pure rogue assassin, getting my tail kicked as I move up to epic post u49

[redoubt]

So, I was down at level 8 when the update hit. I've just started epics this week (been busy IRL.) I'm on the same build, with the same gear as last life.

Assassin 41
Vistani 25
Acrobat 3
Harper 12
Aasimar 12

Shadowdancer
twist - martial hymn, balanced attacks, a dance with flowers, extra action boosts

What I am finding is that in places I had little difficulty last life, I am dying frequently. i.e. I died twice in Servants of the Underlord epic R1 at level 25. Typically, I could complete this without dying. I have a couple things that I know where nerfed in balanced attacks and a meteoric star ruby. I do try to pull any reapers pre-spawned out and kill them alone. I stretch mobs out to work on them one on one the best I can. I just seem to be taking a lot more damage now.

Thoughts? Recommendations (while staying an assassin)?

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

Most forum people exclusively look at Epic levels and don't bother checking everything in the level range 1-10.
That's why you have never seen reports about the lower levels.

[PedXing20]

Most forum people exclusively look at Epic levels and don't bother checking everything in the level range 1-10.
That's why you have never seen reports about the lower levels.

You know Arlik, as much as I tend to agree with you in that many people only care about the game and how it affects them, you spam the boards non freakin stop screaming saying the exact same thing over and over making you just as big a PITA as the elitists you're screaming about.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Kmm]

As an assassin you have two big defensive cooldowns: Meld into Darkness and Improved Uncanny dodge. The Mabar hat can be used as an extra Improved uncanny dodge once per rest.

Get as much Dodge as possible so the 50% dodge clickies can do their thing.

Get as much PRR as you can and a Jeweled Cloak so you don't die to spells that you can't evade.

[Artos_Fabril]

As an assassin you have two big defensive cooldowns: Meld into Darkness and Improved Uncanny dodge. The Mabar hat can be used as an extra Improved uncanny dodge once per rest.

Get as much Dodge as possible so the 50% dodge clickies can do their thing.

Get as much PRR as you can and a Jeweled Cloak so you don't die to spells that you can't evade.

I'm on the same build, with the same gear as last life.

Assassin 41
Vistani 25
Acrobat 3
Harper 12
Aasimar 12

That's an 93 point (min 30x RPL) build that he says he's already played to 30. It should be safe to say he knows how to use his defensive cooldowns, and has appropriate gear. This appears to be about retuning the build or changing the strategy to cope with the U49 nerfs.

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing a lot you can do here. If you can push your tactics DCs up high enough with trance, swapping in a stunning weapon and stunning blow might be worthwhile until you get Dire Charge. Trying to use momentum swing for the knockdown in place of balanced attacks requires a second twist and a cleave ability, so that's not any better.

[HuneyMunster]

Servants of the Overlord is probably not one of the best quests for Assassin due to a lot of spiders breaking stealth. The two parts with large packs of Drow and spiders tend to mean that Priest will mass-deathward before you can assassinate two targets then execute another. Those two spots you would have to rely on Improved Uncanny, Meld and Displacement clickie/scroll to help you out.

Other option would be to use some noise maker traps outside of detection range from spiders. You can also place some Web, Hypnotic Pattern and Glitterdust traps for CC. Other traps can be useful but, non-lingering traps tend to often miss most of the target due to delay in activation once triggered. Don't forget to put of Int and Disable item first. If things go bad you can also DD and run back to finish off the fight. All these method would increase quest run- time but better than non-completion.

[redoubt]

As an assassin you have two big defensive cooldowns: Meld into Darkness and Improved Uncanny dodge. The Mabar hat can be used as an extra Improved uncanny dodge once per rest.

Get as much Dodge as possible so the 50% dodge clickies can do their thing.

Get as much PRR as you can and a Jeweled Cloak so you don't die to spells that you can't evade.

thank you.

That's an 93 point (min 30x RPL) build that he says he's already played to 30. It should be safe to say he knows how to use his defensive cooldowns, and has appropriate gear. This appears to be about retuning the build or changing the strategy to cope with the U49 nerfs.

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing a lot you can do here. If you can push your tactics DCs up high enough with trance, swapping in a stunning weapon and stunning blow might be worthwhile until you get Dire Charge. Trying to use momentum swing for the knockdown in place of balanced attacks requires a second twist and a cleave ability, so that's not any better.

You have the long and short of it. I played assassin for several years, then not for a couple years now. Lots of new things and new content. For example, last life my first with dire charge. I went INT based for it and assassinate.

By trance do you mean Know The Angles?

I had not considered momentum swing, but as you say, I'd need a cleave attack to help reset the cooldown along with the stunning blow feat. Its an interesting thought though.

Servants of the Overlord is probably not one of the best quests for Assassin due to a lot of spiders breaking stealth. The two parts with large packs of Drow and spiders tend to mean that Priest will mass-deathward before you can assassinate two targets then execute another. Those two spots you would have to rely on Improved Uncanny, Meld and Displacement clickie/scroll to help you out.

Other option would be to use some noise maker traps outside of detection range from spiders. You can also place some Web, Hypnotic Pattern and Glitterdust traps for CC. Other traps can be useful but, non-lingering traps tend to often miss most of the target due to delay in activation once triggered. Don't forget to put of Int and Disable item first. If things go bad you can also DD and run back to finish off the fight. All these method would increase quest run- time but better than non-completion.

Yeah, I like to assassinate, fall back and repeat when I'm solo. So many purple eyes make that not seem possible.

I've not invested at all in trap making. When I raid or run in groups, this build runs very well. Its just rough when I have the agro (lower dps, time spent healing and less CC mean mobs beat on me even longer.) Do you think the trap making skills are worth the dps trade in the long run? I can see maybe making leveling easier (I've caught a bad run and had to solo the whole life do to real life commitments).

[Kielbasa]

If you're mostly soloing I would think scrolls of sleet storm and a throwing dagger or bluff to pull the pack would be super useful. Set up shop around a corner and profit. At the very least you should be able to wipe out any melee in the pod and then mop up the ranged and casters after. You could join the cult of the flaming sphere that thread dedicated to its uses is very amusing. I also recently saw globe of invulnerability used very effectively the other day to lock down some annoying caster mobs. Lots more options out there get creative.

[slarden]

Assassin 41
Vistani 25
Acrobat 3
Harper 12
Aasimar 12

Shadowdancer
twist - martial hymn, balanced attacks, a dance with flowers, extra action boosts

What I am finding is that in places I had little difficulty last life, I am dying frequently. i.e. I died twice in Servants of the Underlord epic R1 at level 25. Typically, I could complete this without dying. I have a couple things that I know where nerfed in balanced attacks and a meteoric star ruby. I do try to pull any reapers pre-spawned out and kill them alone. I stretch mobs out to work on them one on one the best I can. I just seem to be taking a lot more damage now.

Thoughts? Recommendations (while staying an assassin)?

I like your assassin/vistani/harper/acrobat split - it's the exact same split I use on my int assassin.

The two most important procs negatively impacted by U49 are balanced attacks and improved deception. On the other hand off-hand double strike is buffed - so there is that.

During my gnome lifes I discovered greater color spray works really well on a non-caster for leveling if you slot an illusion/insightful illusion item (I used crafted goggles). It can fill the gap until you get dire charge but since you are not a gnome that means giving up points in vistani for points in feydark illusionist. This is only for solo leveling, once you hit 29 respec those points back to vkf. If you are just looking for something for those uh-oh moments daunting roar works well on lower level epic content but has a 2 min timer. Greater color spray has a short cooldown and only uses 4 sp so this becomes your go to with every encounter while leveling.

The other suggestion I would make is to hold off on the level 21 reapers until you hit 26-27 as you can use gear from defiler of the just, mark of death, fire on thunder peak, tempest spine, plus epic assassin's kiss. Most of the gear is 26 but the nice armor from tempest spine/hound is 27.

[redoubt]

I like your assassin/vistani/harper/acrobat split - it's the exact same split I use on my int assassin.

The two most important procs negatively impacted by U49 are balanced attacks and improved deception. On the other hand off-hand double strike is buffed - so there is that.

During my gnome lifes I discovered greater color spray works really well on a non-caster for leveling if you slot an illusion/insightful illusion item (I used crafted goggles). It can fill the gap until you get dire charge but since you are not a gnome that means giving up points in vistani for points in feydark illusionist. This is only for solo leveling, once you hit 29 respec those points back to vkf. If you are just looking for something for those uh-oh moments daunting roar works well on lower level epic content but has a 2 min timer. Greater color spray has a short cooldown and only uses 4 sp so this becomes your go to with every encounter while leveling.

The other suggestion I would make is to hold off on the level 21 reapers until you hit 26-27 as you can use gear from defiler of the just, mark of death, fire on thunder peak, tempest spine, plus epic assassin's kiss. Most of the gear is 26 but the nice armor from tempest spine/hound is 27.

I totally forgot about improved deception. I have it slotted of course and I use shiv every time its off timer to spin the mob around. But with both balanced attacks and improved deception losing procs... that could explain some of the higher incoming damage.

[LavidDynch]

Are you sure you are abusing meld and uncanny dodge as much as you should? In 20-29 Rejuv-C is also really good, esp in r1 content.