Favorite General Assassin build?

ajc2123

ajc2123

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

North of the wall

Me/

What is your favorite build to run on your assassin when you are doing regular PvE stuff like questing, missions, pretty much anything but farming/ursanway? Why do you like to run it? Do you get flamed from running it?

Personally I like to run either a crit barrage build, or an assassins promise build with a 1-2-3-4-5 combo.

I like the crit barrage because for one, I get to stay out of the fray, which is nice when the mobs can be pretty large. Usually Ill take a pet to tank but its not needed since I bring at least one Melee Hero or hench. I think I remember seeing an average of 80 hitting the mob and mobs around it. Pretty good if you ask me.

Barrage, Keen arrow, Favorable winds, Critical Eye, Way of the master, Critical agility, Comfort animal and charm animal. Sometimes I leave out comfort If i have a hero with a pet, so they can use revive Animal and I can take an extra skill. Either Rez or sharpen daggers.

For less number Oriented areas, I like the AP build just because of the ease it gives me to kill one after the other. Except for when I'm blocked, blinded, or I can't knock them down (Which happens a bit too much to use this build) It works really nicely when you can use it to its full potential though. Usually a hero will keep blind off me and Ill give a necro hero rigor mortis.

Deaths Charge, AP, Black mantis thrust?, jungle strike, Trampling ox, falling spider, and twisting fangs. I either use the 8th slot for a rez or critical agility.

So what builds do you use and why? I'm really curious as to what the PvE assassins use when they aren't farming or ursanwaying around.

Magikarp

Magikarp

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2007

[HAWK]

Crit agil, SY, sneak attack, golden fang, death blossom, moeb, whatever>game

ajc2123

ajc2123

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

North of the wall

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Magikarp
Crit agil, SY, sneak attack, golden fang, death blossom, moeb, whatever>game Is SY save yourselves?

shironos

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

Guildless

A/

I've been running the Dwarven Promise Spiker PVE build put up on pvxwiki....cuz endless spiking in pve = fun

mistokibbles

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2008

N/A

I just made an Assassin yesterday so i'm stuck as an a/w. So far, I've used [Golden Fox Strike] + [Golden Fang Strike] + [Death Blossom] + [Moebius Strike]. I only use this build because I haven't completed Nahpui Quarter so I can't change secondaries and I haven't gotten far in any chapters to cap elites.

Kyomi Tachibana

Kyomi Tachibana

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2007

Oregon, USA

Where iz teh Bonuz [WitB]

P/W

Moebius/DB spam all the way.

[build prof=A/W Critical=12+1 Dagger=12+1+1][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][no skill][Critical Agility][Assassin's Remedy][Save Yourselves][/build]

Twisting Fangs if I'm running one of those fun Mandragor-esque team builds with my heroes, otherwise I fill it as needed.

ajc2123

ajc2123

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

North of the wall

Me/

Hm....I should stick SY in my some of my builds....

Mork from Ork

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2007

I was looking on PvxWiki for a build to beat Magni and saw the death blossom A/Mo farmer build - it worked against Magni and I found that as a general all purpose PvE build it worked very well. It's major downside is that it is vulnerable to blind, blocks and enchantment stripping but for questing or missions with h/h to back you up or farming areas where stripping and blind are not a problem it works well for me.

The original build was:
golden phoenix/critical strike/moebius strike/death blossom/critical defenses/critical agility/vigorous spirit/live vicariously

I removed critical strike and replaced it with critical eye - the only reason critical strike was there as far as i could see was for energy. the other 3 attack skills do a good enough job of dmg with little down time and critical eye just did a better job of gaining energy.

RavagerOfDreams

RavagerOfDreams

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2007

somewhere over the rainbow....

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyomi Tachibana
Moebius/DB spam all the way.

[build prof=A/W Critical=12+1 Dagger=12+1+1][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][no skill][Critical Agility][Assassin's Remedy][Save Yourselves][/build]

Twisting Fangs if I'm running one of those fun Mandragor-esque team builds with my heroes, otherwise I fill it as needed. ^wut he said

other then that deadly arts AP builds and scythesins are amusing

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyomi Tachibana
Moebius/DB spam all the way.

[build prof=A/W Critical=12+1 Dagger=12+1+1][Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][no skill][Critical Agility][Assassin's Remedy][Save Yourselves][/build] This. Usually filled out with [skill]critical eye[/skill].

itsvictor

itsvictor

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2008

[Golden Fox Strike][Exhausting Assault][Moebius Strike][Death Blossom][Critical Eye][Critical Agility][Save Yourselves]

Last Slot is either [Finish Him] or [Pain Inverter]

FlamingMetroid

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

[build prof=A/W Critical=12+1+1 Dagger=12+2][save yourselves][golden phoenix strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][critical strike][no skill][Critical Agility][Critical Defenses][/build]

ftw
res sigs and [assassins remedy] are for girls
[critical strike]>>>[critical eye], energy on demand ftw

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

[skill]assassin's remedy[/skill] (keeping Blind off you, hence keeping you effective) is for girls yet [skill]critical defenses[/skill] (omgnotintehface!) gets the heads-up?

O OK

...and when you stop relying on CritDef crit guarantee becomes less of an issue... making you opt for CritEye

ZeAliX

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2006

Norway

A/

Been using this build for a long time, for basically everything:

crit agility, golden fox strike, wild strike, death blossom, moebius strike, crit strike, SY and res (don't think I actually used res many times, but can't remember )

fireflyry

fireflyry

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

New Zealand

A/D

If H/H or running with friends/guildies I usually run variants of the core build Bobby2 posted in his thread.SY combined with CA and DB spam is a no-brainer imo.

I also prefer [Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike] over [golden phoenix strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike].

The extra slot is a constant temptation but I find the 8s recharge of [golden phoenix strike] annoying and inefficient 99% of the time.

If pugging I'll go with either an A/Me AP spiker with [epidemic] and at least deep wound application in the first 3 campaigns or an A/D Blossom spammer with [Mystic Regeneration] and [assassins remedy] in EotN.I generally prioritize a lot more survivability, healing and condition removal into my pug builds as opposed to H/H or guild groups.

Even though I'm spamming SY most pug healers still seem to prioritize Sins WAY down the spike-heal/pre-prot/condition removal list hence I prefer to take care of myself when possible.

petrorabbit

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2007

Usually, i'll rotate between MS/DB spam with SY and something nobody has mentioned yet: shattersin.

[Golden Fox Strike][Wild Strike][Shattering Assault][Finish Him][Assassin's Remedy][Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Save Yourselves]

I always find this refreshing in areas with blocking stances and random prot enchants. Also useful for taking out mobs that use [Obsidian Flesh], [Stoneflesh Aura], [Vow of Silence], or [Spell Breaker] so your nukers can do their jobs.

Sometimes i'll run an AP DA build for fun.

[Assassin's Promise][Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support][Dancing Daggers][Entangling Asp][Signet of Toxic Shock][Finish Him][Shadow Sanctuary] and an optional slot.

I've been also messing around with an A/Me for times when the other builds start getting stale.

[Sneak Attack][Mantis Touch][Black Spider Strike][Twisting Fangs][Fevered Dreams][Fragility][Critical Agility], and an optional skill. Sometimes, i'll mess around with [cry of pain]

This is basically a fevered dreams build, but i threw in fragility for extra damage vs bosses and a single target hex. What i like about the chain is you can use it a few ways, from 1234, to 34, or 124 depending on how or what conditions you want to spread.

FlamingMetroid

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby2
[skill]assassin's remedy[/skill] (keeping Blind off you, hence keeping you effective) is for girls yet [skill]critical defenses[/skill] (omgnotintehface!) gets the heads-up?

O OK

...and when you stop relying on CritDef crit guarantee becomes less of an issue... making you opt for CritEye I usually run as the only frontliner on my team, so yes, [critical defenses] gets the thumbs up :3 Keeping conditions off of myself is something other classes do well enough for me to not pay attention to it. I've tried using crit eye, and I always go back to using crit strike, because having guaranteed energy is much more reliable.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

I'm not saying CritDefenses is a bad skill - just that I'd always prioritize AR first. In our group, my job is quite simple: keep Blossoming. We run 2 hench Monks at best - just to keep our reds filled - but all PCs and accompanying Heroes are either all-out offense or 1337 utility. There is no-one to watch my conditions.

As for CritEye - CritStrike argument: unstrippable buffs ftw. And more crit Blossom is nice too. Matter of taste in the end. I used to be a fan of CritStrike as well but now I really have to compete to get my Blossoms in so there's simply no time for another Dual.

fireflyry

fireflyry

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

New Zealand

A/D

Agreed

With Zealous mods and CritEye I seldom find I need to worry about either energy or CritDef refreshing, if I'm using it that is, and it allows for more Blossom spam as I consider DPS as being my main priority and contribution to the team, not tanking.

If SY is in the build I really see no need or desire for CritDef (especially if H/H, guild grouping, as my monks are more than able to out-heal my damage while damage taken adds to my adrenaline gain to help keep the team perma SY), unless your in particularly tough HM melee-heavy zones or have a lack of decent monks.Giving my team perma SY +100 armor leaves them more than free to spike heal/prot me if needed.Whenever I use CritDef it just feels like unnecessary defensive overkill sacrificed for vastly improved and appreciated DPS/SY output.I'd rather have my health hit 30-50% for a few seconds every so often than have it full bar for a whole encounter while doing less DPS and SY spam.

I also solo frontline a lot, only non-caster when I H/H or guild group, and I've seldom required it.

In saying I totally agree with it being a matter of taste dependent in large part on your team build not to mention gear, mob type, campaign, area, etc, etc.

It's all hugely subjective.

Personally I usually find CritDef, and CritStrike as unneeded annoyances in both cast time, upkeep and the effect they have on the overall efficiency of my build in all but minority situations.As for AR it's use/priority is obviously self-explanatory and 100% dictated by your team build.

Each to their own.

Kiluna

Kiluna

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2007

Finland

Mo/

Maybe not the best build out there, but i like Spearsin ^^
Tested on Master of Damage and i got 50-60 constat DPS over 100 secs, could have continued for ever.
-Though my spear is not customized, so the damage could be little higher.-

[build prof=a/p crit=12+2+1 spear=12 name="PvE Spearsin" box][Stunning Strike][Vicious Attack][Spear of Fury][Spear of Lightning][Way of the Master][Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Sunspear Rebirth Signet][/build]
After playing a little with it, i'm not sure if Critical Eye needed, as the energy spear attacks aren't _that_ spammable and i'm nearly always at full energy. So i think i could/should change it to something.


That or the common DB+MS spammer /w SY

Edit;
Oh and i run the Spearsin with Sundering 15^50 Spear of Fortitude, don't know would vampiric have that high increase on dmg (as they are about the same in long run).

Unreal Havoc

Guest

Join Date: Dec 2007

I normally run this alongside Sabway heroes.

[build prof=A/W Critical=12+1 Dagger=12+1+1][Critical Agility][Unsuspecting Strike][Golden Fang Strike][Critical Strike][Moebius Strike][Death Blossom][Save Yourselves][Sunspear Rebirth Signet][/build]

Switching my lead and offhand to [Golden Fox Strike] & [Wild Strike] in areas where I'm faced with stance blocking.

Damian979

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

[Jagged Strike][Golden Fang Strike][Epidemic][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike] is just good PvE fun


or [Golden Phoenix Strike][Twisting Fangs][Epidemic][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike]

Psyko

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Shinobi Empire [TSE]

personally, i have to go with:

[skill]jagged strike[/skill][skill]golden fang strike[/skill][skill]wild strike[/skill][skill]death blossom[/skill][skill]way of the assassin[/skill][skill]critical eye[/skill][skill]critical agility[/skill][skill]vigorous spirit[/skill]

crits for damage (lol i know, but extra damage is extra damage) and energy, a heal on hit skill to make use of the fast attacking, and the attack chain to simulate a mobeius chain as best i can... it works well for me

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Psyko ofc I'd say GET A TOME ([skill]moebius strike[/skill]) and SWAP IN [skill]golden fox strike[/skill]

...but at least swap out Jagged for Unsuspecting. Bleeding really sucks, and if your CS is at 13 (which I suspect) you should handle the extra energy np.

Super Igor

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2008

why should you kno? Oo

A/W

Ok, recently, after dicoverring a pair of sweet perfect Icy Oni Daggers in my storage (ups, had them for about a year lying there) I started to think of a use of conjures and asura title track to deal MASSIVE....MASSIVE dps, so thats what I had big fun with:

[build prof=A/E box crit=12+1 dag=11+1+1 water=6][asuran scan][critical agility][golden phoenix strike][critical strike][moebius strike][death blossom][i am the strongest][conjure frost][/build]

The thing is tho doesnt help the team much does...well...huge dps that can reach up to ~250 wtfpwning most mobs in pve, bit hard on energy at the start this why crit strike is so much needed.

ajc2123

ajc2123

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

North of the wall

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiluna
Maybe not the best build out there, but i like Spearsin ^^
Tested on Master of Damage and i got 50-60 constat DPS over 100 secs, could have continued for ever.
-Though my spear is not customized, so the damage could be little higher.-

[build prof=a/p crit=12+2+1 spear=12 name="PvE Spearsin" box][Stunning Strike][Vicious Attack][Spear of Fury][Spear of Lightning][Way of the Master][Critical Agility][Critical Eye][Sunspear Rebirth Signet][/build]
After playing a little with it, i'm not sure if Critical Eye needed, as the energy spear attacks aren't _that_ spammable and i'm nearly always at full energy. So i think i could/should change it to something.


That or the common DB+MS spammer /w SY

Edit;
Oh and i run the Spearsin with Sundering 15^50 Spear of Fortitude, don't know would vampiric have that high increase on dmg (as they are about the same in long run). Vamperic doesn't add damage, it just makes 1-2-3-4-5 of the damage (w/e the mod is) Unconditional

X Joey X

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2008

None

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ajc2123
Vamperic doesn't add damage, it just makes 1-2-3-4-5 of the damage (w/e the mod is) Unconditional Vampiric adds the +3 on top of the normal spear damage, so yes it does increase the damage overall

Luminarus

Luminarus

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Aug 2007

Sydney, Australia

Haze of Light [pure]

R/

My general, brainless build is:

[Golden Pheonix Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][Critical Strike][Critical Agility][Save Yourselves][Finish Him][Critical Defences]

+24 Armor four you, + 100 armor for allies, 90 aoe damage every 2 seconds, 75% block chance, and the energy to go forever is ftw.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Luminarus
My general, brainless build is:

[Golden Pheonix Strike][Death Blossom][Moebius Strike][Critical Strike][Critical Agility][Save Yourselves][Finish Him][Critical Defences]

+24 Armor four you, + 100 armor for allies, 90 aoe damage every 2 seconds, 75% block chance, and the energy to go forever is ftw. Major Dagger Mastery! Busted.

FlamingMetroid

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby2
Major Dagger Mastery! Busted. I use Major Dagger Mastery because I <3 even numbers :3

Psyko

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Shinobi Empire [TSE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby2
Psyko ofc I'd say GET A TOME ([skill]moebius strike[/skill]) and SWAP IN [skill]golden fox strike[/skill]

...but at least swap out Jagged for Unsuspecting. Bleeding really sucks, and if your CS is at 13 (which I suspect) you should handle the extra energy np.
lol... the title of this thread is "Favorite General Assassin build". I didn't ask anyone to critique my build, i have already tested every skill that would work in that build and nothing works as well as that combination.

really now, what is it with having my own ideas and opinions that rubs people the wrong way?

petrorabbit

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psyko

really now, what is it with having my own ideas and opinions that rubs people the wrong way? Nothing wrong with you. Some people like to criticise anything they can, to stimulate their argumentative side.

FlamingMetroid

FlamingMetroid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

standing on your last control point, while the rest of your team is to busy killing mine

The Luminaries [Lumi]

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psyko
lol... the title of this thread is "Favorite General Assassin build". I didn't ask anyone to critique my build, i have already tested every skill that would work in that build and nothing works as well as that combination.
you're wrong/didn't test well

Quote:
really now, what is it with having my own ideas and opinions that rubs people the wrong way? welcome to the assassin forum, all we do is hate on each others opinions

Psyko

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Shinobi Empire [TSE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamingMetroid
you're wrong/didn't test well or maybe i didnt use the same test criteria, because from my perspective, the build works quite well.

as a genuine question tho, how am i wrong?

N1ghtstalker

N1ghtstalker

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2007

E/

i'm playing the A/P build sometimes
insta deep wound yay!

Kyomi Tachibana

Kyomi Tachibana

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2007

Oregon, USA

Where iz teh Bonuz [WitB]

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psyko
or maybe i didnt use the same test criteria, because from my perspective, the build works quite well.

as a genuine question tho, how am i wrong? Way of Perfection would be a greater source of healing, even at 4 spec it heals 18, which you would need to spec 12~ into to get out of Vigorous Spirit, although only on crits, but with your elite that shouldn't be a problem. -.-;

N1ghtstalker

N1ghtstalker

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2007

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psyko
personally, i have to go with:

[skill]jagged strike[/skill][skill]golden fang strike[/skill][skill]wild strike[/skill][skill]death blossom[/skill][skill]way of the assassin[/skill][skill]critical eye[/skill][skill]critical agility[/skill][skill]vigorous spirit[/skill]

crits for damage (lol i know, but extra damage is extra damage) and energy, a heal on hit skill to make use of the fast attacking, and the attack chain to simulate a mobeius chain as best i can... it works well for me then why you don't just take [live vicariously] and get a decent elite?
way of the assassin isn't bad but extra damage isn't just critical
but attack itself
gogo [moebius strike]

Psyko

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Shinobi Empire [TSE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyomi Tachibana
Way of Perfection would be a greater source of healing, even at 4 spec it heals 18, which you would need to spec 12~ into to get out of Vigorous Spirit, although only on crits, but with your elite that shouldn't be a problem. -.-; this thread is taking a small tangent, isn't it?

meh, either way, the equations aren't too clear to me, mainly because critical eye does not add directly to your critical strike chance, so exactly how that changes the math im not sure, but merely adding up the crit chance, and equating the total hits out of 10 that would crit, the numbers are in favor of way of perfection (182.4hp/10s as opposed to 160hp/10s). The only problem is that critical strikes are not guaranteed, so at times the healing will be more, at times less. So i figure its all about preference, whether you want something a little more chance based, or something more solid for your heal. (btw, i assumed that each hit takes 1 second to make, even though with CA the hit speed is just under one second, and without it is .33 over one second)

and in case any of you are getting frustrated with my stubbornness, i am retesting these skills you are suggesting as well as just looking at the numbers. Unsuspecting does seem to work just as well, probably because i used to use LV and that took away from my energy. Although it is a bit slow when trying to restart the combo if you haven't critted much

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psyko
lol... the title of this thread is "Favorite General Assassin build". I didn't ask anyone to critique my build, i have already tested every skill that would work in that build and nothing works as well as that combination.

really now, what is it with having my own ideas and opinions that rubs people the wrong way?

It was meant as a suggestion, a friendly one at that (I tend to use much harsher terms ). Basically because other builds do what your build does, but better (Yes, Moebius, sorry. It is that good). You are in no way obliged to follow up - no one can force you into using something else even though it may be superior.

Seriously though, if you felt my words were offensive, prepare for the worst ('Welcome!')

Psyko

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Shinobi Empire [TSE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby2


It was meant as a suggestion, a friendly one at that (I tend to use much harsher terms ). Basically because other builds do what your build does, but better (Yes, Moebius, sorry. It is that good). You are in no way obliged to follow up - no one can force you into using something else even though it may be superior.

Seriously though, if you felt my words were offensive, prepare for the worst ('Welcome!') no, thats alright, i get the mobeius comment a lot when i come here, im used to it. That and i can be rather callous on top of that X|

i do have to bring this one last thing up tho, i took your suggestion with Unsuspecting strike, switched it out with jagged strike, then went to the master of damage in the Great temple of balthazar.

I used all three builds, hit him for some amount of time, took the first 12 results (amounting to 60 seconds) and averaged the DPS from each test.

Unsuspecting strike averaged at 61.9 DPS
Jagged strike averaged at 68.7 DPS
and a mobeius build averaged at 66 DPS

thats as far as i will go, but if you want all the numbers i used i can start another thread and post all the results with screenshots. It seems that peoples assumptions about mobeius might not be all that accurate >.> (granted that to actually say that for sure i want to do more that just one test for each, but i suspect that my build and mobeius might average out to be even in the end)