Guild Wars 2

I run the backstab D/D build, so how can I counter a backstab D/P thief? It seems the only way I can stand my ground against them is to switch to D/P myself. But my D/D build is still different from the meta D/P, so it doesn’t reach full potential. Personally, I don’t like D/P – it feels gimmicky. I want to master the more difficult backstab build.

I talked with other thieves, they told me there’s no real way to win a fight against D/P thieves.

I tend to shortbow them. Use a way to get into stealth (heal, steal + feathers, refuge, CnD them/an animal if in wvw) immob them with surprise shot and cluster bomb them to death, in between stealths kite them with disabling shot. Usually only switch to daggers when you can get a basi + mug + cnd + backstab combo off.

Assuming you’re talking WvW, it’s very hard to counter d/p as a d/d thief since you have to not be blinded to land your stealth…I would try playing keep away with shortbow and trying to burst them down with that…Then once they are around 50% go for the stun backstab combo with basilisk venom. If you find that it is hard to play with them using shortbow try just being very patient with them. also, once they are standing in a blind field, waste the first blind by using autoattack, then get JUST outside of the circle so that you can cloak and dagger safely, then backstab. D/p fights are a game of patience and timing.

D/P surely has the upper hand.

Remove blinds using steal or dancing dagger, CnD him when he BP>Heartseekers towards you.

The main concern is not to land backstab, but to win the damage race and avoid their backstabs. I run 25/30/0/0/15, I usually outdps them with AA.

Another nice way is to go in SB and just be difficult to hit and let them waste initiative, then switch to Daggers and spike them.

One-Shot them with a Shadowstep/Steal/Infiltrator Signet + C&D + Backstab. If executed perfectly the Thief can be killed even inside a Black Powder.

Ask snuffles. she will tell you how.

I would suggest Yishis lastest video of him WvW Roaming. There is a duel of him with a D/P Thief and he explains how to deal with them while the fight is going.

Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEEYhovtwBo

mPascoal.4258:

I would suggest Yishis lastest video of him WvW Roaming. There is a duel of him with a D/P Thief and he explains how to deal with them while the fight is going.

Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEEYhovtwBo

So much this. I was too scared of DP thieves as a fellow DD, heck I even still try to avoid them, but after that video I am not helpless. In fact thanks to that beautiful man I actually won a fight against a couple DP thieves, and when I say won I mean made them retreat, and held my own against SD thieves (with a little tricks of my own I felt necessary to use). The trick is when they go in stealth, start AA’ing where you think they are running at you. The trick here is to make them eat a lot of your autoattacks. When you feel they are bout to backstab or close to that point, dodge out of the way and immediately turn around. If they facestab you, this is actually a good thing, they shouldnt immediately place another blackpowder down for fear of ini depletion so as soon as they are on top of you, this is your chance to CnD and gain stealth but it is crucial that you steal a tuft of hair from them whenever you can, while you’re AA’ing, about to CnD whenever, just make sure you get that hair. Dont worry if they BP while you are still in stealth, you can still hit them just outside the radius. But the take home here is that AA’ing is so key, it helps clear blinds and let’s you know when the thief is nearby and deals good damage. The Autoattack if your friend. Also, If you are in stealth and they HS to stealth, try to BS where they land for a BS. Of course try to position yourself to avoid or mitigate a oncoming BS, also, tufts of hair are key for obvious reasons.

I try to stay close to them when they do the combo blackpower and HS for know approximativly where hes and CnD then I stab
If I miss I use one of my utility

Generaly I have always the advantage vs them on the begin of the fight as a D/D but if they are not dead they will run away and regen with them combo … so I just do the same by go out of combat with bow (5) since I cant cnd, then I swap an utility for get scorpion whire and trick them before he do his combo if Im not blind, then CnD stab and Heartseeker!

so yes basilik and whire if you arent blind is good vs them

tbh i don’t think you have any chance unless you catch them off guard or they are bad, since d/p have steal with interrupt they can simply steal as soon as you’re in range making impossible to open on them and eventually making you waste your steal, then will proceed to blind and take the upper hand of the fight, wich usually means being 2-3 shotted if any of these hits is a backstab, sooo just change spec, d/d isn’t viable.

I run D/P and D/D. I usually use D/P against D/P to stall them first but once they goof or I get an interrupt off (headshot them mid BP + HS leap or basilisk) I go D/D, CnD + Steal then BS.

D/d works much better in WvW than in spvp cause of the added latency. Also D/p can be quite cumbersome at times as it telegraphs everything it does making it super vulnerable to interrupts and CC.

mPascoal.4258:

I would suggest Yishis lastest video of him WvW Roaming. There is a duel of him with a D/P Thief and he explains how to deal with them while the fight is going.

Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEEYhovtwBo

Thanks for the link.

I’m managing to beat up D/P thieves more effectively, at least in havoc groups (I am way better in havoc than solo, hah) I still need to work on my timing against them, but I’m finding and hitting them more often when they stealth.