Help/Comments on this build

Sooooo I've been trying new stuff for my sin and this is a build I made once Sharpen Daggers got nerfed. I'm not gonna say it's good, I don't know if it's bad, I just know that it works well for me. I've only ran it through PvE mostly, I *don't* think I've PvP'ed with it yet. Anyway, just tell me what you think, just be constructive please ><; I usually just put in skills and make up stuff to fit my style than try to find a build and try to conform to it, though I'm open to suggestions.

A/any

Attributes

Dagger Mastery: 14 (superior)
Deadly Arts: 6
Shadow Arts: 7 (minor)
Critical Strikes: 13 (minor)
Superior Rune of Vigor (no duh.)

Skills

Expose Defenses
Black Spider Strike
Twisting Fangs
Moebius Strike
Death Blossom
Black Lotus Strike (optional, further details below)
Dash (optional, or replace with res or any other skill)
Shadow's Refuge

Possible Chain Variant Against non-fleshie enemies:

Expose Defenses
Black Lotus Strike
Death Blossom
Moebius Strike
Nine Tails Strike OR Critical Strike
(optional, or have both NTS and CS)
Dash (optional, or replace with res or any other skill)
Shadow's Refuge

Equipment

I use the Ungues of the Forgotten, and those are obviously zealous. I have Nightstalker's armor cos I'm too cheap and try to get another set after spending almost 100k for the first one >_>;

The Breakdown

I pretty much run it in that order and spam DB. Though it has a 2 sec recharge now (which I <3), MS enables me to spam it without having to go through the cycle. Plus it does nice AoE damage, and as long as I go in AFTER the tank has mobbed everything and just choose a target that's not almost dead, I can start spamming and see all the lovely yellow numbers on my screen.

However, as one might expect, the enemy will probably be half dead and degening fast from the poison coupled with bleeding and deep wound. So though it might seem silly to have the MS-->DB combo, even if I don't get DB in, if I get MS in, my attack skills will have recharged, expose defenses is usually almost ready to go again, and I can move on.

Now to talk about BLS. Originally I had Nine Tails Strike because I loved the 5 energy, but then I figured it was pretty redundant and I probably wouldn't even get to it in a chain. Plus, I'd be better using expose defenses again so I don't have to miss every other time. So I decided to put in BLS for two reasons: alternate combo starter in case Spider misses and it gives energy when it hits.

Another note about BLS is that it's a more useful starting attack against enemies that can't be poisoned (of course this is in reference for PvE only). It costs the same, but I don't have to get the annoying "Target cannot be poisoned (immune)" message. And I can just go right to left: BLS --> DB --> MS --> DB and if I need energy and the enemy is hexed, BLS again.

So it's possible, if you know there aren't a lot of flesh enemies in the field, to take out Black Spider Strike and Twisting Fangs as well if you want and just use BLS and another dual, such as Nine Tails or something to give energy back, like Critical Strike.

On the other optional slot, you can put in res (I don't...though in the past I usually was the last person alive and I would res everyone when the coast was clear. I'll put in one if people want me to, though), Death's Charge, another heal, another defensive skill, another hex skill in case first one fails or is removed, the possibilities are endless. I just have Dash in there right now cos I had to run a little and never bothered to take it out (Death's Charge took too long of a recharge for me...it's fun sprinting off in front of everyone as long as I don't run into anything that could hurt me xD).

With a DA of 6, Expose Defenses lasts around 11 seconds, which is usually enough time for me to at least get the chain going. It's the only attribute I don't have runed. I can't remember if I have Vitae or Attunement as my current fifth rune...*might* be Attunement *ponder*.

Obviously, running this build while with a hexer is great ^.^ I would still suggest bringing Expose Defenses because it works well against tanks and rangers who love to go into those defense stances. Plus, you might be attacking something that isn't hexed. But if you have BLS and you see something hexed and need a quick energy fix, it usually works well.

Uhm...I think that's it o-o;;; I don't know if there's another build like this out there somewhere, like I said I just looked through my stuff and put some stuff in and *pop* this came up. One reason why I probably have so many attack skills is because I'm usually hero/henching through the game and thus am "tanking." No I don't run willy nilly into a mob >_> I make sure to send out my tank first, but eh, you know how the AI work and will go to whatever you're hitting.

I considered using a lead attack to make the prospect of the combo actually working less conditional, but then I figured that extra damage would make it to MS to recharge my skills. I figured Expose Defenses was better in the long run.

And I'm done. Like I said before, it works for me but I'm still open to critique =O

Hex removal.

Or indeed [skill]Hex Breaker[/skill].

Run into that and you're potentially sitting it out.
I'd recommend if possible taking secondary necro and slipping Parasitic Bond in just in case (even without Curses points)...

Aside from that it seems perfectly viable.

As a matter of preference though, I always put Dash in slot number 2 .... mostly because my left middle-finger is typically on the W key for running from A to B... and my ring-finger can reach the number 2 most easily...

Yeah i forgot to put in counters xD Hex Removals and of course Blind will mess this up, but to try to avoid the Hex Removal, I usually run up to the thing *first*, so that i'm like right in it's face before using Expose Defenses. Usually that gives me at least a smidgen of time to make the first hit. Once the hex is gone, it won't matter as long as you're in the chain.

Though Hex Breaker would suck >_O;

I considered Parasitic Bond, I'd just have to change my Assassin as part necro (giving her a fourth second xD) and get the skill. But for all Assassin skills, if you want to use another hex as an extra precaution, Siphon Speed could work or even Dark Prison. Though obviously you would hit Dark Prison first and Expose Defenses second.

And I usually have all of my skills in that sort of order xD My fingers are just used to it like that.

lol you've been trying new stuff?

Changing Shadow Prison to Moebius strike isn't exactly what I'd call original but yeah...

instead of relying on expose defenses which has a high energy cost and recharge time, try using siphon speed...although then your skills can be blocked.

siphon is good because its 5 energy and 5 recharge making it spammable and its a good snare.

siphon speed, black spider, horns of ox, twisting fangs, moebius, death blossom, optional, shadow refuge....8 shadow, about 8 deadly, 10 or 11 critical and 14 or 15 dagger

err..the edit button wasnt working so let me edit here...

i put the skills out of order..it should be black spider, horns of ox, moebius, twisting fangs, death blossom....

you can also take death blossom out for expose defenses if you want. if your target us below 50% after twisting fangs, spam moebius+horns of ox. if not, follow through after twisting fangs with moebius+death blossom and keep spamming that, using horns whenever possible...keep in mind moebius and death blossom both have a recharge of 2 making them spammable (unless it was changed, havent been on sin in a week).

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I never even capped Shadow Prison let alone try it, so I wouldn't know o.o

These are the only skills I've capped (some just for the heck of it):

Temple Strike
Moebius Strike
Palm Strike
Aura of Displacement
Way of the Empty Palm
Shadow Form

So I was trying to work with stuff that I already had. I'm stingy and I don't want to buy anymore skills I won't use that often xD

@Legendary Ultimatum: As on originality, well it's kinna hard to be original nowadays xD I like Moebius Strike a lot, mainly because I like to spam a lot. When I say try new things, I mean skills I haven't used but had acquired either out of whim or potential future use at the time. Not new builds that could possibly be out there. I haven't looked at every build because I don't want to be a copycat (even though those builds are pretty good). It's nice to try and make one for yourself you know? ~^

@Samurai-JM: Yeah, you could use all attack skills with lead attacks and stuff, but I wanted to try something without using the lead attack and try to lay on the 3 big conditions (4 if you want to include Expose Defenses making them unblockable as one)

@Dutch Masterr: Horns of the Ox was another skill I considered, and previously I had ran the usual HotO--> Falling Spider build, but I thought that I had enough attack skills, though it could easily be put in as a replacement for BLS or as in addition. I wanted DB because of the AoE and the new 2 sec recharge. Always loved it, always will.

Siphon Speed was a second hex option, or THE other hex option. The main thing was that the whole chain started with a hex, and I was using all assassin skills for this thing. I used to have both Siphon and Expose, but then I was like "meh. *tosses in BLS instead of Siphon*"

Really, the "build" can pretty much have a lot of a variety to it to suit your needs I guess ^^;

And again this was PvE based, though it *could* potentially work in PvP I think. Like I said in the OP, I haven't really tried yet.

Thank you for everyone on their comments so far ^-^

in pvp, i use shadow prison to specifically take out casters in a single 4 or 5 skill combo...usually elementalists or necros. shadow prsion is great, you just have to monitor who your attacking to make sure they cant block. you also have to use it on someone that doesnt notice you, or is distracted doing something...its fun to use, but moebius strike is still my favorite assassin elite.

i guess i prefer an attacking elite over any other kind of elite if that makes any sense xD

i have considered getting Flashing Blades (I do a lot of considerations don't I? XD). I thought of maybe getting Beguiling Haze but I still don't know. I know it's better than Temple Strike but..meeeerrr.

And I'm not so confident in myself to try Assassin's Promise xD I know I could kill them but I'd get paranoid about external factors that could come into play like healing or I accidentally click on the wrong person or something like that >_o

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I play PvE on my sin mostly, though sometimes I take her out to PvP if I'm in the mood or have this strange urge to kill xD

Edit:

@Acidic Won - referring to Dark Escape > Dash, I agree with you there xD But the 30 sec recharge time annoys me and I'd only get 10 secs with my set attributes. I just like Dash cos of the faster recharge and I move 50% faster. Though Dark Escape's half damage reduction is nice, Dash gets me out of there quick enough to at least get out of the brunt of attacks. I switch it around sometimes, Dash was just the thing that was in my skill bar at the time of posting this thread ^^

Try swapping the black for golden(Golden lotus is a lead though.[So you'll need another offhand]) and mobius for Way of the Empty palm.

Pretty sweet in PvE. Can do some pretty good death blossem spaming.

@vesse

i do apologize... I think the build you posted is just fine... if it were me I would take a deep wound in pvp and perhapse mark of pain in pve... with necro secondary..

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@vesse
the build looks pretty solid... =D

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Dash may seem good but trust me Dark Escape is well worth the recharge for saving your life once. If you get snared or concetrated fire on yourself Dash will most likely not save you.
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If I or anyone else can change one person's build and make it better than I would say that is a a good job. I see you don't like PvP characters, I personally think you should reconsider this as all faction is account wide. You could easily roll a PvP char and be ready to go in under 5 min., this would also cut down on how much money you spend on buying new Assassin armour and runes just for your builds. Sure you could play your Assassin build anyway you want, but then you can't exactly get mad at anyone else's build as they are also entitled to play their character's anyway they want. That wouldn't make much sense though, as I think everyone wants to to get the very best out of what they are designing their character to be. You have to remember you are playing in Aspenwood or AB, these places are not considered PvP by most decent player's as the build's there are rather amusing at best.

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oh and curious, how come i've only seen people suggest necro hexes and not any mesmer hexes? o.o?

Mesmer hexes are powerful and all (I know Soti likes them ) but necro hexes are generally of more use to an assassin - hexes like Rigor Mortis, Barbs, Mark of Pain etc. from the Curses line sync pretty well with assassin skills (well... Rigor's overshadowed by Expose Defense, but you get my drift).

Aaah, I guess that makes sense. I was thinking about it while mapping some of Elona and the stupid plants kept using Imagined Burden. Just costs a lot lol.

I like Web of Disruption on a sin.

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Anyway, I tried this thing out in some AB, and it works pretty well, especially against people who rely on heavy defensive measures. The Expose Defenses "strips" them of that (quoted, because it obviously doesn't do that) and I can put in poison and bleeding and then spam DB a lot.

Eles can be a problem, least the npc ones. They huuurt. But I was able to take down a tank on my own...though I don't know what build they were running, so I can't really say much about it *shruggers* I was having issues with the 8th skill though. I tossed in Critical Eye to help with energy management and had Dash in. But I wind up not using Critical Eye or any other skill that I pop in to replace that spot XD meeerrr.

I've found often enough that where a skill is placed on the skill-bar determines whether I end up using it or not. If preparatory skills are too far apart, I end up forgetting some of them. Most things I tend to need to string off in a row..... though oddly enough, the order of my defensive skills for Illusionary Daggers Plus is all over the place.

See I'm the opposite o.o I put my preps and defense toward the end and all my attacks at the beginning XD;; unless it's directly related to the combo, such as the Expose Defenses.

Then my fingers get used to it and they get screwed over if it changes >-o

I think when I was doing AB, it was more of a situation in which I just didn't need to use more than 7 of those skills o.o maybe if I had Nine Tails or another attack I would have used that in the spam attacks, but meh. I'll have to muddle over it. I tried several different things, but they weren't really that effective.

*still muddling over a name* Exposing Fanged Spider Blossom?

...

*goes to map Elona while thinking about it*

sorry again vesse...but its just too inticing to keep the other discussion going...

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@ vesse if your using this build in AB I would reconsider the use of expose defenses..... The good aber will avoid foes with high defenses and continue to capture shrines....

Thread cleaned.
Completely hijacking someone else's thread and causing over 50% of the posts to be heavily off-topic is NOT acceptable. Take it to PM's if you have to say something to someone so desperately that isn't on-topic.

Thanks to the mods who removed those posts...now I can at least see what's going on better in my thread o_o

and clawofcrimson, i usually don't really know if they have put up high defense because i'm usually only focusing on three things: Both HP Bars and the damage I'm taking. When I AB, capping is one of the main things i focus on, so I'm not one of those who sees the giant mob and try to fend them off >_>;;

in fact i call the npc i'm going after too so that i try to focus everyone back on the npcs >_o

however, after the first cap my group usually runs into the first group of the opposite side and there's a bit of a shuffle there, depending on the situation. Usually it's nearer to our shrine and after like a few seconds of just standing there, opposite runs in and npcs help. I put on ED on the other players then, and if I see a tank pounding on my rit...well...>_>...

so yeah, it's still pretty useful. and i also try to take out the casters, and the monks try to use protective spirit to no avail >_> eles try to use wards to no avail <_< it's kinna nice

'ED' will not open up their defenses all that much.. there are plenty of enchant heavy dervs/earth ele that will just sit there and get 0 damage...

plus its a pretty hefty price for a hex... I would rather take [card]parasitic bond[/card] as it is spammable and has healing bonus....


also... if you are terribly concerned about getting your hits in ...[card]EXPUNGE ENCHANTMENTS[/card] + [card]WILD BLOW[/card] has worked wonders for me...

hmm...

i'm still pretty much a rookie when it comes to PvP with my sin (I mainly PvE ^-^;. Used to just go in with my monk but I got tired of everything targeting me >_>;

I know the build I posted works in PvE very nicely, I'll have to fiddle with others for PvP.

(Though I did think about Parasitic Bond >->)