Curse

jesh · Jan 08, 2007, 10:56 PM // 22:56

I didn't really want to play a deadly arts caster assassin thing in PvE, so I modified the well known Shadow Prison spiker. It takes a little getting used to, and you can really mess up sometimes, but it's definitely rewarding and fun to play.
I use:

10+3+1 Dagger Mastery
8+1 Deadly Arts
12+1 Critical Strikes

Assassin's Promise {E}
Twisting Fangs
Dark Prison
Res
Burst of Aggression
Black Lotus Strike
Horns of the Ox
Black Spider Strike

With a little help from henches, you can repeat your spike on every single target. At the moment, I use zealous daggers. I'm not sure if I could get away with switching to vampiric or not.
For high AL targets, I use Dark Prison->BoA->BLS->HotO->BSS->Assassin's Promise->Twisting Fangs. In case the target is healed, or just has too much HP, I have a higher chance of getting the recharge and energy from Assassin's Promise if I do things that way.
For most casters I'll just use AP as my hex, and go through the entire combo without stopping.

Any suggestions for improvement?

Build in action:
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7...rrelrunsb8.jpg
All skills charged and max energy after 4 targets down.

Strengths:
*Infinitely repeatable spike
*Permanent IAS
*Infinitely reusable shadow step

Weaknesses:
*Heavy hex removal
*Blind, weakness, etc

Tips:
*Enemy hex removal can be countered with an additional hexer on your team. Ex. - SS Necro
*Use Return or Death's Retreat in place of Dark Prison when fighting afflicted

Diddy bow · Jan 09, 2007, 10:11 AM // 10:11

i use this exact build exept i switch dark prison for expose defences, they dont run to much but they do block, and usually horns for blades of stell, i used this build for most of the game

EDIT: oh and i tend to put i self heal in (insted of rez somtimes :P)

jesh · Jan 09, 2007, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Do you use the same attributes too? I just give melonni wild blow, so it's not like my combo gets raped much.
I find the shadow step helps a ton for baddies going after my squishies, or enemy monks trying to run. It's also like priceless against afflicted. Do you use Black Lotus first also?

Sqube · Jan 09, 2007, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Why not use Black Spider first? Go Black Spider --> <Dual Attack> --> Black Lotus so that you can keep on doing more damage without having to worry about energy. Just my $0.02.

Other than that, looks like a righteous build.

jesh · Jan 12, 2007, 06:58 AM // 06:58

Dark Prison is 10 energy, BoA is 5, Black Spider is 5, Horns is 5, and if I use AP before I use Black Lotus, that's another 5.
10+5+5+5= 25 energy. Black Lotus costs 10, and I only have 33 energy. Sure, there's regen, crits, and of course I use a zealous weapon, but I just like my energy higher rather than lower. =x
Do you think I could get away with it, even if I'm not scoring any crits on high level mobs? AP only gives me 14 energy, I can't depend on that too much.
I was thinking of using another combo, tell me what you guys think of this.

*shadow step* - 5 or 10 energy
Mark of Instability - 10
Burst of Aggression - 5
Black Lotus - 10, gives 19
Twisting Fangs - 10
Falling Spider - 5
Blades of Steel - 5

OR

*shadow step* - 5 or 10 energy
Mark of Instability - 10
Burst of Aggression - 5
Black Lotus - 10, gives 19
Death Blossom - 5
Falling Spider - 5
Twisting Fangs - 10

I wouldn't have room for a res though.. what could I change?

Jeff Highwind · Jan 14, 2007, 03:03 AM // 03:03

Jesh I've been toying around with your build (unconsiously, figure that out.

) for PvP purposes and I can see where you are going with this for PvE.

If you are gonna go PvE Henchway, drop Black Lotus Strike. You don't really need the extra attack with 5 other melee/casters helping you along the way plus the energy from Promise will help you enough. I would recommend putting in a 2nd snare such as Siphon Speed or Caltrops or alternate Deadly Arts/Crit Strikes that add support to keep you alive long enough to retreat in time.

I also noticed you have Energy Problems with only 33 energy. Grab some +5e Zealous daggers fewl, they help alot! If you do get said daggers, try to switch to more durable armor such as Infiltrator or Saboteur so you at least have some survivability while in the midsts of combat. You may only have 30e, but with my recommended daggers energy management is not a problem.

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With all my talking, here's what I came up for AB. It can be modded for PvE, just switch out an unwanted skill for Res Signet.

12+3+1 Dagger Mastery
8+1 Critical Strikes
9 Deadly Arts
6+1 Shadow Arts

Armor: Shrouded/Radiant or Infiltrator/Saboteur; Runes should at least have the best affordable Vigor and one Vitae.
Weapon: Zealous (skin) Daggers of Fortitude, +5e

[skill]Dark Prison[/skill] [skill]Burst of Aggression[/skill] [skill]Black Spider Strike[/skill] [skill]Twisting Fangs[/skill] [skill]Malicious Strike[/skill] [skill]Assassin's Promise[/skill] [skill]Feigned Neutrality[/skill] [skill]Dark Escape[/skill]

[skill]Dark Prison[/skill] Can be Replaced with [skill]Siphon Speed[/skill]

For facing touchers in AB, replace [skill]Malicious Strike[/skill] with [skill]Wild Blow[/skill]

For PvE, Replace [skill]Dark Escape[/skill] with [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]
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If this helped you in any way, can you buy me a pair of Zealous Steel Daggers with a +5e mod? My Ancient Daggers look crappy! >_<