Guild Wars 2

Adaneshade.2409:

Keep in mind that you spin to the right, and that you can move between the first and second strikes. After a while it just becomes muscle memory. You never want to face directly at your target.

Keep it mind, the target can also move during the strike as well, and if he is as “skilled” as the supposibly “skilled” S/D thief master, he can also predict and avoid it easilly by moving to the left, since he knows the thief using Flanking Strike has to move to the right and behind the target.

I tend roll in in such a way that my avatar is inside theirs, nothing short of a dodge roll will allow them to get out.

edit: Also, try turning your back to them as if you’re running and hit it. Seems to land like money when you’re facing away from the target and they tend to no expect it at that point.

Adaneshade.2409:

I tend roll in in such a way that my avatar is inside theirs, nothing short of a dodge roll will allow them to get out.

Or moving towards you while you move towards them will let them escape.

Adaneshade.2409:

PvP is not all about dps. Flanking strike has use in it’s current implementation as an unblockable boon strip. If it were made easier to land it would simply be too OP, much like other abilities we have already are.

For instance: you are fighting a bunker class, lets say a warrior. He pops regeneration then goes into shield block. Thanks to us having one of the ONLY direct damage unblockable weapon skills from any class. We can still strip that regeneration off.

This would be completely OP if it were a guaranteed, easy to land ability. Because it requires some aiming, it’s currently balanced.

It’d be no more OP than, say, Black Powder. It is a utility skill with mediocre damage. The only difference is that skills like Black Powder can effectively deliver their utility at any skill level and then grow with player skill, while FS can’t effectively deliver its utility at low skill levels, and at high skill levels is still directly hindered in that role by poor mechanics.

Blind is no where near as game changing as an unblockable strike, one that has a boon strip tied to it in addition.

Adaneshade.2409:

Blind is no where near as game changing as an unblockable strike, one that has a boon strip tied to it in addition.

You’re right. Blind is much better.

FS’ unblockable nature and boon removal are only defining for it because thieves lack those attributes elsewhere and FS is spammable.

Black powder will only apply blind once on initial attack, unless the target is enough of a fool to stand in it. That’s one missed attack. Stripping a 12 stack of might, or regeneration, or retaliation off your target is so much more potent.

Adaneshade when you use FS do you drop target or keep it?

Does anyone know if the second strike on flanking strike is suppose to be blockable? I have seen it blocked so many times….

Stiv.1820:

Adaneshade when you use FS do you drop target or keep it?

I keep my target. If my target is moving away from me, I overtake them (sword autoattack snare makes this easy) and as soon as I’m ahead of them with my back to them I hit the ability. If they are approaching, I point my character just to the right of them and this causes my spin to go into their avatar, making the second strike land.

Binary Rain.4869:

Does anyone know if the second strike on flanking strike is suppose to be blockable? I have seen it blocked so many times….

It is intended. Only the initial strike is supposed to be unblockable as per the patch notes when they made it that way.