Guild Wars Guru

Is the Assassin Profession More Suited to PvP?

1 pages • Page 1
K
Kern Wolf
Krytan Explorer
• #1
I've read quite a few threads that complain about the Assassins in PvE thinking they're tanks, and a lot of people saying they're not. A lot of people say, "Give the people some time to learn the profession, then it'll balance itself out." I also spend quite a bit of time "observing" the GvG matches, and, with some of the strategies I see being used in these matches, I'm wondering whether the Assassin profession would find more success in GvG vs. PvE.

I dont play GvG (I'm primarily a PvE player, though I have plans to give PvP and GvG a try soon), but I make a point of watching quite a few of the matches in Observer mode (usually towards the end of my day, or if I've finished a mission and am taking a break). It's my belief that all professions can be successful in both PvE and GvG, but I'm wondering, after listening to a lot of people in PvE complain about the Assassin profession, if the advantages of that profession would be more apparent in GvG than in PvE.

Can I get some opinions from both the PvE and GvG players on this?
SnipiousMax
SnipiousMax
Perfectly Elocuted
• #2
People complain, honestly, because it is something new. I'm sure that once people settle into the changes, it will balance out. Right now everyone has wanted to play one of the two new characters, and since 'Sins have been the dominate choice, they've left a bad taste in people's minds. Once people start falling back into their standby classes, 'Sins will be left with those that truely enjoy/excell at playing them, and their usefulness will be more apparent in PvE. As for GvG.... It is going to be a long time coming before Warriors lose their dominance.
B
Bloodied Blade
Desert Nomad
• #3
There are ways you can make a good pvp assassin, it's just a tad difficult to reliably fight other players who can just make mincemeat out of you so easily (mainly because we have such low anti-melee defense to things like spells and touch skills when outside of things like shadow form or when our target is in Shroud of Silence).

Some people may enjoy assassins in pvp, but from my perspective it's just a lot easier and more efficient to pvp with an elly or some character with damage spells (sure, interrupt/anti-cast mesmers and rangers are a pain... but that's the price for 3-5 shotting everything that gets into melee).
K
Kern Wolf
Krytan Explorer
• #4
I was actually wondering if GvG groups might use Assassins to go after enemy spellcasters, rather than using them as melee fighters. Again, I havent done GvG; but I have noticed that groups will use Warriors to go after opposing warriors, as well as spellcasters. I'm wondering if the Assassin has the advantage to get to the spellcasters faster than warriors do...
Ruhern
Ruhern
Ascalonian Squire
• #5
I'm thinking soon you might see a GvG team that utilizes MULTIPLE assassins for a quick strike on a target. Shadow Step in, perform a combo, Shadow Step out multiplied by 5 or 6 all at once. Catch them off guard. But what do I know, I never GvG.
Mandy Memory
Mandy Memory
Desert Nomad
• #6
Assassin is the mesmer of melee.

Near useless in pve and good in pvp. (Perhaps not as good as a mesmer...but still fairly good)
W
Warskull
Site Contributor
• #7
Assassins aren't for the masses. Most players in Guild Wars look for straight forwards 2-3 button PvE builds. Spiteful spirits or Self-Mending W/Mo tanks are good examples of this. They are extremely difficult to screw up playing. Assassins are in the same boat as mesmers, they are strong classes. They tend to excel in PvP situations far more than in PvE. However they can still be strong in PvE, they just require a much higher level of play than most other classes.

If you play an assassin like a tank you will have about as much success as if you played a warrior as a healer. The class just wasn't meant to be played that way.
Laura Whitefox
Laura Whitefox
Academy Page
• #8
I totaly agree with Warskull. Just my thoughts aswell.
p
prencher
Academy Page
• #9
"Near useless in pve"? You must've been playing with tank-sins then. When you have one or two good assassins you'll definitely feel it, those enemy healers and spike mobs going down in the beginning of the fight.
S
Shendaar
Krytan Explorer
• #10
Quote: Originally Posted by Warskull
If you play an assassin like a tank you will have about as much success as if you played a warrior as a healer. The class just wasn't meant to be played that way. I love to disagree with that statement. It all depends on your build. Trying to tank and kill a warrior with no defensive skills but a couple of teleport skills and the not so good Shadow Refuge is just plain stupid. But using Flashing Blades, I can say that I killed atleast 85% of all the warriors I met solo. I even tanked two warriors and one assassin once and succesfully killed the sin and one of the warrior before sending the other one running for his life.

Of course my build is far from invincible and it has its share of drawback, but saying that the assassin are absolutely not meant for tanking and that the only effective way to go is to teleport all over the map is just plain false ... I know the dead luxons warriors/assassins over there at Fort Aspenwood have something to say about it.
g
getchoo
Ascalonian Squire
• #11
i was using my heal monk and got heavily hit by a korean or jap team or w/e with 3 asns n a prot monk from what i saw they opened with some elite skill like palm something 1 had jagged strike then they hit with fox fangs followed by death blossom wich just destroyed me. if i was using a prot build they would have been pretty much useless. you can solo trolls and griffs with a a/mo using mending live vic vig spirit death blossom balth arura healing hands wich from what i tried works pretty good
g
getchoo
Ascalonian Squire
• #12
n btw how the hell are mesmers weak pve i solo uw using one
j
just rude
Frost Gate Guardian
• #13
new with 70al, so it sucks I guess.

In actuality they can be run anywhere, anytime, IF in good hands. Maybe the first class, a noob can't even pretend to be, in any real pve or pvp combat.

BTW, +15 always -10 armor zealous max damg daggers of perfect shelter going up on auction, 200k if u pm me.
f
fallot
I'm the king
• #14
Quote: Originally Posted by getchoo
n btw how the hell are mesmers weak pve i solo uw using one Any class can get to 55 health and use Protective Spirit, its not argument for their efficacy in PvE.
B
Blkout
Krytan Explorer
• #15
Quote: Originally Posted by Warskull
Assassins aren't for the masses. Most players in Guild Wars look for straight forwards 2-3 button PvE builds. Spiteful spirits or Self-Mending W/Mo tanks are good examples of this. They are extremely difficult to screw up playing. Assassins are in the same boat as mesmers, they are strong classes. They tend to excel in PvP situations far more than in PvE. However they can still be strong in PvE, they just require a much higher level of play than most other classes.

If you play an assassin like a tank you will have about as much success as if you played a warrior as a healer. The class just wasn't meant to be played that way.
Couldn't agree more, and as an Assassin that plays with a bow instead of daggers, I rarely ever die and often I'm the last one standing in my party, however, it's very frustrating when I can't get a group to pick me up so I stand around like a Mesmer in Prophecies begging people to add me. Once they do and see how valuable I am, it's ok, but I have to stick with that group as long as possible if I want to continue playing without begging for PUGS.
B
Blkout
Krytan Explorer
• #16
Quote: Originally Posted by getchoo
n btw how the hell are mesmers weak pve i solo uw using one Solo'ing any part of the game means you are just using a specific build for a specific area of the game. That doesn't mean a preofession is strong or even helpful to other team members. However, I am not arguing that a Mesmer isn't useful in PvE, but your argument is very weak in that regard.