Hi guys, I was wondering, what runes and insignias do you put on your assassin for general PvE? Not for farming.
If you could, tell me how many certain types of insignias and runes you put on your full set of armor. Thanks!
Armor Advice for Assassin? (PVE/General)
Braxton619
Giro
It depends on your build. If you need energy, go Radiant. Otherwise, for survival, I like Nightstalkers (+armor while attacking) or some people prefer Survivor's. I use Nightstalkers/Survivor's for attack spamming builds (Moebius, Locust's Fury, Crit Scythe etc.). If you're running a assacaster or energy-dependent build, use Radiant. If you're not sure, you can always use a blend of both. If you do that, use Radiant/Survivor's, cause Nightstalker's only adds armor to the piece you put it on.
As far as runes go, it depends on your build. Without knowing what you're using, it's hard to say. Generally, if you're using a crit build, get a +1 headgear with a +1 or +2 rune and a minor rune for anything else you use. If you're main is a dagger skill, I'd use a +1 head with a +1 rune. Fill out the rest with Vitae/Attunements.
If you want better advice, post your build, or at least the build you're going for.
Hope this helps.
As far as runes go, it depends on your build. Without knowing what you're using, it's hard to say. Generally, if you're using a crit build, get a +1 headgear with a +1 or +2 rune and a minor rune for anything else you use. If you're main is a dagger skill, I'd use a +1 head with a +1 rune. Fill out the rest with Vitae/Attunements.
If you want better advice, post your build, or at least the build you're going for.
Hope this helps.
Braxton619
Heres my build:
Tenebrae
Nightstalkers yep.
Arrogant Bastard
I use survivors since I make sure my team has prots.
Giro
Ok, then I would go all Nightstalker's insig, get a Dagger Mastery +1 +1, Critical Strikes +1, Vigor rune (as high as you can afford), and 2 runes of Vitae (or 1 Vitae, 1 Clarity to reduce blind, but thats a preference).
JackSchit
I've always used Radiant and Attune with my +1 attbs and a sup vigor. for general dagger/bow/scythe work.
Regulus X
If your opposition's less than four players/monsters, then Nightstalkers can be more suitable versus melee, rangers, and elementalist attackers.
If you're facing more (generally vs 8+) people/monsters, it's wiser to bring full survivor and all minor runes to maximize survivability against spikes.
If you're facing more (generally vs 8+) people/monsters, it's wiser to bring full survivor and all minor runes to maximize survivability against spikes.
Covah
12+1+1 dagger, 12+1 crit and nightstalkers in rest for normal dagger stuff. 13 in crit = break point and if you have zealous daggers you'll always have more then enough energy.
Xsiriss
Critical agility provides all the extra armour you'll need really...
zelgadissan
Use whatever you want and micro Protective Spirit on yourself.
Chthon
Since the introduction of Crit Agility, Blessed is usually the best choice.
Nightstalkers doesn't cover you when you're closing the gap to a mob, or when you're trying to kite. Basically the two situations where you most want to have full armor, you don't have it.
The life bonus from survivor is inferior to 10AL for general PvE purposes.
Radiant is only good if you need more energy to complete an expensive attack chain in 1 go. Extra max energy is NOT energy management.
Nightstalkers doesn't cover you when you're closing the gap to a mob, or when you're trying to kite. Basically the two situations where you most want to have full armor, you don't have it.
The life bonus from survivor is inferior to 10AL for general PvE purposes.
Radiant is only good if you need more energy to complete an expensive attack chain in 1 go. Extra max energy is NOT energy management.
mistokibbles
I always Survivors/Vitae and minor runes for whichever attributes I'm using.
branamanp
"Since the introduction of Crit Agility, Blessed is usually the best choice."
only problem with this when kiting is that if you arn't attacking you cant maintain crit agilty.
in pve you dont really kite anyway bec hero/hench wont just run even if you pin them.
as long as you have a prot monk with you you shouldnt have a problem while closing the gap and as a career sin i highly recommend always having a prot xD.
only problem with this when kiting is that if you arn't attacking you cant maintain crit agilty.
in pve you dont really kite anyway bec hero/hench wont just run even if you pin them.
as long as you have a prot monk with you you shouldnt have a problem while closing the gap and as a career sin i highly recommend always having a prot xD.
ac1inferno
- Survivor, Blessed, or Nightstalker insignias.
- Zealous/Vampiric Daggers of Fortitude (15^50 inscription)
- Zealous/Vampiric Daggers of Fortitude (15^50 inscription)
Chthon
Quote:
Originally Posted by branamanp
"Since the introduction of Crit Agility, Blessed is usually the best choice."
only problem with this when kiting is that if you arn't attacking you cant maintain crit agilty.
in pve you dont really kite anyway bec hero/hench wont just run even if you pin them.
as long as you have a prot monk with you you shouldnt have a problem while closing the gap and as a career sin i highly recommend always having a prot xD. 1. Crit agility has a long enough duration that you can kite, get the heal you needed, and go back to hitting things without losing it. By contrast, even something as brief as sidestepping a meteor shower turns off Nightstalkers.
2. Kiting should result on someone dropping a prot on you that keeps Blessed up. (If worse comes to worse, someone will drop a Death Nova or Dwayna's Sorrow...)
3. These days, you should also have someone maintaining SoH on you. (I said "since the introduction of Crit Agility," because that was the first time sins were reliably enchanted all the time. With subsequent updates, it's no longer the only enchant you're going to have up.)
only problem with this when kiting is that if you arn't attacking you cant maintain crit agilty.
in pve you dont really kite anyway bec hero/hench wont just run even if you pin them.
as long as you have a prot monk with you you shouldnt have a problem while closing the gap and as a career sin i highly recommend always having a prot xD. 1. Crit agility has a long enough duration that you can kite, get the heal you needed, and go back to hitting things without losing it. By contrast, even something as brief as sidestepping a meteor shower turns off Nightstalkers.
2. Kiting should result on someone dropping a prot on you that keeps Blessed up. (If worse comes to worse, someone will drop a Death Nova or Dwayna's Sorrow...)
3. These days, you should also have someone maintaining SoH on you. (I said "since the introduction of Crit Agility," because that was the first time sins were reliably enchanted all the time. With subsequent updates, it's no longer the only enchant you're going to have up.)
tejive
Quote:
Originally Posted by Regulus X
If your opposition's less than four players/monsters, then Nightstalkers can be more suitable versus melee, rangers, and elementalist attackers.
If you're facing more (generally vs 8+) people/monsters, it's wiser to bring full survivor and all minor runes to maximize survivability against spikes. PvE monsters spike, yea
If you're facing more (generally vs 8+) people/monsters, it's wiser to bring full survivor and all minor runes to maximize survivability against spikes. PvE monsters spike, yea
Anarion Silverhand
AtomicMew
It's not entirely true that "more energy != e-management." Thanks to crits, sins have one of the biggest energy swings in the game, beaten only by an ER spammer. Yet at the same time, their energy pool is tied with a warrior's.
In an SA builds, where the chain has a negative/neutral net and large energy variation, being able to run through the chain a few more times can be crucial to forcing a kill and winning the fight in tough areas. Having survivor/nightstalker/blessed etc will almost never be a deciding factor in a fight. Obviously, in a build where the assassin's chain carries a positive net in energy (e.g. MS/DB), there is less reason to take radiant. But even the new builds, with JS/FF/DB have energy trouble sometimes.
That is not to say that an MS/DB build wouldn't benefit as well. Having more energy gives you more room for error, which let's you recover faster if you start missing your chain for some reason. (Yes, we've all tried to chain through blind. Just admit it.) It also lets you not worry about cycling times of utility skills. For example, casting remedy, asura scan and critical eye during the down of your energy swing could bankrupt your energy with a small energy pool.
In an SA builds, where the chain has a negative/neutral net and large energy variation, being able to run through the chain a few more times can be crucial to forcing a kill and winning the fight in tough areas. Having survivor/nightstalker/blessed etc will almost never be a deciding factor in a fight. Obviously, in a build where the assassin's chain carries a positive net in energy (e.g. MS/DB), there is less reason to take radiant. But even the new builds, with JS/FF/DB have energy trouble sometimes.
That is not to say that an MS/DB build wouldn't benefit as well. Having more energy gives you more room for error, which let's you recover faster if you start missing your chain for some reason. (Yes, we've all tried to chain through blind. Just admit it.) It also lets you not worry about cycling times of utility skills. For example, casting remedy, asura scan and critical eye during the down of your energy swing could bankrupt your energy with a small energy pool.
_Nihilist_
Quote:
Originally Posted by trcvrs
Yet at the same time, their energy pool is tied with a warrior's.
25e does not equal 20e, nor does 4 pips of regen equal 2 pips of regen.
Morticia of Cyana
I normally use survivors, because the AI targets foes with lesser HP first.
Sometimes I use radiant, but that depends on my build. You could mix survivor/radiant if you like. It works.
Sometimes I use radiant, but that depends on my build. You could mix survivor/radiant if you like. It works.
maxxfury
Arrogant Bastard
If you take critical eye and enough IAS, mana should not be a problem for a melee assassin.
Morticia of Cyana
Quote:
Originally Posted by maxxfury
does it not include armour levels in the targeting aswell? maybe im having a brain fart. /shrugs
^and Say hi to the angel sharks for me xD been a while! Yea sorry, both HP and armor level. But as far as I noticed just having 1 of those 2 higher then average in your party helps.
I'll say hi!
^and Say hi to the angel sharks for me xD been a while! Yea sorry, both HP and armor level.
But as far as I noticed just having 1 of those 2 higher then average in your party helps. I'll say hi!
Carinae
Runes
Minor Dagger on headpiece
Minor Crit
Sup Vigor
Last 2 slots are optional. I prefer a minor shadow and a minor deadly, just for flexibility with builds. However, you could use two Vitaes.
Insignia
Survivors on all 5
Weapon
Zealous Daggers of Fortitude
You should end up around 600hp and 25e
Quote:
Minor Dagger on headpiece
Minor Crit
Sup Vigor
Last 2 slots are optional. I prefer a minor shadow and a minor deadly, just for flexibility with builds. However, you could use two Vitaes.
Insignia
Survivors on all 5
Weapon
Zealous Daggers of Fortitude
You should end up around 600hp and 25e
Quote:
Since the introduction of Crit Agility, Blessed is usually the best choice.
The life bonus from survivor is inferior to 10AL for general PvE purposes. I....um.. is it? Convince me. With CA up, I'm at 95 armor. 95a vs. 105a doesn't seem like that much damage reduction to me. Now factor in armor-ignoring damage and degen and the extra hp seem nice. And if you've got bonds or are manually running PS then Blessed seems inferior.
Maybe I'm thinking of it wrong, I am on a ton of medicine now.
The life bonus from survivor is inferior to 10AL for general PvE purposes. I....um.. is it? Convince me. With CA up, I'm at 95 armor. 95a vs. 105a doesn't seem like that much damage reduction to me. Now factor in armor-ignoring damage and degen and the extra hp seem nice. And if you've got bonds or are manually running PS then Blessed seems inferior.
Maybe I'm thinking of it wrong, I am on a ton of medicine now.
Bobby2
Survivor's because the only things I fear are AL-ignoring and spiky.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chthon
Quote:
Nightstalkers doesn't cover you when you're closing the gap to a mob, or when you're trying to kite. Basically the two situations where you most want to have full armor, you don't have it.
Spot on.
Carinae
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chthon
I contend that a strong majority of damage coming from PvE foes in general is armor-sensitive, ergo, a reliable 10AL adds more to survivability than 40hp does, at least with a start state like the one you described. (And unreliable armor mods aren't worth using in any case.)
Second, I always thought damage was about 2/3rds armor-ignoring. Isn't armor-sensitive just: Elemental damage and Base Weapon Damage? Everything else, including attack skills, ignores armor
Third, factor in degen. I don't mean party-wide -10 pips, but the -4 to -8 that YOU will inevitably have due to being melee in addition to actual damage. Survivors wins here. More health = Live longer = More chance of getting healed/dehexed/decond.
That's why I thought Blessed inferior in a PB/PS situation...degen. You wont need to worry about damage (and screw the bonder otherwise, he has bookoo energy), but degen becomes more of a problem. If you've gone through the trouble of bonding, it's a hard area. Which likely means serious degen. I don't think I've ever seen a human ER with cond OR hex removal.
Now, again, degen alone isn't troublesome, but combined with real damage and it can get you, which is where the extra HP helps.
Thoughts?
EDIT: And yes, much of the answer to this depends on the area/zone/dungeon.
EDIT2: The reason I'm asking is because I used to think exactly what you stated, and I ran Blessed on several heroes and one of Cars sets. Then I changed to Survivors and subjectively it felt like I survived much better. Now, I'm wondering if it's placebo-effect, but I don't really think so. So lets discuss.
_Nihilist_
Quote:
Originally Posted by trcvrs
Right, but the fact remains that radiant will necessarily help in a SA build. Whether it helps in an MS/DB build is arguable, but I find it very hard to justify survivor/nightstalkers either when you can just manual PS/SB on yourself with at almost zero cost, which you should be doing anyway.
Also, the fact that sin has 4 pips doesn't matter because the bulk of energy gain comes from zealous/crits. Just because you're running a Shadow Arts build doesn't mean that you need the extra energy from Radiant insignias. A full set of Radiants gives you +8e. It depends on the build you're running as to whether or not the Radiants are going to be necessary.
The fact that an Assassin has 4 pips of regen does matter, quite a bit, in fact. It's what allows the Assassin to fulfill a caster-type role in addition to melee, and it definitely allows the Assassin to fulfill their melee role considering all Assassin attack skills are fueled by energy, not Adrenaline. 2 pips of regen = 2e every 3 seconds, whereas 4 pips = 4e every 3 seconds, or 1.3e/second, double the base claim.
And yes, Assassins gain most of their Energy through Critical Strikes, but just because they have that mechanic doesn't mean that you can completely ignore the increased energy regen, it does affect energy gain.
Also, the fact that sin has 4 pips doesn't matter because the bulk of energy gain comes from zealous/crits. Just because you're running a Shadow Arts build doesn't mean that you need the extra energy from Radiant insignias. A full set of Radiants gives you +8e. It depends on the build you're running as to whether or not the Radiants are going to be necessary.
The fact that an Assassin has 4 pips of regen does matter, quite a bit, in fact. It's what allows the Assassin to fulfill a caster-type role in addition to melee, and it definitely allows the Assassin to fulfill their melee role considering all Assassin attack skills are fueled by energy, not Adrenaline. 2 pips of regen = 2e every 3 seconds, whereas 4 pips = 4e every 3 seconds, or 1.3e/second, double the base claim.
And yes, Assassins gain most of their Energy through Critical Strikes, but just because they have that mechanic doesn't mean that you can completely ignore the increased energy regen, it does affect energy gain.
AtomicMew
Quote:
Originally Posted by _Nihilist_
Quote:
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And yes, Assassins gain most of their Energy through Critical Strikes, but just because they have that mechanic doesn't mean that you can completely ignore the increased energy regen, it does affect energy gain.
Even if sins had 2 pips, they could still easily play MS/DB with no energy problems thanks to crits/zealous. Look, the point is not where the energy comes from, but the fact that sins experience energy swings and high variation, meaning radiant should at least be considered. SA builds can be pretty energy intensive and getting another SA chain before running out of energy can be crucial. So basically: for SA radiant. for MS/DB whatever. In the end, if you're just running MS/DB, armor insignia is pretty marginal and the best armor is the one that provides you the biggest margin of error. If you're looking for defensive insignia, I'd throw my vote in with Saboteur's. Most elemental damage should be over the PS threshold anyway, which is a wash, and slashing I'm pretty sure is the most common type of physicals.
_Nihilist_
My mistake for reading Shadow Arts where you meant Shattering Assault trcvrs; seeing as how it was never explicitly stated, and a lot of this Thread is general info, I took it as the former.
They might not be the most efficient builds, but I've seen plenty of Assassins running Shadow Arts on their bars and burning through their energy by triggering unnecessary skills, only to screw themselves over when it's time for their combo chain.
AtomicMew
Quote:
Originally Posted by _Nihilist_
My mistake for reading Shadow Arts where you meant Shattering Assault trcvrs; seeing as how it was never explicitly stated, and a lot of this Thread is general info, I took it as the former.
Okay, sorry. I'm so used to going into HA and seeing "GLF SA ranger r3+" that I didn't even make the connection that SA could mean shadow arts.
Chantastic
....
Survivor! /leave thread
MasterSasori
Survivor is always a solid choice.
Or you can do your mathematics and witchcraft and figure out that so and so is better in this situation or that situation. Honestly it won't matter much because 1. It's PvE. 2. If your computer lags and your monk sucks, you're still gonna die.
_Nihilist_
No biggie. It's all from perspective, and we each see things from a different vantage point.
Anyways, with the HoM, I don't think there's a reason not to have multiple armor sets. Now choosing which insignias to put on each armor set... that makes my head spin, lol.
HigherMinion
When running with Prot Spirit, Prot Bond, Save Yourselves! or any other armour buffing/damage mitigation skills- Survivors makes so much more difference.
If you have armour-boosting insignias/runes, and someone uses SY!, it's almost a waste, isn't it? Because they won't stack. And I would not use blessed/attunment because it doesn't help you maintain your energy; it just gives you a little tiny bit more in the beginning. Survivors is definitely the way to go. |
