Curse

DaGreatAzn · Jun 05, 2006, 10:43 AM // 10:43

A/R
13 critical strikes
12 marksmanship
9 shadow arts

Barrage(E)
Focused Shot or Dual Shot (if using vamp bow)
Savage shot
Critical Eye
Sharpen Daggers
Way of perfection
Vipers Defence
Return
Antidote Signet

This build is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites. This build expliots critical eye to its fullest potential and is an excellent alternative to the regular barragers. Basically all u do is activate critical eye & sharpen daggers then start spamming barrage. When u start losing life, activate way of perfection and your health will jus shoot back up. If melee attackers get too close use vipers defence or return to escape. As for energy, i have so far never had an energy problem, critical strikes at 13 provide more than enough energy. For an additional boost in dmg i would use a vamp bow, but definitly don't consider using zealous, its almost pointless with the 13 critical strikes.

Bloodied Blade · Jun 05, 2006, 11:11 AM // 11:11

Interesting...I would remove antidote signet if I were you and use Shadow Signet (or Signet of Shadows, the condition removing thing) instead. It might take a little bit longer but you can ping any condition off of you by targetting a bleeding foe.

wankey · Jun 05, 2006, 05:30 PM // 17:30

If you're rich, get a sup Vigor and a sup Critical attacks to get that 14 in critical strike.

that way you get 7% in critical eye instead of 6% (it goes from 6 to 7 once u reach 14 attribute.)

Vahn Roi · Jun 05, 2006, 08:52 PM // 20:52

click me

Bloodied Blade · Jun 05, 2006, 08:59 PM // 20:59

14 is pointless for CS...it's the energy he wants, not an extra 1%...it tops off at 13 crit strikes (I really wish it came in 3s...1e at 0, 2e at 3, 3e at 6, 4e at 9, 5e at 12, and a whopping 6e at 15. That would own...1 barrage, 1 crit, net gain of +1 energy.

My assassin is capable of going A/R and I know where to cap barrage...I might try this. You really don't want Viper's Defense though (not worth it imo)... try Heart of Shadow instead. Viper's requires you to take damage and has a comparatively short duration whereas HoS has a 1 minute duration and can be used before combat has begun to offset any mob "spike" damage.

If you really wanna be uberleet, use a Vampiric Shadow Bow of Fortitude (I like the fortitude mod)... you get the whole "shadow" thing (normal damage, but you get to feel cooler). I have a Drago's Vampiric (the nerfed version, unfortunately) that I might use for this...Vamp ftw.

The only downside I see to this is that I can't go R/Mo and combine the vamp with live vicariously for an amount of healing that's almost like cheating. (Live Vicariously, Vigorous Spirit, 5/1 Vamp bow, barrage on 6 targets... like 120+ hp gain)

DaGreatAzn · Jun 07, 2006, 06:09 AM // 06:09

anybody have any more ideas for improvements?

Barnabas Heller · Jun 07, 2006, 06:36 PM // 18:36

Critical Strikes = 14 (10 + 3 + 1)
Marksmanship = 11
Wilderness Survival = 10

Res Sig
Sharpen Daggers
Critical Eye
Barrage {E}
Savage Shot
Troll Unguent
Storm Chaser
Critical Defenses

Mix of Valkyrie and Shrouded Armor

Graygore's Zealous Short Bow

Usually follow the tanks up to the battle line, prep with Sharpen and Crit Eye and lay waste with Barrage, disrupt with Savage. If i need extra healing Troll Unguent helps out the healers, Storm Chaser Kites me out or if I get circled fire up Crit Defenses and spam barrage till they die. Did Iron Mines of Moladune and Ice Caves of Sorrow with all hench and no deaths (well Little Thom hit the dirt a couple of times)

--BH

LaserLight · Jun 07, 2006, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Thanks Vahn

Anyways. Barnabas, why spec into Wilderness just for Troll and Storm Chaser when Shadow gets a better speed stance and the awe-inspiring (in this build) Way of Perfection for healing? You get a Minor rune to help in Shadow and WoP/Dark Escape beats hell out of Troll and Storm Chaser. Makes little sense to me.

Barnabas Heller · Jun 07, 2006, 09:52 PM // 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaserLight

Thanks Vahn

Anyways. Barnabas, why spec into Wilderness just for Troll and Storm Chaser when Shadow gets a better speed stance and the awe-inspiring (in this build) Way of Perfection for healing? You get a Minor rune to help in Shadow and WoP/Dark Escape beats hell out of Troll and Storm Chaser. Makes little sense to me.

LaserLight,

Good questions, let me tackle them separately.

WoP vs. Troll Unguent - In PvE I find I'm need healing the most after a tank has either hit the dirt or lost aggro due to AoE spell (firestorm). I can't go toe-to-toe with three Stone Summit carvers so I hit storm chaser and get enough room to fire up troll and stay alive. With WoP on lvl 22+ I just wasn't getting enough healing and was dirt napping often. I will switch it around tonight and see if I can change positioning and see if it works better.

Dark Escape vs. Storm Chaser - In the thick of battle I would often hit Dark Escape, kite out, turn around and hit savage to try and disrupt and (with a critical hit) bleed my pursuer. Doh, no more dark escape. Now I know this is a player issue as opposed to a skill issue but I found that for (almost) the same speed boost, time of boost and recharge Storm Chaser works better for my playstyle.

Most of this comes down to using a shortbow, I have to get close to be effective and that changes the way i'm positioned and my options when aggro comes to me. I run the shortbow because of the +5 always armor and the quick refire, and fast flight time. If I can get a hold of an equivalent recurve I would probably re-do the build but for now it works great, I like to play it, and frankly the monks in the group don't spend all their energy just on me. I will try WoP again tonight though, thanks for the suggestion.

--BH

Beat_Go_Stick · Jun 08, 2006, 03:59 PM // 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGreatAzn

A/R
13 critical strikes
12 marksmanship
9 shadow arts

Barrage(E)
Focused Shot or Dual Shot (if using vamp bow)
Savage shot
Critical Eye
Sharpen Daggers
Way of perfection
Vipers Defence
Return
Antidote Signet

This build is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites.

If I had a secret that allowed my to fit 9 skills on my bar, I'd share it with you

stiffler · Jun 09, 2006, 03:42 AM // 03:42

I use a build very similar to this, involving criticals with barrage. It work a gem in GvG conflicts accompanied with a Necro to BR you (barrage can really drain you).

Maria The Princess · Jun 09, 2006, 03:58 AM // 03:58

i wounder when im gonna start seing assassin groups in ToPK...