Guild Wars 2

I am currently trying the challenge of the Sword/dagger thief in sPvP.

I suck at it right now.

I #2 in and get a few hits and jump back…but invariably someone else stuns me from behind or a ranger at a distance starts attacking, and I am soon dead.

I am forced to play hotjoin to practice due to my time restraints. SoloQ is 15 minute waits or longer, and then I get high-skilled teams that destroy me.

If you are an experienced S/D or S/P thief, could you take a few moments to help me out with the basic idea and what to avoid?

Dodge the right skill at the right time is key.

As a S/D you have plenty of evades learn how to use them and you will improve a lot.

To me thats the most important thing, other things like how to use #3 or where to place your return are important too but to know how and WHAT you need to dodge is the trick.

PS: dont waste your return if you are not stunned or got a condition you need to clear (weakness is your worst enemy, clear it ASAP).

Thanks, Walker. How did you learn all the skills of the other classes that you need to dodge, versus the ones you can ignore? And the animations?

Is it more knowing the timing of what each class is going to throw at you first, then second…as opposed to “reading” their animation in a split second?

Thanks for the assistance.

Maybe good practice would be to just go into about 100 fights and see how long I can dodge and keep my health up before I shadow refuge and reset the fight. Don’t even try to kill, just practice dodging dodging dodging.

Of course, this all stops the minute another enemy shows up.

I wish there were some really good dodge trainers in the Heart of the Mists. I mean realistic ones.

IMHO there are 2 ways so you can learn how other classes work and whats their best moves to use against you.

1- Play other classes. Just by leveling another class you can learn all their skill so when you see for exemple a warr with a hammer u know that he will prob engage you with his leap stun so the best its best to stay defensive on the first seconds to make them waste their CDs. That goes for all classes.

2-duel many opponents you think are good with their classes and ask them about their build and how it works. Search videos of people playing other classes so you can understand and know all of the most important/dangerous builds they have available so you can just by seeing the enemie have an idea of what are their weapons against you.

As you said the trick is know everything they can do to you so when their animation happens you are rdy and when you are experienced enough you can start think ahead and predict what they will prob do.

I think that skill is really important but knowledge is important too thats why many people even if they are main thief (as i am) or main mesmer, warr, necro… they have alts of other classes or friends that are main on those classes to exchange experience.

Hope this helped. Good luck, have fun!

PS: sorry about my english

Walker, your English is fine. Thanks for the suggestions.

PvP is as much about knowledge of the 50 or 60 attacks you are likely to be hit with as it is about reflexes, I guess

Dodge and use Flanking Strike. Pair em and you’re near untouchable. Just try not to bash your evades and learn to predict their next skill or rotation. Control the direction. Leave them guessing where you will be next. Use shadow return to your advantage to kite and buy some time for your heal to pop/regen initiative. One thing I always do is have shadow return up just in case, especially for those pesky stunlock warriors. Be aware of the time limit on shadow return so you can reapply inf strike. Try not to spam 3. The chain of auto attacks on sword is strong so get the full rotation. I’ve noticed that good players will watch out for crippling strike and larcenous strike so use them at the right time.

“the challenge of the Sword/dagger thief” …

ahuba.6430:

“the challenge of the Sword/dagger thief” …

What do you mean, ahuba?

What walker said really.
1) play them and get to know the telegraph of their skills
2) duel and duel and duel, while learning the telegraphing is harder this way (it all happens so fast if it’s a serious duel and not training) you learn to recognize patterns. Even before a skill is being used you’ll pre-emptive dodge or disrupt it. It won’t always work (or even be wasted) but more than not it’ll save your life. Like disrupting a healing skill, if you were to wait before you see him using it, you’ll probably be too late with whatever interrupt you have. If you pre-emptive used it, you’ll probably just ruined his day.

Practice…

Learn the timing of skills, both yours and other classes. Dodge is quicker than #3… Sometimes its easier to dodge the skill power up not the damage.

goosfraba

Have to be very aware of your surroundings as a thief. Check options for the quickview behind yourself is my suggestion.

p.s.
And CnD then stun lock that annoying ranger

You might want to practice on the dueling servers people have set up, since a duel allows you to devote all of your focus to what your opponent is doing. Try to duel classes you have a particular problem with, like Rangers.

It’s helped me greatly in the past.

Thanks for the helpful replies so far!

s/d is a bit too weak unless you go for the daze spam don’t abuse it because it might be nerfed again, imo , LS died, sword 2 is really nice tho
s/p is a joke now with the new stun nerf
d/d is meh
p/d takes ages to kill in pvp, however Venom share with p/d might be usefull
d/p seems the only thing viable, until they +2 nerf ini on stealth

my 2 cents.

If you are going for a competitive spvp d/p build (not a build only made for duels) you shouldnt have points in SA so even if they nerf that trait it wont be a problem for thieves in spvp imo.