Guild Wars 2

Hi guys!
So, i came back after 1-2 months and i noticed a few changes to the thief.
Actually, i noticed that it seems like it is more vulnerable than other classes in PvE and it’s not so good in WvW.
I’m playing a Dagger/Dagger build, but i’m not talking about damage, but about survivability.
I have a build that gave me a lot more survivability than normal, but still, it takes too much damages from dungeon mobs/bosses.
Sure, i have a lot of stealth skills etc… but still, in some situations, i can’t survive where others can.
However i didn’t made this post to wine, so tell me: what do you think about the thief right now?
It is a “competitive” class in both PvE and WvW/PvP in your opinion?

I’m not sure how attached you are to D/D for PvE purposes, but it is generally worse than sword simply because dagger is only single target, where sword cleaves.
For PvE S/P is outstanding. Massive cleave damage and blind field, lots of damage. If you’re looking for efficiency, save your daggers for WvW/pvp. For PvE thief survival, nothing beats blind. Switch to pistol offhand, or trait for blind on stealth

For WvW stealth is extremely useful for staying alive and they’re one of the best dueling classes in the game. Can also be a great offensive support with a venomous aura build, and has very effective weapon sets for both power and condition, each offering unique play styles. Couldn’t see myself playing another class in WvW

They are competitive in PvP as well, particularly Sword + acrobatics builds. Stealth isnt great in conquest mode because you can’t cap while stealth, so it makes more sense to rely on dodges for survival.

Thanks for the answer.
So, the best way to play is using D/D in PvP/WvW and S/P in PvE?
I would like to have had the possibility to play D/D in PvE, but seems like it’s not so efficient.
Too bad
So, can you suggest me a good S/P build for PvE?

PS: However, my major problem, is to survive in PvE.
Most of the times i receive attacks that takes me 2/3 or 1/3 of the health away in one hit.
Seems strange to me.

Pistol #5 blinds your target and creates a smoke field around you that blinds every foe in it. Unless the mobs are immune to blind (Unshakable) you should be able to kill them without resistance.
Sword #1 cleaves and can be used to kill multiple foes; together with Pistol #5 you can easily dispatch groups of mobs with little troubles.
That’s why Sword/Pistol is so strong in open PvE and against trash mobs in dungeons.

Against bosses switching to Dagger/Dagger might make more sense as it deals more damage, however it is more error-prone which is why many suggest Sword/Pistol even against them.

The two meta builds in PvE are 5/6/0/0/2 and 2/6/0/0/6.
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fZAQFQVEWONBOhs9hKJ8KquBA
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fZAQNAsalk8MxypJoJktf0Ji3Z/WWrAA

Both can be played with either Dagger/Dagger or Sword/Pistol but the 5/6 one is slightly better with Dagger/Dagger.
For the 5/6 build you put the last point either in Deadly Arts or in Trickery for more Initiative. Traits in Deadly Arts are either Dagger Training (Deadly Arts IX) or Improvisation (Deadly Arts VII) (+10% when using conjured weapons from an Ele). Take both if you have 6 points in Deadly Arts.
In the 2/6 build you can switch Flanking Strikes (Trickery IV) with Thrill of the Crime (Trickery V) if you like it more.

Open world – You can do anything
World Bosses – Probably still shortbow at 900m (with any melee you can handle)
Dungeons – Can play a personal play style, or pure dps build, or switch skills for encounters as needed. Viable dungeon class.
Fractals – Mix it up, encounters are better designed and need wider use of skills. Best players can still go pure dps and dodge. Second tier fractal class but viable.

Vestar.7293:

Thanks for the answer.
So, the best way to play is using D/D in PvP/WvW and S/P in PvE?
I would like to have had the possibility to play D/D in PvE, but seems like it’s not so efficient.
Too bad
So, can you suggest me a good S/P build for PvE?

PS: However, my major problem, is to survive in PvE.
Most of the times i receive attacks that takes me 2/3 or 1/3 of the health away in one hit.
Seems strange to me.

You can absolutely go D/D, some parts (mobs) will just take longer because of your i single target attacks, where as a sword can simultaneously blind and attack 5+ enemies. Like someone else said though- d/d is great for boss that you can melee without dying. Also, highly recommend Withdraw or SoM for heal skill, i prefer withdraw. It’s only a 15 second cool-down and a free evade (which can save you from about 4k damage). Very short cd for such a potent tool

For survival, the best things for a thief are blind and dodges, if you dont want to use pistol offhand, 3 in the acrobatics trait line with wthdraw and “vigorous recovery” should help.

Also for pvp and WvW any weapon-set can be good

Thanks again for the help.
I see this game has a very good community on his shoulders!
However, i really love D/D in both PvE and PvP.
Can you give me a D/D specific build for PvP and PvE usage?
Actually i’m playing this build, made by me: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fZAQNAoYVlsMp7pdOx8J0PNxOBtdtDwE4+EjoDetEA
It protects me a little more than normal, but it’s not very good in DPS.
Also, i would like to know your way to play Thief in PvE.
I usally end up using mostly Cloak and Dagger + Normal attacks.
I’m trying to make a good crit build with a good survivability.

PS: However i will surely try out the S/P build you guys suggested!

This is what I run for PvP (thought mostly use sword in pvp)/WvW with dagger dagger

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fZAQNAoYVlsMp0pdPx8J8PNBNBt9wbQI4uGrYGaFAA

It’s actually similar to the one you posted. For PvP/WvW I think a thief should always have the utility “Shadow Step”. Double stun break, double teleport, condition cleanse. Yeah, it’s pretty OP.

I use 2 in power for poison on steal, mug, and the 100 damage, but if you’re going 2 in trickery I’d recommend “Thrill of the crime” for the trait. 10 seconds of might fury swiftness on steal is pretty rad for 2 point skill.