I thought I'd post how I like to play and level my three favorite classes here, the Ranger, Elementalist and the Arcane Warrior, I know there are other guides out there I haven't scoured the Forum to see if each of these exact build already exists.
2 First Blood
3 Long Shot
4 Archers Lance
5 Fury of the Storm
6 Evade
7 Hidden Step
8 Chain Reaction
9 Cripple
10 Look like it hurt / Dance of death
11 Cheap Shot
12 Bloodied Prey
13 Opportunity Knocks
14 Strafing Shots
15 Gaps in the Armor
16 Mark of Death
17 Mark of Doom
18 Throat Cutter
19 Disable
20 And Take Them Down
Reasoning behind skill choices
Longshot is your best friend as a ranger it is the highest priority to get this skill with the upgrade Archers Lance as soon as possible, archers lance makes you bow into a bouncing Railgun. If you are further than 15 m from your target it is just as good as full draw even against single targets, I say this because full draw only is useful as an opener and since Archers Lance is a better opener seeing as it can damage more than one foe I see no real use for full draw.
Evade is a skill that is easily overlooked at first, most think "Ill just go with Leaping shot instead" what they don't consider is the cooldown and stamina cost. Evade cost 20 mana, only has 2 second cooldown AND you can dodge easily in any direction this makes this skill a must have for any ranger that doesn't want to die as soon as enemies looks at them. With Hidden step you can as a bonus deal damage to chasing foes as well.
Look like it hurt or Dance of Death are important skills to get one of rather early as they will provide you with some stamina recovery, personally I prefer Look like it hurt.
Opportunity Knocks is another important passive you should try to get next it lowers your cooldowns and allows your to spam you skills more frequently.
Mark of Death is the last active skill for my build this skill is good against any stronger foe like bosses with the upgrade it lowers their armor as well its pretty much double damage for 8 seconds, it is IMO too good to pass up.
The last 3 skills are really only a matter of taste I prefer going for increased party crits and increased damage to damaged foes.
Playstyle
When you play Archer you always stand in the back or near your party's Keeper/Elementalist who will provide you with barrier when you are in need if they are any good.
You try to target foes in the front and place yourself so that you have a line of enemies behind it to make maximum use of Longshot.
When you are chased you use Evade and Explosive shot.
Explosive shot is also very good when foes cluster up if you play with an arcane warrior with pull of the abyss for instance.
Place yourself so that you always have an escape plan for Evade if you should get chased.
Equipment
get a bow with high DPS uppgrade it with increase critical chance/cunning or some critical damage works too. If you can find a high damage bow with some kind of healing mechanism you are set.
If you have Long Shot ring use it, rest of the slots focus on either Cunning or increased survivability like +hp.
2 Wild Fire
3 Peaceful Aura
4 Winter Stillness
5 Guardian Spirit
6 Barrier
7 Elegant Defense
8 Conductive Current
9 Flash point
10 Clean Burn
11 Wall of fire
12 Pyromancer
13 Firestorm
14 Death Siphon
15 Lasting Flames
16 Strength of Spirits
17 Gathering Storm
18 Stormbringer
19 Defiant
20 Control of the elements
Reasoning behind skill choices
Immolate, AOE 400% instant damage +800% Dot, low mana cost low recharge, yes please.
Barrier AOE 4k extra hp, make yourself and the rest of your nearby party into tanks for a short while, you'd be stupid to pass that up.
Firewall so I herd you liked CC how about 6 seconds panic on every passing foe.
Firestorm Can't touch this, Hammer time.
Death Siphon since we already are tanks how about we heal up better than the current melee classes? Sure why not, Mana=no problem.
The last 4 passives are really a matter of taste, I found the ones I picked preferable to the others.
Playstyle
Start each combat by putting up a barrier on your allies followed by a firewall on the closest enemy or a line of archers, then spam Immolate and put up Firewall again once the old one goes down. If there are a lot of foes or if a party member downs use firestorm.
Put barrier up whenever someone is in need, I usually try to stay close to the one that needs the barrier that way it goes faster to target them.
Equipment
Try getting a high dps staff and get as much heal on kill as you can. Try getting a barrier ring, it is op it not only increases the duration but also lowers the cost to 35 mana which helps a lot.
As for the rest of the equipment try to get high willpower and magic.
Stand out of aggro range, put down a Pull of the Abyss, Fade Cloak then Fade step in and BAM full barrier all KD then spams some Spirit blade. After initial attack fade step to remaining foes if needed put down another Pull of the Abyss once it is ready but make sure you have barrier up while you cast it. Use fade cloak against blocking enemies before attacking with spirit blade, or fade step back and staff them down if its on Fade Cloak is on CD.
Don't go too far from your party if you are playing on Perilous no one likes a solo score hunters.
Try getting a high dps staff and upgrade it with as much heal on kill as you can.
As for the rest of the equipment try to get high Melee and ranged defense as well as some Magic and Willpower.
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