Guild Wars 2

Hi guys!

I have been a lurker on the forums, and this is my first post. I have been forced to create a topic asking for help, because currently, even on metabattle builds, I just… get blown up or die instantly in pvp (both wvw and spvp, its not a nice feeling). Sometimes I do well, but it seems like there is more I could be doing.

Mainly, are there any thief tutors that could teach me how to play sword/dagger or sword/pistol? wvw or pvp, id like to get better. Dagger pistol is mind numbingly boring for me :/ and sword mainhand looks so amaze!! I need builds/in game tutoring of how to blow some1 up with sword, I saw a video a while back of a teef using sword just DESTROYING some1 on battle of Kylo from 100-0% in 0.5 sec.

Thanks!

Hmm maybe I can be a bit more specific.

I feel like I am struggling to do multiple things at once. For example, a typical 1v1 fight on my teef atm using sword dagger will look something similar to this; I will pop assassins signet (basilisk venom if using it), infiltrator’s strike in (from behind line of sight as metabattle suggests for the good escape), attack a couple of times, and steal for daze and attack more etc.

But I’m not fully COMFORTABLE with how to do good damage/burst damage. We only have 5 skills, but it feels like I’m spending a lot of time auto attacking, and end up tunneling that. Or I get into the “noob trap” of spamming sword/dagger #3, or sword/pistol 3. I try my best to work in pistol 4 headshots to get pulmonary impacts, but then I end up using it too much and dumping too much energy. Feels like its spam it to hope to interrupt something, when it could be aimed and effecient. All while auto attack spamming, I’m forgetting to dodge XD and my health is suddenly at 0. In very specific cases where I fight a class/build I am slightly familiar with, I will dodge a set up, but most times it feels like “oh.. i died really hard really fast really suddenly”.

So hard :/. I was a very high end wow pvper, so its really frustrating to come to a new game and suck at pvp XD although I must admit, using different builds and weapons and playstyles is AMAZINGLY fun. My main problem that depresses me is not doing well, and not knowing why im not doing well T_T

Any tutors that could help a newbie? I will be a quick learner I promise

Sword is slow so it may benefit from quickness more so than other weapons.

The main thing with S/P is to know exactly how much of a window you have before you need to retreat. In both S/P and S/D you also need to have a plan to get back into stealth to set up another round of attacks.

It may have been possible to burst using S/X in the past but there is more get out of jail free cards. You usually can’t over rely on one shotting people these days.

That said, you do want to build enough damage to make hit and run effective. What build are you using?

saerni.2584:

Sword is slow so it may benefit from quickness more so than other weapons.

The main thing with S/P is to know exactly how much of a window you have before you need to retreat. In both S/P and S/D you also need to have a plan to get back into stealth to set up another round of attacks.

It may have been possible to burst using S/X in the past but there is more get out of jail free cards. You usually can’t over rely on one shotting people these days.

That said, you do want to build enough damage to make hit and run effective. What build are you using?

Thanks alot man, this helps alot, especially the part about how sword/x has a certain window. I may have been trying to fight more head on while using sword/x because it seemed less… stealthy backstabby, but I guess not. Maybe when I learn to juggle dodge with sword dagger #3 I will be able to stay inside and fight longer while keeping the offensive, but for now your tip is extremely helpful; I’ll pull back and reset and look for more opportunities to go back in at the right time.

Hmm… for sword/dagger and sword/pistol, can you recommend any good combos? I have been doing a tonne of research, and got a really useful tip for sword/pistol tricks;

1) Sword/pistol = Pre cast #3 (pistol whip foe, then slash repeatedly), and steal in for a near unavoidable stun + damage chain.

2) Same thing as above, but with blinding powder, to force them to fight inside the powder field so you are more “tankier”.

However, I am still looking for more “damage combo” type stuff… I know that it is all situational and depends on my build XD but stuff like the above would really help a noobie like me.

Thanks!
-a slowly learning teef

You may consider taking advantage of some Daredevil skills. Several of them can provide either damage or stun or both. Even distracting daggers gives you the option of quick stun/pulmonary impacts even without the offhand pistol and using initiative. CV is also one of the best heals if you can use IS to leap out of the fray to heal.

Damage in sPvP is a bit different since the recent sigils update. A lot of sigils for damage were removed. That said, pack as many multipliers into your runes and traits as you feel comfortable with. Scholar Runes and DA with executioner is a pretty common choice in general.

As to fighting style, draw them in the opposite direction from where you entered the fight. Then give them whiplash by teleporting back in the direction you came from. You may not need to play stealthy but you should try to disorient your opponents regardless. If they are flustered they will make mistakes.

Be very aware of your surroundings. Ranged attacks will find you and kill you if you don’t have a way to deal with them. Line of sight is the most powerful (and free to use). You will have less problem with me Lee because you have a two way teleport on your weapon. Having ways to deal with ranged attacks will go a long way to improving your survivability.

You should not think of thief as for tanking in the middle. Even without stealth you will need to play hit and run with sword.

Fun fact: sword 2 will transport you it’s 1200u even if you aren’t within 1200 range of your target. This can allow you to set up a 2400 range steal attack (sword 2 —>steal). 3600 if you start the combo with shadowstep. As an added bonus, this also gives you a 2400 range retreat (sword 2 secondary-→shadowstep secondary). I’ve found this trick pretty useful for +1ing into a fight, dropping some condis to tip the fight in your teammate’s favor, then getting back across the map to deal with whatever else comes up.

I’ve been using this sword pistol build in PvP lately, It is a hybrid build with heavy interrupt and poison damage. It’s been working really well for me so far!
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAsaVn0MBFNhdmCuNB8PhFYCbOEeCbha/pAQBwLMsoGRA-TpxBQBA4QAgxTAgXKDMyjAgB3fAhPAAA

Kirochique.9186:

I’ve been using this sword pistol build in PvP lately, It is a hybrid build with heavy interrupt and poison damage. It’s been working really well for me so far!
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAsaVn0MBFNhdmCuNB8PhFYCbOEeCbha/pAQBwLMsoGRA-TpxBQBA4QAgxTAgXKDMyjAgB3fAhPAAA

Very similar to what I am running WvW save for the fact I use Adventurer runes, along with SOH (i get the torment/PI over the confusion) and impaling lotus. It quite surprising how much torment you can build and with Channeled Vigor as heal, oodles of dodges for the impaling.

You might want try SOH in conjunction with the tormnet duration sigil you can get there in PvP as while you will have less condition types overall, I do think you are ahead with overall damage (extra PI and interrupt ,3 torment vs 5 confusion and earlier poison app off steal)

I also found with the combination of #2 used on the set and higher torment, Impaling lotus suits my own style better. This applies yet more conditions with those ample dodges and the combination of cripple on the foe , with all that torment punished him plenty if he gave chase and if he did “catch up” I could use the port in/out using 2.

That all said each player has their own style and this is a LOT of fun.