Guild Wars 2

Something i have noticed when using the hidden thief trait in Shadow Arts is that the following combo does not work: Black powder -> heartseeker -> steal -> backstab

After using steal i immediately get revealed not matter how fast after heartseeker i use the steal. If I change the trait hidden thief to something else the combo works flawlessly.

Is it suppose to be this way?
Has anyone else noticed this or am I doing something wrong?

Probably because you’re using Mug in Deadly Arts.
The order those things go, you get the stealth from Hidden Thief before Mug does damage, so it reveals you before you can backstab.

After you Heartseeker from Black Powder press backstab (make sure your steal is in range of your opponent at this time) then press steal right after it(within .25-.5 seconds of when you cast backstab). I know you might accidentally hit him from the front but this way the damage from backstab hits before you are revealed along with mug.

I thought Mug was changed to do the damage before Hidden Thief stealth is used. These two traits have gone back and forth in the order that they trigger in a lot though so maybe not. If it’s not because of Mug then Heartseeker must be hitting them after Hidden Thief stealths you when you steal. You don’t need to Black Powder → Heartseeker when you are stealing with Hidden Thief to gain stealth anyway.

Raiden.1375:

I thought Mug was changed to do the damage before Hidden Thief stealth is used. These two traits have gone back and forth in the order that they trigger in a lot though so maybe not. If it’s not because of Mug then Heartseeker must be hitting them after Hidden Thief stealths you when you steal. You don’t need to Black Powder -> Heartseeker when you are stealing with Hidden Thief to gain stealth anyway.

You’re right. I completely missed the hidden thief trait he mentioned.

That is because when your heartseeker lands, you already won stealth from hidden thief then you do damage with heartseeker that try to stealth you as part of the leap combo but you are already revealed.

You have two solutions:

1) Don’t trait hidden thief
2) Precast Black Powder, then steal then backstab

kitten widget.9301:

That is because when your heartseeker lands, you already won stealth from hidden thief then you do damage with heartseeker that try to stealth you as part of the leap combo but you are already revealed.

You have two solutions:

1) Don’t trait hidden thief
2) Precast Black Powder, then steal then backstab

I see, it makes sense :o
Thanks for clearing that up and the tip :P

Raiden.1375:

I thought Mug was changed to do the damage before Hidden Thief stealth is used. These two traits have gone back and forth in the order that they trigger in a lot though so maybe not. If it’s not because of Mug then Heartseeker must be hitting them after Hidden Thief stealths you when you steal. You don’t need to Black Powder -> Heartseeker when you are stealing with Hidden Thief to gain stealth anyway.

Sounds like and cool combo. Didn’t know you could backstab before steal and still hit it. Gotta have to try it out. Thanks for the tip

The problem is not the fact that Mug caused damage (it’s not entirely Mug) , it’s the fact when traited, your Steal automatically applies Stealth.

So what is happening is actually this:

Black Smoke – Heartseeker -(smoke combo, at this point your are in stealth) – Steal – (Mug+ addional stealth = reveal)

This BS+HS+steal combo seems to allow damage to bypass stealth, because when you are in use Heartseeker animation, you also get locked the animation & stealth. It seems like at that point, the system doesn’t change any behavior. Pressing Steal is simply the system following the order of teleportation to the target. However, since YOU ARE LOCKED in the previous animation leap+ stealth, reveal doesn’t trigger.

I am pretty sure this could work with Black Smoke+Heartseeker+ Shadowstep. Same concept.I am really uncertain if this is a bug or not.

I didn’t program this but that would be my logical explanation to this stupid thing.

But I think he is right to point it out, the damage order dealing and programming seems quite flawed. Shows even more how broken thief core specs are. Two traits on different cores can’t even work together when you try to push the profession a little bit.

I would at least expect the stealth to stack in duration if you traited Hidden Thief instead of causing reveal.

If you have hidden thief traited that combo will reveal you because your steal is applying stealth, which occurs before the heartseeker hits, hence revealing you.

Kocoff.7582:

I would at least expect the stealth to stack in duration if you traited Hidden Thief instead of causing reveal.

Yeah, it would be nice if that combo would stack in duration.

kitten widget.9301:

That is because when your heartseeker lands, you already won stealth from hidden thief then you do damage with heartseeker that try to stealth you as part of the leap combo but you are already revealed.

You have two solutions:

1) Don’t trait hidden thief
2) Precast Black Powder, then steal then backstab

For solution number 2 you don’t need to precast Black Powder if you have Hidden Thief, unless you want to blind them first or something. Just Steal->Backstab works.