Guild Wars 2

Folks,

I’ve been on this endless quest to find a class/build that “fits” my personality and haven’t been all that successful – until now…

I never really gave my respect to the S/D Thief because it always looked too “glass” and easy to kill. That was until I’ve dueled several of them on my condi Warrior, medi Guardian, shatter Mesmer, etc, etc, and freaking LOST! I could usually get them down to about 20-25% health and then they either stealth/regen or kill me in one massive burst. I have to give ya’ll some respects there.

Anyways, I’m really trying to put some effort into learning this even though it’s not the “meta” anymore because it appears to be very effective in WvW/PvP, and even PvE without too many changes.

With that being said, I’ve posted my version of the build below and would really like your thoughts on if I’m gearing this correctly. I’m trying to balance out the zerker/valkyrie items based upon what I currently have available or can easily get. I also went with the Melandru runes as Strength runes are just way out of my budget.

My Current Setup]

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to survive would be great!

Thanks, as always,

-Lexi

Without looking at your build (I’m on mobile, so I can’t.), the meta S/D build is 2/0/0/6/6. As for burst, S/D is on the lower end of the spectrum, just because it doesn’t have damage like backstab does. It’s main strength is the daze pressure it brings. Instant daze on steal, and daze from stealth. You’re going to catch a lot of necros trying to get their heal off while you’re in stealth for a perfect daze interrupt.

One mistake I made made early on, is I would waste intiative and never land #3 while trying to set up Larcinous Strike. Now, I just the 3 skill when I need an evade and attack at the same time, otherwise, I just go for dazes. Apparently, people don’t like the daze spam. Haha.

Axyl.9408:

As for burst, S/D is on the lower end of the spectrum, just because it doesn’t have damage like backstab does.

I actually used to play a D/D build on my Thief but I felt it was just too dependent upon stealth to survive. That, and if you’re using the heal that brings you into stealth, it’s really easy for someone with a brain to interrupt it.

This S/D build looks to have a very fast-paced play style which is exactly what I like. It’s also nice to control the fight.

I had been leveling a D/D Ele as well but after watching a S/D Thief tear through a havoc group yesterday, I started to reconsider my options more.

That’s why I use S/D too. You should definitely use stealth, because you can, but a lot of times, you won’t be able to, due to either CD’s or too far away, or initiative issues. That’s why S/D is so strong. You don’t need stealth to survive when you can dodge!

Dodge spam is why S/D is so good in PvP, no to mention it’s unparalleled mobility.

As a note, I’m a bit weird. I don’t use SR. instead, I use Blinding Powder, Scorpion Wire, and ShadowStep.

Hardly any one uses the scorpion wire, so no one ever expects it.

Wish I could help you on the gear part but I don’t get a lot of time to play and I only recently came back to the game. Besides that I’m always a sport what I loot player and have landed on Soldiers chest and legs since those two slots have higher stats than others so I let that take care of gear defense and everything else is Berserker. I’m still using my Pack runes I had around launch since I can’t afford other rune sets so I’ve only got a feel for others in spvp but none at all in WvW.

I would save my gold for the rune set you want since I think your gear will be fine for now and you can replace what you need there slowly, but those Melandru runes might get frustrating if you find you’re not finishing targets off, they’re just too defensive and being an S/D thief in WvW for myself means closing the distance and locking down or killing a key badguy fast if I’m not on rescue and revive duty.

Try pressing 2 and jump at the same time with a target selected, if you do it correctly its obvious what it does… vroom faster than a warrior. And yes, you can spam it

Sayala.5104:

Try pressing 2 and jump at the same time with a target selected, if you do it correctly its obvious what it does… vroom faster than a warrior. And yes, you can spam it

I’ve been doing that with dodge. Apart from looking cool people think I’m coming at them with Heartseeker.

Keep in mind, I don’t WvW, I mostly PvP with my thief, but for me, the answer is always berserker. S/D accro gets so much vigor and so many dodges, you don’t need toughness when you’re completely negating so much damage from dodges.

Also, instead of using pack runes, I use Air runes. I love forward withdraw+swiftness at the start of a match, and for getting aroudn the map quickly. The damage proc on the runes will stun the enemy if you have Basilisk venom up too. This is really useful if someone catches you unaware. They hit you while you have Bask venom up, the proc goes off for ~2.5k and they get stunned from the Venom! That gives me enough time to either get out, or re-position to a better spot. It also disrupts their rotation a lot.

Your gear setup is good.
You’ll probably end up switching the Valkyrie pieces for Berserker ones, once you grown more confident.
Another good option is Berserker Armor with those Ascended ‘Berserker&Valkyrie’ stats for trinkets.

Also, the food you got (butternut squash) that stuff is really expensive and not worth it (if you’d ask me, atleast), I use Omnomberry Pie myself (+70 precision and 66% chance to steal life on crits).
For other good food, there was a topic about good food for S/D users in WvW in this section not too long ago, you could check that one out: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/s-d-wvw-food/first#post4965113

@OP

Your gear is almost identical to mine

However, I choose raw damage for my sigils than proc-on-crit since the chances of proc-ing is really low with this build. Also, since you’re already Might-stacking, it’s more the reason to choose either Sigil of Force or Sigil of Night.

The utility skills are optional (even though I’d choose RFI than Agility Sig and Shadowstep than Infiltrator Sig), but your healing skill is the right one — immobilize is your greatest enemy.

Watch Beyond B’s video of roaming in WvW as S/D. I’m sure someone will link it as I am far too lazy to find it. Even though it’s WvW, some of the tactics he uses are universally helpful. I was pretty decent at S/D, but got a whole lot better just by watching his video and remembering things like, Infiltrator’s strike isn’t just an opener.

Yeah, I used to be a Flanking Strike spammer, only using infiltrator’s strike to open, and barely if not never using Cloak and Dagger. Now I use flanking strike half as much and use infiltrator’s strike and CnD much more during the battle, really made a difference.

Axyl.9408:

Keep in mind, I don’t WvW, I mostly PvP with my thief, but for me, the answer is always berserker. S/D accro gets so much vigor and so many dodges, you don’t need toughness when you’re completely negating so much damage from dodges.

Also, instead of using pack runes, I use Air runes. I love forward withdraw+swiftness at the start of a match, and for getting aroudn the map quickly. The damage proc on the runes will stun the enemy if you have Basilisk venom up too. This is really useful if someone catches you unaware. They hit you while you have Bask venom up, the proc goes off for ~2.5k and they get stunned from the Venom! That gives me enough time to either get out, or re-position to a better spot. It also disrupts their rotation a lot.

I tried air runes a while ago but the proc can take you out of stealth which is annoying

Turk.5460:

Watch Beyond B’s video of roaming in WvW as S/D.

I found his vids on YouTube and have been trying to learn what tricks he’s using. My concern is NOT be the guy that is just spamming a skill without and clear reason or plan behind it. Right now, I feel like I’m not really controlling the fight but that’s because it’s so new to me.

I was wondering though, do you all see this build as having trouble with against a D/D Ele? I was dueling one the other day and it pretty much felt like he was just toying around with me. Ya’ll know that situation where the cat plays around with the mouse he caught before he finally get’s bored and kills it? Yeah… that’s kind of how I felt.

@FinalPatriot.8034

Fire and Air sigils on S/D set, Your autos along with the sigil procs are your DPS; shadow return is when you wait out for sigil cooldown. Realization that bursts matter more for glassy setups is what’s making fire/air very popular now in pvp/wvw compared to sigil of force (now considered merely a pve sigil). Because of this factor and how many times you’re hitting, it also goes well with Valkyrie parts in your setup (pm if this part is abit unclear). Also fight leading away much further from where you cast infiltrator’s strike.

kash.9213:

Sayala.5104:

Try pressing 2 and jump at the same time with a target selected, if you do it correctly its obvious what it does… vroom faster than a warrior. And yes, you can spam it

I’ve been doing that with dodge. Apart from looking cool people think I’m coming at them with Heartseeker.

Jump dodging doesnt help you travel 3600 range towards a target without using steal or utilities

Sayala.5104:

Jump dodging doesnt help you travel 3600 range towards a target without using steal or utilities

I get what you’re saying, I was adding to the idea of it with another one using the same mechanic.