Curse

CrimsonDaggers · May 04, 2009, 06:18 AM // 06:18

Seeing the thread about Locusts Fury, it made me think that there are possibly other elites out there that are currently being underused. Since we all get tired of the monotony of using the same old tired builds that have become "PvX noobstardom", I believe that there is room for more creativity.

So this thread is for looking at Obscure Elites that havn't necessarily been beaten to death and make something of them to throw a little excitement in our lives. Even if we get one or two good builds (I believe we'll get tons though) out of this brainstorming, it'll be worth it!

These Assassin builds can either be PvE or PvP.

Have at 'er!

RadaArashi · May 04, 2009, 06:44 AM // 06:44

I like using [Dark Apostasy] in conjunction with a spear chucker to provide some pressure and enchant stripping at the same time. Pretty good in RA.

[Critical Eye][Critical Defenses][Vicious Attack][Spear of Lightning][Dark Apostasy][Way of Perfection][Way of the Master][Resurrection Signet]
Critical Strikes: 14
Spear Mastery: 12
Rest in Shadow arts.

Spear of Lightning could be replaced with [Harrier's Toss] or [Spear of Redemption]

tom999 · May 04, 2009, 06:52 AM // 06:52

on my sin i use

[Beguiling Haze][Critical Eye][Caltrops][Golden Lotus Strike][Jungle Strike][Trampling Ox][Wild Blow][Shadow Refuge]

Dagger Mastery: 10 + 1 + 3
Shadow Arts: 10
Critical Strikes: 11 + 1

I also run RoJ way at same time with Stregth of Honor for an added dmg boost and to get the effect of GLS

riktw · May 04, 2009, 10:43 AM // 10:43

i should make more locust fury threats.
i use locust fury atm, or moebius strike lol

Shadowmere · May 04, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

I've toyed around with [dark apostasy] myself, didn't ever try it with a spear though, I went with an axe with [keen chop] and [wild blow]

was rather fun, messed around with a few variations of it, with some spec into shadow or deadly you can bring some fun snares/shadow steps and wreak havoc on those relying on enchants

and I've also played around with [way of the empty palm] nothing to exciting mostly used the generic combination with [repeating strike] but I still use it from time to time mostly for giggles (if you know what the animation for [repeating strike] looks like you'll understand why

)

the main problem with [way of the empty palm] is that it is an elite so you can't combine it with [golden skull strike] or [temple strike] to reduce their hefty costs

RadaArashi · May 04, 2009, 07:40 PM // 19:40

[Way of the Empty Palm] had potential back when [Black Lotus Strike] was an offhand, because you could go like this:

[Black Spider Strike] -> [Death Blossom] -> [Golden Phoenix Strike] -> [Death Blossom] -> [Black Lotus Strike] -> [Death Blossom] -> repeat

But this is outdone somewhat by Death Blossom and Moebius Strike. I can't think of any good use for WotEP because its only useful for +10e off-hands and duals, like Shadowmere stated, the best ones are [[Golden Skull Strike] and [[Temple Strike], there's also [[Shattering Assault] but being elite they can't be used together. The other non-elite being [[Black Spider Strike] and [[Twisting Fangs] but the latter is only supposed to be used once.

Some say this skill was made for [[Repeating Strike], but not only is the DPS mediocre (and outdone by MS->DB) but any energy expenses can be easily mitigated with Critical Strikes, Zealous daggers and Critical Eye.

Killuminati21 · May 04, 2009, 08:10 PM // 20:10

Recently I've taken my sin out of retirement. I used Moebius/DB spam to death and got incredibly bored with it.

My latest obsession is [Flashing Blades]. With 13 dagger mastery its up for 27 seconds, with a 30 sec cd thats almost permanant (you can add [Dwarven Stability] for perma, however it isn't necessary).

This elite alone solves the biggest downside of assassin for me, dying.

The current build I run is:

[Golden Lotus Strike][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Flashing Blades][Save Yourselves!][Critical Eye][Critical Agility]

Two leads, Golden Lotus for e-management. Fairly solid build for dps and survivability.

Bobby2 · May 04, 2009, 08:54 PM // 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killuminati21

This elite alone solves the biggest downside of assassin for me, dying.

I lol'd.

I've ran [shattering assault] and [fox's promise] for a laugh. They're decent enough.

Bill Clinton · May 04, 2009, 11:04 PM // 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby2

I lol'd.

I've ran [shattering assault] and [fox's promise] for a laugh. They're decent enough.

The thing I find most annoying about fox's promise is that you can achieve exactly what it does with a simple skill chain, so theres rarely any need for it. They should just change it to 'your attacks always hit' (so that you may hit through blind, a nice worthwhile bonus). Or something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadaArashi

I like using [Dark Apostasy]

The nice thing about [Dark Apostasy] is that with critical eye and high critical strikes, you can negate the energy loss for it. You essentially get free enchantment removal while you fight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowmere

that it is an elite so you can't combine it with [golden skull strike] or [temple strike] to reduce their hefty costs

Is it just me or does it make it really obvious how much these skills need to be balanced when you put them together?

Bobby2 · May 05, 2009, 12:51 AM // 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Clinton

The thing I find most annoying about fox's promise is that you can achieve exactly what it does with a simple skill chain, so theres rarely any need for it. They should just change it to 'your attacks always hit' (so that you may hit through blind, a nice worthwhile bonus). Or something.

The benefit of using Fox's Promise is that it frees up utility/damage options in your attack chain. Let's say, [unsuspecting strike][golden fang strike] instead of the common [golden fox strike][wild strike].

Then again, this effect isn't something you'd generally want to spend your elite slot on. There's a good reason obscure elites are just that, obscure.

Paul Dawg · May 05, 2009, 02:16 AM // 02:16

I've wondered about the viability of [flashing blades] too, but have never tried it out seriously because I've always figured that [critical defenses] should accomplish almost as much without sacrificing your elite slot.

Of course, [critical defenses] doesn't cause damage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killuminati21

My latest obsession is [Flashing Blades]. With 13 dagger mastery its up for 27 seconds, with a 30 sec cd thats almost permanant (you can add [Dwarven Stability] for perma, however it isn't necessary).

This elite alone solves the biggest downside of assassin for me, dying.

RadaArashi · May 05, 2009, 06:27 AM // 06:27

[shattering assault] is pretty useful in Arachni's dungeon, where you get those monks spiders spamming prots and blocking enchants. Coupled with [Wild Strike] to strip those blocking stances.

Ferminator · May 05, 2009, 08:01 AM // 08:01

How about [skill]strike as one[/skill] with [skill]iron palm[/skill], [skill]jungle strike[/skill] then [skill]trampling ox[/skill]? Maybe throw in [skill]poisonous bite[/skill], [skill]impale[/skill], [skill]signet of malice[/skill], [skill]signet of deadly corruption[/skill]. But you need energy management so use [skill]falling lotus strike[/skill], [skill]critical strike[/skill]. Ooh a shadow step like [skill]death's charge[/skill] will be pretty cool because both you and your pet will shadow step too.

Unreal Havoc · May 05, 2009, 11:26 AM // 11:26

Unblockable and unblindable with good damage output, if you had to choose which would you choose of the two?

[Foxs Promise][Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Asuran Scan][Unsuspecting Strike][Golden Fang Strike][Death Blossom][Assassins Remedy]

[Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Asuran Scan][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][Assassins Remedy]

Bobby2 · May 05, 2009, 11:55 AM // 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal Havoc

Unblockable and unblindable with good damage output, if you had to choose which would you choose of the two?

[Foxs Promise][Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Asuran Scan][Unsuspecting Strike][Golden Fang Strike][Death Blossom][Assassins Remedy]

[Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Asuran Scan][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][Assassins Remedy]

HM or NM?

Killuminati21 · May 05, 2009, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Dawg

I've wondered about the viability of [flashing blades] too, but have never tried it out seriously because I've always figured that [critical defenses] should accomplish almost as much without sacrificing your elite slot.

Of course, [critical defenses] doesn't cause damage.

The problem with crit defenses personally, is I notice it tends to fall of between targets if they aren't balled up. Instead of casting the 10e skill every time it falls off, with [Flashing Blades] you cast once and focus on dps.

I'm not a huge fan of Moebius anymore, unless it's a boss you tend to never really get to a good Moebius/DB spam - the targets already dead by then (unless your party is horrible).

Anyway, glad the OP started this thread, it's about time people started living outside of the cookie cutter builds and experimented.

Stealth Bomberman · May 05, 2009, 05:17 PM // 17:17

[shattering assault] [temple strike]

two of the strongest skills in the game and only a handful use em...pity

Paul Dawg · May 05, 2009, 07:20 PM // 19:20

Yes, that's true, and I'm not saying that [critical defenses] is as good as [flashing blades]. I'm saying that for the extra cost of sacrificing your elite slot, I don't see that [flashing blades] is so vastly superior. The 10e cost to reapply [critical defenses] isn't so high; a fast-attacking assassin should be able to make up that energy expenditure in no time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killuminati21

The problem with crit defenses personally, is I notice it tends to fall of between targets if they aren't balled up. Instead of casting the 10e skill every time it falls off, with [Flashing Blades] you cast once and focus on dps.

RadaArashi · May 05, 2009, 08:24 PM // 20:24

[Temple Strike] would be better if it was 15r, 10e and a Lead Attack

Bowstring Badass · May 05, 2009, 10:15 PM // 22:15

What about [assault enchantments]? That skill has hardly seen play in forever. If you look at other sin elites such as wastrel's collapse, palm strike, moebius strike, and a few others.

Sins have been using elites from other professions simply because attack chains can be used without an elite in the middle of it. Maybe they use an elite from a dif prof to start the combo but that's about it.

And I think they should change the % values on [way of the assassin]. Make it 33% faster attack and 18% higher crit chance at 13 critical. Might actually see some decent use then.