Guild Wars 2

The current meta is bunker and and conditions you will see more of these builds than not. I struggled as a back-stab thief against bunker build/condition builds and decided to swap and re-learn sword dagger, sword pistol.

Pistol whip was fun, but unreliable damage and required taking out utility to ensure haste. I couldn’t justify it because it was to glassy.

On the other hand after some research and playing around I found a very fun and strong build that has allowed me to do several thing I have not been able to do with this glass before.

Sword dagger is rising in popularity and for good reason, it’s the strongest kit we have.
If your looking for numbers conditions and combo field finishers than no this kit doesn’t have that.

What it does have is agility, and versatility to deal with any situation you may find.
This is the build I’ve found and been working with that I just find amazing.

The build runs 0/10/0/30/30
Focusing on boon’s proc steal, and boon rips
The rune set is really what makes this build very strong and strong synergy. I’m sure you’ve seen builds like Daphoniex d/d ele where he’s able to maintain constant boons. This build allows for the same thing, and SHUTS DOWN any type of boon reliant bunker build. It will NEGATE almost if not ALL of a condition build, I feel like necro’s are an inferior class because of my ability to drop all their conditions as they stack them, while maintaining upkeep. Slippery mesmers get locked down, warriors can’t touch me with their silly mace and shield.

This build is a high skill level though. I have to admit I died A LOT in the begging experimenting with this build.

What really completes this build is the runes.
Lyssa Runes gives this build the final touch for the low cool down withdraw and low cool down Bvenom.

Constant upkeep on boon’s negating enemy conditions, now allowing them to have boons, constant evasion, you always have the option to dodge or evade. Completely negates bunkers regen. I’ve found no real weakness to this build so far. Oh and for once this build also’s me to get up close and personal in zerg fights causing havoc in the back lines or making a tank go OMG wtf just happened. Enemies cannot run away from you, you’re upkeep is too strong.

I’m not saying htis build is op I know it’s sounding like that, but it’s enthusiasm.
As I said this build is a high skill level and takes a lot of practice and does not play like other thief builds that have been popular in the past. You will no see a lot of these builds on newer thief’s.

The armor and trinks run around a valk/zerk sets. You can swap as you see fit based on your own comfort level. I run valk armor with zerk trinkets. Granted my crit chance is around 40% however I also maintain constant fury swiftness and might with 90% crit damage. My dps does not suffer with food buffs. As ascended weapons are release I feel this build will become is only going to become even stronger.

Here is a link to show you the build I’m currently using
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|c.1g.h4.8.1g.h14|5.1p.h17|1p.7i.1p.7i.1p.7i.1p.7i.1p.7i.1p.7i|2t.d13.2t.0.2s.d13.2t.d13.3t.d19.2s.d13|0.a1.0.u39a.u57b|39.1|59.5b.5f.5c.5u|e

I hope you enjoy.

Also I did not create this build on my own I did a lot of research on other sword/dagger builds currently posted around online and pieced together things I believed worked. So far it’s it’s the best build I’ve learned how to play.

so where is the conditional removal asides from lyssa rune?

I run S/D shortbow as well with 30/30/5/5/0 but without lyssa runes however I use HiS so in terms of condition removal it seems to be about the same. I fail to see how it is a counter to condi spam, however anti bunker I can sorta see…but not vs mace/shield + GS warrior since they don’t really rely on boons to bunk. They rely on adrenal healing, shout healing, banners, healing signet to get to 1k HP/sec along with 4k+ armor and good damage.

I don’t know if S/D is the strongest kit we have but I like it and have been using it even before larcenous strike was buffed.

Condition removal comes from infiltrators strike it’s a built in stun breaker and condition removal. It takes up to 2 off, if you use the build you should already know this i don’t know why a your asking this question.

“The current meta is bunker and and conditions you will see more of these builds than not.”

I stopped reading there, you couldn’t possibly be more wrong. The meta is Zerker Gear and traits + Skillful use of active mitigation, dodges, Condition removals, invuln, aegis, block etc…

There is also group composition, for obvious reasons guardians are amazing to have, even terrible ones at least contribute something. Then there classes like thieves, which are only valuable to the team if they are really good, having a terrible/average thief on your team is pretty much like fighting a 4v5, you know that feeling you get when there is 3 thieves on your team…ya.

Yeah I’m done posting in the forums you think if you bring something to the community you could get some positive feed back. but it’s full of trolls, if anyone gets anything useful from this congratz.

Do the rest of you scum bags who just go into threads to kitten on other people kitten off.

Jayw.1045:

Condition removal comes from infiltrators strike it’s a built in stun breaker and condition removal. It takes up to 2 off, if you use the build you should already know this i don’t know why a your asking this question.

Well it removes a condition at a time, so you’re saying you really do spam it that many times to get rid of conditions?

I used it to great effect against P/D thieves before, but since condi was more or less buffed recently with torment and necro buffs etc. I actually think condi spam is a counter to S/D.

I do usually win against condi builds by simply outdamaging them but I don’t see how it’s a counter.

And besides it USED to be a stun breaker, now it’s only a pseudo-stun breaker. Still great, but it used to be better.

Just heard from another thief that traiting pain response is a great additional way to deal with condis maybe you can work it into your build considering it is sold as anti-condi.

Jayw.1045:

Yeah I’m done posting in the forums you think if you bring something to the community you could get some positive feed back. but it’s full of trolls, if anyone gets anything useful from this congratz.

Do the rest of you scum bags who just go into threads to kitten on other people kitten off.

Don’t blame us for constantly being defensive, trollish and harsh. Other classes come on here and explode their bullkitten all over these forums and the only dev interaction we get is in our dreams.