta forces everyone to go melee in order to be competitive is not helping my case. Its much harder to move and chase your target while spamming abilities than ranged.

 

So in short. Im looking for a class that doesnt require me to play a piano, 9 buttons max, the lower the better. Preferably a dps class.

 

I understand its hard to ask for a competitive build in these conditions, but try to give suggestions that wont result in me getting kicked a lot from parties.

 

Im looking forward to all your suggestions.

 

Edit: Im open for both melee and ranged classes.

Edited May 29, 2021 by Zlaraki.8945

[cloudsareyum.8120]

Maybe ranger? I think ranger is pretty straightforward with the longbow and all.

But really, if it were me I would just pick something arbitrary and see how I enjoy it in the game, and delete the character later 🙂 and try the others.  

 

 

Staff Mesmer is also nice for doing ranged stuff , but does require some piano playing.  I would say ranger. 

 

You're not going to be kicked from parties unless you go into groups that ask for specific builds on high level fractals or go into raids, I think.   Off the top of my head i'm not familiar with a specific long-range build for those types of things since we all wind up stacking on top of each other anyway, but yeah.  Every base class is useful for -something-/ has a competitive build for game content if you have the expacs, it's just that sometimes it's the elite classes (with expac) or something that are popular and the playstyle is different. you don't really need to go too hard and worry too much.   Having lots of boons help, and pretty much every class has a way to have lots of boons. i'm a dang casual however.

 

iirc, base class ranger is nice in pvp too.   

[Malitias.8453]

I think this might be interesting for you.

[Zlaraki.8945]

9 minutes ago, Malitias.8453 said:

I think this might be interesting for you.

 

Ive read about Engen and they tend to be on the heavy side of learning. Ill give this a consideration. thanks

10 minutes ago, cloudsareyum.8120 said:

Maybe ranger? I think ranger is pretty straightforward with the longbow and all.

But really, if it were me I would just pick something arbitrary and see how I enjoy it in the game, and delete the character later 🙂 and try the others.  

 

 

Staff Mesmer is also nice for doing ranged stuff , but does require some piano playing.  I would say ranger. 

 

You're not going to be kicked from parties unless you go into groups that ask for specific builds on high level fractals or go into raids, I think.   Off the top of my head i'm not familiar with a specific long-range build for those types of things since we all wind up stacking on top of each other anyway, but yeah.  Every base class is useful for -something-/ has a competitive build for game content if you have the expacs, it's just that sometimes it's the elite classes (with expac) or something that are popular and the playstyle is different. you don't really need to go too hard and worry too much.   Having lots of boons help, and pretty much every class has a way to have lots of boons. i'm a dang casual however.

 

iirc, base class ranger is nice in pvp too.   

 

Im not only looking for ranged, melee are acceptable as wel. Ranger is actualy my favorite class in other mmo, but its a real letdown seeing some sites recommend melee rangers. Like who thought it was a good idea to make rangers and so called mages elementalists go melee? I think thats a rant for another day.

[cloudsareyum.8120]

2 minutes ago, Zlaraki.8945 said:

 

Ive read about Engen and they tend to be on the heavy side of learning. Ill give this a consideration. thanks

 

Im not only looking for ranged, melee are acceptable as wel. Ranger is actualy my favorite class in other mmo, but its a real letdown seeing some sites recommend melee rangers. Like who thought it was a good idea to make rangers and so called mages elementalists go melee? I think thats a rant for another day.

I think with all the classes, gw2 is designed so you can kind of play it however you favor, really.  For me, the fun of playing the characters i favor all how to do with the look and feel.   I enjoy that the classes are pretty flexible on how one prefers to play 'em. 

 

So almost every class can do ranged or melee as you would prefer.    I do think ranged is the most simple (and engis are nice too, in that the utility skills you can just put down a bunch of things.) 

 

Once you can get levels for pvp, you can pretty much bring every character/class into pvp lobby and get access to all the skills and see how you enjoy using them and stuff.   Even if you don't pvp, they have dummies and npc so you can familiarize yourself with whatever playstyle/rotation you favor. 

 

 

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

I play a Core Ranger and I rarely melee, and I have no problem completing content.  I don't, however, do Raids or high-level Fractals or sPvP.  I do play everything else.  Strike Missions, DRMs, WvW, Story Missions, World Bosses, etc., etc.

 

I don't use the keyboard for movement, so I don't have to use very many keys, either. 

 

Playing a ranged Ranger should not be a problem. 

[Zlaraki.8945]

1 minute ago, cloudsareyum.8120 said:

I think with all the classes, gw2 is designed so you can kind of play it however you favor, really.  For me, the fun of playing the characters i favor all how to do with the look and feel.   I enjoy that the classes are pretty flexible on how one prefers to play 'em. 

 

So almost every class can do ranged or melee as you would prefer.    I do think ranged is the most simple (and engis are nice too, in that the utility skills you can just put down a bunch of things.) 

 

Once you can get levels for pvp, you can pretty much bring every character/class into pvp lobby and get access to all the skills and see how you enjoy using them and stuff.   Even if you don't pvp, they have dummies and npc so you can familiarize yourself with whatever playstyle/rotation you favor. 

 

 

 

So here is what I was planning before I made this topic. I heard staff DD are incredible easy, as well as deadeye sniper. So assisin would be a way to go until I get better at the game. Maybe later I can try something thats meta. So my questions is, how hard is meta assasins build (apm) compared to easy builds?

[Zlaraki.8945]

23 minutes ago, Inculpatus cedo.9234 said:

I play a Core Ranger and I rarely melee, and I have no problem completing content.  I don't, however, do Raids or high-level Fractals or sPvP.  I do play everything else.  Strike Missions, DRMs, WvW, Story Missions, World Bosses, etc., etc.

 

I don't use the keyboard for movement, so I don't have to use very many keys, either. 

 

Playing a ranged Ranger should not be a problem. 

Im considering just to go for ranger. What are your impressions on soulbeast? How does the pet system work? Do I have to use his skills or is it automated?

[cloudsareyum.8120]

4 minutes ago, Zlaraki.8945 said:

Im considering just to go for ranger. What are your impressions on soulbeast? How does the pet system work? Do I have to use his skills or is it automated?

 

Soulbeast can output a lot of damage in PvE with boons.  Can't tell you personally about SB, since I don't have it unlocked yet, but two of my friends adore SB.  I've heard tho sometimes it's tricky to adjust since you merge with pet so your pet isn't tanking for you usually.

your pet tanks for you.  You can use one of your pet's skills, and the rest of the skills are automated.  You find new pets by finding juvenile animals all over tyria.

[ZeftheWicked.3076]

Play necro with scourge elite spec.

To get max value outta it you will need to press a lotta buttons (shade skills), which is a no-no for you, but he has work arounds and powerful rewards if you're willing to swallow that pill.

Your rewards for picking up scourge:
 

1. Easy healing - scourge as a healer is easy to use, easiest of all dedicated healing specs. As long as you provide your party with big fat shields and revives (which he excels at) you are doing your job and don't need piano playing skills to get into end game content groups. He is known as hard carry support for pugs where deaths happen and he prevents them better than anyone else.

 

2. Full damage at range - condi necro has no melee weapons at all. And scourge even adds to that by adding shades -  zones of influence that he can put down from distance and have them do their work (including damage) without forcing him to approach. With exception of being near enough your allies to get buffs (like quickness), scourge can unload his full damage at range just fine, a rarity in this game's design where most long ranged weapon options mean less dps.

3. Durable - necro is generally beefy and you can get a lot of defense from his passives and building him proper, rather then having to rely on reflexes and having pressed your panic button on time (though he has these too). Your job is to ress others if things go south and naturally you are to be the last man standing for this. They didn't forget that when making necro 😉

The endgame for scourge is combining healer aspect with condi one. There you will be pressing a lot of buttons (shades) as they are responsible for majority of both your support play and damage play. The better you get at it, the more damage you'll squeeze out while supporting your allies.
But as mentioned, it's not an iron must for you to do end game content and get results.

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by ZeftheWicked.3076

[cloudsareyum.8120]

45 minutes ago, Zlaraki.8945 said:

 

So here is what I was planning before I made this topic. I heard staff DD are incredible easy, as well as deadeye sniper. So assisin would be a way to go until I get better at the game. Maybe later I can try something thats meta. So my questions is, how hard is meta assasins build (apm) compared to easy builds?

 

I don't know, really. Hope someone else can answer this. I'll tell you what I do know in hopes it helps.

 

So I'm not an expert, since i'm out of date on cm roles and raids (don't really do raids), so I hope someone else answers this question too in regards to meta for cms and raids.  I'm going to discuss meta in terms of what I know, which is PvE high damage (for convenience), Fractals, pvp.  I can't really answer you for raids or challenge motes, so hopefully someone comes along who can.

 

So, the deeps I've seen people ask for two years ago in challenge mote fractals and raids were mirage mesmers (super button spammy) and thieves (less button spammy.)   Healers and buffers are also in demand, and guardians (elite class- firebrand).

 

In terms of fractals that aren't challenge mote, usually it doesn't really matter.  You can choose whichever class you want, theyll take it.

 

From personal experience, in regards to PvE, as long as you get a ton of boons and certain damage dealing traits, you do a lot of damage regardless of what class you prefer.  So the amount of damage you do with a good traitlines/stats/build rotation isn't that dissimilar from the base (it doesn't feel that way because by the time you're there you get familiar with the class anyway.)  It feels like the same style gameplay really, with slight modifications XD.  Ease tends to be a matter of opinion. I think that thief (since you mentioned the two thief elite specs being interested in before) and ranger could fit, ranger is very straightforward and is the least button spammy, thief is a little more button spammy but it's still all right.    I think ranger is safer than thief tho because you have a pet to tank, and thief I get downed a lot due to squishbiscuit stats and not having any fakebodies/pets/elementals/other sundry meatshields.    It can be actually easier once you have a strong build/meta-based build, because you do more damage.  (But meta builds tend to be templates, not necessarily the one that would fit you best.)

from personal experience, deadeye for me is tricky to use in PvE, but really fun in PvP.  However in PvP it does require me tapping some buttons quite quickly to run away, tho it's not smashkeyboard button spammy.   Daredevil is nice and doesn't die easily in PvE.  Daredevil is a great duelist in PvP and usually for me very button spammy, as button spammy as my mirage duelist.  Ranger is very little button spammy in PvE, and with boonbuild can pack a punch.

 

If you want something that will be useful, both base thieves and mesmers have portals, which can be useful for helping others with jumping puzzles, and other things.

 

button spammy level imo of classes:
 

Base mesmer - slow-medium button spammy, good damage in PvP, good in PvE. Portal and Fakebodies to tank, does not die easily as long as you have a staff.   Lots of use of utility skills spam. 

  Mirage - very button spammy , good damage in PvP and PvE, & same as above

  Chrono - very button spammy and complex. Lots of use of utility skills spam.  Tank with active damage, gives buffs to team/helps group deeps, high demand in fractals. & same as above I have more difficulty with chrono than mirage and mesmer and die more due to not properly using my active defenses, but mirage fits my playstyle more.

 

Elementalist - very button spammy, very very good damage, squishbiscuit that dies easily.  Can adapt to a ranger-less-buttonmashing type playstyle.   Weaver  & tempest are similarly button mashy.

 

Necro - very button spammy. elite classes are also moderately button mashy. scourges have portals

 

Base thief - squishy, I get downed a lot, not as button spammy, but still somewhat button mashy.  Can be a duelist or group fighter in PvP depending on build.   Has an extra mechanic to it (initiative).

  Daredevil - tanky, duels well.  Moderately button spammy in pve (you use a lot of skills, but you can do it kind of slow)

  Deadeye - dies a lot in PvE/can't utilize it as high as in PvP  (I use a lot of buttons in PvP, and I die if i don't use buttons in PvE)

 

Ranger - not button spammy at all, regardless of the builds, unless playing druid.  Has a pet to tank and a minigame to capture pets. 

  Soulbeast - like ranger, a bit more melee, can bring the boons or play it like base ranger. I don't know that much about the spam level of soulbeast. good damage. Boonbeast was in demand but now I'm not certain if it is.

   Druid - oscillates between extremely button spammy and not so much. Extremely button spammy. high demand

 

Engineer - not very button spammy but still as button spammy as thief for me.  lots of passive bots to help kill monsters for you

  Holosmith - very button spammy

  The other one - pretty button spammy, good duelist, quite tankie.

 

Guardian - button spammy, lots of healing. Don't have elites yet so no opinion on them.

 

Warrior - button spammy, squishbiscuit, get downed a lot.  You are squishy melee deeps. PoF spec makes you into a better duelist/and tricky to kill in PvP and probably elsewhere.  active defenses.

 

Revenant - base rev not so button spammy, but has an extra mechanic it takes getting used to.  Elite are similar, but more button mashing.

 

 

i really do rec ranger to you because you're a first timer who doesn't want to button mash too much, you can pick up the other classes and adapt them to your playstyle (you can probably adapt every class to not so button mashy), but it's easier to do that once one is more familiar with the game mechanics, everything in ranger is very deliberate and not button mashy, no extra mechanics, and with the exception of druid and using a greatsword for damage dealing , you can pretty much output great damage and stuff without having to faceroll your keyboard.  I typed this before you mentioned you'd probably try ranger, but i hope this helps as well. 

Edited May 29, 2021 by cloudsareyum.8120

[Zlaraki.8945]

Incredible insight. Thanks for all the comments. Ill go for a ranger and if I notice its too easy and get bored ill hop on another one. 

[Sobx.1758]

1 hour ago, Zlaraki.8945 said:

 

Ive read about Engen and they tend to be on the heavy side of learning. Ill give this a consideration. thanks

 

Im not only looking for ranged, melee are acceptable as wel. Ranger is actualy my favorite class in other mmo, but its a real letdown seeing some sites recommend melee rangers. Like who thought it was a good idea to make rangers and so called mages elementalists go melee? I think thats a rant for another day.

Why do you care what "some sites recommend"? Play what you want or stop complaining about problems you create for yourself. Checking meta builds can help if you don't know where to start with yours, but nobody said you need to stick to few builds made by someone else.

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Sobx.1758

[Pirogen.9561]

This is for PvE, Open World, story line missions.

 

Does need to push some buttons, but you don't need to be a mutant with lots of extra fingers:

- Shortbow Renegade. Condi, Trailblazer gear. This one counts as PvE OW meta.

- Staff Mirage. Condi, Trailblazer gear.
- Flamethrower Scraper. Power, Marauder gear. Maybe new and improved Celestial gear would also work.

 

All 3 work. Its more about what kind of playstyle you like. Do you want to: pew-pew, blast or burn stuff.

 

 

[Farohna.6247]

Soulbeast is fun, easy to play.  Not a lot of buttons.  There are builds that utilize melee and long bow as your weapons, swap as needed.  Ranged weapons have poorer sustained damage.  Rangers are notorious for hitting 4, which is a knock back.  Don't do that to the melee.  They won't like you.  They being said, very useful in open world, personal story, that kind of thing. 

 

Easier to say what profession would be the hardest for your limited buttons....you'll want avoid elementalist, possibly engineer.   The others really aren't bad.  All take a little practice.  Have fun and try different ones.