General D/D leveling

General D/D leveling

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Posted by: johnIV.3849

johnIV.3849

So guys for general leveling purposes with D/D are you guys going to condition/shadow arts/ acrobatics route (aka DoT them up, and dodge and stealth to watch them bleed. This is the more defensive route I am guessing. Using either P/D for more stealth and bleeding goodness. Or SB for a general fast escape/AOE multi mob weapon. Also with this you will have quick CD on your steal skill. But a lot of steal improvements are in the power tree go figure. Something like 0/0/30/20/20.

Or something like power/crit/shadow arts route (aka stealth backstab BOOM CRIT hs dead). Of course using SB on switch for multiple mobs/events. 25/30/15/0/0

I am having trouble deciding between them. What do you guys think, and what variation of traits do you guys use. I am not a pistol whip kind of guy I feel its slow and rather be jumping around and stealthing like a mad man.

Thanks for reading and any feed back would be great. Remember this is not PvP or dungeons, this is just for general world leveling.

(edited by johnIV.3849)

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Posted by: Santent.3647

Santent.3647

I got to 80 very, very easily with D/D as my main set, and P/P for Ranged, Champs, and Kiting. I always put my points into crit first, then 10 points into Shadow Arts for the +2 initiative every time you stealth (this ability is underplayed and it’s quite amazing). Then, points into the Power tree.

General Rotation for mobs

1. Death Blossom when in range
2. Cloak & Dagger (then run behind the mob and turn to face him)
3. Backstab
4. Heartseeker

Most mobs are dead by this point. If they arent, just start over again with C&D. Easy stuff.

For aoe I use Death Blossom x3 then the elite trait Dagger Storm. We have great aoe if you do this right.

:——: Santent – 80 Thief —--:
Gate of Madness – Chaos Legion (CL)

(edited by Santent.3647)

General D/D leveling

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Posted by: BlueprintLFE.2358

BlueprintLFE.2358

I am also planning out my D/D build as well. I really enjoy backstabbing. After playing most of the other classes I’ll have to say thieves got thekittengood end of the stick on traits and utilities. I am going with a few traits to buff up steal, the poison, mug and stealth on steal. Then I’m going to head for the ability that once you get CC’d automatically shadow steps you away. Not sure what else to grab from their. I’m looking to be hovering around 40-50% Crit rating. I would like to get some points into toughness and vitality so I might toss some points into those trees on necessity.

Also that 100% Crit chance while stealthes looks good.

USMC 1st Battalion 10th Marines
Guardian-Blueprinted, Warrior- Grizzilli
[JCM] Guild: Ehmry Bay WvW

General D/D leveling

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Posted by: johnIV.3849

johnIV.3849

What trait does insta shadow step when CCed that sounds super powerful for PvP. Only thing bad I think is the trickery line reduces steal CD and some buffs. But the exact opposite deadly arts tree has a bunch of good traits for steal too.

Don’t really think a Power/condition/shadow arts build would work because you either go bleeds with LDB or straight dmg with C&D+backstab+HS. Guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Also I would rather go with executioner(+20% dmg when mob is below 50% hp) than 100% crit when stealthed. But to each their own.

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Posted by: BlueprintLFE.2358

BlueprintLFE.2358

I’m at work so I can’t tell you the exact trait location but it is on a 90 sec cool down, but with the amount of cc’s out there from players and mobs it’s with it. I think it was in the shadow arts free. Hmm executioner is that the one that gives you might when below 50%? Or is it a flat 20% damage increase? Im tryingto think about whether the 100% Crit rate is worth it if I have 40-50% Crit rate. So I’m still not sure. I’m going With a backstabbing build as I have found that is where most of my damage is comig from in a D/D build.

USMC 1st Battalion 10th Marines
Guardian-Blueprinted, Warrior- Grizzilli
[JCM] Guild: Ehmry Bay WvW

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Posted by: johnIV.3849

johnIV.3849

It is pure 20% increase when your targets health is below 50%. So once you backstab the mob your HS will hit for 20% more dmg on regular mobs. But on champions and such this skill is really good because even after their health is below 50% they last for a while.

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Posted by: MikeB.3857

MikeB.3857

Gather a bunch, Blossom across. Blossom back across. Stealth. Blossom back. Heal stealth. Blossom. Insert your dodge/caltrops whenever.

10 in shadow arts and the rest in trickery.

Revered – [REVD]
Maizen Blue – Thief

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Posted by: GOSU.9574

GOSU.9574

Pretty much levelling as d/d power/precision/crit. Not getting to caught up in theorycrafting or min/maxing. Just levelling solo.

Since I started out with p/p for simplicity and not getting hurt in large fights I use that for champs/events, etc.

47 at the moment.

Hey dude you are walking into a wall.

smack..Wut?…smack…smack…

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Posted by: johnIV.3849

johnIV.3849

See thats what I am thinking full trickery and then acrobatics or power and shadow arts. Also this way you will have some good +healing for malice or hide in shadows, and a bit of defence so you can take a hit.

Because very very rarely do I actually face a single mob in world hearts or events. And even if I do I destroy them in 2 LDBs and a HS.

Keep your thief tactics coming guys.