Forum Link Code:[url=]A-W Aggressive Promise[/url]
This build is designed for PvE and excels at the ability to spike enemy targets one after
another with rapid and deadly efficiency. It has complete energy
management and is able to kill targets perpetually in cycles of
just 6.0112 seconds. It operates especially well with Heroes and Henchmen as they intuitively
and immediately attack your target.
Attributes and Skills
- The Optional Slot is highly recommended to be used for a backup
hex in instances where Assassin's
Promise fails. It should preferably have a short recharge time
(no more than 15 seconds) so that you can still perform your attack
chain with reasonable frequency. It can also be used as a cover hex
to prevent Assassin's Promise from being removed. Suggested hexes
that meet this criterion as well as provide counters to melee
defenses include Siphon Speed and Expose Defenses. However, if some of
your party members implement hexes as well you may find this
unnecessary and choose to use a resurrection skill or signet of
capture instead.
Equipment
Armor: You can choose whatever armor style suits
you best.
Weapon: Daggers. It is not important to the build whether
they deal piercing damage or slashing
damage.
Usage
Unimpeded Skill Cycle (6.0112 sec to
complete)
Preparation Stage (1.75 sec to complete + 0.75 sec aftercast = 2.5 sec
total):
Attack Chain (3.5112 sec to complete):
Analysis:
- Assassin's Promise is the essential element of this build. It
allows you to deliver a powerful skill chain repeatedly and
provides a bonus of 15 energy to do it.
- Death's Charge is the perfect shadow step in this situation. Its normal
recharge time of 45 seconds is completely bypassed thanks to
Assassin's Promise and, therefore, you can save crucial time by not
having to run to a single enemy. It also provides a significant
bonus of 76 health per target when you start taking damage.
- Burst of Aggression dramatically increases the speed in which
you perform your melee attacks, cutting off a total of 1.8088
seconds from what the attack chain's duration would have been
otherwise. The 151.5% faster animation also looks awesome and
epitomizes meaning of an assassination.
- Black Lotus Strike is implemented as a midpoint energy boost to
help Assassin's Promise completely compensate for the 40 energy
used every cycle. It easily fits into the attack chain due to its
prerequisite of a hex.
- Twisting Fangs is a powerful component of your attack,
utilizing the conditions bleeding and deep wound to further the target's imminent
doom.
- Black Spider Strike can function as an alternate starting point
if Black Lotus Strike fails. It also inflicts poison which when stacked with
the bleeding allows you to kill your target even if it escapes out
of range.
- Blades of Steel does the maximum of +50 damage in this
combination and provides a powerful finishing move to the
spike.
Damage Output
- Average = 325.36427082792872344241974463302
(84.730278861439771729796808498182 % of the health of a level 20
target)
- Maximum = 386.21435 (100.5766536458333... % of the health of a
level 20 target)
- Minimum = 260.21435 (67.7641536458333... % of the health of a
level 20 target)
Analysis:
- These calculations are based upon the circumstances of your daggers having a damage
+15% inscription but do not factor in customization or
the effects of any weapon upgrades. The health lost through
bleeding and poison by the time your last strike hits is also
included in the equation.
- When calculating the health loss on a level 20 target it is
relevant to those with an armor level of 60 and you must remember that they
are under the condition of deep wound.
- From the above data you can see that unless all of your attacks
are critical
hits you will not kill your target exactly upon the conclusion
of Blades of Steel, but with a health degeneration of 7 it will
fall very soon after. However, even this is hardly ever necessary,
as your party members will have already easily compensated for the
remaining damage, often to the point where you will not even get to
finish your skill chain.
Unimpeded Energy Cycle
Energy lost (-40):
Energy gained (+45.64713333 on average with the possibilities
ranging from +40.01493333 to +58.01493333):
- Black Lotus Strike and Assassin's Promise bonus: +32
- Energy regeneration of 4: +8.01493333
- Average bonus from critical strikes: +5.6322
Analysis:
- These calculations apply to a perfect cycle of 6.0112 seconds
and, therefore, will not be accurate if your target dies before you
activate all of your attacks or does not die immediately after your
final attack. In both scenarios, you gain even more energy.
- As you can see, this build has complete energy management and
even the 13 points in Critical Strikes is not needed to help, but
it is still necessary for damage.
Counters
Any form of failure to fulfill Assassin's Promise will
greatly reduce the effectiveness of this build. The main causes of
failure include the following:
You can also counter many of these counters:
- If you carry a backup hex or some of your party members use
hexes you will not be shut down for 45 seconds.
- An additional hex can also be used to cover Assassin's Promise
and prevent it from being removed in the first place.
- The hex Expose Defenses prevents you from being
blocked or evaded.
- The hex Siphon Speed aids you against kiting
targets.
- Targeting enemy Monks
first and the swiftness in which you are able to pull of spikes will greatly reduce the
threat of effective healing.
Variants
1.
- This attack chain variant is not as powerful as the original
but provides a knockdown, which can be very useful to shutdown
enemies that are annoying to kill. Your two remaining attacks will
also be able to land before the target can get up.
2. When engaging very hearty targets, such as those in the Domain of
Anguish, you may consider bringing another attack if your party
can cover you for a backup hex. Impale is highly recommended due to its quarter-second
cast, but if armor is a problem Signet
of Toxic Shock may be more effective.
Notes
This build is an evolved version of a previous build of mine: Build:A/any Promise of
the Black Spider
See also
Build:A/any Promise of
the Black Spider, Build:A/any Deadly
Promise, Build:A/any Blind Promises, Build:A/N Rinse and Repeat, Build:A/Mo Protected Promise
Assassin / Warrior 
