Guild Wars 2: Beginner's Guide to the Thief

In this beginner's guide for the thief from Guild Wars 2 we give you helpful tips for your first dagger-swinging hero.

Guild Wars 2: Thief's Gear

The thief uses a variety of weapons and wears medium armor. You can find out what you need to consider when choosing a weapon here:

• Melee: Daggers and swords are the thief's melee weapons. Unlike the warrior, for example, the third weapon skill is determined from the combination of the two one-handed weapons. If you carry the dagger in addition to a pistol in the back of your hand, attack both from a distance and from close up.
• Ranged: Although the thief is primarily a melee class, you will often use it from a distance thanks to the short bow and the pistol.
• Water: Use the speargun or the spear below sea level.
• Equipment: The thief's equipment depends on your skills. If you skillfully avoid every attack, you should choose the attributes power and precision. If you are not yet familiar with the game mechanics, it is worth equipping yourself with vitality and toughness, because this way you can endure more.

Guild Wars 2: The Support Skills

To quickly reach level 80, you should choose the following support skills:

• "Assassin level": This skill increases your strength and deals more damage to your attacks when activated.
• "Seal of Mobility": You get increased precision with this seal.
• "Seal of the Infiltrator": With this ability you get another initiative point every 10 seconds. This can do more damage.
• "Thieves Guild": Your elite ability should be the "Thieves Guild" up to level 80. This way you can also win fights against more than one opponent.

Guild Wars 2: Thief's Way of Playing

Since the thief can endure relatively little, an active way of playing is necessary. Unlike with warriors or guards, you should avoid any enemy attack. Your weapon skills have no cooldown. You use initiative for every skill that recharges over time.

• In close combat, the evasive role is your best friend. If you have a dagger in the main hand, "Death Blossom" will also help you to dodge your opponent's attacks. The less life your opponent has, the more often you should use "Heart Seekers". To lose aggro, make yourself invisible with "Night and Fog".
• If you face an opponent who is too strong in close combat, switching weapons to the shortbow will often help. With "Shooting Shot" you make a dodge roll backwards and with "Arrow of the Infiltrator" you teleport to another position. This is how you skillfully pull melee fighters behind you and slowly shoot your life down.

If you want to endure more and still do damage, we recommend the warrior in Guild Wars 2.