Guild Wars 2

Hey all, I’ve been playing thief for a long time now, and like to think of myself as a decent player. I picked up the S/D weapon set back in December, and have been playing around, and testing builds with it for awhile. I thought I’d just like to share some of the builds that I personally like.

Most of these builds will be for small group play/roaming, but some can be used for larger groups. Many of these builds will also not deal in Heavy DPS/Burst. Although I will include some. (Eventually).

Below I will post some builds that I have played around with and tested in WvW. Feel free to give feedback, criticize, or ask questions. Thanks!

Builds
Details on each build can be found in the guides. (Trait setup, Weapon choice, etc.)

Slayer
This is my favorite build, and I use this for most situations. It’s pretty basic.

0/20/30/20/0
Slayer

Skirmisher
A variation of the build above. It has great survivability, and is more ideal for small group play.

0/10/30/20/10 can also be played as 0/20/30/20/0
Skirmisher

Daze for Days
A build utilizing 30 in Trickery. It’s quite fun, and can hold it’s own it many situations.

0/10/10/20/30
Can also be played as 0/20/0/20/30. This requires more initiative management.
Can also be played as _10/x/x/x/30. DPS and Heal from mug, You’ll lose something in one of the trait lines.
Daze for Days

NinJutsu
10/30/0/0/30
A challenging burst, trickery build that utilizes Shadowsteps, Evasion, and use of minimal stealth.

NinJutsu

This guide will be condensed because Into the mists has not updated Traveler runes, so I will be writing a short version here.
Just click on link below for weapon choice/equipment/traits/etc.
The Traits are pretty straightforward. The build relies on Trickery. Daze on steal, boon steal, boon gain, etc.

Equipment/Utilities:
I run S/D S/D with Sigil of Paralyzation and two Energy sigils. The energy sigils are very important, as they act as outlets for endurance regen. Of course you can swap out a set for whatever other set you want. (D/P, S/P, etc.)

I run a mix of Valkyrie and Knights gear, along with two Cavalier’s rings to enhance survivability, with minimal stealth. I found that the Toughness/Armor(2600) was ideal for a build that does not rely on stealth. The rest of the trinkets are Berserker.
I’m using Runes of the Traveler because..they’re awesome. Uh, but actually, the movement buff that is added allows me to not have to rely on Signet of Shadows or Fleet Shadow trait, to keep up with people as I chase them to their deaths or run for my cowardly life.

I use Hide in Shadows as a escape tool in sketchy situations, and because I prefer it to Withdraw. Shadowstep because it is much better than Roll for Initiative( what I used to use). Signet of Agility for extra Crit. chance and full endurance regen. Although these are all what I prefer. You can choose whatever you life. I sometimes swap out Sig of Agility for Blinding Powder, but I like to keep the amount of stealth have low.

Playstyle/Tactics:
With this build you’ll have to put some time into learning it. You won’t be good right away. You’ll need to be able to react fast, and gauge what you can and can’t handle.
Many times when I fight I try and stay in an area that has PvE mobs around that I would be able to shadowstep to if I were getting in trouble (Inf Sig ? Inf. Strike = 1,800 range).

When I open on someone I like to use Inf. Strike ? Daze steal to surprise them. From here I usually will auto attack mainly for DPS. I CnD ? TS if I see a heal or powerful attack in coming, but steal also acts as a very good on command Daze. I usually only use larcenous strike when I want to rip boons or evade. Make sure you pay attention to your Initiative.

When in fights make sure you utilize the fact that you have two energy sigils which means switch weapons often to keep your endurance up. If you steal to a person you also gain vigor for 11s, as well as more boons. You’re going to want to evade a lot in fights and minimize damage. Shadowsteps also play an important role as porting everywhere really confuses and wears down your opponent.
You can also catch people off guard with the amount of range you can open on someone. (Shadowstep ? Inf. Signet ? Inf. Strike ? Steal = 3,900 range!)

I feel like I’ve left out a bunch of information, so if you have any questions about the build please leave a message or PM in game!

Thanks again!

Edit: links work now and Brock Lesnar approves of this thread.

if u are going to go s/d in wvw i would HIGHLY suggest bringing d/p along as a 2ndary/main weaponset.

im not sayign zerging is your style but if you are going to head anywhere outside of 30seconds from waypoint….u could/will run into a larger group/zerg and have to end up walking back. s/d can obviously get you 600 range away but other than that you have SS left. 2 moves from a warrior can catch up and since s/d isnt much of a stealthy build i would also suggest running shadow trap if u really hate d/p. i personally dont like the trap in wvw unless its for scouting/supply running. to each their own.

suggestion: 0 30 20 20 0 run d/p and s/d gives you the defense /invis you need for 3 or more players and s/d gives you want you want in style. hidden killer gives you your dmg and SA gives you remove condi and init gains while acro gives you energy and 2 init per 10 secs. this allows you to play both builds and have a lil more dmg . some say bring 0 20 30 20 0 but i like the extra offense rather than some heals…. as d/p you shouldnt be taking much dmg from most classes so i dont feel the need to bring it. also utility skills chosen right will help you for whatever you feel lacking.

that is what i ran before i switched to p/d….but who knows what ill play next week. working on some s/p stuff right now but has a few shortcomings bc i like to run 2 sets of weapons that are the same to take advantage of sigils several times each fight.

gluck

infiltrator’s arrow, hide in shadows, and shadow refuge is more than enough to run from a zerg, and you don’t even need all 3. usually i’d just wait for them to come for me but they wouldn’t cuz they see i’m a thief they just move on bro.

Travlane.5948:

if u are going to go s/d in wvw i would HIGHLY suggest bringing d/p along as a 2ndary/main weaponset.

im not sayign zerging is your style but if you are going to head anywhere outside of 30seconds from waypoint….u could/will run into a larger group/zerg and have to end up walking back. s/d can obviously get you 600 range away but other than that you have SS left. 2 moves from a warrior can catch up and since s/d isnt much of a stealthy build i would also suggest running shadow trap if u really hate d/p. i personally dont like the trap in wvw unless its for scouting/supply running. to each their own.

suggestion: 0 30 20 20 0 run d/p and s/d gives you the defense /invis you need for 3 or more players and s/d gives you want you want in style. hidden killer gives you your dmg and SA gives you remove condi and init gains while acro gives you energy and 2 init per 10 secs. this allows you to play both builds and have a lil more dmg . some say bring 0 20 30 20 0 but i like the extra offense rather than some heals…. as d/p you shouldnt be taking much dmg from most classes so i dont feel the need to bring it. also utility skills chosen right will help you for whatever you feel lacking.

that is what i ran before i switched to p/d….but who knows what ill play next week. working on some s/p stuff right now but has a few shortcomings bc i like to run 2 sets of weapons that are the same to take advantage of sigils several times each fight.

gluck

Thanks for the feedback. I understand your choice in using D/P as a defensive getaway tool, but personally I find it too easy to walk away with. If I encounter a zerg, I almost always have myself positioned in a way that I can Infiltrator’s Strike to some kind of creature (skale, mosquito, etc.). If a group continues to follow me, I will actually select a target within the zerg infiltrator’s strike into the zerg, CnD and run through the other side, while they think I’m still ahead of them. It makes a getaway that much more satisfying and a little bit more challenging. Of course this is only my opinion.

I was testing 0/30/20/20/0 yesterday, as a more powerful Heavy hitting build, At the moment I’m still testing different viable High DPS S/D builds.

Thanks again for feedback!

no problem. it works same for s/d not just d/p. but alot of the time if its a 8 v 2 …s/d is dead to…thats what i mean…small groups iwll chase you …not so much big ones.

Travlane.5948:

no problem. it works same for s/d not just d/p. but alot of the time if its a 8 v 2 …s/d is dead to…thats what i mean…small groups iwll chase you …not so much big ones.

Eh, I don’t think S/D a few nerfs, that’s all. You just adapt to a new playstyle, it’s still a great weapon set.

You don’t need D/P. You just have to learn to land CnD. It takes a lot of practice. If you miss with it, even once, it’s terrible since you’re out 6 init. Practice hitting everything with it as you run along and have blinding powder up in case you’re out of init.

Kabuki.9103:

You don’t need D/P. You just have to learn to land CnD. It takes a lot of practice. If you miss with it, even once, it’s terrible since you’re out 6 init. Practice hitting everything with it as you run along and have blinding powder up in case you’re out of init.

This is what I mean, Thank you for clarifying!

I still think 10/30/30 works best for SD but I guess its just me

The 10/30/30/0/0 setup is ideal for burst and high dps with S/D. All the guides above utilize sustained damage. If you tried them you’ll obviously notice you aren’t hitting as hard, and feel weak. This can be unappealing, but if keep playing with the build ( at least his was the case for me) you will find that you are able to survive 1vX encounters much easier, and that you won’t have to reset a fight. Which is typical for many thieves even myself when I find myself in a tight spot.
Of course if you’re looking for burst 10/30/30 is a good setup, but I find myself quickly overwhelmed when too many enemies join a battle, even with Shadow Rejuvenation. Just my opinion, thanks for feedback.

~ Added a burst build.

Nice thread keep it up !

I think 10 0 0 30 30 double S/D deserves a spot too. Lot of dodges / boons / sustain, moderate damage, can be played full glas with a bit valk

Works quite good with double D/P too it just focues more on the blinds + dodges + interrupts instead of the stealth like a traditional D/P build would do (even tho it can stack stealth to some extent because of the massive ini regen). But doesnt have the oomph damage because of lack of points in CS… it’s lot of fun tho

Sizzle Hint.1820:

Nice thread keep it up !

I think 10 0 0 30 30 double S/D deserves a spot too. Lot of dodges / boons / sustain, moderate damage, can be played full glas with a bit valk

Works quite good with double D/P too it just focues more on the blinds + dodges + interrupts instead of the stealth like a traditional D/P build would do (even tho it can stack stealth to some extent because of the massive ini regen). But doesnt have the oomph damage because of lack of points in CS… it’s lot of fun tho

Thank’s for the feedback I’ll be sure to try it out, I actually haven’t tried that yet! :p

Sizzle Hint.1820:

Nice thread keep it up !

I think 10 0 0 30 30 double S/D deserves a spot too. Lot of dodges / boons / sustain, moderate damage, can be played full glas with a bit valk

Works quite good with double D/P too it just focues more on the blinds + dodges + interrupts instead of the stealth like a traditional D/P build would do (even tho it can stack stealth to some extent because of the massive ini regen). But doesnt have the oomph damage because of lack of points in CS… it’s lot of fun tho

Hey, I tried your build and I have to say it’s pretty fun. As you said lots of dodges and mobility, and decent sustained damage. It’s actually very effective against other glassy builds, especially other thieves.

Been seeing a lot of questions about S/D builds on forum lately, so I think I’ll bump this. Hope it helps those trying to find a build, or gives you ideas.

i run 0/30/0/20/20 and it works pretty well with s/d

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYUQNAsYVlcmaPncS4E+5ExmihKUuHO1oJtTBXtKA-j0xAYMBRiBIBJQZviox2GKiGruGT5SEVDA-w

I will also add my S/D build here then!
I’m playing Slayer traits too (0/20/30/20/0), but quite other ones do I use. There are lots of qq on forum about sitting in stealth. OK then, let’s just enter, leave and reenter the stealth for the additional things!

I start fight with 2 (to have easy wayback if problems), AA and CnD if: have a condi, or, need an AoE blind, or, have a daze or another blind on demand, or just disappear. Mostly I make 1 chain of AA, CnD, 1 chain of AA, CnD. In PvE it ends with perma-blind, and big weakness and cripple.

Should I tell you the usefulness of signets I chose? I hope not!
And now Shadow Refuge is now the immortality button. Cloaked in Shadow gives AoE blind per stealth. I stealth myself for 4 times so I blind 5 targets within close range while under iHouse. They want me die by AoE, oh really? Guys – you can’t see me anymore!
I also use SR for healing (shortbow combo – leeching), renewing my ini (traited) or loosing condis (by patient sitting under the house ;x), or still to run away.

Dagger Storm + signet of malice = surviving the zerg fight. (up to 1,5k healing/sec)

Usage of signet of malice for vigor to run away! Lots of dodges (dodges = swiftness)

Won’t tell you more, try it, love it

Why do people say S/D isn’t a stealthy set? Just because the current spvp meta favors the evade s/d build?

20/30/20 is a great spec for s/d. you can still dazelock people.

I’ve actually been running the last build you have given a title to. Ninjutsu. I’ve played that build for about a month and I crit about 4.8-5.8k on the last hit of sword one or the second hit of #3. Total nuke.

Just for some help, I run full zero which can be very VERY difficult since you have literally 0 survivability. Signet of Malice is a must. I run with shadow refuge and the other stealth in wvw, for utility purposes mostly. The 3 second stealth gives a nice bit of survivability, and I can crit for 4-5k out of stealth.

I definitely recommend this build because it is a blast. Not quite the same damage as d/d because of a slower attack rate, but the build is TONS of fun.

Hey guys lately, I’ve been running 0/30/10/30/0, with the same equips as my 10/30/0/0/30 build. It’s really fun and has way more survivability.