Guild Wars 2

Hello,
I’m new to these forums so…Hi! I’ve been playing for a bit, I have played Thief mostly and loving it. Been silent for the past week, found some good information and some whiners too.
I’ve never played GW1, only this, I have to say job well done.
I got my Thief up to 65 so far and I’d like to ask some questions:
I’m running with Dual Daggers( = D/D right?) and Dual Pistols(=P/P right?). According to here, running with Dual Pistols isn’t that effective. I still haven’t understood everything about it but the majority is because it’s weak compared to other sets. Partly is true, but I still can’t wrap my head around this one.
Now probably everyone speaks about PvPs and WvWvW. I tried once PvP so far and was fun. But I want tips and hints for leveling up…well ‘normally’, by doing the hearts, events, etc. The most part I’m alone, so solo leveling mostly
Anyway I want another alternative for ranged attacks. Shortbow is good, but only in events imo, it has too much Area damage, and attracting too much mobs…is well not good.

Question1: So the other ranged option is Pistol/Dagger right?
I found it lacking a bit in damage, just my opinion. Why is Pistol/Dagger better than Dual Pistols?(If it is) How should I spec for this?

Another thing is the utility skills.
There are some nice ones but sadly I can’t have them all.
Right now I’m using; Roll for Initiative, Signet of Agility and the last one, which frequently changes; Caltrops /Signet of Shadows/Ambush/Assassin’s Signet/Not sure what else… .

Question2: Should I use only 1 Signet? If so which one? Signet of Agility and Assassin’s Signet are most frequently used.
What do you think is better whilst using Dual Daggers and Dual pistols(or perhaps I’d changed them to Pistol/Dagger)??

As a Healing Skill: I use Hide in Shadows. Tried Signet of Malice didn’t like it much.

Elite: Hounds of Balthazar. Yes, racial skills are weaker and just for the show and other that but, found them most reliable. I do tend to change it to Thieves’ Guild sometimes since it has a lower Cooldown, and Daggerstorm for the same reason.

Now for my Trait build:
16 in Deadly Arts. Got Sundering Strikes
19 in Critical Strikes. Got Furious Retaliation
0 in Shadow Arts
10 in Acrobatics. Got Power of Inertia
15 in Trickery. Got Trill of the Crime
Now I have 1 point in Deadly Arts which suppose to go in Critical Strikes, Clicked too fast it seems.

Question3:What should I change? What should I add/remove?

Sorry for the long post.
Thanks

First off, we dont call it guildwars ONE.
It’s just Guildwars.

Secondly, Pistol Pistol is kind of not as good because you’re not as mobile as you are on a short bow, Pistol Pistol however, is very blind spammy, which can help you if you’re going to rally someone in the middle of a combat field.

Theres no real far superior weapon per say, just weapons that fit your play style.

Since I use D/D as well I use the shortbow to stay mobile with skill 3 if need to get out of the place quick.

And my favourite trait is shadow arts.

Then again its all because I like being sneaky and confuse people

Rizzy.8293:

First off, we dont call it guildwars ONE.
It’s just Guildwars.

Secondly, Pistol Pistol is kind of not as good because you’re not as mobile as you are on a short bow, Pistol Pistol however, is very blind spammy, which can help you if you’re going to rally someone in the middle of a combat field.

Theres no real far superior weapon per say, just weapons that fit your play style.

Since I use D/D as well I use the shortbow to stay mobile with skill 3 if need to get out of the place quick.

And my favourite trait is shadow arts.

Then again its all because I like being sneaky and confuse people

Sorry, didn’t mean to offend anyone by that.
So you rely on daggers and to get the heck out of there you use shortbow?
May I ask what Utility Skills & Trait you use?

“We” don’t call it Guildwars1? I certainly do. Do you call WW1 just World War?

And OP, if you plan on WvWvW’ing alot you’ll most likely want the shortbow for its “5” skill which lets you shadowstep away. This comes in handy alot when trying to escape.

For utility, Shadow refuge is amazing. Not only does it stealth you for an extremely long period of time (meaning PvE enemies will completely ignore you) letting you stall, or escape from many hairy situations, but it also heals you, and anyone else in the area of effect. Firing projectile finishers out of the shadow refuge will also leech life off enemies, and the ability to stealth allies makes you highly effective at resurrecting fallen allies in mid-battle.

Caltrops is another good one for PvE. Just drop ’em, and watch the enemies walk right over it, taking with them many stacks of bleed damage, and cripple to make kiting them much easier.

One other thing to keep in mind is that your race effects what skills you get partially outside sPvP. Depending on the race, you may get a powerful combination. For instance, the Asuran Radiation field poison field, in combination with the shortbow’s clusterbomb allows you to apply AoE weakness to enemies practically perpetually despite the 60 second recharge for the skill. Very good for reducing incoming damage whilst not giving up your own damage output.

Blacklisted.9365:

“We” don’t call it Guildwars1? I certainly do. Do you call WW1 just World War?

And OP, if you plan on WvWvW’ing alot you’ll most likely want the shortbow for its “5” skill which lets you shadowstep away. This comes in handy alot when trying to escape.

Isn’t its initiative cost a little bit high or just me?

Rottaran Owain.6789:

For utility, Shadow refuge is amazing. Not only does it stealth you for an extremely long period of time (meaning PvE enemies will completely ignore you) letting you stall, or escape from many hairy situations, but it also heals you, and anyone else in the area of effect. Firing projectile finishers out of the shadow refuge will also leech life off enemies, and the ability to stealth allies makes you highly effective at resurrecting fallen allies in mid-battle.

Caltrops is another good one for PvE. Just drop ’em, and watch the enemies walk right over it, taking with them many stacks of bleed damage, and cripple to make kiting them much easier.

One other thing to keep in mind is that your race effects what skills you get partially outside sPvP. Depending on the race, you may get a powerful combination. For instance, the Asuran Radiation field poison field, in combination with the shortbow’s clusterbomb allows you to apply AoE weakness to enemies practically perpetually despite the 60 second recharge for the skill. Very good for reducing incoming damage whilst not giving up your own damage output.

Thanks
Is Shadow Refuge good when alone too?
(I’d like a bit more tips more for solo outside PvPs and WvWvW)

Shadow Refuge is always good in PvE.

It can get you out of just about any fight you’re losing, even if just being used as a stall for your other utilities/heals/initiative to come back to you. Not dying much comes with the added benefit of not losing your sigil related boosts (the +5-10 to a stat per kill up to 25 stacks one), getting the monthly achievment easier, and getting rid of those pesky repair builds.

And yes, shortbow 5 takes 6 initiative, which is half of maximum without 15 Trickery. When it comes to escaping though, having initiative left-over is probably the least of your worries.