Guild Wars 2

There are still some weaknesses, and I’ll get to that, but I’ve been playing as a DD since a bit after launch, and I actually quite enjoy it. I have a build that sort of works for most of the things I’ve been doing and is a lot of fun to use. I went Acro/Trick/DD, and specced to use the staff and dodging.

I was using Lotus, and still prefer it while in combat, but the constant “attacking enemies when I’m not even in combat” thing got to me, so I switched to Bound, and it actually synergizes a lot better with the build anyway. I basically use #5 to move in, #2 to push through the target, dodge into them, #2, dodge, then spam #5 until I’m out of Initiative, dodge some more, etc. spamming $5 is very fast and makes me feel like Mario. I really enjoy the current animations, although the Asura #2 is still not my favorite (horizontal pirouette spin). I’m not a number cruncher, but my damage is enough for me to solo regular enemies and Vets in controlled conditions, and hopefully I’m contributing to group fights. I am fairly squishy though, I rely mostly on not being hit, and plenty of enemies can down me in 1-2 good hits.

Unlocking the set is a lot of work, I started with World Completion so I was able to unlock about a 1/3 up front, and I am now 32 points from maxing it out, so no Impact Strike yet and I only just got Impairing Daggers, which I enjoyed in beta. I did not feel the class was even worth bothering with until I had at least a few of the traits in, and didn’t really enjoy it until I had at least Lotus, while my Engi and Necro were fine as soon as they got their first or second tiers.

My resource use in this build is actually pretty good, the staff and other traits recharge my dodge, my dodging recharges my Initiative, it all works pretty well, but unfortunately it ONLY works this well if I’m on staff. With any other weapon combination, Endurance gain is pathetic. There still needs to be a solution for vanilla Thieves and for non-staff-spec DDs. They need to put classic Feline Grace back in, and re-balance the DD as necessary around that fact. I also feel that while I make use of staff 3 and 4, both are a bit underwhelming and could use some love to compete with similar options on other weapons. Staff 3 either needs to be cheaper or have a ranged attack component to it, and Staff 4 should have a rectangular Darkness Field to it rather than just a direct blind attack.

I also seriously still need a button to toggle between the various dodge effects, having to go into the hero panel each time is a huge pain. Obviously there can be limitations as to when and how often you use this button, I’m very flexible on that, but the convenience factor would be huge for even just being able to use it out of combat every few minutes.

Anyway, I’m not trying to take away from those who have real issues with the DD’s current state, and I’d love to see a whole host of improvements and think they would be warranted, but I just wanted to let you guys know that even with the general wonkiness and frustrations, I’m still having fun with the class. When I’m not dead, at least.

Also, kitten the Mordrem Snipers. Always.

I used a similar build with trick/acrobatic/DD but with dire stats and d/d, using impaling lotus and energy sigils and krait runes. The synergy with death blosson and lotus is awesome, steal recharging end and ini and weapon swap even more end, you never.run out of ini/end, easily stay above 30+ bleed stacks, very hard to get hit since.you are evading all the time and even if you do the dire stats and amazing synergy of SoM with lotus and blosson keep you altmost always on full hp

Hardcore DD don’t use Trickery.

Hardcore DD don’t use Trickery.

That’s a pity, Trickery adds a lot to the class.

Staff p/p is so fun to use. DD’s mobility is very fun and let’s you “tank” some champs if you time things right

Ohoni.6057:

Hardcore DD don’t use Trickery.

That’s a pity, Trickery adds a lot to the class.

The profession is even better without it. DD/CS/Acro is the best build ever. So much damage — end fights quickly.

wonder what kind of builds you guys are running exactly with staff and pistols also the dd/cs/acro

Here’s my DD/CS/Acro Thief (minus some DD traits and skills – still working on it).

Just plowing through PvE.

Right now I run DD/DA/SA build in WvW with trappers runes while using staff with PP as an alternate. Unhindered combat the traited dodge.

What I wanted to do was ensure I used Staff mastery over escapists absolution so as to ensure good condition cleanse while at the same time having stealth access for the hook attack where INI not burned off. (a steal using hidden thief that hits just as your hook strike hits is a rather nice knockdown on steal.)

I am really liking it. It has excellent escape and pursuit potential. dishes out crit damage even without the CS line or fury and really leverages that knock down on the hook attack well. The available stealth allows you to get right close up to those more difficult creatures in the expansion areas and get a full chain of attacks off. ( i just wish so many were not immune to knockdown). Both Channeled Vigor and Withdraw as heals also provide stealth which can really turn a battle around in your favor.

I was at 202 skill points left as yet unspent and earned enough on the weekend to fully spec the line. I found the best way of doing this was getting the easy hero points in the new areas (6 in the first area can be soloed by a thief quite easily) and then playing WvW as I usually do using up my birthday bonus for exp gain there.

babazhook.6805:

Right now I run DD/DA/SA build in WvW with trappers runes while using staff with PP as an alternate. Unhindered combat the traited dodge.

What I wanted to do was ensure I used Staff mastery over escapists absolution so as to ensure good condition cleanse while at the same time having stealth access for the hook attack where INI not burned off. (a steal using hidden thief that hits just as your hook strike hits is a rather nice knockdown on steal.)

I am really liking it. It has excellent escape and pursuit potential. dishes out crit damage even without the CS line or fury and really leverages that knock down on the hook attack well. The available stealth allows you to get right close up to those more difficult creatures in the expansion areas and get a full chain of attacks off. ( i just wish so many were not immune to knockdown). Both Channeled Vigor and Withdraw as heals also provide stealth which can really turn a battle around in your favor.

I was at 202 skill points left as yet unspent and earned enough on the weekend to fully spec the line. I found the best way of doing this was getting the easy hero points in the new areas (6 in the first area can be soloed by a thief quite easily) and then playing WvW as I usually do using up my birthday bonus for exp gain there.

No Trick – Just Stick

im loving it. DA/CS/DD, full zerk, staff and p/p (sb might be better but p/p is fun in pve). i destroy everything in the jungle, bit squishy at first but 3 dodges, evade on vault, evade on 3, when you get used to it its no problem staying alive. Impact strike is awesome vs. defiance bars. The new heal is great. Dash is the best dodge imo, the dmg from bound is nice but dash is better, so much mobility and you dont give a kitten about soft ccs. Ill take bounding to dungeons/fractals but in general dash wins.

DA doesnt seem that mandatory now though. mug and the modifiers are nice but DD has quite a few too, i will try out acro/trickery.

The extra dodge is a lot better then i thought, you do notice it.

Definitely the best elite spec imo all things considered.

PvP is kitten atm with all the OP chronos running around so i stay away from it in general. Cant judge dd there yet.

One thing that annoys me is that the Bo staff is so hard to get (mastery gated). It fits the DD so much but it will take a while to get it. And i want it now