Build:Team - Eskimos

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This build has been designed for the following use:

PvE
team

1 Ice Ranger
2 The rest of the team
3 Warrior
4 Ranger
5 Monk
6 Necromancer
7 Mesmer
8 Elementalist
9 Assassin
10 Ritualist
11 Paragon
12 Dervish

The Eskimos team build relies on Greater Conflagration, Winter, and Mantra of Frost to convert and reduce damage. The energy and safety given from Mantra of Frost lets the team focus more on high amounts of damage than other sources of healing and defense.This should be used mostly in well coordinated PvE.

The Team should consist of:

Team of four

1 Ice ranger
1 Healer
1 Damage Dealer
1 Support

Team of six

1-2 Ice Rangers
1-2 Healers
1-2 Damage Dealers
2 Support

Team of eight

1-2 Ice Rangers
2 Healers
2-3 Damage Dealers
2-3 Support

[edit] Ice Ranger

Attributes and Skills

Ranger / Mesmer	Attribute Rank
Wilderness Survival	11 + 1 + 1
Marksmanship	8 + 1
Inspiration Magic	9
Expertise	8 + 1

Greater Conflagration

Winter

Resurrection Signet

There are many suggestions for the optional slot

Needling Shot to bring a target down once they are below 50% health.
Try adding wilderness survival traps to protect the spirits.
Antidote Signet or Hex Eater Signet for condition or hex removal.
Savage Shot for an interrupt.
Pin Down for crippling kitting targets.
Favorable Winds for extra damage.
Splinter Shot for countering blocking foes.
Serpent's Quickness could be used just before casting the spirits and then replaced with Mantra of Frost as soon as the spirits are set.

Equipment

Frostbound Armor is recommended.
Druid's Armor could be useful for pieces such as arms and feet if you find you are low on energy.
Any bow with "Damage +15% (while in a stance)".

Note that Elemental Bow Strings are basically useless.

Usage

The Ice Rangers' main job is to lay down the spirits. At the beginning of the battle cast Greater Conflagration and Winter near your base. As they recharge space them out along the battle field. When you are not laying down spirits use Kindle Arrows and fire Focused Shot on every other attack. Remember to keep Mantra of Frost on you at all times.

Counters

Simply killing the spirits is the best counter.
Armor-ignoring damage works just as well against this as normal balanced builds.
Removing Mantra of Frost with Wild Strike, Wild Blow or Wild Throw will take away the Ice Ranger's advantage.

Variants

Apply Poison instead of Kindle Arrows and a poison bow.
Choking Gas could also replace Kindle Arrows for interrupts.
Elemental Resistance is not as effective as Mantra of Frost but could be used.
Ignite Arrows for AoE damage to replace Kindle Arrows.
Read the Wind for extra damage and a replacement for Kindle Arrows.
You could add some extra utility with some Inspiration magic skills. However their energy costs must be watched.
Using a superior Wilderness Survival rune would help your spirits last longer at the expense of your maximum health

[edit] The rest of the team

Builds for various primary professions for the remainder of the team.

Note that everyone Must be a mesmer primary or secondary to have Mantra of Frost.
Also you should not have other stances in your build. Mantra of Frost is a stance and will be removed if you use another stance.
If using Nightfall armor Sentry's Insignia is usually the best choice for armor.

Notable Skills:

Dervish - Grenth's Grasp
Necromancer - Spinal Shivers / Shivers of Dread
Elementalist - Conjure Frost