Build:Daredevil - SA Axedevil

This is a test build. You may comment and rate it.

Focused on: Hybrid damage

Designed for: PvP Conquest

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on May 17, 2024.

Overview

A high damage PvP Daredevil build using the most recent addition to Thief's arsenal, the Axe. The build can be played both as Power or Condi depending on the amulet and your playstyle.

Skill Bar

Axe/Pistol

Sword/Dagger

Utility

Template Code

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Equipment

Axe

Pistol

Sigil

Sigil

Sword

Dagger

Sigil

Sigil

Rune

Amulet

Relic

Equipment Variants

Amulets

• - higher burst damage, lower survivability. Take
  to compensate for the lower HP, but this is going to hurt your mobility. Keep Relic of Fireworks, replace
  with
  .

Relics

• - while there aren't many tools in the build that proc this, the healing reduction is still useful.

• - makes your condi bursts stronger and adds more cover conditions to the build.

• - better condi variety and a strong damage boost you can easily proc with Steal or
  Infiltrator's Strike
  .

• - this relic coupled with
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  is enough to give you near permanent Fury uptime just by pressing Steal.

Usage

General

• Axe/Pistol is your main set, most of the time you'll be camping this.

• Sword/Dagger is more of a defensive/backup set. It has decent damage and even survival tools of its own, plus it provides an alternative when facing builds with projectile-denial against which Axe simply doesn't work.

Steal

• Steal
  is the most powerful tool in a thief's kit and should not be wasted! Do not start fights with steal, keep it for the right moment (mainly to interupt important skills such as heals or elites).

• Stealing grants initiative, boons, dazes enemies and refills a portion of your endurance among other things. Its most important function however is the instant boonstrip that prioritizes Stability which goes off before the Daze does, resulting in an instant interrupt.

Axe/Pistol

Main set

• Axe has its own weapon-specific mechanic. Autoattacks and
  Venomous Volley
  leave behind spinning axes on the ground. You can stack these up to 6 and check your active axe count above your utility bar.

• Spamming the auto
  Spinning Axe
  is going to leave behind axes even if they hit nothing. This allows you to stack axes for free while your target is in stealth or out of range.

• Venomous Volley
  is a cone-shaped attack and therefore needs to be used in melee range for maximum effectiveness.
  Steal
  ing at the end of the animation can help with that.

• Orchestrated Assault
  is your finishing move, pulling all of your axes into your target. Try to use it with 5-6 axes whenever possible.
  • This skill also evades attacks when used, allowing you to use Initiative defensively in desperate situations.

• Head Shot
  is a quick interrupt. It's a very situational skill with no real pressure of its own.

• Black Powder
  plays a very important role as a Stealth tool when combined with a dodge.

Rotation

1. Black Powder
2. Venomous Volley
3. Dodge inside Black Powder to combo Stealth
4. Cunning Salvo
5. Optional: do an auto attack or two to up your Axe count
6. Orchestrated Assault
7. Repeat

Note: if you can get this rotation going, it's going to take care of everything from damage to survival. Not only is this a burst rotation, it's also made to minimize contact with the enemy via Blind and Stealth while restoring initiative at multiple points. It even cleanses conditions.

Utilities

• Shadowstep
  is easily the most versatile and one of the strongest skills in the build. It has 2 parts:
  • The first half is a stun break and teleport, which already has countless uses. A few applications include teleporting to safety while pressured or extending your reach in combat.
  • The second half is called
    Shadow Return
    . This skill becomes available for 10 seconds after using Shadowstep, and cures 3 conditions in addition to breaking stun again before returning you to your starting location.
  • These can also be combined to safe stomp targets: begin stomping,
    Shadowstep
    away to safety, and then follow up with
    Shadow Return
    at the end of the animation in order to finish the target.

• Blinding Powder
  is fairly simple. This is your second stun breaker, and another source of stealth. As a Blast finisher you can combo it with
  Black Powder
  for AoE stealth. Just like Signet of Agility, this is a skill you can use to your allies' benefit by sharing its effect with them.

• Dagger Storm
  is both a defensive and offensive elite. The rather lengthy evade frame with increased movement speed makes it an excellent panic button when you're being focused by the enemy team. On the other hand the skill deals heavy AoE damage whilst evading, which makes it great for pressuring melee targets in general with next to no risk.
  • Note: skills like
    Shocking Aura
    or
    Line of Warding
    are able to interrupt Dagger Storm, so don't be completely careless.

Related Builds

• Daredevil - Celestial A/P Roamer - WvW version of the build.