Centered Thief Acrobat

[Andoris]

With the changes in U25.2 making it almost mandatory to take 18 rogue, I have reworked my TA build.

Build goals:

• High Trash DPS (AoE): Cleaves, Glancing Blows, Lay Waste, a lots of Sneak Damage
• Good Boss DPS: High Fort Bypass (90%), Deception, Sky high doublestrike, Good single target DPS (4,700+)
• High Surviability -- it doesn't need to tank a Death Knight, but it should be able to stand toe to toe with one: 38% Dodge, 109 PRR, Improved Defensive Roll (proc @ 50%; 80% chance), Respectable HP, High healing amp, Decent Saves, Strong Rogue skills: DD: 102 | Search: 117 | OL: 113 | Bluff: 78 | Hide/MS: 98
• Needs to be a Staff build (Intent was to play with the new TA tree) and the Rogue Icon

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Name: Ashenblade
Class Split: 18 Rogue / 2 Monk (1: Rogue; 2: Monk; 3-7: Rog; 8 Monk; 9-20 Rog)
Race: Human

Abilities:

Str: 34/38-- (13 base +6 tome +2 Completionist +1 GoTIB +8 item +2 ship +2 Lasting / +4 Tenser’s)
Dex: 58 / 64 -- (18 base +6 tome +7 Levels +2 completionist +2 Enh +11 item +3 insight +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting +4 Stance / +4 Tenser’s +2 Yugo)
Con: 38 / 42 -- (14 base +6 tome +2 completionist +1 ED +10 item +2 insight +1 GoTIB +2 Ship +2 lasting -2 Stance / +4 Tenser’s)
Int: 38 /41 -- (15 base +6 tome +2 completionist +1 GoTIB +8 Item +2 Insight +2 ship +2 Lasting / +11 Item)
Wis: 30 -- (9 base +6 tome +2 completionist +8 item +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting)
Cha: 21 -- (8 base +6 tome +2 completionist +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting)

Feats:

Passive Past Life: Paladin x3, Monk x3, Ranger x3, Rogue x3, Completionist, PDK x3
Epic Past Life: Doublestrike x3, Brace x3, Colors x3, Weapon x3, PoL&D x3, Deflect Energy x1
Base: Cleave (1), Power Attack (1), Completionist (3), Adept of Forms (6), Great Cleave (9), IC: Bludgeoning (12), Master of Forms (15), Improved Two Handed Fighting (18), Grand Master of Forms (21), Overwhelming Critical (24), Greater Two Handed Fighting (27)

Destiny: Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting (26), Perfect Two-Handed Fighting (28)
Rogue: Opportunist (12), Defensive Roll (15), Slippery Mind (18)
Monk: Dodge (2), Two Handed Fighting (8)

Skills:

Disable Device: 102 (23 ranks + 8 epic +2 completionist +4 tome +15 Int mod +3 Luck +4 morale +1 profane +1 PL +20 item +5 enhanced +6 exceptional +3 guild +7 tools)
Search: 117 [97 on sheet] (23 ranks + 8 epic +2 completionist +5 tome +15 Int mod +3 Luck +4 morale +1 profane +1 PL +20 item +5 enhanced +6 exceptional +3 guild +1 insight (find traps scroll +20 roll))
Open Lock: 113 (23 ranks + 8 epic +2 completionist +4 tome +27 dex mod +3 Luck +4 morale +1 profane +20 item +5 enhanced +6 exceptional +3 guild +7 tools)
Spot: 57 (23 ranks + 8 epic +2 completionist +4 tome +10 wis mod +2 Luck +4 morale +1 profane +3 guild)
Bluff: 78 (23 ranks + 8 epic +2 completionist +4 tome +5 Cha mod +2 Luck +4 morale +1 profane +20 item +3 guild +6 Enhancement)
UMD: 56 (23 ranks + 8 Epic + 3 tome +2 completionist +5 Cha mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +1 PL + 5 item +3 guild)
Heal: 60 (11 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +10 Wis mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +15 item +3 guild)
Concentration: 5 (15 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +16 Con mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +3 guild -50 Epic Quiver)
Jump: 51 [no buffs] (11 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +12 Str +2 luck +1 Profane +3 Enhancement +3 guild +2 Acrobatics)
Tumble: 58 (4 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +27 Dex mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +3 Enhancement +3 guild)
Hide/Move Silently: 98 (23 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +27 Dex mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +20 item +3 Enhancement +3 guild +1 PL)
Balance: 74 (23 ranks + 8 Epic + 4 tome +2 completionist +27 Dex mod +2 luck + 4 morale +1 Profane +3 Enhancement +3 guild)

Enhancements:

Harper (8 ap)

C: Agent of Good (1)
I: Harper Enchantment (2), Traveler's Toughness II (2)
II: Know the Angles III (3)

Rogue: Assassin (21 ap)

C: Knife in the Darkness (1), Dagger in the Back (1), Assassin’s Trick (1), Nimbleness (1),
I: Sneak Attack Training (2), Faster Sneaking III (3),
II: Sneak Attack Training (2), Damage Boost III (3), Venomed Blades III (3)
III: Sneak Attack Training (2), Dex (2)

Rogue: Thief-Acrobat (39 ap)

C: Staff Control (1), Stick Fighting (1), Tumbler (1), Kip Up (1), Cartwheel Charge (1)
I: Acrobat Staff Training (2), Thief Acrobatics III (3), Fast Movement (2)
II: Acrobat Staff Training (2), Quick Strike III (6),
III: Acrobat Staff Training (2), Sweeping Strikes III (3)
IV: Acrobat Staff Training (2), Improved Defensive Roll III (3), Staff Lunge I (1)
V: Acrobat Staff Training (2), Staff Specialization (2), Vault (2), Spinning Staff Wall (2)

Human: (5 ap)

C: Human Versatility: Damage (1), Dex (2)
I: Improved Recovery (2)

Monk: Ninja Spy (7 ap)

C: Basic Ninja Training (1)
I: Sneak Attack Training (2), Acrobatic II (2)
II: Fist of Iron (2)

Core Stats:

HP: 824 Standing | 936 self-buffed | 1,020 Earth Stance
Positive Spell Power: 259 (138 Devotion + 36 Implement +70 heal skill +25 Ardor potion (Alchemical) +15 guild)
Healing Amp: 315% ((30 pally PLs + 60 Shroud + 40 Bracers +45 Exceptional +20 guild +20 Human) +100) / 100
Average Healing: Large Silver Flame: 788 hp | Cocoon: ~158hp | Sovereign (Anniversary/Store) Pot: 410hp + ~123 hp per tick
Incorp: 10%
Max Dodge: 38 (25 base +5 Spinning Staff +6 TA +2 Airship)
Dodge: 32% standing; 38% max - (10% item +5% Imp Uncanny +5% Spinning Staff +3% Unearthly Reactions +3% Dodge +2% Acrobatic +10% Nimbleness +4% Centered)
PRR: 105 (159 w/ SSW) / 51% (61%) mitigation (+30 sheltering +21 Divine ETRs +9 PDK PL +30 Blitz +15 Artifact)
MRR: 55 / 35% Mitigation (30 Sheltering +25 Insight)
Total Mitigation: 86.4% (Displacement) | 78.2% (Standing) | 72.8% (no concealment)
Defensive Roll: 79% chance to reduce damage by 50% when below 50% health.
Fort: 140% Standing / 190% with gear swap (100 or 150 Item + 25% exceptional +15% ship)

Saves:

Fort: 57 (9 Base +4 Epic +16 Con +4 Morale +11 Resistance +2 Luck +1 Competence +3 Guild +4 Insightful +3 Brace)
Ref: 81 (14 Base +4 Epic +27 Dex +4 Morale +11 Resistance +2 Luck +1 Competence +3 Guild +4 Insightful +6 Unearthly Reactions +3 Brace +2 Exceptional)
Will: 50 (57 vs enchantment spells) (9 Base +4 Epic +10 Wisdom +4 Morale +11 Resistance +2 Luck +1 Competence +2 Guild +4 Insightful +3 Brace|| +4 Raging Focus +2 Bard PL +1 Guild)

Epic Destiny –Legendary Dreadnought

I: Extra Action Boost III (3), Con (2)
II: Momentum Swing III (3), Improved Power Attack (2),
III: Lay Waste (1), Critical Damage III (3), Haste Boost III (3)
IV:
V: Devasting Critical (2), Advancing blows (2)
VI: Masters Blitz (2)

Twists: Wild Weapons (4) or Grim Precision (3), Dance of Flowers (1), Unearthly Reactions (1), Cocoon (1)

Gear:

Trinket: Planar Focus of Prowess +3 Insightful Dex [Eldrich Saves Ritual || Epic Litany [eldrich saves ritual] (Green: iDex +2|Blue/Yellow: Open)
Head: Dragon Masque (Yellow: Draconic Soul Gem | Colorless: Globe of True Imperial Blood )
Neck: Shroud of the Ardent (Green: False Life 40| Yellow: +8 Int)
Goggles: Epic Mentau’s (Green: +2 Good Luck |Yellow: +2 iCon)
Bracers: HA 40 of Superior Parry
Body: Flawless Black Dragon Robe (Blue: Heavy Fort) || ToEE Fire Absorb Robe (Blue: Golem's Heart)
Cloak: Mysterious Cloak: 45 HA and 25 MRR (Green: +8 Wisdom; Colorless: +8 Strength) | Swap prismatic Cloaks
Ring: Omniscience
Ring: Health 10 or Dodge 10%
Boots: Epic Boots of the Innocent (Green: +250 Spell Points | Blue: +2 iInt)
Gloves: EE Backstabbers (Yellow: Deathblock)
Belt: Battlerager’s harness (Green: Golem's Heart)
Quiver: Epic Quiver of Alacrity
Weapon: Sierth (Adamantine Ritual I) (Red: 138 Devotion) || Thunder Forged Q-Staff 1st Degree Burns/Dragon’s Edge/Mortal Fear (Orange: Meteoric Star Ruby | Red: Devotion 138 | Colorless: +2 iWis)

DPS Calcs: Single Target only, not factoring in Momentum Swing or Special Attacks

EE Bruntsmash test: 5,875 (Starting Blitz on Bruntsmash using Sireth)

DPS Sireth: ~5,648 Blitz | ~6,188 MP boosted | 7,418 Haste+MP

Weapon: (with mods): +12 6.25[1d10] 13-20x3|19-20x5 Sireth, Spear of the Sky (Red: 138 Devotion)

Melee Power: 136 (24 Epic power + 18 LD Cores + 70 Blitz + 6 Combat Style +5 Assassin cores +10 Tier V Acrobat Training +3 Harper)
Damage Mod: 110 for Sireth / 114 for TF (+12 / +16 weapon +11 Enh Trees + 11 deadly + 4 Artifact/Profane +40 Dex +7 KtA +10 Power Attack +3 Alchemical +5 Advancing Blows +3 monk +2 Guild (Hobgoblin)
Fortification Bypass: 75% standing | 90% when needed (25% Assassin's Trick +35% Dragons Edge +10% Opportunist +5% Airship | +15% Grim Precision)
Double Strike: 80% (21% quick strikes (25% 10 sec out of 12) +3% Opportunist +5% Perfect TWF +9 Epic PL +12% Item +20% TA Cores +10% GMoA)
Seeker: 24 (10 Seeker +2 exc seeker +6 airship +6 ED)
SA damage: 65.5 per swing (13 dice +3 past lives +8 SA +9 iSA)
Deception proc: ~76.9% (+10% improved deception) ^~13.9 swings per 4 sec window) – 3.48 swings per sec

[Zoda]

I tred my main to a very similar build a week or so ago, and now I'm lvl 26 and it feels really strong. Actually I thought I won't be able to build a toon that comes close to pure human barb, but this one is up there, at least dpswise for sure.

I did make some different choices in gear and AP distribution though. The most important one is that I run in earth stance. It costs 6 DEX and 10% doublestrike, but gives an extra multiplier on 19-20 (also takes 1 less feat since I don't need grandmaster tier). It costs some dps, but I twist Standing with Stone and take Iron Skin rank 3 from shintao for a total gain of 42 prr (having 125 prr at lvl 26 with blitz active atm). I also take Fist of Iron, which is major uberness. For gear, I'm planning to stick with the black dragon set here. I'm planning to use 2-3 different weapons in endgame, and only one of them (TF) has fort bypass on it, and I want to have at least the 20% of the black scale all the time (also the 3% DS and the 5% damage on kill proc is considerable amount of dps).

I'm planning to create a full glass cannon max dps setup when I eventually hit cap, but unfortunately I don't get much time to play these days. For leveling I prefer a setup that I can use to sleep/walk through stuff.

[Andoris]

I tred my main to a very similar build a week or so ago, and now I'm lvl 26 and it feels really strong. Actually I thought I won't be able to build a toon that comes close to pure human barb, but this one is up there, at least dpswise for sure.

I did make some different choices in gear and AP distribution though. The most important one is that I run in earth stance. It costs 6 DEX and 10% doublestrike, but gives an extra multiplier on 19-20 (also takes 1 less feat since I don't need grandmaster tier). It costs some dps, but I twist Standing with Stone and take Iron Skin rank 3 from shintao for a total gain of 42 prr (having 125 prr at lvl 26 with blitz active atm). I also take Fist of Iron, which is major uberness. For gear, I'm planning to stick with the black dragon set here. I'm planning to use 2-3 different weapons in endgame, and only one of them (TF) has fort bypass on it, and I want to have at least the 20% of the black scale all the time (also the 3% DS and the 5% damage on kill proc is considerable amount of dps).

I'm planning to create a full glass cannon max dps setup when I eventually hit cap, but unfortunately I don't get much time to play these days. For leveling I prefer a setup that I can use to sleep/walk through stuff.

Wish I could run Black Armor, but my main concern was getting a decent Fort save without it. Are you just relying on a Augment and always having Brace for Impact twisted in, or are you slotting Fort on a time somewhere else? If I could solve the fort issue, I would swap to Black Dragon Armor in a heartbeat.

As for Earth Stance.. I just ran the numbers quickly, and if you assume that you use the feat slot freed up for ISA the dps difference between Air and Earth stance is only about 2% in Air's favor, making Earth an interesting option.

I am curious how you freed up enough AP for Fist of Iron and Iron Skin. I can see getting 4 AP out of Human and a point or two out of Harper, but that still leaves you about 6 ap short. Did you give up nimbleness?

As for survivability, the GMoA build does pretty well. I took the toon into a EE MoD last night and he was able to handle a Deathknight (only used a half dozen or so small silver flame pots). Now to be fair, it was a good group so I only had 1 Deathknight to deal with (2 or 3 would have likely forced me into kiting mode) but for a Rogue in Robes I was pretty happy with his defensive capabilities.

[Ayseifn]

I am curious how you freed up enough AP for Fist of Iron and Iron Skin. I can see getting 4 AP out of Human and a point or two out of Harper, but that still leaves you about 6 ap short. Did you give up nimbleness?

You can shave 6-8 out of TA, drop haste boost and pick it up again in LD, get rid of vault/lunge and drop glances to only the first tier.

[Andoris]

You can shave 6-8 out of TA, drop haste boost and pick it up again in LD, get rid of vault/lunge and drop glances to only the first tier.

True.. If cutting to bare bones you can save 4 ap in Human, 2 in Harper, and 8 more in TA if you are willing to drop Haste Boost, some Glancing Blows, and Vault (one of the coolest parts about being a TA imo)

I don't know if that is worth 15 PRR and Fist of Iron to me, however; it does give a good variant for those that want more PRR or don't have as many PRR PL's as I have.

On a side note.. I am thinking of an alternate gear setup with Black Dragon Robes (thanks Zoda), Omniscience Ring, and swap in a Heavy Fortification Augment for any content outside of EE MoD.

It would be nice to get the DPS boost from Relentless Fury and the always on fort bypass.

For EE MoD I will stay with the above gear selections, but that is really the only content where I need Fortification that high.

[Ayseifn]

The damage from Sireth procs is ~30 per hit and 8% of that'd be 2.3ish damage a hit you're losing by dropping the glances two tiers. That's without factoring in doublestrike, with 80% DS you're down to ~1.3 and who knows for cleaves. Also unless it was changed I think you still only get glances on certain attacks in the sequence, I know you get them while moving now but not sure if it's on the first, second or both swings. So maybe even less than 1.3 dmg.

Also I'm not sure what else would be classed as a secondary weapon effect, if it's just the stuff on Sireth then it doesn't seem to be adding much but if it's seeker, deception and item based SA damage then it could be significant.

[Andoris]

The damage from Sireth procs is ~30 per hit and 8% of that'd be 2.3ish damage a hit you're losing by dropping the glances two tiers. That's without factoring in doublestrike, with 80% DS you're down to ~1.3 and who knows for cleaves. Also unless it was changed I think you still only get glances on certain attacks in the sequence, I know you get them while moving now but not sure if it's on the first, second or both swings. So maybe even less than 1.3 dmg.

Also I'm not sure what else would be classed as a secondary weapon effect, if it's just the stuff on Sireth then it doesn't seem to be adding much but if it's seeker, deception and item based SA damage then it could be significant.

Your right.. Improved Glance is not that big of a deal... I am actually thinking of dropping Improved Glance and Haste boost.. drop the first core of Shinto and move all 7 AP over to Ninja Spy, picking up 1 sneak die, 2% dodge, and Fist of Iron.

It will cost me 6 seeker out of LD (~1.7% dps) until I get a +7 con or dex tome, but might be worth it.

[Behoram]

Hi, what are the advantages in this build to take 18 levels from rogue? Is Cartwheel Charge so useful?

[Andoris]

Hi, what are the advantages in this build to take 18 levels from rogue? Is Cartwheel Charge so useful?

Yes, its is all about Cartwheel Charge, 20% double strike is very hard to pass up.

[Caprice]

I think there are two minor display issues on enhancements:

• You summed your Human enhancements as 3 AP when you spent 5 there.
• You have "Assassin Faster Sneaking II (3)"; it should probably be "III" since you do need the 3rd AP to get to Nimbleness.

The total across all the trees is still 80 AP.

BTW, do you know how the Doublestrike in Cartwheel Charge is typed? I've been wondering if there's anything it doesn't stack with.

[Andoris]

I think there are two minor display issues on enhancements:

• You summed your Human enhancements as 3 AP when you spent 5 there.
• You have "Assassin Faster Sneaking II (3)"; it should probably be "III" since you do need the 3rd AP to get to Nimbleness.

The total across all the trees is still 80 AP.

BTW, do you know how the Doublestrike in Cartwheel Charge is typed? I've been wondering if there's anything it doesn't stack with.

Thanks for the catch... It should be correct now.

As far as I know Cartwheel Charge stacks with everything -- or at least I haven't seen anything it doesn't stack with yet.

[Caprice]

I only noticed because I was trying to squeeze out a few AP to move over to Killer in Assassin, since I keep forgetting that it is a Morale bonus and doesn't stack with Quick Strike's buff (I think this is the third time I've made that mistake). That's what prompted the Cartwheel question. But it is also somewhat forward thinking since I expect that a future Monk pass will include similar changes to Henshin that may or may not stack.

[Retrodark]

Abilities:

Str: 34/89-- (15 base +6 tome +2 Completionist +1 GoTIB +8 item +2 ship +2 Lasting / +4 Tenser’s)
Dex: 58 / 64 -- (18 base +6 tome +7 Levels +2 completionist +2 Enh +11 item +3 insight +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting +4 Stance / +4 Tenser’s +2 Yugo)
Con: 40 / 44 -- (14 base +6 tome +2 completionist +3 ED +10 item +2 insight +1 GoTIB +2 Ship +2 lasting -2 Stance / +4 Tenser’s)
Int: 38 /41 -- (15 base +6 tome +2 completionist +1 GoTIB +8 Item +2 Insight +2 ship +2 Lasting / +11 Item)
Wis: 30 -- (9 base +6 tome +2 completionist +8 item +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting)
Cha: 21 -- (8 base +6 tome +2 completionist +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 lasting)

It seems like you somehow got 39 base points.

[Andoris]

It seems like you somehow got 39 base points.

Good catch.. version control issue on my side.. Base Strength should be 13.

I also settled on some changes, I'll have the correction and changes up in a few minutes.

[Andoris]

Updated the OP.

Decided to go with Black Scale and Omniscience to cover my Fortification. I also swapped out Improved Glancing and Haste boost from TA and picked up Fist of Iron from Ninja Spy.

Re-ran a Bruntsmash test with him and clocked in at 5,875 DPS


Thanks for your suggestions and helping to catch some of my errors!

[Ayseifn]

The new Execute looks pretty decent on paper, same thing with Weakening Strikes.

Execute would be 2,720 damage with your 136 MP(1.36 x 4 x 500) before adding the 3[W] and base damage, on 10k hp mobs that could be a pretty cool finisher. On bosses not sure if it'd beat out fists of iron though.

Weakening Strikes might be too tedious to set up, but 18% less damage across the board could be good for fire peaks dragons and the like. Seems decent.

Edit: Your Melee Power seems off too, you're getting 3 from Harper that shouldn't be there.

[Enderoc]

Be ready for adamantine rituals, those toothpicks break like they were a dime a dozen.

[Phil7]

I think you can do this as a bladeforged and only lose dodge or completionist (if insufficient past lives). Gets you reconstruct and some extra PPR
Also i noticed you dont take improved evasion as rogue feat. I'd like to hear your opinion on that and also which one do you think is better taking: Defensive Roll or Slippery Mind (if one chose to take Improved Evasion)
I'm stuck between those 2 and can't tell which one would be better.

[Andoris]

The new Execute looks pretty decent on paper, same thing with Weakening Strikes.

Execute would be 2,720 damage with your 136 MP(1.36 x 4 x 500) before adding the 3[W] and base damage, on 10k hp mobs that could be a pretty cool finisher. On bosses not sure if it'd beat out fists of iron though.

Weakening Strikes might be too tedious to set up, but 18% less damage across the board could be good for fire peaks dragons and the like. Seems decent.

Edit: Your Melee Power seems off too, you're getting 3 from Harper that shouldn't be there.

The issue with Execute is that it is too situational. If I could spam it once every 15 sec regardless of mob HP then it might be worth while, but needing to wait until the mob is less than 30% makes it not worth the AP. While 2k damage sounds cool.. this build is doing that much in less than a half second.. while I am sure it would be a boost in certain situations (400k hp mobs), but it is not broad enough in use to be worth the AP cost.

Weakening Strikes is in the same boat. While it would be nice to have for EE Deathknights, and the EE Hezerou in ToEE outside of them there isn't much that hits hard enough (and lives long enough) to be worth de-buffing. But in general gameplay it just is not worth the investment.

If I knew I was going to be chain running EE MoDs or EE ToEE I might try to fit it in though.

[Phil7]

Also would you consider dropping a feat for Epic: Improved Sneak Attack (+3d6)?
I'm currently on the leveling proccess and wondering if master and g.master of forms are better taking before improved and greater thf feats (that means taking the thf feats at epic levels)