Shortbow focused build

Shortbow focused build

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Posted by: Calysto.7469

Calysto.7469

Like, omg, not focused around backstab! In all seriousness, I’m actually my own little backstab/survivability/scrapper spec on my thief, but think I’m gonna try out this shortbow. Been enjoying using the Shortbow fighting other thieves and during zergs/sieges even in my backstab build, so thought I’d try my hand at making up a little Shortbow focused build. Going to use the same gear setup, just changing traits around to..
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQFAVlUmaNHay9E+5Ex2jeqTey9woQ9paFuJA

Going to still have good burst potential, while also having the poisons for utility and venom share, and healing off poison procs. Still has dual daggers for weapon swap. Using Berserker armor and daggers, with Valkyrie jewelry and shortbow. Would use a Rage rune on the shortbow, to stack with the Quickness from trait, and consider using Haste instead of Shadow Refuge and have 3 forms of Quickness to boost your trick arrow goodness.

What do you all think?

Shortbow focused build

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Posted by: Krathalos.3461

Krathalos.3461

It doesn’t make a lot of sense. If you’re using Venom Share, you’d better be using Basilisk Venom, since that’s the main venom that benefits from it in the first place. I also can’t tell if this is supposed to be a burst damage build or condition build. Poison venom is only good on condition builds or at the least when you have 15 points into Power (which you don’t).

I also don’t think it’s worth it to put 30 points in Shadow Arts with short bow as your main weapon, since it has to rely on utilities or your heal (total you have 2, one which is Shadow Refuge and it’s too situational to be used for the stealth alone). You basically just wasted 30 trait points for venom sharing, and you don’t even use the venom worth sharing.

This build just doesn’t make a lot of sense with short bow, sorry.

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Posted by: Tulisin.6945

Tulisin.6945

As Krathalos said, Shadow Arts doesn’t synergize particularly well with shortbow.

I’d also very much recommend against Rage sigil, opting instead for something that can proc more often. I don’t know where so many people get the idea that since they have a quickness proc trait they need a quickness proc sigil. They’re two independent effects and don’t offer any sort of additional synergy when you take them together.

Some tips in no particular order:
Get 15 into Deadly Arts for weakness-on-poison, SB is amazing at applying poison.
Consider Trickery + Uncatchable for an additional way to cripple incoming melee opponents or fleeing targets when you’re point-blank bombing.
In general SB is heavily initiative limited, going deep Trickery would be rewarding in multiple ways.
Dagger Storm is an excellent elite to punish people who think they’re going to just duke it out with you at a range.
Consider taking Shadowstep to play even more into the shortbow’s mobility strengths.
To dictate range you’re going to need a speed advantage. SB #4 is good for pulling back from an oncoming opponent, but poor for getting close to use cluster bombs. Again Trickery can help with this somewhat. Signet of Shadows is the easy option, but you can also push into Acrobatics a bit for swiftness on dodge.

Shortbow focused build

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Posted by: Calysto.7469

Calysto.7469

Nothing really synergizes with shortbow. And it’s meant to be used in zergs and such, and utilities are whatever you want. The venoms I chose are for sharing root poison and the heal reduction poisons. It’s just a good, somewhat bursty group build I’ve thought about trying.

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Posted by: savage.3469

savage.3469

just go 25/30/0/0/15

hide in shadows,shadowstep, blinding powder or refuge, and movement increase signet, and basilisk venom.

sbow/dd, strong aoe damage, then jump in for the mug cnd backstab burst using basilisk.

very simple, and quite popular

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Posted by: Thorp.7982

Thorp.7982

Shortbow focused build

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Posted by: Calysto.7469

Calysto.7469

Entertaining video, but I couldn’t but wonder how in the world they just didn’t get melee focused down near instantly. Any idea what spec is being used in that vid, and what stat setup for the gear? Would be kinda curious to try out that setup. Tested mine last night and it went well enough, but I’d like to find a way to bring it some more utility outside of the sorta crap venom heals since I’m not stacked vitality enough for them to make a bigger difference.

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Posted by: Thorp.7982

Thorp.7982

I think it’s just glass-cannon with a traits that give initiative back based on critical hits, having the extra initiative trait, etc. I’m assuming that’s what is going on based on their 13k HP and high critical hits. You could probably figure out the traits based on how many Cluster Bombs they spam at full initiative, or test and compare in the PvP training area.