11 replies to this topic

[LithePanther]

Hello. This question has been turning my brain into mush for 3 days now, and I desperately need Guru's help.

*Note: Assume, for this question, that I enjoy and like both classes exactly the same

I have spent weeks getting both my engineer and thief up to 80.

I would appreciate feedback from anyone (preferably, however, someone who has played both to 80) for the following:

Which class is most efficient at single target? (and, consequentially for this question, what weapon and/or kit and/or build is the best single target for engineers?)

Which class is most efficient at AoE?

Which class is most efficient for solo farming?

Which class is most efficient for group farming?

Which class is most efficient for those huge events with tons of people (think tunnel) where tagging quickly is the name of the game?

Which class is most efficient for dungeon runs that generally contain a guardian, necro, ranger, and warrior?

I know you all must be very tired of questions such as these, but I simply cannot decide between them. I love different pieces of each class, making it even more difficult.

I would appreciate people not posting "play what you like best" or bringing any PvP into the discussion. Posts like that are not constructive, and waste both of our time.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Edited by LithePanther, 25 October 2012 - 06:07 AM.

[Soylent]

But it is all about "play what you like best". Or even better, play both.

Edited by Soylent, 25 October 2012 - 09:43 AM.

[Ojikes]

Engineer is the king of tagging in DEs and i would say that engi is probably better in dungeons to.

I love my thief but thats for other reasons.. almost shelved it because i had played it to much.

Engineer is also GW2s answer to Jack of all trades.

[AKGeo]

I'm a big fan of my thief. i never get tired of it. It's just so damn dynamic and fast-paced, it keeps it all exciting even though I'm using the same build the whole time. Even when I die from over-aggro I'm all "damn that was fun" because I saw a ton of white numbers flying before I died...just not enough to finish the job.

Engineer...I don't like the regular weapon skills. Kits are the way to go. As for AoE...engineer has it in the bag with the grenade kit. Single target though, I'll have to give it to the thief.

[LithePanther]

Any more help would be really appreciated. I still can't make a decision. Grr!

[dynia666]

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient at AoE? shortbow thief i best aoer in game here is your answer best weapon ever for pvp and pve

Which class is most efficient for solo farming? thief > shortbow + dagger storm epic epic + when you steal axe from mobs even more epic aoe fiesta

Which class is most efficient for group farming? thief :] shortbow is your answer

Which class is most efficient for those huge events with tons of people (think tunnel) where tagging quickly is the name of the game? engi with turrets is good but turrets stay in 1 place, thief still win with bow

Which class is most efficient for dungeon runs that generally contain a guardian, necro, ranger, and warrior? sorry what ? you want dps tank ranged with summons ? Well take thief make him glass cannon with zerk set and use dodges a lot( you need build with dodges) , learn perfect dodge is best tanking in this game + dmg from class cannon thing ...

I know you all must be very tired of questions such as these, but I simply cannot decide between them. I love different pieces of each class, making it even more difficult. your answer is thief with glass cannon guild with dodge setup + shortbow ... hard to play when learns give profit, dodge = 0 dmg on you

this over here with cool colors

[Isti]

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Hello. This question has been turning my brain into mush for 3 days now, and I desperately need Guru's help.

*Note: Assume, for this question, that I enjoy and like both classes exactly the same

I have spent weeks getting both my engineer and thief up to 80.

I would appreciate feedback from anyone (preferably, however, someone who has played both to 80) for the following:

Disclaimer:  I have a lvl 80 engineer.  I have just started leveling a thief.  What I'm going to do here is give you an idea of what the engi can do.  Where I can offer a comparison based on thieves I've played with, I will.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient at single target? (and, consequentially for this question, what weapon and/or kit and/or build is the best single target for engineers?)

If you want to shut down a target, you want a thief.  If you want to do silly amounts of burst damage, you can use either.  For engineers, you want a Rifle/grenades build 30/20/0/0/20 and full Berserker gear (6 x Superior Rune of the Wurm), Superior Sigil of Air on the rifle.  Key traits: 30 (Whatever suits you, Explosive Powder, Grenadier), 20 (Rifled Barrels, Rifle Mod), 0, 0, 20 (Speedy Kits, Static Discharge).  Utilities: Rifle Turret (for the Toolbelt skill, don't use the turret itself), Grenade kit, Tool kit (for the Toolbelt skill).  Use Surprise Shot, Grenade Barrage, and Throw Wrench on CD, and make sure you are holding your rifle (not a kit) when you do.  Watch the lightning bolts cut down your enemies and laugh.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient at AoE?

Grenades, if you know how to aim.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient for solo farming?

Thief probably plows through single targets faster, but the engineer is no slouch either.  Engis are better for lack of down time, I think.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient for group farming?

Depends what you mean by "group farming."  If you mean, "I will take my 5-man group and we will go farm dungeons," you probably want the Rifle/DD bulid I listed above if you play engi.  Also, our AoE revive is very useful in dungeons.  If you mean, "I'm going to go farm Karma/loot on the Orr DE circuit," then you can't beat an engineer with a flamethrower for tagging ability.  Spec all the way up to Juggernaut in the Firearms tree for super effectiveness.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient for those huge events with tons of people (think tunnel) where tagging quickly is the name of the game?

See above.

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Which class is most efficient for dungeon runs that generally contain a guardian, necro, ranger, and warrior?

Depends how your group is specced.  Generally speaking, the engineer is more versatile than the thief, but both would probably be fine.

[Pipples]

LithePanther, on 25 October 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

I have spent weeks getting both my engineer and thief up to 80.

You wasted time on your Thief

Engineer can heal, range AoE (up to 1500), melee, pseudo-melee with fire and kill people while kiting with bombs.

On top of that, I personally am running a spec that makes me immune to condition damage once my health gets low. You have no idea how much that helps...

[Desert Rose]

Pipples, on 26 October 2012 - 06:27 PM, said:

On top of that, I personally am running a spec that makes me immune to condition damage once my health gets low. You have no idea how much that helps...

Oh nice, when was [Automated Response] fixed?

[ArtimiseFlare]

I have a thief and am currently working on an engineer, both are good in their on respective niches. Yes, the short bow is very nice, and put out an impressive amount of damage, but for me the engineer is the winner in terms of condition and AOE damage. Poison, burning rather large AOE freeze and cripple, not to mention an AOE heal that comes from the elixer gun makes them a very desirable companion in dungeon runs.

Single target burst damage the engineer is quire good as well if you spec correctly (See above posters for examples) but I'll say for absolute sheer amount of damage output, IMO the thief wins there, back stab glass cannon builds are very fun to play.

For huge group farming DE events I think both can be efficient provided you know what your doing, but again, I favor the engineer due to the utility of grenades and such.

The Engineer also appears to have better survivability if they were to go a flamethrower Juggernaut build. I personally enjoy both immensely. When I want to see crazy numbers flying up and awesome single target crits, I'll play my thief, when i want to farm karma or crafting ingredients, I'll play my engineer, over charged shot and stuff like that never gets old for me

hopefully this helps.

[Beza]

Thief was my first class to 80, and I still very much like to play that character. Currently levelling an engineer, who is 60 now, so take my input there with a grain of salt. Also, I mainly do PvE.

Anyhow, single target dmg for me thief wins, and I love going sword/pistol for melee. Any mob which can be blinded is going to be permablind from black powder and I can take them down at my leisure, while taking zero or minimal damage. Single target burst is also very good as thief, I build for high rate of initiative regeneration and can therefor chain cast pistol whip for some serious dps plus an interrupt on top of that. Try that on vines in TA, it rocks

In combination with either a ranger or an elementalist, my thief can pump out some serious healing, by chain casting cluster bomb on their water fields for aoe healing. And I don't think there is any class quite as slippery as the thief when it comes to getting away. Stealth on heal, aoe stealth, 25% perma boost to movement speed plus infiltrators arrow allows you to go anywhere and still make it out alive. Plus swiftness and caltrops on dodge, good luck to whoever wants to catch my thief

Now when it comes to aoe damage, thief is good but I feel engineer is on top with grenades and flamethrower, just more options and flamethrower is really good. Immediate damage, no casting or travel time, and hits any target in a frontal cone. Engineer is also better at support with more healing options plus fast kit switching allows access to many forms of CC if needed. For versatility engineer wins, hands down.

I like playing them both, in PvP engineer is quite fun too while I think thief is rather one-dimensional there. Now in WvWvW thief is cool too, very mobile and spamming cluster bomb on keep sieges is fun!

[Red_Falcon]

Thief has an unique playstyle based on managing stealths, dodges and evades while applying positional damage and confusing your opponent(s) with tricks.
To be played properly you need to be one of those people with quick reaction times, fast thinking and a good hardware/connection; of course you can still be a 1button thief but that gets very inefficient against decent-and-above players.
But if you have all this, it's going to be a blast to play!

Engi I dunno. I'm inspired to make one at some point but I leveled 3 80s so I need some time before I recover my will to level a character.
50% chance my next char will be Engi, that or a Necro (only if it gets fixed).