Guild Wars 2

I’m sure someone already has a build somewhere that is similiar to or the same as this one, but I thought I’d share it here and see what you think.

Basically, I got fed up of the venomshare, fairly lacklustre boon share/steal, and glass cannon setups. Venomshare has very poor distances and would only work well in co-ordinated groups that know to stack on you, boon shares have the same problem to a lesser degree and just being a glass cannon puts me off. This is a more pug-friendly build, I suppose.

Since most build calculators are PvP-specific, I’ll describe it instead.

Traits:

0 – None
30 – Practised Tolerance, Critical Haste, Executioner
20 – Master of Deception, Cloaked in Shadow/Shadow’s Embrace (situational eg. Dredge)
20 – Vigorous Healing, Quick Recovery
0 – None

Heal/Utilities:

Withdraw, Blinding Powder, Shadow Refuge, Smoke Screen/Shadowstep (situational)

Elite:

Situational (either Dagger Storm or Thieves Guild usually)

Gear:

-Soldier Armor (Power/Tough/Vit) with any combination of Ruby, Emerald or Beryl Orbs you desire
-Damage-orientated accessories with as much survival elements as you want (some toughness/vitality somewhere if you value it more. Power/Tough/Crit ascended rings are amazing for this).

Weapons:
Berserker Sword with Sigil of Rage (more Quickness along with your trait)
Berserker Dagger with Sigil of Fire (more AoE damage to complement your attacks)
Berserker Shortbow with Sigil of Air/Fire (take your pick)

Playstyle:

Essentially, the quick cooldown and evade/unrooting properties of Withdraw with added vigor and swiftness/endurance regen on dodge AND Flanking Strike, you are almost completely untouchable. You are by FAR the most mobile damage dealer on the battlefield at any time. Like my other builds, this one provides support by being a centre of attention and whittling down while still being untouched. One thing that’s great fun to do is plant your Smoke Screen, stand in it and use Dagger Storm, weaving in to the Smoke combo field. Blindness galore and HUGE damage. Your blind on stealth with C+D and constant agility are a sight to behold for other players. I’ve had a few "WTF"s and "HAX"s from using this setup, as it looks absolutely ridiculous from a distance. Dodges, dodges everywhere.

However, your real support comes in when you get some distance, ergo, when the situation gets too hairy. Stealth ressing is the norm for any dungeon Thief build, but the lower cooldown on Smoke Screen is a GODSEND. Plant it in front of your ranged teammates, in front of particularly deadly ranged enemies, or plant it in front of someone who is down when your stealths are on CD, allowing you to res in peace. Smoke Screen is HUGELY overlooked. One thing you must know, if you don’t already, is that using Cluster Bomb INSIDE Smoke Screen is the combo “Area Stealth”. Does exactly what it says on the tin. I’ve sat behind the screen with teammates, kept the entire group blinded with the help of the others, and then slammed the stealth combo as they get too close, allowing the entire team to reposition and get even more distance. Provided you don’t do damage when you hit the Cluster Bomb, this can be incredibly useful, especially when doing a makeshift res with it. Your bow will do a godly amount of damage as well, so if you don’t feel safe rushing in to melee, whip it out and keep those stealths and screens coming. Alternatively, switch the screen for Shadowstep, as some encounters may lack range or usefulness for the skill eg. no projectiles or blind immunities.

Word of warning: This build is a LOT more skill-orientated than other builds. You MUST know enemy tells, pay attention at all times and use dodges properly. Stealth is NOT your crutch in combat like a 30 Shadow Arts setup. This is about highly mobile and uncatchable damage with your high Toughness and Vitality being your saving grace during hiccups and revives. Your only REAL reason for speccing in Shadow Arts is for the Toughness, lower cooldown on the incredibly useful Deception skills and the fairly useful condition removals/blinds in melee. Also note the downplay of Tactical Strike here. It IS extremely useful on key mobs, but this build does not really take it in to account. Use it when necessary, but don’t use and abuse like other builds can allow (ie. ones that use Sigil of Paralysation or Runes of the Mesmer). I like to call this build a “pseudo-tank”. It tanks by not being hit, but does awesome DPS in the process.

So that’s what I’ve been using for a couple of months now, and it hasn’t let me down yet, in to the 20+ Fractals. Usually the one that’s standing for the longest even while getting stuck in at close range, and dealing formidable damage. I’d like to hear your thoughts!

Thoughts? Makes me wanna give it a go. The problem with the stealth-daze-stealth-daze is simply that if you miss a daze or stealth, you’re hurting. I’ll let you know what I think in a tick.

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.). In the meantime a S/D setup has initivate based access to stealth which synergizes very well with vertain traits as i already mentioned. Traits that make u survive more which you cannot use to that degree if you go S/P.

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.)

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

1. No damage is bad. Slower mob killing.
2. Focusing a build around dazing is bad. Vets/bosses take a piss on daze.
3. Sword/Dagger’s 3 skill Evasive Strike is bad. Especially compared to Pistol Whip. If you want a dodge for initiative then swap to shortbow.
4. No advantage for using CnD with Sword just for a daze, because again, useless on the only monsters you guys will actually have to try and kill in a dungeon.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Use your burst skills as fast as you can, burn the mobs down, retreat/stealth away, spam shortbow, gain initiative rinse and repeat. Saying “Acrobat” is dumb, as the only difference is the sword 3 which is crap . And if your worried about condi’s, just use Sword 2 and spam condi removal. I’ve voiced my opinions, and you have yours. At that note, good luck buddy

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.)

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

1. No damage is bad. Slower mob killing.
2. Focusing a build around dazing is bad. Vets/bosses take a piss on daze.
3. Sword/Dagger’s 3 skill Evasive Strike is bad. Especially compared to Pistol Whip. If you want a dodge for initiative then swap to shortbow.
4. No advantage for using CnD with Sword just for a daze, because again, useless on the only monsters you guys will actually have to try and kill in a dungeon.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Use your burst skills as fast as you can, burn the mobs down, retreat/stealth away, spam shortbow, gain initiative rinse and repeat. Saying “Acrobat” is dumb, as the only difference is the sword 3 which is crap . And if your worried about condi’s, just use Sword 2 and spam condi removal. I’ve voiced my opinions, and you have yours. At that note, good luck buddy

1. I already mentioned, Sword auto attacks do the same damage as pistol whip.
2. Vets can be perma dazed. (The 4 Robo bosses on the Asura Fractal can all be perma dazed, for example)
3. Flanking Strike is used because of the Initiative based evade and for the boon removal. Theres a CD on switching weapons, switching to shortbow whenever you need a dodge and have no endurance left is silly, very very silly. It doesnt work, at all.
4. Blind when Stealthing, Heal when stealthed, Condition removal when stealthed, aggro reset.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Actually survive more than 2 seconds.

I respect your weapon choice, if it works for you then fine, but claiming that other players dont know how to play because they choose S/D is very ignorant.

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.)

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

1. No damage is bad. Slower mob killing.
2. Focusing a build around dazing is bad. Vets/bosses take a piss on daze.
3. Sword/Dagger’s 3 skill Evasive Strike is bad. Especially compared to Pistol Whip. If you want a dodge for initiative then swap to shortbow.
4. No advantage for using CnD with Sword just for a daze, because again, useless on the only monsters you guys will actually have to try and kill in a dungeon.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Use your burst skills as fast as you can, burn the mobs down, retreat/stealth away, spam shortbow, gain initiative rinse and repeat. Saying “Acrobat” is dumb, as the only difference is the sword 3 which is crap . And if your worried about condi’s, just use Sword 2 and spam condi removal. I’ve voiced my opinions, and you have yours. At that note, good luck buddy

1. I already mentioned, Sword auto attacks do the same damage as pistol whip.
2. Vets can be perma dazed. (The 4 Robo bosses on the Asura Fractal can all be perma dazed, for example)
3. Flanking Strike is used because of the Initiative based evade and for the boon removal. Theres a CD on switching weapons, switching to shortbow whenever you need a dodge and have no endurance left is silly, very very silly. It doesnt work, at all.
4. Blind when Stealthing, Heal when stealthed, Condition removal when stealthed, aggro reset.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Actually survive more than 2 seconds.

I respect your weapon choice, if it works for you then fine, but claiming that other players dont know how to play because they choose S/D is very ignorant.

Thieves are meant to be slippery. In this game there is no tanking. Expecially as a thief, with lowest base hp. You have numerous stealths, tons of endurance, as well as highest mobility including shadow step utilities as well. A good thief will remain very mobile and indeed last longer than other classes who are not as slippery. Trying to stay in the middle of fight and spamming 3/dancing around is stupid. Learn to play your class.

I’ve used S/D almost exclusively for levels 1-70 and plan on sticking with it. I’ve played every other build there is and keep coming back to S/D.

Whether or not anyone else thinks it’s useful, I’ll stick with it.

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

sadsad

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.)

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

1. No damage is bad. Slower mob killing.
2. Focusing a build around dazing is bad. Vets/bosses take a piss on daze.
3. Sword/Dagger’s 3 skill Evasive Strike is bad. Especially compared to Pistol Whip. If you want a dodge for initiative then swap to shortbow.
4. No advantage for using CnD with Sword just for a daze, because again, useless on the only monsters you guys will actually have to try and kill in a dungeon.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Use your burst skills as fast as you can, burn the mobs down, retreat/stealth away, spam shortbow, gain initiative rinse and repeat. Saying “Acrobat” is dumb, as the only difference is the sword 3 which is crap . And if your worried about condi’s, just use Sword 2 and spam condi removal. I’ve voiced my opinions, and you have yours. At that note, good luck buddy

1. I already mentioned, Sword auto attacks do the same damage as pistol whip.
2. Vets can be perma dazed. (The 4 Robo bosses on the Asura Fractal can all be perma dazed, for example)
3. Flanking Strike is used because of the Initiative based evade and for the boon removal. Theres a CD on switching weapons, switching to shortbow whenever you need a dodge and have no endurance left is silly, very very silly. It doesnt work, at all.
4. Blind when Stealthing, Heal when stealthed, Condition removal when stealthed, aggro reset.

PROTIP Thief Guide: Actually survive more than 2 seconds.

I respect your weapon choice, if it works for you then fine, but claiming that other players dont know how to play because they choose S/D is very ignorant.

Thieves are meant to be slippery. In this game there is no tanking. Expecially as a thief, with lowest base hp. You have numerous stealths, tons of endurance, as well as highest mobility including shadow step utilities as well. A good thief will remain very mobile and indeed last longer than other classes who are not as slippery. Trying to stay in the middle of fight and spamming 3/dancing around is stupid. Learn to play your class.

Where did i say you have to be a tank? I didnt.

So since you arent interested in a proper discussion and the only “argument” you have left is “learn to play”, i’m done. Just a tip for the future tho, stop being so ignorant and actually learn the strength of the weapon sets your class has access to, there might be something that works better.

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

It’s funny because you’re wrong. Completely wrong. My damage is usually the highest in the entire party barring a Warrior spamming HB/Frenzy. What do you suggest as an alternative? S/P? You mean the one that does barely any extra damage in exchange for being completely rooted? The one that requires you to be stationary to take advantage of blinds? Guess you also ignored the Shortbow aspects the build uses, too.

You’re also wrong about Flanking Strike. It has NEVER failed me. I am not joking. What do you think I’m doing? Spamming Flanking Strike? Perhaps if you paid attention, I have virtually unlimited access to dodges through Acrobatics’ endurance return and ready access to Vigor by the quick cooldown on Withdraw (which is another free evade/unroot as well). Flanking Strike is for the small window where an ordinary dodge isn’t possible, which is almost never. However, it DOES deal brilliant damage, especially against lone bosses like Subject Alpha, who I can solo without a problem.

I don’t care about the damage reduction on DD either. It was nothing but an initiative dump and is of no concern to my sustainable playing style. I now use it situationally for cripples, and that’s fine by me.

You also ignored the part where I say that blinding and dazing aren’t the main focus of the build?

I don’t appreciate you going around saying “learn to play”. Your total ignorance helps nobody.

Auesis.7301:

Weapons:
Berserker Sword with Sigil of Rage (more Quickness along with your trait)

Why does everyone do this when they get the quickness proc trait? They don’t have any synergy, you can’t boost quickness length or otherwise make quickness better than it is so there is no potential for specialization here. Sigil of Rage is a terrible DPS signet over any reasonable timeframe, doesn’t play nice with other sigil procs and I’ve yet to come across a situation where it is a good idea.

That said, the build is viable, but it isn’t “huge” damage. It is survivable and does solid DPS, but the standard for “huge” damage is set with berserker gear and anything less isn’t going to impress. My personal preference when dodging so much is to work in Might synergy for better offense, but I’m glad to see you decided not to and stuck with it, that shows consistent build intent.

Actually I tried to justify the Rage sigil because I have Zap, and it came with it. I refuse to change it for fear of breaking something for when I get Bolt. :P

I do prefer Quick Recovery over Might stacks for the Shortbow Poison/Cluster Area Weakness combo – makes it more spammable. But I can see where you’re coming from, thanks for the feedback!

anytime i see soldier armor in a build, i can tell you your damage is gutted. particularly in your build which has 40 of 70 points also spent in defense.

i love a tankier thief concept, but soldier armor is 33% offense, 66% no damage. ive run every iteration i can think of using it and while your survivability is good, your dps is horrible.

any thief build can bring the same utility you do with that build, be it glass cannon or not. anyone can stealth rez, smoke screen, ect.

being the last man standing only counts if you are productive while everyone else is alive, and a soldier armor build on a thief ….just isnt.

Malvagite.3254:

anytime i see soldier armor in a build, i can tell you your damage is gutted.

i love a tankier thief concept, but soldier armor is 33% offense, 66% no damage. ive run every iteration i can think of using it and while your survivability is good, your dps is horrible.

any thief build can bring the same utility you do with that build, be it glass cannon or not. anyone can stealth rez, ect.

being the last man standing only counts if you are productive while everyone else is alive, and a soldier armor build on a thief ….just isnt.

As opposed to full Berserker/offensive traits, where you would be lucky to survive for 10-15 seconds if aggro focuses on you.

I can make the same argument. You’re only productive when you’re alive. Going fully glass only risks your potential uptime. The trade-off is only worth it if your team is competent and you have the gaps to provide the damage. My setup gives me plenty of gaps to keep dishing out. Therefore, this is a more pug-friendly build, like I promised. If you have a dedicated team, by all means, go full glass. You have a role that you can fulfil. However, when I’m running with randoms, I want some space.

having 2 proc sigils on a weapon set just doesn’t work out since they share an internal cooldown, I’d replace the rage sigil with a force or accuracy one personally

Auesis.7301:

Malvagite.3254:

anytime i see soldier armor in a build, i can tell you your damage is gutted.

i love a tankier thief concept, but soldier armor is 33% offense, 66% no damage. ive run every iteration i can think of using it and while your survivability is good, your dps is horrible.

any thief build can bring the same utility you do with that build, be it glass cannon or not. anyone can stealth rez, ect.

being the last man standing only counts if you are productive while everyone else is alive, and a soldier armor build on a thief ….just isnt.

As opposed to full Berserker/offensive traits, where you would be lucky to survive for 10-15 seconds if aggro focuses on you.

I can make the same argument. You’re only productive when you’re alive. Going fully glass only risks your potential uptime. The trade-off is only worth it if your team is competent and you have the gaps to provide the damage. My setup gives me plenty of gaps to keep dishing out. Therefore, this is a more pug-friendly build, like I promised. If you have a dedicated team, by all means, go full glass. You have a role that you can fulfil. However, when I’m running with randoms, I want some space.

you dont have to be full glass, however, you are 2/3 defense.

that works for guardians, sometimes warriors…they provide non damage utilty throught buffs, blocks, ect that work on bosses.

your build does not.

ive run your build and 25 other variations of it. i know it lacks any appreciable damage. its extremely embarrassing to be in a situation where your party is dead and you need to solo one dungeon champ in front of them before rezzing, and it takes you 9 minutes ….

a thiefs defense is best served by utilizing dodge and maintaining high damage, than to build defense stats. we dont have the traits or skills to support that method adequately.

I should point out that I am not 2/3 defence. The standard gear is all Soldier, but at the moment I’m using 4x Ruby Orbs with 2x Beryl, Ruby Orichalcum Amulet, 1x Ruby and 1x Emerald Orichalcum Earrings with equivalent jewels, Power/Prec/Crit ascended Prototype pack and 2x ascended Power/Tough/Crit rings. Still haven’t finalised what I will end up using, but that’s what has suited me at the moment.

Also, if you’re the only one left alive against a champion, your group is doing it wrong. Very wrong.

I’ve played everything except a full SB spec. D/D Burst is no more effective than S/D in PvE at least not in my testing. Until just recently I dismissed S/D as lackluster. I have grown to love the effectiveness and survivability of this build. What’s so nice about it is the strong damage on autoattack coupled with the availability of a number of great tools due to you using less initiative to actually do damage. I run 0/30/25/15/0 for Might and Blind on Stealth. You can mitigate a lot of damage for our party this way. I love acrobatics but I’ve found that with this setup you can actually stay in melee a little longer if you rotate CnD>Autochain. Fun spec for PvP/WvW also.

Bloodgruve.6038:

I’ve played everything except a full SB spec. D/D Burst is no more effective than S/D in PvE at least not in my testing. Until just recently I dismissed S/D as lackluster. I have grown to love the effectiveness and survivability of this build. What’s so nice about it is the strong damage on autoattack coupled with the availability of a number of great tools due to you using less initiative to actually do damage. I run 0/30/25/15/0 for Might and Blind on Stealth. You can mitigate a lot of damage for our party this way. I love acrobatics but I’ve found that with this setup you can actually stay in melee a little longer if you rotate CnD>Autochain. Fun spec for PvP/WvW also.

The surv between d/d and s/d is almost no gap with the exception of one skill which is infiltrators strike. Except for that one skill it has almost no difference in survivability.

So it’ kitten a boon remover evade attack or pick a bleed stacking evade attack.

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Shizzlenit.7648:

GlobalSwag.8034:

Sword/Dagger is absolute trash after the huge nerf to dancing dagger. This build has crap damage, all of it would come from sword auto attacks and dazing/blinding bosses is useless. Sword 3 is also crap considering it will only hit like 50% of the time. Nice try with being unique, but next time dont pick S/D

You’re completely wrong.

- Entirely Stunlock everything up to Vets (AC explo Necromancers for example)
- Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE
- Signet of Malice + Sword Auto Attack = awesome (when fighting groups)
- Flanking Strike = Evade for Initiative
- Initiative based Stunbreaker + Condition removal

+ Everything the Dagger offhand has to offer (Blind when using CnD, etc.)

P/D is completely crap in PvE. D/D is nothing but Burst and to be honest the damage is not even that much more than S/D, while S/D offers much much more Utility.

S/P is very good in PvE too but doesnt synergize as much kitten D with certain traits. (Heal when stealthed, Conditon removal when stealthed) because you dont have nearly as much stealth uptime. Same goes for D/P.

So your only argument to the damage was “Sword Auto Attack is very high damaging + AoE” like i said, your basing all your damage off an auto attack…lol..
Go Sword/Pistol with full glass cannon gear and spam pistol whip 6x for 7-8k damage per use, as well as being invulnerable + aoe heavy dps’ing and dazing, and then back away and spam shortbow safely untill your are high initiative again. Rinse and repeat. This build does absolutely nothing special and is lackluster in every aspect, especially damage, and has absolutely no burst either. /thread

Pistol Whip’s STUN lasts 0.5 seconds, which is nothing. A Tactical Strike DAZE lasts up to ~3 seconds. Pistol Whip roots yourself which means you cannot even dodge once you started the attack. Pistol whip does not do more damage than the 3 Auto attacks from sword main hand. Yes its a bit faster but it also costs 5 Initiative to use. The auto attack costs none. Also, going S/P you have no way to use Stealth beside your Utility, which means the only way to reset aggro (and you have to do that a lot going glass cannon, which you say you do) is by using Utility that stealths you. (Blinding Powder, SR, Hide in Shadows etc.). In the meantime a S/D setup has initivate based access to stealth which synergizes very well with vertain traits as i already mentioned. Traits that make u survive more which you cannot use to that degree if you go S/P.

Not trying to diss S/P it definetly has its place but so does S/D.

You don’t give S/P the credit it deserves. I run S/P after toying with all setups and it’s currently my favorite for PvE/WvW. I build myself as a support class rather then the standard glass cannon thieves love to build for due to my want for better survival rather then unneeded DPS. Not only can you use your heal skill for stealth but I also run with shadow refuge in dungeons for aggro management along with the heals/life steal for ranged. I’d rather save my initiative for damaging/blinding skills.

It’s all about your play style and what suits your need in a given situation.

zexion.5842:

Bloodgruve.6038:

I’ve played everything except a full SB spec. D/D Burst is no more effective than S/D in PvE at least not in my testing. Until just recently I dismissed S/D as lackluster. I have grown to love the effectiveness and survivability of this build. What’s so nice about it is the strong damage on autoattack coupled with the availability of a number of great tools due to you using less initiative to actually do damage. I run 0/30/25/15/0 for Might and Blind on Stealth. You can mitigate a lot of damage for our party this way. I love acrobatics but I’ve found that with this setup you can actually stay in melee a little longer if you rotate CnD>Autochain. Fun spec for PvP/WvW also.

The surv between d/d and s/d is almost no gap with the exception of one skill which is infiltrators strike. Except for that one skill it has almost no difference in survivability.

So it kitten a boon remover evade attack or pick a bleed stacking evade attack.

With stealth you can avoid quite a bit but I’ll take Infiltrators over Heartseeker any day. Flanking Strike is there as a last resort if I can’t dodge, admittedly it is rarely used.

Condition removal is hard to live without. An easy way to achieve this is to trait removal on stealth. With D/D I will always trait this which leaves no room for Blind on Stealth. S/D allows me to use Infiltrators to drop conditions and trait into Blind. So more survivability right there. This also opens up your utility skills as you don’t have to keep condition removal there. Sword also gives a daze but Tactical Strike is less than half the damage of backstab so you’re trading dps for damage mitigation. I like D/D also but my S/D build seems to have a few more tools. I don’t run either of these in 30/30/0/0/10. Gonna give D/D another try n see how they compare again, its been a little while.

Blood~

*Edit, after some further testing I will say that D/D is far better damage output than S/D on a single target, up to double the damage. I will maintain that I feel S/D has more tools to help you survive. Problem is you can only really dps when you’re standing up…