Curse

Captain Yimuru · Apr 14, 2007, 07:50 PM // 19:50

Okay, here goes:

A/any Flashing Defenses

16 (12 + 3 + 1) Dagger Mastery
13 (12 + 1) Critical Strikes

1. Jagged Strike (Dagger Mastery) - For a lead attack, and to provide degen.
2. Wild Strike (Dagger Mastery - To prevent Warriors using Balanced Stance to cut out your energy management and Critical Defenses.
3. Critical Strike (Critical Strikes) - For energy management, and to renew Critical Defenses on demand.
4. Critical Eye (Critical Strikes) - More energy from, and greater chance of, critical hits. Lasts for 32 seconds and recharges in 30 with C.S 13.
5. Flashing Blades (Dagger Mastery) [Elite] - a maintainable (32 secs, 30 sec recharge with D.M 16) 75% chance to block while attacking.
6. Critical Defenses (Critical Strikes) - Another maintainable (via Critical Strike, and, to an extent, Critical Eye) 75% chance to block.
7. Optional (I use Mending, as I sometimes use Shiro's Blades, to take away the degen from them. The -1 pip energy regen doesn't matter with this build.)
8. Dash (No attribute) - Useful for escaping a bad situation, breaking aggro, and separating groups. Also handy in PvP for catching fleeing enemies.

Armor:

Anything goes, really. You may want to use Nightstalkers for the +15 while attacking, as you'll be attacking as much as possible to keep up Critical Defenses and gain benefit from Flashing Blades, or Shrouded for the extra energy to reduce the effects of Death Penalty.

Method:

First, find some enemies who are melee or ranged attackers. Use Critical Defenses as soon as you get into aggro range (particularly important vs Rangers. Melee professions can get closer before you use it.). As you draw near, activate Critical Eye and Flashing Blades simultaniously. This provides you with two 75% chances to block. Start your attack chain, making sure you use Critical Strike whenever possible, to refresh Critical Defenses, although Critical Eye will mean that you usually get enough critical hits anyway. Just keep an eye on it. And that's about it.

Usage:

Works fine in either PvE or PvP. You can easily solo with it, (I've tried on Jade Brotherhood Knights in Wajjun Bazaar, Vermin in Xaquang Skyway, and Minotaurs, Griffons, Rock-Eater Scarabs, Scarab Nest Builders, Rockshot Devourers and Sand Wuurms in Prophet's Path.) Can also solo the Zaishen Challenge IWAY team, and works well in AB and Random Arenas.

Counters:

Any anti-blocking skills, in particular Expose Defenses. Enemies who block will throw off Critical Defenses, as will Blindness. Having too many enemies attack you obviously increases the chances of being hit, and knockdowns hit you hard as they mean you're not getting benefit from Flashing Blades. There is also a lack of regen, so you may want to put some sort of regen skill in the option slot, though beware of casting time, as Flashing Blades won't be in effect, and it shortens the amount of time you have to renew Critical Defenses in. Avoid casters generally, although you can sometimes pick off the odd caster, especially since you can pretty much discard any damage from physical professions standing near. If there is one caster surrounded by rangers or warriors, kill the caster first, and move on. And, like all melee professions, this build is allergic to Empathy.

Samurai-JM · Apr 14, 2007, 10:21 PM // 22:21

Flashing blades always works, but I've always like critical defenses with the Crit Strike -> Moebius -> Death Blossom combo better. Works just as well defensively, but much stonger offensively.

And btw, why flashing AND critical defenses? they don't stack... do they? And if so, it's probably unneeded defense when you can just that space with a heal that you'll still need anyway.

glaz · Apr 15, 2007, 12:20 AM // 00:20

decent in pve, as AI has no idea whther its attack is blocked or not.

decent in AB, as its all helter skelter and anything goes. plus, people have some kind of bloodlust against sins that this will totally aggravate those people.

TA-wise, or any decent form of pvp for that matter, i dont think any team with a real decent build would invite you. its not as optimal as there are other elites that are better to assist in spike or pressure (i.e. SP, Moebius Strike).

Dutch Masterr · Apr 15, 2007, 01:17 AM // 01:17

Why critical defenses+flashing blades? Flashing blades alone does the trick.

I can see this build very usefull in PvE for pressure, but it doesnt shell out too much damage (yes, im aware of the quick combo recharge).

Any blocking will ruin this build, so i would go A/W and bring wild blow, or just use expose defenses. This build will only be challenging for a warrior and maybe a ranger to overcome, but casters will cause you a serious problem because you have no defense against spells and no healing.

With some tweaks, this could be a great build though.

Captain Yimuru · Apr 15, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

In response to the question 'why flashing AND critical defenses? they don't stack... do they?' - yes, they do stack. Flashing Blades is a stance, and Critical Defenses is an Enchantment. But yes, I know this build is flawed - be fair, it IS my first attempt - against casters and competant players in PvP. However, you can take on lone casters and win, and it is handy when they only have warriors to protect them, as you can attack the caster without any real fear of damage. So, any suggestions to improve, then?

Samurai-JM · Apr 15, 2007, 03:01 PM // 15:01

My point above was that its fairly easy to withstand casters if you go /D or /Mo and use skills such as Mystic Regen/Vital Boon or Vigorous Spirit/Live Vicariously. That way you don't need the two blocking stances, and you still have great defense against anything + healing to cover when the defense doesn't work.

Captain Yimuru · Apr 15, 2007, 05:02 PM // 17:02

Ah, right. Thank you, I'll try that.

Dean Harper · Apr 15, 2007, 07:17 PM // 19:17

i find the Critical Fox to be more effective:

Shroud of Distress
Golden Fox Strike
Fox Fangs
Nine Tail Strike
Critical Defenses
Way of the Assassin{E}
Critical Eye
Shadow Refuge/Feigned Neutrality

Crazyvietguy · Apr 15, 2007, 08:45 PM // 20:45

This is a very good "first time build" (the OP's build,

i dont like the one above... just my preferance).

Like many have said, I'd take out Critical Defense.
You may want to put in that extra slot [skill]Malicious Strike[/skill] which would provide even more energy.

Vigorous Spirit is perfect for a build like this, I'd go for that if you want an enchantment.

Samurai-JM · Apr 16, 2007, 03:30 AM // 03:30

Instead of taking out Critical Defenses(since its kept up endlessly by Crit Strike(or malicious strike as Crazy posted)) just remove flashing blades and use Moebius for much more damage while keeping most of the defense. It works s0 much better offensively.