Guild Wars 2

I am using rabid gear/accessories along with 2 giver’s pistols (used back when I used nades) and I decided to do a change. I tested using rifles in spvp compared to pistols and I get to hit 1k+ with less might stacks compared to pistols. So I wanted to ask, is it better using pistols or rifles with rifles?

I recommend the rifle, yes, because of the crowd control that Net Shot and Overcharged Shot offer. Combined with Sitting Duck or Precise Sights traits the FT/Rifle build does a very solid job.

See my sig for a guide on Rifle/FT builds for structured pvp.

I vote for Rifle as well. Matched with the FT, it is like peanut butter and jelly.

I prefer Pistol/Pistol or Pistol/Shield solely because I get two sigils to modify my Flamethrower versus having only one with the Rifle.

As a general rule of thumb with the Flamethrower Kit.

Pistol/Flamethrower for condition builds. Rifle/Flamethrower for everything else.

Wolf.5816:

As a general rule of thumb with the Flamethrower Kit.

Pistol/Flamethrower for condition builds. Rifle/Flamethrower for everything else.

I’m sorry that this will come off as argumentative, but I have to 100% disagree with this.

Any skill that applies Poison is always useful in PvP regardless of whether you’re geared for CD or not given its 33% reduction to a foe’s healing effectiveness; the damage it does is almost beside the point. And Static Shot’s Blind is useful for any build, too.

So I would hesitate to suggest that the Pistol is only useful when gearing for Condition Damage, and that the Rifle is best for “everything else.”

Having two sigils is additionally very useful regardless of how you build your Flamethrower, and having a Shield in your off-hand goes a long way in improving the durability of any Engineer. Two projectile blocks is a huge addition to any build—Power or Condition based—especially since ranged classes will be your biggest problem wielding the Flamethrower.

Regardless, I’ve always subscribed to the idea that the Flamethrower works best when you focus on using it exclusively given how Juggernaut and its Might stacking operates.

The Flamethrower is not designed to be used intermittently; on the contrary, it’s best to use the Rifle solely for its snare removal, immobilizer, or gap closer and then immediately swap back to the Flamethrower—the same with Poison Dart Volley and Static Shot.

^^ this is a true story, and the PP PS combo for a crit + swap sigil is really good.

It took me a very long time to ween myself off of two sigils, but over all i like the synergy of the rifle CC with the FT better than pistols.

Phineas Poe.3018:

Having two sigils is additionally very useful regardless of how you build your Flamethrower, and having a Shield in your off-hand goes a long way in improving the durability of any Engineer. Two projectile blocks is a huge addition to any build—Power or Condition based—especially since ranged classes will be your biggest problem wielding the Flamethrower.

I agree with this. In PvP, I find the shield performs quite well, extra sigil aside; one shield ability reflects projectiles (always handy) and the other blocks ranged attacks and stuns a melee attacker (dead-stopping any heartseeker thieves in their tracks effectively). Makes fighting farther ranged opponents less of a hassle. So, even if you don’t pick up the offhand pistol, you still get poison + confuse + blind with your main hand one.

Phineas Poe.3018:

Wolf.5816:

As a general rule of thumb with the Flamethrower Kit.

Pistol/Flamethrower for condition builds. Rifle/Flamethrower for everything else.

I’m sorry that this will come off as argumentative, but I have to 100% disagree with this.

Any skill that applies Poison is always useful in PvP regardless of whether you’re geared for CD or not given its 33% reduction to a foe’s healing effectiveness; the damage it does is almost beside the point. And Static Shot’s Blind is useful for any build, too.

So I would hesitate to suggest that the Pistol is only useful when gearing for Condition Damage, and that the Rifle is best for “everything else.”

Having two sigils is additionally very useful regardless of how you build your Flamethrower, and having a Shield in your off-hand goes a long way in improving the durability of any Engineer. Two projectile blocks is a huge addition to any build—Power or Condition based—especially since ranged classes will be your biggest problem wielding the Flamethrower.

Regardless, I’ve always subscribed to the idea that the Flamethrower works best when you focus on using it exclusively given how Juggernaut and its Might stacking operates.

The Flamethrower is not designed to be used intermittently; on the contrary, it’s best to use the Rifle solely for its snare removal, immobilizer, or gap closer and then immediately swap back to the Flamethrower—the same with Poison Dart Volley and Static Shot.

Your are correct, but let me remind you I am only talking about weapons when used heavily with Flamethrower Kit. And “rule of thumb” excludes niche builds that can be made moderately effective in certain situations, however the synergies of condition Pistol/Flamethrower and Rifle/Flamethrower are much easier to obtain. Thus my previous blanket statement.

Personally I use Rifle/Flamethrower for its obviouse control. But my length in each kit directly corresponds with the distance from my target and the Profession. There are times I stay in Rifle predominantly against skilled players, if for nothing else than to use it to bait in Melee players switching to Flamethrower in the middle of the fight so that they won’t immidiatly know my build once they see my Kit.

Wolf.5816:

And “rule of thumb” excludes niche builds that can be made moderately effective in certain situations, however the synergies of condition Pistol/Flamethrower and Rifle/Flamethrower are much easier to obtain.

And what makes you think I’m talking about a “niche” build that’s “moderately” effective in “certain” situations?

Applying a “rule of thumb” to playing the Engineer is kind of pointless anyway. Best to be specific and identify the individual strengths of each weapon. You shouldn’t be settling with just the Rifle or Pistol. You should be carrying both with you at all times and a Shield.