Thief WvW | Small Group Sword/Dagger, Sword/Dagger | Roamer Daze for Days, a S/D build.
Table of Contents
Summary
This is a fun build, that uses 30 in trickery.
Another variation is 0/20/0/20/30 which gives more DPS, but requires more initiative management.
Better in groups, Good solo, Not recommended in Large groups.
I. Weapons and Skills
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- Slash½Slash your foe again.Damage: 269Range: 130
- Crippling Strike½Cripple your foe with a final strike.Damage: 437Crippled: 2 sWeakness: 2 sRange: 130
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- Shadow Return2Return to your original location. Cure one condition.Range: 1,200
- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- Larcenous Strike2Dual wield. Deliver a quick strike that steals up to two boons from an enemy.Damage: 504Range: 130
- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- Shadow ReturnReturn to your starting location and cure three conditions.Break stunRange: 1,200
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
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- 0Fury: 10 sMight: 10 sSwiftness: 10 sVigor: 15 sDaze: 1 s
Weapon and Skill Details
Build runs two sets of S/D, bot with soldier's stats. One set can be subbed out for a different set D/D, SB, D/P doesn't matter. The reason why I use two sets of S/D is because of the mobility S/D has coupled with the energy sigils on the off-hand daggers. More weapon info below.
I'm using some basic utilities although I do switch up Signet of Shadows for Agility. It has so much utility, being able to restore not only your endurance to full but that off 5 other people around you, as well as cleanse your conditions.
Of course, utilities can be swapped out on personal preference.
II. Traits
Deadly Arts
Critical Strikes
Shadow Arts
Acrobatics
Trickery
Trait Details
This build focuses on Trickery, obviously. I have 10 in Crit. strikes to keep my DPS decent, and 10 in Shadow Arts to help manage initiative easier initiative.
I have 20 in Acrobatics for more survivability. More initiative.
The focus of this build is Trickery. I've got three traits that benefit Steal. Two offensive one defensive. With this you can get quite a few boons on yourself, steal boons from your enemy, and Daze them.
An alternate setup for this build is, 0/20/0/20/30 or 10/x/x/x/30.
With 0/20/0/20/30 you'll have higher DPS, but you'll have to manage your initiative much more.
With 10/x/x/x/30 you'll have that extra DPS from mug, but you'll will have to trade something off for it. Whether it be more DPS from Crit. Strikes, Less use of initiative in Shadow Arts, or Reduced survivability from Acrobatics
III. Stat Specifics & Effects
Primary Stats
- Health 16585 (+4940)
- Vitality 1410 (+494)
- Armor 2975 (+995)
- Toughness 1911 (+995)
- Attack 3064 (+1157)
- Power 2073 (+1157)
- Critical Hit 51% (+51%)
- Precision 1980 (+1064)
Secondary Stats
- Boon Duration 20% (+20%)
- Condition Damage 378 (+378)
- Condition Duration (self) -40% (+-40%)
- Critical Damage 45% (+45%)
- Damage 991 (+0%)
- Defense 1064 (+0)
- Experience from Kills 20% (+20%)
- Ferocity 676 (+676)
- Healing Power 178 (+178)
- Steal Recharge Rate 30% (+30%)
- Stun Duration 30% (+30%)
Boons
Conditions
Control
Fields & Finishers
Stat and Effect Details
This build has lackluster stats at first glance. you'll have pretty high toughness, but you Crit chance is lacking at 31% base, Crit. Damage at 68%. If you're using Signet of Agility you'll be up to 40% Crit. chance, and with food you can get up to 48%.
What these stats don't show you is the utility that you gain from Trickery. Boons, Dazes, Boon theft.
Trade-offs will be explained below in Basic Gameplay.
IV. Food, Armor, Trinkets & Upgrade Items
Food Nourishment
Condition Duration (self): -40%
Vitality: 70
Experience from Kills: 10%
- (30min)
- Condition Duration (self): -40%
- Vitality: 70
- Experience from Kills: 10%
Utility Nourishment
Gain precision equal to 6% of your toughness
Gain precision equal to 4% of your vitality
Experience from Kills: 10%
- (30min)
- Gain precision equal to 6% of your toughness
- Gain precision equal to 4% of your vitality
- Experience from Kills: 10%
Armor & Runes
- Defense: 97
- Toughness: 60
- Power: 43
- Precision: 43
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
- Defense: 97
- Toughness: 45
- Power: 32
- Precision: 32
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
- Defense: 338
- Toughness: 134
- Power: 96
- Precision: 96
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
- Defense: 157
- Power: 45
- Precision: 32
- Ferocity: 32
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
- Defense: 218
- Toughness: 90
- Power: 64
- Precision: 64
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
- Defense: 157
- Toughness: 45
- Power: 32
- Precision: 32
- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
Armor Stat Totals
- Defense 1064
- Power 390
- Precision 377
- Toughness 452
- Vitality 78
- Condition Damage 78
- Healing Power 78
- Ferocity 110
Rune Bonuses
Superior Rune of Divinity- +8 to all stats
- +10 to all stats
- +12 to all stats
- +14 to all stats
- +16 to all stats
- +18 to all stats
Accessories & Jewels
Accessory Totals
- Power:587
- Precision:238
- Ferocity:466
- Toughness:315
- Vitality:18
Weapon Set Sigils
- Weapon Strength: 905-1000
- Power: 90
- Toughness: 64
- Vitality: 64
- Weapon Strength: 924-981
- Power: 90
- Toughness: 64
- Vitality: 64
Weapon Set I
Sigil of Superior Paralyzation+30% stun duration.
Sigil of Superior EnergyYou gain 50% of your endurance when you swap to this weapon while in combat. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 9s)
- Weapon Strength: 905-1000
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
- Weapon Strength: 924-981
- Power: 120
- Toughness: 85
- Vitality: 85
Weapon Set II
Sigil of Superior Paralyzation+30% stun duration.
Sigil of Superior EnergyYou gain 50% of your endurance when you swap to this weapon while in combat. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 9s)
Upgrade Item Details
A majority of my armor is Knight's, but the gloves are berserker. I use Divinity runes, which are quite expensive, but these can be subbed out for Wurm, Lyssa, Rage, etc.
I'm currently using a lot of ascended trinkets, if you don't have these trinkets just get the exotic versions. You can put beryl,ruby, or knights orbs into the cavalier's upgrade slots.
As mentioned before I use two sets of S/D. Both with the same sigils. THe sigil of paralyzation increases the daze your stealth attack with the sword 1 skill (tactical strike)to 3 seconds. With this you can effectively daze lock your opponent. It seems nice but is much harder than it seems. I use energy to swap between weapon sets and keep my endurance up at all times.
V. Basic Gameplay
I created this build for fun, and for a more challenging experience. This build also works well in small groups. Not recommended for Large groups.
In combat, you'll find yourself doing decent sustained damage. The build shines in it's different utilities. With the S/D setup you can daze people, and predict when people will use things that can change the battle to their favor (Heals, Strong AoE's, Elites, etc.). Sometimes you won't be able to react to these tells fast enough with the traditional CnD -> Tactical Strike, but with daze on Steal you have a on-command daze, that also will steal enemies boons give them to you and give you a bunch of boons (vigor,swiftness,fury,might, etc.)
Also coupled with larcenous strike this build becomes an effect boon hate build.
With a Steal available every 21 seconds. You'll have boons for days, and you'll be dazing your enemy for days along with your Tactical strike attack. Effectively combining these elements can make you a formidable foe in combat that doesn't need to rely on Shadow Arts.
Some Drawbacks
- Lack of Shadow Arts means Lack of surviavbility. Even with all the utilities, it can be difficult to fight 1vX encounters.
-DPS comes from landing blows on your enemy. If they are constantly negating your attacks (evading, blocking, etc.) your DPS will go down greatly, and you'll find yourself most likely low on initiative or low on health.
-Conditions. Playing as S/D you have a condition cleanse, but even so many conditions can be a problem. WIthout Shadow Rejuvenation from the Shadow Arts trait line you'll find yourself hardpressed against condition builds unless you can lock them down with dazes.
If you have comments, criticism, or questions post it on the Guild Wars 2 Forum thread. Thanks for taking the time to look at one of my guides!
IGN: Februaryy