Are Assassins Weak?

they call me joker

they call me joker

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

WA

Aero Snakes

A/R

ok, i've got an assassin, and it was really cool at the start. but now that i'm further in the game, the assassin is really kinda weak....so i'm just looking for feedback on what the deal with the assassin is.

lundis

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

Ingame

The Monstrous Fangs [fang]

Me/

Avoid aggro, that's the way to be a good assassin...

imsystem

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

northern cal

use your shadow skills or go a/mo and run live vicarisly and vigorus spirit

hmm if a w/mo is a wammo
does that make a a/mo a assmoo

RebelHero

RebelHero

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

Shaolin Monastery [Heal]

Mo/

1. Assassins are no tanks
2. The assassins credo is... One hit, one kill. Fast in fast out.

sno

sno

Look into the Eye.

Join Date: Oct 2005

Detroit, Mi

Oh No Not These Guys [uhoh]

Mo/

The thing about assassins is that people tend to think they're warriors. They aren't. Assassins are very good at what they do, but they do have low armor and are certainly not meant for getting attacked. If you're using an assassin in PvE, my recommendation is to make a a/r critical barrager and shoot from a distance. Otherwise they aren't typically very good in the linear-styled PvE storyline missions.

Quote:
...or go a/mo and run live vicarisly and vigorus spirit... No. If you ever plan on being half-decent at GW, do not follow this advice.

Saphatorael

Saphatorael

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

Assassins have their use... the problem is (and it's the reason why people dislike them in PvE) that Cantha isn't good for them.

I don't like taking an assassin in my team if i'm going to fight afflicted, that's just asking them to die... and later on you'll meet level 20+ monsters, whislt the assassin can only really spike a level 20 target...

I reckon Dervishes COULD have the same problem... their armor level may be a bit higher, but because of their AoE attacks, alot of simultaneous Soul explosions will hurt him/her, but then again, i doubt people would even bring Elonian characters to Cantha (i've already gotten so terribly bored of the city)

znxjanx

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Next to Hugh Hefner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphatorael
Assassins have their use... the problem is (and it's the reason why people dislike them in PvE) that Cantha isn't good for them.

I don't like taking an assassin in my team if i'm going to fight afflicted, that's just asking them to die... and later on you'll meet level 20+ monsters, whislt the assassin can only really spike a level 20 target...

I reckon Dervishes COULD have the same problem... their armor level may be a bit higher, but because of their AoE attacks, alot of simultaneous Soul explosions will hurt him/her, but then again, i doubt people would even bring Elonian characters to Cantha (i've already gotten so terribly bored of the city) well hopefully with the begin of the next chapter the sins are gonne be alot more usefull.. or at least with the combination of dervish as 2nd prof. as it was already posted somewhere there were alot of A/D builds that seem to do fine with the basic principle of using scythe+critical strikes. and of course adding some skills to heal and such.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphatorael
I reckon Dervishes COULD have the same problem... their armor level may be a bit higher, but because of their AoE attacks, alot of simultaneous Soul explosions will hurt him/her, but then again, i doubt people would even bring Elonian characters to Cantha (i've already gotten so terribly bored of the city) I don't think Dervishes will have this problem since they have better enchants and are healed when that enchant is dropped. I saw some D/Mos during the event that could tank better than most W/Mos I've seen by spamming Reversal of Fortune.


As for the OP, I would have to say that in PvE Assasins are quite underpowered. They can really put a hurt on a lvl 20, but since many areas are full of multiple enemies that are over lvl 20 most 'sins will attack, use their combo, then have to wait for that combo to recharge while being stuck toe-to-toe with enemy(s) doing very little damage.

If played correctly, assasins can be pretty helpful in taking out enemies that break past the tanks and attack the monks and other casters, but this situation does not always occur and many assasins are forced to either go to the front lines with the tank so that they can have an enemy to tank or simply find some other way to kill time until a safer target comes into view.

Shuuda

Shuuda

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Guildless

Me/

Assassins are alot like mesmers, they are best used in PvP, where instead of attacking loads of enemies, you can focus on killing one very fast.

they call me joker

they call me joker

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

WA

Aero Snakes

A/R

ok, so basically, i should either stay out of close-quarters fighting uless its neccesary, or i should be an a/mo and fight while healing, right? i'm thinking that i'll stay a/r, and i'll get a good bow and focus on that....yeah, i like that idea.

king_robin

king_robin

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Stockholm Sweden

LF HA Guild

Mo/

Target Weak units, Hit and run, Avoid Agro.

they call me joker

they call me joker

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

WA

Aero Snakes

A/R

ok, well, since i'm gonna be using my ranger side a little more now, does anyone know of any good bows that i can use?

Riken Chrono

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

around the corner and up the block

Hero

if you want a cheap one go get a green one

Carth`

Carth`

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by lundis
Avoid aggro, that's the way to be a good assassin... Trouble is, that's very hard in PvE. If a monk runs and stands next to the warrior who is beating the monster warrior, what will the monster do? He turns around and attacks the monk because he sees the lower AL. So will the enemy rangers and casters. They are programmed to.

Assassins are supposed to be melee attackers, and this means putting themselves in a position where mobs will attack them. They have low AL which means they will get targetted instead of the warrior, and it means they'll get hurt more. They mess up aggro, and make hard work for monks. Melee assassins are not a good idea in PvE.

RotteN

RotteN

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

W/

you have shadowstepping for that

the points is not realy "not getting hit", it's "not getting hit too much". Warp in, do a combo, warp out, heal up, repeat. Assassin's main damage output comes from their skills, through bonusdamage and conditions, no need for them to stay in the frontlines the whole time.

Orb Of Divinity

Orb Of Divinity

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

wtb a PROT req wayward wand

Mo/

just hit and run ...you have shadow skills to do that and let the tank aggro before you,if he's a good one he knows how to keep an aggro
just don't go with a team with no W and you should be fine

Hakuin

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Equal Opprotunity Employers

Mo/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by they call me joker
ok, well, since i'm gonna be using my ranger side a little more now, does anyone know of any good bows that i can use? my A/R crit barrager uses a
15-28 req9
15% while enchanted
33% bleeding duration
marksmanship +1 (19%)

stormbow skin too ^_^

UW chests FTW!

Rofl_Pwnt

Rofl_Pwnt

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

At my house.

________

R/

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10043137

Zenoda

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2006

Ascended Guardians of Tyria

R/

THe 'Hotstepper' is extremely effective in PVE, but without a good monk at your back you will fall over from time to time.

The Assasins job is to live on the razors edge and you must get proficient in your Shadow Arts to do this effectively - in a typical scenario lets say you encounter a group of afflicted you would death charge onto the Monk/Rit, deliver something like leaping mantis, jungle strike, death blossom bed of coals, Horns of the Ox and then use return on your Monk, provide cover for your own 'squishies' while you charge up (taking down breakthru warriors and other assassins) and then choose your next 'squishy' target if there is one left.

PS: Its almost essential to have a good set of zealous daggers on a build like this.

Razorwood

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Newcastle (Ish)

Xcoh

N/

I've been playing Assassin in PvE lately and i've out lasted Warriors, 3 enchantments are all you need:

Critical Eye
Critical Defenses
Way of Perfection

Granted if you lose them your screwed but if you can keep them on you, taking damage isn't a problem, providing you pick targets wisely.

Critical Defenses defenses only lasts 6 seconds but thanks to the refresh everytime you land a critical hit, I can generally keep it on throughout a fight.

Nightstalker armor makes a difference thanks to the +15 when attacking, effectively giving you 85 AL. However I am about to put on my flame proof armor!!!

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorwood
I've been playing Assassin in PvE lately and i've out lasted Warriors, 3 enchantments are all you need:

Critical Eye
Critical Defenses
Way of Perfection "He is teh ownz!!!! 1337 p0Rn1 f34r"

"RAWWWR"

*cough*

(plus he's been seen "Dancing naked in Droknars for tips")

umm, I was told to say that - ego boost ftw I guess!

joncoish

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2006

I see Assassins as the anti-caster personally. I think they work best when they use their shadowstepping abilities to get to the soft casters in the back to take them out. I always try to go for the casters first when I play my assassin in pve, and it works pretty well. The thing to remember is that you don't want to get out immediately when you take damage. You can stand a bit to get your damage chain off on your target, but get out before you're dead. I find when I play my assassin I'm watching my hps closer then any other class of mine, and my strategy depends on my hps. If I shadowstep to someone, get off my chain, and my hps are still at full, I'll stay there. Whereas if I'm getting low, then I zip out and heal up. Bring along a self heal, a defensive stance, and some shadowstepping and movement skills and you're good to go.

Horseman Of War

Horseman Of War

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2006

The Cult of Doom

P/

yeah, crit 'barrage' is killer...

...crit spear is better tho. (tested it this weekend I LOVE IT)