Guild Wars 2

Hey all, after several years of GW2 play, I think I’m finally going to roll a thief. After a guildmate pointed out yesterday that my weakest play is against thieves, I figured I should put the effort in to learn the intricacies of the class. I know they are a relatively hard class to play well, so I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good WVW build that I can learn, get better on, and still be competitive with at the higher levels of play (I’m nowhere near pro, but I like being able to hang with the average Joe). I’d appreciate any help you folks can provide. Thanks so much!

Hello there, and welcome to the thief profession! I’ve played thief as my main since pre-release myself.

Go to bottom for builds, right below is a description of playstyle.
I’d personally recommend D/P or staff.

Playstyles / weapons:
Thief can do both condi and power builds, but tbh condi is mainly cheesy builds vs very specific enemies or below average players. I’ll skip those with saying it’s mainly D/D Death Blossom (#3) spam with poisons and Daredevil trait for condi on dodge. Another condi build is P/D, this plays on pistol stealth ability as well as auto attack for bleedstacking. Most play with poisons for this too.
If this sounds interesting, just ask and I’ll show you some builds and more in-depth about those playstyles.

Moving on is the power builds, those thief are mostly known for. D/D power build is pretty much dead, since D/P does far better utility / ways to stealth and both got backstab as their main damage.

Black Powder (pistol #5) and then either Heartseeker or dodge (with Bounding Dodger trait) will grant you stealth. Heatshot (pistol #4) is your interrupt, mostly heals, channeled attacks or ressing will be targets for this skill. With the right trait you can also do nice damage with interrupts. Dual skill (#3) is your gab closer with a blind and some pretty damage. Heartseeker is another gab closer as well as an executioner ability. Auto attack, as you might now, have been buffed to do great damage as well, but careful; you can’t stand there and take hits yourself.

Another way is the new weapon, staff. This is mainly using vault and AA as your damage along with Bounding Dodger if you choose to use this. You don’t really play with stealth, but you get a lot of evading, since Vault is an evade. You also get a retreat, an AoE blind and a weakness attack.

S/D isn’t what it used to be, but some enjoy it. It’s less bursty than other power builds, and it’s main selling point being evade isn’t really better than staff evade.

All build will use Shortbow as second weapon due to it’s mobility and AoE, as well as being ranged for when you can’t stay close.

Builds:

All builds are made in PvP editor, but you can use them for WvW as well.

D/P:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You can choose to change Impacting Disruption with Escapist’s Absolution. Also you can change Bountiful Theft with Trickster. Some might even use Executioner over Improvisation, but I’d recommend not using Executioner. Also the utility Bandit’s Defense can be changed for Fist Flurry to get more burst but less defense. Runes can also be ‘of the pack’.

Staff:

http://de.gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You might use the trait bBrawler’s Tenacity and combine it with the heal Channeled Vigor. Unhindered Combatant trait can be used for less damage but more mobility.

It became a bit long, but there you go

To be fair, D/D cheese I’d actually hard to play. It may be spammy, but trust me, it’s not easy to pull off.

thunderfall.8095:

To be fair, D/D cheese I’d actually hard to play. It may be spammy, but trust me, it’s not easy to pull off.

I agree to some degree – It’s too easy against ‘noobs’ and in my experience, against other thieves. But they lack condi bombs. The only way you get that is by using all utility on it, and then it’s only one bomb. It’s easy to counter since most people run with condi cleanse.
I’ve played it myself, before HoT, and it isn’t as easy as it looks against proper enemies – that I agree with. Personally I always found P/D more fun though.

I use it for raids, or PvE. It is deeply satisfied to use a Dodge to leap over the heads of pocket raptors, while murdering them with conditions.

I’m going to contradict OP and suggest that rather than discounting a build as “cheese” you can, and should, consider all your options.

P/D can seem “easier” because it shoots from a distance and has stealth access. Projectiles, however, can be blocked/reflected/dodged. Thus while the entry skill doesn’t require much the actual application of the build to more skilled opponents takes some getting used to, and dare I say it — actual skill. D/D condition spam also takes skill when you think that most opponents aren’t stupid and are going to hit and run to avoid taking bleed spam to the face.

Most people seem to think that every thief does and should play glass. It frustrates them that condition builds have stronger hp/armor and can put out damage.

A final thought — I play P/D, I think it is fun to play, I think it is dangerous, and more importantly I can tell you that I can kill most people in WvW. I kill druids, scrappers, and dragon hunters. Are they easy kills? No. Can I kill them? Yes.

AlphaReborn.1567:

Hey all, after several years of GW2 play, I think I’m finally going to roll a thief. After a guildmate pointed out yesterday that my weakest play is against thieves, I figured I should put the effort in to learn the intricacies of the class. I know they are a relatively hard class to play well, so I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good WVW build that I can learn, get better on, and still be competitive with at the higher levels of play (I’m nowhere near pro, but I like being able to hang with the average Joe). I’d appreciate any help you folks can provide. Thanks so much!

Here is the most recent WvW roamer build from metabattle:

http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Thief_-_D/P_Roamer

Roaming in WvW is the toughest place to learn, I think, because the guy you’re fighting could have substantially better gear and food than you. in SPvP everyone is pretty much on equal footing.

If you want to learn how to counter thieves, then learn D/P first probably, then staff. Because that is what you’ll be up against mostly.

It’s also worth reading the PvP forums here to find out what is commonly considered the thief’s role in WvW and sPvP.

Good luck!

Rezok.2709:

Hello there, and welcome to the thief profession! I’ve played thief as my main since pre-release myself.

Go to bottom for builds, right below is a description of playstyle.
I’d personally recommend D/P or staff.

Playstyles / weapons:
Thief can do both condi and power builds, but tbh condi is mainly cheesy builds vs very specific enemies or below average players. I’ll skip those with saying it’s mainly D/D Death Blossom (#3) spam with poisons and Daredevil trait for condi on dodge. Another condi build is P/D, this plays on pistol stealth ability as well as auto attack for bleedstacking. Most play with poisons for this too.
If this sounds interesting, just ask and I’ll show you some builds and more in-depth about those playstyles.

Moving on is the power builds, those thief are mostly known for. D/D power build is pretty much dead, since D/P does far better utility / ways to stealth and both got backstab as their main damage.

Black Powder (pistol #5) and then either Heartseeker or dodge (with Bounding Dodger trait) will grant you stealth. Heatshot (pistol #4) is your interrupt, mostly heals, channeled attacks or ressing will be targets for this skill. With the right trait you can also do nice damage with interrupts. Dual skill (#3) is your gab closer with a blind and some pretty damage. Heartseeker is another gab closer as well as an executioner ability. Auto attack, as you might now, have been buffed to do great damage as well, but careful; you can’t stand there and take hits yourself.

Another way is the new weapon, staff. This is mainly using vault and AA as your damage along with Bounding Dodger if you choose to use this. You don’t really play with stealth, but you get a lot of evading, since Vault is an evade. You also get a retreat, an AoE blind and a weakness attack.

S/D isn’t what it used to be, but some enjoy it. It’s less bursty than other power builds, and it’s main selling point being evade isn’t really better than staff evade.

All build will use Shortbow as second weapon due to it’s mobility and AoE, as well as being ranged for when you can’t stay close.

Builds:

All builds are made in PvP editor, but you can use them for WvW as well.

D/P:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You can choose to change Impacting Disruption with Escapist’s Absolution. Also you can change Bountiful Theft with Trickster. Some might even use Executioner over Improvisation, but I’d recommend not using Executioner. Also the utility Bandit’s Defense can be changed for Fist Flurry to get more burst but less defense. Runes can also be ‘of the pack’.

Staff:

http://de.gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You might use the trait bBrawler’s Tenacity and combine it with the heal Channeled Vigor. Unhindered Combatant trait can be used for less damage but more mobility.

It became a bit long, but there you go

What prefix would someone use on their armor for the power d/p build?

Ostayeam.3472:

Rezok.2709:

Hello there, and welcome to the thief profession! I’ve played thief as my main since pre-release myself.

Go to bottom for builds, right below is a description of playstyle.
I’d personally recommend D/P or staff.

Playstyles / weapons:
Thief can do both condi and power builds, but tbh condi is mainly cheesy builds vs very specific enemies or below average players. I’ll skip those with saying it’s mainly D/D Death Blossom (#3) spam with poisons and Daredevil trait for condi on dodge. Another condi build is P/D, this plays on pistol stealth ability as well as auto attack for bleedstacking. Most play with poisons for this too.
If this sounds interesting, just ask and I’ll show you some builds and more in-depth about those playstyles.

Moving on is the power builds, those thief are mostly known for. D/D power build is pretty much dead, since D/P does far better utility / ways to stealth and both got backstab as their main damage.

Black Powder (pistol #5) and then either Heartseeker or dodge (with Bounding Dodger trait) will grant you stealth. Heatshot (pistol #4) is your interrupt, mostly heals, channeled attacks or ressing will be targets for this skill. With the right trait you can also do nice damage with interrupts. Dual skill (#3) is your gab closer with a blind and some pretty damage. Heartseeker is another gab closer as well as an executioner ability. Auto attack, as you might now, have been buffed to do great damage as well, but careful; you can’t stand there and take hits yourself.

Another way is the new weapon, staff. This is mainly using vault and AA as your damage along with Bounding Dodger if you choose to use this. You don’t really play with stealth, but you get a lot of evading, since Vault is an evade. You also get a retreat, an AoE blind and a weakness attack.

S/D isn’t what it used to be, but some enjoy it. It’s less bursty than other power builds, and it’s main selling point being evade isn’t really better than staff evade.

All build will use Shortbow as second weapon due to it’s mobility and AoE, as well as being ranged for when you can’t stay close.

Builds:

All builds are made in PvP editor, but you can use them for WvW as well.

D/P:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You can choose to change Impacting Disruption with Escapist’s Absolution. Also you can change Bountiful Theft with Trickster. Some might even use Executioner over Improvisation, but I’d recommend not using Executioner. Also the utility Bandit’s Defense can be changed for Fist Flurry to get more burst but less defense. Runes can also be ‘of the pack’.

Staff:

http://de.gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoaVn0MBFmilOBGOB8PhFYCTLBEA2NzdwT4K0LNcGaDA-TJBFABxv/g4lBE4UAAwTAAA

You might use the trait bBrawler’s Tenacity and combine it with the heal Channeled Vigor. Unhindered Combatant trait can be used for less damage but more mobility.

It became a bit long, but there you go

What prefix would someone use on their armor for the power d/p build?

Ostay I believe the standard now for all non-condi thieves is Marauder armor and trinkets. You can equip Marauder for free in PvP, but in PvE you have to craft your own I think because it is account bound on acquire.

PS you can tab over at gw2skills.net to see all the gear they have equipped.