Build:A/W Critical Strikes Axe

This build is in the testing phase. Please join the discussion and rate this build if you have experience with this or closely related builds. This build has been designed for the following use: PvE general

Assassin Axe build utilizing the assassin primary attribute Critical Strikes, and the Anniversary Elite Shadow Theft. The usage of quick activation time attack skills enables this bar to deals both a large amount single target damage as well as AoE.

Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Warrior 12 + 1 + 3 Critical Strikes You have an additional 16% chance to critical hit. Whenever you critical hit, you get 3 Energy. Shadow Theft CoreAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Shadow TheftElite SkillShadow Step to target foe. For 21 seconds that foe's attributes are reduced by 5 and your attributes are increased by 5. This skill counts as a Lead Attack. PvE only.5¼20 Cyclone Axe CoreWarrior. Axe Mastery Cyclone AxeAxe AttackPerform a spinning axe attack striking for +4..10..13 damage to all adjacent opponents.54 Whirlwind Attack NightfallWarrior. Sunspear rank Whirlwind AttackMelee AttackAttack target and adjacent foes. Each attack that hits deals +13..20 damage. PvE only.61 Dismember CoreWarrior. Axe Mastery DismemberAxe AttackIf it hits, this axe blow will inflict a Deep Wound on the target foe, lowering that foe's maximum Health by 20% for 5..17..21 seconds.5 Malicious Strike NightfallAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Malicious StrikeMelee AttackIf this attack hits a foe suffering from a Condition, you deal +31 damage and this attack results in a critical hit.56 Critical Eye FactionsAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Critical EyeSkillFor 37 seconds, you have an additional 16% chance to land a critical hit when attacking. You gain 1 Energy whenever you score a critical hit.530 Critical Agility NightfallAssassin. Sunspear rank Critical AgilityEnchantment SpellFor 4 seconds and 1 second for each rank of Critical Strikes you attack 33% faster and gain 10..25 armor. This Skill reapplies itself every time you land a critical hit. PvE only.5130 Way of the Master EotNAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Way of the MasterEnchantment SpellFor 60 seconds, while holding a non-dagger weapon, you have an additional 35% chance to land a critical hit.5¼30   Template code

Variable skill slots

• If needed, can swap Whirlwind AttackNightfallWarrior. Sunspear rank Whirlwind AttackMelee AttackAttack target and adjacent foes. Each attack that hits deals +13..20 damage.
  PvE only.61 for Asuran ScanEotNNo Profession. Asura rank Asuran ScanHex SpellFor 9..12 seconds your attacks cannot miss target foe. Killing a foe hexed with Asuran scan removes 5% death penalty.
  PvE only.55 for heavy blind/block areas, but will reduce AoE damage greatly- Recommended to use build 2 instead if Asuran Scan is needed.

Variant

Use when Blinds and Stances prevent attacks

Variant: A/W Critical Strikes Axe Asuran Scan

Assassin / Warrior 12 + 1 + 3 Critical Strikes You have an additional 16% chance to critical hit. Whenever you critical hit, you get 3 Energy. Triple Chop FactionsWarrior. Axe Mastery Triple ChopElite Axe AttackAttack target foe and adjacent foes. Each attack that hits deals +10..34..42 damage.510 Cyclone Axe CoreWarrior. Axe Mastery Cyclone AxeAxe AttackPerform a spinning axe attack striking for +4..10..13 damage to all adjacent opponents.54 Dismember CoreWarrior. Axe Mastery DismemberAxe AttackIf it hits, this axe blow will inflict a Deep Wound on the target foe, lowering that foe's maximum Health by 20% for 5..17..21 seconds.5 Malicious Strike NightfallAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Malicious StrikeMelee AttackIf this attack hits a foe suffering from a Condition, you deal +31 damage and this attack results in a critical hit.56 Asuran Scan EotNNo Profession. Asura rank Asuran ScanHex SpellFor 9..12 seconds your attacks cannot miss target foe. Killing a foe hexed with Asuran scan removes 5% death penalty. PvE only.55 Critical Eye FactionsAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Critical EyeSkillFor 37 seconds, you have an additional 16% chance to land a critical hit when attacking. You gain 1 Energy whenever you score a critical hit.530 Critical Agility NightfallAssassin. Sunspear rank Critical AgilityEnchantment SpellFor 4 seconds and 1 second for each rank of Critical Strikes you attack 33% faster and gain 10..25 armor. This Skill reapplies itself every time you land a critical hit. PvE only.5130 Way of the Master EotNAssassin. Critical Strikes 16Way of the MasterEnchantment SpellFor 60 seconds, while holding a non-dagger weapon, you have an additional 35% chance to land a critical hit.5¼30   Template code

Equipment (Both Builds)

• 5x Nightstalker's Insignias
• 1x Rune of Superior Critical Strikes
• 1x Superior Rune of Vigor
• 2x Runes of Vitae or Runes of Attunement, up to player preference

Weapons

• Furious Max dmg Axe Of Enchanting - Use 100% of the time if you don't want to swap, use "Guided by Fate" or "I have the power!"
• Furious Max dmg Axe Of The Necromancer with "Guided by Fate" - If using the necro mod, have an enchant weapon to swap to for precasts.
• 16ar q9 tactic Shield of Devotion with "Sheltered by Faith"

Usage (Both Builds)

• Maintain Critical EyeFactionsAssassin. Critical Strikes Critical EyeSkillFor 10..30..37 seconds, you have an additional 3..13..16% chance to land a critical hit when attacking. You gain 1 Energy whenever you score a critical hit.530 , Critical AgilityNightfallAssassin. Sunspear rank Critical AgilityEnchantment SpellFor 4 seconds and 1 second for each rank of Critical Strikes you attack 33% faster and gain 10..25 armor. This Skill reapplies itself every time you land a critical hit.
  PvE only.5130 and Way of the MasterEotNAssassin. Critical Strikes Way of the MasterEnchantment SpellFor 60 seconds, while holding a non-dagger weapon, you have an additional 3..27..35% chance to land a critical hit.5¼30
• Use Shadow TheftCoreAssassin. Critical Strikes Shadow TheftElite SkillShadow Step to target foe. For 5..17..21 seconds that foe's attributes are reduced by 1..4..5 and your attributes are increased by 1..4..5. This skill counts as a Lead Attack.
  PvE only.5¼20 to engage.
• Use Asuran ScanEotNNo Profession. Asura rank Asuran ScanHex SpellFor 9..12 seconds your attacks cannot miss target foe. Killing a foe hexed with Asuran scan removes 5% death penalty.
  PvE only.55 as needed.
  • Spam Triple ChopFactionsWarrior. Axe Mastery Triple ChopElite Axe AttackAttack target foe and adjacent foes. Each attack that hits deals +10..34..42 damage.510 and Cyclone AxeCoreWarrior. Axe Mastery Cyclone AxeAxe AttackPerform a spinning axe attack striking for +4..10..13 damage to all adjacent opponents.54 , and Whirlwind AttackNightfallWarrior. Sunspear rank Whirlwind AttackMelee AttackAttack target and adjacent foes. Each attack that hits deals +13..20 damage.
    PvE only.61
• Apply DismemberCoreWarrior. Axe Mastery DismemberAxe AttackIf it hits, this axe blow will inflict a Deep Wound on the target foe, lowering that foe's maximum Health by 20% for 5..17..21 seconds.5 as needed, follow with Malicious StrikeNightfallAssassin. Critical Strikes Malicious StrikeMelee AttackIf this attack hits a foe suffering from a Condition, you deal +10..26..31 damage and this attack results in a critical hit.56

Counters

Build 1:

• Blind or blocking
• Enchantment removal

Build 2:

• Enchantment removal