Assassin ER twink gear

[Saekee]

Edit: Updated here for Update 50 epic crafting buff

I have been wracking my brain on coming up with a solid ER gearset from ML 21-29 that can take advantage of some of the best new gear. Unfortunately, the gear out of KotB makes a mess of normal locations for gear and I have had to abandon some of the better stuff out of there. Part of the Family set is too good to pass up but takes up two precious gear slots (gloves and necklace) that could have been very helpful.

Here is my plan; let me know what you think:

Helm: ML 21 Sworn Silver Insightful accuracy 7; insightful deadly 3; sheltering 25; protection from evil; yellow: (OBSTRUCTING THE ORCS)
Trinket: ML 20 Voice of the Master Good luck +3/striding/filigree slot/3 augments (DELERAS)
Goggles: ML21 wisdom 10 (for will saves) of melee alacrity (deadly 8 if hasted all the time since necklace only has deadly 6) of insightful seeker 4: yellow: (CC)
(For INT builds this can be made INT of melee alacrity of Insightful INT and have fun on boots)
Armor: ML 15 Wildcard: Fort 94%/hamp 30/false life 29 (SECURITY DETAIL in COGS)
Necklace: ML 15 recruit sigil: True Seeing; armor piercing 12; competence deadly 6; relentless fury; yellow (HOUSE OF PAIN Sharn Pt.2)
Gloves: ML 15 hammer fist: Insightful DS 3%; Cannith Combat infusion; seeker 8; insightful deadly 2; (BLOWN DEADLINE Sharn Pt2)
Belt: Challenges Spare hand Doublestrike 12, Riposte 5, UMD 4, Staggering Blow, DD/OL 18, colorless, green: (Cannith Challenges)
Bracers: CC Resistance 8/CON 10/Insightful fortification 57%, augments (CC)
Ring 1: ML 10 Insightful Commands: Quality deadly 2; (insightful accuracy 4); profane well-rounded 1, intimidate, yellow: (Black and Blue)
This is a brutal farm (but good for heroic TRs) so consider: Celestial Sapphire Ring (has improved deception, dodge 8, yellow) Blown Deadline
OR any other ML21 ring with profane boost from KotB since they add 33 hp too
Ring 2: Challenges Ring of the Stalker: Deceptions, seeker 11, ghostly, manslayer, colorless, green (Cannith Challenges)
Boots: Dex 10/ jump 18/insightful dex 4, augments (CC)
Cloak: ML 20 Wolf for exceptional seeker 4, attack bonus 3; diversion 20; dodge 6


Mainhand: Drow weapon master with sentient loaded MP
Offhand: Phiarlan Spy dagger, metalline of assassinate 5 of insightful assassinate 2


Self buffing: Greater Heroism, blur, Circle of evil, shield


Part of the Family:

• +10% Artifact bonus to Doublestrike
• +10 Artifact bonus to Melee Power
• +5% Artifact bonus to damage vs the Helpless
• +5% Artifact bonus to Fortification Bypass

Totals:

• Doublestrike: +25, occasional +5% alchemical CCI
• MP: 10 extra + filigree bonus on VoM + Sentient jewel
• Deadly: +11 (13 if you have a hasted party or means of haste)
• Seeker: +19
• Deception: +18 sneak damage
• Fortification: 151
• Armor Piercing: +17
• Accuracy: +10
• DEX: +10 reg +4 insight + +1 exceptional + 1 profane = +16 (+4 alchemical CCI= +20)
• CON: +10 reg +1 exceptional +1 profane= +12 (+4 alchemical CCI= +16)
• Sheltering: 25
• Assassinate: swap weapon +7
• Dodge: +6%
• Hide/MS bonuses: ghostly +5; use augments +11 or swap to Drow Piwafwi
• Hamp: +30
• Resistance: +8 +3 GL augment, riposte insight +5 = +16 (wisdom 10 for helping will saves, and add Greater heroism)
• Other goodies: ghostly, Cannith Combat Infusion, true seeing, Relentless Fury, Good Luck +3, striding and melee alacrity, improved deception on weapon

Augments:
death block (yellow)
Exceptional Con and exceptional Dex optional (Tokens of the Twelve)
Resistance augment (blue) = Gianthold
Spell points (yellow) = Gianthold
Feather falling (optional)
Vitality +20hp (optional)
Fear immunity/blindness immunity optional
Stealth augments (HS/MS optional or swap cloak to Drow Piwafwi)


Trapping etc:
Helm: Haggle 18 of Search 18 of insightful search 9 (find traps, sell your stuff)
Gloves bluff 18 of insightful disable 9 of insightful bluff 9 (for pulling mobs and disabling)
Goggles ML 21 for INT 10/Spot 18/Insightful INT 4

[0ldschool]

I have been wracking my brain on coming up with a solid ER gearset from ML 21-29 that can take advantage of some of the best new gear. Unfortunately, the gear out of KotB makes a mess of normal locations for gear and I have had to abandon some of the better stuff out of there. Part of the Family set is too good to pass up but takes up two precious gear slots (gloves and necklace) that could have been very helpful.

Here is my plan; let me know what you think:

Helm: ML 21 Sworn Silver Insightful accuracy 7; insightful deadly 3; sheltering 25; protection from evil; yellow: (OBSTRUCTING THE ORCS)
Trinket: ML 20 Voice of the Master Good luck +3/striding/filigree slot/3 augments (DELERAS)
Goggles: ML21 wisdom 10 (for will saves) of melee alacrity (deadly 8 if hasted all the time) of insightful seeker 4: yellow: (CC)
(For INT builds this can be made INT of melee alacrity of Insightful INT and have fun on boots)
Armor: ML 15 Wildcard: Fort 94%/hamp 30/false life 29 (SECURITY DETAIL in COGS)
Necklace: ML 15 recruit sigil: True Seeing; armor piercing 12; competence deadly 6; relentless fury; yellow (HOUSE OF PAIN Sharn Pt.2)
Gloves: ML 15 hammer fist: Insightful DS 3%; Cannith Combat infusion; seeker 8; insightful deadly 2; (BLOWN DEADLINE Sharn Pt2)
Belt: Challenges Spare hand Doublestrike 12, Riposte 5, UMD 4, Staggering Blow, DD/OL 18, colorless, green: (Cannith Challenges)
Bracers: CC Resistance 8/CON 10/Insightful fortification 57%, augments (CC)
Ring 1: ML 10 Insightful Commands: Quality deadly 2; (insightful accuracy 4); profane well-rounded 1, intimidate, yellow: (Black and Blue)
This is a brutal farm (but good for heroic TRs) so consider: Celestial Sapphire Ring (has improved deception, dodge 8, yellow) Blown Deadline
OR any other ML21 ring with profane boost from KotB since they add 33 hp too
Ring 2: Challenges Ring of the Stalker: Deceptions, seeker 11, ghostly, manslayer, colorless, green (Cannith Challenges)
Boots: Dex 10/ jump 18/insightful dex 4, augments (CC)
Cloak: ML 20 Wolf for exceptional seeker 4, attack bonus 3; diversion 20; dodge 6


Mainhand: Drow weapon master with sentient loaded MP
Offhand: Phiarlan Spy dagger, metalline of assassinate 5 of insightful assassinate 2


Self buffing: Greater Heroism, blur, Circle of evil, shield


Part of the Family:

• +10% Artifact bonus to Doublestrike
• +10 Artifact bonus to Melee Power
• +5% Artifact bonus to damage vs the Helpless
• +5% Artifact bonus to Fortification Bypass

Totals:

• Doublestrike: +25, occasional +5% alchemical CCI
• MP: 10 extra + filigree bonus on VoM + Sentient jewel
• Deadly: +11 (13 if you have a hasted party or means of haste)
• Seeker: +19
• Deception: +18 sneak damage
• Fortification: 151
• Armor Piercing: +17
• Accuracy: +10
• DEX: +10 reg +4 insight + +1 exceptional + 1 profane = +15 (+4 alchemical CCI)
• CON: +10 reg +1 exceptional +1 profane= +11 (+4 alchemical CCI)
• Sheltering: 25
• Assassinate: swap weapon +7
• Dodge: +6%
• Hide/MS bonuses: ghostly +5; use augments +11 or swap to Drow Piwafwi
• Hamp: +30
• Resistance: +8 +3 GL augment, riposte insight +5 = +16 (wisdom 10 for helping will saves, and add Greater heroism)
• Other goodies: ghostly, Cannith Combat Infusion, true seeing, Relentless Fury, Good Luck +3, striding and melee alacrity, improved deception on weapon

Augments:
death block (yellow)
Exceptional Con and exceptional Dex optional (Tokens of the Twelve)
Resistance augment (blue) = Gianthold
Spell points (yellow) = Gianthold
Feather falling (optional)
Vitality +20hp (optional)
Fear immunity/blindness immunity optional
Stealth augments (HS/MS optional or swap cloak to Drow Piwafwi)


Trapping etc:
Helm: Haggle 18 of Search 18 of insightful search 9 (find traps, sell your stuff)
Gloves bluff 18 of insightful disable 9 of insightful bluff 9 (for pulling mobs and disabling)
Goggles ML 21 for INT 10/Spot 18/Insightful INT 4

I shared your angst in coming up with an ML21 set. It was by far the most difficult one I've pieced together. Compromises are required.

FWIW, here is what I just used from Level 21-28 for my VKF assassin. 4 CC items, 4 KotB items, 3 PotF set

helm White Hood of Schemes (hide/ms/bluff +18, Deception 8)
goggles CC Wis 10, Accuracy 15, ins Spot 9 (concession for not slotting Spot, which really bothered me)
trinket Stone Heart Trinket (ins CON 4, lesser D, Spell saves 8, woohoo!)
necklace Family Recruit
bracers CC Resistance 8, CON 10, Sheltering 25
ring1 Tier 3 Ring of Stalker
ring2 Ring of Subtle Villainy (DEX 10, profane +1, profane +33 HP)
gloves Hammerfist
armor Wildcard
cloak CC CHA 10, Dodge 10%, ins PRR 12
belt CC Dstrike 10%, Nat Armor 10, Assassinate 5
boots Blackfeather Boots (Speed 30, Parrying 4, FoM; takes care of melee alacrity)

Augments: the usual

Trapping: Epic Gloves of Snake and ML20/24 Treasure Hunters Spyglass (the new one); I think I used an INT 10 helm or goggles swap too

It wasn't ideal, but it was the best I could come up with. You'll notice that I punted on insightful DEX (usually in my CC trinket spot). This is an admittedly bad idea, but I decided to live with it as (IMHO) I would have sacrificed too much to get it, and I really liked getting lesser D, ins CON, and spell saves from the trinket slot. Belt of Subtle Villainy was the most difficult thing to leave off. One could easily argue that it was a mistake to not slot it. But I would have lost Doublestrike (and some Assassinate). I see that you too are using the belt slot for Doublestrike. It's really not something you can punt on. The gearset actually served me quite well and I did not really run into any problems missing the extra DEX.

I also lived without Improved Deception (meaning I took off Celestial Sapphire) until I could slot Agony. Again, a questionable decision but it worked out, and TF blinding / Improved Feint was giving me tons of sneak attack anyway. This was of course pre-epic VoM, so that may have changed my plan had it existed.

No full-time Blurry would be a show-stopper for me, but that's because I'm not a very diligent self-buffer.

EDIT: daggers - Drow Weapon Master + various daggers (Liturgy, Epic Cursed Shard was fun) until Level 23, then Agony + Drow Weapon Master. At level 24, Agony + TF blinding dagger was just too good with Blinding proc.

EDIT 2: Looking at your plan, I do like the Sworn Silver helm idea, but Sheltering is such an easy choice for the CC bracers extra slot. The White Hood was just too good to pass up for me, as it gave me four effects that I needed (EDIT: make that three, forgot that Deception was duplicated on Ring of Stalker) . I wore the Hood even into Legendary, and only just gave it up for the Umber Brim, relying on Hide/MS augments and putting Bluff on slavers gear. EDIT3: Insightful Deadly is already on Hammerfist, so you're only getting +1 Deadly with this helm. Given the odd diminishing returns of adding Accuracy, I'm thinking that you can do better than the Sworn Silver Helm. Full time Bluff +18 and Hide/MS +18 if you go with White Hood, just something to consider.

[Saekee]

I shared your angst in coming up with an ML21 set. It was by far the most difficult one I've pieced together. Compromises are required.

FWIW, here is what I just used from Level 21-28 for my VKF assassin. 4 CC items, 4 KotB items, 3 PotF set

helm White Hood of Schemes (hide/ms/bluff +18, Deception 8)
goggles CC Wis 10, Accuracy 15, ins Spot 9 (concession for not slotting Spot, which really bothered me)
trinket Stone Heart Trinket (ins CON 4, lesser D, Spell saves 8, woohoo!)
necklace Family Recruit
bracers CC Resistance 8, CON 10, Sheltering 25
ring1 Tier 3 Ring of Stalker
ring2 Ring of Subtle Villainy (DEX 10, profane +1, profane +33 HP)
gloves Hammerfist
armor Wildcard
cloak CC CHA 10, Dodge 10%, ins PRR 12
belt CC Dstrike 10%, Nat Armor 10, Assassinate 5
boots Blackfeather Boots (Speed 30, Parrying 4, FoM; takes care of melee alacrity)

Augments: the usual

snip

Someone thoughtfully reads my stuff! thank you and thanks for the PM!

I prioritized DPS and instakills, separating the two of them. Since the toughest opponents for assassins are bosses, I want to be able to drop them while my dodge clickie rotation is still in place (after that, we dead). So having max of the following is key: Doublestrike, melee power, base damage and crit damage. For this reason we need that doublestrike gear, melee power boosts (remember the absurd scaling that sneak damage gets from melee power), high dex, deadly, sneak damage and seeker. Assassins have an excellent crit profile, and the ability to make it land, especially with the drow dagger. Even 2 points of deadly adds up fast and so not having deadly 8 on the googles (having melee alacrity instead) was a tough choice for me (but I did not feel like chugging haste potions non-stop).

I am not sure how important accuracy is in lower epics. Hence I am not stressing that so much.

We want improved deception in the offhand, agreed--we get that with the key epic weapons--E Spy, Agony, Ekiss. ESpy is excellent for its level since Improved Paralyzing often lands in early epics and is a life-saver against champs (and I seem to recall Reapers too). Agony if you have it, EKiss also very good with improved crit profile.

Swap for assassinate--this is a QoL choice for some not to do but you lose so much DPS by having continuous DC gear in place in lower epics. In endgame you can slot stuff more easily but at level 21 it is trickier. Also, it is not even needed--the DCs are much lower for assassinate in early epics. I sometimes go into pure Assassinate only mode and use Shadowwalk and mass invisi to stay that way, in which case having the high dc dagger is important (I do this in Rusted Blades R10 for an easy completion). EDIT: Crafting Doublestrike belt with assassinate is a great option too if you do not want insightful assassinate which you can get on a weapon.

Finally with the new Epic Voice we have a twink filigree holder and that is too good to pass up. You can sit on 5 MP alone or have it complete a DPS setup. It makes things very tricky though since I used to craft everything I could not squeeze elsewhere in that slot.

For your setup you are missing out on 4 Dex which translates to lower assassinate and lower deadly; and you are missing insightful deadly. That is about 5 points of damage less per hit alone, and hence on crits 30 points or so, so it adds up with both hands smacking away. I also get +19 to seeker over +11 so consider how much higher the crits become. What you gain is assassinate and bluff, and the ability to skip casting blur occasionally.

Anyway, it is all a tradeoff. If not for the Part of the Family set, I would have my epic golden guile equipped, so lovely and long to grind out, but then I also have two Epic Midnight Greetings rotting in the bank thanks to Vistani, they were beauties once.

[0ldschool]

Someone thoughtfully reads my stuff! thank you and thanks for the PM!

I prioritized DPS and instakills, separating the two of them. Since the toughest opponents for assassins are bosses, I want to be able to drop them while my dodge clickie rotation is still in place (after that, we dead). So having max of the following is key: Doublestrike, melee power, base damage and crit damage. For this reason we need that doublestrike gear, melee power boosts (remember the absurd scaling that sneak damage gets from melee power), high dex, deadly, sneak damage and seeker. Assassins have an excellent crit profile, and the ability to make it land, especially with the drow dagger. Even 2 points of deadly adds up fast and so not having deadly 8 on the googles (having melee alacrity instead) was a tough choice for me (but I did not feel like chugging haste potions non-stop).

I am not sure how important accuracy is in lower epics. Hence I am not stressing that so much.

We want improved deception in the offhand, agreed--we get that with the key epic weapons--E Spy, Agony, Ekiss. ESpy is excellent for its level since Improved Paralyzing often lands in early epics and is a life-saver against champs (and I seem to recall Reapers too). Agony if you have it, EKiss also very good with improved crit profile.

Swap for assassinate--this is a QoL choice for some not to do but you lose so much DPS by having continuous DC gear in place in lower epics. In endgame you can slot stuff more easily but at level 21 it is trickier. Also, it is not even needed--the DCs are much lower for assassinate in early epics. I sometimes go into pure Assassinate only mode and use Shadowwalk and mass invisi to stay that way, in which case having the high dc dagger is important (I do this in Rusted Blades R10 for an easy completion).

Finally with the new Epic Voice we have a twink filigree holder and that is too good to pass up. You can sit on 5 MP alone or have it complete a DPS setup. It makes things very tricky though since I used to craft everything I could not squeeze elsewhere in that slot.

For your setup you are missing out on 4 Dex which translates to lower assassinate and lower deadly; and you are missing insightful deadly. That is about 5 points of damage less per hit alone, and hence on crits 30 points or so, so it adds up with both hands smacking away. I also get +19 to seeker over +11 so consider how much higher the crits become. What you gain is assassinate and bluff, and the ability to skip casting blur occasionally.

Anyway, it is all a tradeoff. If not for the Part of the Family set, I would have my epic golden guile equipped, so lovely and long to grind out, but then I also have two Epic Midnight Greetings rotting in the bank thanks to Vistani, they were beauties once.

Yep, all good points. Full-time Assassinate was largely because I was playing assassin for the first time, and having fun going slow and assassinating everything. Next time around I may not slot it full time. It is a swap on my legendary gearset now (EKiss is good enough).

I tend to lean away from max DPS, which I know is not the norm here I have a love (/obsession) with saves and maxing miss chance, I know it's not the uber build method but it just happens to be what is fun for me. To each his own. My first real commitment to DPS was deciding to use the Ring of Taer V / Umber Brim combo in my leg gearset that I just finished, which required me to not have the best Hide/MS possible. I realized that, esp with Shadow Form, what I had was good enough. And with the SA damage nerf to Scion of Ethereal, it became even easier to 'punt' on Hide, punt meaning in the 120's instead of 130's.

And actually I gave up 6 DEX, since the Belt of Subtle Villainy gives 4 insight and 2 quality, so it was even worse than you think. Like I said, that was an extremely questionable move. I fretted about it for quite a while. Where do you put Doublestrike though? Well, it worked out. If there is a next time, I'd probably make some changes, especially since epic VoM is now a thing. Losing that CC trinket is going to be rough though, that's one of the VERY few spots for Doublestrike and insightful ability.

Good luck with your gear planning.

PS - I just crafted my first Epic item last night, after 19 months playing this game, a lot of that time in epics. And it's one that coincidentally I wanted since before I even owned epics. Epic Phiarlan Mirror Cloak! I'm pretty excited about just crafting any S/S/S item, I thought it might never happen. I can now cross this off my DDO bucket list It's not great, but it does give me a new Blurry option at ML20, which I might need next go around with Epic VoM in the mix.

EDIT: and as is typically the case here, I get some cold water thrown on me when I realize that the Epic Cloak is now BtC. Old mechanic that made sense at one time now just further diminishing the value of S/S/S items.

[Saekee]

snip

PS - I just crafted my first Epic item last night, after 19 months playing this game, a lot of that time in epics. And it's one that coincidentally I wanted since before I even owned epics. Epic Phiarlan Mirror Cloak! I'm pretty excited about just crafting any S/S/S item, I thought it might never happen. I can now cross this off my DDO bucket list It's not great, but it does give me a new Blurry option at ML20, which I might need next go around with Epic VoM in the mix.

EDIT: and as is typically the case here, I get some cold water thrown on me when I realize that the Epic Cloak is now BtC. Old mechanic that made sense at one time now just further diminishing the value of S/S/S items.

congratz on epic crafting! It is not completely outdated. That is another swap item even at cap for spell absorption and at level 20 you can sometimes use it for the light resistance. The DoTs from light damage are common in early epics. In my gear tetris, I had that one as one of the items but then shifted to the Wolf cloak for all that it offers. But I do have it.
Also from that chain (aside from the dagger and a formerly good light armor) is the helm--Epic Big Top has a no-saves dance clickie. I do not use it much since what dances can usually be assassinated; I have used it a couple of times on isolated deathblocked champs. However, reaper settings greatly reduced the time that charm endures due to its overuse by casters.
I had always dreamed of having a pair of EMidnight Greetings so I know the feeling of crossing things off the list!

I think at cap, many builds all seem to converge on an almost static, overbloated dps build. With lots of PLs, it seems that all veteran characters have high PRR, MRR, hp etc. Hence why I find the level 21 gearset almost more interesting since there is more differentiation. There will probably not be much of a huge difference at cap between two toons and 6 dex, for example, but it is more noticeable at level 21.

My current assassin has one level of barbarian so that I can use rage and Blood Feast at cap for 1000 temp hp. With 6 rages more costing 4AP, and some rage gear (like gauntlets out of KotB), I can push this number much higher. Anyway having 1K hp more that I can toss up when getting slammed by some DoT has been a big life saver.

[0ldschool]

I think at cap, many builds all seem to converge on an almost static, overbloated dps build. With lots of PLs, it seems that all veteran characters have high PRR, MRR, hp etc.

This is probably why I focus on saves and miss chance more than most. I'm sadly deficient in PRR and past lives poor (as in zero).

My current assassin has one level of barbarian so that I can use rage and Blood Feast at cap for 1000 temp hp. With 6 rages more costing 4AP, and some rage gear (like gauntlets out of KotB), I can push this number much higher. Anyway having 1K hp more that I can toss up when getting slammed by some DoT has been a big life saver.

Interesting. I usually Cocoon my way out of it. After discovering AHK, I now have one mouse button click for equipping Hallowed Castigators and triggering Cocoon, which has been extremely convenient, and really a game-changer for me. But I do have to run away while healing. 1K temp HP sounds even better! Thanks for the tip.

EDIT: What happens when the 1k HP wears off and you have less than 1k HP total?

[Dulcimerist]

In low epics, I pair Blade of the High Priestess with Epic Midnight Greetings. Since I couldn't find room for slotting positive spell power, the Blade of the High Priestess helps power up my Cocoon while having interesting combat effects.

After grinding to get the S/S/S for Epic Phiarlan Spy Dagger, I ended up not crafting it. I liked the Epic Midnight Greetings better instead. Am I missing something by using that instead of the Epic Phiarlan Spy Dagger?

[Saekee]

In low epics, I pair Blade of the High Priestess with Epic Midnight Greetings. Since I couldn't find room for slotting positive spell power, the Blade of the High Priestess helps power up my Cocoon while having interesting combat effects.

After grinding to get the S/S/S for Epic Phiarlan Spy Dagger, I ended up not crafting it. I liked the Epic Midnight Greetings better instead. Am I missing something by using that instead of the Epic Phiarlan Spy Dagger?

EPic Midnight Greetings means no dual daggers boosts from Vistani, the tree that killed Kukris

Blade of the High Priestess is solid as a trash killer; it is just that the Drow dagger has an insane crit profile and hence scales well if you take it to level 28

I too would prefer the EMG but we will see if Lynnabel succeeds in sneaking in Kukris to the vistani tree

[Bolo_Grubb]

I crafted a full set of cannith Gear. I just found it easier and good enough. If I am doing an Epic reincarnation I make sure to have a few sagas to turn in to get to 21+

If I am leveling up from heroics I just wear my level 16 cannith crafted gear until I hit 21.

[Saekee]

I crafted a full set of cannith Gear. I just found it easier and good enough. If I am doing an Epic reincarnation I make sure to have a few sagas to turn in to get to 21+

If I am leveling up from heroics I just wear my level 16 cannith crafted gear until I hit 21.

That is what I have done up until now and it has been fine. It is just that the power creep has been so big lately that I am finding it worthwhile to reconfigure. I resisted, honestly, and am not making it a huge priority, especially since I dislike farming a lot of different stuff, but it has given me something to do in KotB, for example.

[Saekee]

For those interested, here is what I did. You could keep the old setup I posted above or have fun with this new one. There is flexibility here, but not much:

Trinket: Gem of Many Facets (Raven Eye, Vulkoor's Chosen), craft devotion 111 (for cocoon) of armor piercing of Insightful deadly 3. (Drop location: Chronoscope, even heroic, upgrade then click away in Legacy Altar until you get the right combo. Then decon and craft on it.)
Helm: Umber Brim (Improved Quelling Strikes, Insightful Accuracy 5, Ins. Deception, Profane well-Rounded +1, Green) Drop location: No Refunds
armor: Epic fighting leathers (Bluff 17, Improved Deception, acc. 15, Fire Resist: 36, exceptional nimble skills +8!, Ins. Deception +3/5) for Vulkoor chosen (Drop location: Any chest after 2nd aspect in OOB)
necklace: Hyena Claw or Wolf Whistle (Con 9, Vitality 32, yellow) Windlasher! Drop location: This is a wilderness drop, good luck getting them...If you get Wolf Whistle just slot diamond of CON 9, it is arguably better than the Hyena Claw anyway.
Eyes: Raven: Accuracy, True seeing, Insightful Wisdom 4 (Drop location: NPC for The Last Stand)
gloves: CC doublestrike of deadly 8 of Insightful bluff 8, augments (ideally 2)
Ring 1: ML21 Whispering Ring (assassinate 5, Ins Deception 4/6, Quality accuracy 3, quality deadly 2, augment: ) (Drop location: Total Chaos)
Ring 2: Stalker (Ghostly, Seeker 11, Deception 8/12, Deception 4/6, Manslayer, Green/colorless)
—>This is here for Ghostly and we get a little bit more out of seeker etc.
Bracers: Wind (Dodge, blurry, Air guard, yellow, colorless)
Belt: ML 21 Subtle villainy Ins. Dex 4/quality +2 dex/ False life 38 yellow (Drop location: The Bugbear Bandits)
Boots: Dustless boots (Assassinate 4/Ins. Deception3/5; Speed 30%, MS 17, yellow/green) windlasher (Drop location: Zawabi's Revenge)
Cloak: Pharlian mirror (Ins. HS/MS +8, Spell Resist 28, Light Resist 36, Spell absorption 5, Colorless) (Drop location: Partycrashers). This is by no means really needed, flexible. I like the boost to HS/MS and the backup spell absorption.

Main hand: E Spy dagger (Drop location: Partycrashers)—>Drow dagger or whatever, lots of good options
offhand: If needed, Vulkoorim dagger (Drop location: Like armor above, any chest after 2nd aspect in OOB) for Vulkoor's chosen


Sets:
Vulkoor chosn +2 sneak dice, +2 arti bonus saves, +2 arti bonus dex and con
raven's eye: +3 artifact hit/damage/seeker, +5 artifact search/spot
Windlasher; 10 artifact Doublestrike, 10 Artifact Melee power)

These numbers might be off:

• Doublestrike: +21 (gloves + artifact set bonus)
• dodge: 11% (Bracers)
• Bluff +17 + 8 insightful= +25
• speed 30% (boots)
• Improved Deception (Armor)
• Ghostly (ring)
• assassinate: +5 (ring)
• MP: 10 set + Sentient jewel weapon
• Deadly: 8+3 artifact + 3 Insightful + 2 quality=16
• Seeker: 11+3 artifact + insightful 4? = 16
• Sneak damage: +18 + 2d6
• Armor Piercing: 15% (trinket)
• Accuracy: 15 Raveneye/armor + 5 Insightful (helm) + 3 quality (ring) = +23
• DEX: +9reg +4 insight + 2 quality+ 1 profane +2 artifact = +18 (add +1 exceptional diamond for +19)
• CON: +10 reg +1 exceptional (augment) +1 profane + 2 artifact= +14
• 32 vitality from Hyena claw necklace, false life 38 (belt)
• Sheltering: 24 (augment)
• HS/MS +8 nimble skills and +8 insightful = +16 nimble skills before regular bonuses, (boots +17= +33 MS)

Random stuff: Mobility, +2 arti bonus to saves, +5 artifact on search/spot
Augments:
needed: Dex 9 (funny that the gear is missing this), sheltering 24, resistance 8, deathblock, good luck +2. These are pretty easy to get.
recommended: hide in shadows (tough find), master's gift, feather falling, strength, various elemental resists, maybe fear immunity if you are worried scroll casting Greater Heroism goes down


Notes and observations:
Fens loot is easy to get and most loot is an easy farm. I intentionally avoided VoN stuff since that is a grind whereas Zawabi's Revenge is a short raid, now repeatable without the pre-quest. It is worth grinding anyway since you get the tokens too and other good loot (you need the boots from there).

You can grind OOB on heroic if needed to get the leathers, very fast.

The tough grind is getting the necklace although the wolf whistle will work too; both drop in the same area with the gnolls.

If you use the Vulkoorim dagger, you can do Windlasher instead of Vulkoor's chosen on the gem; this then frees up either the boots or the necklace. Neither are really needed for their stats so you could do the boots out of Borderlands and also get FoM with them if you want the dagger in the offhand. The dagger seems pretty easy to get too.

If by some miracle you have the Bracers of Deftness out of Wiz King, one option is to swap those in at level 26 and do an Epic ToEE set from 26-29 before switching over to endgame. You lose some nice perks on the armor but gain 20-24 melee power. If so, the augments for the bracers and armor should reflect the switchover. ToEE armor has built-in Lesser Displacement, Resistance 12 and 150% fortification so put resistance and heavy fort augments in blue slots of Vulkoorim fighting leathers and bracers. Then there is no swap issues. (I put an 11 Dex augment in the ToEE armor although others might have better options). Some folks have LGS instead for their ML 26 setup.

For my toon's current life, I am using the Epic Chimera Crown which is adding 4 (!) greater dragonmarks usages as well as a nice buff to PRR. So I lose the quelling strikes and profane boost but I am always displaced.