Guild Wars 2

I have a 47th level Thief, and I’m really struggling with it.

I’m basically following this for the time being, 25/30/0/15/0.

I’m ‘constantly’ dying, and it’s getting frustrating.

I only play PvE. I’m just trying to clear areas and story. I’m in Dredgehaunt Cliffs now.

I can’t seem to take on multiple opponents, without using a shortbow and spamming 2 and hope when the explosions clear, I’m the last one standing. I mostly try to use D/P, after trying various combinations. That so far seems the most fun, at least. Using 5/2 to sneak in and start the fight with a back stab. 4 is handy to interrupt.

I’m just getting pummeled out there. Veterans are particularly hard, with some doable if they don’t hit me very hard other than their main attack (which I can interrupt). In particular, and the straw that broke the camel’s back for me today, is a Veteran Dredge Oscillator guarding a skill point in the SE of the DC map. I just can’t keep in enough initiative to interrupt him and avoid taking so much damage.

I’m using signet of malice as my heal, and 3 other signets mostly for the passives, as I haven’t really learned how to use the other things (agility, assassin’s, infiltrator’s).

My main is a Staff Elementalist. My 2 other 80s are a Ranger (shortbow and axe/horn, primarily) and a Guardian (2h sword and 2h hammer and staff), with the Ranger probably being my 2nd best. My Ele is 0/10/0/30/30, as a point of reference. She is really survivable, which this Thief doesn’t seem to be at all.

So, I’m just looking some help. Maybe some sort of beginner or 1-80 PvE mode where I’m much more survivable and can clear content. Or, if I will just have no hope of ever playing one, that’s fine too. I bought her some really expensive outfit pieces from the store, but I can use the trick to transfer them to a new Engineer or something. I was hoping to successfully play one of each character (I have a Mesmer and Warrior as well, which don’t have anywhere ‘close’ to the problems I seem to be having with the Thief).

Thanks.

For solo PvE, you have options to make life a lot easier:

- Sword/ Pistol. Spam the blind fields, learn to hide around corners to bunch up ranged attackers. Note, this won’t help against Dredge, where you are now. Everywhere else, though, it’s ez-mode

- Spec 30 in Shadow Arts (with another 30 in Critical, and the last 10 dealer’s choice). Your three traits there can do some combination of Heal, Regeneration, AoE Blind, Initiative Regen or Condition Clear when you stealth. SA is not our maximum DPS line, but it’s our best sustainability spec. Once you learn to time the revealed debuff, you’ll blow through NPC’s

- Change out Signet of Malice for another heal. The signet shines in multihit builds (P/D is the best one, D/D has one good skill, deathblossom). If you have 30 in SA, Hide in Shadows can be a fight reset

- Toss Shadow Refuge and Blinding Powder on your bar. The more access you have to stealth, the more often you can reset a fight and recover

- Here’s a good trick all */D thieves need to know. From max steal range, target a critter. Hit 5, then quickly hit F1. You will teleport to the critter, completing the CnD as you arrive. Poof, you’re there, it’s hurt and you’re stealthed

If you can play a staff ele with any degree of success outside of zergs, you can absolutely become a good thief.

First of all, that post was way back in September 2012. Part of the problem you might be suffering from is the Mob’s behavior. Also your Cluster Bomb range has been nerfed ever since and you Auto-attack range was also nerfed — not to mention, the arrows are no longer homing.

Bottom line, that guide is a good starting point but you need to make adjustments based on your observations and playstyle.

1. The first thing I’d do is remove Haste and replace it with Caltrops.
2. Then replace Signet of Agility with Signet of Shadows — for blind.
3. Replace Hidden Killer (trait) with Executioner (trait) because you’re not a stealth based build. However, it’s up to you since each trait has their advantages.
4. Lastly replace Dagger Storm with Thieves Guild.

IMO, P/P is still better than shortbow.

Thank you very much, folks! I’ll try both.