k, this looks like a fun exercise; I’m gonna go with 2 assumptions:
1. OP wants to run with S/D + PP (not optimal, but that’s all part of the fun – and you do have some lucky skins for them, shame not to use them)
2. OP doesn’t have a yakload of gold
so here’s some simple changes that shouldn’t break the bank. Later when you get more money you can optimise as per everyone else.
Skills:
- first, exchange Prayer to Dwayna with Hide in Shadows.
The other thief heals are good too, but this build will make use of Shadow Arts.
- exchange Prayer to Kormir with a stunbreak – either are good, but since we’ll trait for Deceptions, lets go with Shadowstep.
Gear – armour:
- replace Thief runes with Ruby Orbs. You may have enough in your bank if you’ve been mining Orichalcum. Beryl Orbs will suffice too.
- ditto your trinkets, can put Ruby/Beryl jewels, though this is a larger expense.
- your armour really needs a change – see everyone else’s posts above – but let’s assume that’s a medium-term goal for now.
- Save your laurels for ascended stuff – replace that Settler Amulet with either Distinguished Circle of Logic, or Syzygy. With your RNG-luck, save up for the MF-utility.
Hopefully your weapons are Berserk, or at least have Power as primary stat.
The most popular sigils are gonna be expensive.
Force (dagger) + Accuracy (sword) go well together, will hopefully be affordable. An on-crit sigil such as Air, Rage or Blood will do nicely too (only one per wep set tho, or they’d share cooldowns).
For the pistols, well I don’t think they complement S/D so well but we can try something cheesy with them. Let’s give both of them, Perception Sigils (yes two stack). Normally kill-stackers are not a good idea in dungeons, but with 2 of them you only need to kill 13 things to max out.
If you don’t trust to your longevity, then try a Stamina sigil on one (you may prefer Purity if conditions are eating you), and something more offensive eg Force on the other .
Traits:
Crit Strikes 30 is good.
You’ll want Executioner, and initially Pistol Mastery + Combo Crits will be helpful (can swap them out later, when you’ve maxxed your Perception stacks).
Any of Practiced Tolerance, Critical Haste, Flanking Strikes, or Furious Retaliation will be good too, plenty of options to play with in this tree.
Put 15 points into Acrobatics, for the extra dodge. You’ll need it. Power of Inertia is probably the best choice for minor trait here.
The remaining 25 points go to Shadow Arts (actually only need 20 but idk where else the other 5 could go – another trait in Acro would be fine, but the extra might on Stealth is nice)
- Master of Deception goes perfectly with your utility choices.
- Since you said that conditions gave you grief, Shadow’s Embrace is a must.
Basically, blast with both pistols until you max your stacks, then switch to S/D to melt face. Swap back again to pistols after you’re downed.
P/P for single targets (#4 helps vs defiance), S/D for mobs.
You’ll rely on stealth a lot more than your current setup.
You’ll also need to dodge/kite a lot (mouse-turning helps).
Use one dodge just before each encounter (for Might), saving at least one for actual dodging.
You’ll only use Steal as gap closer or for another skill to play with.
- caveat: this is mostly theorycraft – I can’t remember when I last ran P/P meself.
(more optimal would be to run P/P + SB, and swap to S/D + SB – but that’s another expense)
Hopefully will give you some ideas!
