Curse

1theCheat · Aug 19, 2008, 08:13 PM // 20:13

I'm very interested in making a pve (or pvp) assassin/warrior who wields a sword. I've tried a few builds, using a sword and an offhand because i dont really like shields and i use lots of energy to maintain the crit strikes enchantments. Most people will probably think I'm crazy but I enjoy taking on challenging builds. I have a ranger/warrior with a sword, and a warrior/assassin who uses daggers. If you think I'm dumb don't post because you'll be wasting my time. If anyone has anything at all constructive though, please let me know. Here's what i have so far on this pvp char:

swordsmanship- 10
shadow arts- 10
critical strikes- 14

On armor- all pieces have stalwart insignia (armor +10 versus physical dmg)

Mask=crit strikes +1
-major crit strikes rune (+2)
Chest=Major vigor rune (health +41)
Other 3 pieces have runes of vitae (health plus 10)

Skills:

Way of the master- Enchantment Spell. For 60 seconds while holding a non-dagger weapon, you have an additional 31% chance to land a critical hit.

Critical eye- for 33 seconds, you have an additional 14% chance to land a critical hit when attacking. You gain 1 energy whenever you score a critical hit.

Palm Strike {E}- Target touched foe takes 80dmg. This skill counts as an offhand attack.

Blinding Powder- Spell. Must follow an off-hand attack. Target foe and all adjacent foes become blinded for 11 seconds

Critical defenses- Enchantment spell. For 10 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block. Critical Defenses refreshes every time you land a critical hit.

Pure Strike- Sword attack. If Pure Strike hits you strike for +20dmg. If you re not using a stance, Pure Strike cannot be blocked.

Jaizenju Strike- (same as pure strike)

Distracting Blow- Swipe your weapon at the target, dealing no damage but disrupting the target's current action (and the actions of foes adjacent to your target).

Notes: I usually try to activate everything in order from left to right. I get a good amount of critical strikes and critical defenses generally stays up as long as im in battle. I honestly think this build isn't half bad, as long as there's a monk in the area to heal me and take off conditions. But that's a normal requirement for most melee characters.

Any advice and/or suggestions would be helpful

1theCheat · Aug 19, 2008, 08:18 PM // 20:18

Oh yeah and for weapons:

Sword is max, req 9, 15/50, health +30, and sundering

Offhand is a storm artifact, energy +12(req9 air magic), health +30, energy +10, energy regen -1. [I gain a total of 16 energy from it along with the health bonus]

That brings my characters full health to 574, with energy at 38.

Murmel · Aug 19, 2008, 08:20 PM // 20:20

Just a tip, use this code: [skill name]. To show skills like this: [Pure Strike]

Edit: I'm the only one that doesn't see the icon? This has been broken for a while I think.

zelgadissan · Aug 19, 2008, 08:22 PM // 20:22

First point: I'm not seeing an IAS, but I guess your entire build would be shot by adding one. Any warrior IAS is a stance, ruining Pure and Jaizhenju, and assassins have two IAS's, one PvE only and one is elite and requires daggers. Either way, I would find a way to add IAS.

Second point: if you're going to use a high energy thing, it should probably be maxed. +15/-1 would give you +21 energy, but honestly with Critical Strikes and 3 or 4 pip regen do you even need that much extra energy? Serious question, never tried an A/W with sword.

Edit: just throwing your build out here for people to see.
[build prof=A/W sword=10 shadow=10 crit=11+1+2][Way of the Master][Critical Eye][Palm Strike][Blinding Powder][Critical Defenses][Pure Strike][Jaizhenju Strike][Distracting Blow][/build]

Second edit: I was just about to add literally pretty much everything Tyla just did about maybe ditching the attack chain and finding a way to DW.

Tyla · Aug 19, 2008, 08:29 PM // 20:29

Weak. No deep wound and you shouldn't need all that extra energy because you have one of the stronget energy management aspects in the game. Use a shield with either +30hp / -2 with enchants or +10AL vs. Fire. If you can afford it, purchase shields for all types of damage. Even though you noted in the OP that you don't like shields, you don't need the extra energy because Crit Strikes is fueling your energy.

Sundering is also bad on a sword because of the low damage range.

Adding onto that, you should get max equipment and only use minor runes.

You can also fuel skills such as Hamstring as a snare, and might aswell put Bull's Strike and Savage Slash on your bar for utility. Palm Strike and Blinding Powder aren't really any good, take up your elite slot and the blind is quite bad.

Da Rk Bl Ad E · Aug 19, 2008, 08:45 PM // 20:45

First of all, Sundering on a sword is bad..Zealous will net you ALOT of energy when coupled with critical strikes.

I was thinking about something like this :

[critical agility][way of the master][sever artery][gash][whirlwind attack] or [sun and moon slash][Dark Apostasy][critical defenses][sunspear rebirth signet] or any res.

Personally I wouldn't use a sword on an assassin and think it's pretty useless as daggers are awesumsauce and If I was you I would just run this:

[golden fox strike][wild strike][death blossom][moebius strike][save yourselves][critical agility][critical defenses][sunspear rebirth signet]

Moebius / Death blossom spam = Alot of adrenaline to power "Save yourselves!" which Is Ub3r party support.

But whatever you choose gl and hf with it. Just follow assassin rule No.1 :

Always stay ninja

smilingscar · Aug 19, 2008, 08:51 PM // 20:51

How about this for pve?
[build=OwFiQxjMJAsIq/MA550XEmBYAA]
Since you already have a maintainable block, the benefit from blinding powder seems lessened to me. This build here should spread bleeding and provide you with plenty of energy from critical strikes and Hundred Blades to allow you to switch to a shield. Malicious strike is there because it gives higher damage than Pure Strike and provides a surefire way to maintain critical defenses. Gash is there because I needed to fill the slot; final thrust, savage slash, distracting blow, pure strike, or whirlwind attack would also be good choices. You could also Sub out the rez signet for Critical Agility.

But please, please, please use a different insignia. Any assassin insignia other than nightstalker's will give you more armor than stalwart. But also consider blessed insignias, as you will be constantly enchanted.

Bobby2 · Aug 19, 2008, 09:04 PM // 21:04

@ smilingscar: nice1. I was about to suggest combining [[Sharpen Daggers] with [[Gash].

Swordsin for teh lulz

[way of the master][critical agility][critical eye][sharpen daggers][gash][save yourselves][battle rage][empty]

for empty slot: [critical defenses],[whirlwind attack], anything

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods · Aug 19, 2008, 11:33 PM // 23:33

I don't know about using a swordsin, but it has potential. The PvE builds are pretty nice, but if I was going to run SY it'd be as:

[Skill]Thrill of Victory[/Skill][Skill]Distracting Blow[/Skill][Skill]"Save Yourselves!"[/Skill][Skill]"For Great Justice!"[/Skill][Skill]Critical Defenses[/Skill][Skill]Critical Agility[/Skill][Skill]Locust's Fury[/Skill][Skill]Critical Eye[/Skill]

Of course, though, that'd require daggers. The Battle Rage one above is a good idea, but BR is under Strength, which would be an issue. For PvP, as said, use a different prefix on the sword. Zealous is recommended. Use a shield, you don't need the energy and the armor would help a lot on a sin.

Jade Zephyr · Aug 19, 2008, 11:56 PM // 23:56

Sword=12
Critical=10+1+1
Shadow=8+1

Sever Artery, Gash, Final Thrust, Hundred Blades [E], Critical Agility, Critical Defenses, Way of Perfection, Res Sig.

Bobby2 · Aug 20, 2008, 02:07 AM // 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

but if I was going to run SY it'd be as:

[Skill]Thrill of Victory[/Skill][Skill]Distracting Blow[/Skill][Skill]"Save Yourselves!"[/Skill][Skill]"For Great Justice!"[/Skill][Skill]Critical Defenses[/Skill][Skill]Critical Agility[/Skill][Skill]Locust's Fury[/Skill][Skill]Critical Eye[/Skill]

Of course, though, that'd require daggers.

You can go MS/DB spam and keep up SY! without problems, no need to gimp your DPS like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

The Battle Rage one above is a good idea, but BR is under Strength, which would be an issue.

lolthx. BR is effectively unlinked (see last update). So no issue.

1theCheat · Aug 20, 2008, 03:11 AM // 03:11

Thanks people. I much appreciate the quick response.

I like a lot of the builds, but most of the good ones use critical agility, which I don't get because i don't have nf. I have prophecies, factions, and eotn.

Besides that, i wanted to avoid adrenaline because its not very conducive to a quick attack and also, being an assassin, i'm not pressed for energy. The point has been made that i don't need an offhand, and i concede. I'll get a shield. Also i recognize the need for more conditions... could those possibly come from deadly arts? it would be nice to take advantage of that attribute...

Thing is, if i have a shield, I'm using tactics. And if I only have points in 3 attributes, they HAVE to be:

Swordsmanship, Tactics, and Critical Strikes. Are there any solid builds based on those 3 attributes? Can anyone figure a way to slide some deadly arts in there?

Tyla · Aug 20, 2008, 03:23 AM // 03:23

You don't really need the Tactics spec as you already gain 8 armour from the shield regardless of attribution.

If you really want to, then you might aswell run some tactics for supporting the party e.g "Watch Yourself!" and "Charge!".

I'd go with this:

[sharpen daggers] / [sever artery][gash][malicious strike][dark apostasy][critical eye][way of the master][no skill][resurrection signet]

12 Sword Mastery
12+1+1 Critical Strikes

The optional slot could range from Critical Defenses to Assassins Remedy to alot of things. If you're running this in PvP, I'd consider Bull's Strike as it is strong utility on any frontliner. You can also run Hamstring, or if you want an IAS (Increased Attack Speed) or IMS (Increased Movement Speed), go with Flurry or Rush. I honestly wouldn't run it outside of Random Arenas, Jade Quarry, Fort Aspenwood and Alliance Battles though.

joshuarodger · Aug 20, 2008, 03:40 AM // 03:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

The optional slot could range from Critical Defenses to Assassins Remedy to alot of things. If you're running this in PvP, I'd consider Bull's Strike as it is strong utility on any frontliner. You can also run Hamstring, or if you want an IAS (Increased Attack Speed) or IMS (Increased Movement Speed), go with Flurry or Rush. I honestly wouldn't run it outside of Random Arenas, Jade Quarry, Fort Aspenwood and Alliance Battles though.

maybe even [[wild blow]. you're guaranteed a crit hit with wild blow and with [[dark aposta] up you will remove an enchant and a stance with it. [[guardian] is annoying if you're using a melee character.

EDIT: you should probably go with an IAS or IMS, now that i think about it.

Tyla · Aug 20, 2008, 04:00 AM // 04:00

The only problem with Wild Blow is that it kills your adrenaline, which is needed to cause deep wound. If you're going Wild Blow though I suggest not using Sever.

1theCheat · Aug 20, 2008, 05:32 AM // 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

You don't really need the Tactics spec as you already gain 8 armour from the shield regardless of attribution.

If you really want to, then you might aswell run some tactics for supporting the party e.g "Watch Yourself!" and "Charge!".

I'd go with this:

[sharpen daggers] / [sever artery][gash][malicious strike][dark apostasy][critical eye][way of the master][no skill][resurrection signet]

12 Sword Mastery
12+1+1 Critical Strikes

The optional slot could range from Critical Defenses to Assassins Remedy to alot of things. If you're running this in PvP, I'd consider Bull's Strike as it is strong utility on any frontliner. You can also run Hamstring, or if you want an IAS (Increased Attack Speed) or IMS (Increased Movement Speed), go with Flurry or Rush. I honestly wouldn't run it outside of Random Arenas, Jade Quarry, Fort Aspenwood and Alliance Battles though.

I can't get malicious strike i don't have nightfall. Can i do swordsmanship, crit strikes, and deadly arts? anyone have an idea for that?

Da Rk Bl Ad E · Aug 20, 2008, 09:44 AM // 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1theCheat

I can't get malicious strike i don't have nightfall. Can i do swordsmanship, crit strikes, and deadly arts? anyone have an idea for that?

I suppose you could drop it for [frenzy] in pvp and fill the optional with [dash] for a cancel stance / to chase kiters

[dark apostasy] is the best choice for PvP though, abd as Joshua said if you use it with [wild blow] you can remove a stance and an enchantment as there is a guarenteed chance of critical hit. Just make sure your using a zealous sword so you can counter the loss of energy from [dark apostasy]

Unreal Havoc · Aug 20, 2008, 10:23 AM // 10:23

[build prof=A/W sword=12 crit=12+1+1][Way of the Master][Critical Agility][Crippling Slash][Gash][Malicious Strike][Wild Blow][Critical Defenses][Resurrection Signet][/build]

Was what I thought of a while back, it's not brilliant but it's fun to use.

1theCheat · Aug 21, 2008, 06:02 PM // 18:02

heres one i tried today in pvp. seemed to work pretty good.

[way of the master][critical eye][critical defenses][siphon strength][iron palm][entangling asp][sever artery][gash]

1theCheat · Aug 21, 2008, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1theCheat

heres one i tried today in pvp. seemed to work pretty good.

[way of the master][critical eye][critical defenses][siphon strength][iron palm][entangling asp][sever artery][gash]

wow. that worked! wasnt sure i was doing it right.

anyways, that made me run a little short on energy, but i just need a zealous sword mod and i figure ill be alright. I tried to add a lot more conditions, and max critical strikes. i also used a shield instead of an offhand (it was a simple armor:8 with health +30 when enchanted) which i had in my xunlai. I also made the sword enchanting since i figure im always enchanted.

thoughts?