Curse

Dumbo · May 09, 2006, 08:03 PM // 20:03

Assassin/Warrior
Level: 20

Critical Strikes: 11 (10+1)
Dagger Mastery: 16 (12+4)
Shadow Arts: 9 (8+1)

Equipment: Best to use is probably Shrouded Guise for the added energy, bringing you up to a total of 32.

Weapons: I use a pair of Zealous PvP Daggers of Fortitude for the extra energy. While health above might be more benefical than while enchanted due to enchanted being more conditional.

Golden Phoenix Strike (Dagger Mastery)
If you are not under the effects of an Enchantment, this skill misses. If it hits, Golden Phoenix Strike deals +31 damage.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:8

Horns of the Ox (Dagger Mastery)
Must follow an off-hand attack. If it hits, Horns of the Ox strikes for +31 damage. If struck foe is not adjacent to any allies, that foe is knocked down.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:12

Falling Spider (Dagger Mastery)
Must strike a knocked-down foe. If it hits, Falling Spider strikes for +36 damage and target foe is Poisoned for 21 seconds.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:8

Twisting Fangs (Critical Strikes)
Must follow an off-hand attack. If it hits, Twisting Fangs strikes for +17 damage and struck foe suffers from Bleeding and Deep Wound for 15 seconds.
Energy:10 Cast:0 Recharge:15

Way of the Lotus (Shadow Arts)
For 20 seconds, the next time you hit target foe with a dual attack skill, you gain 14 Energy.
Energy:5 Cast:0.25 Recharge:20

Critical Eye (Critical Strikes)
For 28 seconds, you have an additional 5% chance to land a critical hit when attacking. You gain 1 Energy whenever you score a critical hit.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:30

Aura of Displacement [Elite] (Assassin None)
When you cast Aura of Displacement, Shadow Step to target foe. When you stop maintaining Aura of Displacement, you return to your original location.
Energy:10 Cast:0.25 Recharge:15

Resurrection Signet ()
Resurrect target party member. That party member is returned to life with 100% Health and 25% Energy. You may use this Signet only once per mission.
Energy:0 Cast:3 Recharge:0

The plan is to activate Critical Eye before engaging and casting Way of the Locust on your first target to regain some energy. (Aura of Displacement alone is 10 energy, with 32 energy as max, that's quite a chunk). When you're near your target, use 1,2,3,4 to cause Poison, Bleeding and Deep Wound. Knockdown is always nice too.

The build is rather difficult to use, before you get the hang of it. You have to have an enchantment on you for the combo to work, and knowing when to strike and whom, so you get the knockdown to finish the combo. If you're not enchanted the whole combo fails, and if your target is too close to an ally, the rest fails, with a chance of saving it with Twisting Fangs.

I'm not sure if using Critical Eye and Way of the Lotus are the best skills to maximize damage, but it works fairly well to regain some energy to unleash the combo on another victim, when it's recharged.

The bad things about the build is that you have to rely on someone else healing you, preferably a monk, as it has no defensive skills whatsoever. It's also not the best thing to use against warriors, due to their high armor. But if you do happen to catch an unprepared foe, preferably a necro or ele because of thier long cast times, it's devastating.

Forgot to mention, I have only tested it in Random Arenas, but that's probably the only place it's going to be possible to use, seeing as PvE is way too crowded and with Mend Ailment screwing over the build totally, because of the amount of conditions you apply.

Ideas, suggestions?

ghezbora · May 09, 2006, 10:12 PM // 22:12

I have had great success with Aura of Displacement + Golden Phoenix Strike to open. Horns of the Ox and Falling Spider seem too conditional to me, but I haven't actually tried them. I've gone with Twisting Fangs and/or Nine Tails (if you get someone out on their own, Golden Phoenix recharges fast enough you can get Golden Phoenix -> Twisting Fangs -> a few regular hits -> Golden Phoenix -> Nine Tails FTW)

Instead of Way of the Lotus, go with a movement skill. Caltrops is great, or Dark Escape, depending on if you want to be more offensive or more defensive. I use the Valkyrie's armor (so 25 max energy) and with Zealous daggers and Critical Eye I have quite a lot of energy anyway.

selber · May 10, 2006, 05:05 AM // 05:05

1) Golden Phoenix Strike, 2) Horns of the Ox -> 3) Falling Spider, 4) Twisting Fangs

This seems to become very popular at the moment. However, if you get 1 part of this chain blocked/evaded you are basicly screwed. I was playing around with some knockdown-skills like Shock and Bulls Strike to solve this and it works alot better. Gale is also an option, but the problem ín this build is energy, so yeah. Shock is the most reliable overall and so I start with Aura -> Shock -> 3, 4 -> 1, 2. You can use Horn of the Ox as an interruot this way.

As the OP said - it takes a bit to get into this build, but it is very strong, because of the knockdowns in combination with conditions and some nice damage.

Assassin/Elementalist
Level: 20

Critical Strikes: 13 (11+2)
Dagger Mastery: 14 (11+3)
Shadow Arts: 9 (8+1)
Air Magic: 3

- Aura of Displacement [Elite] (Assassin None)
- Golden Phoenix Strike (Dagger Mastery)
- Horns of the Ox (Dagger Mastery)
- Falling Spider (Dagger Mastery)
- Twisting Fangs (Critical Strikes)
- Shock (Air Magic)
- Shadow Refuge (Shadow Arts)
- Resurrection Signet ()

-susi

Sagaris · May 10, 2006, 05:32 AM // 05:32

Oh noes! You's copied me build! You haxxor!

j/k... I use AoD, the same combo and shadow ref, and have a free slot. Yippee!

Iraqalypse Now · May 10, 2006, 07:22 AM // 07:22

IMO, you want 16 dagger... also, I think deadly arts might be worthwhile:

maybe this as a chain, just brainstorming:

Mark of Instability --> Black Lotus Strike --> _dual attack of choice_ seems interesting, the mark is a 1/4 second cast. Only problem is the recharge: 30 seconds on the black lotus seems steep.

Mark, black lotus, twisting fangs, golden lotus, horns of the ox seems kinda mean, but its 5 skill combo...