DoctorExplosion.4136

try SA/Critical strikes (with hidden killer)/dare devil or dead eye mix crusader and valkyrie. Just play around your stealth attacks and associated crit windows. It's enough damage to seal the deal on squishies and tanky+sustainable enough to stalemate a tough player. You can use the initiative regen from stealth, but rending shade gives so much control I prefer it.

I don't think so because blinding powder can be used to set up long stealth, and shadow meld is for short stealth. Having 3 stun breaks is 3 times better than having one and would give thieves access to nice survivability of the slippery variety

Focus offhand that imbues the main hand weapon for simple no frills or limited context big damage which is something the class lacks.

2 charge stun break with stability, problem solved

I think stealth should be longer duration, more stackable outside of cooldowns, and talents should be based on seconds in stealth as opposed to going in and out of stealth. Stealth melee attacks should have stickier tracking, and backstab should do bonus damage on flank too. Sentries in WvW should have their range quartered to enable obnoxious ganks any time anywhere. Then detect skills should be more available on all classes so there is no excuse, and any complaints of stealth can be ridiculed with "L2P". You should feel like a reveal on a ~12 second cool down might be worth your damage signet. No ranged class should feel safe running full glass cannon in pvp or wvw, and stealth classes should be empowered to enforce that. Some players might have a problem with this, but I won't.

Dagger/Pistol Deadeye, Hidden Killer+shadow arts, 60/40 mix of Valkyrie and Crusader. Very fun and survivable. Have cool downs up for every other enemy with refreshing gaze+payback, and gank every monster like it's an effective method of play.

I disagree strongly on hidden killer. It's a way to dump crit chance and run a build with rounded defenses while still having damage that people in berserker or marauder gear have to respect. Will it do good damage in fractals? no. Does it synergize with a glass cannon build? no. Is it fun, potent in context, and a unique piece of thief identity? Big yes, the biggest yes.

I have an easy time clearing open world and fighting champions with SA(the initiative trait)/CS(hidden killer)/deadeye(quick or be killed) Dagger/pistol+shortbow Valkyrie gear with crusader weapons and rings Tons of sustain with shadowarts, survivability by dumping precision for stealth crits, and renewing gaze on deadeye keeps your cooldowns up, shortbow gives some aoe. Great for small fights in wvw/pvp too

I think the best thing they could do for the spec without making it busted is to give it a way to apply the mark with stealth attacks as long as it's off cool down.