Guild Wars 2

There seems to be an idea that a thief cannot match a warrior’s DPS. This idea is of course, completely wrong. Yet very few people seem to realize that a thief cannot only match a warrior’s damage, it can exceed it. I’m going to show you how, with the hopes that more people will realize the raw DPS of a thief.

This guide centers around one ability, and that’s pistol whip. Pistol whip is your 100 blades except it has a 0.75 s cooldown, and while you’re using it you avoid all incoming attacks.

Your gear should be full exotic or ascended, all berserkers. You should be using ruby orbs in your armor.

Traits:

Deadly arts: 25 points

*Sundering strikes. 40% chance on crit to apply vulnerability.
*Combined training. 5% more damage to dual weild abilities (pistol whip)

Critical strikes: 30 points

*Side strike. 7% more crit chance when hitting from behind or from the side.
*Combo critical chance. 5% more crit to dual wield abilities (pistol whip)
*Executioner. 20% more damage when the target is below 50% health.

Trickery: 15 points.

*Thrill of the crime. Steal gives you and your allies swiftness, fury, and might when you use steal.

Now that you’ve got your character set up, you’re ready to begin.

For utility abilities, you’ll start with: signet of malice, assassin’s signet, signet of agility, thieves guild.

For your last utility it depends on if you have 1 or 2 mesmers. If you have 2 then you should start out with ambush. If just one then start with haste.

When magg blows open the door, position yourself so that you hit both of the mobs at the start, and use your pistol whip, if possible position it so you hit the mobs and one of the turrets. When they’re dead move to the turrets if either is still up.

Then begin running to the slave driver. As you’re running, use your thieves guild ability. When the fight starts the mesmer should push him up against the wall. Then you should use your infiltrator’s strike and begin spamming pistol whip. Make sure you communicate beforehand as to when time warp will be used. If it’s being used at the beginning then go ahead and start spamming pistol whip. When it’s down then use your steal for some quick initiative, then activate haste and use a couple more pistol whips.

If you have 2 mesmers then set up ambush between the boss and the wall, so when the mesmer pushes the boss up against the wall it will trigger your ambush. Spam pistol whip, use steal for some quick initiative regen.

Afterwards switch to: Hide in shadows, Signet of shadows, shadow refuge, shadow step.

Start running as soon as the door is open. If it’s the event with Roshan then run past him, use infiltrator’s strike against the mobs guarding the door, and run past them. If it’s the other event then use infiltrator’s strike against one of the mobs, then use steal on the mobs guarding the door. Make sure you dodge any incoming attacks, because ifyou get caught at the door and fail to dodge then you could get downed instantly.

When you get into the room switch to dagger/dagger. When you’ve lost aggro, stand right behind where the mobs are going to spawn. When an alcoltye spawns then use a quick Cloak and dagger/backstab combo. This should kill it instantly, if not then use heartseeker. If any are left use steal and finish them off quickly and get the kitten out of dodge. Use shadow step to move to safe spot, either behind the cages in the back, or near where the flaming balls spawn after the alcolyte event.

When the next wave spawns, move in and quickly dispatch them. Again, CnD/backstab should drop them instantly. If a teammate goes down then drop shadow refuge on him and revive.

When the last alcolyte’s die off then loot the chest and move into position for the next part. Stand by the door, your mesmer should come up and drop a portal entrance, then blink through and drop a portal exit. As soon as the door opens run forward to grab a flame, then turn around and wait for the portal, go through the portal and open the door.

In the next part you may or may not have to destroy the controller.

If you don’t, then run into a brazier. When the mobs spawn use black powder as the mobs approach you, then use pistol whip to quickly drop them. You should end up not taking any damage from them.

If you do, then drop shadow refuge as people head out to their braziers. You can use thieves guild or you can save it. I personally choose to use it, as one of thieves will end up tanking the mob, and you’ll drop the controller in around 3 seconds.

Once that’s done, grab the chest and head through.

Make sure your utilities are: signet of malice, assassin’s signet, signet of agility, thieves guild.

It’s the same as the first boss, only a bit longer and a bit more avoiding needed. This is where pistol whip truly shines, as you don’t need to worry about dodging as much.

For example, when he uses his big aoe where he charges up for a bit and then lets out a large aoe that deals damage and burns, you can just use pistol whip a bit after he starts channeling and you’ll avoid the attack while doing damage, meanwhile the warrior is too busy dodging to do damage. Use haste after time warp has expired, use steal to gain some quick initiative when needed. Try to stay behind the boss since you’ll avoid the damage from his frontal AOE, and you’ll do more damage.

And remember, pistol whip > dodging. If you time it right then you should very rarely have to dodge his attacks with your dodge, you should evade them through pistol whip. It’s great when he uses his AOE knockdown attack and everyone but you is knocked down because you were channeling pistol whip when he uses it.

Use this build and the Slave Driver will kill you with 2-3 hits.
You can run a Warrior full Berserker because they have Heavy Armor and 18k HP.
EDIT: I’m not saying that it’s not possible with a Thief, but it’s not easy.

I run CoF p1 with full zerk with D/D. Easily stand up with warriors and surpass them single target. We are also the fast gate busters. Can do it in about 4-5 seconds. People just ask for warriors because they are more forgiving to bad play in PvE and go down much less than the average Thief players.

I have ran cof path 1 with glass back stab thief. alot of fun

Sounds solid, I will give it a try – have been running D/D – P/P or SB for CoF P1 & P2 runs and do very well with it but would like to try something like this for the added multi-target dps. Currently my gear is zerker with divinity runes. What Sigils are you running (Paralyzation on sword?) and what food / other buff items?

Decked.8274:

Use this build and the Slave Driver will kill you with 2-3 hits.
You can run a Warrior full Berserker because they have Heavy Armor and 18k HP.
EDIT: I’m not saying that it’s not possible with a Thief, but it’s not easy.

You won’t get hit 2-3 times. You’ll get hit maybe once.

You’re invincible 80% of the time versus slave driver.

Oh and each pistol whip will heal you for 2,700 health with your signet of malice. So if you do get hit you’ll heal up pretty much instantly.

Leowan.4389:

Sounds solid, I will give it a try – have been running D/D – P/P or SB for CoF P1 & P2 runs and do very well with it but would like to try something like this for the added multi-target dps. Currently my gear is zerker with divinity runes. What Sigils are you running (Paralyzation on sword?) and what food / other buff items?

Sword uses the +10% damage versus flame legion (I rarely use it for anything else) you’ll almost never use tactical strike so I wouldn’t use paralyzation.

I wouldn’t recommend using the damage vs flame legion sigil if you use it for anything else though.

Pistol it’s your call. I personally use superior sigil of fire but there’s a few others that can work. If you want to use superior sigil of bloodlust you’ll be incredibly safe.

Wasabi Kitty.8247:

You won’t get hit 2-3 times. You’ll get hit maybe once.

You’re invincible 80% of the time versus slave driver.

Oh and each pistol whip will heal you for 2,700 health with your signet of malice. So if you do get hit you’ll heal up pretty much instantly.

Well, your build is viable for CoF Path 1, but I think that’s the only dungeon you can you, because playing full Berserker makes you realy squishy.

I play with this build:
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7|c.1g.h1.a.1g.h1b|a.1g.h1.a.1g.0|1c.a4.1c.a4.1c.a4.1c.a4.1c.a4.1c.a4|1c.0.1c.0.1c.0.1c.0.1c.0.1c.0|a6.u12b.0.k2a.a5|39.7|e

Skills: Signet of Malice, Signet of Shadows, Signet of Agility, Haste, Thieves Guild

Take a look.

I’ve run CoF, AC, CM, TA, SE, HoTW, and Arah with my thief.

Only one I haven’t done on my thief is CoE

i run with 15 in acrobatics and power of inertia to avoid more often. but with this i run every dungeon and frac 40+. PW is just OP
get 2 warriors in party and you are able to stack might to 25. you dont need 4 warriors…
tell them to play a thief and they admit the dps, otherwise they are stubborn.

The only problem I have with this build is that d/d is superior to damage then sword is so if you were to come up with some kind of “exceed warrior dps” for p1 build sword wouldn’t be it. I bought a sword to try and get into the headspace of all the thieves I heard saying sword has the best dps, but truth is, after about 10+ attempts on controller for p1 I could never do it as fast as when I used d/d(I used this as my benchmark because it’s strictly solo so it’s easy to compare the two speeds). Even threw in assassins signet with sword which I never use with d/d and couldn’t do it in the same time. Sword is great for it’s aoe damage but in p1 the only time that is taken into account is in the first part with the two turrets, the rest is pure single target dps so you can’t truly capitalize on the swords dps since the goal of p1 is single target dps. It’s my opinion the high base damage on sword leads people to believe it does more dps but the speed d/d hits is more dps in the long run against a single target. God kitten I said dps too much.

My disagreeing aside great post wasabi, thief can definitely match warriors dps, it just takes more skill than the average thief has to survive having 10-13k hp in p1.

Spread the word, let the world know

ReeferKeeper.1865:

The only problem I have with this build is that d/d is superior to damage then sword is so if you were to come up with some kind of “exceed warrior dps” for p1 build sword wouldn’t be it. I bought a sword to try and get into the headspace of all the thieves I heard saying sword has the best dps, but truth is, after about 10+ attempts on controller for p1 I could never do it as fast as when I used d/d(I used this as my benchmark because it’s strictly solo so it’s easy to compare the two speeds). Even threw in assassins signet with sword which I never use with d/d and couldn’t do it in the same time. Sword is great for it’s aoe damage but in p1 the only time that is taken into account is in the first part with the two turrets, the rest is pure single target dps so you can’t truly capitalize on the swords dps since the goal of p1 is single target dps. It’s my opinion the high base damage on sword leads people to believe it does more dps but the speed d/d hits is more dps in the long run against a single target. God kitten I said dps too much.

My disagreeing aside great post wasabi, thief can definitely match warriors dps, it just takes more skill than the average thief has to survive having 10-13k hp in p1.

Spread the word, let the world know

Pistol whip spam does more damage than D/D

@wasabi

I would continue to throw out points about pistol whip vs d/d, but you made such a great rebuttal there’s literally nothing more I can say.

You must be 100% right and changed my mind forever.

/end sarcasm.

I’m not here to change your mind or debate with you. I’m here to show others how to best farm path 1 of CoF.

The information is out there, you can do the research if you’d like to but really I don’t care if you believe me or continue to think that D/D matches pistol whip spam.

Wasabi Kitty.8247:

I’m not here to change your mind or debate with you. I’m here to show others how to best farm path 1 of CoF.

The information is out there, you can do the research if you’d like to but really I don’t care if you believe me or continue to think that D/D matches pistol whip spam.

I have a fairly open mind, is there something so wrong about defending the main point of your post? What’s the point of claiming “X is the best” if you can’t explain why you feel “X is better then Y”. Although I disagree with sword being the best dps it would be nice to hear some points as to WHY it is besides “it just is”. I did my own research and came to the conclusion after seeing the numbers d/d was far better for single target dps. Sorry for “stepping on your toes” I was just hoping for a little elaboration since you clearly say sword is superior and took the time to make a 2 page post based on it, because I simply don’t see it…Maybe I’m wrong. Don’t worry about it bro, the internets was made for claiming things you don’t need to back up.

I run a similar setup, but with more tanky traits (0/15/30/25/0), with 4ini every 10secs (trait and sigil) plus ini on crits and stealth I can span P/W nearly non-stop.

I usually go in with inf-strike, steal (to get the stealth f1) spam pistol whip until I need a cond remove or stun break, use the return from inf-strike to remove burn/bleed/stun and go back in with another inf strike. I can usually stand toe-to-toe with any boss on CoF using this. I add a few dodges here and there to increase dmg and get might stacks too.

In cases where there are many adds I drop caldrops for the extra heal ticks (sig malice).

Check youtube for my channel i have a thief cof video if ur interested its called. arnoud niet

was on my phone earlier so heres the actual link>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1AwthRsfNY

Wasabi Kitty.8247:

Decked.8274:

Use this build and the Slave Driver will kill you with 2-3 hits.
You can run a Warrior full Berserker because they have Heavy Armor and 18k HP.
EDIT: I’m not saying that it’s not possible with a Thief, but it’s not easy.

You won’t get hit 2-3 times. You’ll get hit maybe once.

You’re invincible 80% of the time versus slave driver.

Oh and each pistol whip will heal you for 2,700 health with your signet of malice. So if you do get hit you’ll heal up pretty much instantly.

Pretty sure that in CoF SoM only heals for about 100-110 Hp per hit.
With that said, pistol whip doesn’t hit 25 times.

Omnomberry Pie + SoM + Caltrops + PistolWhip

Tons of survive ability with PW evasion and all the healing procs