PvE Thief Build
I leveled PvE to 80 mainly with Dagger/Dagger and Pistol/Pistol. D/D for most fights and P/P for Vets/bosses/any time you get hoardiaked and need to kite.
Caltrops and Signet of Malice are a good combo in PvE – every tick from the caltrops procs the healing ability of the signet, but you have to wait to use the ability until you have multiple enemies around you (more ticks = more healing). Spam Dagger #3 (death blossom) for a dodge/avoid (you’ll need to get good avoiding damage as a thief because we’re relatively squishy) as well as apply massive bleeds.
Pistol/Pistiol for bigger enemies – learn to circle-strafe and dodge when big hits are incoming (dodging is key to survival – remember, we’re not warriors in heavy armor).
My fave SKILLS while leveling were Signet of Malice (works well with D/D as mentioned), Signet of Shadows (get it as soon as you can, seriously – +25% run speed always helps + on-demand target blind), and for the Elite Thieves’ Guild (pop it when you know a Vet fight/big fight is coming up for much-needed agro help and extra damage). The last skill can be whatever you like but I recommend something that Blinds (attacks miss you for a second or two) like Blinding Powder or (especially) Smoke Screen – drop it right as your feet when a group of baddies is pounding on your face and you’re out of dodges (dodging = life, remember, but even the best of us sometimes run out of endurance) and attacks miss for a second. PRO TIP: This works really well when mobs are standing in the caltrops patch since the damage ticks keep passively healing you all the while as they whiff their own attacks – love it!
And don’t forget to Steal every time you can! Get used to using the ability – it’ll save you, and can be Traited for interesting things like damage/apply poison, etc. Also remember that you don’t have to use the stolen skill right away – you can totally hold onto it until it recharges, saving that extra blind/bleed/whatever for the moment you really, really need it!
As for Trait numbers, “X/X/X/X/X” refers to the number of points in the 5 Trait lines, beginning with the first, Deadly Arts. Honestly, it’s pretty easy to level to 80 with whatever Traits look good art the time and then specialize at 80 when you know how you like to play. Me, for example, I seldom if ever use Stealth since I dislike the mechanic, so I’m traited mainly for lots and lots of Conditions, Power, etc.
The only TRAITS I really think are “must haves” when leveling (the post-80 end game is the time for specialization) are:
- Trickery 10 pts (#III, Uncatchable, which drops a mini caltrop patch every time you dodge – slows mobs making kiting with P/P viable for even very tough Vets plus more procs for Signet of Malice which always helps) and
- Acrobatics 15pts (Feline Grace – lets you dodge 3 times in a row instead of only 2, meaning more avoidance and more dropped caltrops.
I’d get both of these ASAP and worry about the rest as you level.
Have fun out there!
(edited by ImagoX.4718)