Guild Wars 2

Most know that S/D is not in the best place right now for most game modes. Despite this, the build linked below has brought me a good amount of success in PvP.

Build
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAsYVn8lCFmilOB+OBkmiFYCzLNcGaDzhwSYLULBEA2NA-TpBFABCcEAEvMABnAga2fYhDBAAPAAA

NOTE: This build requires quick reaction time & decision making.

Strengths: +1 Fights. Decap points. Good at 1v1 vs some glassy builds (especially other thieves). Crazy amounts of mobility. Quick Stomp. Hard to pin down.

Weaknesses: Heavy Condition Pressure. Large amounts of AOE pressure.

Play Style:
The build is built around the use of evades, stun breaks, and lots of endurance. The number 2 skill on Sword, condition removal and soft cc removal on evade are your best friends vs moderate condition pressure(condi spikes hurt no matter what avoid full condi builds). Sword num 3 should be used when you see an attack you need to evade or need to re position (don’t spam)…. can also use while evading ranged attacks since you will not proc larcenous strike when not hitting anyone. S/D numb 4 use when you know your return will take you far from someone you are trying to chase down…also remember it is a projectile finisher and can be used in fields like water for procs. Num 5 skill only use when trying to lose aggro but stay close in combat (only source of stealth). The physical elite skill is strong and should be used as a quick stomp…can even use just before enemy reaches down state to put them in down state and to ensure they don’t have time to use any down skills. The heal skill should be used often due to the low cool down & endurance regen but preferably after a shadow or infiltrators return. Always use Bandit’s defense as your primary stun break due to low cool down & endurance regen. Use Shadow Step before RFI as a stun break unless you are also low on initiative.

A hint vs Dragon Hunters….

A dragon hunter is on point dropping traps…you can double dodge through the point triggering all traps and wait for them to end. Once the DH is out of traps they can be quite vulnerable to SD thief. If you get caught in traps Shadow step out or you’ll die quickly.

Same goes for necro circles. Dodge through but know that necro is a hard match up and you are better of helping team elsewhere.

Hope this is helpful to fellow SD thieves. As soon as i figure out computer stuff i will post a video to go along with this post. Please know this build may not be meta and maybe not have a place in top Tier PvP but it is super fun and with practice can be beastly. Good luck see you in the mists!

~Adark

Treeoflife.4031:

Strengths: +1 Fights. Decap points. Good at 1v1 vs some glassy builds (especially other thieves). Crazy amounts of mobility. Quick Stomp. Hard to pin down.

Not brawler.

Good build, bad description.

Maybe your right. Sorry about that. It can last for short amounts of time in team fights as long as you avoid aoe and get out when you know you need to. Cant argue with the mobile part tho

I’m using the same build but with signet of agility and vampire runes. It seems a solid build even if still up in the current meta

Here is a video with “your build”

Have fun!

Nice now i don’t have to upload a vid :P

Cheers!

PS at 7:22 you kill Sizer….is that the same Sizer?

Treeoflife.4031:

Nice now i don’t have to upload a vid :P

Cheers!

PS at 7:22 you kill Sizer….is that the same Sizer?

Yes, he is.
This build is superior to one he is using, at least in duels.

Edit: also the link to the topic I posted the vid
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Video-Unranked-season-Faeleth-S-D/first#post5728847

dDuff.3860:

Treeoflife.4031:

Nice now i don’t have to upload a vid :P

Cheers!

PS at 7:22 you kill Sizer….is that the same Sizer?

Yes, he is.
This build is superior to one he is using, at least in duels.

Edit: also the link to the topic I posted the vid
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Video-Unranked-season-Faeleth-S-D/first#post5728847

What’s the point of taking Roll for Initiative? I mean that skill is good but there’s maybe better options for s/d daredevil than a 60 sec breakstun, even if it gives back some initiative.
I’m trying to figure out why did you choose that skill over Others.

@ Kolly
There are other skills that could mesh well with this build other than RFI. I’d also consider Infiltrator’s Signet, Signet of Agility, or maybe SR. There are a few reasons i prefer RFI. 1) It is a stun break. 2) If you evade an attack with RFI, (due to DD trait line) it will also heal a small amount. 3) It re-positions you … and since you are getting stunned you probably need a re-positioning anyways. 4) my favorite aspect is the amount of initiative it gives all at once. It allows you to go from potentially 0 initiative (which is not a place you want to find yourself) to having enough to set up a burst combo. Or enough to pop off 2 infiltrators arrows and get out of a bad situation. Yes its a 60 sec cd but based on the reasons above i still think its worth it. Also you have a total of 3 stun breaks with one on a 12 sec cd. honestly it comes down to personal preference.

Treeoflife.4031:

@ Kolly
There are other skills that could mesh well with this build other than RFI. I’d also consider Infiltrator’s Signet, Signet of Agility, or maybe SR. There are a few reasons i prefer RFI. 1) It is a stun break. 2) If you evade an attack with RFI, (due to DD trait line) it will also heal a small amount. 3) It re-positions you … and since you are getting stunned you probably need a re-positioning anyways. 4) my favorite aspect is the amount of initiative it gives all at once. It allows you to go from potentially 0 initiative (which is not a place you want to find yourself) to having enough to set up a burst combo. Or enough to pop off 2 infiltrators arrows and get out of a bad situation. Yes its a 60 sec cd but based on the reasons above i still think its worth it. Also you have a total of 3 stun breaks with one on a 12 sec cd. honestly it comes down to personal preference.

This is exactly the reason to choose Channeled Vigor (CV) over Withdraw also.
You just outresource all fights you have with both pushing power and dodges+mini-heals and one heal/endurance bomb, while landing CC via block and Impact Strike.
This cc combines with #3 LS and CnD very well.

dont you find the staff almost exactly as s/d beside #2 skill but with more dmg ?

i love the s/d but staff seems to work better

messiah.1908:

dont you find the staff almost exactly as s/d beside #2 skill but with more dmg ?

i love the s/d but staff seems to work better

staff is not near even being effective.
While providing some decent damage output with Vaults, staff lacks of everything else.
For example S/D provide boon strip/mobility/stealth access/Soft+Hard CC/ranged damage.
D/P provides gap closer+softCC/interrupt on demand/blind field and leap finisher that comboing with blind field. Not taking into consideration that dagger attacks are fastest in the game (should I say they give biggest DPS?)

While staff gives some decent damage and burst, it lacks everything else, can be easily kiteable (even d/d acts better vs kite) and don’t give you any survivability tools. Even S/P while being easily kiteable still provides you more survivability and utility.
That’s why staff is no near to be any viable option (despite Caed’s stream, where he loses hard against any decent teams and stomping plebs)