Guild Wars 2

Every time I come across a thief they are invisible or just coming back out………in the later case it is usually to smoke me……..Any hints how to take on and beat a thief would be appreciated………….thanks

I am a thief. Played since launch. So, I know there is a great way to counter thief on engi. If you run a Condi build, Condi bursting will work great on a thief, also, confusion is great. Most thieves rely on rapid strikes, increasing the effect of confusion. PbAoE is something engineers have a lot of, will work incredibly well against thieves when they stealth.
Overall, just through on tons of conditions and a thief will die.

Bombs alone make it hell for the thief to get even near you. Add a supply crate on top of that andGG

doesnt even have to be a condi build… if you can pull off like a cc → jumpshot and burst 1/2 their hp theyll usually just run

I play five guage condi build (p/p grenades/toolkit/elixir S) and thiefs are more or less best matchup for me. Toolkit is very nice if you are in trouble and protection injection is the thief counter skill. It helps A LOT.

if you’re condi then pistol will be your best friend.
refuge is a giant sign that says SPAM HERE

rifle/flamer power

yeap.. toss a crate into refuge, get out your spamming weapon and spazz out with your condi damage tills is ded

Bombs for area denial or shield 5 for the stun when they attack out of stealth.

Thieves will have an easy time getting away though, pretty hard to actually get the kill unless they really kitten up, but you’re really hard to kill for them also. Shmeh

I find it very ironic this is in the thief forum https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/troubles-fighting-engineers

Another tip: If you run flamethrower, save you’re push#3 for when the thief uses refuge.

I’d recommend some tankier gear, if you survive their initial burst a thief will either run away or be an easy kill in my experience. If both you and the thief are full zerker then the one who strikes first will win, which will obviously be the thief due to stealth, which I personally don’t have a problem with :P

I play thief and engineer. I too find it ironic Carboy.

As a thief, the engineer that scares me is the one that uses bombs.
The reason is simple. I take damage while in stealth and I can’t easily avoid the bombs and reach you.

HOWEVER, if you drop a single bomb and move, I can often get the timing right to get in and backstab you. The key is often.

So the thief playing an engineer has to carefully time a very quick strike attack.
The engineer, theoretically, will have the tools to reduce that impact. But very little of those tools are passive (save protection injection) so timing versus my fooling you with stealth is the key factor.

But if you don’t go down, I am at a severe disadvantage. Thieves HATE being blinded.

A good thief would NEVER EVER want to be in refuge around an engineer. When that happens bomb the hell out of it then the logical path they might take grenade it

Remember, even a p/s engineer will have the ability to knock me back when I am about to get my backstab off or block. It just is timing OR you can hold off and use them right after then cc bomb me.

Thief is a good matchup for an engineer IF you don’t get totally surprised and panic. You have a very short window to make the right decisions after a steal-cnd-backstab combo.

Bunker down and use knockbacks.
We are just squishy enough to be burst down if we are dps. but as a bunker Thieves either get bored or get killed.
I have a build in my sig. but mainly just bunker.
Also Throw mine/thumper Turret. If the let you get out of stun even once they can’t get the damage on you again.

-Stand still and fire. You will auto track your target no matter how mobile.

-The trait Accelerant Packed Turrets makes fighting thief’s a breeze.

-Tool Kit brings a lot of anti thief utility. Prepare with Box of Nails, and When they use stealth Gear Shield’s duration is perfect for burning through thief’s openers. Activating Magnet with a target will allow you to yank thief’s out of their Shadow Refuge or even if they stealth mid channel so keep your Pry Bar’s ready.

-Pistols Explosive Shot can hit invisible targets if aimed at the ground.

-Keep your eyes on the targets profile and be prepared for Runes of Lyssa as well as Basilisk Venom. Save your defensive abilities for these moments.

-If Evasion is a problem save your important abilities for a sure hit, instead use your AOE’s. And kite kite kite until they exhaust their Initiative.

-Be prepared for Blinds, Obviously keep clear of their fields. if you have a multi hitting move it is possible to maintain pressure even if the thief is Bunkering with Black Powder

-Most importantly don’t panic, it doesn’t take much to make a thief go on the defensive and without momentum thief’s can fall short. Their damage is huge but their health pool is small, keep a level head and maintain pressure. Their DPS is zero if their dead.

-In a crowded skirmish don’t waste your time stomping a thief. Focus fire will down him in as much time as it takes to channel the finisher.

-Cleave, Cleave, Cleave. Just assume the thief is going to close/open the gap to you or simply vanish. Hold onto your high priority moves until they are on your heels and focus on soft CC. (Cripple/Chill/Immobilize)

Thieves that play from the shadows can be very annoying, when they stealth using AoE around you as cover can be nice. Poison Grenade, fire bomb, smoke bomb, and even flash grenades. Thieves biggest weakness are blocks and blinds and CC. Stopping their burst will lead to great victory.

I’d like to chime in as a Thief player and say that most of us are pretty scared of Engineers, particularly Perplexity Runed ones. My thief partner is always terrified whenever we I.D. a Perplexity Engi; the condi bombs they can drop can down almost any thief. To counter, I rely on my trusty shortbow and poison fields/cluster bombs to mitigate the Engi’s bombs and conditions.

Condi engies are the more difficult to counter as a thief because they can run Dire stats and not think twice about it. The issues with this stat combination has on the Meta aside, its a very tanky and very hard hitting set. If you enjoy bombs, a pistol, and a shield, this build may be best for you.

Rifle engineers I find few and far between. Those my partner and I do encounter are typically push-overs and lack the damage mitigation a P/Sh Condi Engi does. Its difficult to play but not impossible, especially with a Flamethrower, Knights/Cavalier, and Juggernaut trait.

deepwinter.9015:

Condi engies are the more difficult to counter as a thief because they can run Dire stats and not think twice about it. The issues with this stat combination has on the Meta aside, its a very tanky and very hard hitting set. If you enjoy bombs, a pistol, and a shield, this build may be best for you.

A condi engie running dire loses a lot of damage from sharpshooter, and the lower proc chance for incendiary powder. Rabid w/ dire trinkets is more common.

10% crit chance is all I lose for over 2k health. Not sure I am missing much. . . .

30/10/0/20/10 build, keeping ascended dire+rabid trinkets constant (since pure dire doesn’t exist).

Going from dire weapons/armor to rabid weapons/armor, you gain 18% crit chance for the cost of 3.5kish health

Worth it

Thieves lack stability. Try to bump them as much as possible.

For me, shield is the best weapon for an engi vs a thief.

• Refuge ? -> #4 #4 -> bump out of refuge ->no stealth for him
• Condi thief with pistol ? -> #4 before his attack -> all condi on him
  (you have to practise, to get the timer… most thieves wait about 3 sec before attacking)
• Zerk thief ? -> #5 -> stun & block (and then #3 of toolkit if you have it)

Engi should NEVER lose to a thief

T raw.4658:

Engi should NEVER lose to a thief

Unless they’re new, but generally yes.

As a condi engineer, well. Just condition them, its easy to reapply and thief doesn’t have fast condi removal. If they’re using a bunch of stealth bombs or nades work well in forcing the thief to take time to strike, which can work in your favor.

As a power engi, its kind of tricky because you have to get the first hit in. I’ve been hit and hit hard by power engi but I see a lot more condition builds. Often power engi goes down really quick but if you can lure the thief into a trap (utility goggles after they BV you), net shot, blow them up. Power vs power fights generally don’t last long so its all about quick thinking and staying ahead of the enemy.

Also most thieves are pretty bad and can’t do anything but hide in stealth. If that’s the case just move on, possibly lead them into a trap like shotgunning a bunch of grenades.