Logo Albion iconAlbion Online AoC iconAshes of Creation Deadlock iconDeadlock GW2 iconGuild Wars 2 TL iconThrone & Liberty

Shadowdancer - Spear + Dagger Large Scale PvP Build

Overview
Weapons: Spear and Dagger
Designed for: PvP (large-scale)
Focused on: Melee and DPS
Difficulty:
Easy
Strengths
  • Good Burst Damage
  • Good AOE CC
  • Versatility
Weaknesses
  • High Skill Ceiling
  • Gear Dependant
  • Limited Mobility
This build is up to date for the January 20, 2025 patch.

Overview

This Spear & Dagger build focuses on maximizing CC and damage in a Large Scale PvP environment, being capable of diving the enemy backline and dealing high damage to squishy targets like ranged DPS. Skills like Shadow StrikeUsed frame.webpShadow Strike, Rising SlashUsed frame.webpRising Slash and Gale RushUsed frame.webpGale Rush makes it easy to move through the teamfights while Phantom SmokescreenUsed frame.webpPhantom Smokescreen helps with keeping you alive and protected.


Attributes

PRIMARY
Perception Perception
+
Dexterity Dexterity
SECONDARY
Strength Strength
+
Wisdom Wisdom
With the unique stats and attributes system in Throne and Liberty, it can be difficult to determine exactly where to invest your attribute points at each stage of the game. This is because gear pieces provide attributes just like leveling up does, meaning everyone will have a different number of attribute points depending on what gear they are wearing at the time.
Given this variation, it's best to reset your attributes regularly to adjust to the new gear you acquire. Aim to reach the achievement effects, which provide extra benefits at milestones like 30, 50, and 70 points.

To deal the most damage with this build, focus mainly on Dexterity and Perception. These stats will greatly increase your damage and keep it consistent during fights. Adding some points to Wisdom can help with mana regeneration, making it easier to use your abilities in longer battles, but your main priority should be boosting Dexterity and Perception.

Also, make sure to put 50 points into Strength. This will give you more health, making you harder to kill, and it won’t lower your damage. Strength also increases your heavy attack chance, which is very important for PvP.


Skills

Gale RushUsed frame.webp
Gale Rush
Gale Rush - Removes CC effect(s)
Rising SlashUsed frame.webp
Rising Slash
Rising Slash - Skill Distance Increased
Rising Slash - Explosive Damage
Umbral SpiritUsed frame.webp
Umbral Spirit
Umbral Spirit - Thunder Spirit
Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webp
Abyssal Cleave
Abyssal Cleave - Critical Cleave
Phantom SmokescreenUsed frame.webp
Phantom Smokescreen
Phantom Smokescreen - Improved Smokescreen
Phantom Smokescreen - Duration Increased
Cyclonic FuryUsed frame.webp
Cyclonic Fury
Cyclonic Fury - Phoenix Barrage
Cyclonic Fury - Conditional Damage
Cyclonic Fury - Critical Aftermath
Camouflage CloakUsed frame.webp
Camouflage Cloak
Camouflage Cloak - CC Immunity
Shadow StrikeUsed frame.webp
Shadow Strike
Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webp
Unyielding Sentinel
Unyielding Sentinel - Sentinel's Bastion
Unyielding Sentinel - Unyielding Shield
Vicious FuryUsed frame.webp
Vicious Fury
Vicious Fury - Explosive Fury
Inject VenomUsed frame.webp
Inject Venom
Inject Venom - Lightning Infusion
Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webp
Javelin Surge
Javelin Surge - Javelin Inferno
Passives
Imposing FormActive frame.webp
Nimble StepsActive frame.webp
Fatal PrecisionActive frame.webp
Death KnellActive frame.webp
Shadow WalkerActive frame.webp
Assassin's InstinctsActive frame.webp
Assassin's StepActive frame.webp
Wrathful EdgeActive frame.webp
Defense
Patient BlockUsed frame.webp
Guardian
Lady Knight Kamarshea Guardian
Food
Quality Vegetable Stir-fry
Quality Wild Game Steak

The Spear & Dagger build is a great choice for those players looking to make plays and create openings for their team! While it takes a bit of time to learn the correct times for you to push in and cause chaos, once mastered, it brings incredible value to any large scale PVP, be in a guild or just in the War Games.

Your main damage skills are Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webpJavelin Surge, Vicious FuryUsed frame.webpVicious Fury, Cyclonic FuryUsed frame.webpCyclonic Fury, and Rising SlashUsed frame.webpRising Slash. Focus on upgrading these even as part of the leveling experience to boost your early damage output with a high focus on Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webpJavelin Surge and Vicious FuryUsed frame.webpVicious Fury as they are your main damaging skills.

Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webpAbyssal Cleave is a good option for CCing enemies but don't neglect Umbral SpiritUsed frame.webpUmbral Spirit and Inject VenomUsed frame.webpInject Venom as they are your prebuffs and very important for improving your burst.

Gale RushUsed frame.webpGale Rush and Shadow StrikeUsed frame.webpShadow Strike are both very strong mobility skills and you should upgrade them soon after to lower cooldowns and boost Bind Chance.

Once you start upgrading passive skills, prioritize upgrading Nimble StepsActive frame.webpNimble Steps to CC resistance and evasion. Imposing FormActive frame.webpImposing Form works well with the spear’s frequent attacks, providing strong buffs, while Death KnellActive frame.webpDeath Knell is essential for boosting attack speed. Thanks to Inject VenomUsed frame.webpInject Venom, this passive is very easy to trigger.

For dagger passives, focus on Assassin's InstinctsActive frame.webpAssassin's Instincts to boost crit rate. Shadow WalkerActive frame.webpShadow Walker is an important defensive passive that triggers with dodges or mobility skills, significantly increasing your evasion rate. Finally, Wrathful EdgeActive frame.webpWrathful Edge enhances critical damage, working perfectly with the build’s emphasis on crit rate. Together, these passives make the Spear & Dagger build a strong PvP choice with a focus on critical hits and mobility.


Equipment

Daggers of the Resistance
Daggers of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Halberd of the Resistance
Halberd of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Mask of the Resistance
Mask of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Deadeye's Cloak
Deadeye's Cloak
Mana Regen
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Heroic Armor of the Resistance
Heroic Armor of the Resistance
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Max Health
Gauntlets of the Resistance
Gauntlets of the Resistance
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Mana Regen
Trousers of the Resistance
Trousers of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Glade Stalker Boots
Glade Stalker Boots
Max Health
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Necklace of Clarity
Necklace of Clarity
Skill Damage Boost
Mana Regen
Bracelet of Conquest
Bracelet of Conquest
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Violent Signet
Violent Signet
Max Health
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Ring of Precision
Ring of Precision
Max Health
Skill Damage Boost
Belt of Deftness
Belt of Deftness
Skill Damage Resistance
Max Health

These are the first items you should strive for through the leveling period as they are very easy to get and upgrade or trait as needed. However, you shouldn't try to trait these items too much as you won't be spending too much time playing with this setup before you start changing pieces into the Midgame. The green accessories however are very easy to trait as you can craft many of them quickly in order to get the correct traits so you should consider traiting them until you change into purples. The same goes for the blue ring as you keep it for a long time.

Darkslayer Daggers
Darkslayer Daggers
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Heroic Polearm of the Resistance
Heroic Polearm of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Elusive Hexweaver Hat
Elusive Hexweaver Hat
Cooldown Speed
Magic Evasion
Melee Evasion
Ancient Tapestry Mantle
Ancient Tapestry Mantle
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Heroic Armor of the Resistance
Heroic Armor of the Resistance
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Max Health
Gauntlets of the Field General
Gauntlets of the Field General
Ranged Evasion
Melee Evasion
Added Attack Speed
Ruthless Enforcer Leggings
Ruthless Enforcer Leggings
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Max Mana
Sabatons of the Field General
Sabatons of the Field General
Movement Speed
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Clasp of the Conqueror
Clasp of the Conqueror
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Bracers of the Primal King
Bracers of the Primal King
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Amber Dimensional Band
Amber Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Violent Signet
Violent Signet
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Butcher's Belt
Butcher's Belt
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance

This is the gear you should transition to once you're leveled to 50 and start grinding gear. It is comprised of gear you can get either from dungeons or by completing Litographs, they are relatively easy to trait up and you will spend most of the time wearing this set before advancing into the late game so traiting these items is very important and should be your main focus.

Darkslayer Daggers
Darkslayer Daggers
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Defense
Attack
Support
Primary
Heroic Polearm of the Resistance
Heroic Polearm of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Defense
Attack
Support
Shadow Harvester Mask
Shadow Harvester Mask
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Cooldown Speed
Ancient Tapestry Mantle
Ancient Tapestry Mantle
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Swirling Essence Robe
Swirling Essence Robe
Buff Duration
Magic Evasion
Magic Endurance
Gauntlets of the Field General
Gauntlets of the Field General
Ranged Evasion
Melee Evasion
Added Attack Speed
Shadow Harvester Trousers
Shadow Harvester Trousers
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Magic Endurance
Sabatons of the Field General
Sabatons of the Field General
Movement Speed
Melee Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Clasp of the Conqueror
Clasp of the Conqueror
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Attack
Defense
Support
Bracers of the Primal King
Bracers of the Primal King
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Attack
Support
Defense
Amber Dimensional Band
Amber Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Attack
Defense
Support
Band of Universal Power
Band of Universal Power
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Mana Regen
Attack
Defense
Support
Belt of Bloodlust
Belt of Bloodlust
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Support
Defense
Attack

This is the current endgame gear you should aim for, and while it isn't easy to acquire, it offers great power without the need of acquiring archboss gear pieces. However, items like Tevent's Fangs of FuryTevent's Fangs of Fury or other archboss weapons are superior but difficult to acquire for the majority of players. If you do manage to get the archboss weapons for your build, feel free to use them over the weapons shown here.

Rune Information Attack runeDefense runeSupport rune
While runes can be applied to different types of gear, you should make sure that you invest into the gear pieces that you plan on using for a long time. However, if the build you are using uses the same items between Mid Game and End Game, you can invest into adding runes to them as early as you get the items.


Weapon Masteries

Ranged Defense
Magic Defense
Shield Block
Penetration Chance
Melee Evasion
Cooldown Speed
Endurance
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Movement Speed
Damage Reduction
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Mana Regen
CC Chance
Bonus Damage
Buff Duration
Ignite Damage
Damage
Melee
Hit Chance
Skill Damage Boost
Melee
Hit Chance
Movement Speed
Cooldown Speed
Max Mana
Damage
Skill Damage
Resistance
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Added Attack Speed
Ranged Defense
Health Regen
Debuff Duration
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Cooldown Speed
Evasion
Buff Duration
Ranged Defense
Weaken
Resistance
Movement Speed
Melee Hit Chance
Off-Hand Weapon
Attack Chance
Weaken Chance
Mana Regen
Buff Duration
Silence Chance
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Melee Hit
Chance
Cooldown Speed
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Damage
Off-Hand Weapon
Attack Chance
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Cooldown Speed
Critical Damage
Damage
Skill Damage
Boost
Added
Attack Speed

Spear: Invest 9 points into Face Off for extra Attack Speed and Cooldown speed while 9 points will go into Destroy for extra Skill damage boost. The last point will go into Charge for a bit of extra defense.

Dagger: Selecting Assassination for your Dagger is crucial as it provides a notable damage boost. Allocate 9 points into Poison for Cooldown Speed while the last point 6 points should go into Disguise for extra evasion.


Rotations

AOE Burst Damage ↴
Vicious FuryUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Umbral SpiritUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Inject VenomUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webp
  • This is a very easy rotation. You want to start off by finding a stationary target (preferably a tank or someone that doesn't move a whole lot) so you can use Vicious FuryUsed frame.webpVicious Fury 5 times and stack up Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webpJavelin Surge charges. Once you are stacked up, use Umbral SpiritUsed frame.webpUmbral Spirit and Inject VenomUsed frame.webpInject Venom to prebuff yourself and boost your damage before using Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webpUnyielding Sentinel to increase heavy attack chance. Next you want to find a clump of enemies and use Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webpJavelin Surge to bounce javelins between targets and deal high burst damage. This works best if you play off your tanks and burst down their clumps.

Cyclonic FuryUsed frame.webpCyclonic Fury: is best used to deal damage to all enemies in a cone, either when you are out of Javelin SurgeUsed frame.webpJavelin Surge charges or when you need to put extra pressure.

Gale RushUsed frame.webpGale Rush: This is a good mobility skill but also helps with clearing CCs from the friendly target you dash to.

Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webpAbyssal Cleave: Use this to break enemy combos and to stun enemies, allowing you to transition into Cyclonic FuryUsed frame.webpCyclonic Fury.

Rising SlashUsed frame.webpRising Slash: Another very good mobility skill working a lot like Shadow StrikeUsed frame.webpShadow Strike but also doing good damage.

Phantom SmokescreenUsed frame.webpPhantom Smokescreen: Pop this when you are being focused by ranged players, it has even higher value if you use this next to other party members so they can also benefit.


Comments

MetaBattle is recruiting!
We are seeking an experienced Build Admin for Throne and Liberty with a deep understanding of the meta across most weapons and game modes. Get in touch with Galaxian on Discord if you're a good fit for the role or know someone else who is. This is a paid position.
Split Metabattle Logo