Just like the title implies, this is a sword-wielding assassin build. I Decided I should probably give the build an actual name, so I chose that. Mostly because I thought it sounded cool, but because this build attacks fast as hell too.
Weapon: Zealous sword of Enchanting, focus with +health and armor while enchanted.
Preferred Armor: Nightstalkers.
Attributes/Runes:
Swordsmanship 12
Shadow Arts 8 (6+2)
Critical Strikes 15 (11 +1 +3)
Skills:
Hundred Blades (E)/Quivering Blade (E)
Gash/Wild Blow (only take WB if you want to go against very high-level monsters)
Flurry
Caltrops (This is a utility slot in PvE, since the cripple is useless there.)
Shadow Refuge
Critical Defenses
Sharpen Daggers
Critical Eye
This is a damage build. But unlike with daggers, you can continue the damage endlessly, and switch to new targets immediately after yours dies. You just can't spike with it.
If you take Quivering Blade over Hundred Blades you'll be able to kill single targets more easily, but it'll become slightly harder to maintain Critical Defenses and you won't have the ability to spread bleeding to multiple targets. The AoE of HB is only really missed in PvE though, since it's such an insanely low-range.
Flurry is widely considered a completely worthless skill, but with this build almost every attack is a critical (around 40% chance), and because of that, you won't even notice the drop in damage (it might not even take place on criticals with the numbers I'm getting). It also helps you charge Gash much faster.
Hundred Blades might also seem fairly worthless to you, but the damage with it is actually decent since you typically get double criticals, and that's just on a single target. The damage get's pretty crazy when you're using it on multiple targets, especially since it's criticals will trigger bleeding on everyone, like a melee version of the Bloody Barrage build. Also, it shaves 1 strike off of Gash.
Because of the insanely rapid striking of this build, and the very high critical rate, you will have absolutely no energy issues at all with this build if you have a Zealous sword. Also, because of all of the constant criticals (and the Enchanting mod) you will never even see Critical Defenses even begin flashing as long as you're attacking. Of course, you're a little screwed against someone who likes to block/evade, so you should be targeting casters.
Obviously, Caltrops is meant to keap people from running from you, and Shadow Refuge is a great self heal.
I Timed myself against a 60 AL target dummy, and I can consistently kill them in 12 seconds with this. It also does well against the 100 AL dummy, but the damage loss from Flurry becomes more apparent against it. 12 seconds obviously isn't a lot, unless you consider that this is constant and consistent damage, not spiking.
With this build, you'll be throwing out bleeding to people like candy, and that makes it easy to cast Gash every chance you get, so you can also toss out a lot of Deep Wound.
Even without the Zealous mod, I had only a few energy issues, I was still able to endlessly spam my attacks. So if you want to up your damage even more, you can easily take a vampiric mod instead, and you should actually end up gaining much more health than you lose.
Assassin Swordsman
Rikimaru
fallot
If this build can spike, my left testicle can read. I'm not saying its bad, just don't say it can do something it obviously can't do.
Rikimaru
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallot
If this build can spike, my left testicle can read. I'm not saying its bad, just don't say it can do something it obviously can't do.
You haven't even played it. Palm Strike does 80 through armor damage every 10 seconds, jaihnzenju strike can easily do 60+, and wild blow does atleast 40 almost every time. And If I got a +30 health sword and +health focus, then did the Tyrian +attribute quests, I could get a superior shadow rune, drop the base amount to 7, and probably get 12 base critical strikes. Then Palm Strike would do around 100 through armor damage, and I'd be landing criticals like mad.
-Edit- Wait, no. Palm Strike should do 90 with 16 Critical Strikes.
-Edit- Wait, no. Palm Strike should do 90 with 16 Critical Strikes.
fallot
There is still no "spike" to this build. That implies a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Palm Strike + Jaizhenju Strike + Wild Blow is not a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Sever Artery + Gash + Final Thrust does way more in the same duration, even being an Assassin primary.
wsmcasey
Unless they are chained attacks that almost instantly stack for instant damage then it's really not a spike build.
Question. Why would you go to the hastle of doing the 15 point attribute quests in tyria if you can do them on the starter island in cantha? It's much faster.
Question. Why would you go to the hastle of doing the 15 point attribute quests in tyria if you can do them on the starter island in cantha? It's much faster.
Rikimaru
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallot
There is still no "spike" to this build. That implies a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Palm Strike + Jaizhenju Strike + Wild Blow is not a large amount of damage in a short duration of time. Sever Artery + Gash + Final Thrust does way more in the same duration, even being an Assassin primary.
Well... Deep Wound is pretty strong. You need 8 or 10 adrenaline for Final Thrust though, that takes a while to build, with this you can run in, deal roughly 180 damage plus bleed and (if they try hitting back) poison. One attack recharges after only 5 seconds, another recharges after 8, and the elite recharges after only 10.
Also, the ranged cripple is fun as hell when you have your team chasing someone down...
-Edit- Oh, I thoguht they would stack with the Canthan ones...
*Shrug* It's still a great build.
And the attacks do go off nearly instantly. You finish them faster than a dagger 4 hit chain anyway. I'm not going to argue the spike thing anymore though, whether you count it as spike damage or not, it's still a great build.
Also, the ranged cripple is fun as hell when you have your team chasing someone down...
-Edit- Oh, I thoguht they would stack with the Canthan ones...
*Shrug* It's still a great build.
And the attacks do go off nearly instantly. You finish them faster than a dagger 4 hit chain anyway. I'm not going to argue the spike thing anymore though, whether you count it as spike damage or not, it's still a great build.
wsmcasey
I see 2 problems here.
1) no res sig
2) no self heal to counter conditions.
If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.
edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria.
1) no res sig
2) no self heal to counter conditions.
If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.
edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria.
fallot
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rikimaru
I'm not going to argue the spike thing anymore though, whether you count it as spike damage or not, it's still a great build.
Its fine, I didn't want to turn this into an argument. I never said the build was bad you know 
.
.
wsmcasey
Ya, no offense. I'm just giving constructive criticism.
Rikimaru
Quote:
Originally Posted by wsmcasey
I see 2 problems here.
1) no res sig
2) no self heal to counter conditions.
If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.
edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria. Actually, I've been running this in Fort Aspenwood. So I guess, if I took a sig then I'd be a burden to the team
If you think you need a self heal, just replace critical defenses with shadow refuge or something.
And I just explained it already, I was talking about getting those quests in Tyria because I thought they would stack with the Canthan ones.
-Edit- The reason I have Critical Defenses over a heal is that the constant 72% evade chance gives you a much better means to stay alive if you have a healer, and in Fort Aspenwood it allows me to continue beating on something a while longer after the instant-kill Luxon Zerg (luxon warriors) spot me.
1) no res sig
2) no self heal to counter conditions.
If this is supposed to be a PvP build, then you need both, otherwise your a burden to your team.
edit: I'll say this again. If your building a PvE A/W to do PvP, then why would you do the 15 pt attribute quests in Tyria and not Cantha? It will take twice as long to groom that character in the land of Tyria. Actually, I've been running this in Fort Aspenwood. So I guess, if I took a sig then I'd be a burden to the team
If you think you need a self heal, just replace critical defenses with shadow refuge or something.
And I just explained it already, I was talking about getting those quests in Tyria because I thought they would stack with the Canthan ones.
-Edit- The reason I have Critical Defenses over a heal is that the constant 72% evade chance gives you a much better means to stay alive if you have a healer, and in Fort Aspenwood it allows me to continue beating on something a while longer after the instant-kill Luxon Zerg (luxon warriors) spot me.
S H I N O B I
I was using something similar in PVE...
Swd 12
Shadow 7 (6+1)
Crit 15 (11+1+3)
Sharpen daggs
Wild Blow (for constant crit def)
Jahenjzu (sp?) strk
Pure strk
Way of Perfection
Crit Def (75% evade at 15 crit)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref
(a swd with a 20% enchant duration helps out ALOT)
With this set up, I can tank up to 6 Jade Warriors outside Marketplace ^.^
I can basically bring all caster henchies and tank for them with this build... However, Shatter enchantment and blind is its worst enemy though...
I've also used a dagger version of this build
daggs 13/crit 15/shadow 7
jagged strk
fox fangs
Horns of the Ox
Falling Spider
Wild Blow (for contstant crit def)
Crit Def (75% block)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref
Just like in the swd build, a dagger with a 20% enchant duration will help out greatly with the length of Shadow ref and (especially) crit def....
I'm not sure how these 2 fair in PvP as I have not tried....
Swd 12
Shadow 7 (6+1)
Crit 15 (11+1+3)
Sharpen daggs
Wild Blow (for constant crit def)
Jahenjzu (sp?) strk
Pure strk
Way of Perfection
Crit Def (75% evade at 15 crit)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref
(a swd with a 20% enchant duration helps out ALOT)
With this set up, I can tank up to 6 Jade Warriors outside Marketplace ^.^
I can basically bring all caster henchies and tank for them with this build... However, Shatter enchantment and blind is its worst enemy though...
I've also used a dagger version of this build
daggs 13/crit 15/shadow 7
jagged strk
fox fangs
Horns of the Ox
Falling Spider
Wild Blow (for contstant crit def)
Crit Def (75% block)
Crit Eye
Shadow Ref
Just like in the swd build, a dagger with a 20% enchant duration will help out greatly with the length of Shadow ref and (especially) crit def....
I'm not sure how these 2 fair in PvP as I have not tried....
Bloodied Blade
Well, it's not really a spike build, but congradulations on finding a way to do something different with your assassin.
@S H I N O B I, Another way to tank those 6 Jade Warriors outside of Marketplace is probably something like this:
Golden Phoenix Strike
Critical Strike
Wild Blow
Critical Eye
Shadow Refuge
Critical Defenses
"Watch Yourself!"
Flashing Blades {e}
This should heal you, give you 75%+ defense against the Jade Warriors, heal, and provide armor for when they hit you. To top it off, the GPS --> Critical Strike is nice because Crit Strike is a Dual Attack...It really unloads the damage on single targets.
EDIT: With Flashing Blades + Crit Defenses (assuming 75% on Crit Defenses), they Jades will have (if my math is right, I'm rather tired tonight) a 18.75% chance to hit you. That makes the fight cake.
@S H I N O B I, Another way to tank those 6 Jade Warriors outside of Marketplace is probably something like this:
Golden Phoenix Strike
Critical Strike
Wild Blow
Critical Eye
Shadow Refuge
Critical Defenses
"Watch Yourself!"
Flashing Blades {e}
This should heal you, give you 75%+ defense against the Jade Warriors, heal, and provide armor for when they hit you. To top it off, the GPS --> Critical Strike is nice because Crit Strike is a Dual Attack...It really unloads the damage on single targets.
EDIT: With Flashing Blades + Crit Defenses (assuming 75% on Crit Defenses), they Jades will have (if my math is right, I'm rather tired tonight) a 18.75% chance to hit you. That makes the fight cake.
Rikimaru
*Shrug* I Don't care if it's not technically a spike build, I love this build. You should see the damage it can do. The damage-per-hit/skill is higher than with daggers, and much more easily spammed. The only real problem with the damage is that the time between skill swings is slower, and you only have 3 attacks. One of which doesn't even have +damage... But that auto-critical is great. I regularly take on two melee characters at a time with this build in PvP. Of course, I usually die just before or after one of them do.
In fact, I've never really lost to another assassin using this, and the only times I've lost to a warrior are when I underestimate them and don't use Critical Defenses.
In fact, I've never really lost to another assassin using this, and the only times I've lost to a warrior are when I underestimate them and don't use Critical Defenses.
Rikimaru
Yeah, I realized everyone was right, this does not deal spike damage, though the damage is good.
I've made a few changes, and the build is even better now. I don't remember exactly, but I might have shadow arts at 8 or 9 now, and criticals at 15.
I Suggest anyone that uses this build use a Zealous sword of Enchanting, with +15% damage while enchanted.
I've made a few changes, and the build is even better now. I don't remember exactly, but I might have shadow arts at 8 or 9 now, and criticals at 15.
I Suggest anyone that uses this build use a Zealous sword of Enchanting, with +15% damage while enchanted.
Lambentviper
may i ask where he said this build spiked in his first post?
or is fallot just assuming that all assassin builds spike?
Because it looks to me like he said this build "could deal decent damage"
or is fallot just assuming that all assassin builds spike?
Because it looks to me like he said this build "could deal decent damage"
Batou of Nine
Indeed. I am seeings lots of ridicule about ellegide "said" spike damage, when i read no such thing in the OP. Interesting. Maybe before he updated it today, it WAS in the post? idk...
Anywhoo, i use a similar build but as daggers, cause i like dual striking so damn MUCH! But ill give this a whirl for kicks and giggles. My build is fun for tanking all those stinking wammos in Aspenwood! lol i took on 3 wammos at once the other day, killed 1 face to face, one ran off and died from bleeding, and one just kept using Healing Hands... so that fight was pointless. LOL!
Anyway, way to think out of the box. props to that!
enjoy.
Anywhoo, i use a similar build but as daggers, cause i like dual striking so damn MUCH! But ill give this a whirl for kicks and giggles. My build is fun for tanking all those stinking wammos in Aspenwood! lol i took on 3 wammos at once the other day, killed 1 face to face, one ran off and died from bleeding, and one just kept using Healing Hands... so that fight was pointless. LOL!
Anyway, way to think out of the box. props to that!
enjoy.
Ruhern
Last edited by Rikimaru : Today at 07:57 AM. Reason: The Swordsman gets an upgrade.
He may have said it but then just edited it out.
He may have said it but then just edited it out.
Rikimaru
Heh, that was my mistake. It did origionally say spike damage, and when I removed that I said that I did in that little message at the bottom, but after I made some improvements I changed the message.
Lambentviper
ahh alright. Glad thats cleared up
Rikimaru
I've now made a massive upgrade to the build. Beautiful... 
Lambentviper
i like the upgrade, and i noticed a sword-sin in RA yesterday who hit my ranger for 82 damage and i was like, "wtf!? 
"
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Kijik Oni Hanryuu
Oh lord, a sin with a sword, I am really scared for the sins now, looks like another "tank" build. X.X Sin's can only use daggers for hit and run(which is a must) and bows for crit barrage. NO MORE TANKS WE ARENT TANKS!
Rikimaru
This isn't a tank. I Think it does survive well enouph to be up there slashing away though.
You think 82 damage is bad? Lol
If an assassin survives long enouph to get up 10 adrenaline, they can do 100+ with Final Thrust. One that uses FT is horrible though, I've tried it. Assassin + Adrenaline requirement = never going to land a skill.
You think 82 damage is bad? Lol
If an assassin survives long enouph to get up 10 adrenaline, they can do 100+ with Final Thrust. One that uses FT is horrible though, I've tried it. Assassin + Adrenaline requirement = never going to land a skill.
Kijik Oni Hanryuu
I still think an assassin shoukld only be in battle for about 10 secs at the most, this build needs a minute or two that's 50-110 seconds overtime, in which only 15-30 secs is needed to drop a sin, quite possible less. I do not discredit your idea I am just saying that this is the opposite direction we need the sin populous going.
S H I N O B I
Rikimaru - What happened to "Wild Blow" which was initially in your build? Isnt there a risk of losing Crit Def without it?
Kijik Oni Hanryuu - I understand your point, but IMO being forced to use a single play style is also kinda bad.... Most Classes have a variety of play styles you can use, I think its only fair that the Assassin be treated the same... I don't believe this build will make a person think its a tank, rather, I think this build will help keep the assassin in the fight for a longer duration compared to the usual hit and run play style.
Kijik Oni Hanryuu - I understand your point, but IMO being forced to use a single play style is also kinda bad.... Most Classes have a variety of play styles you can use, I think its only fair that the Assassin be treated the same... I don't believe this build will make a person think its a tank, rather, I think this build will help keep the assassin in the fight for a longer duration compared to the usual hit and run play style.
Rikimaru
You should try it Shinobi, there's no need at all for Wild Blow with it. Besides, every one of those skills are necessary to the build. I Could have taken Wild Blow over Seeking Blade, but that 1 second less reset makes a difference, and Seeking Blade does more damage.
The only things that will make you have a risk of losing Critical Defenses is blind (which would take it out whether you had WB or not) or block/evade stances. And Seeking Blade should critical consistantly enouph through one to keep it up. You could take WB instead if you wanted, but you would be sacrificing damage for more security in maintaining the enchantment.
Now that I think about it, the odds of it criticaling aren't good enouph to keap it up for long if they're dodging/blocking, and you could use it to end stuff like Tiger's Fury. I Still use it because of the extra damage though.
The problem is that, if you've seen how often this build scores criticals, an attack with an auto-critical as the only enhancement to damage isn't real appealing.
The only things that will make you have a risk of losing Critical Defenses is blind (which would take it out whether you had WB or not) or block/evade stances. And Seeking Blade should critical consistantly enouph through one to keep it up. You could take WB instead if you wanted, but you would be sacrificing damage for more security in maintaining the enchantment.
Now that I think about it, the odds of it criticaling aren't good enouph to keap it up for long if they're dodging/blocking, and you could use it to end stuff like Tiger's Fury. I Still use it because of the extra damage though.
The problem is that, if you've seen how often this build scores criticals, an attack with an auto-critical as the only enhancement to damage isn't real appealing.
Rikimaru
Wow, I just tried this out in Random Arena earlier. It might have been sort of a fluke, since I had a touch ranger on my team (I was never paying attention to where he was) but I was completely tearing casters apart within seconds.
Kijik Oni Hanryuu
Ya know I was thinking about it too Shinobi and I think Riki you should mark this as *smart sins only* I can see this build being great in the future, once the sin hate dies down, but for now I think we need the entire sin populus to do something that won't get them hurt, later, once things have calmed down, the elites of us can start bneing teh owningest 1337 maniacs with this build :-P
Rikimaru
I Switched Seeking Blade for Gash. With the damage that Gash puts out, the amount of bleeding this build causes, and the crazy attack speed, it was flat out stupid of me not to have put Gash there in the first place.
For some reason though, this build seems to die more easily than when I was using daggers... and I'm talking about going against casters. Because of CD, melee characters can't do much against me unless they do something so that I can't hit them and I lose it.
Turns out I was wrong, this doesn't die more easily than a dagger build, it's just that the build is a giant rapid button-masher, so it was hard for me to pay attention to things like hexes while using one skill after another. I was probably being taken out by stuff like Empathy, SS or Incidious Parasite.
For some reason though, this build seems to die more easily than when I was using daggers... and I'm talking about going against casters. Because of CD, melee characters can't do much against me unless they do something so that I can't hit them and I lose it.
Turns out I was wrong, this doesn't die more easily than a dagger build, it's just that the build is a giant rapid button-masher, so it was hard for me to pay attention to things like hexes while using one skill after another. I was probably being taken out by stuff like Empathy, SS or Incidious Parasite.
Rikimaru
I've played this in PvP alot now, and it does pretty well. I Don't remember how well it does compared to the dagger builds I've ran, but it's great. The only times I've gotten really messed up with it so far is when I get spiked by a few characters at once... which happens a lot in Alliance Battles. Apparently I'm a high-priority target though.
Kijik Oni Hanryuu
Sins always are a high priority target in AB, they can cap CPs alone, they can take out any selected target, they're just too damn good. Blinding Flash eles need to be high priority targets too X.X
Tingi
thats one bad assassin build, hundred blades is one of the worst elites in the game, and flurry...is jst plain crap.
gbgestey
Man, I CAN NOT get over how friendly everyone is in this forum? Look, just because you may not agree with choices of skills for his build doesn't mean it is crap or that you should put him down for trying it.
Rikimaru
I Already said in the OP that most people think those skills are worthless, and that they kind of are, but that the crazy critical-hit rate makes them work well.
Honestly, HB is still a little junky, but there's no better elite I could have used for this build. That's the problem with both warriors and assassins having pretty gimp elites in general...
Honestly, HB is still a little junky, but there's no better elite I could have used for this build. That's the problem with both warriors and assassins having pretty gimp elites in general...
audioaxes
i dont see how this is better than a normal swords warrior
Lambentviper
more energy, more energy regen, cooler armor, better attack animations, AND
if those dont float your boat, lets get more technical
This A/W takes advantage of the Assassins attribute: Critical Strikes.
And wudda ya know!? Its not available to non-assassin primaries!!
This build is better because it lets you dodge a bunch of attacks while hitting for super-bravo damage from Critical Strikes
if those dont float your boat, lets get more technical
This A/W takes advantage of the Assassins attribute: Critical Strikes.
And wudda ya know!? Its not available to non-assassin primaries!!
This build is better because it lets you dodge a bunch of attacks while hitting for super-bravo damage from Critical Strikes
salamanteri
That elite is a problem with this build. It's only avaible in last prophecie's mission.I would otherwise test this. 
Rikimaru
You can also get it from the explorable version of that mission where you fight the 4 constructs after taking out the 4 spirits protecting Shiro. The Warrior Construct has it. You can get it in the mission itself too, but I've heard the 4 classes the bosses are is random.
Yanman.be
I think I've seen someone with this build in RA like 2 hours ago...he was a pvp character, with an uncustomized Victo's Blade...he said it was better than any PvP sword. Go figure. ( Was it you Rikimaru? His name was Shing Jea ******** ( not posting names )
If you like Critical Hits, you should try axes....those hit even harder on crits
If you like Critical Hits, you should try axes....those hit even harder on crits
Rikimaru
It wasn't me. My only character is Kyo Onimura. Also, my sword is a Zealous Fellblade of Enchanting.
I've been running into some sword assassins too though. I Ran into a really crappy one in Aspenwood (using a different build).
-Edit- board Rank up! Hahahaha!
I Think it's really cool whenever I see one, because I had never seen any before I posted this build.
I've been running into some sword assassins too though. I Ran into a really crappy one in Aspenwood (using a different build).
-Edit- board Rank up! Hahahaha!
I Think it's really cool whenever I see one, because I had never seen any before I posted this build.