Building an A/E PVE

nendogamer

nendogamer

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2010

D/W

Been playing Guildwars for a few months now. Started way back but had to stop. Now that i've acquired all 4, I started an A/E. Problem now that struck me is that i'm somewhat limited in terms of both knowledge for assassin despite having looked up tons of builds and terminologies for an A/E Build...

So far from what i understood...

+ Sliver Armor got nerfed which was commonly abused by A/E before
+ Some advise the use of 'Conjure' skill for daggers.
+ Lead, Off-hand and Dual for daggers at most would best should have energy gain, low cost and quick cooldown.

So my question/s is that how can i get a good A/E build nowadays?
by far my slots consists of 3 assassin dagger type attacks ( lead, off,dual )
[Jagged Strike, Golden Lotus Strike, Death Blossom] others that make up my bar are(which are changed/replaced by any of the ff):

+ Critical Defenses
+ Critical Eye
+ Shadow Refuge
+ Teinai's Wind
+ Sliver Armor
+ Aftershock
+ Teinai's Wind

I'm really curious as to how can i play an A/E. My main is a D/W and so far i've not had a very troublesome encounter in building that character.
I've also noted myself that assassins are very fragile but going back to the topic. What could you guys recommend for an A/E. I already have access to Lion's Arc, EOtN and making my way to Kamadan. As for factions, my most recent revealed outpost/city is Kaineng Center.

Tips for weapons are also welcome!

Marty Silverblade

Marty Silverblade

Administrator

Join Date: Jun 2006

Just to clarify, this is for normal H/H PvE right, not for Farming?

Anyway, if you're going to lead with Jagged Strike, you're generally better off following with Fox Fangs. It's faster, recharges more quickly, and does more damage (not to mention unblockable). The energy gain won't matter if you crit often enough.

PS: Unless you're farming, the secondary doesn't get used much on melees, with the exception of /W for "Save Yourselves". For normal PvE situations Ele secondary doesn't really add much to Assassins.

wilebill

wilebill

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mt Vernon, Ohio

Band of the Hawk

W/Mo

I've got an Assassin. These days for H/H play I use a A/N Curses AssaCaster. Spam Snow Storm and Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support with Assassin's Promise. Nice Deldrimor Curses Staff. See a yellow stripe down my back, eh?

But there is just a lot you can do with the Assassin. See pvx wiki for some great builds with and without daggers.

Big Tip: When playing with a dagger build and H/H, always carry a longbow or flatbow in weapons slot 4. You need not be an A/R. All you want to do is tickle 'em. Launch first shot and hastily back off with "s" key. Let the hench or hero warrior be first into the fray. Assassins are fragile, warriors are not.

After maybe the second shot from the bow, the party should be aggroed. Then is the time to switch to daggers and go in. You are either going to be taking the pressure off your healer, or going after the enemy mob's softies.

A mobile Assassin is a live and effective Assassin, never tank or let yourself get pinned down. Double clicking on a party member's name in the party list is often the best way to run back and retarget. Dash is very useful also, as is shadow stepping.

nendogamer

nendogamer

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2010

D/W

@Marty
yup, just regular pve. I do my farming with my D/W. I'm planning to use an Assassin to complete Factions. My prophecies character which is a R/N is already set and no problems. It's just this assassin for factions cause it's too fragile and not to mention i'm rather having a hard time poppin in the heat of battle and always doing Tenai's Wind and Aftershock. It delivers a good paralyze effect with the knocked-down and double damage for the aftershock but overall after doing the skill i kinda find my assassin empty after doing it.

Luminarus

Luminarus

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Aug 2007

Sydney, Australia

Haze of Light [pure]

R/

A/E is really only good in PvP and for Farming certain areas through sliver armor and shadow form. Dont bother in terms of general pve. Leave it for now, but eventually you'll probably want /W secondary because of SY.

In terms of what to run, Jagged, Fox Fangs, Death Blossom is pretty popular. Otherwise Moebius Deathblossom is pretty popular. Shooting wiht a longbow and backing off in terms of pulling is one option, but I like microing prots like Prot Spirit and Shield of absorption onto myself, deaths charging into the middle of the mob. Attacking a couple of times with splinter weapon, getting a-raged, and dropping a roj and watching the mob die whilst laughing.