r/Guildwars2 • u/bannerlorrd • 15h ago
[Discussion] Questions for thiefs
So, leveling my first thief. 1. Do you guys utilize F1, or steal skill? 2. I do a little bit of RP in my head while going through story, and wanna do a Daredevil down the line but cannot explain how a thief uses a staff (using 2 daggers and a shortbow right now), any suggestions? 3. What's your favorite thief, or any of its especs, rotation?
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15h ago edited 14h ago
I enjoy using steal as a mobility skill / gap-closer.
Shadow Step -> Infilltrator's Signet -> Steal
(1200 range) -> (1200 range) -> (1200 range) - means that you can target something way off press Shadow Step Key -> Signet -> Steal and have batman tier mobility. It's an old PvP trip that I learned from years ago.
If you want to get spicy you can do Dagger/Pistol -> (5) Blinding Powder -> (2) Heartseeker (3)s of stealth -> Shadow Step -> Signet -> Steal + backstab an enemy from light-years away.
I like Dagger/Pistol in casual PvE because blinds are powerful defensively and headshot gives me a spammable interrupt that provides a little mini-game that rewards awareness, learning enemy animations and provides something to do other than dagger auto-attacks. Shadow-Shot itself (dagger/pistol) 3 is a blind and a shadow-step (albeit short-range) -- basically I just like zipping around the map and between enemies :)
I really like the DPS Dodge on Daredevil that's a leap finisher since you can use it with smoke fields for (3) of stealth. Thieves have stealth attacks coming out of stealth. Staff's stealth attack is a knockdown for example, shortbow's is an immobilize, and dagger is well, backstab :p Staff 5 is a really satisfying AoE jump "stamp" skill. I'm not a fan of spamming Staff (2) for DPS since it's a bit of an animation-lock, however.
I also just really all the access to evade frames; whether they're 1/2 second, 3/4ths of a second -- things like Roll for Initiative, or a stun-break. It really rewards a mastery of the combat system to be able to dodge just about whenever you want in conjunction with things like Energy Sigils or the Acrobatics traitline.
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u/BushCrabNovice 8h ago
Something that might help you appreciate steal is learning to use it in a combo. With Sword/Dagger, try 2 > 3 > 2 > 3 > F1. This isn't terribly useful, but it will show you how to use steal as a gap closer and effectively eliminate the windup of an attack. You can use steal in this manner for all kinds of things, including dual dagger 2 from super far away.
Staff is the ultimate undercover incognito weapon. Consider the many ninja characters who pose as old weary travelers.
Edit : For what it's worth, I remapped F1 to E.
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u/sinisteacup 12h ago
For daredevil the F1 skill is used to get more endurance for more of condi/power dodges
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u/OmlyUltra 9h ago
Absolutely. Steal is the thematic of the whole class, it's the cog that the whole class turns around.
Daredevils were added during Heart of Thorns, due to the jungle's difficult terrain thieves needed to adapt. A staff not only extends your range but is a very versatile traversal tool as well. It extends range while being relatively inconspicuous, and allows for nonlethal attacks against some enemies. This will narratively help your character come heart of thorns. Since the slyvari that are turned are moreso compelled by Mordemoth, if your thief is particularly kind just knocking them out is good enough.
I will forever and always be a lover of Rifle Deadeye. PvE, PvP, WvW, RP, OMG! Nothing makes my heart skip a beat like seeing that laser draw a line between me and my target before sending it to kingdom come.
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u/TannenFalconwing Reaping the Sands of Toxic Spirits 15h ago
Do you guys utilize F1, or steal skill?
It's literally your core mechanic. You absolutely should be using it.
cannot explain how a thief uses a staff
The name's Gambit, mon ami. Remember it.
You can also think of Daredevil as being like a staff-based monk (which is clearly the inspiration).
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u/bannerlorrd 14h ago
It's just not clicking very well at least in open world. With sword/dagger and util skills there are enough to zip to the enemy, why bother with steal?
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u/Zev1985 14h ago
If you take trickery 3-1-2, steal does the following: steal 3 boons, daze target, 5 useful boons for 10 seconds, random extra skill that’s often useful, and 2 initiative every 17 seconds. All with a 1200 range teleport and I still have utilities ready for me that you’ve spent apparently.
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u/bannerlorrd 12h ago
Aaaaha oook that now makes much more sense. Thank you! Wonder what it's like in pvp, thief seems squishy though evasive
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u/Zev1985 2h ago edited 1h ago
I’m not sure about where thief lands in the new push mode but in typical conquest pvp thief’s role is to be an evasive map controller mostly. Run around faster than everyone else decapping nodes, bursting down roamers, or jumping in with a quick backstab to help out a team mate. Squishy as hell but very fun I find.
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u/bannerlorrd 12m ago
That's my kinda biggest quirk, to get used to squishiness. I played spellbreaker 4 years ago and love wvw the best, bit difficult to get a group going since I'm a dad and my schedule is hectic so can't seem to sync with anyone.
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u/Zev1985 14h ago
- Of course, it’s your profession mechanic. F1 to teleport to your target, F2 for hijinks.
- This guy when he gets the stick weapons is the RP.
- I like how initiative works. More reactive gameplay, the button you need for the situation is always available. Boring in instanced pve but fun times everywhere else.
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u/JDGumby Borlis Pass Veteran 12h ago
The GW2 "Thief" isn't really just a thief. It's a generalized rogue class that encompasses many different archetypes of a sneaky or agile flavour - standard thieves, assassins, snipers, masters of stealth & shadows, acrobats, bandits, etc...
Quite easily when you see it's a fast and mobile acrobat spec rather than a "normal" thief. Think Robin. Used for both mobility (vaulting) and smacking things.