Build:A/N Spinal Assassin
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This build is not favored by the
GuildWiki community.
The general consensus among users of GuildWiki is that this build is not viable. |
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A build using Spinal Shivers (or Shivers of Dread) in combination with the energy gain from critical strikes to interrupt an enemy a LOT of times.
[edit] Attributes and Skills
  Assassin / Necromancer |
Attribute Rank |
|---|---|
| Critical Strikes | 10 + 1 + 3 |
| Deadly Arts | 8+1 |
| Dagger Mastery | 8+1 |
| Curses | 11 |
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[edit] Equipment
Shrouded Armor for the extra energy. An Icy Dagger Tang is required to activate Spinal Shivers. A dagger with +5 energy instead of +15% damage is preferred.
[edit] Usage
Begin with Spinal Shivers and cover it with Parasitic Bond. Keep up Critical Eye at all times, and just attack away. For an added punch, use Way of the Empty Palm, Golden Phoenix Strike, and spam away at Repeating Strike. Finish the combo off with Critical Strike for an added boost in energy.
[edit] Counters
Energy denial works really well against this build as it relies heavily on its stores of energy to interrupt. Remove Spinal Shivers with Expel Hexes, or just remove it before Parasitic Bond is cast. Blind the assassin, or find some way to stop him from hitting the target, eg Guardian. Hex Breaker works well as it will protect against Spinal Shivers, which should be the first hex cast. If you see Hex Breaker cast, cast Parasitic Bond and THEN Spinal Shivers to remove Hex Breaker. You most likely will have to cast Parasitic Bond twice, because people usually put Hex Breaker right back on.
[edit] Survivability
This build has NO self heal other than parasitic bond, and that is terribly unreliable. So basically you are going berserker, and you'll be relying on your allies to heal you. It also lacks the ability to teleport out of the fray, speed up to evade enemies chasing you, or slow incoming enemies down. Nor can you inflict any kind of defensive condition, such as blind or cripple, to protect yourself when running away isn't an option.
[edit] Variants
Replace Way of the Empty Palm with and Golden Phoenix Strike with Palm Strike to free up a slot. Note that this will give you major energy problems if you spam Repeating Strike, and Critical Strike will not work as an energy management skill. Critical Strike may be replaced with Twisting Fangs for an added punch. Black Lotus Strike in place of Golden Lotus Strike can help a lot with energy, and also is not reliant on Way of the Empty Palm, freeing up both an elite and a slot. Repeating Strike is used mainly to deal more damage - it can be switched for
- Way of the Fox or Expose Defenses for a better chance to hit.
- Dark Prison to catch up to an enemy.
- Enduring Toxin will keep the enemy from running away.
- Black Lotus Strike for added damage and energy. Note that this has a really drastic recharge, but will fill up your energy bar fast.
- Plague Touch to keep conditions in check.
- Exhausting Assault will give you almost instant interrupt in case your attack speed is modified. Note that this isn't a great choice as it interrupts even without spinal shivers, but you will still take the energy penalty from it.
