Forum Link Code:[url=]Rt-A Spirit of the Assassin[/url]
The Spirit of the Assassin build is a heavy pressure
build meant to combine the power of Spirit's
Strength with the speed and spammability of dagger attacks.
This build is primarily designed for the Random Arenas, but can be
adapted for other areas of PvP.
Attributes and Skills
Equipment
- Halcyon's Armor or armor with Radiant
Insignia to have additional energy for the combos. Alternatively, a
Blessed Insignia could be used for additional armor while
enchanted, or a Ghost Forge Insignia could be used for additional
armor with a weapon spell. The Ghost Forge Insignia has the
advantage of relying on weapon spells which can not be
removed.
- Zealous daggers of Enchanting
are preferred to help offset some of the costs of the skills.
- The best Vigor Rune
available to help offset the Superior Rune and increase overall
survival.
Usage
- Before engaging in combat, activate Spirit's Strength and
follow up with Vital Weapon.
- Proceed to attack your chosen target with your attack chain. As
long as you are enchanted these attacks should rarely miss (they
cannot be blocked or evaded).
- In between chains continue pressure with normal attacks. The
damage will still be notable, these attacks are susceptible to
evasion and blocking skills though.
- If you are ever blinded, activate Sight Beyond Sight to quickly
cancel the blind effect and prevent future applications for 20
seconds. Alternatively, if you suspect blinding from your target
apply the skill before engaging your target.
- When a target dies, or when you need to heal activate Feigned
Neutrality and proceed to move away from combat. At 7 seconds it
should be enough for a notable heal and the +80 armor should
minimize any incoming damage. Be careful not to use any other
skills or attack while this skill is active.
Notes
- The damage output is a respectable 38-48 base Damage per attack
with damage reaching closer to 80-100 during the attack chain or
crits.
- This build offsets most traditional counters to pressure builds
by removing, blocking, and blind from the mix.
Counters
- As this build is a pressure build, Weakness will lower the
overall damage, lessening the impact of the pressure. Though the
effect of this would be minimal as it would only affect base weapon
damage and lower attributes by 1.
- Relying on an enchantment for the additional damage, the build
is susceptible to enchantment removal. If such techniques are
suspected it is advisable to use sight beyond sight as a cover
enchantment. Alternately you could lay Feigned Neutrality on before
coming within casting range so that will get stripped instead.
- This build lacks speed boosts and snares making it extremely
susceptible to kiting. The Major Variant listed can overcome this
somewhat by adding a snare or speed boost to the optional
slot.
Major Variants
- This variation attempts to capture the strengths of the main
build while removing several weaknesses. The overall +Damage from
Spirits strength drops a bit in favor of a more variable combo.
Additionally the optional slot can be used on the ever popular Falling
Spider, OR a speed boost. This will allow for either a spike or
an increase in pressure.
- Consider using Deadly Paradox in the optional slot; this
would allow more frequent use of Feigned Neutrality.
- However by doing so you lose your unblockable attacks.
Minor Variants
- Other weapon skills can also be effective, more notable ones
are Resilient Weapon, and Weapon of
Warding, although the higher cost, and lower duration means you
are more susceptible to running out of energy.
- In Alliance Battle and Competitive
Mission battles, the Resurrection Signet can be removed and
replaced with another skill. Dark Escape is suggested as it can be used before
feigned neutrality to greatly increase the survivability of the
build.
- You can also put the 7 points from shadow arts into deadly
arts. Then you can use Impale as extra "unblockable" damage (and deep wound)
or Siphon
Speed to counter kiting. Both of these skills significantly
improve your offensive power. However this makes you reliant on
others to keep you alive.
See also
Ritualist / Assassin 
