Guild Wars 2

Greetings, fellow thieves! Keep calm and help me thinking about our builds after the 10 December patch.

Sword/Dagger
Is S/D still viable? I think yes. I tried it in SPVP and yes, that cast time is super annoying but the build is STILL viable. I also think that there are a few changes that might be done for the build, like swapping “Signet Use” for “Practiced Tolerance” if you used to run that, and maybe leaving “Quick Recovery” for something else (not Assassin’s Reward for sure, it would just heal 350 HP every flanking strike+larcenous strike) but might on dodge trait could be an option.

Dagger/Dagger
For some reason, I seriously think that it might be very useful for WvWvW roaming, since we can now swap the “infusion of shadow” trait for Condi Cleanse and/or Blind on stealth. I would like to try it in SPVP too, maybe something like 10 30 10 20 0, or 0 30 20 20 0. I think that it is still relies too much on CnD to be usable in SPVP but meh, let’s try.

Dagger/Pistol
It hasn’t changed. If you didn’t enjoy permastealth, you have been buffed. My 0 10 30 30 0 D/P build has been greatly enhanced, since I can now swap Quick Recovery for Pain Response and Assassin’s reward has been buffed. Other D/P builds, maybe more offensive, can now avoid going more than 15 in acrobatics (maybe stopping at 20 for Pain response could be good) to get more DPS, which really lacks in SPVP.

Pistol/Dagger
It has been greatly buffed. I used to run a 0 0 30 20 20 P/D build, I can now, maybe, drop “Infusion of Shadow” for Blind on stealth/Condi removal, or keep it and spam #3 some more. I don’t think venoms can be implemented in this build. Caltrops/Shadow Refuge/Shadowstep seem much better.

What do you think about venom-share, Sword/Pistol and (lol) Pistol/Pistol?

p/d/sb + 5 venoms.

Azraelle.1683:

p/d/sb + 5 venoms.

With or without Venom Sharing and venom traiting? 20 0 30 20 0? 20 0 30 0 20?

Ninja Nurse new meta!

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/NEW-THIEF-BUILD-Time-to-adapt-once-again/first#post3040919

I think S/P is going to be much more popular. I told my friend, that if they buffed PW after it got nerfed it would be popular even though it was stronger pre-stun nerf than it is now. It was just underrated by a lot of people back then because it’s brother S/D was the cool kid. Plus people who didn’t play it before think it’s really good now because it was “buffed” despite being pretty similar to the previous nerf.

I don’t necessarily expect it to be played well as I’m going to assume it will come with a lot of cheese PW builds that have no sustainability aka haste/devourer venom/etc.

Just a prediction though. I’m not sure how people will handle the IR change. It definitely takes a bit of adjusting to.

I don’t think there will be any new build that isn’t subpar compared to other professions. Why play thief when someone else does the same job, much easier and better?

Asomal.6453:

I don’t think there will be any new build that isn’t subpar compared to other professions. Why play thief when someone else does the same job, much easier and better?

this is the point

pistolwhip hits quite hard in max power setup and is now spammable cause we have infinity initiative. 1/4 second less delay before evade seems like a good place. Damage is still probably lower than s/d strike cause of its double hit shenanigans but it is much safer.

Thief doesn’t have anything to offer besides burstiness to a team so its unlikely acrobatics or w/e will ever gain traction

too bad about that haste nerf, haste pw was the kitten

The revenge of Dual Pistols!!!

Do you really think S/P will be played? It’s basically the same as before, PW DPS output it’s like a full chain of autoattack from the sword, plus it roots you. Gonna try it, though.

Which is your d/p 0 10 30 30 0 build?
Anyway, make another video man!

I still run D/D (0 30 30 10 0) in spvp as i did before. I didn’t even take inf of shadow before since for spvp i feel the condi remove on stealth is way better than those 2 ticks of initiative ( as stealth is on a 4 sec cd anyway, enough time for ini regen). So my build got a minor buff through the increased ini regen. I say minor because even though +33% buff, opportunist nerf is also a loss. It is just a pitty that most classes get a lot of bug fixes and exciting changes (and new heal skills with interesting mechanics) and for thief it’s just the same as before but with minor drawbacks (less vigor, and cast time on sword). Dont get me started on our mediocre_healing_easily_dogded/blocked_longest_cooldown_intteruptable_only_usefull_when_
heavily_traited_new_heal_skill. It’s rubbish. I am also very sad that many useless traits have not been fixed/ altered. In fact, more useless traits were created (quick recovery? seriously?). Furthermore, the promise of player-dev cooperation on balancing turned out to be a big lie (see tread: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Thief-Collaborative-Development-a-Success) as there was basically no change after the preview. Arenanet just doesn’t care for their players, at least not the thief community. I hope santa skips you this year arenanet, breaking promises is what baddies do.

Over and out!