23 replies to this topic

[RainyThief]

Hi everyone! My id in game is Rainy and I play a large amount of thief pvp. I just wanted to share a video I have created with the intention to help beginner thieves pvp with more knowledge and awareness.

This particular video is about Dagger/Dagger thieves, but please feel free to check out the other videos in the channel and let me know what you guys think!

http://www.youtube.com/rainythief

[kak932]

Great video for a beginner thief such as myself. It is clear that the biggest thing I'm lacking is the understanding of other classes and knowing when and how to counter them. Thanks for the explanation of most thief mechanics It was very clear.

[enzone]

Great video! Very smooth play. I wish I had your cold-blooded reactions

[Musachan]

Thanks! I got afraid at the duration of the video, but it's densi info and tips. Very clear. And definitely a proposition for the thief I'll try next time I log in!

[Twyst]

Nice video - very thorough explanations. Good to see someone try to break the mold with a your elite choice!

Would love to see more tourney action though.

[kameko]

awesome. definitely a great intro to the class and extremely helpful.

[Ivarr_Ironfist]

Personally, I find D/P a much better weapon set than D/D for competitive play. D/D doesn't really provide much for the team other than raw damage and is also highly dependent on getting C&D off.

Properly traited D/P stealth will only cost 6 init versus C&D's 4. However, you are not using Shadow Arts, therefore, it's 6 versus 6. The befits of D/P over D/D are that you can actually consistently go stealth in a competitive setting, while providing your team with constant blinds. You also have the amazing ability Head Shot, a very fast daze, which is the bee's knees for reviving, interrupting revives and interrupting other key abilities like Moa Morph.

Since discovering how brilliant D/P is versus D/D if you have high initiative regeneration, I haven't looked back and I am now convinced D/D is the inferior weapon set for most SPvP situations.

Edit: D/P stealth is actually very good for getting away as well. Since it is not dependant on hitting a target you can use it on the run. Good guide though.

Edited by Ivarr_Ironfist, 25 September 2012 - 04:31 PM.

[Hova]

Ivarr_Ironfist, on 25 September 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Personally, I find D/P a much better weapon set than D/D for competitive play. D/D doesn't really provide much for the team other than raw damage and is also highly dependent on getting C&D off.

Raw dmg can mean alot in Tspvp. Usually D\D builds are glass cannon builds, which means that raw dmg is gonna be immense. And if you use SB as offhand (no reason not to use that as offhand) you can assist your teammates with choking gas for example. And getting C&D off isn't hard. Try using dancing dagger before C&D for example and you have a guaranteed hit.

Ivarr_Ironfist, on 25 September 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

The befits of D/P over D/D are that you can actually consistently go stealth in a competitive setting

I can go stealth consistently in a competitive setting as a D\D, so this point is invalid. Just because some ppl struggle to go stealth with D\D doesn't mean that others do.

Ivarr_Ironfist, on 25 September 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Since discovering how brilliant D/P is versus D/D if you have high initiative regeneration, I haven't looked back and I am now convinced D/D is the inferior weapon set for most SPvP situations.

Depends on the player playing the build, depends on your role on the team, on your team comp,etc,etc. You can't simply say that one is inferior to the other.

[Ivarr_Ironfist]

Hova, on 26 September 2012 - 01:20 AM, said:

I can go stealth consistently in a competitive setting as a D\D, so this point is invalid. Just because some ppl struggle to go stealth with D\D doesn't mean that others do.

Then you're not actually fighting people that have the knowledge and skills necessary to counter D/D.

[Hova]

Yeah i guess fighting IO,ALFA, TL is fighting ppl that don't have the knowledge and skills necessary. You're right...

I'll say it again, just because some ppl struggle to stealth using D\D doesn't mean that others struggle as well. If you sit there spamming C&D ofc you're not gonna be able to stealth, you have to be smart and prepare your C&D.

Edited by Hova, 26 September 2012 - 02:04 PM.

[Ruufio]

It's really not that hard to land C&D... I usually just land it with Shadowstep from Infiltrators Signet or Steal. Easy as pie.

[Hova]

Even if you don't have those up it's still quite easy to land C&D. Like i said, Dancing Dagger to cripple them, C&D and profit. It's only hard for those that don't want to do anything else other then roll their face on their keyboards.

[realmisr]

Mind sharing your build/gear, hova?

[cmarren]

Have you guys tried traiting something like this for D/D http://gw2skills.net...qTeypwoIVTBNbJA ?

Extra stealth on steal, 1 sec longer stealths for better (more forgiving?) positioning, and initiative regen on 4 of your skills.  Not to mention a nice little bonus on your toughness since the build is so glass cannon as well as a boost in your heal and refuge for a little extra staying power.  Fits my play style well so far!

[Hova]

realmisr, on 26 September 2012 - 07:34 PM, said:

Mind sharing your build/gear, hova?

http://gw2skills.net...GbNuak1sgYQxECA

this is the build i'm currently using in Tspvp. You can swap some things around depending on your preference\playstyle.
For example on the deadly arts tree you can go with Quick Venoms instead of Panic Strike in case you want a faster recharge on Basilisk venom.
On the CS tree you have several options: I use furious retaliation, but you can replace that with signets of Power. On Side strike you can have Signet Use or Critical Haste.
Play around with the different traits and see what works for you.

[dufox]

its one thing to know the general idea behind what your character build is going for.
it is another thing entirely to actually see what it looks like when someone who knows what they are doing gets behind the wheel.

this is prolly the best pvp video i have seen.
i love how you describe whats gonna happen before it happens by studying the enemys gear and movement while being patient instead of just going for the stealth steal kill all the time.

but the absolute best thing about this video is how it shows 1 person running around making basically everyone he runs into look silly and then he says things like "wow glad my team got here" and "ah crap i died i should have done so and so differently".
instead of the usual "pro's" that blame everyone but themselves when they die or lose a game.

truly impressive

Edited by dufox, 27 September 2012 - 12:20 PM.

[enzone]

dufox, on 27 September 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

its one thing to know the general idea behind what your character build is going for.
it is another thing entirely to actually see what it looks like when someone who knows what they are doing gets behind the wheel.

this is prolly the best pvp video i have seen.
i love how you describe whats gonna happen before it happens by studying the enemys gear and movement while being patient instead of just going for the stealth steal kill all the time.

but the absolute best thing about this video is how it shows 1 person running around making basically everyone he runs into look silly and then he says things like "wow glad my team got here" and "ah crap i died i should have done so and so differently".
instead of the usual "pro's" that blame everyone but themselves when they die or lose a game.

truly impressive

Exactly how I felt watching it.

[Westibone]

dufox, on 27 September 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

its one thing to know the general idea behind what your character build is going for.
it is another thing entirely to actually see what it looks like when someone who knows what they are doing gets behind the wheel.

this is prolly the best pvp video i have seen.
i love how you describe whats gonna happen before it happens by studying the enemys gear and movement while being patient instead of just going for the stealth steal kill all the time.

but the absolute best thing about this video is how it shows 1 person running around making basically everyone he runs into look silly and then he says things like "wow glad my team got here" and "ah crap i died i should have done so and so differently".
instead of the usual "pro's" that blame everyone but themselves when they die or lose a game.

truly impressive

+1 to this.  

I have been playing other classes and wanted to try the thief out, and this video could not have done a better job of explaining the basics and showcasing what is possible.

Great Job, OP

[RainyThief]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all your support!

@Ivarr_Ironfist I actually agree with you 100%, I think dagger pistol is a MUCH superior weapon set when it comes to tourney pvp. Dagger pistol feels to me like the kind of build that gets immensely stronger the more coordination your team has.

With the recent changes to the dagger and the shift in the meta game however, currently I am not that pleased with how burst builds are looking on the thief. While they still have a lot of power, I really want to look into a build that is more stable, bringing more damage across the duration of the match and providing benefits that help the TEAM in a bigger way than bursting one person down. The biggest example of what I am talking about is venom share... though I want to expand the horizon for support thieves beyond that.

I am investing a lot of my time right now looking into thief builds that rely on interrupts and play that requires forward planning and big awareness.

Do you guys have any good ideas for builds that break out of the standard mold one would see in pvp today?

Thanks again and I hope I can continue producing enjoyable videos for you all.

[Effigy]

Forgot to post this sooner, but great videos! I especially like the tip about using SoS to block CC skills while stomping; I use it all the time since I typically have SoS slotted for roaming. Keep up the good work.

[Tigi]

Rainy, I have to give you major props for this vid. It is thorough and well made, goes into every aspect of the build, and everybody can benefit from watching it. I have played Thief since BWE1 and I still learned a thing or two, like using my Signet of Shadows during stomp.

[rza]

Excellent video, very informative, subbed.

[Hankchinaski]

Agreed, awesome video and great perspective on how to play the game.  Very inspiring.  I hope you decide to play some other classes and make videos about them as well

[Telliax]

Ivarr_Ironfist, on 25 September 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Personally, I find D/P a much better weapon set than D/D for competitive play. D/D doesn't really provide much for the team other than raw damage and is also highly dependent on getting C&D off.

Properly traited D/P stealth will only cost 6 init versus C&D's 4. However, you are not using Shadow Arts, therefore, it's 6 versus 6. The befits of D/P over D/D are that you can actually consistently go stealth in a competitive setting, while providing your team with constant blinds. You also have the amazing ability Head Shot, a very fast daze, which is the bee's knees for reviving, interrupting revives and interrupting other key abilities like Moa Morph.

Since discovering how brilliant D/P is versus D/D if you have high initiative regeneration, I haven't looked back and I am now convinced D/D is the inferior weapon set for most SPvP situations.

Edit: D/P stealth is actually very good for getting away as well. Since it is not dependant on hitting a target you can use it on the run. Good guide though.

Can you share the build you have in mind for D/P?