Returning player, class help

[Vaux.7502]

I'm coming back to the game after a 4+ year hiatus, and looking for some feedback on which class to play.  I like playing the highly mobile and bursty role of a roamer (both in WvW and PvP), and I've narrowed down my options to GS/LB Ranger (Core or SB?) or power Mirage.  I really enjoy both of these class fantasies/playstyles, so it's really down to these to classes and builds.

 

Please don't give advice on recommending thief or a different mesmer build, etc. - I'm the kind of player that plays one character in MMOs and typically focus on a single build and I want to play one of these two.  I know Ranger is much more meta right now and Mirage is a bit nerfed, especially in PvP, but just looking for people's overall pros and cons of each.  I keep going back and forth between the two and am really struggling to pick one over the other, so looking for something to nudge me in a direction.

[Azure The Heartless.3261]

12 minutes ago, Vaux.7502 said:

I'm coming back to the game after a 4+ year hiatus, and looking for some feedback on which class to play.  I like playing the highly mobile and bursty role of a roamer (both in WvW and PvP), and I've narrowed down my options to GS/LB Ranger (Core or SB?) or power Mirage.  I really enjoy both of these class fantasies/playstyles, so it's really down to these to classes and builds.

 

Please don't give advice on recommending thief or a different mesmer build, etc. - I'm the kind of player that plays one character in MMOs and typically focus on a single build and I want to play one of these two.  I know Ranger is much more meta right now and Mirage is a bit nerfed, especially in PvP, but just looking for people's overall pros and cons of each.  I keep going back and forth between the two and am really struggling to pick one over the other, so looking for something to nudge me in a direction.

 

You might want GS/LB Ranger to lean to that roaming need. Power mirage has a build that can fit this role, but it's not as consistent as GS/LB Ranger. Core and Soulbeast both offer variants that lend themselves to that role as well, and it's also more forgiving/easier to learn than Power mirage at this time.

 

If you want to get to performing at a competitive baseline quickly, I'd go with ranger/a ranger variant for roaming. If you want to throw something at people that they may not expect in exchange for taking significantly longer to master the build, then power mirage is your bet. It's rare to see power mirages currently because the build is hard to play, but they're usually often terrifying because they've played exclusively that/power shatter variants for long periods of time. 

 

Quote

Please don't give advice on recommending thief or a different mesmer build, etc. - I'm the kind of player that plays one character in MMOs and typically focus on a single build and I want to play one of these two. 

 

I feel that~ 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Azure The Heartless.3261

[Vaux.7502]

1 hour ago, Azure The Heartless.3261 said:

 

You might want GS/LB Ranger to lean to that roaming need. Power mirage has a build that can fit this role, but it's not as consistent as GS/LB Ranger. Core and Soulbeast both offer variants that lend themselves to that role as well, and it's also more forgiving/easier to learn than Power mirage at this time.

 

If you want to get to performing at a competitive baseline quickly, I'd go with ranger/a ranger variant for roaming. If you want to throw something at people that they may not expect in exchange for taking significantly longer to master the build, then power mirage is your bet. It's rare to see power mirages currently because the build is hard to play, but they're usually often terrifying because they've played exclusively that/power shatter variants for long periods of time. 

 

 

I feel that~ 

 

Thanks, appreciate the feedback.  Is there a big difference in playstyle between core and SB?  Trying to understand why people pick one over the other, as both variants seem strong, but I'm not sure what the benefits of each is.