Guild Wars 2

This is a build I’ve been working on to suit myself. Going for dps with survival bits. It also provides some initiative regen and several damage bonuses. My utilities/elites change up all the time depending on what my current environment is and I do well when it comes to choosing them. Be it world PvE, dungeons or WvW.

Please rate and comment, I ain’t no wussy when it comes to criticism.

My Build

Now here is the dilemma part. I love Mug and Lotus Poison (for shortbow 4) very much. These two things have had a greater addictive hold on me much more so than Signet of Shadow’s ever did.

Would I be able to sleep at night with the 15 points in Shadow Arts instead of Deadly Arts? (or maybe even 10 points in DA with mug and 5 points in SA)

I don’t really see anything wrong with your build. I always like to have atleast 15 in SA. Your S/D so it looks pretty good to me. Try em up both ways. That’s the only real way to see what works best for you and your play style.

Yeah, it basically boils down to :

An awesome gap closing burst attack every 45 seconds + perma weakness with shortbow. Not to mention a nice chunk of power.

Or

5% less damage taken + slightly better heal from stats. 1 sec longer stealth.
Deception skill cooldown reduction. (very nice)
2 init on stealth
blind on stealth
Condi removal on stealth

Lofat’s suggestion couldnt of been said any better, but darn it all if it doesnt make it any easier to pick. :p

thf4lyfe

I personally use a 0/30/20/20/0 setup (coming from a 30/10/5/0/20), I don’t miss the traits from Deadly arts at all. Sure it takes some time to get used to not doing dmg on steal, but I actually prefer it much better like this. Steal now functions as a gapcloser even while (already) stealthed. Mug would debuff you if you were stealthed before stealing. As a S/D & D/D user this gives me acces to a waterproof daze or a backstab (better used for the daze, since mug would compensate the “loss” of backstab but won’t compensate loss of daze)

Well, you can make up for lotus poison by using your Choking Gas → Cluster Bomb combo, which will cause weakness though not as effectively..

I personally can’t live without some points in SA, so I’m a bit biased. But I think you’re on the right track ditching Deadly Arts.

I’d just focus on Condition Damage and take all points out of the Critical Strikes tree.

Gwalchgwn.1659:

I personally use a 0/30/20/20/0 setup (coming from a 30/10/5/0/20), I don’t miss the traits from Deadly arts at all. Sure it takes some time to get used to not doing dmg on steal, but I actually prefer it much better like this. Steal now functions as a gapcloser even while (already) stealthed. Mug would debuff you if you were stealthed before stealing. As a S/D & D/D user this gives me acces to a waterproof daze or a backstab (better used for the daze, since mug would compensate the “loss” of backstab but won’t compensate loss of daze)

I run s/d – d/d as well. Just can’t give up mug. You can actually activate back-stab/Daze in stealth say 300 units behind them then mug at the same time and both will hit just fine. They just have to be running away.

Stiv.1820:

Gwalchgwn.1659:

I personally use a 0/30/20/20/0 setup (coming from a 30/10/5/0/20), I don’t miss the traits from Deadly arts at all. Sure it takes some time to get used to not doing dmg on steal, but I actually prefer it much better like this. Steal now functions as a gapcloser even while (already) stealthed. Mug would debuff you if you were stealthed before stealing. As a S/D & D/D user this gives me acces to a waterproof daze or a backstab (better used for the daze, since mug would compensate the “loss” of backstab but won’t compensate loss of daze)

I run s/d – d/d as well. Just can’t give up mug. You can actually activate back-stab/Daze in stealth say 300 units behind them then mug at the same time and both will hit just fine. They just have to be running away.

You mean like activating it as if it’s a “C&D steal” combo .. but then as “backstab steal” combo? Haven’t tried that out. I’m too fond with my current build to actually try it out at the moment, but i’ll remember it

Seems the current consensus is Shadow Arts being the must-have. Thanks for the input so far everyone.

Tempest Darqmane.4862:

Seems the current consensus is Shadow Arts being the must-have. Thanks for the input so far everyone.

It provides a lot of benefits while stealthed.

Initiative, condition removal and healing. Shadow Refuge clears all conditions and heals for over 6,500. Hide in Shadows; our healing ability cures poison, burning, bleeding, heals for 7,500 and stealths for 4 seconds.

I don’t do PVP much due to culling and lag issues but, it works really great for PVE. The damage is pretty high and the survivability is good. Group stealth support is also really helpful.

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mckzzc0zMMrFvoMoLvo0xxa0ocqmVqo

I wish Feline’s Grace was 5 points in the Acrobatics tree. I hate the fact that a Thief has very little swiftness, vigor and dodge bonuses.