Guild Wars 2

I’m really not used to play offensive characters like thief, but I eventually made one and I’m really liking the in-yo-face style of play. After going though all the classes out there I may even main this one for a long time

The goal I set it to get as close as possible 50% crit chance with no signet or food, 100 crit damage and with decent defense and EHP. At the end of the build I added food which distorts the picture a bit, but the builder didn’t have the option to remove it so i left it there.

Here’s the build which I’m pretty sure regulars have seen ton of times :P
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1g.h17.a.1g.h1|0.0.0.0.0.0|1c.71j.1c.71j.1p.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j|2s.d1d.2s.d1d.3s.d1d.2s.d1d.3s.d1d.1g.61|a3.u36b.u46b.0.0|40.0|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

Is there anything else I can do to optimize it and what secondary weapon would you suggest. I’m currently running zerk SB.

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1c.h2|c.1c.h1.8.1c.h17|1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.2t.d13.2s.d13|a3.u36b.u46b.0.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

This setup is exactly 52% crit chance, and is the best DPS you can get for that much EHP.
If you want links to threads with math click “thief” in my sig and look at the bottom of that post.

Zepidel.5349:

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

Sorry can’t imagine myself playing something that needlessly glassy.

wish.1027:

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1c.h2|c.1c.h1.8.1c.h17|1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.2t.d13.2s.d13|a3.u36b.u46b.0.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

This setup is exactly 52% crit chance, and is the best DPS you can get for that much EHP.
If you want links to threads with math click “thief” in my sig and look at the bottom of that post.

Hey thanks for the build! Stats look very tempting, but the only thing that bugs me is that you need 100% food and oil uptime to maintain your crit chance above 50%. Maybe mix soldier and zerk weapons?

Why go into deadly arts? If this is for WvW I’d drop those points and put them in acro or trick

Zergs.9715:

Zepidel.5349:

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

Sorry can’t imagine myself playing something that needlessly glassy.

Have you not be in the 1000’s of threads were its basically proven that active mitigation via dodging/invuln/stealth etc…. is a million times more valuable than passive mitigation via more HP / toughness?

You might be able to shave 3-5k off of that backstab/eviscerate/heart seeker with toughness and vit, but you can shave ALL of it off with 1 dodge. Meaning the better someone is the more the tend to higher dps gear with more active mitigation.

Don’t condemn yourself to mediocracy through vit/toughness gear, and instead learn how to get better at that game. This IS the side effect of no trinity.

Hi mate, this is what we are running at the moment in WvW (solo or small groups):

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1g.h2.a.1g.h14|5.1g.h8|1g.a1.1g.a1.1g.a1.1g.a1.1g.a1.1g.a1|2s.0.1c.61.1c.61.1c.61.1c.61.1c.61|0.u13b.u4ab.a2.0|3a.7|57.5b.5c.5e.0|e

Please note:

Utilities: Shadow Refuge and Shadowstep fix and a signet of your choice (depending on playstyle and situations);
Elite: depending on playstyle and situations;
Traits: still depending on playstyle. A good alternative is going 0/20/30/20/0.

wish.1027:

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1c.h2|c.1c.h1.8.1c.h17|1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.2t.d13.2s.d13|a3.u36b.u46b.0.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

This setup is exactly 52% crit chance, and is the best DPS you can get for that much EHP.
If you want links to threads with math click “thief” in my sig and look at the bottom of that post.

Wish I have based my builds off of yours for a bit now, but this d/p build has no initiative regen, how is it sustainable after 1 BP+HS? My current d/p with init regen (not the best still some wasted stats I believe) http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h2.a.1c.h17|8.1c.h17.a.1c.h1j|1c.b1j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1g.b1j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13|0.k16.u45b.k69.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5f.5u|e

Zepidel.5349:

Zergs.9715:

Zepidel.5349:

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

Sorry can’t imagine myself playing something that needlessly glassy.

Have you not be in the 1000’s of threads were its basically proven that active mitigation via dodging/invuln/stealth etc…. is a million times more valuable than passive mitigation via more HP / toughness?

You might be able to shave 3-5k off of that backstab/eviscerate/heart seeker with toughness and vit, but you can shave ALL of it off with 1 dodge. Meaning the better someone is the more the tend to higher dps gear with more active mitigation.

Don’t condemn yourself to mediocracy through vit/toughness gear, and instead learn how to get better at that game. This IS the side effect of no trinity.

I have had some discussions about it after which I switched to full glass cannon again. Though it is indeed preferable in an ideal situation where you can see everything coming and anticipate to avoid major damage, I have found that there are a lot of situations where a glass cannon is vastly inferior to something a bit more sturdy.

Some aoe or skills are just near impossible to dodge unless you can anticipate them, which can be very tricky in a situation which isn’t a 1v1. I think the case for a glass cannon build has been severely overstated. Sure packing passive mitigationis a safety net which you don’t need in a lot of situations, but I still found it can be extremly valuable in other situations.

It ofcourse depends on your build. Getting defensive stats is more pointless on more mobile and elusive builds, but can be very handy in others. I’ve even found that with some builds my DPS is better because I can take a punch and don’t have to run and evade 24/7.

Black Cat.1024:

Why go into deadly arts? If this is for WvW I’d drop those points and put them in acro or trick

Excellent question to which I have no valid answer tbh. Obviously the build will fulfill PVE and WvW role since, after I fully gear it, have no intention of changing anything. In a light of this revelation I present you modified build

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1g.h1|0.0.0.0.0.0|1c.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j|2s.d1a.2s.d1a.3s.d1a.3s.d1a.2s.d1a.1g.67|0.u36b.u46b.a2.0|2e.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

Zepidel.5349:

Zergs.9715:

Zepidel.5349:

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

Sorry can’t imagine myself playing something that needlessly glassy.

Have you not be in the 1000’s of threads were its basically proven that active mitigation via dodging/invuln/stealth etc…. is a million times more valuable than passive mitigation via more HP / toughness?

You might be able to shave 3-5k off of that backstab/eviscerate/heart seeker with toughness and vit, but you can shave ALL of it off with 1 dodge. Meaning the better someone is the more the tend to higher dps gear with more active mitigation.

Don’t condemn yourself to mediocracy through vit/toughness gear, and instead learn how to get better at that game. This IS the side effect of no trinity.

I absolutely understand the sentiment and have no intention of standing like an idiot while ppl are taking swings at me. Dodging and evading its 100% damage mitigation and plan on using the mechanic to the fullest whenever possible. I just feel that I’m losing far more than gaining by going fully offensive. Take a look at the build I just posted and let me know what you think. Has more zerk pieces btw.

my d-p build http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQNAoaVlUmiP3ey4E+5Ey2jdqCJKuHOlR1UdFwKA-jUyAYrAixgIGgkFAKEU6rIasVtioxqrxUuER1CBYeLA-w best build ever :p just need to learn it wel and time your backstabs. u dont need high toughness or verry high vita. u got a perma regen and perma stealth. use stealth and blackpowder to avoid dmg. shadow rfuge as your 2nd healing. i can handle 1v3 with this build. u will need to train alot and learn to time attacks. when to attack and when not.

sorry for bad english i’m from belgium. and veery bad at english

Zergs.9715:

Zepidel.5349:

Zergs.9715:

Zepidel.5349:

Stop reading after you werent using full zerker. What r u doin M8?

Sorry can’t imagine myself playing something that needlessly glassy.

Have you not be in the 1000’s of threads were its basically proven that active mitigation via dodging/invuln/stealth etc…. is a million times more valuable than passive mitigation via more HP / toughness?

You might be able to shave 3-5k off of that backstab/eviscerate/heart seeker with toughness and vit, but you can shave ALL of it off with 1 dodge. Meaning the better someone is the more the tend to higher dps gear with more active mitigation.

Don’t condemn yourself to mediocracy through vit/toughness gear, and instead learn how to get better at that game. This IS the side effect of no trinity.

I absolutely understand the sentiment and have no intention of standing like an idiot while ppl are taking swings at me. Dodging and evading its 100% damage mitigation and plan on using the mechanic to the fullest whenever possible. I just feel that I’m losing far more than gaining by going fully offensive. Take a look at the build I just posted and let me know what you think. Has more zerk pieces btw.

Something that is rarely if ever discussed is approach. You need to survey every fight before you engage, and engage properly based on that.

For instance in just about ever 1v1 situation you might find yourself in imaginable your D/P is your best choice, just go in and do your thing. VS a mesmer for isntance you might want to use sb for obvious reason till ~30 when you can drop the big HS burst in combination with some form of CC / or knowledge that he can’t evade / stealth out of it.

In a 1v2 situation you use a sb and pressure, you aren’t trying to kill anyone, keep SR ready to get out of dodge if they go for you.

2+v2+ again its best to let your friend go in wile you rain down clusterboms and poison fields, until again you see an opportunity to burst someone down. SB does MASSIVE dmg to groups, and should be what you are using in a TPvP match 60% of the time, unless you are roaming solo between points picking off people.

If you’re looking for a balanced build, you might want to try going with less crit chance. The mathematically ideal crit chance is 41.9%, so you’re wasting a whole 10% that could be put into something that would benefit your build more, like vitality or healing power.

Viking Jorun.5413:

If you’re looking for a balanced build, you might want to try going with less crit chance. The mathematically ideal crit chance is 41.9%, so you’re wasting a whole 10% that could be put into something that would benefit your build more, like vitality or healing power.

care to explain that math?

Jormin.2761:

wish.1027:

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1c.h2|c.1c.h1.8.1c.h17|1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.2t.d13.2s.d13|a3.u36b.u46b.0.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

This setup is exactly 52% crit chance, and is the best DPS you can get for that much EHP.
If you want links to threads with math click “thief” in my sig and look at the bottom of that post.

Wish I have based my builds off of yours for a bit now, but this d/p build has no initiative regen, how is it sustainable after 1 BP+HS? My current d/p with init regen (not the best still some wasted stats I believe) http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h2.a.1c.h17|8.1c.h17.a.1c.h1j|1c.b1j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1g.b1j.1g.71j|2s.d13.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13.3s.d16.2s.d13|0.k16.u45b.k69.0|55.7|57.5b.5c.5f.5u|e

Youre right, I didnt even look at the traits, I just assumed he was using gain 2 ini on stealth when I changed his gear types.

You should really drop blind on stealth for gain ini on stealth.

Viking Jorun.5413:

If you’re looking for a balanced build, you might want to try going with less crit chance. The mathematically ideal crit chance is 41.9%, so you’re wasting a whole 10% that could be put into something that would benefit your build more, like vitality or healing power.

The ideal precision to maximize DPS is going to be different depending on your power and crit damage. Listing any one number without giving the others is misleading.

Zergs.9715:

Black Cat.1024:

Why go into deadly arts? If this is for WvW I’d drop those points and put them in acro or trick

Excellent question to which I have no valid answer tbh. Obviously the build will fulfill PVE and WvW role since, after I fully gear it, have no intention of changing anything. In a light of this revelation I present you modified build

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/thief/?7.0|8.1c.h14.a.1g.h1|0.0.0.0.0.0|1c.71j.1c.71j.1g.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j.1c.71j|2s.d1a.2s.d1a.3s.d1a.3s.d1a.2s.d1a.1g.67|0.u36b.u46b.a2.0|2e.7|57.5b.5c.5h.5w|e

This definitely looks better
I’d drop “Power of Inertia” for the 50% more speed in stealth as you’re in 30 in SA and without the 15 in acro the might doesn’t help much and you blow dodges just to stack it.

Viking Jorun.5413:

If you’re looking for a balanced build, you might want to try going with less crit chance. The mathematically ideal crit chance is 41.9%, so you’re wasting a whole 10% that could be put into something that would benefit your build more, like vitality or healing power.

Could you please elaborate a bit more on the ideal crit chance %, please? How did you come out with that number?

thanks

Manuelito.6081:

Viking Jorun.5413:

If you’re looking for a balanced build, you might want to try going with less crit chance. The mathematically ideal crit chance is 41.9%, so you’re wasting a whole 10% that could be put into something that would benefit your build more, like vitality or healing power.

Could you please elaborate a bit more on the ideal crit chance %, please? How did you come out with that number?

thanks

Just ignore it, its wrong.

Your ideal precision (crit chance) varies depending on your power and crit damage. But its the point where 21 precision gives the same damage % increase as 21 power.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Building-a-better-D-D-thief/page/3#post2615780

The top of this post includes math for determining damage gains. If you really care what your ideal crit chance is, these are the 3 math problems that will let you find it. When 21 precision (+1% crit chance) = +21 power, thats the ‘ideal’ number.

Let me make this easier on you now that I think of it, this is probably going to be super hard for you to get.
Take this problem:
(YourPowerHere + 21) / (YourPowerHere) =
Type in your power, and then google it. You will get 1.xxxxxx~
Then write down that number, and then fill in this problem:
(1 + ((.5 + YourCritDamageHere) * (YourCritChanceHere + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + YourCritDamageHere) * YourCritChanceHere) =
If you have 139% crit damage, that is 1.39, if you have 72% crit damage, that is .72 If you have 47% crit chance that is .47, etc.

What youre doing here, is changing “yourcritchancehere” to whatever, and whatever number gives the closest value to the first problem would be your ‘ideal’ crit chance.
Like if we had 2300 power and 92% Crit damage, we’d do…
(2300 + 21)/2300 = 1.00913043478
Then we’d look for the Crit chance value that matches that the closest with the second problem by randomly adding crit chance values til we figure it out.
(1 + ((.5 + .92) * (.53 + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + .92) * .53) = 1.00810224809
(1 + ((.5 + .92) * (.5 + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + .92) * .5) = 1.00830409357
(1 + ((.5 + .92) * (.45 + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + .92) * .45) = 1.0086638194
(1 + ((.5 + .92) * (.40 + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + .92) * .40) = 1.00905612245
(1 + ((.5 + .92) * (.39 + .01))) / (1 + (.5 + .92) * .39) = 1.00913888531

In this instance, its 40% (39 + 1), but that doesnt actually mean anything as far as gearing goes. Its just the point where 21 precision gives the same DPS increase as 21 power.