Guild Wars 2

I was trying to experiment with S/P after trying S/D and D/D but i don’t quite feel comfortable with being rooted for mediocre damage. Anyone has any videos/builds to share?

the thing about S/P in pvp and wvw is it’s mobility and utility. you dont realy use PW for just the damage since after the nerf a while back your auto attack is as good as it for damage. it’s use comes in its hit volume, the stun, and the evade. if you have anything with quickness procs or haste on your bar, use it for damage in concert with that. also, because stealth is limited with the set, weapon swap often, preferably with a ranged weapon. IS in, PW, mug to them when they run out of it, shadow return then fight from range for the weapon swap timer. you can head shot whenever they start casting their heal if you know what to look out for.

as far as builds, I have seen and used a few, honestly I like 10/30/0/15/15 with S/P and short bow with dual pistols in my bag. traits are mug in deadly arts (will have to see how the potential nerf hurts it) quickness chance on crit and executioner from crit strikes, and thrill of the crime from trickery as preferred major traits, with the rest as whatever you prefer. if you just throw together your own, I would recomend at least 15 in acrobatics as a requirement. you can’t rely on stealth as much with S/P unless you have a dagger offhand with your second set so the extra dodging is invaluable.

Honestly,i can’t make a burst build without 25 points in either power or trickery for the extra damage and 30 in critical strikes for the obvious. But with sword/pistol, i feel 20 points is trickery is a must to strip stability so you can prevent enemy heals and disable targets. I build 10/30/0/0/30 with traits and gear similar to the one above and with bountiful theft with sleight of hand ( I know it seems redundant but its instant daze and more cc is always good :P) I only play thief in spvp though so idk anything about wvw or pve.

edit: It does not do mediocre damage and it hard-counters necros and rangers in teamfights. With 2 quickness procs from sigil and trait, you have a 21% chance of gaining quickess on crit with your 1 hit from infi strike,9 hits from pistol whip. Also sword cleaves so pistol whip them downed bodies like a mad man XD or quickness stomp with pistol 5.

Quick tip:

PW+Sigil of impact.

Since you have asked about videos for Sword/Pistol, here is a tutorial by Rainy Thief: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rYaMCshvTg