Guild Wars 2

Hi guys,

I’ve been out of GW2 for quite awhile, and I’m about to return. I always loved playing my thief (and it was my main), and I usually ran with S/P. Awhile ago I think it was a viable weapon set for many things, or at least, I did pretty well with it.

Did it go downhill/is it way outmatched by D/D and P/P builds and stuff now?

What aspect of gw2? PvP, PvE, WVW, or all of the above?

As far as PvE goes I believe that it works just fine against trash mobs, and boss(however Most tend to use D/D against most boss) in dungeons. In fact with the recent patch the sword hits even harder than before.

For certain pve areas it’s the best weapon, for everything else it’S not viable.

People seem to be confusing viable with optimal. It is viable in PvE, but not optimal.

Drennon.7190:

People seem to be confusing viable with optimal. It is viable in PvE, but not optimal.

Are we talking about the class or just a weapon set?

It’s viable for anything (I still use it in PvP), but it’s not optimal. Stronghold seems to be a better place for it than conquest though due to root on AoE bombed points killing you.

for a burst S/P build here what i run http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQRAsa4al0MhCnYpTwtJw/EHbF1eFrrW0PBbwFoTxAosA-TpBFABCcEAEvMABPAg2OBA6s/AAHEAA

here a video of game play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRcNxlVzOY

here a more bunkerish version http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQRAsa4al0MhCnYpTwtJw/EHIFFvBCgFwnDBRPofyTYxA-TpBFABCcEAEvMABPAg2OBA6s/AAHEAA

an here a video to go with it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZByv-ezjS0

hope the builds help ^^

S/p is strong in pvp and pve, not so much wvw. Pvp it makes for great sniping especially with flanking strikes and the removal of haste endurance degen, for pve its simply very easy to use and has little downsides.

Wvw however after the 1st use you’re basically laying your game plan down for your enemy the rest of the fight which if you’re doing what a thief does in wvw, roaming, you will probably get killed since you don’t have high stealth access.

That why my build combo with d/p to allow you get in to fight

In WvW ive been running full glass (zerk da/cs/tr) s/p + sb post patch and think its definitely viable. Its not as good as d/p meta for sure but i have really been enjoying it for some reason.

I dont run any stealth on my utility bar opting for all stun breaks and condi clears via trickster trait and dont feel its made me any less survivable. Running stealthless i think has actually made me a better thief, where ive had to focus a lot on getting better at my positioning/reading my opponent as well as when and when not to burst, timing headshots right, etc. Also it is really easy to get the jump on squishy targets with basi+shadowstep/inf strike/steal/haste+2 pistol whips with panic strike proc’d. Thats safely a 20-24k burst vs glassies right there if you surprise them (but this is true of most glass thief builds).

But other times versus better players/bunkers its fun to get creative with how to bait out immob clears/dodges/bursts thru teleports and then go in for a full burst when theyve blown everything trying to catch you. If you kitten up your burst and you have been smart about saving your steal, using RFI and Steal+PW combo can reset your initiative and change the tide of the fight. Esp with IP traited heals you get back a lot of health.

There are good s/p builds and meh ones, and sadly i feel you really really have to go full glass with tricks+shadowstep on this set and learn to play aggressive but smart.

All that said, S/P is DEFINITELY NOT the best thief weapon set out there. There are huge weaknesses to other classes that good players can exploit vs you. But what can i say, i just love playing it lol- for better or worse.

(for pve yeah its fine- in SW its easy to see 30-40k pw haste chains with quickness proc, then RFI steal to reset and do it again. )

It works great for wvw ( for me) , I only have trouble against Necros usually, but not too much.

Why do people keep asking if x or y weapon set/build is viable? play it your self as you use to play and decide them, no need to join the bandwagon of the meta.

it is not just the thief forums, its all. is x necro viable, is ele y viable. bloody play it lol and if thats that good then let us know.

Fat Disgrace.4275:

Why do people keep asking if x or y weapon set/build is viable? play it your self as you use to play and decide them, no need to join the bandwagon of the meta.

it is not just the thief forums, its all. is x necro viable, is ele y viable. bloody play it lol and if thats that good then let us know.

Well, unless you rotate weaponsets regularly, there’s always a little bit of a learning curve again on a set, plus re-acquanting yourself with the game as the OP is. Asking if something is a strong contender before you put the time into it is fine.

That said, I’m enjoying S/D right now which is generally considered less viable by the community, so I have to agree with you on the “play what you want to” sentiment.

Ziggurat.8261:

Hi guys,

I’ve been out of GW2 for quite awhile, and I’m about to return. I always loved playing my thief (and it was my main), and I usually ran with S/P. Awhile ago I think it was a viable weapon set for many things, or at least, I did pretty well with it.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Build-for-Thief-S-P/first#post5285426

Did it go downhill/is it way outmatched by D/D and P/P builds and stuff now?

hey man i made a post a while ago about a S/P build, here is the link….it worked pretty well for me, using the invisibility not to “walk safe” but if i need to run away or get a little time to use the venom…just as survive skill in battle, not offensive

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys! I have been considering trying a D/D build again, but…I do enjoy S/P a lot. :P I don’t WvW much but when I do I suppose I might try switching for a bit.

you can try run d/d + s/p, cause if you start the attack with a little backstab xD

DarknesSushi.5876:

you can try run d/d + s/p, cause if you start the attack with a little backstab xD

that’s what i run, usually start off with s/p pistol whip then using 5 and switch to d/d and leap for a final backstab, rekts everyone. I’m working on a video , but i’m too kitten lazy to edit and stuff Q.Q

Loki.4139:

DarknesSushi.5876:

you can try run d/d + s/p, cause if you start the attack with a little backstab xD

that’s what i run, usually start off with s/p pistol whip then using 5 and switch to d/d and leap for a final backstab, rekts everyone. I’m working on a video , but i’m too kitten lazy to edit and stuff Q.Q

I ran with sigil of hydromancy on D/D, instead of using BP I’d switch set which chills my enemy and c&d them for a backstab. But this was from the meta in january. The double melee set isn’t really working for me atm so I stopped using it for now.