Guild Wars 2

So for quite some time now in both PvE and PvP i rarely ever see thieves that run pistols (main hand and off) or that use LDB (leaping death blossom). Back when i first picked my thief which is my main, i constantly used it during PvE encounters, i see it here and there in EXP modes, but I’ve started to PvP more now and i pretty much haven’t seen it at all. Do most thieves just not like the ability along with the pistol? Or is D/D just considered stronger or better?

Ninewonderz.6439:

So for quite some time now in both PvE and PvP i rarely ever see thieves that run pistols (main hand and off) or that use LDB (leaping death blossom). Back when i first picked my thief which is my main, i constantly used it during PvE encounters, i see it here and there in EXP modes, but I’ve started to PvP more now and i pretty much haven’t seen it at all. Do most thieves just not like the ability along with the pistol? Or is D/D just considered stronger or better?

P/P is more of a damage setup, worthless as a condi spec.

If you want to use P in a DPS setup, use it in the offhand with D/P. Black Powder adds some nice surviability, and headshots for interrupting heals.

If you want to use P in a condi setup, use it with P/D. Cloak and Dagger > Sneak Attack (Pistol Stealth Attack #1).

I’ve seen some use P/P, they mainly use it for damage after the enemy has blown their dodge, cause someone dodging your unload would suck. People use pistols, just we dont usually use them together, but there are a few that do use dual pistols as a off set.

I’m confused … because Death Blossom is a dagger/dagger ability. I use Death Blossom all the time in WvW because it is an evade and because it stacks bleeds. I admit that I don’t see it used by others at all as often as I use it, but I suspect that most other thieves try to save their initiative for CnD. I try not to rely so much on burst and I trait for the three extra initiative points so that I can use Death Blossom more often, and also so that I can leap more often with Heartseeker when I’m pursuing someone. I’m not saying that’s better … only that I prefer to play that way.

Cactus.2710:

I’m confused … because Death Blossom is a dagger/dagger ability. I use Death Blossom all the time in WvW because it is an evade and because it stacks bleeds. I admit that I don’t see it used by others at all as often as I use it, but I suspect that most other thieves try to save their initiative for CnD. I try not to rely so much on burst and I trait for the three extra initiative points so that I can use Death Blossom more often, and also so that I can leap more often with Heartseeker when I’m pursuing someone. I’m not saying that’s better … only that I prefer to play that way.

When it comes to sPvP, a lot of thieves use LDB. But a condi thief wouldn’t use CnD unless they are P/D. CnD is 6 init, LDB is 6 init. CnD on a D/D LDB Condi thief is a waste of init. :p

When I ran sPvP (hot-joins) with the double D/D evade set up, I traited 0/0/10/30/30 with Shadow’s Embrace from Shadow Arts for the condition removal. It wasn’t something to rely on due to the initiative cost, but it was great to have when you really needed it.

One of my good friends is a D/D condition thief and is very effective against large groups of people, especially stupid GS warriors who stand there and let him LDB over them 4 times. The only build he’s encountered which he cannot beat is my mantra mesmer build which fully removes all conditions about every 1.33 seconds each time I cast a mantra and each time I heal. Most people, however, do not run full condition removal builds and most mesmers laugh at mantra builds, so the condition thief still prevails in most every fight, even when outnumbered.

Viking Jorun.5413:

Most people, however, do not run full condition removal builds

Pretty much.

I went back to p/d / sb in full carrion yesterday just to play around and was having fun again with conditions.

I was ticking bleeds at around 110-120 per tick. I’m finding that I can only get 10-15 stacks max now with the extra second added to the debuff. I vaguely remember being able to get 25 stacks with no problem. I’m running 101% condition duration. (45% to bleeds from gear, 20% from sigils, and 36% from pizza).

Am I doing something wrong?

well with the extra revealed time and the lower duration on caltrops its to be expected that you can’t maintain conditions as well.