Hello everyone! Well I just finished Prophecies and decided to move on to Factions. I wanted to start a new character and get the full experience of the story. Since I'm used to melee, I decided to create an assassin.
It has been really fun, but.......It's taking some time for me to get used to the fact that I'm not a tank anymore. I'm taking large amounts of damage.
Can anyone enlighten me on the technique or strategy required to be an effective assassin? If you could share a good build....that would help as well. Thanks in advance.
assassin technique
Ram Schtein
the_jos
I'm not going to give a build, it's been ages since I played an assassin.
In general I'd say the role of an assassin is to take out that one annoying enemy in the group while the rest of the group concentrates on the rest.
For example, a decent assassin should be able to take the healer down while the group fights the other enemies.
If you are taking large amounts of damage, you are playing wrong.
A character with high armor should get aggro and when most enemies focus om him/her you move in to make your kill.
Use speed boosts or shadow stepping for that.
Don't attack high-armor enemies, try taking casters down first.
That should cover the basics.
Just remember you are not the primary damage dealer anymore, just someone to take out a critical target fast.
In general I'd say the role of an assassin is to take out that one annoying enemy in the group while the rest of the group concentrates on the rest.
For example, a decent assassin should be able to take the healer down while the group fights the other enemies.
If you are taking large amounts of damage, you are playing wrong.
A character with high armor should get aggro and when most enemies focus om him/her you move in to make your kill.
Use speed boosts or shadow stepping for that.
Don't attack high-armor enemies, try taking casters down first.
That should cover the basics.
Just remember you are not the primary damage dealer anymore, just someone to take out a critical target fast.
John Panda
Do you have nightfall?
If you do once off of noob island go directly to sunspear great hall and get Critical Agility with your hero skill point.
Critical Agility Increases your armor and decreases damage you take depending on your sunspear rank. Mine is currenlty at R7 i get 20 extra armor so that leaves my assassin with 90 al.
If you dont have access to nightfall it will be hard to play an assassin good and to have fun with it. Imo.
so the Next thing you look at is Critical Defenses, this gives you 75% chance too block time depends on critical attributes 13 gives you 9 seconds which is my current attribute and keeps me safe for awhile until i get blinded when your blinded and your monks energy cant take it any more because of the pressure and other peoples health bars going down, its time for you to make an escape.
So with that said you must look at your possible shadow steps, Deaths Retreat, Retreat, Ebon Escape, Shadow Walk, Aura Of Displacement,Shadow Meld. I am sure their are others but the names are slipping my brain right now.
My two favorite Escapes are Ebon Escape And Retreat because of their low recharge time.
When to use these: when you are blinded and critical defenses are down ( once this is gone you will take alot of damage depending on aggro) if you are in this case where your about to get pounded on Return a Few seconds before critical defenses wears down. stay in the back find an easy target until critical defenses comes back. if you get too many people on you shadow step away.
Good assassin Skill Chains In pve all revolve around Death Blossom
Death Blossom Has High Damage + it affects adjacent foes so it is really useful get this skill whenever you can.
Moebius Strike is amazing because it allows you to spam your death blossom every two seconds for more damage output.
Now For Your Lead attacks and Offhand Attacks I usually get too have fun here and change things up because my bar from the rest of the way down stays the same.
Which Lead attacks too choose? and with what Offhand Attack?
When Im going to an area with Massive blocks that can make an assassin useless, i use Golden Fox Strike and Wild Strike make a deadly combo because they cant be blocked (; and allow you too spam Death blossom and if blocks are even more of a problem bring Nine Tails strike also so when you cant spam DB you can still Do damage.
When not under massive blocks i use Golden Lotus Strike + Exhausting Strike
it allows you too keep energy up between long battles and has an interupt as well as this interupt causes exhaustion.. (:
......... More Later
If you do once off of noob island go directly to sunspear great hall and get Critical Agility with your hero skill point.
Critical Agility Increases your armor and decreases damage you take depending on your sunspear rank. Mine is currenlty at R7 i get 20 extra armor so that leaves my assassin with 90 al.
If you dont have access to nightfall it will be hard to play an assassin good and to have fun with it. Imo.
so the Next thing you look at is Critical Defenses, this gives you 75% chance too block time depends on critical attributes 13 gives you 9 seconds which is my current attribute and keeps me safe for awhile until i get blinded when your blinded and your monks energy cant take it any more because of the pressure and other peoples health bars going down, its time for you to make an escape.
So with that said you must look at your possible shadow steps, Deaths Retreat, Retreat, Ebon Escape, Shadow Walk, Aura Of Displacement,Shadow Meld. I am sure their are others but the names are slipping my brain right now.
My two favorite Escapes are Ebon Escape And Retreat because of their low recharge time.
When to use these: when you are blinded and critical defenses are down ( once this is gone you will take alot of damage depending on aggro) if you are in this case where your about to get pounded on Return a Few seconds before critical defenses wears down. stay in the back find an easy target until critical defenses comes back. if you get too many people on you shadow step away.
Good assassin Skill Chains In pve all revolve around Death Blossom
Death Blossom Has High Damage + it affects adjacent foes so it is really useful get this skill whenever you can.
Moebius Strike is amazing because it allows you to spam your death blossom every two seconds for more damage output.
Now For Your Lead attacks and Offhand Attacks I usually get too have fun here and change things up because my bar from the rest of the way down stays the same.
Which Lead attacks too choose? and with what Offhand Attack?
When Im going to an area with Massive blocks that can make an assassin useless, i use Golden Fox Strike and Wild Strike make a deadly combo because they cant be blocked (; and allow you too spam Death blossom and if blocks are even more of a problem bring Nine Tails strike also so when you cant spam DB you can still Do damage.
When not under massive blocks i use Golden Lotus Strike + Exhausting Strike
it allows you too keep energy up between long battles and has an interupt as well as this interupt causes exhaustion.. (:
......... More Later
Ram Schtein
Great info...thanks. It has taken some getting used to not being on the "frontline." I'm sure I am playing wrong. My first char was a warrior and this is my second char. I'm having to change how I learned to play.
Coloneh
critical defenses + 13 critical strikes is ftw
Bowstring Badass
1. Warrior was never a tank IT IS A DPS... Tanks = waste of a person.
2. You have this right. SIN is not a tank.
When you play sin DO NOT USE SUNDERING... Use vampiric (does 3 dmg each strike as where sundering does 3.4 if you get sundering at 17) or zealous it is great for energy.
@Coloneh- Yes indeed it is ftw.
2. You have this right. SIN is not a tank.
When you play sin DO NOT USE SUNDERING... Use vampiric (does 3 dmg each strike as where sundering does 3.4 if you get sundering at 17) or zealous it is great for energy.
@Coloneh- Yes indeed it is ftw.
horseradish
A perfect Vampiric mod steals 5 health btw.
Yes, Sundering sucks. It's useless, especially on daggers.
Zealous is ftw. I love my zealous Sai.
Also, elemental daggers help against high armored opponents.
Don't forget to bring a +armor set! A -20% blind inscription helps a lot.
Yes, Sundering sucks. It's useless, especially on daggers.
Zealous is ftw. I love my zealous Sai.
Also, elemental daggers help against high armored opponents.
Don't forget to bring a +armor set! A -20% blind inscription helps a lot.
Kale Ironfist
Quote:
horseradish
ah. my mistake.
Shuuda
Here is how to be a good Assassin.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
John Panda
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
Here is how to be a good Assassin.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
loool
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
loool
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please
Yanman.be
Buy eotn, get Ursan Blessing! Or so I'm being told.
Stormlord Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Panda
loool
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please hahahaha
Okay.
How to beat PvE
Press C. Press the Spacebar. Go masturbate for a minute while the AI does the work.
Easy.
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please hahahaha
Okay.
How to beat PvE
Press C. Press the Spacebar. Go masturbate for a minute while the AI does the work.
Easy.
BlackSephir
You'll be finished in a minute? :<
V
It's even better to take Ensign's advice.
V
It's even better to take Ensign's advice.
Shuuda
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Panda
loool
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please It's better than lying and saying assassins take more skill to play than I described.
that'd be massive failure in pve.
go uninstall gw please It's better than lying and saying assassins take more skill to play than I described.
horseradish
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
It's better than lying and saying assassins take more skill to play than I described.
Are you kidding me?
Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
br0thergr1m
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
Here is how to be a good Assassin.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
I have to admit...i tend to button mash...or spam skills. That might have worked for a warrior/paragon/dervish (not at all successful mind you), but you simply cant mash a SIN's bar as easy. AS EASY...
I see a little more difficulty in it besides 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. But what profession isnt like that? Who doesnt have their own "chain" for any other character. Sure it depends on the situation but i would guess PVE speaking its the same beginning steps. SIN's are tough for me as they teach me to think and NOT button smash or I do nothing but miss.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order.
I have to admit...i tend to button mash...or spam skills. That might have worked for a warrior/paragon/dervish (not at all successful mind you), but you simply cant mash a SIN's bar as easy. AS EASY...
I see a little more difficulty in it besides 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. But what profession isnt like that? Who doesnt have their own "chain" for any other character. Sure it depends on the situation but i would guess PVE speaking its the same beginning steps. SIN's are tough for me as they teach me to think and NOT button smash or I do nothing but miss.
ensoriki
Dash is your friend
return/deaths retreat, wish to be your friends
Use them well, and you should take much less damage.
return/deaths retreat, wish to be your friends
Use them well, and you should take much less damage.
Shuuda
Quote:
Originally Posted by br0thergr1m
I see a little more difficulty in it besides 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. But what profession isnt like that? Who doesnt have their own "chain" for any other character. Sure it depends on the situation but i would guess PVE speaking its the same beginning steps. SIN's are tough for me as they teach me to think and NOT button smash or I do nothing but miss.
Well, monks, mesmers, rangers, elementalists, warriors, etc. don't just go 1,2,3,4,5,6, plus the fact that all them proffessions require something that assassins destroyed, positioning.
The guide to assassins I typed works well in PvE and lower end PvP.
The guide to assassins I typed works well in PvE and lower end PvP.
ensoriki
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
Well, monks, mesmers, rangers, elementalists, warriors, etc. don't just go 1,2,3,4,5,6, plus the fact that all them proffessions require something that assassins destroyed, positioning.
Your melodramatic statement, makes me think your cutting your wrist right now
____
for a pve sin
Just run a basic L-O-D combo until you progress further into the game.
As you get further obtain these elites
Palm Strike
Assassin's Promise
Moebius strike
You can then do Moebius death blossom combo
Or a Sin's promise spiker
Palm strike is also accessible early on, giving you a reason to cap it
Take dash, or a shadow step, Or both. Allowing you to escape/get in when you need too.
Without nightfall, you have no access to Critical agility and feigned neutrality.
So you take shadow refuge.
Basically as you start out try something like
Jagged strike, wild strike, Death blossom, Dash, Deaths charge, Shadow refuge, optional, Resurrection signet
Experiment for a while
Then go to pvxwiki.com
....then think of your own builds
____
for a pve sin
Just run a basic L-O-D combo until you progress further into the game.
As you get further obtain these elites
Palm Strike
Assassin's Promise
Moebius strike
You can then do Moebius death blossom combo
Or a Sin's promise spiker
Palm strike is also accessible early on, giving you a reason to cap it
Take dash, or a shadow step, Or both. Allowing you to escape/get in when you need too.
Without nightfall, you have no access to Critical agility and feigned neutrality.
So you take shadow refuge.
Basically as you start out try something like
Jagged strike, wild strike, Death blossom, Dash, Deaths charge, Shadow refuge, optional, Resurrection signet
Experiment for a while
Then go to pvxwiki.com
....then think of your own builds
Ram Schtein
Thanks for the replies. They have been very helpful. Especially the sarcastic comments that remind me not to take this so seriously. 
Coloneh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuuda
Here is how to be a good Assassin.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order. nononnonnononnon
1. equip MS+DB chain of choice
2. pick target in the middle of mob
3. pres 1,2,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3, 4,ect.
1. Equip the latest cookie cutter build
2. Pick low armor target
3. Press 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 in order. nononnonnononnon
1. equip MS+DB chain of choice
2. pick target in the middle of mob
3. pres 1,2,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3, 4,ect.
Bobby2
psh! shoulda pressed C-space a long time ago
Moonlit Azure
An effective build is this
Press 12345 and run away.
/sarcasm
Press 12345 and run away.
/sarcasm
John Panda
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
hahahaha
Okay.
How to beat PvE
Press C. Press the Spacebar. Go masturbate for a minute while the AI does the work.
Easy. PvE is easy yes but why would you want to run a crappy gimmick in such places as Hard Mode?
Okay.
How to beat PvE
Press C. Press the Spacebar. Go masturbate for a minute while the AI does the work.
Easy. PvE is easy yes but why would you want to run a crappy gimmick in such places as Hard Mode?
elysiumIX
When with henchies/heroes, or even real players for that matter, allow them to go in first, wait for a few seconds, and shadow step to the casters/fellow squishies.
viper11025
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yanman.be
Buy eotn, get Ursan Blessing! Or so I'm being told.
You have been told correctly. LOL.
UB
Shadows Refuge
Critical Defences
Light Of Deldrimore (Misspelled)
"You move like a dwraf" -Yell (Mispelled agian)
Falling Lotus Strike
Twisting Fangs
Rebirth
DM:12
CS:13
SA: Whatevers left.
Basicly, do the assassin job, kill the healer. Use Ursan, then help tank.
UB
Shadows Refuge
Critical Defences
Light Of Deldrimore (Misspelled)
"You move like a dwraf" -Yell (Mispelled agian)
Falling Lotus Strike
Twisting Fangs
Rebirth
DM:12
CS:13
SA: Whatevers left.
Basicly, do the assassin job, kill the healer. Use Ursan, then help tank.
odly
Build wise :
0- Put 13 in critical strikes. (lower break point for earlier levels off course)
1- [wiki]Critical Agility[/wiki] (sunspear pve only skill) is great get it when you can. + armour and an easilly maintable 33% ias are great for a sin.
Get another skill for + armour until you get it. Those exploding corpses are very bad for a sin. I used [wiki]"watch yourself!"[/wiki] although that was before the armourbuff was reduced in time. It used to be just the duration scaling with tactics, now the ammount of armour scales too. I didn't need it to last long. I could recast it quite fast since it was my only addrenalin skill. I cannot say if it's still viable now.
2- [wiki]Critical defenses[/wiki] is great too. I usually activate it after going into battle though. 9 sec is cutting it close sometimes to get your first critical hit in. Activating it after you start hitting things should allow you to maintain it.
3- Fast recharging lead-offhand dual chain For starters something like : [wiki]jagged strike[/wiki][wiki]wild strike[/wiki][wiki]critical strike[/wiki]
I believe those are availlable early on. I replaced jagged strike for another 4sec recharge unblockable skill later on, I still use the others most of the time.
4- An escape, self heal, or utility ... This depends on your play style.
I use a self heal and stay in battle ([wiki]way of perfection[/wiki] or [wiki]shadow refuge[/wiki] early on), other people like to shadow step/run out of trouble. I prefer to have an offensive shadow step with me.
This is where shadow arts comes in handy. I often use [wiki]Beguiling Haze[/wiki] as elite. daze + shadow step in one skill. Just remember there are other elite options besides the famous moebious chain.
For utility consider [wiki]assassin's remedy[/wiki] in blind heavy area's.
Tactics :
When playing with humans : if you have a warrior let him go into battle first. Most of them like to anyway.
When playing with H/H : just go in battle yourself. It's easier than calling targets and sending the henchies in.
0- Put 13 in critical strikes. (lower break point for earlier levels off course)
1- [wiki]Critical Agility[/wiki] (sunspear pve only skill) is great get it when you can. + armour and an easilly maintable 33% ias are great for a sin.
Get another skill for + armour until you get it. Those exploding corpses are very bad for a sin. I used [wiki]"watch yourself!"[/wiki] although that was before the armourbuff was reduced in time. It used to be just the duration scaling with tactics, now the ammount of armour scales too. I didn't need it to last long. I could recast it quite fast since it was my only addrenalin skill. I cannot say if it's still viable now.
2- [wiki]Critical defenses[/wiki] is great too. I usually activate it after going into battle though. 9 sec is cutting it close sometimes to get your first critical hit in. Activating it after you start hitting things should allow you to maintain it.
3- Fast recharging lead-offhand dual chain For starters something like : [wiki]jagged strike[/wiki][wiki]wild strike[/wiki][wiki]critical strike[/wiki]
I believe those are availlable early on. I replaced jagged strike for another 4sec recharge unblockable skill later on, I still use the others most of the time.
4- An escape, self heal, or utility ... This depends on your play style.
I use a self heal and stay in battle ([wiki]way of perfection[/wiki] or [wiki]shadow refuge[/wiki] early on), other people like to shadow step/run out of trouble. I prefer to have an offensive shadow step with me.
This is where shadow arts comes in handy. I often use [wiki]Beguiling Haze[/wiki] as elite. daze + shadow step in one skill
. Just remember there are other elite options besides the famous moebious chain. For utility consider [wiki]assassin's remedy[/wiki] in blind heavy area's.
Tactics :
When playing with humans : if you have a warrior let him go into battle first. Most of them like to anyway.
When playing with H/H : just go in battle yourself. It's easier than calling targets and sending the henchies in.
Shuuda
Quote:
Originally Posted by ensoriki
Your melodramatic statement, makes me think your cutting your wrist right now
....then think of your own builds, but don't bother since all the good, working builds have been made already, the only way to make your own build is to make sub-bar builds which you think work well. Why would I slit my own wrist? It makes much more sense to do it to someone else.
....then think of your own builds, but don't bother since all the good, working builds have been made already, the only way to make your own build is to make sub-bar builds which you think work well. Why would I slit my own wrist? It makes much more sense to do it to someone else.
Swift Necrosis
I like your build odly, I'm gonna give it a try.