Guild Wars 2

Both are default cooldowns (30 and 60).

It’s about Initiative recovery. On the one hand, I get 1 initiative every 10 seconds which results in 6 every minute.

On the other hand, I get 6 initiative instantaneously every 60 seconds.

Both are stun-breaks, where the signet is available more often (every 30 seconds) compared to Roll for Initiative’s every 60 seconds… But this one comes with an evade as well, where the Signet comes with a Shadow Step (which you already kind of have with Steal).

Then again if I use the signet, I lose the Initiative recovery passive.

For Initiative recovery, which would you recommend?

For PvP, WvW or PvE?
For WvW, roaming, zerging, organised guild raids or even GvG?
Also depends a lot on the build you’d run.

In general, I personally always preferred the signet.
I feel like it allows for more creative movement both during a fight and outside of it.
For a backstab build it’s worth taking the Signets of Power into account (backstab → signet makes for high hit potential).
But if you take the trait that adds Condi removal to Tricks (forgot the name…) then that’s obviously great for Roll for Initiative for more defensive/sustain play…

In a long run the signet would theoretically be better, but really…
It comes down to what and how you wish to play.

I’ve always preferred the signet as well. All game modes. The extra shadow step and continuous initiative regeneration are very useful, in my opinion. Keep in mind the shadow step works even if you’ve been knocked down, knocked back, etc. The ability to instantly close the gap and re-engage the target while they are prepping their post-CC skill is valuable.

And I have no use for skills with full minute cooldowns, to be honest.

If it’s for PvE, there are generally more effective utilities for accomplishing a task than either of them. If it’s PvP, the reason for taking either of these utilities is hardly for the initiative gain but for their other effects, such as using as the signet with steal to catch an escaping player you would otherwise not be able to catch or using RFI to remove chill and create distance between a reaper in his shroud form.

I use RfI, but it’s a very specific tanky ‘trickster’ build that is super anti-condi.

So RfI clears 2 condis (from trickster and escapists absolution), and the cooldown is lowered from trickster, and I often get my tricks refreshed with improvisation procs.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQJAWVn0MBlOhFPB+OBkmiFYCzLMEHaDzdwS4KULBEA2NA-TFSDAB5t/QUK/o7JAkv6PwpLAATQKoEUiLBQAAEgbezs5ND4mH9mP3mJEQ5xA-w

19k hp, 1483 toughness and still dishes out some decent damage with 2500 power and ‘okay’ crit chance at 35% plus fury from my two hastes (which also clear condi, etc). I think for RfI though you have to build towards it. Infil sig is just good in any situation.

I’ve always seen RFI as more beneficial than signet, because it does just so much more when you use it. But signet is still fine, allowing for gap closer and stun break. The active effect really isn’t anything special imo. If you run signets of power infiltrator’s signet will help set up a burst really nicely.

It depends if you want a disengage defensive ability or a gap closer and burst setup.

Depends a lot on how you’re wanting to play.

RFI’s better if you’re spamming skills whereas the signet is better if you’re going to be playing around more with mobility or sticking to your target. It also depends on the build.

A defensive or D/P thief might prefer RFI with steal, Shadowstep, Shadow Shot, and shortbow covering engages and potentially disengages or maintaining skill spam, whereas an offensive D/D thief might prefer the signet for the better engage and stickiness.

I don’t know, I’d just say try using both and seeing what you prefer stylistically.

alchemyst.2165:

I’ve always seen RFI as more beneficial than signet, because it does just so much more when you use it. But signet is still fine, allowing for gap closer and stun break. The active effect really isn’t anything special imo. If you run signets of power infiltrator’s signet will help set up a burst really nicely.

It depends if you want a disengage defensive ability or a gap closer and burst setup.

Don’t forget that the Signet can actually also be used to disengage by targeting something in the distance… That’s actually saved me a fair number of times in all game modes.