Guild Wars 2

I’ve recently “really” gotten into WvW with the new seasons update. I’ve been running frontline with the zerg on my guardian, but I have a thief I never get around to playing. I know scouting is a huge component for WvW. I would like to create a thief build that has awesome survivability (no use having a dead scout!) and able to put out the DPS if needed when I’m running solo during scouting.

If push came to shove, I’d rather the survivability over DPS since waypointing and repairing doesn’t seem as fun as relaying info to the zerg.

Anyone have any links to a build that might work for this criteria?

Thanks in advance!

(Oh, and if it matters, I’ve never ran thief in WvW but I do run 100% zerker D/D in PvE).

I made this really quick but its pretty basic and I tried to make it as cheap as possible. Its a perma-stealth d/p build which is perfect for scouting. Very high suvivability, yet you can hold your own against people trying to gank you.

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-c;4Rw-a06-FOFd0;9;5JTJ;205-34A58;2IJV4;9-BBGS-A-6;2VOV_WYXjYiZv_6iWQk-BV8aN1Ag;9;9;9;7kkkkkk;9;0VA-6s

Either Vomit’s D/P perma-stealth build or a regular D/D build with Shadow Refuge is just fine. I’ve had no problems running away from a zerg just by using Roll for Initiative + Withdraw (healing roll) + Shortbow skill 5 (infiltrator’s arrow) with either build. However, D/P is a bit annoying to keep stealthing, while D/D leaves you out in the open too much. Try em both, you’ll get a feel of which kind of scout you want to be

0/20/30/20/0 is the best build for d/p permanent stealth stacking which is what you want to be able to do if you’re just looking to tail a large enemy group. Most of the traits can be switched around for personal preference, but quick recovery and infusion of shadow are the essential ones for your initiative regen, as without that you won’t be able to keep up the black powder – heartseeker combos that give you the permanent stealth access.

If you’re not bothered about movement speed out of stealth you could use blinding powder instead of signet of shadows, as it’s a blast finisher now so using it inside a black powder gives you about 6 seconds of stealth with the meld in shadows trait, and is good for emergency stealth if you get caught low on initiative.

This is essentially the most complained about thief build, it’s annoying as hell to pin down and can fully disengage at any point in a fight, regardless of how many people you’re facing. You won’t have much burst potential with this build as you don’t have the hidden killer trait so you’re backstabs can end up doing lame damage if they don’t crit, but you get a good amount of sustain in 1v1 melee fights with black powder, and the best condi clear a thief has access to, as well as around 350-400 health regen per sec in stealth.

Edit: For the gear choices, taking Pow/Tough/Vit pieces for chest, legs and helm and Pow/Prec/Crit pieces for shoulders, gloves and feet will give you the best mix of damage and survivability. Accessories should usually be all Pow/Prec/Crit as they give the best power increase and crit damage stats, and you’re already getting a lot of toughness and vitality from your trait lines and gear.

Awesome! I’ll try these out today.

I did notice you are using Ruby Orbs instead of Runes. I’m willing to give that a go, but curious why not something else like Scholar or Divinity Runes?

Ribann.3691:

Awesome! I’ll try these out today.

I did notice you are using Ruby Orbs instead of Runes. I’m willing to give that a go, but curious why not something else like Scholar or Divinity Runes?

I put those ruby orbs in for a cheap alternative for those runes if one is low on money. Scholar/Divinity would definitely be best. I personally use Divinity runes because of its stat balance which compliments my thief’s suvivability/damage.

Pfff, try a s/p shadowstep chaining dodge build. D/P is sooo overrated for scouting. They still can’t even catch warriors

Viking Jorun.5413:

Pfff, try a s/p shadowstep chaining dodge build. D/P is sooo overrated for scouting. They still can’t even catch warriors

S/D>S/P for a shadowstep chaining dodge build. D/P isnt overrated for scouting since you can stealth multiple times on demand. You can pretty much run with an enemy zerg, whereas, chaining shadowstep with S/P is only good from running away from a zerg or catching up to them. You basically waste all of your vital utility skills for chaining shadowstep and if you get caught without a stunbreak you are kittened. In this case I believe the OP is trying to scout and not try to catch a warrior. Stealth is a scout’s best friend.

Easier can be scrubbier though.

Viking Jorun.5413:

I disagree entirely. It’s the fastest weapon set a thief has…

I have a hard time believing Infiltrator’s Strike that can be used once every 15 seconds (due to shadow return) as gap closer is faster than Shadow Shot and Heartseeker in a chasing scenario .

Galsia.4102:

Viking Jorun.5413:

I disagree entirely. It’s the fastest weapon set a thief has…

I have a hard time believing Infiltrator’s Strike that can be used once every 15 seconds (due to shadow return) as gap closer is faster than Shadow Shot and Heartseeker in a chasing scenario .

You would have to burn your utility skills i.e. Shadowstep, steal, infiltator’s signet, etc, which is bad if you get caught without a stunbreak.

So I’ve rolled VomitSpit’s build he linked except I put Scholar Runes in my slots instead of Ruby Orbs. So far, it is an amazing build and exactly what I’m looking for. 4-5K crits on heartseeker when someone is below the health threshold is amazing. Great survivability too when I want to join in on the zerg at points.

10/10 SpitVomit