Guild Wars 2

Hey Guys, I ‘ve started to play s/d in wvw for a while instead d/d or d/p. The reason is for the high amount of dodges and because I think It’s quicklier than the other builds.

But unfortunally, the new meta is moved on d/p build, and I can’t hide that I’m finding a lot of difficulties with it being a s/d thief!
The fact that a d/p thief can go in stealth whenever he wants, and the high damage, it let me with no hope!
I play 20066 (with hard to catch, cause I play with a stun-break only, Signet of Infiltrator), but the only thing I can do vs the d/p build is just to use the shortbow as God commands!

So, Anyone thinks as the same way as me, or I’m just not a really good s/d player!?
I really Like this build, but I think It has so many malus against others, isn’kitten

Guardian, D/p, tank hammer Warrior are the classes that really can make troubles for this build!

What Do you think about it? Do you have any tips on regard?

See you All!

I alao play s/d and It takes practise mate. I tend use short bow most of the time in wvw when roaming with guilds, imbo with short bow sneak attack and land 1 or 2 bombs can force them to back of and try to interupt their hs combo. We have better mobilty and evades but they have better dps and stealth. Even blasting your own shadow refuge can stop them because its a dark field. Plenty of tricks you can use, I am still learning them.

It’s the traits that give the high amount of dodges, not the weapon set though the weapon set does move you around, I play S/D often with 26006. About the trait build you chose, I still use that often also and I have to condition myself to always keep in mind that the mechanics of that build are just as offensive as defensive since as of right now until the new trait system, dodging gives us might and a damage boost when our endurance isn’t full. You have to keep an internal rhythm to dodge or evade to keep your boons up but also stay under 100% endurance while fighting, while also having a dodge in the pocket for actually dodging damage or effects.

Since I have to maintain dodges for damage, I use it for positioning at the same time even if I don’t have any modifiers for flanking, keeping the target turning at my direction and pace has it’s own effect. Just have some peripheral vision so you know where to turn your target to give you the ground you’ll need to dodge, Withdraw, Shadowstep, and so on. Apart from any general advice for a Thief, make a keybind layout that won’t destroy your fingers because the current 20066 build is consistently hands on.

from what ive seen from fellow thief roamers, D/P is the preferred set.
I think the power of the shadow arts line infusion of shadows and the on demand stealth has a lot to do with it. In addition to the really good blind uptime, target gap closers and direct dmg output.

D/P is for the most part stronger and easier to play. That said, I do prefer to use S/D when outnumbered, as FS can be chained many times over again if used without a target for effectively infinite dodges, blowing many foes’ cooldowns/rotations and allowing you and your party members to punish your enemies for wasting resources trying to burst down a glassy thief that just doesn’t get hit.

I find that I don’t have (m)any issues against D/P Thieves unless they run some scrubby 6-in-SA builds.
What works for me is to try and manage my evade frames with their stealth. Consider that they will almost always try to come for the backstab which will result them coming for you in 2-3 seconds, considering their stealth lasts either 3 or 4 seconds. So, count to 1 and start to evade or create distance with Shortbow or by hitting the Infiltrator’s Return on your Sword #2.
Interrupt their Heartseeker with your steal if you can but make sure not to miss/waste steal. It’s pretty key to your damage and a real gamemaker or breaker against good D/P thieves.
Another fun thing to do is to CnD of your stealthed opponent. Keep in mind the distance they need to cover and the time that they have to get to you. If you can time your CnD to stealth of them you’ll quickly get able to take the upper hand as CnD does quite a bit of damage and they get dazed or blinded which will make miss the backstab.
If you run with Basilisk Venom, try to use it when they used refuged, you’ll be able to tell their location in the refuge and keep up the pressure on them, nullifying or outdamaging their health regen.

Overall, don’t stand still (use Sword #2 to start hammering or the return to throw them of your back), try not to waste your steal (if/when you try to interrupt their HS though Smoke field), know their stealth uptime/distance/time needed for Backdtab and adapt your evade frames to it, use Basi venom as a tool to determine their location in a refuge (possibly) and be creative. If they can’t get a proper backstab in to start with then the fight will turn in your favour slow but steadily.