Guild Wars 2

This is my first thief that I’ll be getting up to 80 and I tell you trying to figure out the best build for me is only second to me trying to figure out what runes to slot her with. She’s getting up to 80 here very quickly and I was thinking of going with a different rune set than what I was using before – which was Major Rune of the Thief (which might be upgraded to Superior if I don’t find something else I feel is better).

So the burning question that I have is – what do you guys think are some of the best Runes and possibly sigils for a Thief. I know it also depends on how we possibly play our thieves but I’m curious about it as a whole.

PvE, PvP, WvW? A good all around choice I believe would be Scholar Runes since they are best for PvE, as well as good for PvP and WvW if you play a zerk build.

Runes of Eagles

Dommmmmmmmmm.6984:

PvE, PvP, WvW? A good all around choice I believe would be Scholar Runes since they are best for PvE, as well as good for PvP and WvW if you play a zerk build.

I typically try to build my toons for both scenarios of PvE or PvP. This is the first time WvW has been encountered for me in a game exactly.

Scholars are a very solid choice, in almost any situation. Personally, I got too used to travelers to ever give them up.

For sigils, there are quite a few choices. If you’re using a power-based build, anything that buffs your damage if a good choice. I think the Sigils of Fire and Air are slightly more effective than Force, but Force is reliable. If you can, you should have a sigil of bloodlust/perception on a weapon that you can swap out for one with force or night when you hit 25 stacks. On-swap sigils are not ideal unless you run the same weapon set twice for quick pockets and an on-swap sigil. That said, I do sometimes use a bow with a sigil of energy, since if I swap to a bow mid-battle, chances are I’m running away. If not, an extra dodge is never a bad thing.

Traveler runes if you’re power based imo.

Putting in a vote for Ruby Orbs if you are power-based, and Rune of the Undead if you are going condition damage. Those are both really cheap options that will hold you over while you experiment. I don’t recommend locking in a set of expensive runes going into something that you are not really familiar with.

Scholar, Travelers, Lyssa, etc might be in your long-term future.

Humble Crow.3207:

Scholars are a very solid choice, in almost any situation. Personally, I got too used to travelers to ever give them up.

For sigils, there are quite a few choices. If you’re using a power-based build, anything that buffs your damage if a good choice. I think the Sigils of Fire and Air are slightly more effective than Force, but Force is reliable. If you can, you should have a sigil of bloodlust/perception on a weapon that you can swap out for one with force or night when you hit 25 stacks. On-swap sigils are not ideal unless you run the same weapon set twice for quick pockets and an on-swap sigil. That said, I do sometimes use a bow with a sigil of energy, since if I swap to a bow mid-battle, chances are I’m running away. If not, an extra dodge is never a bad thing.

sigil of air is a 3.1% damage increase and sigil of fire is a 1.8% damage increase assuming they activate immediately after cooldowns, force is always a superior option, and to OP, if you try and use the same build/armor for WvW and pve then youve already failed

Whenever I’m not sure, Ogre’s runes tend to be a very safe and very logical choice.

IMO

PvE = Scholar
PvP = Scholar, Ogre, Lyssa
WvW = Scholar, Ogre, Lyssa, Divinity, Traveler

It really depends on what type of spec you are playing, condi or power.

Traveler are the best.

Lyssa. Always Lyssa. Traveler or perplexity if Condi thief. But Lyssa is always a solid choice.

For me: Lyssa Runes w/ Withdraw (Heal) and Basilisk (Elite).

Assuming offensive runes, I’d go power and crit damage, which presents two clear choices: Scholars and Ogre.

I’d say Scholars for PVE since it offers the highest DPS while above 90% health which you’ll eventually be able to maintain most of the time in PVE.

For PVP, it depends. If you’re a glass instant kill build, then obviously Scholars. Otherwise Ogre, since you’d then be fighting with less than 90% health most of the time, and that 4% boost will always be active. The rock dog can also come in handy sometimes.

EDIT: If you’re unsure how you want to play your thief, you can always just go with orbs until you’ve decided!

Must be nice to have a choice, you goobers. The answer for Guardians is almost always Speed in sPvP and Traveler outside of sPvP.

Why won’t anybody give us 25% run speed? Why can’t we all just be friends?! =*(

Guardian can still out-run someone if they have swiftness? ;P

In terms of wvw:

Lyssa for the Precision, Boons and Condition cleanse
Divinity for the the Crit and Stats
Eagle for the Crit, Precision and extra Damage.
Scholar for the Crit, Power and extra Damage.
Traveler for the Crit, Stats and Movement speed. (a good All-rounder)

Travelers. Frees up a utility slot for me so i don’t have to run that blasted signet of shadows.

Kande.1930:

Travelers. Frees up a utility slot for me so i don’t have to run that blasted signet of shadows.

signet of shadows active will save your kitten in a pinch though