Curse

TaiClaw · Aug 22, 2006, 05:41 AM // 05:41

Hi, Ive experitmented with a ton of builds over the last few weeks, so I have concluded that this was the best build that I tested. I tweaked it a bit so that it works well with any other proffesion, would be great with A/R aswell. It's pretty much a pure damage build, healing is purposely kept at a minimal level. It will kill *most* enemies in 3 shots.

I call it The Impaler.

I will have to update this when i'm from work, I can't remember how my attribute points are placed. Pretty heavy in Deadly tho.

Skills

Impale
Iron Palm
Falling Spider
Twisting Fangs
Critical Eye (Can be changed)
Shadow Refuge
Heart of Shadow
Mending (Can be changed depending on weapon/proffesion)

Description

I have Mending in there because I use Darkroot's Daggers (Best A/Mo daggers in the game imo). They are +15%DMG whilst enchanted. Meaning with mending up I have that beneficiary always, and not just above 50%, which most think is better. It's not. They also have 1+ Energy on hit, and -1 Energy Regen, and +30 Health.

So I pop Mending at the start of the mission, or whatever your doing. Let the fight proceed, stand back and watch for a few seconds to pick out an ideal target, know that it will dye in abot 4-5 seconds if you use this spec. Firstly , use Impale (Adds 50 damage to your Dual Attack, depending on what you put into Deadly Arts), Impale is the key to this build, it's burst damage is really what makes this build so damage heavy. Then do the usual Iron Palm/Falling Spider/Twisting Fangs. Twisting Fangs with Impale up should kill the enemy, if not it will die from poisen and bleeding. Impale with Twisting fangs can crit for up to 120.

You have 2 options at this point, you can Heart of Shadow out of combat and heal, or you can pop Critical Eye and move to the next target, this will recharge your energy to full in a matter of seconds, at which point your skills will be recharged and ready for another brutal combo.

I have no plans to change this build, it works perfect for me, and the damage output is insane. I take full credit for this build aswell, I have not seen any others use it in the way I do.

Feedback is appreciated, and please test it out and tell me what you think!

ubermancer · Aug 22, 2006, 06:01 AM // 06:01

What attributes do you use?

I would drop mending, and use a non zealous pair of daggers when you are not spiking. When spiking, I would (personally) switch to Vampiric Daggers (15/-10) of Dagger Mastery, and use an IAS like Frenzy. Simply because that extra near second it shaves off could prevent Impale from being stripped.

Seeing as how you lack an elite, you might consider something... what I cant say until you explain how you were (apparently) using 5 attribute lines.

TaiClaw · Aug 22, 2006, 06:42 AM // 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermancer

What attributes do you use?

I would drop mending, and use a non zealous pair of daggers when you are not spiking. When spiking, I would (personally) switch to Vampiric Daggers (15/-10) of Dagger Mastery, and use an IAS like Frenzy. Simply because that extra near second it shaves off could prevent Impale from being stripped.

Seeing as how you lack an elite, you might consider something... what I cant say until you explain how you were (apparently) using 5 attribute lines.

I basically just use Mending for the +15% DMG Beneficiary, not really many points in Healing Prayers. The rest is Spread out between Critical Strikes, Deadly, Shadow and Dagger. More in Deadly than most, too pump up Impale.

Oh, if I was to use an elite, I would only really consider Morbius Strike. But thats in the future, im 100% happy the way it is.

Amy Awien · Aug 22, 2006, 07:29 AM // 07:29

Since you rely on the hex already, a +20% vs. Hexed foe weapon sounds like a lot of fun to me. And you can switch.

tortugan · Aug 22, 2006, 08:08 AM // 08:08

The build looks fun to use, big damage, should scare the shit out of people when they all of a sudden get spiked down

I also made a little build with deadly arts and it's also with Impale. the build works well against melee based opponents or against touchers.

Angel Develin · Aug 22, 2006, 08:37 AM // 08:37

It's a nice build, I allso use something like this.
If mending has no use so whay not use Aura of Displacement? it's an enchantment and it helps a lot.
I allso use golden lotus strike <---is for when you are under enchantments you gain 10 energy at dagger mastery 16.
so, I use this 2 and drop mending and critical eye.

TaiClaw · Aug 22, 2006, 08:46 AM // 08:46

Thanks for the positive feedback regarding my build.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel Develin

It's a nice build, I allso use something like this.
If mending has no use so whay not use Aura of Displacement? it's an enchantment and it helps a lot.
I allso use golden lotus strike <---is for when you are under enchantments you gain 10 energy at dagger mastery 16.
so, I use this 2 and drop mending and critical eye.

AoD is not constant like Mending is, by having a constant enchantment like Mending on me, I have +15% DMG Always.

Arturo02 · Aug 22, 2006, 09:24 AM // 09:24

AoD is constant like Mending is. Either you choose to take it off or it is taken off by your opponent.

It is probably the best shadow step skill. And by using it, you could take out both Mending and Heart of Shadow from your build, leaving room for more damage.

Granted, you get the health boost, but you aren't escaping the person attacking you. You aren't stepping to a safe spot like with aod, where you have predetermined the place you will step to.

Scourgey · Aug 22, 2006, 10:14 AM // 10:14

I suggest instead of using critical eye, use assassin's promise, you should be able to kill more enemies quicker. Yes I know Assassin's promise is a big "I WILL KILL YOU" sign, but it's nice when it works and the 20 second recharge on iron palm is annoying.

I would also replace mending with return, which is one of the best shadow stepping skills imo.

I tried something similar to this before, and in my experience it didn't do enough damage to kill an enemy from 100% hp if a boon protect monk is nearby.

Angel Develin · Aug 22, 2006, 10:37 AM // 10:37

Assassin's promise is nice but only in pve in pvp is allmost useless, and if Assassin's promise does not work well you have a skill that has a long cooldown and is of no use, I say attack till they attack you and then scape with AoD and you can allways get back on them when they are not looking

.
And what Arturo02 told is true AoD is constant.

Yanman.be · Aug 22, 2006, 12:42 PM // 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

Since you rely on the hex already, a +20% vs. Hexed foe weapon sounds like a lot of fun to me. And you can switch.

That does not exsist. Check your sources.

Get other daggers, if that is the solo purpose of Mending. ( like Everthorn's Charkams )

Angel Develin · Aug 22, 2006, 01:11 PM // 13:11

It's 15% against hexed foes and 20% while hexed.^^

Pick Me · Aug 22, 2006, 01:13 PM // 13:13

I know others use similar build but use Live Vicariously instead of mending.

I honestly don't know why people bother with Mending or LV. AoD is almost as constant as Mending, but no heals and when removed, you are back where you last used AoD (good defense though). Currently I use Retribution (monsters hurt themselves a bit each time they hit me), only because I don't have the best enchantment Watchful Spirit. How is the the best? Well, in my opinion (feel free to disagree), it has a constant 2 pips of regen, 0 points into Divine Favor (since you can't put points into it anyway), and it heals you when it is removed (so it will heal you when someone removes it, or when you remove it). To me, this is a win/win situation. I have Gold daggers that add +15% damage when enchanted and give armor bonus vs physical attacks (I think).

Nice build though.

Amy Awien · Aug 22, 2006, 03:05 PM // 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel Develin

It's 15% against hexed foes and 20% while hexed.^^

Ow, ok - should have known

ubermancer · Aug 22, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

Still havent said what you use as far as Attribute points go.

silverwyng · Aug 23, 2006, 01:57 AM // 01:57

i run a similar build for PVE! nice to know i'm not the only one who's looking into an Impale build.

it's an a/rt and i use assassin's promise to recharge my attacks. impale is there as an added buffer to ensure AP connects and recharges your attacks. i use black lotus strike for added energy management. since i haven't capped moebius strike yet, i was messing around with assassin's promise and MoI then i tried Implale instead for added damage. tweaked the attribs a bit and the skills as well. it's still a work in progress, though.

TaiClaw, maybe our attributes are kinda similar:
CS - 13 (9+1+3)
DM - 9 (8+1)->if i can get a max dmg, low req dagger, i will. i only use crit strike and deadly arts as assassin skillsets in this build.
DA - 11 (10+1)
Restoration - (9)

i'm using arrendondo's RW/WB combo for healing and resiliency and it works! gonna try prot spells next with an a/mo.

TaiClaw · Aug 23, 2006, 03:37 AM // 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

I know others use similar build but use Live Vicariously instead of mending.

I honestly don't know why people bother with Mending or LV. AoD is almost as constant as Mending, but no heals and when removed, you are back where you last used AoD (good defense though). Currently I use Retribution (monsters hurt themselves a bit each time they hit me), only because I don't have the best enchantment Watchful Spirit. How is the the best? Well, in my opinion (feel free to disagree), it has a constant 2 pips of regen, 0 points into Divine Favor (since you can't put points into it anyway), and it heals you when it is removed (so it will heal you when someone removes it, or when you remove it). To me, this is a win/win situation. I have Gold daggers that add +15% damage when enchanted and give armor bonus vs physical attacks (I think).

Nice build though.

Like I said in the OP, I use mending for a constant enchantment, to buff up my daggers that have a 15%dmg whilst enchanted beneficiary. I plan on doing a few tests within the next few days, too see how much of time is spent ABOVE 50% to gain a damage bonus , everyone thinks that 15^50 is "perfect" although I disagree. As an Assasin, you wanna do as much damage as possible, in as little time as possible, don't think of it as 15% damage above 50%, think of it as -15% damage below 50%. Because we are so "squishy" and don't have the best self healing abilities , I can't justify why 15^50 is better than, in my case, 15 Whilst enchanted.

I have just enough attribute points in Healing Prayers to give mending a +2, I think having the constant regen of health is more than usefull, It may just save your life, and also think of it as shaving 2 degeneration off harmfull hexes, poisens.

I stick by my theory that +15% enchanted is better for total damage output, than +15^50.

*Edit* I messed around for fun last night, changed to A/R and put alot of points in Beast Mastery and Critical Strikes.

I dusted off my old Shiro's Blades and went and had some fun with Critical Eye and Bestial Fury. I must admit, the 33% Faster attack speed combined with the Vamp of Shiro's is pretty interesting. Attack at +33% Speed, almost half attacks Critical Hits, and gaining 3 Health each hit was really something else.

I suggest you try it and test it out if you have a set of Vamp Daggers, its fun, tho ill stick with my impaler spec.

Detis Zan · Aug 23, 2006, 09:43 AM // 09:43

I've been looking at this build for a while now. And I find it VERY energy costly at times. Even with the zealous daggers.

Okay so say you have full energy (25 for those without the eng boosting armor cause I have the extra 15 armor while attacking)

Okay so in the event of pulling out your combo.

Impale - 5 (20)
Iron Palm - 10 (10)
Falling Spider - 5 (5)

Yet! Think about it you Impale when you rush in so add 2 eng from pips.
Then spam palm, falling with NO attacking really. I find myself short of 4-5 energy by the time I get to my Dual attack so I have to hope to get a critical attack within using falling spider to gain the extra eng.

Yet I'm a PvE person so it's different for me I geuss. Anyway so I do pull it off but I end up waiting far too long with the recharges when I bounce away from my enemies. Rush in, hit, bounce. within 3 seconds I'm now waiting to do anything before I jump to my next target to start over. Even with critical eye (which I'm iffy to use atm) I seem to be lacking..something. I need to test a lot more but the build does wonders in dmg.

Yet reading here for AoD or anything along those lines I don't have those elites atm. Instead of mending I have Recall for my enchantment.

My attributes are.
daggers -12
shadow -5
crit - 12
deadly -12

I messed with the build and tried to toss Palm strike into the mix.

Impale
Golden Lotus Strike (change or add Iron)
Palmstrike (falling spider or chane)
Twisting Fang
-Empty
shadow refuge
Recall
Res (or something else since sins usually don't res)

(See PS is just a faster way to get to my dual with Impale on the enemy while I still add 70 dmg to my target before dual happens)

For the two empty slots I thought I could add Critical Eye anyway but the last slot (which is your mending) is free because recall allows my Golden lotus strike to work if I'm low on energy (and as a bounce). I thought a heal would be nice but without spreading my points more then they should already I could put Death's Charge when I spot my next target to get there without rush time.

One last thing. I saw that I could get Assassin's Promise (remind you I'm a PvE person) I could go get that and use that elite instead of Palm Strike and keep to the Iron-falling spider.

-EDIT

Actually the build before seemed good but very messy. I just caught AP and found myself with death's charge instead of the res and of course PS and Golden were replaced with the original skills.

TaiClaw · Aug 23, 2006, 12:34 PM // 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detis Zan

I've been looking at this build for a while now. And I find it VERY energy costly at times. Even with the zealous daggers.

Okay so say you have full energy (25 for those without the eng boosting armor cause I have the extra 15 armor while attacking)

Okay so in the event of pulling out your combo.

Impale - 5 (20)
Iron Palm - 10 (10)
Falling Spider - 5 (5)

Yet! Think about it you Impale when you rush in so add 2 eng from pips.
Then spam palm, falling with NO attacking really. I find myself short of 4-5 energy by the time I get to my Dual attack so I have to hope to get a critical attack within using falling spider to gain the extra eng.

Yet I'm a PvE person so it's different for me I geuss. Anyway so I do pull it off but I end up waiting far too long with the recharges when I bounce away from my enemies. Rush in, hit, bounce. within 3 seconds I'm now waiting to do anything before I jump to my next target to start over. Even with critical eye (which I'm iffy to use atm) I seem to be lacking..something. I need to test a lot more but the build does wonders in dmg.

Yet reading here for AoD or anything along those lines I don't have those elites atm. Instead of mending I have Recall for my enchantment.

My attributes are.
daggers -12
shadow -5
crit - 12
deadly -12

I messed with the build and tried to toss Palm strike into the mix.

Impale
Golden Lotus Strike (change or add Iron)
Palmstrike (falling spider or chane)
Twisting Fang
-Empty
shadow refuge
Recall
Res (or something else since sins usually don't res)

(See PS is just a faster way to get to my dual with Impale on the enemy while I still add 70 dmg to my target before dual happens)

For the two empty slots I thought I could add Critical Eye anyway but the last slot (which is your mending) is free because recall allows my Golden lotus strike to work if I'm low on energy (and as a bounce). I thought a heal would be nice but without spreading my points more then they should already I could put Death's Charge when I spot my next target to get there without rush time.

One last thing. I saw that I could get Assassin's Promise (remind you I'm a PvE person) I could go get that and use that elite instead of Palm Strike and keep to the Iron-falling spider.

-EDIT

Actually the build before seemed good but very messy. I just caught AP and found myself with death's charge instead of the res and of course PS and Golden were replaced with the original skills.

I really appreciate the fact that you gave up time to test the build. And yes you are correct, at times you can fall short of energy after the offhand attack. Still tho, with Zelous mod there still is very little downtime.

And about Mending, I think I confused a few folks when I put that in, it's purely dagger specific, I have +15% while enchanted, thats why its there. If I had any other type of dagger it wouldnt be there, but like I said, I think +15 while enchant + Mending is better that 15^50.

Feel free to change Swap mending around for anything, if you have a 15% while enchanted dagger, keep it.

Also on another note, I tested this build out with AoD, and found it to be very annoying at times. Yes, its great for damage mitigation, but if your versing an enemie with enchantment removal, it can send you flying back in the most un-opportune times.

JimmyDean · Aug 24, 2006, 07:59 PM // 19:59

I like your use of Impale with Iron Palm , Falling Spider, and Twisting Fangs. However, as some others have said, you could drop Mending for AoD. AoD gives you much more mobility, and it will often save you from that person you just cant shake. When I get back to my computer at home, I'll probably try a modified version of this, which would like like...

Iron Palm
Falling Spider
Twisting Fangs
Impale
Aura of Displacement
Dash (just some run skill)
Critical Eye
Ressurection Signet

15ish Critical Strikes
15ish Deadly Arts
10-12ish Dagger Mastery