User:Xiay/Condition Spike

An Assassin that is built to gank alongside a Mesmer with Fragility, although the character can easily kill by itself.

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=assassin/necro deadly=12+1+1 dagger=9+1 crit=8 death=5][dancing daggers][mantis touch][twisting fangs][virulence][signet of toxic shock][signet of deadly corruption][shadow walk][dash][/build]

Equipment

 * Survivor Insignias.
 * Restoration, Clarity, and Superior Vigor runes.
 * A staff with double 10% universal fast cast mods, 20% universal spell recharge mod, and +5 armor.
 * Vampiric daggers with +15% damage over 50% health and +5 armor. Also keep a +5 energy variant in inventory and set of Zealous daggers in your inventory (these could possibly be the same set).
 * A +30 energy set. Won't be needed often, but it's wise to have the set anyway.
 * A spear + shield set. Keep all kinds of various shields in your inventory. The spear should have +30 health and lengthened cripple duration. Have both -5 energy and +5 energy versions in your inventory. Also be sure to have a spear with lengthened poison duration in your inventory to use on the Guild Lord when needed. Since conditions expire 50% faster on him (rounded down), you need this spear for the poison from Virulence to last long enough when you use Virulence + Signet Deadly Corruption + Signet Toxic Shock.

Usage

 * Use Dancing Daggers on recharge and cast with your staff whenever possible. The pressure this skill provides is good.
 * Use Mantis Touch when a snare is needed and to activate Twisting Fangs or Virulence. Note that this is a FULL RANGE spell and Dancing Daggers doesn't actually have to hit (only be used) for this skill to become "unlocked" for usage.
 * Use Twisting Fangs to make things die. It's pretty good at that.
 * Use Virulence to power your Signets (and your teammate's Fragility). Remember that the target needs to have a condition on them for this to take effect.
 * Use Signet of Toxic Shock for free damage.
 * Use Signet of Deadly Corruption for even bigger free damage. Your target needs to be affected by 4 conditions to get the full effect. You don't necessarily need to use Virulence to achieve this. Mantis Touch + Twisting Fangs + one other condition from an ally does the trick too.
 * Use Shadow Walk to teleport to a foe (often for a sudden Twisting Fangs). Try to "anchor" yourself in the best spot possible.
 * Use Dash to teleport out of a sticky situation while affected by Shadow Walk and to run around the map or kite better.

Counters

 * Good interrupts.
 * Quick, mass condition removal (I.E. Restore Condition)
 * The lack of healing makes this a hard build to run in AB. A good team with a monk is advisable to be able to stay alive safely.

Variants

 * Rend Enchantments instead of Signet of Toxic Shock.
 * Black Mantis Thrust and Jungle Strike instead of Dancing Daggers and Mantis Touch. This makes the spike quicker, although more prone to melee hate.
 * Rigor Mortis is an option to counter blocking, if you're taking the more melee-oriented chain.
 * Impale For stuipid ammounts of extra damage and then Sadists Signet for a pathetic attempt at self heal. the extra damage makes it a Do or Die variant.