User:Marcdarc/My New Build

The Shuriken Assassin aims to deal repeated ranged earth damage against a veriety of foes, while ignoring conditions that reduce attack effectiveness, and applying a few helpful conditions of its own.

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=Assassin/Paragon name="Shuriken Assassin" deadl=12+3+1 cri=9+1 spe=9 sha=3+1][Dancing Daggers][Entangling Asp][Disrupting Dagger] [Crippling Dagger][Deadly Paradox][Deadly Haste][Assassin's Promise][Feigned Neutrality][/build]


 * Optional replacements for Feigned Neutrality are Signet of Malice or (with Eye of the North) Sadist's Signet. Running skills are also helpful, but be aware that Dash will cancel Deadly Paradox, so don't overlap them.

Equipment

 * Radiant Armor is best since this build spams many spells without neccessarily gaining much energy from Critical Strikes.
 * Poisonous Spear of Enchanting ("I Have the Power!"). Any +Armor Spear Grip will also work, as will 'of Fortitude'.
 * If you use a focus: Core of Devotion/Endurance. Have one "Live for Today" for a temporary energy boost, and another to cancel the -1 to energy regen.
 * If you use a shield: Handle of Devotion/Endurance. "Sheltered by Faith" or "Run for your Life!" are the best inscriptions, unless you feel like predicting the type of damage you will take (remember the Shrine Eles are lightning...)
 * Superior Rune in Deadly Arts, your choice on strength of rune for Critical Strikes.

Usage

 * Activate Deadly Haste in advance, since it has a long duration. Before beginning attacks, activate Deadly Paradox. Since you have no "Attack" skills, you can begin throwing daggers immidiately.
 * Dancing Daggers is your main damage source, dealing roughly 120 earth damage before armor. Use Entangling Asp to cause knockdown, particularily when a foes is using a long-casting spell, starting an attack chain, or something similar.
 * Crippling Dagger and Disrupting Dagger can be used as alternate damage sources, but they deal considerably less damage. Use them for their specialised purposes, i.e. Crippling Dagger on anyone who might be moving, Disrupting Dagger on anyone who is using a skill.
 * Right before an enemy dies, cast Assassin's Promise on them. If you don't you will eventually have to attack with spears to trigger Critical Strikes until you regain your energy.

Counters

 * Since this build uses spells, most anti-caster skills work well, however interrupts and Daze become less of a threat as the casting time for these spells is about 1/2 second.
 * Be especially aware of Diversion, since your advantage is quick spamming of cheap spells. However, if you are already close to killing a foe, simply cast Assassin's Promise, and all your skills will recharge.
 * Quick or istantaneous hex removal will take off Assassin's Promise, leaving you with no energy.

Variants

 * The use of Daggers is a more thematic variant, and lets you improve Critical Strikes by one point (since you can use a rune to meet the minimum 9 Mastery for Daggers). Using Daggers also allows you to choose a secondary profession with skills you may prefer:
 * Monks have Restful Breeze, which gives +10 health regen, even with 3 Healing Prayers.
 * Monks also have many No Attribute skills, which can easily be subbed in for the 8th skill slot.