PvE Thief: PD (Pistol-Dagger) Self-Healing + Condition Damage
Disclaimer
I have no idea whether this build is a unique snowflake or even particularly effective relative to the more common builds, and I apologize up front if either is not the case. I haven’t seen anything similar posted yet and figured I’d throw it out there.
Purpose
My goal is not to do as much damage as possible in the shortest amount of time – though I do think my damage is more than competitive – my goal is to live through battles of attrition and do consistent damage over extended periods of time. I’ll leave stat weights for individual builds to the napkin math guys; for now, gut feeling and eyeball tests have me focusing on condition damage, healing power, vitality and toughness, with power and precision as added bonuses.
How it Works
The single target damage of the spec is actually more of a rotation than a priority system. One cycle breaks down as follows:
PD5 – Stabs the target (requires melee range, but can be set up with a mid-animation steal), which deals damage, applies 3 vulnerability stacks and grants stealth. Through traits, this also applies might and regeneration.
Dodge Roll – Through traits, this drops caltrops, which while fickle about actually hitting, can apply cripple and 1-3 bleed stacks. This is more of an added bonus, and can easily be replaced with the trait to grant fury, might and swiftness to allies on stealing. The primary gain is that the dodge roll applies swiftness and another stack of might.
PD1 (Sneak Attack) – Attack five times from stealth for moderate damage and apply five bleed stacks. While channeling this ability, run back to your target.
PD1 x2-3 – After finishing the channel on sneak attack, you’ll have time for two to three auto attacks before you’ll be able to stealth again. Technically, you can complete two auto attacks and begin the animation for PD5 in the middle of the third, with stealth landing almost immediately after the debuff wears off.
The finished product under ideal circumstances is you keeping up a relatively high number of bleed stacks (10+) without interruption and without concern for initiative. The same goes for might stacks (10+). On the defensive side, you’ll be maintaining permanent regeneration, healing for each attack performed (including the five attacks from Sneak Attack), healing for each initiative spent and healing for every second spent in stealth.
Nuances
-You won’t be able to tank with this spec, as the constant stealthing means you’ll never be able to keep a mob focused on you. You will, however, be able to outheal most sources of attrition damage. Things that take you to 15% health in one hit or auto-down you will still obviously pose problems.
-If low on health, you can sit in stealth and let yourself heal rather than instantly opening again with Sneak Attack. I’m unsure whether the healing from stealth outweighs the value of the damage lost and the healing gained from attacking, but it’s an option. If a situation is turning particularly bad, you can sit in Shadow Refuge and heal to full in a relatively short amount of time (barring AE damage).
-In addition to its typical use of guaranteeing the successful resurrection of a downed ally, Shadow Refuge will also apply regeneration to whatever it touches.
-You will often avoid dying when a group wipes, and will also be able to travel through densely packed mobs in the open world without issue. The duration of the stealth from PD5 more or less matches up with the debuff when traited (just watch out for status impairments when you have more than a few mobs on you).
-You won’t be an AE machine, as the initiative cost of PD4 is too prohibitive for anything other than a quick AE burst. Spamming this will leave you unable to quickly restart your single target rotation. Hence the shortbow.
PvP
I don’t recommend using this for WvW, as the chances you’ll actually be able to consistently land PD5’s in a wide open setting are somewhat slim. If you can’t land PD5’s, the whole spec falls apart. The spec can, however, be fun for small skirmishes or on capture points in sPvP.
TLDR & Conclusion
Pistol + Dagger = 10+ bleed stacks, 10+ might stacks & significant self-healing. Enjoy! Constructive feedback welcome and appreciated.