Guild Wars 2

Levelled a new thief and don’t really know much about it after the patch. I will mainly use it for open world pve. So which ascended set should I get, power or condi?

Condi narrowly defines the types of weapons and builds you can use. There much less flexibility when selecting traits, armors and the like. At the same time in PvE it can be very much more survivable depending on how you play the game.

If you find you really have issues surviving open world PVE you might lean towards condi as you can get more armor and vitality.

In the big boss fights however, such as the meta events on the HOT maps power tends to be much more heavily favored as you have to get the bosses health down quickly. Once you get the hang of open world Pve and how to utlize dodges nad blinds power is much more survivable.

I use a power build for PvE, but that’s what I’ve used. I’m d/d and shortbow, which weapons are more condi based, but…

http://www.gw2dmg-meter.de/

This link leads to a dps meter program that you can use with GW2 (and it’s legal) to track your dps. I’ve tried a lot of condi builds in the PvP lobby (which is the best way to get an idea of condi vs. power for PvE), but I’ve found condi to be lacking while power seems to be the way to go. Unfortunately, the PvP lobby does not seem to be very accurate, and Silverwastes tends—at least for me—to show more accurate dps for PvE.

But that depends on your equipment, runes, infusions (if you have ascended), and what trait lines you have. And of course, your play-style.

I like to play the assassin-type Thief. So, I have Shadow Arts to increase the time I have with stealth, and improve my stealth. I use Deadly Arts to increase my flat damage, and I use Daredevil for mobility. Most of my dps comes from Backstab, Heartseeker and Cloak and Dagger.

I also use Assassin’s Signet to increase my flat damage.

I’m not the best build maker mind you, so take my advice with a grain of salt. If you go power, avoid any traits that rely on conditions since you’ll have no condition damage. If you go condition, then obviously focus on traits that rely on conditions.

What I like about GW2 is it’s really up to you due to your play-style. If you’re not sure what your play-style is with Thief, then I recommend experimenting. And using that dps meter program. My average dps with my build is about 5k-5.5k, but I don’t know how high a Thief’s dps is considered reasonable for PvE. For me, I’ve found myself a lot more deadly without Trickery (which I used to use instead of Deadly Arts) in PvE.

Well i am looking for a fun playstyle where my damage is still good enough that i dont take forever to kill things. Surviving wont be an issue as i know what to expect in the new maps.

Sird.4536:

Well i am looking for a fun playstyle where my damage is still good enough that i dont take forever to kill things. Surviving wont be an issue as i know what to expect in the new maps.

Hmm… my build probably wouldn’t be the way to go then. Mine has some level of survivalibility (sp?) in its gear and infusions, but I do kill things fast.

I’m still playing with my build, too.

If you want to kill things fast, then go for a Power build. Thief Condi is built around bleeds, with no access whatsoever to burning, so it winds up being slower than most other Condi builds, in addition to being completely one-dimensional.

Since you mentioned “fun” i believe ever-evading Staff bouncer is what you are looking for.

I’m using Bleeding Venom Share Daredevil and I’m having a blast playing it, most of your DPS is around D/D3 and the Jumpy Dagger Dodge, so you’re very survivable because you’re constantly dodging.
The damage itself is surprisingly extremely good especially if you have 5 players around you to share your venom, you can easily stack lots of poison during your burst.

Power.