So here’s a thread where we can discuss the good changes for thief.
Whining and nerfed this nerfed that posts are not welcome here, you can choose from many other posts on the frontpage here.
Let’s welcome some changes to thief:
Sword buffs, yay! (try Acr/Tri/DrD with the newly buffed Swindler’s Equilibrium: Increased bonus damage to 10%, AND: This trait now fully recharges steal when the conditions are met instead of recharging it by 1 second.)
This means you can steal, dodge an attack, and recharge steal right away! (20 sec CD).
Makes for some interesting plays.
And I’ve also tested the buff to the Assassin’s Signet (you get extra 500 power for 5 secs) I got it as high as up to 3900 power with bloodlust stacks and few might stacks, some nasty backsthaaps right there).
Also thieves guild spawn 3 thieves now, 2 ordinary thieves and 1 DrD with a staff.
I wonder if Thieves Guild is any good now in PvP. Probably not, since to cooldown is gigantic. Still, a nice little buff for solo PvE and/or some cheesy 1v1 shenanigans. I wish they buffed Ambush a bit too.
I wonder if Thieves Guild is any good now in PvP. Probably not, since to cooldown is gigantic. Still, a nice little buff for solo PvE and/or some cheesy 1v1 shenanigans. I wish they buffed Ambush a bit too.
Thieves guild is not really that great in PvE, but in PvP, especially with an S/D build, you should simply never lose a duel anymore. It goes exceptionally well with Improvisation, so you can actually make an unironic S/d DA/Trick/Acro build focused around solo and 1v2 fights to dominate Far. Having two Guilds up in one fight, if you get lucky enough with RNG, is basically an I-win button in a duel.
I wonder if Thieves Guild is any good now in PvP. Probably not, since to cooldown is gigantic. Still, a nice little buff for solo PvE and/or some cheesy 1v1 shenanigans. I wish they buffed Ambush a bit too.
Thieves guild is not really that great in PvE, but in PvP, especially with an S/D build, you should simply never lose a duel anymore. It goes exceptionally well with Improvisation, so you can actually make an unironic S/d DA/Trick/Acro build focused around solo and 1v2 fights to dominate Far. Having two Guilds up in one fight, if you get lucky enough with RNG, is basically an I-win button in a duel.
Their damage before the change was abysmal, so unless they made the third thief fairly threatening, the the skill is more of just adding distraction and clutter to confuse your enemy rather than an instant IWIN. Also they die pretty quick. And you know how much AoE is laid down when any other profession simply farts menacingly near you.
Their damage is acceptable in PvP, but it’s Scorpion Wire spam that really seals the deal. Just time it so you steal stability before they fully spawn in, then finish them off.
I am overall positive about all of the changes and specifically those to the S/x build. These are much more rewarding to use now and work in Core. In fact I have found it works with a number of combos of core lines including ones that drop TR which , IMO means we can even drop TR if we wished in the upcoming expansion and design a wide variety of builds utilizing DE.
There really are no "bad traitlines’ for a s/x build.
The changes to tricks were great as well. I had a build that relied on all tricks for Condition cleanse and this lower cooldown icing on the cake. P/P synergizes so well with RFI . On my boon duration thief, while I lost durations due to the changes , I have really not lost on the Quickness score with the new and improved haste.
I havne’t play for months, ever since I came back about 3-4 days ago. I feel like it’s much more balanced. I am kind of satisfied with the changes. Things are more fluid.
Anet……. Thank you, iv been trashing people with my hands down fav set in the entire game S/D. Breath of fresh air woooo!
Fought a S/D today in WvW…was a good fight and you can tell its “balanced”.
my P/P (giggidy) was too much for them tho :p
- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/MC_Celestia
- I am currently a main thief roamer for SF in WvW. LOVE ME!
- {SOAP} Solo/Havoc roamer, lover of good fights
I am overall positive about all of the changes and specifically those to the S/x build. These are much more rewarding to use now and work in Core. In fact I have found it works with a number of combos of core lines including ones that drop TR which , IMO means we can even drop TR if we wished in the upcoming expansion and design a wide variety of builds utilizing DE.
There really are no "bad traitlines’ for a s/x build.
The changes to tricks were great as well. I had a build that relied on all tricks for Condition cleanse and this lower cooldown icing on the cake. P/P synergizes so well with RFI . On my boon duration thief, while I lost durations due to the changes , I have really not lost on the Quickness score with the new and improved haste.
Yes, I also tested some core S/D play earlier today (Acr/DA/Tr), it needs some time getting used to the dodge again, but it kinda felt good, and the damage was great!
Also a good idea, as others have stated in other threads, to start getting used to core dodge before our new elite comes out
Also I also kinda like the new changes to Critical, specially the new Assassin’s Fury with the might stacking paired with No Quarter for some nice might stacking.
Ok I just noticed now the change to endless stamina. Another Kudo’s. This is 16 percent boon duration antoehr welcome add and really elevates the Acro line as a whole.
I wonder if Thieves Guild is any good now in PvP. Probably not, since to cooldown is gigantic. Still, a nice little buff for solo PvE and/or some cheesy 1v1 shenanigans. I wish they buffed Ambush a bit too.
Saw another condi thief using it and sword, the burst damage was ridiculous so yeah I think its more than viable with the right build
I get cussed out in whisps over my build a lot, his actually impressed me
I wonder if Thieves Guild is any good now in PvP. Probably not, since to cooldown is gigantic. Still, a nice little buff for solo PvE and/or some cheesy 1v1 shenanigans. I wish they buffed Ambush a bit too.
I could of sworn I read that Ambush was two thieves now. I was worng it just the Chatter thing.
Only been playing around with the update for an hour or so, and so far I’m pretty happy. I really like the changes lately, with the actual emphasis on opening up builds. Good job Anet. See you in the desert.
Edit: Specifically, been playing around with Acro/Tr/DrD s/p bound. Loving the Haste cd reduction, the buffs to Acro, and the changes on sword. Everything feels, well, pretty good.
Hello everyone, returning player here after about 3 years something.
Two days ago i finally figured out how to use the staff, and yesterday there is a new balance patch.
What is the exact build for running sword/dagger now. Or are builds still being tested?
Hello everyone, returning player here after about 3 years something.
Two days ago i finally figured out how to use the staff, and yesterday there is a new balance patch.
What is the exact build for running sword/dagger now. Or are builds still being tested?
There is never an exact build for anything. It all boils down to your personal preference in playstyle. Like if you want to sacrifice damage for survivability or utility. Or how confident you are at effectively using or landing your defenses or offensive utilites.
Since you are just returning, you might be rusty, so I would recommend taking Acro, Trickery, DrD. The Acro line will give you a crutch in terms of survivability while you re-learn your enemies and your defenses.
Once you’re confident enough in your survivability, you can switch out Acro for DA or CS for more damage, or SA if you feel like you can reliably make use of stealth.
Thief finally gets some well needed long range! My dreams of sitting on cliffs, walls, and buildings and sniping players has been realized. The only thing I wish for now is the thief being slightly stronger in the water, and her Basilisk Venom being a little more useful than what it currently is. Otherwise, the thief is perfect.
Hello everyone, returning player here after about 3 years something.
Two days ago i finally figured out how to use the staff, and yesterday there is a new balance patch.
What is the exact build for running sword/dagger now. Or are builds still being tested?
I am running through a number of variations using both s/p and s/d. The set IMHO is now the most flexible of all sets in that any combination of traitlines can provide a very good build dependent on what it is you want to do with it.
I do not think I CAN settle on which would be the best nor would I ver suggest a given build the best as we all play different ways and have different things we want to do with a given build.
Ok I just noticed now the change to endless stamina. Another Kudo’s. This is 16 percent boon duration antoehr welcome add and really elevates the Acro line as a whole.
I’m still out of town and not totally caught up, that sounds awesome. My s/d and d/p SA builds for the last few months havr been based around boon duration and it’s tricky balancing between that and things I don’t want to give up. That should ease up some decisions on gear and food/utility.
it took for-EVER “like sense the start of the game”- but at least it happened … they finally reduced the ridiculous cool down for roll for initiative from a insane cool down of 60 sec to at least a reasonable 35,
probably could go even lower with out making a difference but at least it can be a option now instead of waste of space in the thief utility kit
now if only they could fix the pathing for shadow trap and improve scorpion wire we might actually have a complete utility kit to work with .
P.S ty for the improvement to signet of shadows now it has a use besides running me to the bank
these changes are almost enough to make the trait trickster a option except it is still pretty hard to give up bountiful theft
This depends on your weaponset and other chosen traits. I have given up BT on two builds in favor of trickster and do not regret it. RFI with trickster traited just offers too much and specifically in builds that eat ini.
That said with the impending DE spec, I can also see dropping trickery now and relying on RFI and Mercy for added Ini with boon hate coming through RS , Larcenous and Cursed bullet (altho I not sold on rifle itself yet). We also do not know yet just how all that boon hate will transfer over in game terms post expansion. It goes without saying that if you fight an enemy that is light on boons BT does not do a lot.
It also must be noted that if one traits Swindlers, you can get another usage of BT.
That said RS does steal stacks much like larcenous.
The big takeway is we have way more in the way of solid builds since patch and thus the reason this thread exists.
You are using d/p.? Does swindlers work with D/p now? Fear in the hands of a thief can be nasty. Sometimes when I roam with a Necro I find the necro a liability of I face a thief.
don’t mind me for sounding a bit synical but as mentioned above
“This update was desperately needed and I was so happy to see how many buffs we got. Especially Haste: wow, dat cooldown timer reduction”
- and ill add to that desperately needed and long over due..
they said in the pvp forums they are working on the pathing for shadow steps and ports I just hope that includes the pathing for shadow trap would be pretty nice if that could be a reliable skill
You are using d/p.? Does swindlers work with D/p now? Fear in the hands of a thief can be nasty. Sometimes when I roam with a Necro I find the necro a liability of I face a thief.
Oups sorry, my mistake here ^^ I’m so used to using d/p that I checked it by reflex….The set is s/d ^^ But it is worth checking the trait effect on other sets….
main ~ Esper Jace (Thief )/ Ellundril Jiluan
(mesmer ) – EU [Teef]
they said in the pvp forums they are working on the pathing for shadow steps and ports I just hope that includes the pathing for shadow trap would be pretty nice if that could be a reliable skill
I don’t think so, the dev just said that the problem was game wide. I suppose they just tracked the bug and corrected it.
main ~ Esper Jace (Thief )/ Ellundril Jiluan
(mesmer ) – EU [Teef]
they said in the pvp forums they are working on the pathing for shadow steps and ports I just hope that includes the pathing for shadow trap would be pretty nice if that could be a reliable skill
I don’t think so, the dev just said that the problem was game wide. I suppose they just tracked the bug and corrected it.
ya your right they just fixed a bug with the patch
now if only they can fix the pathing issues with shadow trap and improve scorpion wire so they are both more reliable
