Thief WvW | Small Group Dagger/Pistol, Shortbow | Assaulter D/P panic in the shadow

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Summary

Summary of gameplay:

 

  • Enter stealth
  • Back stab (crits 7k+)
  • Immobilize target through trait (probably wants to heal/flee)
  • +20% dmg output help by bringing the target down

 

You are mostly a shadow where you regenerate and strike where needed.

 

Very confusing for the enemy.

 

When your target gets below 50% health, your trait will immobilize him and you will do much more damage.


I. Weapons and Skills

PvP Dagger
  • Weapon Strength: 924-981
PvP Pistol
  • Weapon Strength: 876-1029
PvP Shortbow
  • Weapon Strength: 905-1000
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -
  • Hook Strike¾
    Attack your foes with stealth, knocking enemies down.
    Damage: 163Knockdown: 2sRange: 130
  • Double Strike
    Strike your foe twice.
    Damage (2x): 188Range: 130
    • Wild Strike
      Strike your foe again. Gain endurance with a successful strike.
      Damage: 286Endurance gain: 10Range: 130
    • Lotus Strike¼
      Strike your foe and inflict poison.
      Damage: 286Poison: 4 s (336 damage)Range: 130
  • Heartseeker¾ 3
    Leap and strike your foe. The less health your target has, the more damage you cause.
    Above 50%: 420Below 50%: 504Below 25%: 672Combo Finisher: LeapRange: 450
    • 0
    • 0
  • Shadow Shot4
    Dual wield. Fire a blinding shot at your foe, then shadowstep to them for a dagger strike.
    Blind: 5 sDamage: 420Combo Finisher: ProjectileUnblockableRange: 900
    • 0
    • 0
  • Headshot4
    Daze your foe with a head shot.
    Damage: 84Daze: ¼ sCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
    • 0
    • 0
  • Black Powder½ 6
    Fire a black powder shot, blinding nearby foes with the smoke cloud.
    Damage: 84Duration: 4Combo Field: SmokeCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
    • 0
    • 0
  • Withdraw15
    Trick. Roll backward while healing and evade attacks. Cures immobilized, chilled, and crippled.
    Healing: 3,960
    • 0
  • Roll for Initiative60
    Trick. Evade backward to regenerate initiative and recover from crippled, chilled, and immobile.
    Initiative gain: 6Breaks stun
    • 0
  • Shadow Refuge ¼ 60
    Deception. Create a pulsing refuge at the target area that heals allies and cloaks them in stealth.
    Stealth: 3 sHealing: 1,420Combo Field: DarkRange: 600
    • 0
  • Infiltrator's Signet30
    Signet Passive: Regenerates one extra initiative every ten seconds.
    Signet Active: Shadowstep to your foe.
    Initiative gain per 10 s: 1Breaks stunRange: 900
    • 0
  • Basilisk Venom1 45
    Venom. Your next attack turns your foe to stone.
    Stone duration: 1½ sVenom duration: 30
    • 0

Traits

Deadly Arts

  • Serpent’s Touch
    Stealing inflicts 2 stacks of poison for 10 seconds. Your attacks while in the downed state apply 2 seconds of poison.
    • Dagger Training
      Dagger attacks have a 33% chance to poison enemies for 2 seconds.
    • Mug
      Deal damage and gain life when stealing. This attack cannot critically hit enemies.
    • Trappers Respite
      Drop a needle trap when you use a healing skill. 30 second icd
  • Lotus Poison
    Weaken targets for 4 seconds when you poison them.
    • Deadly Trapper
      Traps apply vulnerability to enemies and grant you might. Trap recharges are reduced.
    • Panic Strike
      Striking a foe that is below the health threshold immobilizes them for 2.5 seconds. This trait has a 20 second internal cooldown.
    • Revealed Training
      Gain up to 200 extra power while you are revealed, based on current level.
  • Exposed Weakness
    Deal 10% more damage if your target has a condition.
    • Potent Poison
      Poison you apply has a 33% increased duration and deals 33% more damage.
    • Improvisation
      One random skill category is immediate recharged when you steal. You can use stolen items twice.
    • Executioner
      Deal 20% extra damage when your target is below the health threshold.

Shadow Arts

  • Merciful Ambush
    Stealth yourself and your target for 3 seconds when reviving an ally. You revive allies 10% faster.
    • Last Refuge
      Use Blinding Powder when you are struck while below 25% health.
    • Concealed Defeat
      Create a Smoke Screen when downed. Deception abilities recharge 20% faster.
    • Shadow’s Embrace
      Remove 1 condition every 3 seconds while in stealth.
  • Meld with Shadows
    Stealth from your abilities last 1 second longer.
    • Shadow Protector
      When you grant stealth to an ally, they gain 3 seconds of regeneration.
    • Hidden Thief
      Gain stealth for 2 seconds when stealing from an enemy (automatically affected by Meld with Shadows).
    • Leeching Venoms
      Siphon life from your foes when triggering a venom. This can only occur once per strike. Gain 2 stacks of might for 20 seconds when activating a venom.
  • Resilience of Shadows
    Stealth effects that you apply reduce incoming attack damage by 25%.
    • Cloaked in Shadow
      Gaining stealth blinds nearby foes for 5 seconds. Release a blinding powder when take falling damage. You take 50% less damage from falling.
    • Shadow’s Rejuvenation
      Regenerate health and initiative while in stealth
    • Venomous Aura
      When you use a venom skill, you apply the effect to all nearby allies as well. Venom recharges are reduced by 20%.

Trickery

  • Kleptomaniac
    Stealing gives you 2 initiative.
    • Uncatchable
      Leave behind Caltrops when you dodge.
    • Flanking Strikes
      Gain haste when attacking a foe from behind or the side.
    • Thrill of the Crime
      When you Steal, you and all nearby allies gain fury, might, and swiftness for 10 seconds.
  • Preparedness
    Increase maximum initiative by 3
    • Bountiful Theft
      Stealing grants you and all nearby allies vigor. You rip boons from your target and grant them to nearby allies.
    • Trickster
      Reduce recharge on tricks. Tricks remove 1 condition when used.
    • Pressure Striking
      Enemies you interrupt are inflicted with 3 stacks of torment for 5 seconds.
  • Lead Attacks
    Increases 1% damage per initiative. Steal recharges 15% faster.
    • Quick Pockets
      Gain 3 initiative when swapping weapons while in combat.
    • Sleight of Hand
      Daze enemies for 1 second when stealing. Steal’s recharge is reduced by 20%.
    • Bewildering Ambush
      Stealing also applies 5 stacks of confusion for 5 seconds.

Trait Details

Stealing and dagger attacks causing poison which provide 10% dmg and is anti regen classes like warriors. Stealth removes conditions an regenerate HP and initative.


III. Stat Specifics & Effects

Primary Stats

  • Health 11645 (+0)
  • Vitality 1000 (+0)
  • Armor 2064 (+0)
  • Toughness 1000 (+0)
  • Attack 3380 (+1375)
  • Power 2375 (+1375)
  • Critical Hit 53% (+53%)
  • Precision 2025 (+1025)

Secondary Stats

  • Critical Damage 60% (+60%)
  • Damage 1005 (+0%)
  • Defense 1064 (+0)
  • Ferocity 900 (+900)
  • Swiftness Duration 30% (+30%)

Boons

  • Aegis
    Block the next attack.
  • Distortion
    Allows mesmers to evade attacks for some time.
  • Frenzy
    Increases damage taken by 25%. It typically seen as a mechanic to offset a beneficial effect such as quickness.
  • Frosty Armor
    Chills foes that hit you.
  • Fury
    20% critical chance increase. Stacks in duration.
  • Haste
    Regenerate endurance at 50% effectiveness when under the effects of this skill. It's typically seen as a mechanic to offset a beneficial effect such as quickness.
  • Invulnerability
    Prevents the target from taking damage or receiving conditions. It is also placed on rallied players for one second.
  • Might
    X damage per attack increase. Stacks intensity.
  • Protection
    33% damage reduction. Stacks in duration.
  • Quickening Zephyr
    Prevents healing. It typically seen as a mechanic to offset a beneficial effect such as quickness.
  • Quickness
    Makes all skills and actions 50% faster.
  • Regeneration
    Regenerates X health per second. Stacks in duration.
  • Rejuvenation
    Regenerates health. This effect is exclusive to the guardian profession through the Virtue of Resolve.
  • Resistance
    Resistance temporarily negates the affected target of all effects caused by conditions.
  • Retaliation
    Does X damage to an opponent each time they hit you. Stacks in duration.
  • Smiting
    Causes every fifth attack to apply burning. This effect is exclusive to the guardian profession.
  • Stability
    Cannot be knocked down, pushed back, launched, stunned, dazed, floated, sunk, or feared.
  • Stealth
    Allows the user to be invisible to enemy players and avoid being spotted by enemy NPCs.
  • Swiftness
    33% movement speed increase. Stacks in duration.
  • Vigor
    Faster endurance regeneration. Stacks in duration.

Conditions

  • Agony
    Agony is an effect unique to Fractals of the Mists that removes a percentage of the player's health every second and reduces received healing by ~50%.
  • Bleeding
    Bleeding is a stackable condition that deals damage over time.
  • Blind
    Causes the target's next hit to miss instead.
  • Burning
    Inflicts X damage per second. Stacks in duration.
  • Chilled
    Reduces movement speed and skill recharge by 66%. Stacks in duration.
  • Confusion
    Inflicts X damage each time a foe uses skill. Stacks in intensity.
  • Crippled
    Crippled is a condition which decreases movement speed by 50%. Stacks in duration.
  • Fear
    Causes the target to run directly away from the caster.
  • Immobilized
    Immobilized is a condition which prevents movement and dodging. Victims also can't turn. Stacks in duration.
  • Poison
    Inflicts X damage per second. Reduces outgoing heals by 33%. Stacks in duration.
  • Slow
    Slow is a condition that reduces the activation time of skills and abilities.
  • Taunt
    Taunt is a control effect that forces the affected target to run towards the source of taunt with all skills except stun breakers disabled while using their auto-attack skill.
  • Torment
    Deals damage every second; deals additional damage if moving; stacks intensity.
  • Vulnerability
    Increases damage the target takes by 1%. Stacks in intensity.
  • Weakness
    Causes 50% of attacks to be glancing and reduces endurance regeneration by 50%. Stacks in duration.

Control

  • Break Stun
    Stun break is an effect which can break control effects on a character.
  • Daze
    Interrupts and prevents the target from using skills for a period of time.
  • Float
    Forces the affected target(s) to move towards the surface.
  • Knockdown
    Interrupts and causes the foe to be unable to move or use skills for a short duration. Knocked down foes fall to the ground.
  • Launch
    Interrupts and tosses a character into the air.
  • Pull
    Shortens the distance between the user and the foe by drawing one of them to another. If a foe is pulled, this can result in an interrupt.
  • Push
    Physically pushes foes away from the player and interrupts them.
  • Sink
    Forces the affected target(s) to move away from the surface.
  • Stun
    Interrupts, immobilizes, and incapacitates foes for a short duration.
  • Teleport
    Teleport to target location.
  • Teleport
    Teleport (alternatively, flash) is a mechanic that causes the user or target(s) to instantly move from one location to another.

Fields & Finishers

  • Dark Field
    Dark Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Blindness
    Leap Finisher: Blindness
    Projectile Finisher: Life stealing
    Whirl Finsher: Leeching Bolts
  • Ethereal Field
    Ethereal Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Chaos Armor
    Leap Finisher: Chaos Armor
    Projectile Finisher: Confusion
    Whirl Finsher: Confounding Bolts
  • Fire Field
    Fire Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Might
    Leap Finisher: Fire Shield
    Projectile Finisher: Burning
    Whirl Finsher: Burning Bolts
  • Ice Field
    Ice Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Frost Aura
    Leap Finisher: Frost Aura
    Projectile Finisher: Chilled
    Whirl Finsher: Chilling Bolts
  • Light Field
    Light Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Retaliation
    Leap Finisher: Retaliation
    Projectile Finisher: Remove Condition
    Whirl Finsher: Cleansing Bolts
  • Lightning Field
    Lightning Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Swiftness
    Leap Finisher: Dazing Strike
    Projectile Finisher: Vulnerability
    Whirl Finsher: Brutal Bolts
  • Poison Field
    Poison Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Weakness
    Leap Finisher: Weakness
    Projectile Finisher: Poison
    Whirl Finsher: Poison Bolts
  • Revealed
    Revealed is an effect applied when stealth is broken, for example by entering combat or exiting a Shadow Refuge circle prematurely.
  • Smoke Field
    Smoke Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Stealth
    Leap Finisher: Stealth
    Projectile Finisher: Blindness
    Whirl Finsher: Blinding Bolts
  • Super Speed
    Activate your slick shoes, enabling you to move at superior speeds.
  • Water Field
    Water Combo Effects

    Blast Finisher: Area Healing
    Leap Finisher: Healing
    Projectile Finisher: Regeneration
    Whirl Finsher: Healing Bolts
Combo
  • Blast Finisher
    Blast Combo Effects

    Dark: Area Blindness
    Ethereal: Area Chaos Armor
    Fire: Area Might
    Ice: Area Frost Aura
    Light: Area Retaliation
    Lightning: Area Swiftness
    Poison: Area Weakness
    Smoke: Area Stealth
    Water: Area Healing
  • Leap Finisher
    Leap Combo Effects

    Dark: Blindness
    Ethereal: Chaos Armor
    Fire: Fire Shield
    Ice: Frost Aura
    Light: Retaliation
    Lightning: Dazing Strike
    Poison: Weakness
    Smoke: Stealth
    Water: Healing
  • Projectile Finisher
    Projectile Combo Effects

    Dark: Life stealing
    Ethereal: Confusion
    Fire: Burning
    Ice: Chilled
    Light: Remove Condition
    Lightning: Vulnerability
    Poison: Poison
    Smoke: Blindness
    Water: Regeneration
  • Whirl Finisher
    Whirl Combo Effects

    Dark: Leeching Bolts
    Ethereal: Confounding Bolts
    Fire: Burning Bolts
    Ice: Chilling Bolts
    Light: Cleansing Bolts
    Lightning: Brutal Bolts
    Poison: Poison Bolts
    Smoke: Blinding Bolts
    Water: Healing Bolts

IV. Runes, Sigils, Accessories & Jewels

Armor & Runes

PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision
PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision
PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision
PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision
PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision
PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision

Rune Stat Totals

  • Power 175
  • Swiftness Duration 30%
  • Precision 125

Rune Bonuses

PvP Rune of the Pack
  1. Power: 25
  2. Swiftness Duration: 10%
  3. Power: 50
  4. 25% chance when struck to grant nearby allies might, fury, and swiftness for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 20 seconds)
  5. Power: 100
  6. +20% Swiftness Duration; +125 Precision

Accessories & Jewels

Berserker's Amulet
  • Power: 1200
  • Precision: 900
  • Ferocity: 900

Accessory Totals

  • Power:1200
  • Precision:900
  • Ferocity:900

Weapon Set Sigils

PvP Dagger
  • Weapon Strength: 924-981
PvP Pistol
  • Weapon Strength: 876-1029
Sigil of Superior Air
50% chance to cause a lightning strike on a critical hit. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 3 seconds)
Sigil of Superior Fire
50% chance to cause flame blast on critical hit causing AoE damage. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 5s)

Weapon Set I

Sigil of Superior Air

50% chance to cause a lightning strike on a critical hit. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 3 seconds)

Sigil of Superior Fire

50% chance to cause flame blast on critical hit causing AoE damage. (This effect cannot trigger more than once every 5s)
PvP Shortbow
  • Weapon Strength: 905-1000
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -
Sigil of Superior Doom
You deal poison on your next attack for 8 seconds after you swap to this weapon while in combat.
Sigil of Superior Accuracy
+7% crit chance.

Weapon Set II

Sigil of Superior Doom

You deal poison on your next attack for 8 seconds after you swap to this weapon while in combat.
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -
PvP
  • Weapon Strength: -

Water Weapon I

Water Weapon II

Upgrade Item Details

you can experiment with other runes wich provide power. In WvW I like the Rune of the Pack most, because of the bonus when struck.


V. Basic Gameplay


Main Skill Rotation

Black Powder½ 6
Fire a black powder shot, blinding nearby foes with the smoke cloud.
Damage: 84Duration: 4Combo Field: SmokeCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
Heartseeker¾ 3
Leap and strike your foe. The less health your target has, the more damage you cause.
Above 50%: 420Below 50%: 504Below 25%: 672Combo Finisher: LeapRange: 450
Basilisk Venom1 45
Venom. Your next attack turns your foe to stone.
Stone duration: 1½ sVenom duration: 30
Double Strike
Strike your foe twice.
Damage (2x): 188Range: 130
Wild Strike
Strike your foe again. Gain endurance with a successful strike.
Damage: 286Endurance gain: 10Range: 130
Lotus Strike¼
Strike your foe and inflict poison.
Damage: 286Poison: 4 s (336 damage)Range: 130
Steal24
Steal. Shadowstep to your foe and steal from them.
Range: 1,200
Withdraw15
Trick. Roll backward while healing and evade attacks. Cures immobilized, chilled, and crippled.
Healing: 3,960
Choking Gas½ 4
Fire an arrow that fills the target area with a poisonous cloud.
Poison: 5 s (420 damage)Duration: 4Radius: 240Combo Field: PoisonUnblockableRange: 900
Cluster Bomb½ 3
Fire a cluster bomb at target area. Detonate in midair for multiple explosions.
Large explosion: 487Small explosion: 168x3Bleeding: 4 s (510 damage)Combo Finisher: BlastRange: 900
Disabling Shot¼ 4
Do an evasive leap away from your foe while firing a crippling shot.
Damage: 168Crippled: 2 sCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
Shadow Shot4
Dual wield. Fire a blinding shot at your foe, then shadowstep to them for a dagger strike.
Blind: 5 sDamage: 420Combo Finisher: ProjectileUnblockableRange: 900
Black Powder½ 6
Fire a black powder shot, blinding nearby foes with the smoke cloud.
Damage: 84Duration: 4Combo Field: SmokeCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
Heartseeker¾ 3
Leap and strike your foe. The less health your target has, the more damage you cause.
Above 50%: 420Below 50%: 504Below 25%: 672Combo Finisher: LeapRange: 450

There is no real skill rotation with this one. Just get a feeling and try to move to stealth as much as possible.

 

The most common mistake with thiefs in general is that skills are being spammed. This is not necessary because the auto attack is very good. A thief should know his skills and when these are appropriate to use. For example: Shadow Shot is often misused as a blind dealer, but its more of a long gap closer.

 

Also, back stab is your best dmg you can do, I've seen crits over 7k. And can immediately activate Immobilize from the Panic Strike trait.


Stealth combo

Black Powder½ 6
Fire a black powder shot, blinding nearby foes with the smoke cloud.
Damage: 84Duration: 4Combo Field: SmokeCombo Finisher: ProjectileRange: 900
Heartseeker¾ 3
Leap and strike your foe. The less health your target has, the more damage you cause.
Above 50%: 420Below 50%: 504Below 25%: 672Combo Finisher: LeapRange: 450

Will provide you stealth with result of blinding your foe and hitting him once (closing a gap) with Hearthseeker. Try backstab or repositioning after this.


VI. Feedback

Please leave feedback below in the comments.

 

Iam sorry for grammatical or spelling in this article. English is not my first language


Comments

Post a Comment
BladeBraverBureba @ 10:07 AM, Wed July 08 2015 Reply
You use 2 Tricks, and have no condi damage, but use Trickery VI over Trickery V?

Also, this is tagged for WvW, but using PvP gear.
@ 02:33 AM, Sat July 11 2015 Reply
Obvious mistakes...
@ 05:03 AM, Mon December 28 2015 Reply
You are right and I do not understand how this has happened... To be honest Iam not very familiar with this site.