Guild Wars 2

What are some of the more “viable” or “popular” burst builds out there for thieves in PvE?

I wanted to spice up my variety in playing the thief, currently I’m running a condition build which I really like but it seems that most thieves are doing a burst build instead. Made me wonder what I’m missing out on.

Most of the thief builds I tried looking up seem to be WvW based and PvP based, and they seem to excel at this. However, that’s not really my cup of Ovaltine, I really like playing PvE and dungeon runs for the time being, so please recommend a PvE burst build that you guys really like.

Of note: Best thing I like about my condition build is mob control with AoE from DB and caltrops, and also the short bow alt weapon set. I would prefer a burst build that is equally good at handling mobs, or at least have a reliable way to manage them consistently.

Quit your thief and make a warrior. Thieves suck at PVE. I have a thief and a warrior. I will never pve on the thief unless I have to now. Warrior hitting bosses for 30k on just last hit of HB.

If you are going for PVE only I would probably do P/D condition build. Thieves DPS sucks.

swinsk.6410:

If you are going for PVE only I would probably do P/D condition build. Thieves DPS sucks.

Bit harsh no? I have a warrior too, he is much easier to do PvE I wont lie. That being said, I literally had situations where I engaged a mob, had the auto attack on, alt tabbed to read an email, and came back about a minute later, he was fine. Mob was dead.

Comeon now… you call that fun?

Yea same. Well, I am doing fractals on my warrior. The only reason I made my warrior was so that people would group me for fractals. I plan on giving all benefits/rewards to my thief.

The thief is way more fun to play, I agree. However, that doesn’t mean they are better. Thieves are way better at spvp and wvw than they are are pve. I enjoy thief way more than I do warrior, but the point of pve is to kill mobs. Warrior is way better at that, so why try as a thief?

Like I said, if you are going to give it a try. I would go something like my spvp build.

Lots of condition damage and healing in stealth using P/D + SB.

swinsk.6410:

Quit your thief and make a warrior. Thieves suck at PVE. I have a thief and a warrior. I will never pve on the thief unless I have to now. Warrior hitting bosses for 30k on just last hit of HB.

If you are going for PVE only I would probably do P/D condition build. Thieves DPS sucks.

Buffed Warrior gets outdps’ed from buffed Thief (25 Might/Fury). The problem is, Thief needs two Warriors and a Mesmer to get those buffs. And the Thief is harder to play (12k HP, 1900 Armor)

Did you know that HB’s damage sums up? its not the last hit that deals 30k but the whole 3.5 Second HB.

I mean I run a d/d PvE condition damage as it is, going p/d doesn’t really change much (although maybe I will try equipping that as my off weapon set rather than SB, see how that feels). I was looking for a way to do a burst damage thief instead.

Regarding fractal teams, that is really discouraging I haven’t really been doing much fractals (literally just did level 1) but I was hoping to go do them soon. I heard people complain about it before but I didn’t think it was that big a deal =<.

If they can give thieves a more reliable AoE and mob control it would fix so much problems we have in PvE… seriously thieves are such a fun class, I resent the fact that im being “strongly encouraged” to play a specific class because they are apparently better designed.

I refuse to alt my guardian/warrior, or a mesmer!!!! (even though I kind of already did make a warrior/guardian and they are both lvl 30+, but that was just so I could see what the hype was all about!)

Solution: Elementalist! Another class with bad design issues but high fun factor! And the tier 3 human female cultural armor looks sexy, so ha!

Molch.2078:

Buffed Warrior gets outdps’ed from buffed Thief (25 Might/Fury). The problem is, Thief needs two Warriors and a Mesmer to get those buffs. And the Thief is harder to play (12k HP, 1900 Armor)

Did you know that HB’s damage sums up? its not the last hit that deals 30k but the whole 3.5 Second HB.

I’ve never seen a thief with 25 stacks of might. I imagine that would hurt, let’s be realistic though.

I did not know that about HB. All I see is huge damage numbers keep popping up and 30k ish is the highest I’ve seen it on the last hit.

Silver.4798:

I mean I run a d/d PvE condition damage as it is, going p/d doesn’t really change much (although maybe I will try equipping that as my off weapon set rather than SB, see how that feels). I was looking for a way to do a burst damage thief instead.

I know what you are saying, but I think for pve condition is thieves strong point. P/D I think is easier to apply bleeds with and keep them up.

Silver.4798:

Regarding fractal teams, that is really discouraging I haven’t really been doing much fractals (literally just did level 1) but I was hoping to go do them soon. I heard people complain about it before but I didn’t think it was that big a deal =<.

Tell me about. Everyone hates thieves. I had to level a whole other toon that I hate and think is boring to play because thieves suck at pve and no one likes them.

Silver.4798:

If they can give thieves a more reliable AoE and mob control it would fix so much problems we have in PvE… seriously thieves are such a fun class, I resent the fact that im being “strongly encouraged” to play a specific class because they are apparently better designed.

How do you think I felt after getting my thief to 80 and wanting to get the new upgraded ascended gear? I have no desire to play my warrior except maybe spvp some and fractals.

Silver.4798:

I refuse to alt my guardian/warrior, or a mesmer!!!! (even though I kind of already did make a warrior/guardian and they are both lvl 30+, but that was just so I could see what the hype was all about!)

Solution: Elementalist! Another class with bad design issues but high fun factor! And the tier 3 human female cultural armor looks sexy, so ha!

Ele’s are pretty awesome. I have a level 32 ele. Fun class, but thief is more fun.

ANet didn’t make fractals for thieves. Any class is more useful than a thief.

swinsk.6410:

I did not know that about HB. All I see is huge damage numbers keep popping up and 30k ish is the highest I’ve seen it on the last hit.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Hundred_Blades

Each hit is supposed to be the same as the next hit, the last hit does a little more additional damage. I believe that the 30k that you see at the end is not in addition to the damage you did the 8 hits before and then 30k on top of that.

Rationale: The second hit always does more damage than the first, and the third does more damage than the second, but looking at the wiki on how that damage is calculated, each hit is supposed to be the same as the last one with the exception of the last. I think therefore the 30k you see at the end is a summation of all the hits combined.

Silver.4798:

I did not know that about HB. All I see is huge damage numbers keep popping up and 30k ish is the highest I’ve seen it on the last hit.

Just check your combat log, yes that thing exists.

swinsk.6410:

Quit your thief and make a warrior. Thieves suck at PVE. I have a thief and a warrior. I will never pve on the thief unless I have to now. Warrior hitting bosses for 30k on just last hit of HB.

If you are going for PVE only I would probably do P/D condition build. Thieves DPS sucks.

This sums up my thoughts exactly, except a 20/30/10/0/10 d/d backstab build can also bring some damage. The only reason I bring my thief to pve anymore is for tokens from dungeons.

Just gonna say, DPS burst builds work far better on players then they do dungeon Vets and Champions.