Build:A/Mo Black Widow

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This build has been archived and is not updated by the GuildWiki community.

This build is only maintained for historical reference and may contain incorrect or outdated information.

Reason: Nerfs to Shadow Prison, Feigned Neutrality, and Shadow of Haste. No longer run by a majority of the PvP player base.

1 Attributes and Skills
2 Equipment
3 Role
4 Usage
5 Counters
6 Variants
- 6.1 Hidden Spider Variant
7 Notes
8 Templates

The Black Widow uses powerful hit-and-run techniques to single out and obliterate squishy foes, while using shadow steps to escape danger. In addition to a snare, conditions, and a healthy bit of spike damage, the Black Widow employs survival skills that can be used both offensively and defensively.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Monk	Attribute Rank
Dagger Mastery	11 + 1
Critical Strikes	11 + 1 + 1
Deadly Arts	6 + 1
Shadow Arts	6 + 1
Protection Prayers	2

[edit] Equipment

Full Survivor's Insignia
Vampiric, +5 energy, +30 HP Daggers
Poisoner's, +5 Energy, +30 HP Daggers
Elemental, +5 energy, +30 HP Daggers
+7 below 50%, +30 HP, 20% enchanting length staff

[edit] Role

This character is most commonly used as a ganker and soloist in GvG. His primary functions are killing enemy NPCs, killing opposing enemy gankers, and harrying enemy flaggers. This is done on a split away from the group. This character is strongest in 1 or 2 man splits.

[edit] Usage

Activate Shadow of Haste outside of the enemy base. When you need to escape, activate Deadly Paradox to teleport out. Keep in mind the restrictions of shadow stepping, so you don't get stuck in their base.
Kill NPCs. The few types you will see are...

Footmen. Unleash combo, hit them once or twice and they'll drop.
Archers use Troll Unguent when they are around 75% Health. Be prepared to interrupt it.
Knights should be carefully aggro'd one at a time. They are tough, and spam Healing Signet when low on health. Always be ready to teleport out of an engagement with a Knight.
The Bodyguard is a powerful Elementalist, and will damage you severely if he isn't killed quickly. One combo and a few attacks should do it.

At the flagstand, your skills are no less beneficial. Use Feigned Neutrality to soak up damage while the rest of your team attacks; use Disrupting Dagger to interrupt critical skills (such as Healing Signets or Avatars).
Use Mending Touch to remove conditions from you (and your partner, in a two-man gank).

[edit] Counters

Repeated application of conditions, such as Blindness from Blinding Surge. Try interrupting such skills with Disrupting Dagger.

Excessive condition removal from skills like Mending Touch. Try to interrupt it if possible, otherwise time usage of Twisting Fangs such that the conditions are still applied from the second strike.

This build carries no hex-removal. Feigned Neutrality is useful for countering some degeneration, but the best option is to simply escape.

Blocking. Should the combo fail, try to escape as soon as possible to avoid being targeted.

For GvG, Monk runners carrying Light of Deliverance or Zealous Benediction will make killing NPC's more difficult. Consider having a partner to deal with this.

Mesmers carrying Shatter Enchantment will turn Feigned Neutrality from a self-heal to potentially fatal damage. Consider retreating then healing when facing Mesmers.

Interruption will stop the chain dead in its tracks. If facing an interrupter, time your attack skill usage and determine the best time to use them. Conversely, you can try to interrupt enemy Assassins using this build with Disrupting Dagger.

Hex Breaker

[edit] Variants

Most of the variant skills can replace Mending Touch, being the main optional of the build:

This build can do a healthy amount of damage, but it can't always kill a target on degen alone. Possible choices for extra attack skills could be Malicious Strike, Black Lotus Strike, Black Mantis Thrust, or Impale to be used after Twisting Fangs.
Expose Defenses can be used to counter Block and Evade, as well as allowing you to trigger Black Spider Strike without waiting for Shadow Prison to recharge, allowing you to get off your attack chain more often.
Siphon Speed can also be an effective qualifier for Black Spider Strike. Having multiple hexes can make Signet of Twilight a powerful enchantment stripper, though not completely necessary.
Deadly Paradox can be swapped for Dash, allowing faster speed boosts to escape danger, at the cost of less frequent usage of Feigned Neutrality.
Mending Touch can be replaced for Resurrection Signet in arenas where you feel it necessary.

[edit] Hidden Spider Variant

Assassin / Monk	Attribute Rank
Dagger Mastery	11 +1 +3
Critical Strikes	10 +1
Shadow Arts	10 +1
Protection Prayers	1

Possible skills for the optional slot: Resurrection Signet, Feigned Neutrality, Heart of Shadow, Critical Eye.
Works the same as Black Widow, only use Shadow Walk as the teleport, and Dash as its cancel.
Attack targets not already underfire to ensure that Hidden Caltrops is not prematurely ended.

[edit] Notes

This build specializes in large-scale battles, especially one using split tactics, like Alliance Battles, Competitive Missions like Fort Aspenwood and the Jade Quarry, and GvG.
Against heavily-armored foes or foes that are being healed periodically, it is best to team up with an offensive ally to take down a target, using the hexes and conditions to incapacitate it for easier killing.