Help with PvE Thief Build

Help with PvE Thief Build

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Posted by: BioMasterZap.4350

BioMasterZap.4350

I thought now would be a good time to look more into my Thief so I had an idea of what gear to get and what traits to be going for.

I know I want a Thief that is focused more around Criticals. I plan to use Dagger/Dagger and Shortbow as main weapons, with 2 Pistols and probably a Sword in invy incase I need them. I reviewed the Trait Lines and I am thinking a 0/30/20/20/0 Build may be best for what I am looking for.
I found an old build I copied that used that spread. It was 30 Critical Strikes (III, X, and XI), 20 Shadow Arts (V and VI), and 20 Acrobatics (II and X or IX). The only changes I am considering to that is maybe VIII instead of X in Critical Strikes and maybe VIII in Shadow Arts too, but those would be easy to change. I have a fairly good idea of what skills to use with the build so I don’t feel need to get into them now.

The main thing I could use some advice with is the armor and trinkets. The weapons will probably be full Berserker, but I am not sure how I should plan out the rest. I would prefer only have 1 or 2 swaps to my gear beyond the first set. I am thinking something like Full Berserker Armor with Ruby Orbs and Ruby Jewelry with Ruby Jewels as the main set for all out critical. Then I would have a Jewelry and/or Armor Swap. Maybe something like Emerald Trinkets with Beryl Jewels on them. Swap would be some mix of Knight’s, Cavaliers, and Valkyrie anyway. I haven’t done any math yet so not sure if I will go with armor or trinkets.

As for what I plan to use my Thief for, I will probably use it for a variety of PvE. Mostly just exploring although it may be used in Dungeons a bit. I may also take it to WvW, but I don’t WvW a lot.

So if you have any feedback, please let me know. I am mostly looking for suggestions on what gear set(s) to go for. If full berserker is too suicidal for most places, let me know and what you’d suggest instead. Also, if you think I should go for a certain rune set let me know, but personally I see orbs and crests being better for a Critical Thief. If you have any suggestions to trait, I’d be glad to hear them too.

(edited by BioMasterZap.4350)

Help with PvE Thief Build

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Posted by: BioMasterZap.4350

BioMasterZap.4350

After taking a look at the Traits, I’ve revised the main post with more of a goal in mind. Hopefully that will make the topic easier to comment on!

Help with PvE Thief Build

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Posted by: Bloodgruve.6038

Bloodgruve.6038

I run 0/30/25/15/0 for PvE. This allows me to run D/D or S/D whichever is more beneficial at the time. you get Might on Stealth and Dodge so you’re running with 6-8 stacks constantly. If conditions are not an issue you can switch to blinds on stealth. I like Executioner for S/D and Hidden Killer for D/D depending on your crit%. D/D Backstab is very good sustained single target damage, Fleet Shadow helps here for positioning. S/D is good damage, mobility and AoE.

I run Zerker armor, runes of the Mesmer for S/D and Valks trinkets. Trying to keep my HP over 16k then pushing my damage stats up as much as possible. Runes of the Wurm work nicely here also if you don’t want Mesmer.

GL
Blood~

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance”

Help with PvE Thief Build

in Thief

Posted by: BioMasterZap.4350

BioMasterZap.4350

I run 0/30/25/15/0 for PvE. This allows me to run D/D or S/D whichever is more beneficial at the time. you get Might on Stealth and Dodge so you’re running with 6-8 stacks constantly. If conditions are not an issue you can switch to blinds on stealth. I like Executioner for S/D and Hidden Killer for D/D depending on your crit%. D/D Backstab is very good sustained single target damage, Fleet Shadow helps here for positioning. S/D is good damage, mobility and AoE.

I run Zerker armor, runes of the Mesmer for S/D and Valks trinkets. Trying to keep my HP over 16k then pushing my damage stats up as much as possible. Runes of the Wurm work nicely here also if you don’t want Mesmer.

GL
Blood~

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been looking more into how the armors would mix and here are the two options I was leaning towards:
-Berserker Armor with Ruby Orbs and Ruby Jewelry with Ruby Jewels: 943 Power, 654 Precision, 64% Critical Damage (About 50% Critical Chance with Traits, excluding weapons.)
-Berserker Armor with Ruby Orbs and Emerald Jewelry with Beryl Jewels: 841 Power, 564 Precision, 358 Toughness, 90 Vitality, 46% Critical Damage (About 45% Critical Chance with Traits, excluding weapons)

Think I should skip the Full Berserker option? I don’t want to be too defense or too offensive with this, which is a tricky balance. E.g. I don’t want to use full berserker and get downed every other fight. Yet I don’t want to focus too much on vitality and toughness and never get downed by have slow kills.
Considering I will be getting 200 Toughness and Vitality from my traits (give or take) I am not sure how much I extra I really need on my armor. With the Emerald+Berly Jewelry I still keep a high Precision while picking up a lot of Toughness and some Vitality. Pure Beryl drops the precision a lot which I am not comfortable with.
Would you suggest using Rune of the Wurm over Ruby Orbs? At the moment I am thinking to just go for Berserker Armor with Rune of the Wurm/Ruby Orbs/Etc and the Emerald+Berly Jewelry unless it is suggested to have a full berserker set for anything.