Would be nice to have more AoE options in PvE

A Thief has:

• Sword: small cleave (3 targets)
• Daggers: small cleave (at most 3 targets)
• Pistols: single target
• Rifle: single target
• Staff: THE AoE weapon, but limited to Daredevil
• Shortbow: has many AoEs, but it's so weak it has become a utility weapon, not a damage-dealing weapon

Would be nice to have more AoE options in PvE. The Deadeye, for example, can go from the very single target focused rifle to...? There's no viable AoE option. The ideal combination would be Rifle (strong single target, long range) with Staff (strong AoE, melee range), but allowing this would destroy balance.

Thus, my suggestion: in PvE only, give piercing (5 targets) to Pistols or Rifle. We would have a reliable AoE in a way that is not mindless, and still requires careful positioning. Link it to a trait so players actually have to give something in exchange for the increase in AoE.