Guild Wars 2

Honestly go arcane first, and go for glyph recharge or arcane recharge trait, if glyph use both your reg summon and your elite when you wait on cooldown, I think arcane is a bit more survivable though because it takes enemies out faster and you pop the arcane shield when needed, then go for air get the stamina regen when you crit, if you want condi maybe consider going earth after arcane instead of air.

depends on what you’re doing in pve
There is no single best build for everything. doubly so unskilled

Additionally, are you lv 80? Do you have tempest?

Anyway, staff is good. d/d is fine too, especially if you don’t have tempest

Staff is long range, dagger is melee range. Up to you which you prefer.

If you feel you aren’t doing well, I’d use earth and water traitlines, until you feel more comfortable with the class. They have more protective and healing stuff.

Not my best class either, but that’s my initial suggestions.