Guild Wars 2

My thief is at level 80 and I’m getting all the equipment for him. I just have a few questions (numbered for easier reading and replying). Pretty much I’d like a comparison of d/p, d/d, and s/d.

To preface, I am really more interested in d/d SA build (similar to nightblade’s) and s/d (dodge based/acro) because I hate the thought of having guns in this game, but i’d like to see how it compares so I know when I face them. Also, I’m mostly refering to WvW roaming.
So when answering, keep in mind I will mostly be doing WvW with it, roaming around either by myself or in a small group.

1) Is d/p greater in every situation that d/d and s/d?
2) In general, do you personally, in your opinion, feel d/d or s/d is better for wvw roaming, and why?
3) Where does d/d shine over s/d and d/p?
4) Where does s/d shine over d/d and d/p?

Thanks for helping a fellow thief out. I’m hoping to get good with him and help my server out. But I’ll try not to kill anyone who helps me out here ;-)

SlitheSlivier.1908:

My thief is at level 80 and I’m getting all the equipment for him. I just have a few questions (numbered for easier reading and replying). Pretty much I’d like a comparison of d/p, d/d, and s/d.

To preface, I am really more interested in d/d SA build (similar to nightblade’s) and s/d (dodge based/acro) because I hate the thought of having guns in this game, but i’d like to see how it compares so I know when I face them. Also, I’m mostly refering to WvW roaming.
So when answering, keep in mind I will mostly be doing WvW with it, roaming around either by myself or in a small group.

1) Is d/p greater in every situation that d/d and s/d?
2) In general, do you personally, in your opinion, feel d/d or s/d is better for wvw roaming, and why?
3) Where does d/d shine over s/d and d/p?
4) Where does s/d shine over d/d and d/p?

Thanks for helping a fellow thief out. I’m hoping to get good with him and help my server out. But I’ll try not to kill anyone who helps me out here ;-)

1) No

D/P has better control than S/D and D/D (blinds, dazes), it also has the easiest access to stealth. It also has better mobility than D/D but worse than S/D.

D/D has the most damage (in theory) but is inferior at anything else

S/D has the best mobility, also gives an evade + boonsteal attached on ur weapon set.

2)

It’s preference. Both have their ups and downs.

D/P can do everything that D/D can better except for raw dmg but D/D damage isn’t that much higher because you will never be able to ditch out its full dmg potential against an enemy player unless he’s afk. Actually i would argue that D/P probably does more damage since its easier to stay on the target because of the blink on #3

3)

damage – in theory

4)

Mobility, boonsteal, evasion (dont missunderstand, evasion is not the only way to avoid damage – blinds from D/P are just as good to avoid damage)

It’s pretty much preference. Just play around with all 3 and see what suits you the most.

Thanks, this helps a lot!

It kinda depends on what you’re fighting too. I find warriors harder to deal with on S/D than D/P, as you get a lot more leeway from blinds instead of having to avoid every big hit. On the other hand, engineers and necros seem to be easier when using S/D, as you have a much easier time getting close without being nailed by all that AoE, and you have a way out with sword 2.

As Sizzle hint said, play around with all the sets to work out where they perform best and what you prefer, and make sure to carry them all so you can swap if needed.

You can Run s/d and d/p at the Same time. D/p for blinds and safety, escapes and s/d for Its control. You will See when you should switch from one Set to the other.
If you Run both Sets you are harder to predict and can deal with every proffession.

Domey.9804:

You can Run s/d and d/p at the Same time. D/p for blinds and safety, escapes and s/d for Its control. You will See when you should switch from one Set to the other.
If you Run both Sets you are harder to predict and can deal with every proffession.

This too.

SlitheSlivier.1908:

1) Is d/p greater in every situation that d/d and s/d?
2) In general, do you personally, in your opinion, feel d/d or s/d is better for wvw roaming, and why?
3) Where does d/d shine over s/d and d/p?
4) Where does s/d shine over d/d and d/p?

Thanks for helping a fellow thief out. I’m hoping to get good with him and help my server out. But I’ll try not to kill anyone who helps me out here ;-)

1) D/P is a duelist set and nothing more, thus is it not great in every situation. It doesn’t have the boon steal capability of S/D.

2) D/D in WvW has its uses and it’s more versatile in my opinion. Chasing a single target with D/P and S/D are great, but chasing multiple targets — that’s D/D’s forte. With practice and time, you can master how to use Heartseeker and Dancing Dagger to CC a group of people when they are trying to run away from your group.

3) D/D can be used in both offensive and defensive situations. While S/D is mainly an offensive set and D/P can play defensive with blind, they both don’t have the escape capability of D/D. D/P and D/D shares heartseeker as a skill that can either close the gap or create a gap. However, D/D is the only set that has access to both heartseeker and dancing dagger, which makes closing in and running away a piece of cake.

4) S/D is best in a duel against someone who relies on boon. This set doesn’t have access to backstab even though using a sword to stab someone in the back is more fatal than a dagger.

However, in WvW, you should bring every possible set. For instance, nothing beats S/P in taking out siege engines, or anything beats SB as a mobile crowd AoE, or beats P/D as an anti-melee duel, or beats P/P as the best single target range damage.

D/D and S/D is the best set if you’re running with a group. While D/P has an AoE blind, it’s just too small of an area that you’ll be blinding only one target anyway. But I think your choice to run D/D SA would be the best build in any scenario, either solo or in group (given that you know how to use it, that is).

>>However, in WvW, you should bring every possible set. For instance, nothing beats S/P in taking out siege engines, or anything beats SB as a mobile crowd AoE, or beats P/D as an anti-melee duel, or beats P/P as the best single target range damage.

This the truth. Take every weapon set with you. Do not get fixated on the one. That fixation is easy to do. I still die because in a battle I can get tunnel vision when I use one weapon set and not change off at the proper time to get some of that control one suddenly needs or do finish an opponent or use a well timed blind to protect from a big attack.