(edited by Excalibur.9748)
How do you counter an S/D thief?
I think timing is the most important thing when fighting a S/D thief.
Nobody dodges 2 times in a row unless the situation absolutely requires it. I wait for the thief to dodge/flanking strike and start casting an attack (e.g. deathshroud fear on necro, skull crack on warrior, pistol whip on thief….). In case of flanking strike, this almost guarantees me a successfull hit, i don’t even have to move because flanking strike moves the thief directly to me.
I don’t spam autoattacks. When i miss an autoattack with a sword or hammer etc. the aftercast ist too long. Instead i turn autoattack off and try to always hit the thief when he is vulnerable. Like i said above, i try to time key attacks directly after flanking strike.
The S/D set has 2 hard hitting attacks: crippling strike and larcenous strike. Both with a very similar animation, but you can see (and hear) the difference. I try to avoid these, since they also are highly telegraphed.
Playing a S/D thief takes skill, as does countering it. It’s important to know the mechanics (the usual, so-called “l2p” issue) and to practice.
People often get frustrated because their accustomed playstyle and attack patterns don’t work against a S/D thief. Seeing “evaded evaded evaded” is very annoying.
So the best way to counter it is the same like it always should be. Make a thief, learn to play it and then search for a buddy who plays S/D and duel him. And duel him once again. You have nothing to loose in an empty hotjoin arena. You don’t have to get annoyed when you lose.
I don’t want to say that the spec istn’t strong. But there are enough “counters” to it. Sadly, most people are too lazy to realize it.