Curse

Rikimaru · Jun 06, 2006, 06:39 PM // 18:39

Just like the title implies, this is a sword-wielding assassin build. I Decided I should probably give the build an actual name, so I chose that. Mostly because I thought it sounded cool, but because this build attacks fast as hell too.

Weapon: Zealous sword of Enchanting, focus with +health and armor while enchanted.
Preferred Armor: Nightstalkers.
Attributes/Runes:
Swordsmanship 12
Shadow Arts 8 (6+2)
Critical Strikes 15 (11 +1 +3)

Skills:
Hundred Blades (E)/Quivering Blade (E)
Gash/Wild Blow (only take WB if you want to go against very high-level monsters)
Flurry
Caltrops (This is a utility slot in PvE, since the cripple is useless there.)
Shadow Refuge
Critical Defenses
Sharpen Daggers
Critical Eye

This is a damage build. But unlike with daggers, you can continue the damage endlessly, and switch to new targets immediately after yours dies. You just can't spike with it.

If you take Quivering Blade over Hundred Blades you'll be able to kill single targets more easily, but it'll become slightly harder to maintain Critical Defenses and you won't have the ability to spread bleeding to multiple targets. The AoE of HB is only really missed in PvE though, since it's such an insanely low-range.

Flurry is widely considered a completely worthless skill, but with this build almost every attack is a critical (around 40% chance), and because of that, you won't even notice the drop in damage (it might not even take place on criticals with the numbers I'm getting). It also helps you charge Gash much faster.

Hundred Blades might also seem fairly worthless to you, but the damage with it is actually decent since you typically get double criticals, and that's just on a single target. The damage get's pretty crazy when you're using it on multiple targets, especially since it's criticals will trigger bleeding on everyone, like a melee version of the Bloody Barrage build. Also, it shaves 1 strike off of Gash.

Because of the insanely rapid striking of this build, and the very high critical rate, you will have absolutely no energy issues at all with this build if you have a Zealous sword. Also, because of all of the constant criticals (and the Enchanting mod) you will never even see Critical Defenses even begin flashing as long as you're attacking. Of course, you're a little screwed against someone who likes to block/evade, so you should be targeting casters.

Obviously, Caltrops is meant to keap people from running from you, and Shadow Refuge is a great self heal.

I Timed myself against a 60 AL target dummy, and I can consistently kill them in 12 seconds with this. It also does well against the 100 AL dummy, but the damage loss from Flurry becomes more apparent against it. 12 seconds obviously isn't a lot, unless you consider that this is constant and consistent damage, not spiking.

With this build, you'll be throwing out bleeding to people like candy, and that makes it easy to cast Gash every chance you get, so you can also toss out a lot of Deep Wound.

Even without the Zealous mod, I had only a few energy issues, I was still able to endlessly spam my attacks. So if you want to up your damage even more, you can easily take a vampiric mod instead, and you should actually end up gaining much more health than you lose.

fallot · Jun 06, 2006, 06:54 PM // 18:54

If this build can spike, my left testicle can read. I'm not saying its bad, just don't say it can do something it obviously can't do.

Rikimaru · Jun 06, 2006, 07:05 PM // 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallot

If this build can spike, my left testicle can read. I'm not saying its bad, just don't say it can do something it obviously can't do.

You haven't even played it. Palm Strike does 80 through armor damage every 10 seconds, jaihnzenju strike can easily do 60+, and wild blow does atleast 40 almost every time. And If I got a +30 health sword and +health focus, then did the Tyrian +attribute quests, I could get a superior shadow rune, drop the base amount to 7, and probably get 12 base critical strikes. Then Palm Strike would do around 100 through armor damage, and I'd be landing criticals like mad.
-Edit- Wait, no. Palm Strike should do 90 with 16 Critical Strikes.

fallot · Jun 06, 2006, 07:47 PM // 19:47

There is still no "spike" to this build. That implies a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Palm Strike + Jaizhenju Strike + Wild Blow is not a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Sever Artery + Gash + Final Thrust does way more in the same duration, even being an Assassin primary.

wsmcasey · Jun 06, 2006, 07:55 PM // 19:55

Unless they are chained attacks that almost instantly stack for instant damage then it's really not a spike build.

Question. Why would you go to the hastle of doing the 15 point attribute quests in tyria if you can do them on the starter island in cantha? It's much faster.

Rikimaru · Jun 06, 2006, 07:58 PM // 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallot

There is still no "spike" to this build. That implies a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Palm Strike + Jaizhenju Strike + Wild Blow is not a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Sever Artery + Gash + Final Thrust does way more in the same duration, even being an Assassin primary.

Well... Deep Wound is pretty strong. You need 8 or 10 adrenaline for Final Thrust though, that takes a while to build, with this you can run in, deal roughly 180 damage plus bleed and (if they try hitting back) poison. One attack recharges after only 5 seconds, another recharges after 8, and the elite recharges after only 10.

Also, the ranged cripple is fun as hell when you have your team chasing someone down...
-Edit- Oh, I thoguht they would stack with the Canthan ones...
*Shrug* It's still a great build.
And the attacks do go off nearly instantly. You finish them faster than a dagger 4 hit chain anyway. I'm not going to argue the spike thing anymore though, whether you count it as spike damage or not, it's still a great build.

wsmcasey · Jun 06, 2006, 08:08 PM // 20:08

I see 2 problems here.

1) no res sig

2) no self heal to counter conditions.

If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.

edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria.

fallot · Jun 06, 2006, 08:18 PM // 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikimaru

I'm not going to argue the spike thing anymore though, whether you count it as spike damage or not, it's still a great build.

Its fine, I didn't want to turn this into an argument. I never said the build was bad you know

.

wsmcasey · Jun 06, 2006, 08:33 PM // 20:33

Ya, no offense. I'm just giving constructive criticism.

Rikimaru · Jun 06, 2006, 08:33 PM // 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsmcasey

I see 2 problems here.

1) no res sig

2) no self heal to counter conditions.

If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.

edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria.

Actually, I've been running this in Fort Aspenwood. So I guess, if I took a sig then I'd be a burden to the team

If you think you need a self heal, just replace critical defenses with shadow refuge or something.
And I just explained it already, I was talking about getting those quests in Tyria because I thought they would stack with the Canthan ones.
-Edit- The reason I have Critical Defenses over a heal is that the constant 72% evade chance gives you a much better means to stay alive if you have a healer, and in Fort Aspenwood it allows me to continue beating on something a while longer after the instant-kill Luxon Zerg (luxon warriors) spot me.

S H I N O B I · Jun 06, 2006, 10:09 PM // 22:09

I was using something similar in PVE...

Swd 12
Shadow 7 (6+1)
Crit 15 (11+1+3)

Sharpen daggs
Wild Blow (for constant crit def)
Jahenjzu (sp?) strk
Pure strk
Way of Perfection
Crit Def (75% evade at 15 crit)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref

(a swd with a 20% enchant duration helps out ALOT)
With this set up, I can tank up to 6 Jade Warriors outside Marketplace ^.^

I can basically bring all caster henchies and tank for them with this build... However, Shatter enchantment and blind is its worst enemy though...

I've also used a dagger version of this build

daggs 13/crit 15/shadow 7

jagged strk
fox fangs
Horns of the Ox
Falling Spider
Wild Blow (for contstant crit def)
Crit Def (75% block)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref

Just like in the swd build, a dagger with a 20% enchant duration will help out greatly with the length of Shadow ref and (especially) crit def....

I'm not sure how these 2 fair in PvP as I have not tried....

Bloodied Blade · Jun 07, 2006, 01:00 AM // 01:00

Well, it's not really a spike build, but congradulations on finding a way to do something different with your assassin.

@S H I N O B I, Another way to tank those 6 Jade Warriors outside of Marketplace is probably something like this:

Golden Phoenix Strike
Critical Strike
Wild Blow
Critical Eye
Shadow Refuge
Critical Defenses
"Watch Yourself!"
Flashing Blades {e}

This should heal you, give you 75%+ defense against the Jade Warriors, heal, and provide armor for when they hit you. To top it off, the GPS --> Critical Strike is nice because Crit Strike is a Dual Attack...It really unloads the damage on single targets.

EDIT: With Flashing Blades + Crit Defenses (assuming 75% on Crit Defenses), they Jades will have (if my math is right, I'm rather tired tonight) a 18.75% chance to hit you. That makes the fight cake.

Rikimaru · Jun 07, 2006, 01:21 AM // 01:21

*Shrug* I Don't care if it's not technically a spike build, I love this build. You should see the damage it can do. The damage-per-hit/skill is higher than with daggers, and much more easily spammed. The only real problem with the damage is that the time between skill swings is slower, and you only have 3 attacks. One of which doesn't even have +damage... But that auto-critical is great. I regularly take on two melee characters at a time with this build in PvP. Of course, I usually die just before or after one of them do.
In fact, I've never really lost to another assassin using this, and the only times I've lost to a warrior are when I underestimate them and don't use Critical Defenses.

Rikimaru · Jun 22, 2006, 03:53 PM // 15:53

Yeah, I realized everyone was right, this does not deal spike damage, though the damage is good.
I've made a few changes, and the build is even better now. I don't remember exactly, but I might have shadow arts at 8 or 9 now, and criticals at 15.
I Suggest anyone that uses this build use a Zealous sword of Enchanting, with +15% damage while enchanted.

Lambentviper · Jun 22, 2006, 10:46 PM // 22:46

may i ask where he said this build spiked in his first post?

or is fallot just assuming that all assassin builds spike?

Because it looks to me like he said this build "could deal decent damage"

Batou of Nine · Jun 23, 2006, 02:34 AM // 02:34

Indeed. I am seeings lots of ridicule about ellegide "said" spike damage, when i read no such thing in the OP. Interesting. Maybe before he updated it today, it WAS in the post? idk...

Anywhoo, i use a similar build but as daggers, cause i like dual striking so damn MUCH! But ill give this a whirl for kicks and giggles. My build is fun for tanking all those stinking wammos in Aspenwood! lol i took on 3 wammos at once the other day, killed 1 face to face, one ran off and died from bleeding, and one just kept using Healing Hands... so that fight was pointless. LOL!

Anyway, way to think out of the box. props to that!
enjoy.

Ruhern · Jun 23, 2006, 04:24 AM // 04:24

Last edited by Rikimaru : Today at 07:57 AM. Reason: The Swordsman gets an upgrade.

He may have said it but then just edited it out.

Rikimaru · Jun 23, 2006, 09:21 PM // 21:21

Heh, that was my mistake. It did origionally say spike damage, and when I removed that I said that I did in that little message at the bottom, but after I made some improvements I changed the message.

Lambentviper · Jun 23, 2006, 09:49 PM // 21:49

ahh alright. Glad thats cleared up

Rikimaru · Jun 26, 2006, 10:21 PM // 22:21

I've now made a massive upgrade to the build. Beautiful...