Sword Pistol!

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: Cygnus.6903

Cygnus.6903

Wow, the new update really boosted this spec. I see a lot of enthousiasm for Sword Dagger, but man, Sword Pistol has served me well while testing it yesterday solo roaming.

This is the build I’m using;

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAsaVn8lCFmilOBGOB8PhFwiqrkCuUcO4P+l3LAOgGA-T1SBQBA4EAgCtBL4QAohjAQ+0BYGlgXZ/RJ0DeAAUS9nMqcALKZIDQxUA-w

Don’t Stop is bonkers right now. If you add the -20% duration from the food, you are literally immune to movement condi’s unless your opponent has condi duration. And even then, they fall off you like it’s nothing. This makes the spec so resilient to condi, because you don’t waste any clears on movement condi’s, I love it. You could drop Pain Response for Instant Reflexes and still be fine really.

Then there is the new Swindler’s Equilibrium. Man, is this insane. I don’t know if it’s working as intended, because it goes on cooldown even if you didn’t recharge steal through dodging (if Steal wasn’t on cd already), which is awkward, but initiating with steal on S/P is pretty good anyway. Missing your steal is also a lot less detrimental.

Acro just seems an amazing traitline thanks to these two traits alone, I am not missing DA at all damagewise. The extra vigor and dodges help with Daredevil’s three dodges to begin with, and BP into Bound to acquire stealth was always a great combo for SP. The added visual tells to Pistol Whip are negated this way (and opening with steal becomes less predictable too). Switching Dash for Bound hurts less because Acro gives Swiftness on dodging, too. Really, just wow.

Any of you guys been trying this out?

I only state my opinion unless stated otherwise.
Hulk Roaming Montages/Build Vids
I always rage but never quit.

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: MortysnorNL.9263

MortysnorNL.9263

I have been trying to play with S/P but did not have enought time yesterday. But i love how you can easily step in do dmg and go out!

My only question is it even viable in just normal PVP and PVE as that D/P is?

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: Cygnus.6903

Cygnus.6903

I’d say D/P remains the untouched strongest spec for thief in PvP, although Sword Dagger may find a place.

Sword Pistol definitely feels great in outnumbered roaming though, even though D/P kind of destroys it in 1v1.

The cleave from Pistol Whip, along with the increased stun duration, just make PW a very reliable skill. Sword #2 always was a great skill.

I only state my opinion unless stated otherwise.
Hulk Roaming Montages/Build Vids
I always rage but never quit.

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: SlitheSlivier.1908

SlitheSlivier.1908

My problem seems to be that you can’t move while using Pistol whip, yet the evade frames don’t last nearly as long as the animation/attack itself. How do you get around being a sitting duck?

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: Cygnus.6903

Cygnus.6903

The evade should last 0.75 seconds, which is the full duration of the attack. There may be an aftercast, which is fine IMO (there should be counterplay). Other then that, just make sure you hit the stun?

I only state my opinion unless stated otherwise.
Hulk Roaming Montages/Build Vids
I always rage but never quit.

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: SlitheSlivier.1908

SlitheSlivier.1908

I feel like the attack actually lasts longer. Also, when fighting the npcs in the pvp zone, they hit me before I’m done with the attack.

Sword Pistol!

in Thief

Posted by: Jugglemonkey.8741

Jugglemonkey.8741

The evade is in the flurry, not the stun or windup. If you get used to it it’s a reliable evade, but it’s not as good as say staff or D/D 3 as the evade takes longer to start.

And tbh any thief spec that isn’t D/P has a disadvantage against a well played D/P thief. Good things to do if you play S/P are to focus on jukes and interrupts, save pistol whip for when the D/P tries to stealth (land steal + pistol whip at the end of a heartseeker or just over a black powder and it’s often game over) and then use sword 2 to move back out of range to stealth yourself, and pressure with bound combined with shadowsteps as that’s free evade frames while attacking. Don’t auto unless you build for quickness, as you’ll just get interrupted to death.

Critical Kit, Thief.
Don’t follow me, unless you enjoy being chased by angry men with sticks.
Power Build Condi Build