Guild Wars 2

The Mighty Noble Thief build.

Comments welcome as I just started working on this build with my thief. As I have often mentioned I Love the thief class and this just a latest iteration of a build. I am having great success with it in WvW both solo roaming or in Zergs. Keep in mind I flip traits or skills on the toolbar dependent upon the type of WvW action I am involved in.

In Pve I just load the venoms.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQRAoY6YlYmiOHfy0E/5EB3DnaUoqV4mdPuKXrKA-jkCB4iDimkOQkIhOTlIaMTCtKsIasKZER1KlYmbDRzkL1SBsoyK-w

It a 10/0/30/30/0 build but the key is the Runes of the Noble.

Generally allocating traits like this would have a severe impact on ones ability to do damage. My base condition damage would seem rather low at 1547 but I do stack that with corruption so it at 1797.

The runes of the Noble are key here with the stacking of might stacks. It rare I have under 15 stacks of might and with boon duration and Noble runes these stacks last a long time. This puts your Condition damage well over 2000 and allows for both dodge and stealth in abundance.

High armor and health helps along with stealths and dodges, all of which add might allow for an abundance of conditioning clearing and damage resistance. If one wishes they can drop quick pockets and take assassins reward AND leeching venoms giving even greater sustain in combat with multiple heal sources.

The weakest point is the amount of INI that I am used to from trickery line. Quick pockets and Ini on stealth make up for that.

I am still tinkering but comments appreciated.

I’m interested in seeing how this build performs. Could you perhaps post a video?

I have never made a video of in game action before. What sort of utility used to make that? I will give it a shot.

This is a pretty good free software:

http://obsproject.com/

Alternatively, if you know how, you can get a full version of FRAPS or Dxtory for free, but I won’t say how on here. Just don’t go Googling “FRAPS free download”, please.

Alternatively, if you have an NVidia GeForce GTX 600 series or higher you can enable Shadowplay to record in the background while you play with almost no performance cost.

Ok, poking around I realized I actually have a recorder in the Team speak I loaded for WvW.

I tested it out in orr but it was not really a match that would help people see the merits or weakneses of the build so all I have to do is REMEMBER to record a more appropriate event. It might take a bit but I will see what I can do.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone here to figure this out. Noble’s runes are one of the best-kept secrets for a condition Thief.

One of my roaming partners uses a close cousin to this build you’ve come up with, and has been running it for a few months now. Same base of Dire + Noble’s, with P/D and D/D, though he made some different trait decisions (less Acro, more DA) and mixes in a little Carrion.

IMO, this build was one of the few Thief setups that got a straight-up upgrade from the Dec 10th patch, since it lets you get away from Trickery. It’s pretty strong so long as you can protect your Might stacks.

Running traveller with mu direct damage build now, but since I have might on stealth, dodge and signets – this may work for such a build too.

Interceptor.2653:

I was wondering how long it would take for someone here to figure this out. Noble’s runes are one of the best-kept secrets for a condition Thief.

One of my roaming partners uses a close cousin to this build you’ve come up with, and has been running it for a few months now. Same base of Dire + Noble’s, with P/D and D/D, though he made some different trait decisions (less Acro, more DA) and mixes in a little Carrion.

IMO, this build was one of the few Thief setups that got a straight-up upgrade from the Dec 10th patch, since it lets you get away from Trickery. It’s pretty strong so long as you can protect your Might stacks.

The issue with relying on boons is in facing trickery boon strip thieves, well corrupt necros, and boon rip shatter mesmers. It might be a small portion of the population, but without cover boons to protect your might stacks you won’t win (granted said counters have a mediocre amount of condition removal, considering thieves don’t have access to many cover conditions).

^ Which is why I said “as long as you can protect your Might stacks”. That plus the lack of burst damage is a weakness of the build.

Although the worst case scenario is still OK for the condi Thief here, since you have strong base condition damage, and weaponsets that allow you to keep throwing out bleeds and torment. Not winning isn’t quite the same as losing.

Just a note that you can’t have two Ascended items of the same type as they are Unique.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Ascended

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Unique

For your Dire+Rabid accessories and rings.

Neat build though, would love to see a Wv3 fight.

I myself am torn over taking 10 out of Acro and putting it in DA. That way I can get 10 percent more duration on conditions and with toxic crystal have 30 percent overall which is not all bad. I could then use might on dodge rather then rare veggie pizza. Alternatively that marjories food, while very expensive adds condition damage, power (50 of each) and 3 stacks of might on heal so if one used hide in shadows one could get 8 stacks of might each time they use it or 6 stacks on every use of withdraw.

On the other hand that 10 percent extra boon duration and quick pockets is handy as well

The opinion of this Thief is that you should not go past 20 points in Acrobatics, and instead should consider going 15-20 down DA. Reasoning:

1. You have no access to Weakness in this build, but two sources of Poison.
2. Dodges are the enemy of every venom Thief, because misses eat a venom proc. Weakness cuts down on how much an enemy can evade.
3. You aren’t getting much out of Fluid Strikes, because even with high stacks of Might, you have no ferocity crit damage and very low Precision.
4. +100 Power and 10% condition duration is nothing to shake a stick at.
5. While 10% boon duration hurts, you still have plenty of Might duration, and that’s the only thing boon duration helps in your build. You have poor Swiftness access and it only gives you an extra half second of Vigor. You don’t even have a spammable Blast finisher for fields in this build.

Also worth noting HiS: I know from experience that having to rely on CnD for stealth can be annoying, so this gives you condi clear for damaging conditions as well as stealth/regen, and you get plenty of Might from it. Better burst Might than Withdraw, worse for a prolonged battle.

stinkypants.8419:

Just a note that you can’t have two Ascended items of the same type as they are Unique. […] For your Dire+Rabid accessories and rings.

He’s not running dupes, FYI: rings and accessories are split between offensive and defensive infusions. Those are technically different items even though they have the same stats. I do the same thing with my accessories, i.e. I have Althea’s Ashes and Magister’s Field Journal.

Good build, but i still think 10/0/30/0/30 with perplex and tow line is the top thief condi build

Interceptor.2653:

stinkypants.8419:

Just a note that you can’t have two Ascended items of the same type as they are Unique. […] For your Dire+Rabid accessories and rings.

He’s not running dupes, FYI: rings and accessories are split between offensive and defensive infusions. Those are technically different items even though they have the same stats. I do the same thing with my accessories, i.e. I have Althea’s Ashes and Magister’s Field Journal.

Missed the infusions… kitten .

Even with zero Might stack, this build looks great.

stinkypants.8419:

Interceptor.2653:

stinkypants.8419:

Just a note that you can’t have two Ascended items of the same type as they are Unique. […] For your Dire+Rabid accessories and rings.

He’s not running dupes, FYI: rings and accessories are split between offensive and defensive infusions. Those are technically different items even though they have the same stats. I do the same thing with my accessories, i.e. I have Althea’s Ashes and Magister’s Field Journal.

Missed the infusions… kitten .

You don’t have to consider infusions – weapons and armor will cover them no matter how many offensive/defensive you slot in.

I think this build is stronger because it has good vigor uptime, better sustain through reduced CD on mug and scavenger runes, and uncatchable. Im getting 2050 condi dmg before might or corruption stacks.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQRAoY6YlYmiOHfy0E/5EB3DnaUo694rj1saFoJA-j0CB4iDimWAkkOQkIwZqERjZSo1gFRjVJjIqWpEzcbIamcpWIgFrBA-w

Carpboy.7145:

I think this build is stronger because it has good vigor uptime, better sustain through reduced CD on mug and scavenger runes, and uncatchable. Im getting 2050 condi dmg before might or corruption stacks.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQRAoY6YlYmiOHfy0E/5EB3DnaUo694rj1saFoJA-j0CB4iDimWAkkOQkIwZqERjZSo1gFRjVJjIqWpEzcbIamcpWIgFrBA-w

I’d just run sigil of battle on both weapon sets and then have a set of corruption weapons, so you just kill 13 mobs and then change back to your real weapon set.

>>I think this build is stronger because it has good vigor uptime, better sustain through reduced CD on mug and scavenger runes, and uncatchable. Im getting 2050 condi dmg before might or corruption stacks

I did have that exact build for some time and in fact linked to one like it. Scavenger are very good but to your points.

>Vigor uptime. I do not think over your build has more vigor. They come out equal in most respects. On a 21 second steal cycle your build has vigor uptime of 30 sseconds per minute thereabouts whereas my own has 26 seconds if I heal the 4 times. Added to that 15 is added to endurance to each dodge each time I use it. (If I am in battle and have no need to heal then there usually not a lot of need to dodge)

>Damage overall I see this as a wash as with your build my might stacks never got as high as with mighty noble. You are getting a little over 410 total damage over my own from the trickery line + number 6 bonus. This is a wash in battle as my might stacks are generally 10+ higher then your own (350 damage). Might also affects power so my regular attacks without very little work will hit for around 15 percent damage.

Stacks of might are way easier to build via dodges then hides in my experience and I low balled my own estimate as far as might stack advantages go.

>Mug versus assassins reward. A wash again. I can as easily slot mug in but while your heal from mug is on a 21 second cooldown, assassins reward is healing everytime I use initiative when I have that slotted.

This not to critique your own build. IT a very good one and a lot of fun as well. I jsut see this one has having more sustain without giving up a lot in the way of an ability to inflict damage.

I do thank you for your reply.

>>The opinion of this Thief is that you should not go past 20 points in Acrobatics, and instead should consider going 15-20 down DA. Reasoning:

Again thanks for your thoughts. Your reasoning is very much the same I went through but a few of my own.

Access to swiftness. I can get permanent swiftness but it at the price of giving up vigor on heal or assassins reward/quickpockets. 3 traits in that line allow me that choice wherein 2 make it much more difficult.

I DO like the notion of opening up the consumables I can use in the way of foods if I had that added 10 percent duration from the DA line due to conditions but overall the traits one gets in the DA line are just not as flexible> There give and take down both lines though I am a big fan of improv so am currently comparing the 20/0/30/30 build.

I do a lot of trait flips in game so might just get swiftness for map movement , then change it as I enter battle. Stacking swiftness IN battle can be so very useful for chase downs of fleeing opponents

To the Blast finisher. I do have blinding powder as a blast finisher but also carry the shortbow with me. I generally found in the middle of the battle few people are doing fields that we can spam. It way too fluid. Generally a group will pull out of the battle and set up fields and finishers prior to entering. Once in battle I rarely use a shortbow.

I do use it when defending a position or firing at people on walls. I am not a big fan of the shortbow in a fight. I find it awkward to use. It too slow.

^ I didn’t mention Swiftness as anything but for an argument against boon duration. Your build does not need Swiftness access, because you have tactical access with Dodger, and you can slot SoS for overland travel. Boon duration does basically nothing for Vigor: you only get an extra half-second. The only thing you lose is Might duration, which you already have a lot of.

I brought up Shortbow because it’s the only other source of potential boon duration use: boons from Combo fields use the duration of the finisher. So your Might stacks from fire fields would last an extra 2 seconds with the 10% from Acrobatics. But you don’t use a Shortbow, so even this advantage of boon duration is something you don’t benefit from.

tl;dr: dropping 10 from Acrobatics only loses you 10% Might duration, Pockets, minor damage from Fluid Strikes and 1000 health. IMO you should compare that against your potential gains from DA, which would include 100 Power, 10% condition duration, Lotus Poison, and a Master trait (which could be Mug, QV, or even Potent Poison).

babazhook.6805:

>>I think this build is stronger because it has good vigor uptime, better sustain through reduced CD on mug and scavenger runes, and uncatchable. Im getting 2050 condi dmg before might or corruption stacks

I did have that exact build for some time and in fact linked to one like it. Scavenger are very good but to your points.

>Vigor uptime. I do not think over your build has more vigor. They come out equal in most respects. On a 21 second steal cycle your build has vigor uptime of 30 sseconds per minute thereabouts whereas my own has 26 seconds if I heal the 4 times. Added to that 15 is added to endurance to each dodge each time I use it. (If I am in battle and have no need to heal then there usually not a lot of need to dodge)

>Damage overall I see this as a wash as with your build my might stacks never got as high as with mighty noble. You are getting a little over 410 total damage over my own from the trickery line + number 6 bonus. This is a wash in battle as my might stacks are generally 10+ higher then your own (350 damage). Might also affects power so my regular attacks without very little work will hit for around 15 percent damage.

Stacks of might are way easier to build via dodges then hides in my experience and I low balled my own estimate as far as might stack advantages go.

>Mug versus assassins reward. A wash again. I can as easily slot mug in but while your heal from mug is on a 21 second cooldown, assassins reward is healing everytime I use initiative when I have that slotted.

This not to critique your own build. IT a very good one and a lot of fun as well. I jsut see this one has having more sustain without giving up a lot in the way of an ability to inflict damage.

I do thank you for your reply.

Its not like my build can’t still get might from the same sources you do. They just won’t last as long. Plus you forgot the extra sustain i have from scavenger, and the unstabiltyable instant interrupt.

I use scavengers for my condi build as well

My build is somewhat similar to Carpboy but I normally carry a d/d short bow or a p/d shortbow in wvw depending on what I feel like that day (d/d only has bleed though but the annoyance by jumping around with d/d 3 and SB 3…) rarely carry both d/d and p/d due to shortbow being too freaking useful… may give it a try since I do have both sets.

Might also invest in a set of Nobles and try it out as well… Can you still buy Noble Runes from Vender in Lions Arch?

Noliver.1475:

I use scavengers for my condi build as well

My build is somewhat similar to Carpboy but I normally carry a d/d short bow or a p/d shortbow in wvw depending on what I feel like that day (d/d only has bleed though but the annoyance by jumping around with d/d 3 and SB 3…) rarely carry both d/d and p/d due to shortbow being too freaking useful… may give it a try since I do have both sets.

Might also invest in a set of Nobles and try it out as well… Can you still buy Noble Runes from Vender in Lions Arch?

Nope. The only way to get them is run the CM dungeoun or gamble at mystic forge. I got half from each.

As to scavengers, like I said I used that too and it a good build. I just like changing builds. This one will be a keeper for sure as it lot of fun has all the dodge you can ask for and stealth.

Noob question – I can’t seem to find these runes on TP?

Edit: seal of beetletun, found it

mompen.7952:

Noob question – I can’t seem to find these runes on TP?

Caduceus’s Manor, but them with tokens.

I am not sure about other servers, but I found rounding up a group to do the Manor for bettletun tokens was rather difficult.

I ended up using the forge to get the other 4 I needed. It takes patience and time and a bit of gold. I dropped around 40G in total but I did not sell back some of runes I received. IE I got a full set of monks, 7 divinity , 5 travelers and the like which I kept. The amount of gold dropped would have been less had I sold all of those back (albeit you can not sell the dungeon runes so I just stored them)

I have been back in PVE of late trying to earn some coin back and replenish my coffers

^ Use the LFG tool. It’s shared between all servers; i.e. you can play with anyone from your region.

>>Running traveller with mu direct damage build now, but since I have might on stealth, dodge and signets – this may work for such a build too.

You know I have been tinkering with that from the opposite end of the spectrum. So as example I use Signet of agility which boost precision enough to get close to a 20 percent crit chance. Not a lot really but it will hit and while there no bonus to the damage from a crit other then the base it DOES hit hard for a Condition build.

That signet also gives two more dodges which you can use to build might.

So I was thinking. What if I used bloodlust sigil instead and built power by 250. My condition damage is still around 1500.

My power (not attack) jumps to 1360 with the stacks of bloodlust. I then stack might with dodges/venom /stealth and if I can keep might around 16 stacks or more get conditions up to 2000+ and power to 1920 (to a max of some 2300 cond damage and some 2200 power).

I got a hybrid that hits hard , has great condition potential, has armor over 3k and 20k health.

Needless to say this relies on keeping those might stacks intact.