Guild Wars 2

Hi fellow thieves,

So I am struggling to decide what weapons to use for my build. I run full berserk gear, and definitely know I want to use a shortbow — but I am unsure what to use for my second weapon.

I was considering using P/P as I have always loved the set. Shortbow does great AoE damage, so I need something that does great single target damage in case I need to burst down an individual target.

I was thinking that P/P is supposed to be geared towards single target dps with unload, but after using it for some time I can’t actually tell if it is really better than shortbow. The auto-attack is slow and is half cond, and when I use unload it feels like targets go down at roughly the same speed as just using shortbow auto-attack or cluster bomb.

Am I just incorrectly perceiving this, or is it really the case that shortbow does both better AoE and single target damage? I feel like I should just carry d/d around instead, but I like the idea of P/P better and would prefer to stay at range due to squishy-ness.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I suggest you to use something you like. Oh, and how about trying something like D/P?

P/P just seems like it does more damage because it is multiple hits, and the end number is usually pretty high. In terms of consistent dps, sword or even dagger is better assuming you can stay on the target. So in certain situations where it may be a bit hot, such as dungeons and wvw, p/p can be good for picking people off. Although I don’t like p/p as it relies on only 1 skill to achieve damage, and the other skills are basically worthless.

So you are saying that p/p just looks like better single target dps than shortbow, but actually isn’t?

If you have full ’zerker, definitely, IMO, you need to go P/P for single target and use a sigil that triggers on crit hits (i.e. Sigil of Air – my recommendation). Then for AoE damage, definitely Shortbow — so bring both.

For structures (i.e. Catapults), when you can never score a crit hit, you should always have a Sword in your back pack and use Pistol Whip for a quick dispatch.

P/P is in my opinion a really poor weapon set. It is pretty much a one trick pony with unload eating up all your intiative to snipe for single target damage. That suits some people in PvP and there will be some PvE fights where that’s exactly what’s needed. Headshot gives a bit of utility but the skills lack movement and evasion and there is no versatility.

P/P has good AOE if you trait for Ricochet and equip a Superior Sigil of Fire in one of the guns.

S/P is a good one target option too. If you fear your squishiness as i do, just approach from range with a steal or sword #2 and then pistol whip away (pistol whip has a stun and evasion while exectuing so you be mostly unharmed). Also if you fire a black powder on melee range you can just autoattack with the sword. I face tank the Tower’s Hybrid like this. And sword #2 also removes a condition, something thieves lack.

You’re better off using shortbow if you run glass. I’ve seen full glass p/p users die in seconds to a guardian doing nothing but spamming retal and heals.

A full PTV/CLERICS guard has what, 2K power? That’s 348 per hit on retal, times the 8 shots of unload = 2784 damage per unload from retal. It’ll only take ~4 unloads to kill a fully glass thief. ~5-6 if he uses his heal, and believe me that guardian will tank your unloads easily.

You won’t have that problem with shortbow, single target at least.

Thanks for the replies, these are all helpful!