Guild Wars 2

Are interrupt builds a viable or were at one time a viable strategy? If so, does anyone have a build link to a a sort of “skeleton” of a build that would involve focusing on interrupting?

I’m thinking this would involve sw/p with whatever as a second set. (Pistol Whip)

Thanks in advanced!

ragnarokda.1805:

Are interrupt builds a viable or were at one time a viable strategy? If so, does anyone have a build link to a a sort of “skeleton” of a build that would involve focusing on interrupting?

I’m thinking this would involve sw/p with whatever as a second set. (Pistol Whip)

Thanks in advanced!

Daredevil has a nice skill for 3 interrupts per 25 seconds with a high damage nuke trait per interrupt but Mesmer and Warrior have traits that give benefits for interrupts.

The only current “viable” interrupt builds at the moment for thief would be WvW builds using Runes of Perplexity. When HoT comes out, that might change, and you’d be looking for something like this for sPvP.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVn0MBdPhFmCmOBkmiFkiy7F2yegrBCgFYO+v/9H-TpRAwAKOEAAOBAe3fgcZgMPAAPHBAA

If under pressure, use dodge roll out of pistol smoke field to disengage with stealth and reopen with Sneak Attack. If being left alone, use pistol auto-attacks and Headshot. A WvW version would use Bewildering Ambush and Runes of Perplexity.

(The build I threw together likely also won’t work very well if Bound remains a blast finisher.)

S/P rupt thief
I also just kind of tossed a build together. Toss your interrupts out like candy because you get a lot of benefit for interrupting. 2 torment for 7s and at least 1k damage per, perma poison, essentially perma 5 confusion of you’re always interrupting. On demand stealth to get your big heal off, fairly initiative light, heavy evade access, tons of control effect access, multiple condition removals and stun breaks.

rennlc.7346:

(The build I threw together likely also won’t work very well if Bound remains a blast finisher.)

Yeah, this was my main disappointment with DareDevil. Bound does not work, as you have to leap into the BP for the blast to go off and actually get you stealth. That, and the animation is clunky as hell.

Cygnus.6903:

rennlc.7346:

(The build I threw together likely also won’t work very well if Bound remains a blast finisher.)

Yeah, this was my main disappointment with DareDevil. Bound does not work, as you have to leap into the BP for the blast to go off and actually get you stealth. That, and the animation is clunky as hell.

I’ve said it in other threads and I’ll say it here again… the Bound Dodge did NOT WORK AS A BLAST FINISHER! How come nobody saw it? It never gave Group Invisibility when used in a smoke field, it never gave might when used in a fire field, etc.

Thanks guys! Not experienced with thief at all haha. But my idea was essentially to do a carrion build with DD for the rupture on interrupt and the torment on interrupt. Now considering that, would it be worth making steal daze for a more reliable interrupt over taking the confusion on steal? And also, given the primarily condi nature of this idea, would it be more worthwhile to take p/p for ranged condi pressure and just use headshot for my on-demand interrupt?

Edit: I actually think the trait is for pulmonary impact. I don’t recall, really, and I don’t have the means to look it up right this moment. Heh. Also, this could work with d/p as well, really.

Edit2: additionally this kind of doesn’t work the way I want it to if pulmonary impact doesn’t stack on itself. I know it’s a delayed hit and I’m sure it has its own debuff icon but can I get more than one going or does it replace itself? Was anyone able to test this?

corwen.5798:

Cygnus.6903:

rennlc.7346:

(The build I threw together likely also won’t work very well if Bound remains a blast finisher.)

Yeah, this was my main disappointment with DareDevil. Bound does not work, as you have to leap into the BP for the blast to go off and actually get you stealth. That, and the animation is clunky as hell.

I’ve said it in other threads and I’ll say it here again… the Bound Dodge did NOT WORK AS A BLAST FINISHER! How come nobody saw it? It never gave Group Invisibility when used in a smoke field, it never gave might when used in a fire field, etc.

How far as I knew, they said it worked like a blast finisher where you had to end up in the field, not that it was a blast finisher.

It was explained by the devs prior to BW3 even starting that Bound was bugged and on release it will work like a normal leap finisher that you can use from within the smoke field to gain stealth.

ragnarokda.1805:

Are interrupt builds a viable or were at one time a viable strategy? If so, does anyone have a build link to a a sort of “skeleton” of a build that would involve focusing on interrupting?

I’m thinking this would involve sw/p with whatever as a second set. (Pistol Whip)

Thanks in advanced!

There’s no such build. You either build power-based with interrupt or condition-damage-based with interrupt — you can’t really accomplish anything by making an interrupt build.

If you’re aiming at capitalizing on Pulmonary Impact…it doesn’t work well or as expected. You lose a lot of DPS trying to time an interrupt and if it is evaded, you’re SoL.

The problem with Thief building interrupt is that the only reliable skill is Steal traited with Sleight because it’s the only one that is instant cast…other skills can be baited due to casting time and delays.

You’re better off auto attacking with Dagger than trying to proc Pulmonary Impact.

If it’s for any other reason, then any build will work…but viable?

I was thinking something like:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVn0MBNmidmCmOBkmilviyLAaxHoDzDfyv8A-TpgPgAnlBA2fAA

But my problem is that if pulmonary impact doesn’t stack on itself then spamming interrupts isn’t a good idea. And also getting rid of conditions and my choice between impacting disruption and escapist’s absolution. Without ID then interrupts aren’t going to mean AS much as just applying conditions by any other method and this will just be a p/p condition build. Which is okay still but I really wanted ID to work well. haha

Just some thoughts… I’m not a pro thief by any means.

ragnarokda.1805:

I was thinking something like:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVn0MBNmidmCmOBkmilviyLAaxHoDzDfyv8A-TpgPgAnlBA2fAA

But my problem is that if pulmonary impact doesn’t stack on itself then spamming interrupts isn’t a good idea. And also getting rid of conditions and my choice between impacting disruption and escapist’s absolution. Without ID then interrupts aren’t going to mean AS much as just applying conditions by any other method and this will just be a p/p condition build. Which is okay still but I really wanted ID to work well. haha

Just some thoughts… I’m not a pro thief by any means.

I’m no pro myself, I just give everything an attempt and try not to force results so my results wont be accurate. I rolled an interrupt build around recently and found myself funneling into one or two plays over and over trying to interrupt which was me trying to force the build, the interrupts didn’t land often enough when I was able to play naturally. It might be more reliable in sPvP where every little thing is monitored but in WvW your interrupts are likely to be gobbled up by unintended targets unless you’re roaming or floating.

It’s also unfortunate that you’ll have to chose between Pressure Striking and Trickster because you could take Trickster for condition clearing and put Scorpion Wire on your bar as a condition clear and an interrupt.

Yeah, sorry… I should have clarified that this was intended for sPvp. I don’t have a lot of experience in WvW and I realize that interrupting functionally isn’t optimal in pve haha.

Yeah that was my problem running any scenario in my head was that the interrupt procs were just a bonus and I was primarily a condition build.

If I had to run an interrupt build, this is what I would run if Bound isn’t changed to work like Heart Seeker.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAsaVn0MBFmiFOBmOBkmiFYCz7LsoGRzhwTYKULBEA2NA-TpxCwAAOCAU3fQbZAGnAgHPAAKHCAA

IMO P/P needs both SA and a version of Bound that works like Heart Seeker in order to survive conditions. Thus, S/P is the more viable choice at the moment if only because it has sword #2 for keeping on top of the burns from burn guardians. I took Bewildering Ambush even though it’s kind of counter intuitive. If they just wait out the confusion by idling, you’re screwed because the bulk of your damage comes off interrupts and you can’t interrupt someone who isn’t attacking. Still, most of the time Steal would be used with Pistol Whip and PW’s stun is redundant with the daze offered by Sleight of Hand. Regardless, stability will make this build almost completely useless, and it probably shouldn’t be used if winning is a concern.

All these builds around interrupts are in for a really big disappointment. It’s unreliable and it’s not even remotely close to a “fun” build. Interrupts should be instant cast, else it’s useless.

Had a lot of fun with this.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/I-think-i-found-something/first#post5570685

Sir Vincent III.1286:

All these builds around interrupts are in for a really big disappointment. It’s unreliable and it’s not even remotely close to a “fun” build. Interrupts should be instant cast, else it’s useless.

That’s disappointing man… Although if interrupt builds were more prevalent then all thieves, mes and wars would run them and everyone would complain haha.

Shinobi.3240:

Had a lot of fun with this.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/I-think-i-found-something/first#post5570685

This looks good. I might try this once I unlock DD on release. My initial iteration was tanky, too. Thanks!

ragnarokda.1805:

Sir Vincent III.1286:

All these builds around interrupts are in for a really big disappointment. It’s unreliable and it’s not even remotely close to a “fun” build. Interrupts should be instant cast, else it’s useless.

That’s disappointing man… Although if interrupt builds were more prevalent then all thieves, mes and wars would run them and everyone would complain haha.

Headshot is a good interrupt but due to pre-cast delay (internal casting time due to aiming animation), it’s just too slow that’s why it’s disappointing.

In addition, the travel time of the bullet is also too slow making an interrupt from a distance of 900 range is very difficult.

The build looks good on paper and it should work well, but too many design problems and bad decisions in expense of the Thief profession makes this build more frustrating than fun.

You can’t interrupt everything on reaction. Most of the interrupting in GW1 was prediction based. Play some mindgames with your opponent and make them use a skull which you can interrupt. See it coming and have the bullet/dagger/whatever be there when it casts.

Ghotistyx.6942:

You can’t interrupt everything on reaction. Most of the interrupting in GW1 was prediction based.

You can’t interrupt everything based on prediction either. I can also make the argument that most of the interrupting in GW1 are reaction based.

No point on discussing which is which. The heart of the problem is the skill animation. The skill should allow you to predict or react to a skill you want to interrupt.

Play some mindgames with your opponent and make them use a skull which you can interrupt. See it coming and have the bullet/dagger/whatever be there when it casts.

Easier said than done. In GW1 when the interrupt have 1/4s casting time, it animates within 1/4s , it’s instant, not 1s later because of aiming animation delay and bullet travel time.

Just test it yourself. Try to interrupt someone using Steal(SoH) vs using Headshot. The difference is significant because Steal has no casting time, nor delay, nor projectile travel time — it a reliable interrupt skill — others? Not so much.

Maybe we can ask for an improvement of Headshot? Maybe either make the cast time instant, or increase the bullet speed? Or maybe decrease the initiative cost by one, so that we can try more often?

Strategist.6132:

Maybe we can ask for an improvement of Headshot? Maybe either make the cast time instant, or increase the bullet speed? Or maybe decrease the initiative cost by one, so that we can try more often?

Headshot has no cast time — that’s why it’s mind boggling why it is so slow.

Steal is a terrible example of an interruptible skill. 1/4s cast skills are the same. Even in gw1 those are considered impossible without luck. However, any actual skills worth interrupting? You can easily have the Headshot bullet or something else arrive during the cast time. That’s how gw1 worked unless you could react to a 2 second cast time or something.

People were talking about Steal being the “reliable” interrupt, not interrupting Steal itself.

Reading back, that’s certainly a possibility. My point still stands, you have to predict projectile travel time when running interrupts. This is the case for any projectile based interrupt, which means reaction based attempts are much harder than prediction based.

While not a thief, this is a VERY strong interrupt build for a Warrior in WvW.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeTjMdQZH2FCWdApIGICM9LM9mCWA4D2zwTQOYEA-T1RHAB1eKAcTfAjq/k7+D3pEEgnAwRK/IFAETjA-w

I have been running an S/D Daze build for a long time now that is quite strong, often beating meta builds. It relies on Mesmer runes extending the daze from tactical strike to 2s. This makes it long enough to get nearly an entire auto attack chain off on your target. With pulmonary impact it got a massive damage boost. Before you panick that it is using a Berserker amulet.. you can get away with it on S/D as long as you play smart.

Non Daredevil version:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQJAsYl0MhKnYhTw8Jw/EH+ElvJWioYHAv2Z2rhWIHA-TJBFwAPOBAVLDA4BA4b/BA

The reason for Fleet shadows is that it makes it easier to land your tactical strike against superspeed eles and other fast targets. You can Swap crit strikes if you want but I prefere it.

Dardevil Version:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQJAsYl0MhKnYhTw8Jw/EL+EmXTYJEF2CAvmz08AcBGBB-TJBFwAPOBAVLDA4BA4b/BA

With the new dash and weakening strikes you will have a lot of survivability on Zerker S/D. But feel free to make your own Changes.

Daesed

Ghotistyx.6942:

Reading back, that’s certainly a possibility. My point still stands, you have to predict projectile travel time when running interrupts. This is the case for any projectile based interrupt, which means reaction based attempts are much harder than prediction based.

I’ve played both interrupt Mesmer and Ranger in GW1 and the reason why Mesmer dominates is because I can react to a skill I want to interrupt only because there’s no projectiles involved — just like Steal with SoH.

Ranger interrupt in GW1 relies on projectile and often times travels longer the farther I am from my target — thus I rely on prediction — this is not a reliable kind of interrupt. However it’s important to note that even though Rangers in GW1 uses projectile, their interrupt skills ignores their pre-cast animation to make it more reliable — in GW2, Thief’s interrupt skills is still restricted with pre-cast animation even though the skill (headshot) has no casting time.

In the case of Thief, it’s a waste of initiatives if we have to predict in order to interrupt. And if my prediction is wrong, I lost the initiative (risk) with no reward (proc-ing Impacting Disruption). It’s not a good concept to build on.