Curse

Bale_Shadowscar · Nov 02, 2006, 07:34 PM // 19:34

This is a new build I've come up with for RA/TA. Thats all the use I've found for it so far, I suppose it could be adapted to HoH, but probably not PvE.

It comes in 2 flavours; both are very similar, but are have subtle differences depending on your prefered play style. It utilises skills from each chapter,

The Mesmer/Assassin - Signet Master Build

Attributes:
16 Inspiration Magic (12 + 1 + 3)
12 Deadly Arts
The rest in Fast casting.

Skills:

[skill]Shadow Walk[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Midnight[/skill]{E}
[skill]Iron Palm[/skill]
[skill]Entangling Asp[/skill]
[skill]Mantra of Inscriptions[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Toxic Shock[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Shadows[/skill]
[skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Overview
This version of the build is a Mesmer primary, and uses a superior Inspiration magic rune to boost the power of the Mantra of Inscriptions to give a 52% recharge on Signets for 94 seconds. By using Mantra of Inscriptions, you halve the recharge for your signets for a long period of time, so although your preliminary spike won't be as powerful, the build has more 'staying power' instead of having a large cooldown after the first combo.

The Assassin/Mesmer - Signet Master Build

Attributes:
16 Deadly Arts (12 + 1 + 3)
12 Inspiration Magic
The rest in Critical Strikes

Skills:

[skill]Shadow Walk[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Midnight[/skill]{E}
[skill]Iron Palm[/skill]
[skill]Entangling Asp[/skill]
[skill]Mantra of Signets[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Toxic Shock[/skill]
[skill]Signet of Shadows[/skill]
[skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Overview
The only thing changed in this version is the attributes and the change from Mantra of Inscriptions to Mantra of Signets. With a Superior Deadly Arts rune, your main damage outputs (Signet of Shadows and Signet of Toxic Shock) are more powerful, as well as Iron Palm and Entangling Asp. Mantra of Signets allows you to instantly recharge one of the signets for an extra 100 damage (approx) from using the signet a second time. The downside is that after you have used the first combo, you will have to wait longer to be able to do it again, whereas the Mes/Sin version can perform the signets again in half the time.

Equipment - Both Builds
Well, I'm using an Inspiration wand with "Halves recharge on all spells" and "Energy +5, >50hp", and an Inspiration focus with Health +30 and Recieved damage -2 when in a stance. It doesn't matter that much which wand you use, as you will rarely be doing any damage with it (You'll be blind most of the time)

Tactics - Both Builds
I've listed the skills in the order you should use them. You can go after pretty much anyone with this build as rangers and warriors won't be able to attack you when they are blind.

Skill one: [skill=text]Shadow Walk[/skill] : Locate your target, and use this spell to shadowstep right next to them.

Skill two: [skill=text]Signet of Midnight[/skill] : As you have just shadow-stepped to your foe, the 'touch' condition is easily fulfilled. The signet will blind both you and your target, but it does not matter that you are blind.

Skill three: [skill=text]Iron Palm[/skill] : You are basically using this just as a 'lead attack', but it will also do some damage, and as the target will be blinded, knock them down as well.

Skill four: [skill=text]Entangling Asp[/skill] : Iron Palm counts as a lead attack, so you can use this straight after it. It will damage the target, Poison them, and knock them down (again). However, if you use it right after Iron Palm, the target will be just getting up, and so immune to knock downs. It doesn't matter if they aren't knocked down twice, though.

Skill five: [skill=text]Mantra of Signets[/skill] : By now, the enemy will have definitely noticed you in their midst, and you'll be taking damage. You used Shadow Walk to get to them, which is a Stance, and when it ends, you teleport back to your original position. By using Mantra of Signets (Or Mantra of Inscriptions), which are also Stances, you end Shadow walk and teleport out of harms way, whilst still remaining in range of your target.

Skill six: [skill=text]Signet of Toxic Shock[/skill] : Your Target will already be poisoned by Entangling Asp, fulfilling the condition and allowing you to deal about 100 damage to the target. If you used Mantra of Signets, Signet of Toxic Shock will instantly recharge allowing you to use it again for double damage.

Skill seven: [skill=text]Signet of Shadows[/skill] : Again, your target will already be Blinded through Signet of Midnight, and so you can add another 100 damage to the combo by using this skill.

Skill eight: [skill=text]Resurrection Signet[/skill] : Ressurect fallen allies.

--------------------------------
So, what do you guys all think then?

Jetdoc · Nov 02, 2006, 08:08 PM // 20:08

The Mesmer Artificer's Insignia would be wonder for this 4 signet build (+12 armor!).

Bale_Shadowscar · Nov 02, 2006, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetdoc

The Mesmer Artificer's Insignia would be wonder for this 4 signet build (+12 armor!).

Indeed! I didn't even see the artificer's Insignia at first, but now I've gone and unlocked it it works great! I was previously using the "+10 Armor when in a Stance" Insignia; which is also quite a good option, as you will usually be in either Shadow Walk stance or the Mantra of Signets/Inscriptions.

Effigy · Nov 03, 2006, 01:26 PM // 13:26

Clever setup. I may have to give this a spin in RA sometime.

dragonhawk26 · Nov 03, 2006, 04:17 PM // 16:17

Very intersting. Im going to have to give it a go. Very well organized presentation too. Props to you.

Terra Xin · Nov 05, 2006, 12:05 AM // 00:05

Ah that's a very clever build. Get in, step out and deal damage in the afterhand. Very cool.

milias · Nov 06, 2006, 04:54 AM // 04:54

That sounds very interesting! Too bad it's mainly a PvP build, though.

Avarre · Nov 06, 2006, 04:58 AM // 04:58

Nifty, I never thought of using the various assassin signets. Looks like a pretty interesting spike, but it could use some more defence, despite the effectiveness of the signet armor... not really sure what you could drop though.

It's a good thing rust isn't commonly used

Hella Good · Nov 06, 2006, 11:08 AM // 11:08

Not enough DPS from SoM/SoShadows. I've tried it in the past and didn't like it. Sig of Toxic shock is very powerful tho, I'll check this out.

PanGammon · Nov 06, 2006, 11:26 AM // 11:26

Creative......... maybe Keystone Signet might fit in? Ah who am I kidding its a pointless elite.............

Dragannia · Nov 06, 2006, 11:29 AM // 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanGammon

Creative......... maybe Keystone Signet might fit in? Ah who am I kidding its a pointless elite.............

Except for the few seconds Anet mislabled it as "Reduced recharge to 1 seconds."

In those few seconds of confusion, it reigned supreme. Then it was reduced back to worthlessness.

*queue Avarre whining about how he can use it in a bonder build*

Avarre · Nov 06, 2006, 11:31 AM // 11:31

We had a whole HA build built around it in 30 seconds after reading that typo

Mekkakat · Nov 07, 2006, 06:18 AM // 06:18

wow.. i'm glad i saw this. i used the same build (almost) as soon as NF came out with my mes. my only diff is that i used it in PvE and i took out rez sig for ether feast. cool.

necrosfeelyaks · Dec 14, 2006, 04:01 AM // 04:01

wtf would u use a mesmer primary for... would hinder your dmg, would rather go a/me.... since ur elite is unlinked there is no reason to go mes primary

HolyHawk · Dec 14, 2006, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Well, for the artificer insignea maybe? Also, if you choose assassin primary, I believe deadly paradox would be better than inscriptions. It affects every assassin skill, including the signets, and since signet of midnight has a 15 sec cool down, signet of shadows would be recharged at the same time.

Redfeather1975 · Dec 14, 2006, 09:04 AM // 09:04

I've used Deadly Paradox and never saw it affecting my non-assassin skills.

Does it really affect any skill now? I haven't played my Me/A in a couple of weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by necrosfeelyaks

wtf would u use a mesmer primary for... would hinder your dmg, would rather go a/me.... since ur elite is unlinked there is no reason to go mes primary

The OP did post an A/Me build of this. He just made an Me/A build for people who like to play mesmer.

HolyHawk · Dec 14, 2006, 10:37 AM // 10:37

Maybe I was confusing with words, but if you use inscriptions on assassin you will have a recharge on signets lower than 50%. Having signet of midnight recharges fasters doesn't really do much since you can use signet of shadows as fast, imo of course; that's why I sugested deadly paradox for assassins, because sig of mid. wont recharge faster, but every other skill will.