Curse

Laenavesse · Feb 13, 2007, 07:20 AM // 07:20

Sooooo I've been trying new stuff for my sin and this is a build I made once Sharpen Daggers got nerfed. I'm not gonna say it's good, I don't know if it's bad, I just know that it works well for me. I've only ran it through PvE mostly, I *don't* think I've PvP'ed with it yet. Anyway, just tell me what you think, just be constructive please ><; I usually just put in skills and make up stuff to fit my style than try to find a build and try to conform to it, though I'm open to suggestions.

A/any

Attributes

Dagger Mastery: 14 (superior)
Deadly Arts: 6
Shadow Arts: 7 (minor)
Critical Strikes: 13 (minor)
Superior Rune of Vigor (no duh.)

Skills

Expose Defenses
Black Spider Strike
Twisting Fangs
Moebius Strike
Death Blossom
Black Lotus Strike (optional, further details below)
Dash (optional, or replace with res or any other skill)
Shadow's Refuge

Possible Chain Variant Against non-fleshie enemies:

Expose Defenses
Black Lotus Strike
Death Blossom
Moebius Strike
Nine Tails Strike OR Critical Strike
(optional, or have both NTS and CS)
Dash (optional, or replace with res or any other skill)
Shadow's Refuge

Equipment

I use the Ungues of the Forgotten, and those are obviously zealous. I have Nightstalker's armor cos I'm too cheap and try to get another set after spending almost 100k for the first one >_>;

The Breakdown

I pretty much run it in that order and spam DB. Though it has a 2 sec recharge now (which I <3), MS enables me to spam it without having to go through the cycle. Plus it does nice AoE damage, and as long as I go in AFTER the tank has mobbed everything and just choose a target that's not almost dead, I can start spamming and see all the lovely yellow numbers on my screen.

However, as one might expect, the enemy will probably be half dead and degening fast from the poison coupled with bleeding and deep wound. So though it might seem silly to have the MS-->DB combo, even if I don't get DB in, if I get MS in, my attack skills will have recharged, expose defenses is usually almost ready to go again, and I can move on.

Now to talk about BLS. Originally I had Nine Tails Strike because I loved the 5 energy, but then I figured it was pretty redundant and I probably wouldn't even get to it in a chain. Plus, I'd be better using expose defenses again so I don't have to miss every other time. So I decided to put in BLS for two reasons: alternate combo starter in case Spider misses and it gives energy when it hits.

Another note about BLS is that it's a more useful starting attack against enemies that can't be poisoned (of course this is in reference for PvE only). It costs the same, but I don't have to get the annoying "Target cannot be poisoned (immune)" message. And I can just go right to left: BLS --> DB --> MS --> DB and if I need energy and the enemy is hexed, BLS again.

So it's possible, if you know there aren't a lot of flesh enemies in the field, to take out Black Spider Strike and Twisting Fangs as well if you want and just use BLS and another dual, such as Nine Tails or something to give energy back, like Critical Strike.

On the other optional slot, you can put in res (I don't...though in the past I usually was the last person alive and I would res everyone when the coast was clear. I'll put in one if people want me to, though), Death's Charge, another heal, another defensive skill, another hex skill in case first one fails or is removed, the possibilities are endless. I just have Dash in there right now cos I had to run a little and never bothered to take it out (Death's Charge took too long of a recharge for me...it's fun sprinting off in front of everyone as long as I don't run into anything that could hurt me xD).

With a DA of 6, Expose Defenses lasts around 11 seconds, which is usually enough time for me to at least get the chain going. It's the only attribute I don't have runed. I can't remember if I have Vitae or Attunement as my current fifth rune...*might* be Attunement *ponder*.

Obviously, running this build while with a hexer is great ^.^ I would still suggest bringing Expose Defenses because it works well against tanks and rangers who love to go into those defense stances. Plus, you might be attacking something that isn't hexed. But if you have BLS and you see something hexed and need a quick energy fix, it usually works well.

Uhm...I think that's it o-o;;; I don't know if there's another build like this out there somewhere, like I said I just looked through my stuff and put some stuff in and *pop* this came up. One reason why I probably have so many attack skills is because I'm usually hero/henching through the game and thus am "tanking." No I don't run willy nilly into a mob >_> I make sure to send out my tank first, but eh, you know how the AI work and will go to whatever you're hitting.

I considered using a lead attack to make the prospect of the combo actually working less conditional, but then I figured that extra damage would make it to MS to recharge my skills. I figured Expose Defenses was better in the long run.

And I'm done. Like I said before, it works for me but I'm still open to critique =O

SotiCoto · Feb 13, 2007, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Hex removal.

Or indeed [skill]Hex Breaker[/skill].

Run into that and you're potentially sitting it out.
I'd recommend if possible taking secondary necro and slipping Parasitic Bond in just in case (even without Curses points)...

Aside from that it seems perfectly viable.

As a matter of preference though, I always put Dash in slot number 2 .... mostly because my left middle-finger is typically on the W key for running from A to B... and my ring-finger can reach the number 2 most easily...

Laenavesse · Feb 13, 2007, 03:17 PM // 15:17

Yeah i forgot to put in counters xD Hex Removals and of course Blind will mess this up, but to try to avoid the Hex Removal, I usually run up to the thing *first*, so that i'm like right in it's face before using Expose Defenses. Usually that gives me at least a smidgen of time to make the first hit. Once the hex is gone, it won't matter as long as you're in the chain.

Though Hex Breaker would suck >_O;

I considered Parasitic Bond, I'd just have to change my Assassin as part necro (giving her a fourth second xD) and get the skill. But for all Assassin skills, if you want to use another hex as an extra precaution, Siphon Speed could work or even Dark Prison. Though obviously you would hit Dark Prison first and Expose Defenses second.

And I usually have all of my skills in that sort of order xD My fingers are just used to it like that.

Franco Power · Feb 13, 2007, 03:47 PM // 15:47

lol you've been trying new stuff?

Changing Shadow Prison to Moebius strike isn't exactly what I'd call original but yeah...

Dutch Masterr · Feb 13, 2007, 05:22 PM // 17:22

instead of relying on expose defenses which has a high energy cost and recharge time, try using siphon speed...although then your skills can be blocked.

siphon is good because its 5 energy and 5 recharge making it spammable and its a good snare.

siphon speed, black spider, horns of ox, twisting fangs, moebius, death blossom, optional, shadow refuge....8 shadow, about 8 deadly, 10 or 11 critical and 14 or 15 dagger

err..the edit button wasnt working so let me edit here...

i put the skills out of order..it should be black spider, horns of ox, moebius, twisting fangs, death blossom....

you can also take death blossom out for expose defenses if you want. if your target us below 50% after twisting fangs, spam moebius+horns of ox. if not, follow through after twisting fangs with moebius+death blossom and keep spamming that, using horns whenever possible...keep in mind moebius and death blossom both have a recharge of 2 making them spammable (unless it was changed, havent been on sin in a week).

Samurai-JM · Feb 13, 2007, 05:33 PM // 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SotiCoto

Hex removal.

Or indeed [skill]Hex Breaker[/skill].

Run into that and you're potentially sitting it out.
I'd recommend if possible taking secondary necro and slipping Parasitic Bond in just in case (even without Curses points)...

Aside from that it seems perfectly viable.

As a matter of preference though, I always put Dash in slot number 2 .... mostly because my left middle-finger is typically on the W key for running from A to B... and my ring-finger can reach the number 2 most easily...

[skill]Critical Defenses[/skill][skill]Unsuspecting Strike[/skill][skill]Wild Strike[/skill][skill]Critical Strike[/skill][skill]Moebius Strike[/skill][skill]Death Blossom[/skill][skill]Dark Escape[/skill][skill]Shadow Refuge[/skill]

^no hexes needed, very versatile in the attack choices and skills, but no conditions. I play around with variants of that all the time for great results.

Laenavesse · Feb 13, 2007, 08:23 PM // 20:23

I never even capped Shadow Prison let alone try it, so I wouldn't know o.o

These are the only skills I've capped (some just for the heck of it):

Temple Strike
Moebius Strike
Palm Strike
Aura of Displacement
Way of the Empty Palm
Shadow Form

So I was trying to work with stuff that I already had. I'm stingy and I don't want to buy anymore skills I won't use that often xD

@Legendary Ultimatum: As on originality, well it's kinna hard to be original nowadays xD I like Moebius Strike a lot, mainly because I like to spam a lot. When I say try new things, I mean skills I haven't used but had acquired either out of whim or potential future use at the time. Not new builds that could possibly be out there. I haven't looked at every build because I don't want to be a copycat (even though those builds are pretty good). It's nice to try and make one for yourself you know? ~^

@Samurai-JM: Yeah, you could use all attack skills with lead attacks and stuff, but I wanted to try something without using the lead attack and try to lay on the 3 big conditions (4 if you want to include Expose Defenses making them unblockable as one)

@Dutch Masterr: Horns of the Ox was another skill I considered, and previously I had ran the usual HotO--> Falling Spider build, but I thought that I had enough attack skills, though it could easily be put in as a replacement for BLS or as in addition. I wanted DB because of the AoE and the new 2 sec recharge. Always loved it, always will.

Siphon Speed was a second hex option, or THE other hex option. The main thing was that the whole chain started with a hex, and I was using all assassin skills for this thing. I used to have both Siphon and Expose, but then I was like "meh. *tosses in BLS instead of Siphon*"

Really, the "build" can pretty much have a lot of a variety to it to suit your needs I guess ^^;

And again this was PvE based, though it *could* potentially work in PvP I think. Like I said in the OP, I haven't really tried yet.

Thank you for everyone on their comments so far ^-^

Dutch Masterr · Feb 14, 2007, 02:51 PM // 14:51

in pvp, i use shadow prison to specifically take out casters in a single 4 or 5 skill combo...usually elementalists or necros. shadow prsion is great, you just have to monitor who your attacking to make sure they cant block. you also have to use it on someone that doesnt notice you, or is distracted doing something...its fun to use, but moebius strike is still my favorite assassin elite.

Laenavesse · Feb 14, 2007, 05:33 PM // 17:33

i guess i prefer an attacking elite over any other kind of elite if that makes any sense xD

i have considered getting Flashing Blades (I do a lot of considerations don't I? XD). I thought of maybe getting Beguiling Haze but I still don't know. I know it's better than Temple Strike but..meeeerrr.

And I'm not so confident in myself to try Assassin's Promise xD I know I could kill them but I'd get paranoid about external factors that could come into play like healing or I accidentally click on the wrong person or something like that >_o

Acidic Won · Feb 14, 2007, 05:43 PM // 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laenavesse

i guess i prefer an attacking elite over any other kind of elite if that makes any sense xD

i have considered getting Flashing Blades (I do a lot of considerations don't I? XD). I thought of maybe getting Beguiling Haze but I still don't know. I know it's better than Temple Strike but..meeeerrr.

And I'm not so confident in myself to try Assassin's Promise xD I know I could kill them but I'd get paranoid about external factors that could come into play like healing or I accidentally click on the wrong person or something like that >_o

Flashing blades = PvE.
Beguiling Haze = Better Elites.
Shadow Prison = Good snare, bit of a recharge, low energy. Overall most used assassin elite because it is good.
Moebius Strike = Probably second most assassin used elite. Good skill for chaining.
Dark Escape > Dash.

@claw. He wasn't kidding. He also uses a IW assassin build.

AB and Aspenwood are not serious PvP, nor is RA.

Laenavesse · Feb 14, 2007, 08:40 PM // 20:40

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I play PvE on my sin mostly, though sometimes I take her out to PvP if I'm in the mood or have this strange urge to kill xD

Edit:

@Acidic Won - referring to Dark Escape > Dash, I agree with you there xD But the 30 sec recharge time annoys me and I'd only get 10 secs with my set attributes. I just like Dash cos of the faster recharge and I move 50% faster. Though Dark Escape's half damage reduction is nice, Dash gets me out of there quick enough to at least get out of the brunt of attacks. I switch it around sometimes, Dash was just the thing that was in my skill bar at the time of posting this thread ^^

Retribution X · Feb 14, 2007, 08:50 PM // 20:50

Try swapping the black for golden(Golden lotus is a lead though.[So you'll need another offhand]) and mobius for Way of the Empty palm.

Pretty sweet in PvE. Can do some pretty good death blossem spaming.

clawofcrimson · Feb 14, 2007, 09:16 PM // 21:16

@vesse

i do apologize... I think the build you posted is just fine... if it were me I would take a deep wound in pvp and perhapse mark of pain in pve... with necro secondary..

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Laenavesse · Feb 15, 2007, 07:52 AM // 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by clawofcrimson

@vesse

i do apologize... I think the build you posted is just fine... if it were me I would take a deep wound in pvp and perhapse mark of pain in pve... with necro secondary..

but i do have deep wound already in there o.o *points to Twisting Fangs*

hex thing is a pretty versatile, you could use any to your liking to set it off. and necro secondary is a good, highly suggested option, but i won't say necessary. I keep it an A/any in case you're a sin who wants to use maybe one random other skill, or maybe doesn't want to change secondary and just wants to use all sin skill. Just to keep it open ^_^ There are technically two optional slits in the bar anyway. I just like Expose Defenses because it will last for 11 seconds with 6 att points and if it's not removed all of the attacks will hit. So Unblockable + Poison + Deep Wound + Bleeding + DB spam = Assassin Fun

I wonder what I should call this build of mine o.O *has ridiculous long name for template since she just uses the first main keywords of skills..*

The one bonus of this build is if you're with a necro primary. Then you could bring just the one hex skill to use if you're attacking something the necro isn't, and if you have Black Lotus Strike in your bar you can get quick swipe of some energy from another hexed target, so long as you have the energy to do so xD Also is kinna fun if you nab the monster before it dies, so that you give the finishing blow as well as "steal" energy :3 (quoted since you obviously don't, but i can say it in any way that i want :P) Anyway, being with another necro will free up another slot in case you ran two hexes at once rather than one.

clawofcrimson · Feb 15, 2007, 03:16 PM // 15:16

@vesse
the build looks pretty solid... =D

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Acidic Won · Feb 15, 2007, 04:25 PM // 16:25

Dash may seem good but trust me Dark Escape is well worth the recharge for saving your life once. If you get snared or concetrated fire on yourself Dash will most likely not save you.
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Acidic Won · Feb 15, 2007, 05:46 PM // 17:46

If I or anyone else can change one person's build and make it better than I would say that is a a good job. I see you don't like PvP characters, I personally think you should reconsider this as all faction is account wide. You could easily roll a PvP char and be ready to go in under 5 min., this would also cut down on how much money you spend on buying new Assassin armour and runes just for your builds. Sure you could play your Assassin build anyway you want, but then you can't exactly get mad at anyone else's build as they are also entitled to play their character's anyway they want. That wouldn't make much sense though, as I think everyone wants to to get the very best out of what they are designing their character to be. You have to remember you are playing in Aspenwood or AB, these places are not considered PvP by most decent player's as the build's there are rather amusing at best.

Laenavesse · Feb 15, 2007, 06:09 PM // 18:09

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oh and curious, how come i've only seen people suggest necro hexes and not any mesmer hexes? o.o?

Stormlord Alex · Feb 15, 2007, 08:56 PM // 20:56

Mesmer hexes are powerful and all (I know Soti likes them

) but necro hexes are generally of more use to an assassin - hexes like Rigor Mortis, Barbs, Mark of Pain etc. from the Curses line sync pretty well with assassin skills (well... Rigor's overshadowed by Expose Defense, but you get my drift).

Laenavesse · Feb 15, 2007, 09:25 PM // 21:25

Aaah, I guess that makes sense. I was thinking about it while mapping some of Elona and the stupid plants kept using Imagined Burden. Just costs a lot lol.