Guild Wars 2

Nice man.

That warrior tho, so annoying. Was hoping for a stomp at the end :-(

Hey.

Can’t test this right now, since I’m not home.

My question: Does weapon sigils based on weapon swapping break stealth and cause revealed?

Let’s say this sigil: https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Superior_Sigil_of_Geomancy

Mightybird.6034:

unless you want something more glassy (sword-sword) or condi build go staff/hammer mix of zerker and soldier gear. I like more shiro/glint but its far more up to your play style what you want to pick. Could see a lot of possibilities …

Thanks for your answer.

Maybe something glassy would suit my playstyle, since I’m used to play the squishiest class in the game. S/S + hammer maybe? Im just curious about the traits.

Gonna try in a half hour and check things out tho :-)

JoshuaRAWR.4653:

Why can’t you come up with one on your own?

Since I have limited time this weekend, only a few hours today to test it, and haven’t tried Rev the last beta-weekends. Thanks anyway tho, much appreciated

Hey guys!

Wanting to try Rev out this beta weekend.

Any1 got a solo roaming build for me?

babazhook.6805:

Rain.9213:

Yeah I was really glad to see this trait get buffed. I’ve got an evasive D/D condi build planned for Daredevil in the next BWE and I really look forward to testing it out.

The very build I have been honing pre HOT. I started testing it last beta and it was both effective and fun so am looking forward to this weekend..

Baba, mind sharing your build? I need to play something different for next beta weekend.

SuicideFall.3697:

I don’t.

All those times that they targeted us, the poor defenseless engi with no counter play :’( leaving us to blindly spam bomb kit in anticipation for their lock downs and rotations.

Well not anymore, those days are behind us. Grab your hammers, get your gyros; we’re going thief hunting.

What?

Engineers counter thieves.

Dentrius.1274:

Either wait a month when cele will be back to its former glory or go with dire/rabid p/p burn build for roaming.

What will happen to cele in a month? I know HoT is coming out ofc, but haven’t read anything about cele

santenal.1054:

here is a wvw cele roaming build if you want to play cele:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQFAUlUUhatYJXwdLQ+FLsFF4IuBBgYHVFPxYbsjfBA-TFyHABKfBAOb/h5UCmo6PLp8zLNEupDAgHAQAgDgf/NA88zP/8zP3v/+8vP/bpAMTZE-w

I never used or been a fan of pistol/shield builds but the only good engie builds i have faced with them were full condi.

edit: you are asking for a wvw build right? or pve?

Thanks! Sorry I forgot to mention I’m heading out in wvw, solo/duo-roaming.

I just like the utilities of the P/S so much more then rifle :o

Edit:

This is the build I was thinking about using:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAqelUUh+uYfWwkLw6FLsFVYKeRvGYIWiBg4GVFzIA-T1hIABA8AAWZ/BkU+91JAAOlgjpHwQ1fCAgAwMn5u1tM3NpAeUaE-w

Hey ya’ll!

I just got a quick question for you guys.

Taking a break from my thief as it feels super UP now, and want to blow the dust of my engineer again.

I have a full celestial armor laying in the bank which I used before the big patch hit live in June (?).
I think I’ve read that it isn’t as potent as it was before, is this the case?
I’m thinking of playing a celestial condi-engi with P/S (almost like Koroshi’s).

Or would I be better of just go nuts with condi dmg with a dire/rabid mix?
What I liked about the celestial was the sustain from heals +regen and added power.

Thanks alot,

Kenny

DavyMcB.1603:

Tool Belt Skill—Detection Pulse: Remove stealth from enemies in a large area.
On a short recharge, this toolbelt skill helps ensure that you are the one getting the drop on foes and not vice versa

Thieves’ tears…. they are coming…..

Thieves are already crying. Look at the Thief sub-forums :-P
I’m not one of those whiners, but it’s certainly hard to do good on a thief nowadays, and it’s not getting easier with HoT. Revenant also gets a revealed skill.

I’m gonna play a stealthless NINJA with my staff, so doesn’t matter for me, reveal all you want xD

Barab.9016:

cant wait for all the easy mode want to be thiefs to break down in tears rage quitting when they cant have their easy mode 1200 range sniper elite

^
It’s pretty obvious that it will be pretty OP playing a shadowstepping sniper.
“Pew pew pew”
Enemy approaches
Shadowstep away
“Pew pew pew”
Enemy dead

THAT IS SO REWARDING GAMEPLAY GUYS! CAN’T WAIT FOR IT TO HIT LIVE.

a mix between berserker and valk is a good combo. You don’t miss out on the power-stat, and gain some health instead.

I have full berserker armor, and combined berserker/valk like this:

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Vine_of_the_Pale_Tree

gives me around 15k health if I’m not mistaken.

having more vitality is better for a thief then added toughness.

babazhook.6805:

By the way Mompen in your own build you only have one venom. I would not use leeching venom. You will get more healing overall with Shadowprotector via the regen as this will be up near all the time or can take another stealth on steal with hidden thief.

Ty, changed the trait now :-)

babazhook.6805:

Yes I have been using almost exactly that build since before the changes.

This also works with P/p in a condition set since you have so much access to stealth you really do not need to CnD. This allows you to use Pressure strike to load on torment. When the enemy trapped you can use headshot for that interrupt. BASI is two more interrupts. You will get more torments on than from the shadowstrike off the p/d set. (3 stacks as opposed to two for each interrupt. Harder to time the interrupt but so very frustrating to an enemy when a skill interrupted AND they take on torment and you do it all at range)

Indeed I found in this build that putting steal down to 20 secs and getting that interrupt off daze helped reset skills faster with the improv using SOH.

This is interesting, will try out with P/P as well. All the traps giving you stealth rendering C&D more useless. True that.

babazhook.6805:

I am currently testing out trappers in a power build using P/P. While this might seem counterintuitive using a Condi runeset in a power build that stealth and speed invaluable and using UNLOAD with a strength sigil , might on Crit food and gaining that might from the traps and you will easily make up that lost power from might stacks. (I have easily gotten 20+ stacks after a shadow pursuit and this makes those unloads hurt)

Trappers are so very flexible as they boost a key aspect of our survival to the thief (stealth) without having to burn INI to do it and work better in many respects on ones utility bar then the other sources such as BP and SR.

I was also tinkering about the idea of this runeset in a power setup actually, since the runes with access to so much stealth is invaluable.

Maybe something like this:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVl0Mh2mYZTwvJw/EH8EFvEShRwHFZRVoPzBMAA-T1CEABcv/wHaD2SJITKnM4EAwi6KNpkpDdAAcIAe4IA4iKFkBQfBA-w

With 25 stacks of bloodlust and 5 stacks of might you are at 2851 power and 43,76% crit chance.

Only downside here is your HP maybe..

edit:

changed up a bit for more condi duration (since traps lay down some nice conditions and we do have some condi damage from the runes)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVl0Mh2mYZTwvJw/EH8EFvEChRwHFzZVoPzfIAA-TFDEABJ8AA4e/hP0GslSQDOBAMpkiF1VaS5SH6AA4QA8wRAwFVKIFgdDrA-w

DarknesSushi.5876:

really nice build man….i can just imagine it working with a trapper ranger and a mesmer/elementalist…..i will try some change, using venomous aura , skale venom over tripwire and caltrops over shadow trap, but ty alot man =]

No problem man. I’m not the first who have posted a build like this, but many of those builds were from before the June patch, and with the new trapper traits in deadly arts it’s pretty solid.

And yes, it’s just to change out some of the traps and traits for your liking.

Cloudo.7315:

I run this build with d/p and caltrops instead of one of your traps for giggles. Ever killed 2-3+ ppl without ever leaving stealth. Its superdupermegafantastic cheese, but the fun of killing ppl in the middle of a zerg without them having any idea what hit them…

Yes, it’s very cheese, but also so fun ;-) haven’t tried zerg diving tho, lol!

Hey.

I just wanted to present to you a semi-working build I’ve been trying in WvW solo roaming.

It’s mainly focused around traps and the Trapper Runes.

Without any further ado, here it is:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqYVl0Mh2mYZTwvJw/EHMFFvACgBwfC5w6pPyPYwA-TVyCABQoEEgTAAOqKE++DvoPA5HBQTK/8RtGKOCAkCAmpRA-w

You may notice I don’t have any stunbreaks or shadow refuge.

The reasoning is pretty simple:

Dropping traps gives you stealth, regen health and remove conditions and gives you superspeed.
You’re pretty tanky as well, so you can stand a few blows.

Another neat thing is the trait: “Trappers Respite”, which lays down a needle trap every time you use a heal skill; Which is on lower cooldown thanks to trickster.
And this trait actually synergies with the Trapper Rune, meaning when you use Withdraw, you lay down a needle trap, and gain stealth plus superspeed.

You CAN change one trap for another utility, Tripwire for Shadow Refuge or something if you want Improv to kick in more often.

It’s a survivable build, and pretty easy to use and gain success on it.

we’ll, as for traits it’s semi-working.

meaning, the traits I had on my character before update is still there and accessible. But when I try to change to another trait line, it says it’s not yet trained.
So I can’t change up my build.

same here.

Oh well, I’ll just play another game until this is fixed. can’t change my build

Thanks for the many inputs babaz, much appreciated. I went for sigil of perception for doom, with this my crit chance got up to 32%. Not bad. and tried SOM as heal while spamming DB. It’s really a great blood stacker! Also tried with RFI, for improv to kick more often. Had good success with these changes, think I will keep it this way.
Will update build link after I try som more. Not on my computer right now

Hey guys.

I’ve been playing with a lot of builds in my time of GW2, and I want venoms to actually work.

Don’t start with saying they suck, I know the current state of them.

I know this has been attempted many times before, but I can’t seem to get the idea out of my head :P

I like the idea of playing with venoms/poison, to smear my blades with venoms before I attack my enemy.
Venoms need a buff, or changed so that we can get more utility from the venoms.

Anyways, here is my build:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAoYVnMJCFNhNNBePB8PhjWiiPEHRRoDgDYB6L2T8oA-TVyBAB/t/AAPAAW0Hw8JAgMlgjp8bH1fw4QAYxRAgUAwMsC-w

Since it’s a hybrid, I was thinking about a good mix between condi damage and duration, and power.
I’ve chosen Carrion as the most used gear, as it gives us more HP (which we lack from the gecko) power and condition damage.
I have 70% condition duration, almost 2k power (with 5 stacks of might I get 2100 power and 1200 condition damage).

Anyways, I feel that it lacks a stunbreak, (maybe changing Skale Venom for Shadowstep/Inf. signet) and if “Potent Poison” trait is worth it over improv or executioner (does executioner proc condi dmg as well?)?
I’ve focused the build around poison as you can see for my traits and sigils. Poison has a 90% increase in duration and does increased damage (thanks to my trait) and all dagger attacks inflict poison (30% chance).

Skelk Venom can be pretty strong with reduced cooldown and leech from Leeching Venom trait (deals damage, heals you and gives you might).

Is the cele trinkets worth it, or should I go for something else? I feel they are a good addition to the build as they give me a little bit of everything.

I’m up for any feedback!

Edit: changed out Potent Poison because poison was over 100% with this trait, and that’s overkill (it don’t stack over 100%, right?).

Wen’t for executioner instead, or improv, depends on the situation/mood

Steinpilz.5078:

I want Feline Grace back.
And I want the freedom to invest my talent points where I want, I HATE the 3 paths restriction.

They will not never ever go back on such a big implement as the new trait system, so it’s better to try to adapt to the new system (don’t get me wrong, I understand completely what you are saying, but it won’t happen).

And yes, feline grace RIP

Post it here: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/bugs

Or in these thief forums, it’s a bug thread somewhere.

Hey dude.

I have 2 thieves, one charr and one human.

I feel like the “theme” of a charr thief is very cool – lurking in the shadows with my large fangs and thirst for blood.
But again, it feels kinda chunky to play. Doesn’t feel as “smooth” and fast as my human.
So I tend to keep playing my human more.
But when I feel like beeing big and scary, I log onto my charr. “Awesomest” race.

I have another tip for you, check this site out:

http://gw2style.com/search.php?searchname=&searchdesc=&searchowner=&world=-1&race=2&gender=-1&color=-1&dye=-1&armor=2&armorslot0=-1&armorslot2=-1&armorslot4=-1&armorslot1=-1&armorslot3=-1&armorslot5=-1&dosearch=1&sortcol=3&sortdir=0&ipp=20&index=1&displaytype=1

Just choose “Charr” under “Race” and “Medium” under “Armor Class”.
Here people rarely use a full set, and rather combine different sets to make a look.
Maybe you find some inspiration here – I sure have :-)

I run full zerker armor (zerker dagger and valk pistol), and ascended zerker+valk trinkets except my back.

With guard stacks I end up with around 17k health (pack runes).

What you also can do is try the Superior Rune of the Warrior, which gives you power, and extra vit: https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Superior_Rune_of_the_Warrior

I also use this:

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Furious_Maintenance_Oil

http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Thief_-_P/D_Condi_roamer

This is before the update on traits/specs etc.

But I guess it’s pretty much the same now. Dire armor and trinks.

SA/TR/ACRO

Faceroll

Here’s a PRO tip:

When in stealth, use shadowshot (#3) and press 1 many times. This will result in a shadowstep backstab.

I’ve found out that it requires a certain distance for it to work, but try it out.
It somehow cancels the normal attack followed by shadowshot, and execute a backstab instead.

I was just rambling about the trait that says if we have a spear equipped, it would recharge steal by a static amount. If that’s aimed at underwater combat or not. If not, spear is our “new” weapon. But again, spear is something we already have, and if all classes get’s a brand new weapon, that’s not it :P
I just find it weird that they base a trait around underwater combat, which are rarely used. But again, i’m not surprised. It’s a-net

Have you noticed the trait in acrobatics, “Swindlers Equilibrium”, where it says: “successfully evading an attack while wielding a sword or SPEAR recharges steal by a static amount”

We allready have a spear, but that’s underwater. You think they added it in there for underwater combat – which sucks and we all know it?
Just putting it out there.

But if every class is getting a brand new weapon, thats out of the question ofc.

DHawk, I know you meant it well, but I see no reason for you to hijack his thread and promote your own build. And executioner is by no means “worthless”, 20% extra damage is pretty awesome if you ask me. But in your build, HK is needed because of low crit chance.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think Wave would have appreciated more feedback on his video and/or build, and what to improve etc.

Wave: I will take a look at your video when I get home from work :-)

Hey.

What build are you running?

Try putting it as accurate as possible here:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/

It’s easier for people to come with suggestions when we see what we have to work with ^^

I would say that your power is a little on the low-side.
I’m running around the 3k-mark.

But fill your build out, or write it up here.

IGN: Kenny Shayde
Playstyle: WvW
Server: Far Shiverpeaks
Experience with thief: Played Thief since release, but since I’m an altoholic I also play a lot of different classes (alltho Thief is my main). This makes me read the enemy better, and overall improve my gameplay.
Been theorycrafting a lot about builds, and I’ve tried a lot of different playstyles.
Pretty experienced, know all combos etc.

See you on the battlefield!

How do you like this? https://dviw3bl0enbyw.cloudfront.net/uploads/forum_attachment/file/187984/gw035.jpg

This is a former look for my thief, I’ve changed headpiece and hairstyle.. anyways.
It’s glorious chestpiece.

You can change headpiece to the human tier 3 “assassin” headpiece, and maybe the same for shoulders, for the knifes. I don’t know about female, but you could try another boots as well for a more assassin style

Reaper: GW1 Dervish, just a lot cooler! :p scythe hype! They used a header in the introduction of the reaper, Chilling Victory, which I remember was a derv skill

Maugetarr.6823:

Stances are the most likely in my head. There’s a lot they could bring back from the GW1 thief if they did that:
Flashing Blades
Unseen Fury
Way of the Assassin

Physical skills could be cool if they were feats that affected foes (the opposite of tricks which affect the thief):
Shattering Assault
Temple Strike
Iron Palm

Marks if they were more like hexes from GW1 might be possible too:
Augury of Death
Mark of Insecurity
Shadow Prison

Shouts was a joke in another thread

Man, I miss those skills. <3 GW1 Assassin <3

“Thief honors their ancestors, and learn The Way of the Assassin”

Would be super fun

Just thought I’d share it with you guys, since it was a funny way A-net did it.

Way to go!

#nocheatersallowedhere

https://youtu.be/bqfUi9DzBuo

I like that Anet really didn’t listen to the whiners and QQers on the upcoming Expansion, they even made stealth more powerful.

So people can whine all they want, they won’t change a core class specialization upon a L2P issue, as now was the time they really could re-design the thief, but they didn’t.
So get over it already.

Bret.6940:

win an outnumbered fight against people with real skill and post a video, also upload a video of you fighting an ele thats immune to condi above the certain threshold and tell me condi is “OP” that i would like to see…

Why are you so salty bro? Play condi theef alot?
It’s really a easy spec, which he so clearly shows.

@OP: funny videos, guess your opponents feel good about them selves

I liked it, good work.

Been roaming with you a couple of times with [ROAM], keep up the good work, cya in game!

Kenny

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/thief/Guide-Book-of-Shadows-The-Thief-Handbook/page/3#post4910812 you should read this

I’m giving this a bump because of reasons

I LIKE D/D the most, but D/P have much more utility. D/D misses out on blind field, shadow step (which also blinds) and the games most spammable interrupt.

Shadow Shot can also be used as a shadow step backstab, which D/D also lacks. So yeah

As for your quip-question: Why not wait until HoT comes live? Maybe we get a fancy weapon you rather would have made a legendary for.
But again, a pistol is almost always used in a thief build, be it D/P, S/P etc.

Clown away!

@Jayden: I tried with strenght runes last night, roaming alone, with 0/6/5/0/3, while I did get some nice backstabs (13k on a mesmer) I felt so slow compared to almost the same setup with pack runes (that swiftness and fury proc is addictive I guess).

Gonna try it more later on, as the damage seems to be slighty better.

@Woaden: The new flanking strikes and that our heals is now catagorized is very nice (improv anyone?). Super thrilled!

I wouldn’t reccommend using condi gear as you level up.

Learn it the hard way! It will make you a better player.

Going condi spec with dire (toughness, vitality and condi damage) will make it so easy, it will make you a bad player (lol).
You can always change later, but you will need to learn when to dodge etc on your thief, so better get used to it early on :-)

It may look dark for you, but as soon as you learn The way of the Thief, it will be very satisfiying

Good luck :-)

Woaden.9425:

Seems cool! I like basing builds around runes.

On another topic, I can’t wait for all the new builds we get to try with the new trait system!

You’ve really gone all in with the damage modifiers, which makes me wonder why you you aren’t 06305 for the “if” scenario of +15% !! Seems like a fine trade to lose 2 ini on stealth.

It would be interesting to see how this compares in backstab damage vs some other runeset with full DPS stats.

I can’t wait either, gonna be so fun to experiment :-)

Yeah, 06305 will work as well, just gotta be more careful not spamming skills ;-)

I’ll buy some berserker armor and try it out. Runes are cheap anyways :-)

Jayden Ennok.3687:

0/6/5/0/3
strenght rune 5% when you have might (power base stat = higher stab)
SA gm minor will give you might and if the fight takes a bit longer than 1 CnD and backstab, you can get pretty nice stacks of might 10-15
force 5% (or night for 10%) and impact 10% (kicks in if you use basi)
have bloodlust on your secondary
and I’d switch side strike for might on signet use
rest same

I have some strength runes laying around, gonna try that out as well. Guess the 5% damage lost vs Rune of the Thief is gained in the increase of power and might.

Hi guys!

So between all this HoT topics, I was thinking about a build, and would like some feedback on it. It’s mainly for WvW solo/small group roaming.

As the title says, I’ve called it “The Flanker”, and there’s a reason for it.

It focuses kitten good positioning on the battlefield, whereas you have to always make sure you hit the enemy from the side/the back (which thieves already should do, right?).

I’ve taken DeceiverX’ build, and added some more sustain through initiative gain on stealth, and condi removal on stealth, as his build is really a hit and run build (it works wonders at what it’s intended to do).

I’ve chosen Dagger Pistol as my weapons, but it can easily be used by D/D thieves as well, just choose Cloaked in Shadow instead of Infusion of Shadow.

I’ve focused mainly on damage modifiers while on the move/hitting the foe from side/back.

First we have the rune of my choice: “Superior Rune of the Thief”.
This gives +175 precision, (some condition damage boost that isn’t that important IMO, but it’s there) and to the main reason I chose it, was the +10% damage modifier when hitting a foe from behind or side.

I’ve chosen Superior sigil of Force for a stable 5% damage modifier.

I have the trait flanking strikes which gives you 5% extra damage when hitting behind or side.

I have seaweed salad, which gives you a 10% damage modifier when you move while you attack (let’s face it, thieves don’t stand still).

Your first attacks will also hit for 10% extra while your initiative is over 6 (that’s critical strikes GM minor trait, First Strikes).

Assassin’s Signet gives you 15% more damage on your next 5 attacks.

When you get your target down to 50%, executioner will kick in, and you will do a massive 20% extra damage on top of all the other modifiers I’ve chosen.

Okay, so let’s sum this up (granted you manage to hit your foes from the back):

Rune: 10%
Sigil of Force: 5%
Flanking Strikes: 5%
Seaweed Salad: 10%
Assassin’s signet: 15%
Executioner: 20%
First Strikes: 10%

That’s 75% increase in damage (when your foe is under 50%, initiative over 6, and with Assassin’s Signet).

If we look more realistically at it, without all those “if’s”:

Rune: 10%
Force: 5%
Flanking Strikes: 5%
Seaweed Salad: 10%

That’s a stable 30% increase in damage all the time.

I’m not that good in math, so maybe there’s a fault in my calculations (?)

And the base stats isnt that bad either.

Here’s the build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fZAQNAoaVlsMp0pNOx7J8PNxOhsdgCD480FPXGF-TlSBwAPOBAmVCG5QAcV5xN1fwqEDl+go7Po5IAA4BAEAABgduzjuzjuzSBMwwI-w

What ya think? Could it be used?
I’m going to test this later tonight, just had to vent my idea :-)

Yeah, enough negativity! I like the new changes, makes up for some interesting builds and playstyle. It’s all subject to change tho. But yeah, your build sounds fun