Hammer Spike Assassin!!!

SAPhoenix

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2006

White Knights

A/W

08 Aug 2006 at 13:24 - 1

Hi Guys, this is my first time posting here (I've also posted this build at gwonline.net)

I recently came up with a hammer build that does freaky spike dmg, shuts down the opponent, cannot be blocked or evaded (for the most part) and removes stances. Here's how it works:

Attribute Points:

Critical Strikes: 14
Hammer Mastery: 12
Deadly Arts: 10
Shadow Arts: 2

Skill list:

Shadow Refuge
Sharpen Daggers
Wild Blow
Iron Palm
Crushing Blow
Entangling Asp
Irresistable Blow
Dash

Weapon: Ebon Hammer of Enchanting (15^50, enchantments last 15% longer)

Apply Sharpen Daggers then hit with Wild Blow to cause bleeding. Follow with Iron Palm to KD, while they're down, use Crushing Blow to cause a deep wound. Seeing as how Iron is still recharging, u can now use Entangling Asp to KD again

Finally, hit with Irresistable Blow for some lovely dmg

Shadow Refuge is your heal, Dash is there for offense and defense. Before you start saying "Ah but it has no defensive stances", or "It has no snares" you won't need it, trust me! The best part about this build is that the hammer attacks used do not require adrenaline (as I've seen in some other assassin hammer builds), so this is instant dmg that is almost always at your disposal. Oh and I rarely, if ever, run into energy problems with this build, in case you were wondering.

NB! I only use this build in RA, Aspenwood and AB. I haven't tested it in GvG, but I would say it probably wouldn't be all that effective there

Its still a fun build all the same, I can't stop using it!

Give it a try, let me know what you think. And if someone else beat me to the punch with this build, please accept my apology, but I did come up with this one on my own

Johny Elemental

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rt/

11 Aug 2006 at 15:25 - 2

sounds cool i may give it a go some time. whats the ebon mod for?

ubermancer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

******************* Refuge From Exile [RFE]

11 Aug 2006 at 15:42 - 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johny Elemental

sounds cool i may give it a go some time. whats the ebon mod for? People seem to believe that noone gets the armor which protects against earth damage. I must be the exception then, and looking at Dervish and the Maddened Wardens I do not at all regret it.

Also, I really like the build. Ill have to try to run it some time, Im sure most people wouldnt know what to expect from you... might should consider an IAS though, but youd have to rethink your KD chain to ensure it still worked properly.

Shadow Refuge would be better off the bar, though, with only 2 Shadow Arts. You lack an elite, how about "Coward!" ?

SAPhoenix

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2006

White Knights

A/W

11 Aug 2006 at 17:10 - 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johny Elemental

sounds cool i may give it a go some time. whats the ebon mod for?

I didn't actually choose this hammer specifically for the build *lol*. I was desperate for a decent 15^50 hammer to test this build with, which I eventually scored off a buddy for free

So any 15^50 hammer of your choosing will do ^^

Either way, the Ebon mod provides decent dmg against high armor targets, so it's sort of a bonus. The hammer also has an "Enchants last 15% longer" mod, which lengthens my Sharpen Daggers

Quote: Originally Posted by ubermancer People seem to believe that noone gets the armor which protects against earth damage. I must be the exception then, and looking at Dervish and the Maddened Wardens I do not at all regret it. As mentioned previously, the Ebon mod wasn't intentional, just came with the hammer

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermancer

Also, I really like the build. Ill have to try to run it some time, Im sure most people wouldnt know what to expect from you... might should consider an IAS though, but youd have to rethink your KD chain to ensure it still worked properly.

Shadow Refuge would be better off the bar, though, with only 2 Shadow Arts. You lack an elite, how about "Coward!" ? Ah yes, I knew this would come up eventually *lol*

I recently swapped some runes around to get a bit more out of my Shadow Arts, that sorts out the Shadow Refuge issue ^^. You do NOT need an IAS with this build, as the chain is designed to incapacitate and ultimately destroy the target. An elite is almost never compulsory, and that goes for any build, assassin or otherwise. My build limits any defensive options an opponent might have at their disposal, as the 2 KDs disrupt just about anything they could try, applying bleeding, deep wound and poison in the process. Its a great pressure build, even Thumpers can't do what I do in the time frame that I do it in. Stance users can leave their stances at home, as Wild Blow will own them. Casters can try to run, I encourage it

I think the most powerful aspect of this build is its unpredictability, as you've mentioned. Ppl really don't know what to make of it. I've been rushed by solo warriors and assassins on numerous occasions (An ele even ran after me, must have thought I had a lame build, I showed him *lol*) and they payed the price for underestimating me.

Try it, and you'll see why I consider it to be fine just the way it is. I recently got some suggestions at gwonline.net for incorporating Syphon Speed into the build, which I did last night (just replaced Dash). Needless to say, it works wonders ^^

I'll try it with Coward and see what happens