Guild Wars 2

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me. And surprisingly this has worked wonders for me. A steal + WC will drop any player down to 50% or close to it and using steal makes it so that my character doesn’t move through the opposing player. This will usually immobilize the player too allowing me to impact strike and stomp the player. This all happenes in around 4 seconds with the player wondering wtf just happened.

Of course this only happenes if the player has no idea I was targeting them. But still in most 1v1s you could still hold your own using a full offense build with dash as your dodge.

Sorry if this isn’t all that elaborate. I don’t have time to sit here and type a full on guide lol

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

Shovel Face.4512:

So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can.

Shovel Face.4512:

you could still hold your own using a full offense build with dash as your dodge.

Shovel Face.4512:

lol

Hypocrisy!

Take bound.

---------------------

Taking damage over survivability as a damage dealer is called specializing in your role. This is not a new concept or perspective. Role diversity means different interdependent roles working together to achieve greater potential in pressure, group sustain, rotations and in being able to out play comps consisting of just 1 or 2 roles, stacked. This was the in case in PvP in GW2 around 1.5 years ago, before warriors got pushed out by recursive support compositions consisting of cele elementalist, cele engineer and bunker guardian, and then bunker guardian got pushed out for cele shoutbow. Celestial allowing jack-of-all-trades team fight builds began to be more rewarding, less risky, and easier to use and rotate with than individuals specializing in different roles. Jack of all trade team fighters and constant recursive support resulted in fights lasting longer and damage dealers needing to sacrifice some damage for survivability. Some even went so far as to become barely worth taking as a damage dealer, and fell from meta. I think ANet’s aim with HoT was to return the meta to one in which roles are more clearly specialised in, but of course they mucked it up by introducing more of what players keep saying they hate: invulnerability and strong overly-rewarding passives. Chained invulnerability that can be applied to allies, and defensive passives more rewarding that successfully landing a hard cc between invulnerability and evade frames. Not to mention the introduction of resistance and slow, and the genius idea to make alacrity a status effect instead of a boon that might be countered. Nevertheless, for thief/daredevil, taking more damage over survivability is practically mandatory.

TLDR; not a new perspective/concept - rather, an old one someone just now realised.

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

Nope. Doesn’t only work against zerker builds. Play a game with me and you’ll see.

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Most, if not all, of the players who plays Thief knows about the ’zerker build — it is completely natural for a Thief to gravitate towards this build.

However, after playing for a while where fights usually last long or your target is not taking a lot of damage due to their bunker build, ’zerkers are SoL and they typically die. When this happens more often, it is again natural to gravitate to a build with more survivability, thus abandoning some damage potential in exchange for health, toughness, healing or cleanse.

Nowadays we have a bunker meta that can also deal a lot of damage, so if you engage these players with your paper thin defenses, you will be killed before you kill them. It doesn’t take a lot of damage to kill a ‘zerker, you just have to mitigate their initial damage then they shatter to million tiny pieces. That’s why you’re seeing more Thief build with some kind of survivability.

For now, enjoy your build while it lasts but don’t forget to adapt and make adjustments.

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

Nope. Doesn’t only work against zerker builds. Play a game with me and you’ll see.

I highly doubt you can down my ’zerker Reaper.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Most, if not all, of the players who plays Thief knows about the ’zerker build — it is completely natural for a Thief to gravitate towards this build.

However, after playing for a while where fights usually last long or your target is not taking a lot of damage due to their bunker build, ’zerkers are SoL and they typically die. When this happens more often, it is again natural to gravitate to a build with more survivability, thus abandoning some damage potential in exchange for health, toughness, healing or cleanse.

Nowadays we have a bunker meta that can also deal a lot of damage, so if you engage these players with your paper thin defenses, you will be killed before you kill them. It doesn’t take a lot of damage to kill a ‘zerker, you just have to mitigate their initial damage then they shatter to million tiny pieces. That’s why you’re seeing more Thief build with some kind of survivability.

For now, enjoy your build while it lasts but don’t forget to adapt and make adjustments.

None of those apply to me tho lol

I mean seriously you think I didn’t spend hours perfecting my build?

I’ve been using this build for while now and so far it’s effective even against “bunker builds”

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Most, if not all, of the players who plays Thief knows about the ’zerker build — it is completely natural for a Thief to gravitate towards this build.

However, after playing for a while where fights usually last long or your target is not taking a lot of damage due to their bunker build, ’zerkers are SoL and they typically die. When this happens more often, it is again natural to gravitate to a build with more survivability, thus abandoning some damage potential in exchange for health, toughness, healing or cleanse.

Nowadays we have a bunker meta that can also deal a lot of damage, so if you engage these players with your paper thin defenses, you will be killed before you kill them. It doesn’t take a lot of damage to kill a ‘zerker, you just have to mitigate their initial damage then they shatter to million tiny pieces. That’s why you’re seeing more Thief build with some kind of survivability.

For now, enjoy your build while it lasts but don’t forget to adapt and make adjustments.

None of those apply to me tho lol

I mean seriously you think I didn’t spend hours perfecting my build?

I’ve been using this build for while now and so far it’s effective even against “bunker builds”

I wasn’t talking about you rather the build. It is not new nor from a different perspective. What I’ve posted is that the angle you’re trying to illustrate has already been seen, explored, built around, tested, and abandoned.

If you can make it work for you then that’s good. Thieves normally take a build and tweak it to their playstyle anyway. Just because it works for you doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for everyone.

Bunkers are a problem especially, in my experience, Mesmers. I’m sorry if it’s hard for me to believe you because experience speaks louder in this case.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Most, if not all, of the players who plays Thief knows about the ’zerker build — it is completely natural for a Thief to gravitate towards this build.

However, after playing for a while where fights usually last long or your target is not taking a lot of damage due to their bunker build, ’zerkers are SoL and they typically die. When this happens more often, it is again natural to gravitate to a build with more survivability, thus abandoning some damage potential in exchange for health, toughness, healing or cleanse.

Nowadays we have a bunker meta that can also deal a lot of damage, so if you engage these players with your paper thin defenses, you will be killed before you kill them. It doesn’t take a lot of damage to kill a ‘zerker, you just have to mitigate their initial damage then they shatter to million tiny pieces. That’s why you’re seeing more Thief build with some kind of survivability.

For now, enjoy your build while it lasts but don’t forget to adapt and make adjustments.

None of those apply to me tho lol

I mean seriously you think I didn’t spend hours perfecting my build?

I’ve been using this build for while now and so far it’s effective even against “bunker builds”

I wasn’t talking about you rather the build. It is not new nor from a different perspective. What I’ve posted is that the angle you’re trying to illustrate has already been seen, explored, built around, tested, and abandoned.

If you can make it work for you then that’s good. Thieves normally take a build and tweak it to their playstyle anyway. Just because it works for you doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for everyone.

Bunkers are a problem especially, in my experience, Mesmers. I’m sorry if it’s hard for me to believe you because experience speaks louder in this case.

Meh.

if it was abandoned then maybe a “revisit” would have been more appropriate. Especially with the new elite specializations.

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Shovel Face.4512:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Gray.9041:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

It’s called ’zerker build.

And the idea “to kill you before you kill me” only works against another ‘zerker build, however with the bunker build circling around, no room for ’zerker Thief since it is more than likely that _"they’ll kill you before you kill them"_.

Just picture yourself in a vehicle running 100mph to a 30ft thick concrete wall. 100mph vehicle maybe able to ruin any other vehicle, but againt a 30ft thick wall, you’ll look like a crushed aluminum can.

I think what OP is saying is that in order to balance the damage/survivability ratio, he’d prefer if our damage went up rather than our survivability.

I don’t think so. He’s very clear that he’s talking about builds which he had fully describe what we’ve already known all along as ’zerker build.

Shovel Face.4512:

In PvP Thief is a tough class to play. So this is for those who want to get into playing Thief or want to play a different play style.

Thieves are squishy. So people think it’s good to add survivabilty to the class whether it’s through traits, runes, amulets, etc. Well I say no to this and instead what you should be doing is adding as much power as you can. I run a full power dps thief with staff. The mindset for my build is basically to kill you before you kill me.

Yeah bad post on my part lol

Anyway yes it’s zerker build but on a thief. The only survivabilty I have is dash but it works really well with a zerker thief. The only reason why I brought this up is because I don’t see many thieves running zerker. its way more effective and if u saw me play u would know what I mean.

Most, if not all, of the players who plays Thief knows about the ’zerker build — it is completely natural for a Thief to gravitate towards this build.

However, after playing for a while where fights usually last long or your target is not taking a lot of damage due to their bunker build, ’zerkers are SoL and they typically die. When this happens more often, it is again natural to gravitate to a build with more survivability, thus abandoning some damage potential in exchange for health, toughness, healing or cleanse.

Nowadays we have a bunker meta that can also deal a lot of damage, so if you engage these players with your paper thin defenses, you will be killed before you kill them. It doesn’t take a lot of damage to kill a ‘zerker, you just have to mitigate their initial damage then they shatter to million tiny pieces. That’s why you’re seeing more Thief build with some kind of survivability.

For now, enjoy your build while it lasts but don’t forget to adapt and make adjustments.

None of those apply to me tho lol

I mean seriously you think I didn’t spend hours perfecting my build?

I’ve been using this build for while now and so far it’s effective even against “bunker builds”

I wasn’t talking about you rather the build. It is not new nor from a different perspective. What I’ve posted is that the angle you’re trying to illustrate has already been seen, explored, built around, tested, and abandoned.

If you can make it work for you then that’s good. Thieves normally take a build and tweak it to their playstyle anyway. Just because it works for you doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for everyone.

Bunkers are a problem especially, in my experience, Mesmers. I’m sorry if it’s hard for me to believe you because experience speaks louder in this case.

Meh.

if it was abandoned then maybe a “revisit” would have been more appropriate. Especially with the new elite specializations.

I agree, but it will require actions from the ArenaNet Balance Team for players to revisit the build. I, just like you, still uses ’zerker ammy even though I know that my survival rate is really low. But I have abandoned my Thief for quite sometime now and have been playing with Reaper because even if I build the Reaper as glass cannon, it has a better survival rate than the Thief.