Curse

Saphatorael · Feb 02, 2007, 09:50 PM // 21:50

After the skill update, I immediately started messing around (who wouldn't?).

It's actually a raw spike, that has no actual degen, whereas some builds get an extra punch to the spike by poison, bleeding, etc.
To make it sound even crappier, it's got the overrated AoD AND a Lead Attack, something PvP sins tend to be disgusted by.

I use Zealous 15^50 Daggers, +30hp, sometimes switching to an elemental or vampiric mod, no explanation needed why, I suppose)
As for armor, I've used Radiant Insignia for now, and haven't really tried any other yet (haven't even calculated if I actually need 33 energy).

1. Aura of Displacement {e}
2. Golden Lotus Strike
3. Exhausting Assault
4. Impale
5. Burst of Aggression (optional)/Dash/Mending Touch (another free slot)
6. Golden Phoenix Strike
7. Blades of Steel
8. Res Sig/Dash/Siphon Speed/ (free slot, basically)

I'm still messing around with attributes, but so far I've found this to be quite suitable:

11+1+1 Critical Strikes
12+3 Dagger Mastery (If you don't trust your monk or kiting capacities, feel free to change to a major, or even minor rune)
Rest in Deadly Arts, with a minor rune, of course

Just use the chain in the given order and it should leave your target dying, if not dead. It'll look like a really weak build at first, but as soon as Impale has hit, and you use GPS and BoS, the health of your target just crashes. If the target is still standing, just keep attacking, BoA should last a few more seconds and should be enough to finish the target off.
The chain is quite long, but keep in mind that Exhausting Assault and Impale have very short activating times (1/2 and 1/4 respectively), it'll rip a minor chunk out of their hp, not to mention the Deep Wound. (Thank you, tortugan!)

This build is more for RA, TA and AB's, but at least it's something else than the (too) common Shadow Prison one. This one doesn't even rely on a hex. And a one-on-one is easily done: if you're fast enough, you'll interrupt a potential Twisting Fangs or Horns of the Ox with Exhausting Assault.

About BoA: it is NOT needed, though I still use it, since the damage dealt by the combo GPS+BoS is amazing, the only downside to it, is the aftercast of Impale.

About the spike itself: it can be done every 15 seconds, as long as you have an enchantment on you; after you finish the chain, and Impale has recharged, you can still get off a combo without ever releasing AoD. Golden Lotus Strike is better than I had originally thought, and it isn't too reliant on a hex.

Major downside is of course the lack of selfhealing, and perhaps the lack of a snare, but BoA can be changed to Dash to take care of that, since the first part is a nasty interrupt anyways.
Enchant removal will also be quite annoying, but you can actually still fire off the first part of the chain if you're not enchanted.
Also, don't tap/click the skills too fast in their order, or you could end up casting Impale before you've done Exhausting Assault.

Well, I suppose that's all I have to say about it for now, please comment, and if you say it sucks, please tell me what can be improved about it

tortugan · Feb 02, 2007, 09:56 PM // 21:56

It seems like a nice build, but as you said: it misses self healing, snare. You also have quite a long combo which'll be hard vs other assassins.

Saphatorael · Feb 02, 2007, 09:57 PM // 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortugan

It seems like a nice build, but as you said: it misses self healing, snare. You also have quite a long combo which'll be hard vs other assassins.

The combo only takes 4 seconds, as Exhausting Assault are 1/2 'cast' (not including IAS) and Impale 1/4... lemme put that into the initial post as well, thanks for reminding me ^^

ensoriki · Feb 02, 2007, 10:07 PM // 22:07

What do you mean finally use for AoD?
*shows you enraged sin*

AoD Boa Mark of instibility bss tf fs bos/Db fiegned
in AB why use anything other as a sin?

Take out Burst of aggresion and put in Rez signet if your whiney ^.^

But in comment to your build

Exhausting assault is nice, but I dont know if the build actually puts out that much damage

Sqube · Feb 03, 2007, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Have you tested this build out? Have you seen the interrupt regularly work in a useful fashion? If not, why not throw [skill=text]Fox Fangs[/skill] in there?

Even with the quickness of the activation times, your attack chain is 6 skills long. I think it leaves you a little more susceptible to interrupts, even with BoA. And with the chunk of points you're going to have in Deadly Arts, I see no valid reason to bring [skill=text]Dash[/skill] over [skill=text]Siphon Speed[/skill]. But as an all-offense assassin, I kinda like it. The relentless nature of the build appeals to me somehow, the way you keep attacking and attacking.

Definitely not a crappy build. I'm a big fan of putting on deep wound, and I'm glad that we finally have an opportunity to get Twisting Fangs off of our bars (even if I've still got it on there >.>).

twicky_kid · Feb 03, 2007, 09:44 PM // 21:44

AoD is just not as good as shadow prison. You don't usually have to shadow step out if the target is dead.

Exhausting is great but for a different kind of sin. It is much better for pressure sin not a spike. BH is the elite you want if you are going to use exhausting. The dazed affect will make them easier to interrupt. Being an interrupt itself is also quite nice.

Voltaire · Feb 10, 2007, 06:39 AM // 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by twicky_kid

AoD is just not as good as shadow prison. You don't usually have to shadow step out if the target is dead.

What if the target had friends?

I find Exhasuting useful for interupting those pesky mid-spike defensive maneuveurs. A few months ago I would have never seen myself saying this, but AoD is a nice breath of fresh air. I also have to say that the overall speed of the combo was a lot faster than I anticipated.

SotiCoto · Feb 12, 2007, 10:56 AM // 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by twicky_kid

AoD is just not as good as shadow prison. You don't usually have to shadow step out if the target is dead.

Exhausting is great but for a different kind of sin. It is much better for pressure sin not a spike. BH is the elite you want if you are going to use exhausting. The dazed affect will make them easier to interrupt. Being an interrupt itself is also quite nice.

Shadow Prison is for the Black line... which admittedly is kinda nice.

... But AoD is an Enchantment... and a maintained one at that. It keeps the golden line running... and if it happens to be stripped (which is normally a bad thing), said assassin is thrown to safety... quick as you please. Provided it is used properly, its entirely safe... (or as safe as being deposited right on the edge of attack range can be).

Shadow Prison on the other hand.... well... I've found it very amusing to watch opposing assassins in Fort Aspenwood shadow-prison me (thinking me perhaps another ordinary assassin) only to have Spiteful Spirit and Insidious Parasite dumped on them... They usually die. (And then of course there are the Shadow Form users who shroud themselves in it and charge on in, only to get Chilblains in the face and die within moments)...

Priest Of Sin · Feb 12, 2007, 05:08 PM // 17:08

this is why you cover Shadow Form with Shadow Refuge+Feigned Neutrality if you don't know of the other team has chillblains or not :P

[DE] · Feb 12, 2007, 10:17 PM // 22:17

No one ever talked about using the elite Shadow Form. And last time I checked, chillibians strips ALL enchantments on you.

Evaem Asollan · Feb 13, 2007, 04:37 AM // 04:37

My favorite build I use when solo:

1. Mark of Instability
2. Aura of Displacement
3. Black Lotus Strike
4. Twisting Fangs
5. Falling Spider
6. Blades of Steel
7. Restful Breeze
8. Mending Touch

Dagger Mastery: 12 (+1)
Critical Strikes: 11 (+1 +1)
Healing Prayers: 5
Protection Prayers: 4

I have been using a variation of this build since the start of factions. Its still amazing, if not better now because of the monk skills. If used correctly, you will never die to a SP sin. You also have the ability to take out almost all classes save builds that are specced to anti-melee. If your going more team oriented, mending touch can be replaced with rez. This is hands down my favorite build ever.

-Delan-