Guild Wars 2

Does anyone have any input to what is best to pair with a sword? Can you please elaborate a bit too. I like to WvW mostly, but I do PvE. Hopefully that helps a bit.

TheMurkMuffin.8213:

Does anyone have any input to what is best to pair with a sword? Can you please elaborate a bit too. I like to WvW mostly, but I do PvE. Hopefully that helps a bit.

Do you mean in the off hand or second weapon set? There are only two options for your offhand, pistol and dagger, and dagger is really the only one you want for PvP because of stealth and the dual skill is good. For PvE you probably want pistol for the dual skill but I have no idea.

I meant off-hand. The second weapon slot is always occupied by a short bow. I love the short bow with a thief

I use s/p as a backup weapon set in wvw at times, catches people off gaurd and helps against some certain classes. But if it’s your main weapon set I’d say take dagger. Boon steal, CnD for stealth access, on top of the evades what’s not to like?

Generally speaking, pistol offhand is better for pve and dagger offhand is better for pvp, when paired with a sword. For pve, sword has good synergy with pistol as it’s your cleave ( 3 target) set and black powder is an extremely valuable skill for trashmobs. The 3rd skill is also a defiance stripper and procs the healing signet a lot of times. In pvp, as the same things aren’t needed, sword offhand pulls ahead, providing an excellent dual skill that allows boon strip, evades and good damage. S/D is a great set, mostly due to larcenous strike. However, as you don’t need the boonstrip that often in pve, and the evade is harder to aim than, say, pistolwhip or a dodge, it only has niche uses.

Definitly Dagger for off-hand.
Evade and Boon Steal on #3 along with the Stealth on #5 makes it incredible for PvP and WvW.

While the #3 on Pistol off-hand also has the Evade, it locks you into place, leaving you (being a thief) extremely vulnerable. Plus, it’s pretty useless against anyone who can take a few steps away from you and attack from ranged distance.

S/D keeps you quick on your feet and in constant movement, making for a more difficult target.