Before I begin this final installment, a big thank you to all who have contributed either through their own personal sets, comments on the submitted sets, or just good discourse on making our Rangers better. In the end, I think we all want this job to be respected and played well, and I hope that these threads have assisted in that.
Now, let's begin the real fun. Midshot sets. I personally have 12 different midshot sets, as I vary the amount of base Racc and STP depending on the weapon I use, and each weapon has 3 levels of ranged accuracy. I decided to just post my Fomalhaut sets, and then list some of the alterations to this that I make for my other weapons. I'd also love to have some people post THEIR midshot sets, and let's get some real discussion going.
Also, these are NOT strictly BiS sets, they are my personal sets and as such there is room for improvement and discussion. Please remember that.
So...what are our goals in building Midshot sets? First and foremost, we want to reach the minimum level of ranged accuracy to allow us to hit our target reliably, and then beef up each hit's damage and TP value. Ranger is
so incredibly dependent on Weaponskill damage versus "white" damage...and as such, getting to the next Weaponskill as fast as possible is paramount. Every Ranger should be able to have a 4 hit build WITHOUT rolls (3 shots + a weaponskill) and WITHOUT /SAM. If you can't do this, get more STP in your sets ASAP. Once you have this minimum level, start throwing more AGI and Ranged Attack into your sets to boost the damage.
Midshot LowACC
ItemSet 353559
Base TP set. Uses some pieces that you can "get away with" in a low accuracy build, such as Dedition Earring, and Adhemar Gamashes(they are seriously lacking in the racc department). But this also takes advantage of the set bonus from the Adhemar+1 set of increased critical hits. When using my Annihilator or Gastraphetes, my set is exactly the same except I replace the Kwahu Kachina Belt in the waist slot for the Yemaya Belt, giving a few more points of STP due to lower delay compared to Fomalhaut, and also because Foma has that lovely +10STP on it.
Midshot MidACC
ItemSet 353560
Very similar to the above but with about +50racc over that set. Replaces Dedition Earring with Enervating, giving up some STP but a total gain of +17racc in just that slot. I happen to have a pair of TP augmented Herculean Boots I use in this set with AGI+9,racc+26,ratk+39, which gives the feet a total of +36 racc.
Midshot HighACC
ItemSet 353561
Max accuracy build I use in a TP set. Uses 3/5 AF+3 and the Regal Ring for the set bonus of RACC and Cacoethic Ring+1 as the key changes.
A few notes that pertain to ALL these sets:
1.Belenus's Cape augments are AGI+30,racc/ratk+20,Store TP+10.
2.Adhemar Wristbands and Kecks are PATH C in these sets.
3.Adhemar Gamashes are Path D for the Store TP.
There are a few times that justify special TP sets, the most glaring example being when you are using either Armageddon or Gandiva with Aftermath up. This set looks a LOT like a Camouflage set- and it should. Its taking advantage of critical hits and trying to put as much damage behind each individual shot as possible. In a set like this, Store TP takes a back seat because BOTH of these weapons deal more damage with AM up during TP phase than their related weaponskill in question (be that Wildfire or Jishnu's Radiance).
Gandiva Aftermath
ItemSet 353563
Again, this set focuses on critical hit rate%+ and critical hit damage+. Remember that "Dead Aim" is a ranged attack specific "critical hit damage+" modifier, but it doesn't work on weaponskills. Belenus's Cape is AGI+30,racc/ratk+20,Critical Hit Rate +10%.
Someone asked in the Utility set thread how much I used my Gandiva.
I use it whenever I can, because if I'm properly buffed, the DPS absolutely destroys any other option. By properly buffed I mean situations with 4 song+honor march BRD, COR, GEO doing Fury/Frailty, and at least Flurry I. Gandiva falls off really fast if you all of a sudden have one of those missing, or doing a different role (say a Vex/Attune GEO instead). I also firmly believe it really needs Chrono Arrows to succeed. It needs all that buffing, but then when AM is up and you're seeing 14k doubleshots left and right WITHOUT camouflage up...its worth it.
Now, let's get to ripping eachother to shreds on our midshot sets!