Next elite spec weapon

What weapon should the thief get for their next elite spec? Describe what it would be in the comments.

I'll say either a Mace (briggand) or off-hand sword (duelist) would be good choices.Mace would be cool for a more cc-based brawler profession. While off-hand sword would be nice to round out the dual wielding choices.

I said other, as while you did put offhand Focus in with the Scepter, I'd just prefer solely Offhand Focus, with an emphasis on Shadow Magic as a whole. Which is what I had wished Deadeye would have been, but that didn't end up being the case.

Mace fits it thematically. Focuses on daze moves in melee

other - dual wield torch. an arsonist burning everything down..as there are already plenty of torches you dual wield picking up i guess there is no issue with mainhand torch.

I would actually like twin Axes, with an emphasis on hard CC, mesmer-like shadow magic and facetanking capabilities. I've been throwing that idea in my head for a while now.

Axe. Don't think pirate, think slasher movie. Why do people keep saying axe is a pirate spec?........

Anything but a longbow or some kind of ranged bullshit.

Honestly, I wanted a horn. Make the Thief into a Bard-like support heavy spec. The unique armor item would be a back piece that is an instrument.

GS, makes absolutely no sense.. but hey, I like Greatswords ~

Hammer. Because seeing Knockdown's with the Initiative system would be far funnier than it has any right to be.

Focus, specifically.I don't picture shadow magic, but as a mainhand-weapon-focused style, like a true duelist. The skills of the focus change depending on your mainhand, turning sword into a 5-skill weapon and giving alternate secondary dagger skills.

Longbow cause we're still lacking any decent long range weapon and it actually fits with the basic theme of the class.

Seeing that through air dagger skills on ele, and some disposable weapons in the map there's already some whip animations, I would totally love an elite specialization with a whip as weapon.(Though thematically it would fit best for rangers)

@ReaverKane.7598 said:I'll say either a Mace (briggand) or off-hand sword (duelist) would be good choices.Mace would be cool for a more cc-based brawler profession. While off-hand sword would be nice to round out the dual wielding choices.

Pretty much agree with this, but also like the mention of torch and focus and axe ideas.

OP why do you have such limited poll options making everyone choose 'other'?

GreatswordSkill #1 - throw dagger right hand, throw dagger left hand, throw 2 daggers 2 handsSkill #2-#4 - throw dagger (conditions here e.i. bleeding, cripple)Skill #5 - swap the skill to a 4 new weapons skills using the GS

GS Skill #1 - slash, slash, stabGS Skill #2 - dash slashGS Skill #3 - block next attack, deflect if projectileGS Skill #4 - vertical slashGS Skill #5 - swap out of GS

Shield - shaped like a giant Shuriken.Focus - for manipulating shadow spells (aka Shadow Mage)

off hand sword or greatsword

thing is....had they given thief greatsword i would have called it "berserker" class. using drugs to get short boons to boost strength for burst attacks(. (Where the thief using the weight of the sword to throw themselves around, instead of they themselves throwing the weapon around. while drugs would work like shouts from reaper. where the more enemies around you the more stacks of might and endurance recovered)

but we all know what class got that name....so i'm still trying to think of a new name. the concept is still fairly workable.

for off hand sword, dueler sounded cool...but they tend to use one sword. maybe edge walker....implying a spider like fighting style using both swords. and utilities would be disabling evasions (like mirage). basically focusing on survival over dmg. survival by numerous evasions and short teleports in skills (Rather than the dodge ability)

I really want dual wield foci for our next elite spec weapon for the thief to become a martial artist, but given the e specs we all ready have I would feel that I Condi focused spec would be appropriate for our next elite spec. So maybe axe or scepter could accomplish that. Then again I want anet to surprise me.

I present the Assassin from Cantha as the next elite specialisation. Inspired From Guild Wars 1 this will bring back weapon combos with a new mechanic for thieves called combos. Lead attacks, off-hand attacks and dual attacks will come with the new weapon set dual swords. Focused around knocking down the target with the lead attack leading into more powerful attacks with the off-hand like dealing extra damage when the enemy is knocked down and finally finishing off with a dual attack to deal more damage if all other combos have landed. Changes steal into a lead attack teleport which can be followed up with off-hand attacks and finally dual attacks. Utilities focus on weapon combos and conditions. These dual swords replace existing weapons as a stand-alone weapon set.

Dual swords:

1: (A) Autoattack begins with a lead attack called Leaping Mantis Sting (Range: 130). Hit target foe to cripple them.

(B) 2nd part of autoattack is an off-hand attack called Trampling Ox (Range: 130). If target foe is crippled knock them down (1 second).

© 3rd part of autoattack is a dual attack called Impale (Range: 130). If target foe is in down state stomp them (similiar to https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Finishing_Blow).

2: Teleport to target foe (Range: 900). Temple Strike: Inflicts Daze for 3 seconds (Costs 4 initiative). This counts as an off-hand attack.

3: Dual attack Combo skill. Starburst Stream: 16 hits: Horizontal slash, Uppercut slash and full circle spin, horizontal slash continuing spin, horizontal slash with both swords, downward X-slash, upward X-slash, 2 opposite direction diagonal slashes, lift swords up and turn away reversing grip, reverse grip downward X-slash, Corkscrew attack and shift swords into forward grip, downward X-slash, upward X-slash, Diagonal slash and spin, horizontal slash, uppercut slash with both swords, downwards vertical slash, downward diagonal slash and spin, downward diagonal slash, forward thrust and forward lunge. (Costs 10 initiative; Open to balance by Arenanet.)

4: Shroud of Distress: You have 75% chance to block but no effect unless your health is below 50%. (Lasts 3 seconds and costs 5 initiative).

5: Flashing Blades: For 5 seconds while attacking you have a 75% chance to block. (Costs 8 initiative).

Heal: Dark Escape: Take 50% less damage as long as you're not attacking for 5 seconds and heal over time.

Utility skills:

Iron Palm: (Range:130) Causes knockdown (3 seconds) if target has a condition. This skill counts as a lead attack and off-hand attack. (20 second cooldown).

Shroud of Silence: For 5 seconds your critical hits remove boons. (50 second cooldown).

Moebius Strike: (Range: 130) Gives you 6 initiative back If you have just used a dual attack skill. This skill counts as a lead and off-hand attack. (30 second cooldown).

Way of the Master: For 10 seconds you cause a new type of condition called Deep Wound (This lowers the person's health by 20%) for 3 seconds with your attacks. (40 second cooldown).

Elite skill:

Shadow Form: For 5 seconds Hostile spells targeting you fail and attacks against you miss. (60 second cooldown).

Traits:

Adept:

Minor: Steal becomes Wastrel's collapse: Teleport skill (1200 range) If target is not using any skill then target is knocked down. This skill counts as a lead attack. (Same cooldown as Steal affected by Trickery traits). Access to Dual swords and combo skills. Lead attacks must be followed by off-hand and then dual attacks.

Critical Hits: For each autoattack chain you finish you gain 1 initiative.

Sword Mastery: There is a chance that your autoattacks will gain quickness.

Assassin's Promise: Your utility skills cooldown is reduced by 20%. (This does not affect Shadow Form).

Master:

Minor: Starburst Stream now has a 20% increased chance to critically hit.

Critical Defenses: You gain Dark Escape on being affected by any crowd control (60 second cooldown).

Aura of Displacement: Wastrel's collapse has a shorter cooldown by 20% which stacks with trickery traits.

Assassin's Remedy: Your next 10 attacks you use remove 1 condition (30 second cooldown).

Grandmaster:

Minor: Gain Flashing blades for 5 seconds when your health drops belows 50% health (40 second cooldown).

Way of the assassin: Shadow form can be shared to allies for 5 seconds. (60 second cooldown).

Critical Agility: Shroud of Distress now triggers when your health drops below 50% health (30 second cooldown).

Way of Perfection: You are healed for every critical hit and remove a condition.

I voted "Other" because I'm really torn to be honest. I had two ideas I thought would be cool for a Thief Elite Spec.

Idea 1: Duelist (working title) - Off hand Sword

Unique class mechanics :

1) Ambidextrous - when wielding two weapons of the same type in both main hand and offhand, your auto attack is replaced with a new unique chain utilizing both weapons in sequence or at once (with sword offhand, thief would have a main and offhand for every one-handed weapon set they get, which would make the best use of this mechanic).
2) Parry (F3) - Pushing F3 activates a parry animation that lasts 0.5 seconds. If you are hit during the parry animation, you negate all damage, and daze the enemy for 1 second. Cooldown is 3 seconds, but if you successfully parry, it is increased to 15 seconds. Grand Master trait can be included to improve the daze to a stun.

Traits would revolve around improving dual wielding skills - including auto attacks when under the effects of the ambidextrous mechanic, and skill 3 - as well as increasing damage to stunned, dazed or knocked down enemies, putting an emphasis on counter play and the use of the parry mechanic. Utility skills would be themed around CC (mostly daze and stun) and exploiting an enemy's weakness, increasing damage for you and allies against the target.

Idea 2: Trickster (working title) - Scepter Main Hand

The idea for this class was inspired by the idea of the trickster god, Loki, in Norse mythology. It would be themed around using trickery and misdirection against your foes and would be a bit more of a support/debuff oriented thief spec (which is something we really don't have yet in any of our current specs).

Unique class mechanics:

1) Sleight of Hand (Replaces steal) - Same functions as steal, but has a range of 900 and grants new themed stolen skills based on Trickery or Deception.2) Hallucinate - A new condition inspired by the "Toxic Pollen" effect introduced during LS1. Enemies affected by Hallucinate will be attacked by "Hallucinations", which can take the form black birds, or of the player character. Hallucinations do minimal damage and die in one hit and are mostly there to confuse your enemy.3) Curses (F3 - F5) - Unique class debuffs that affect an area. Curse of misfortune (F3) - Place a curse on your enemies that causes them to take 10% extra damage from all attacks. Curse of Frailty (F4) - Apply slow and weakness to enemies in an area. Curse of Insanity (F5) - Curse your enemies with insanity, causing them to Hallucinate.

Traits could buff curses or utilities and give them additional functionality. For example, you could have a trait called "Greater Misfortune" which causes Curse of Misfortune to also periodically apply a random condition to enemies under its effect. Utility skills would focus more around supporting allies or debuffing enemies. In the end, I always wondered what a caster themed thief spec would be like, and a "Trickster" type spec was something I felt could give them a new flavor, while still staying true to the core concept of being a thief.

TL;DR - It's either Sword offhand or Scepter for me. XD

Off hand sword with ninja tematic. Please.

@Kawloon Fuathach.3807 said:I said other, as while you did put offhand Focus in with the Scepter, I'd just prefer solely Offhand Focus, with an emphasis on Shadow Magic as a whole. Which is what I had wished Deadeye would have been, but that didn't end up being the case.

I once suggested this, way before HoT came. People already wanted rifle back then.

Dual wield sword seems right for thief, focus off-hand could also be a thing imagine thief using some dark magic.

Also why so many posts about "Next elite spec weapon" etc... ? Do you guys even know when it is coming out +/- ?

I'd go with offhand sword can be pirate like moveset maybe with bombs and i dunno pirate type moveset YOHOHO A PIRATES LIFE IS GOOD!!!

We then can se something like:Double sword moveset into a combo, for those who want to be dual wielding swords.

I voted other, for GS, because I think all classes should have one!