cmlogu01
03-25-2008, 03:06 AM
Melee Assassin Guide
-This is not a guide you have to follow exactly. This is an incredibly easy character build so you can improvise on certain aspects of your character as you feel appropriate.-
Overview:
Basically, if the name didn’t give it away, a melee assassin is an assassin that mixes shadow masteries and martial arts. I made this file because, trap assassins are cool but it takes a long time to get to a level where you can do a lot of damage and use the good moves. Please don’t contradict me on this, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I prefer the awesome claw weapons and devastating speed of a melee assassin. And this guide is for dual claws, not a corny assassin with a shield. And for the record, all kick moves will be ignored, they wither in the shadow of superior claw attacks. And also I have neglected to get the synergies patch so this guide mostly ignores those.
Stat Displacement:
For most of the game until about level 20 I placed stats like this:
*Strength-2 points
*Dexterity-2 points
*Vitality-1 point
*Energy-none
I say none in energy because in this build, you can redeem any energy needed, by using the all powerful cobra strike. If at any point in the game you feel that you need more strength to use some new item, or dexterity to get better attack rating, feel free to. In Act IV I put 5 points in to dexterity for a couple of levels just because I needed a better percent chance to hit than what I was doing.
Skills:
It’s my personal opinion that a guide is hard to follow when they tell you to have 20 points here, 5 there, etc. So I won’t tell you exactly what to do but will provide guidelines so this guide isn’t worthless.
I really suggest pumping points into claw mastery throughout the game. Until you get to level six you won’t be tied up putting points into new moves so put more into claw mastery now and at any other times when you don’t need the skill points for other moves. The moves that I think are must have’s are:
*Claw Mastery-as I already said. It is one of the main places that you will put skills into.
*Tiger Strike-unless you really like it I would put 1 into it as a prerequisite
*Burst of Speed-an incredibly useful move. You will be using this throughout the entire game. One skill point is all you need here. If I were you I recommend assigning this skill a hotkey.
*Fists of Fire-I never used it much personally, I’d only put it as a prerequisite unless you want it for synergies on Phoenix Strike.
*Psychic hammer-please no comments. I know this move is completely useless, and you don’t have to have it if you don’t want it but It’s a prerequisite to shadow clone which can be very useful.
*Weapon Block-at the very most I’d put ten points into this. Again, at the very most. After that its chance of block starts to go up really slowly.
*Cloak of Shadows-not a favorite of mine, I never use it but it’s a prerequisite for shadow clone.
*Cobra Strike-one of the moves that you will use the most on this build. However I recommend only one point. At a third charge it absorbs 80%Life and mana. So one point is all you need.
*Shadow Warrior-a decent fighter to help you out and can also be used to distract enemies when running to your corpse. Only one point. Not worth wasting since shadow master is so much better.
*Claws of Thunder-this one’s pretty much up to you. If I were you I’d put 5 points tops into this awe inspiring attack. And it’s very versatile. You can either do high damage to one enemy or lower damage in a nova if you are surrounded.
*Blades of Ice-I don’t use this much. My merc freezes all enemies so why bother?
*Phoenix Strike-just feel free to put as many points as you want into this skill. Aside from good damage it also receives and gives synergies to all three elemental claw attacks. Just like claws of thunder it’s a very versatile move.
*Shadow Master-Worth putting tons of points into this skill. It has an extremely high rate of increase on its stats with every skill point and a low increase of mana cost. It will be a faithful servant with you until the bitter end. The end being when it dies and you summon another one.
Equipment:
This is in no way a gear dependant build. You don’t really need the extremely rare equipment that other guides would have you search for. But, I will say remind you again that this is a dual claw guide.
I recommend as you progress through the game, weapons like the cestus and blade talons served me well. They don’t have the low minimum of some others and if you get some relatively uncommon ones like a brutal blade talon with some elemental damage, even better. That’s what I used for a few Acts in a row. The scissors katars had too low of a minimum for my taste.
My character keeps a circlet and charm that each add about 14 to max damage.(You can find a better circlet online, I was just giving an example)
I haven't played up to hell so you can probably find much better stuff than I use.
Note: mana stealing equipment is not needed and I recommend you avoid it in search of high damage weapons. Leave life and mana stealing up to cobra strike.
Mercenaries:
I recommend the Act 2 holy freeze merc, and when still on normal I’d use the Act 3 cold merc. In this build it helps to have a backup who’s slowing your enemies.
Tips:
*On boss battles remember, since they have so much health, a third charge on cobra strike will keep your health full and make you practically untouchable. Your health will remain full until they have so little health that you can’t absorb much. But when it’s that low you know that they’re about to die. Just make sure to kill all enemies so it’s just you, your merc, and the boss. (And maybe a shadow warrior/master.)
*Although you can attack at light speed, you still should avoid getting surrounded. If you do I recommend an area effect attack like a 2nd charge on claws of thunder or using phoenix strike.
*If possible try to get the enemies in an area where they will get into a sort of line.
*If you want to plan out your skill distribution, use this link: http://www.d2items.com/skills.php
-I really had fun making my assassin, I hope you do too.-:)
http://www.geocities.com/diabloexp2/assassin.jpg
Sweet picture, right?
-This is not a guide you have to follow exactly. This is an incredibly easy character build so you can improvise on certain aspects of your character as you feel appropriate.-
Overview:
Basically, if the name didn’t give it away, a melee assassin is an assassin that mixes shadow masteries and martial arts. I made this file because, trap assassins are cool but it takes a long time to get to a level where you can do a lot of damage and use the good moves. Please don’t contradict me on this, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I prefer the awesome claw weapons and devastating speed of a melee assassin. And this guide is for dual claws, not a corny assassin with a shield. And for the record, all kick moves will be ignored, they wither in the shadow of superior claw attacks. And also I have neglected to get the synergies patch so this guide mostly ignores those.
Stat Displacement:
For most of the game until about level 20 I placed stats like this:
*Strength-2 points
*Dexterity-2 points
*Vitality-1 point
*Energy-none
I say none in energy because in this build, you can redeem any energy needed, by using the all powerful cobra strike. If at any point in the game you feel that you need more strength to use some new item, or dexterity to get better attack rating, feel free to. In Act IV I put 5 points in to dexterity for a couple of levels just because I needed a better percent chance to hit than what I was doing.
Skills:
It’s my personal opinion that a guide is hard to follow when they tell you to have 20 points here, 5 there, etc. So I won’t tell you exactly what to do but will provide guidelines so this guide isn’t worthless.
I really suggest pumping points into claw mastery throughout the game. Until you get to level six you won’t be tied up putting points into new moves so put more into claw mastery now and at any other times when you don’t need the skill points for other moves. The moves that I think are must have’s are:
*Claw Mastery-as I already said. It is one of the main places that you will put skills into.
*Tiger Strike-unless you really like it I would put 1 into it as a prerequisite
*Burst of Speed-an incredibly useful move. You will be using this throughout the entire game. One skill point is all you need here. If I were you I recommend assigning this skill a hotkey.
*Fists of Fire-I never used it much personally, I’d only put it as a prerequisite unless you want it for synergies on Phoenix Strike.
*Psychic hammer-please no comments. I know this move is completely useless, and you don’t have to have it if you don’t want it but It’s a prerequisite to shadow clone which can be very useful.
*Weapon Block-at the very most I’d put ten points into this. Again, at the very most. After that its chance of block starts to go up really slowly.
*Cloak of Shadows-not a favorite of mine, I never use it but it’s a prerequisite for shadow clone.
*Cobra Strike-one of the moves that you will use the most on this build. However I recommend only one point. At a third charge it absorbs 80%Life and mana. So one point is all you need.
*Shadow Warrior-a decent fighter to help you out and can also be used to distract enemies when running to your corpse. Only one point. Not worth wasting since shadow master is so much better.
*Claws of Thunder-this one’s pretty much up to you. If I were you I’d put 5 points tops into this awe inspiring attack. And it’s very versatile. You can either do high damage to one enemy or lower damage in a nova if you are surrounded.
*Blades of Ice-I don’t use this much. My merc freezes all enemies so why bother?
*Phoenix Strike-just feel free to put as many points as you want into this skill. Aside from good damage it also receives and gives synergies to all three elemental claw attacks. Just like claws of thunder it’s a very versatile move.
*Shadow Master-Worth putting tons of points into this skill. It has an extremely high rate of increase on its stats with every skill point and a low increase of mana cost. It will be a faithful servant with you until the bitter end. The end being when it dies and you summon another one.
Equipment:
This is in no way a gear dependant build. You don’t really need the extremely rare equipment that other guides would have you search for. But, I will say remind you again that this is a dual claw guide.
I recommend as you progress through the game, weapons like the cestus and blade talons served me well. They don’t have the low minimum of some others and if you get some relatively uncommon ones like a brutal blade talon with some elemental damage, even better. That’s what I used for a few Acts in a row. The scissors katars had too low of a minimum for my taste.
My character keeps a circlet and charm that each add about 14 to max damage.(You can find a better circlet online, I was just giving an example)
I haven't played up to hell so you can probably find much better stuff than I use.
Note: mana stealing equipment is not needed and I recommend you avoid it in search of high damage weapons. Leave life and mana stealing up to cobra strike.
Mercenaries:
I recommend the Act 2 holy freeze merc, and when still on normal I’d use the Act 3 cold merc. In this build it helps to have a backup who’s slowing your enemies.
Tips:
*On boss battles remember, since they have so much health, a third charge on cobra strike will keep your health full and make you practically untouchable. Your health will remain full until they have so little health that you can’t absorb much. But when it’s that low you know that they’re about to die. Just make sure to kill all enemies so it’s just you, your merc, and the boss. (And maybe a shadow warrior/master.)
*Although you can attack at light speed, you still should avoid getting surrounded. If you do I recommend an area effect attack like a 2nd charge on claws of thunder or using phoenix strike.
*If possible try to get the enemies in an area where they will get into a sort of line.
*If you want to plan out your skill distribution, use this link: http://www.d2items.com/skills.php
-I really had fun making my assassin, I hope you do too.-:)
http://www.geocities.com/diabloexp2/assassin.jpg
Sweet picture, right?