Deadeye leveling issues

[cesmode.4257]

Hi,Running a deadeye through PoF content and Im having a tough time. The spec has no AOE to speak of, at least nothing that will make it easier to deal with packs of mobs. When I kneel and I try to take down one at a time, Im not killing them fast enough. I understand that deadeye may be better suited for PVP, maybe even specifically sPvP. Is there anything short of pulling out a shortbow or sword as a secondary to get some AoE going? Was arenanet so shortsighted as to not give this class any meaningful AoE ability? I don't want to switch to a secondary weapon to AoE down openworld packs of mobs. For me, at least thematically, that defeats the purpose of this spec.

Any suggestions or should I just shelve the deadeye for PVP and/or go back to daredevil (which I had survivability issues there as well).

[babazhook.6805]

The DE Rifle is intended as single target, as such in PVE you are using it against singular creatures and for that it works very well. For groups there really no choice other then to use something with AOE or cleave. As example I like to start off in rifle and build some might as I weaken aan opponent and then swap to s/p , port in and lay in some Pistolwhips on the group. If used with IP out of CS line you should have few survivalbility issues.

[Tails.9372]

Rifle skill 2 has piercing bullets iirc. With a cost off 3 ini it's also quite spammable, it's the best ranged power based AoE thief has to offer IMO.

[kash.9213]

Deaths Retreat and Collateral Damage help soften up the crowd or just kills things as I go down there kill order.

[kharmin.7683]

I'm loaded up with precision, so all of my attacks are crits. I swap to D/D when mobs come around; otherwise, I pick them off as they approach. Knowing which ones in the mob are weaker helps cull them down. I also have F1 keyed to one of the side-buttons on my mouse which makes targeting much faster for me.

[Sir Vincent III.1286]

Any spec is difficult to use when most of the utility skills and traits are still locked. My suggestion is to use other specs until you've unlocked at least one GM trait - which means you've unlocked every other traits straight to that GM trait. Once you've unlocked BQoBK, Collateral Damage is also unlocked which will help you with AoE damage.

EDIT: I forgot to mention. Caltrops is your AoE friend. It brings every mob affected at low health, so when one dies, it explodes, mark another one, kill it, it explodes, repeat.