Guild Wars 2

Long post ahead.

So, I really enjoy my thief…but boy do I suck in PvP. I can do well on my warrior, but my thief just escapes me right now(get it? <.<). I’ve looked through the forums and still pretty confused, so, I was hoping I could ask a few questions that would help me out. And to give a point of reference for where I’m currently at, I’ll give a sample build at the bottom.

1. I like to concentrate on ranged. I like softening up targets and then closing in for the kill in melee if necessary. Is this a good way to use a thief or should I find this in another class(ie my warrior or another class)?

2. If it is, which ranged weapon set would be better? I’ve been using Shortbow, though with Pistol/Pistol it feels like I can put out more single target burst damage, though obviously sacrificing the AoE and some mobility. There is Pistol/Dagger that I’ve been having a blast with in PvE, but I’m not sure if it puts out enough damage in PvP to pressure enemies enough. Anyone have knowledge of these setups?

3. Same question for melee. I’ve been using Dagger/Pistol for its closing capabilities and interrupt. Sword/Pistol seems like a possibility, particularly against melee that are chasing me down.

4. When ranged, should I try to go toe-to-toe with other ranged-focused classes or switch to melee on them as soon as I can?

5. I’m having problems with Condition vs Power. As has been pointed out in other threads, Condition is better against more heavily armored opponents(I hate Guardians), but has the possible issue of being removed. With Power, it seems a lot of it relies on being able to restealth and reopen up on someone. I haven’t seen or been able to come up with a good primarily ranged build that can or really utilizes restealthing and reopening up on enemies besides Pistol/Dagger, but I may have missed it. Is there another way to acheive a high Power build for a ranged spec? Or is going Conditions my better option as ranged?

6. If I’m picking a venom, should I pick one and stick with it or use more than one?

Here is the build I came up with that is probably deeply flawed(secondary weapon set would be dagger/pistol): http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/thief#19|0|2642|2788|2786|3997|11435|30|2355|1714|1708|10|1190|0|0|10|2198|0|0|20|1165|1700|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|2|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Besides finding ways to correct it, is there any way to reasonably fit Executioner into a ranged build? I get the feeling I’ll be picking between getting that and Fleet of Foot.

Try something like this:

Backstabber build that I roll with, I change it frequently, and there are probably better, but it should get you going in the right direction, there is no best build, it is more what you learn to like that fits your playstyle:

http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/thief#3|3|2642|8743|3997|4004|4989|30|1738|1143|2356|30|1731|1193|1196|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|10|786|0|0|0|0|2|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

I use D/D on main, with dual pistols on switch. I keep a Shortbow in my bag for switching out depending on map and professions on opposing team.
use divinity runes in your armour and precision on your daggers and pistols. This should give you good crit percentage and high damage. You are right about the dual pistols, the 3 skill on those does some huge damage on single targets. You may miss the AOE of the shortbow, but not as often as you will miss the burst on a single target IMO (exception is the keep). You could roll with D/P on your main hand but I find CnD more useful than the interrupt and black powder skills for pistol (though vs warrior and guardian, very, very useful…)

Opener is 5 + F1 + 1 that is a steal/CnD combo and backstab at the end to do some serious damage. You can pop haste first too if you really want to end it right then and there as your autoattack finishes him off. If he is still alive, you can restealth with CnD if enough initiative and cd up, or use 7 and re-backstab, finish with heartseekorz if you want and most are dead. Steal and CnD + backstab can do upwards of 15k damage on a ranger/thief/softie. Tanks will be a lot less ofc…

If you steal from a guardian or warrior, you may get 100b or whirling axes, use those after your initial opener and laugh as you kill them with their own /faceroll skill. If you steal against a thief, you will get blinding tuft, which gives you a free stealth/blind ,so you can save your others skills. Necros will give you an AOE fear, which is super. Hunters give you the tree of health, has its uses surely for groups.

Vs ranged, i.e. rangers, use the opener and when they start to open up on you, dagger storm ftw as it has retaliation. a good ranger will stoop firing, the noobs will just keep on blasting away.

I do not like condition builds myself, because it takes too long to kill the enemies IMO. I much prefer burst builds. Anyway, give it a try and let us know what you think, and have fun with the thief…btw, he is not a melee warrior, you have to pick and choose your battles!

A good power/crit heavy burst build with haste would work well with pistols for tearing someone down fast. If you’re not their target you could stack a couple bleeds, then stack some might (sigil mastery or something like that), steal with thrill, hit unload, haste, unload, unload. Should do pretty good damage and leave them low enough to switch to d/p and start HS spamming.

I go with the s/p burst for the stun effect. With good timing once you stack up your buffs you can take down multiple people in about 3 seconds. But the p/p version above might fit your style better. Even if they break the stun, it interupts and makes it much harder for them to stun you.

Thief is a good finisher, so it’s best to take advantage of that.

What exactly you mean with “suck in PvP”.Whera are your problems.Are you feeling too squishy,or you think your damage isn’t enough.Or maybe you have problems with cripple and such moving impair effects?Do you think that your enemy is hiting you much more constantly than you hit him in a such intensive fight.Do you have problems to keep up while are you melee and do you have problems kiting while you are ranged? Do you think your enemy is dodging away too much?Please share.
If you pick Short Bow for your main,for me it goes a little bit better with power/crit than condition.P/D goes much better for condition thou.Are you good with C&D usage.It’s a quite sensitive skill and some people are having problems with it.

thats one way to play thief.

Pimpslapper.2047:

Try something like this:

snip

Wow, lots of information, thanks! Question, though. When do you, personally, switch to P/P?

ZLE.8293:

What exactly you mean with “suck in PvP”.Whera are your problems.Are you feeling too squishy,or you think your damage isn’t enough.Or maybe you have problems with cripple and such moving impair effects?Do you think that your enemy is hiting you much more constantly than you hit him in a such intensive fight.Do you have problems to keep up while are you melee and do you have problems kiting while you are ranged? Do you think your enemy is dodging away too much?Please share.
If you pick Short Bow for your main,for me it goes a little bit better with power/crit than condition.P/D goes much better for condition thou.Are you good with C&D usage.It’s a quite sensitive skill and some people are having problems with it.

Damage. I like to think I’m really good at utilizing the Thief’s mobility, but I’ve been having issues mastering their damage capabilities, so I’ve basically been the self-appointed ninja-capper in sPvP. I have some issues fully utilizing the Thief’s stealth mechanic as well, but I’m working on it.

LetalisK.4017:

Damage. I like to think I’m really good at utilizing the Thief’s mobility, but I’ve been having issues mastering their damage capabilities, so I’ve basically been the self-appointed ninja-capper in sPvP. I have some issues fully utilizing the Thief’s stealth mechanic as well, but I’m working on it.

Well in that case you should be able to do just fine with high damage glass cannon backstab build.If you are having trouble with C&D,try D/P and use Black Powder/HS combo for stealth.It never misses altough is more initiative expensive.