User:Slic/Build:A/W Steel Wastrel

This Assassin build is designed for one purpose: to spike down a full health target in no more than 5 seconds without having to act like a frontliner in the process. This build was inspired by the pre-nerf Assassin spikes. It is one of my many attempts at reviving the heart of this game - true spiking. This is a tribute to what made RA/TA exciting in the days of old - fast, risky but reliable full health solo spikes that helped encourage fast-paced, twitch-based gameplay with emphasis on not only habit and knowledge of the game but also on good timing, twitch and quick decision making (in other words, natural talent).

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=A/W name="Steel Wastrel" crit=12+1 dagg=12+1+1] [Tiger Stance][Falling Lotus Strike][Mark of Instability][Twisting Fangs][Falling Spider][Blades of Steel][Wastrel's Collapse][Resurrection Signet][/build]

Equipment

 * Survivors and/or radiant, make sure you have at least 30 energy when starting a spike.
 * Vampiric daggers with 15^50 or 15^stance and +30hp -- what you should be using for most of your spikes.
 * Zealous daggers with 15^50 or 15^stance and +30hp -- if you're slightly short on energy but need to spike.
 * The usual shield sets.

Usage

 * Use Wastrel's Collapse, then immediately Tiger Stance -> Falling Lotus Strike -> Mark of Instability -> Twisting Fangs -> Falling Spider -> Blades of Steel.
 * The trick is to hit Twisting Fangs before the target has a chance to run away, so make sure you queue it up as soon as you start activating Mark of Instability. Unless you shadow step to the farthest distance from and also directly behind the target's running path (which is a random occurrence) the target does not have the 0.25-0.5 second window to run outside your attack range before you start activating Twisting Fangs.  In this regard, timing is very important.
 * If you are unsure whether or not the target is about to use a skill, wait until they use a skill and then take advantage of the 0.75 second aftercast inherent to most skills. However, be aware that certain non-zero activation skills do not have an aftercast delay.

Counters

 * General anti-melee counters (blind, block, hexes, etc.).
 * Anti-knockdown skills such as Balanced Stance and Ward of Stability.

Variants

 * Replace the res sig with a speed buff such as Dash or a self heal such as Shadow Refuge in AB/CM.
 * Replace Tiger Stance with Flurry or Frenzy. Frenzy is not recommended without a cancel stance such as Dash.