Curse

DaSwede · May 07, 2006, 04:08 PM // 16:08

This is goign to be my tank assassin (at least a test). And yes, I said TANK. I need your help in figuring out skill sets. This could potentially make the assassin a better damage dealer over a wide area.

Armor:
Nightstalkers (+armor while attacking)

Runes:
Sup Critical Strike
Sup/Maj Vigor

Weapon:
15>50 furious axe of fortitude

Shield (req tactics):
+45 health in stance
-2 dmg in stance

Attributes:
Axe mastery: 9
Tactics: 9
Critical Strike: Rest

Skills:
Cyclone Axe
Triple Chop
Disrupting Chop
Vipers Defense or Return or Recall
Bonetti's Defense
Res Signet

This leaves 2 slots open, at least one needs to be a stance. Thoughts?

Cador · May 07, 2006, 04:21 PM // 16:21

flashing blades?

DaSwede · May 07, 2006, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Cant use that since triple chop is the elite already

SparhawkJC · May 07, 2006, 08:38 PM // 20:38

Why use a stance shield when a +30 always, -5 (20%) is easily available. What is the benefit of using an axe like that? The assassin isn't built to be a frontline character like your build is try to be. The only reason that rangers have the possibility of being stance tanks is because they have a wide variety of defensive stances in their expertise line. We as assassins have 1. Critical Defenses under the critical strikes line which is ok but at 30 second recharge is useless if you don't crit in 6 seconds or if someone wild blows you 2. Flashing Blades which is under dagger mastery which wouldn't be too useful if you're speccing in axe. 3. Shroud of Distress under Shadow Arts which is an enchantment and only works if you're under 50% health and that's never a position you want to be in.

The most glaring flaw I have with your build is that you're trying to stick a square peg into a round hole. The assassin can not be expected to tank effectively with the armor and skills they have at their disposal. If you really want to use a weapon other than daggers it's best to do single spike damage rather than the aoe damage that you want to do. An interesting idea would be to use your wand to build up your adrenaline for an Evis+Exec spike and then jump in with aura of displacement and then pull out after spiking your target.