Guild Wars 2

I don’t directly call it “exploit”,because i use it sometimes…
In short here is what i do: I equip Shadowstep and use it when needed.Then,while it’s on Shadow Return phase,i quickly change it with other skill.Most often Inf Signet.The result is basically you get free skill.I am lazy to change skills and i use it mainly in Battle of Kyhlo to get quick to Trebushet,but im sure there can be found many applications for it.
Providing it is not what is suspect:a bug,or exploit.What is your opinion?

That would require being out of combat.. not a big deal imo but no idea what the answer is.

Stiv.1820:

That would require being out of combat.. not a big deal imo but no idea what the answer is.

Indeed,i forgot to mention “out of combat” for the sake of the truth.Cheers!

Technically speaking, (as I’ve done it too) it’s just a clever use of game mechanics.
The ability isn’t on cooldown, and you aren’t in combat- so the advantage it offers you versus what you have to do to achieve it doesn’t make it OP or broken imo.

Besides, dual-function utilities need overhauling anyway.

Sounds like an oversight on ANet’s part. Thanks for letting us all know so it can be fixed sooner.

If you swap it for another skill, then swap back… is there a cool down? If not you could Shadowsteap 1200 range, swap twice, Shadowsteap 1200 range, swap twice, ad infinitum. I could see how this could be an incredibly imbalanced exploit if someone had a macro do this for them.

Sure you have to be out of combat… but that would make the Thief’s out of combat speed approaching the speed at which a macro could click buttons. Speaking of teleporting across the map instantly… is this how teleporting bots work?

Surbrus.6942:

If you swap it for another skill, then swap back… is there a cool down?

It is on CD.The cooldown starts to run when you Shadowstep,not when Shadow Return are used or wears off.That exactly is what troubles me ,because the skill effectively is already on CD,but still can be swapped regardless.

Ahhh ok that sounds better then. It isn’t too powerful if you abuse it.

It works similarly to the Mesmer’s Portal skill, although the 90 second cool down on the Portal makes any “fix” to switching skills during their dual-skill state deplorable… but that is moreso an issue with the Mesmer’s portal being way too long of a cool down, rather than the idea that this issue should be fixed.

What I like least about this sort of thing is that it makes optimal play very annoying. Whether you are juggling utilities or juggling weapons with your inventory open while out of combat, it is just not fun game play. If you don’t use Shadowstep in your build, then it is optimal to be always using this trick every 50 seconds when out of combat to increase your move speed. Just like other classes opening up their inventories and swapping weapons for swiftness or other movement skills… it is optimal but makes the game less fun.

ok, i just tried it and when i swap skills i shadow step back to my location, i swap back and it still on CD. Maybe they fixed it already?

Same reason you can swap Engineer skills while the toolbelt equivalent is in CD, allowing you to use all the toolbelt skills in quick succession.

BobbyT.7192:

ok, i just tried it and when i swap skills i shadow step back to my location, i swap back and it still on CD. Maybe they fixed it already?

You are not paying attention :P. No one says that if you swap back to it ,it wouldn’t be on CD.
What we are discussing is whether or not is intended to be able to swap it with other skill at first place.