Guild Wars 2

in PvE / WvW I switched out some soldier for valkyrie to reduce the dmg loss,
ended up at a 10% loss on numbers of my burst. Still running 10/30/30/0/0 not even bothering with the new traits, tested the DA one and it felt lackluster.

In sPvP I picked up S/D + SB again, which feels way smoother with lower damage flying around. Since no calculators are updated I’ll write down my current build, it’s pretty much the infamous S/P build just that it’s using S/D instead and aims on dazelocking using steal and tactical strike and dealing heavy pressure with auto attack,

S/D+SB-2/6/0/0/6

DA – Mug
CS – Practiced Tolerance, Critical Haste, Executioner
Tr – Thrill of the Crime, Bountiful Theft, Sleight of Hand.

Berserker Amulet
Runes of the Scholar
S/D – Sigil of Paralyzation & Sigil of Fire
SB – Sigil of Fire & Sigil of Bloodlust

Heal: Withdraw
Utility: Shadow Refuge, Infiltrator’s Signet, Shadowstep
Elite: Any will do.

Please share if you actually have a way to use the new traits and runes, if not for the sake of sharing, do it to prove my doubts wrong.

And my current look after the patch, some minor clipping, but otherwise I like it.

I think runes of the wurm could help get some ferocity back, especially going deep acro. Hard to tell rho

Carpboy.7145:

I think runes of the wurm could help get some ferocity back, especially going deep acro. Hard to tell rho

Noticed those runes earlier while tinkering with my D/P build, we’ll just have to wait for a build editor to be updated I suppose. Unless someone is willing to deal with maths.

Before the patch I however had some calculations made that if Ferocity main stat equipment was introduced it would be a tragic dmg loss to switch from Power mainstat to Ferocity, I could however be mistaken.

How is s/d btw? I expect its not hit as hard since its more sustained dmg.

From the few games I’ve played I feel my current build mows down people just as good as it used to months ago. And I find the buff to sigil of paralyzation really good with it, against guardians I can keep them locked out for ~6 seconds and I’ve seen up and around 4k blows with crippling strike and larcenous strike.

However there’s many PvE players and 8v8 trash around, might contribute that it feels easier.

Good old lyssa s/d build 2/6/0/6/0 is still best. New traits are dog poop. Especially 5% heal from crit dmg.

btw
Ghostwulf, u look like kitten Shiro from gw1

The new DA GM trait is not meant for PvP, that’s for sure.

In WvW and PvE, it boosts Pistol Whip greatly especially if you have Assassin’s Signet and a healthy stack of Might.

Sigil of intelligence. 3 guaranteed crits when my crit chances were below 50% is a fun buff. Also since it doesn’t share cooldown anymore, so I can still use my sigil of hydromancy on the same setup.

Tried using 2 of the new GM traits, but didn’t like both (trickery and DA) for PvP. Went back to my pre-patch build but got 3 in trickery instead of acro now. I can swing PW 3 times without the extra initiative costing me anything (cause I get 3 extra initiative, it balances out).

Overall I lose a dodge with this patch. My damage output starts slow but compensates at lower health where I get guaranteed crits on weapon swap (when I change to a real burst attack).

I’m running the same ol’ 2/6/0/0/6 D/P build, but I swapped in Runes of the Traveler. I still believe that mobility is one of the Thief’s biggest strengths, so this helps boost map travel a bit.

I’m also considering making Sigil of Generosity one of my sigils with the abundance of condis going around.

I may give S/D another shot. Not sure what I think about using it with a Trickery build, but it may be a nice change of pace, if nothing else. I guess the additional condi removal on Sw 2 may be good right now.

Oh yeah, Sigil of Air with 50% chance to activate (up from 30%) and 3s cooldown (down from 5s) is awesome to have with Sigil of Ice (Chill on Regular Hit instead of Crit Hit).

For S/D without the on demand stability/aegis from lyssa, I’ve been experimenting with a might stacking build.

(sPvP)

2/6/0/6/0
Deadly Arts: Mug
Critical Strikes: Signets of Power, Signet Use, Executioner
Acrobatics: Power of Inertia, Vigorous Recovery, Quick Pockets

Utilities: Withdraw, Signet of Agility, Shadow Refuge, Infiltrator’s Signet

Runes: Strength
Sigils: Genoristy/Purity on S/D to make up for lyssa and pain response loss, and Flame/Battle on SB to keep AoE cleave up and might stacks up.

Thoughts: Not sure if I should switch purity out for Battle or If I should switch Flame for Generosity to keep condi clear while in bow?

I’m trying out 6/6/2/0/0 with Revealed Training. Tis fun so far

Solely for WvW.
After the patch ive wanted to use these new traits at least the one in DA since ive felt i always found DA GM traits before to be so bad. I’m giving a full glass build a go with d/d + sb 6/6/0/0/2

DA:
Mug
Dagger training
Revealed training

CS:
Practiced Tolerance
Critical Haste
Executioner

Trickery:
Thrill of the crime

Since sigil of intelligence got buffed on weapon swap, the next 3 attacks is a 100% crit chance which means that i now can plan and combo for sure that i can land a guaranteed crit with CnD + backstab combo combined with +20% executioner, +5% dagger training, +6% superior runes of eagle, +10% exposed weakness, +10% first strike (and finally), +15% signet of Power.

Sitting with 222% crit damage… numbers is huge and i can once again feel satisfied with downing tanky condition warriors and guardians.

So far the build has been a blast to use and i can really feel the damage dealt when Revealed training kicks in as a steroid booster to finish off the player before they can heal up when Basilisk venom wears off. On a good burst, critical haste kicks in frequently and i can down a warrior before he can pop anything in retaliation.

However, this is a hit and run build and AOE is my counter if i dont play the stealth mind game properly. But i always start off with Sb to wear my opponent down to where i can execute them.

I do think though that the change to the sigils is what has really made it possible to experiment in combination to our own traits.

Strength runes
A few might stacks (can’t be sure how many).
25/30/0/0/15
10k backstab on a squishy elementalist …

I think our dmg is still okay? I don’t think I’ve ever had a 10k backstab before in my entire life.

The only thing that hit me hard was lyssa runes. I used to use it for PvE and WvW and not I can’t use it for either of them. I mean, it’s still decent in PvP, but it’s a major nerf in potential with what it could do as a thief in the other 2 scenarios. Can no longer rely on a proper timed Basilisk to get me out of trouble.

Now I’m probably going to use Travelers for WvW (which I got already) and something for PvE, which I’m leaning toward Strength but its like 7g a pop right now. ;_;

d/d condition is incredibly stong now in sPvp with krait runes, give it a try it’s pretty funy to destroy 2vs1 while bunkering a point

Seems we do have some more build variety.

D/D + SB 6/6/0/0/2 with revealed training, seems after some testing just as good as 5/6/0/0/3, just for that it’s for more pressure instead of mobility and flexibility.

Anyone tested the CS trait with Daggerstorm, SB and S/x AoE damage? I can imagine it would provide some quite nice sustain that way.

P/D & D/D cond based build had alot of fun last night
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vYAQRAqY4Yl0Mp0p1Ox8J8PRRwpwoO17xXHLA0F0fgrA-zECBohRGXMgk0A00S0ZqFRjtsuIasKZER1KlYkCYRpRA-w
(have in your mind stats might be little different cause build editor isnt upded yet)

I am thinking to try also high crit/cond dmg with sigil of generocity not sure yet if its worth the efford