Guild Wars 2

Hi guys, I just got my Daredevil maxed out yesterday evening (thief is my main so I didn’t have to grind many HP’s). I played around with the new elite yesterday a bit and this morning and I have to say, while it looks like a really nice skill in PvP, in PvE it feels really underwhelming. Basically it’s a Basilisk Venom that deals some damage.
I just got back (about 1 month ago, so I’m not rusty anymore) from around 1 year break so I don’t know if you guys still do the PvP / PvE balancing different. But I really think you should add some utility or something to the skill in PvE. I have no idea what can be done to make it better (maybe give us evasion when we activate it?).

For some reason, I don’t think you guys balance thief for PvE anymore, and I think it’s a shame. For example I can’t find a reason to use the staff over S/P. The new monsters are really tough and to be honest I find Black Powder a necessity while fighting in the new maps. Say I were to keep S/P or D/P and swamp staff for shortbow., that’s even worse as I’m losing range and mobility

Maybe I’m just wrong and I’m not tackling the content right, and if any players has some tips for new PvE builds (fractals included) feel free to link them

The elite was made for pvp, using it in PvE is pointless to say the least

Kill.3458:

The elite was made for pvp, using it in PvE is pointless to say the least

Yep, so my feelings were right, Thief PvE got shafted, again.

Kill.3458:

The elite was made for pvp, using it in PvE is pointless to say the least

Daredevil is bad for both PvP and PvE.

In PvE it just doesnt do enough to warrent being used and other specs are better

In PvP physical skills are to slow to be used period and you lose to much taking it over other specs.

Thief is in a horrible position at the moment.

Namica.2951:

Kill.3458:

The elite was made for pvp, using it in PvE is pointless to say the least

Daredevil is bad for both PvP and PvE.

In PvE it just doesnt do enough to warrent being used and other specs are better

In PvP physical skills are to slow to be used period and you lose to much taking it over other specs.

Thief is in a horrible position at the moment.

I like stun breaker block physical skill… At best it block all ranged dmg, at worst it stun a melee fighter… Saved me alot of times from enemy thieves!

Daredevil fills in some of the holes in the weaker theif design that came with the specialization patch by adding options that should have been addressed better through core specializations or the weapon kits themselves.

However, I’ve found that when situationally utilized and played well, it’s beneficial to run Daredevil in new pve content for increased mobility and survivability especially in the open-world raid content. I’m still finding the staff slightly underwhelming compared to other weapon setups though.

Been playing the daredevil exclusively so far. I love it. I played with the new elite in the mists and it does seem a bit lacklustre. Maybe adding an Endurance buff or refilling the initiative when used would be good and make it worth while in pve.

@Six.8051
A friend and I were duo-ing (not a word I know) some of the champions in the second map for the hero points… Daredevil used properly with the staff has a decent survivability. I was basicly the tank (in zerker gear) and he was the fire elementalist nuking the champ, we cleared about 4 by ourselves. sure i went down a couple of times when learning the boss’s moves. staff’s #1 skill is the best, use the others as tools for evading and interacting with fields.

it’s probable that I’m more familiar with s/d and s/p than staff, so I found them more effective. I’ll play around with staff more this week and see if my opinion changes.

Underwhelming ? No ! Daredevil is awesome both in PvP and PvE
with Trickster + Daredevil Trait you have up time Swiftness and Fury
You have great condition removal and 3 dodge bar help you survive
with Critical Strike Trait line you have healing on Crits

Thief only need reliable range weapon
SB > Deal very little damage compare to other classes but great aoe and mobility
PP > Deal High Damge to Single enemy

Thief is on the line now in PvP doesnt need a buff or nerf
Thief in PvE > MOBS are stupid you can dodge to mitigate the damages and kite them with shortbow also S/P #3 make you evade like a boss while dealing high front cone aoe dmg

Daredevil make thief work like charm agian

I agree, thief seems to be in a good standing. Not too strong, but not overly weak. The Thief is an interesting class, and I’m really excited for getting rifle with the next elite spec. Please Devs.

Otherwise, the elite has its uses in pve, but not as much as pvp.

With the new cc break system or whatever on bosses the elite can dmg + remove some of that. I use it anyways and will keep using it just cuz I hate all our Elites and this one’s just cool. :| Oh and it gives endurance too if you’re bounding all over you get moar. XD

I think they could leave the damage and effects alone, but for PvE give it bonus break bar damage so it’d have a unique use.

Like, double the break bar damage from its 2 CC hits and add a stun-level breakbar hit to the end.

This would allow it to be used in PvE to basically insta-break normal mobs, or deliver a massive break bar spike to champs+mobs, giving thieves a good reason to take it in PvE.

Cannot speak to PvE directly but I can say DD has been a lot of fun to play in WvW. I don’t think it is more effective damage-wise but it is ridiculously fast especially when paired with a shortbow. We are having some impressive results with sword/pistol pairings thanks to steal→mug→pulmanary impact→daze→pistol whip. The heal is pretty nice as well.

Condi DD has been a WONDERFUL experience thus far my condi uptime and versatility when it comes to destroying break bars has never been better, pop impairing daggers and venom share Basilisk = instant wyvern bar gone

No complaints thus far, I wonder how power based builds are fairing.

The elite is actually fantastic for breaking a boss’s break bar AND using it defensively against trash mobs. Daredevil is actually in a pretty good spot.

If you are having a ton of problems with DD that’s honestly just an L2P issue, really. No offense.

Both Power and Condition Daredevil is insanely good. Highest power damage available through Staff 2 spam + Bound, huge condition burst and decent sustain condition damage from Venomshare + D/D + Lotus. Palm Strike and Impact Strike->Uppercut is such insane CC vs. breakbars that you can practically break it yourself. Has anyone ever actually looked at how much a Launch takes off a breakbar?

DD is the best thing that ever happened to Thief for PvE. Took it up to Fractal 100 with no issues and loved every single run.

What about fractals and dungeons?

Laosduude.1690:

What about fractals and dungeons?

Those are both PvE dude.

Opinions. I’ve never had more fun playing a thief in PvE ever before tbh. Constant dodges, amazing staff auto attack chain with overall solid dps, great amount of CC for breaking stun bars etc. Also the dash trait which stacks swiftness and removes movement impairing effects is beast.

I’ve been wanting a damage buff for the Impact Strike chain for awhile. I haven’t calculated the current version, though.

I have found a use for it: the skill is a pretty fast stun, so I carry it with Pulmonary Impact to get a hit against certain mobs. I’d still like a damage buff to make the whole chain to actually be worth of its spot, though.

The finishing blow of the impact strike chain right now is useless in PvE.
It has a relatively long cast time, but deals less damage than the uppercut that comes before it, while providing no additional effect.
Right now, the most efficient way to use impact strike chain is to use the first two attacks, then discarding the finisher which is a real shame.

Finishing blow should have an effect for PvE only. A CC or a condition.