Guild Wars 2

Being an Avid S/x from the start (I tend to try and use less common builds) I switched to sPvP from solid WvW a while ago. I agree my use of haste plus pitol whip was less than ideal but it gave me front loading damage the weapon set (S/P) lacked. Since the haste nerf P/W doesn’t work out with that any more. I persisted but just started feeling so slow and #3 was becoming dead to me – it really has to be admitted it’s a not a decent ability on it’s own – even with critical haste. So I eventually tried for the first time since pre-launch – Dagger/Pistol.

And everything is so much easier, I do not play GC really but now bigger damage is coming out so much so it’s ridiculous. The sword auto attacks hit harder than dagger but backstab and the fact you can probably get off 2 dagger auto attack chains for 1 sword chain plus have heartseeker (at the right time) hit so hard is just harsh for olde sword. Add in more combo field access and it seems like playing s/p is intentionally gimping yourself. All the skills synergise so much more with d/p.

SPvP maps tend to cut out the utility of shadow stepping in WvW with sword. So any swordies words of encouragement for spvp or do you agree we’re gimping ourselves with the weapon?

I used to run D/P – S/D on WvW/sPvP before, but the extra revealed second is hurting my S/D gameplay a lot. Im using it less and less and going with the Shortbow more and more on its place.
I still miss the buff-removing…

I use it only for trash on PvE or soloing Sup Camps.

S/P is more of a control set rather than a damage set (like D/x), don’t forget that with sword you can attack multiple targets at once and have crazy mobility/free stunbreaker/condition removal and an immobilize that is so crucial in pvp when used at the right time. Personally i like sword more as i feel it helps more the team with the immobilize/stun than the dagger mainhand.

Yeah I always played that way too Mal, and the cleave is a good thing about the sword (especially with mesmers), I noticed issues with my daze’s not coming off recently though. With shadowstep and black powder I’ve been covered enough it seems so far with stuns etc. I’ve also been doing good applying pressure better because shadow shot can be repeated. I also have headshot too plus that damage which is working well it seems.

I’ve been using S/D or S/P and SB for PvP, and it works pretty well. Dagger seems to deal more damage, but Sword is just safer imo