Guild Wars 2

Hi,

Rolled a Thief about 2 months ago and have been loving it. Mostly, I was leveling her solely for PvP, but fell more and more in love as time went on and have been using her for much more!

Currently, I’ve sunk about 80 matches into learning Thief sPvP using the D/P and SB build that is listed in metabattle.

Playing in AUS, there’s a strange bug that I often get (all my friends get the same) where the HS-Steal-(Stealth)-Backstab combo only works about 50% of the time. The other times it will give you the steal bonuses, then instantly teleport you back to where you were so the backstab is no longer possible…

Anyways, that being said, I’ve decided I want to try out either the S/D or S/P builds that are listed on metabattle since they’re most likely less reliant on such combos that are hard to pull off in the heat of a battle with bag lag/delay.

Can someone experienced with both playstyles give me a rundown on the major differences? And give some advice on which build would be better?

When I get home from work today, I want to give a different build a go, and any advice or pointers early on would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

I don’t have near the experience as others but I just dusted off my thief again and have put in every bit of free time to these builds over the last few days. From what I have seen (just my noon experiences) I would recommend s/d as for ability. I think it offers a higher skill cap but I can’t speak for how it would play with high ping. If lag is an issue and effects how you can move then maybe running s/p would offer more to your Disposal. Pistol whip is lackluster in its damage for the cost and I personally find the self root to be an issue more than a benifit. However if you charge it before a mug or other gap closer it can be quite fun.
As for sword dagger I think it takes away the trap that is spending initiative on dps instead of saving for utility. Let mug and your auto attacks decide your damage output and use initiative to fulfill other goals and priorities. Even If that is setting up damage through ripping boons and such.
I enjoyed both sets but remember I am not a vet to the class as much as I have just begun looking at how it works. That said I personally find myself drawn more to s/d for the simple reason that I feel it teaches me to be wiser in my initiative use and it is showing me how strong my auto chains really are. Also cloak and dagger stealth opens up a door to the world of control that even all the cc from pistol can’t create.
No idea how bad your lag is but try both and see what happens. there is no failure… simply finding ways that aren’t as successfull.

The biggest difference between S/D and S/P is the survivability and damage. S/D’s evade frames are immediate on demand and provide mobility. S/P’s evade frames come after a wind-up and root you in place. This makes S/D much more survivable. S/P meta builds spec for more damage and quickness since it naturally sets up it’s own burst.

S/D is more bruiser like, whereas S/P is burstier. That’s a basic way to put the play styles.