First life Rogue, now with CHAAAAAIIIINNZZZZ

[Strimtom]

Hello and good morning. I am Strimtom, and today I bring you the new and improved Shadarkai. Shadarkai has been a silly jkoew for a long time given that it used to do almost nothing with it's cool chain attacks. Now, the Shadarkai remains a force to be reckoned with given that the new chain attack is both free and powerful. I decided to start over on a new character and begin anew, so why not start with a tried and true classic like the shadarkai. I have a history with chain builds, and if you'd like to see that check this video for that history.

Anyway, the build!



This was a dream to play as a first life character, doing amazing AOE damage while being single target. The chains revival was a success, and I think you'll be seeing quite a few SDK hanging around for a long time as it's now a major consideration for any rogue build.

ChAAAAIINNNZZZZ
Rogue 20
True Neutral Shadar-kai


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 20. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 16. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 14. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .6. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . 28: DEX

Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Disable . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Open Lo . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Search. . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spot. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Bluff . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Balance . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Jump. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Hide. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Move Si . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
UMD . . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .40 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10


Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.3. . . . : Improved Feint
.6. . . . : Precision
.9. . . . : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
18. . . . : Offhand Versatility
21 Epic . : Improved Sneak Attack
24 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Epic Reflexes
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

10 Rogue. : Opportunist
13 Rogue. : Improved Evasion
16 Rogue. : Slippery Mind
19 Rogue. : Skill Mastery


Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)

Assassin (43 AP)

• Knife in the Darkness, Dagger in the Back, Assassin's Trick, Nimbleness, Lethality, Deadly Shadow
  1. Poison Strikes: Heartseeker, Shiv I, Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy III
  2. Sneak Attack Training, Damage Boost III
  3. Sneak Attack Training, Dexterity
  4. Killer III, Weakening Strikes, Sneak Attack Training, Dexterity
  5. Assassinate, Measure the Foe III, Deadly Strikes, Knife Specialization, Light Armor Mastery III

Shadar-kai (20 AP)

• Shadar-kai Grit, Dexterity
  1. Keen Senses III
  2. Forceful Chain, Ghostly Essence III, Guile
  3. Ghastly Chain, Displacement, Improved Ghostly Essence I, Guile
  4. Greater Spiked Chain Attack, Nothing Is Hidden III

Horizon Walker (14 AP)

• Mark Target, Improved Marking, Greater Marking
  1. Eye for Accuracy III, Planar Dodge II
  2. Skilled Navigator III
  3. No Step Missed III

Thief-Acrobat (3 AP)

• Staff Control
  1. Fast Movement

Leveling Guide

• Assassin: Knife in the Darkness, Dagger in the Back, Assassin's Trick
  1. Poison Strikes: Heartseeker, Shiv I, Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy III
  2. Sneak Attack Training, Damage Boost II
  3. Sneak Attack Training, Dexterity

• Shadar-kai: Shadar-kai Grit, Dexterity
  1. Keen Senses III
  2. Forceful Chain, Ghostly Essence III, Guile
  3. Ghastly Chain, Displacement, Improved Ghostly Essence I, Guile
  4. Greater Spiked Chain Attack, Nothing Is Hidden III

• Horizon Walker: Mark Target, Improved Marking, Greater Marking
  1. Eye for Accuracy III, Planar Dodge II
  2. Skilled Navigator III
  3. No Step Missed III

• Thief-Acrobat: Staff Control
  1. Fast Movement

15. Ass2 Damage Boost III; Ass0 Nimbleness; Ass4 Sneak Attack Training
16. Ass4 Weakening Strikes; Ass4 Killer I, II
17. Ass4 Killer III; Ass4 Dexterity; Ass5 Assassinate
18. Ass0 Lethality; Ass5 Measure the Foe I, II, III
19. Ass5 Knife Specialization; Ass5 Deadly Strikes
20. Ass5 Light Armor Mastery I; Ass0 Deadly Shadow; Ass5 Light Armor Mastery II, III


Destiny (24 AP) (Errors)

Shadowdancer

1. Stealthy III, Technician III, Dexterity
2. Lithe I, Skill Mastery
3. Meld into Darkness III, Grim Precision III
4. (none)
5. Untouchable, Executioner's Strike I, Sealed Soul
6. Shadow Form, Dark Imbuement

Twists of Fate (19 fate points)

1. Martial Hymn (Tier 4 Fatesinger)
2. Extra Action Boost (Tier 1 Dreadnought)
3. Legendary Tactics (Tier 1 Dreadnought)
4. Dance of Flowers (Tier 1 Flowers)

If you enjoyed the video, both original chainz and new chainz, I am selling some chainz shirts which you can find here, should that be something you want.

[Carpone]

A first life toon won't have access to those Epic Destiny feats.

[Carpy]

Not sure if I'm missing something? Greater Marking doesn't seem to be on the class? It says Haste SLA instead?

[unbongwah]

Aww yeahhh kukris - when was the last time we had a decent build excuse to use them? Not to mention SWF Assassin.

[VinoeWhines]

A first life toon won't have access to those Epic Destiny feats.

I actually am a first life toon, and my twists are 4,3,1,1
and Have Mass Frog(which is going away as a Feat) and Dire Charge(again going away also).

I have a different setup for gear and Enhancements. As a First lifers though unpopular, I run R10's also. (That was by design so to show it can be done successfully) I do have another toon that's Shadar-kai that I will TR though to get Warlock past life feat and bump up other useful feats along the way.
Though I don't know if this guys Chainzz build is upper Reaper level viable, but it is interesting as I am glad they made the changes to not have Shadar-kai the joke of a build that it use to be, which was such a disservice and disgrace and the tipping point of when ddo started to show they don't really play the game in real time seriously.

[VinoeWhines]

Aww yeahhh kukris - when was the last time we had a decent build excuse to use them? Not to mention SWF Assassin.

Legendary Midnight Greetings, will hopefully be a thing now.

[Eltronin]

A first life toon won't have access to those Epic Destiny feats.

Yes they do. I have a first life character and am able to access them with no problem.

[Relicor_Typhoidmary]

Hey boss, I don't have the new expansion so I'll wing those 14 points into something.

Thank you for your theory crafting and application.

[Vletts]

What sort of change ups feat-wise would be beneficial if someone were to take this from SWF to TWF, dual daggers? No changes to the trees for Vistani or anything, just heroic/epic feats along the way. As I noticed there is TWF added in the epic levels? Is it just better to leave it off until then, or could someone benefit from it earlier?

[unbongwah]

What sort of change ups feat-wise would be beneficial if someone were to take this from SWF to TWF, dual daggers?

It's a straight feat swap, however remember the whole point of this build (apart from novelty) is trading single-target DPS for better AoE damage from SDK chains. So the big incentive to SWF for this build is the higher base damage modifier (2x with full SWF + Offhand Versatility vs 1x for TWF). Basically you're going back to a typical TWF Assassin build but with heavy racial investment. APs are reaaally tight if you don't have extra racial APs: 41 Assassin (capstone) + 17 SDK (Greater Chain Attack) + 23 VKF (Double Daggers + Celerity) = 81 APs leaving no room for a Battle Trance (Know the Angles or No Step Missed) unless you drop VKF down to 11 APs or so.

As I noticed there is TWF added in the epic levels?

Perfect TWF used to grant an universal +5% Doublestrike bonus; however that's no longer the case so you should take Epic Doublestrike instead.

[paraLogic]

I've been using this recently, and I'm really happy with it, thanks! But I'm just wondering, I'm not that great with the Epic Destiny revamp and now that Twists of Fate are gone and we have access to 3 trees. Could you give any guidance on other trees to focus on besides Shadowdancer?

It seems like Shadow Form and Dark Imbuement are good goals, but where to branch out.

You've probably moved on from this, but any napkin Epic Destiny guidance you could give?

[jskinner937]

I've been using this recently, and I'm really happy with it, thanks! But I'm just wondering, I'm not that great with the Epic Destiny revamp and now that Twists of Fate are gone and we have access to 3 trees. Could you give any guidance on other trees to focus on besides Shadowdancer?

It seems like Shadow Form and Dark Imbuement are good goals, but where to branch out.

You've probably moved on from this, but any napkin Epic Destiny guidance you could give?

Look at Carpones post on u53 assassin guide.

[paraLogic]

Look at Carpones post on u53 assassin guide.

Thanks, I did. Guess I didn't state my goal or play-style, but Carpones is focused on Reaper 10 in full groups. TO quote the guide "Create the most optimal Assassin build at level 30 for raiding and reaper XP. This guide does not consider short-man, solo or heroic play."

This guide is for a first life Rogue, so I feel like it's a bit different and I'm just a solo guy with only a few past lives.

[DrrIzzy]

What about self-healing during heroic/epic leveling and reaper/raid end game?

[C-Dog]

(is 4 months but on-topic a necro?)

What about self-healing during heroic/epic leveling and reaper/raid end game?

Same any any pure rogue - nothing innate for low heroics, but full ranks in UMD means it'll get RD/Heal/Res scrolls soon enough.

[DrrIzzy]

(is 4 months but on-topic a necro?)


Same any any pure rogue - nothing innate for low heroics, but full ranks in UMD means it'll get RD/Heal/Res scrolls soon enough.

So it's best to multiclass my SDK repeater rogue project with something else, just for healing purpose? Any split suggestion?

[C-Dog]

So it's best to multiclass my SDK repeater rogue project with something else, just for healing purpose? Any split suggestion?

If you multi you'll miss out on the Rogue Mech capstone, which is not the end of the world but is nice.

Assuming you're already Level 15, I'd think you could UMD Heal scrolls or at least any medium-cure wands, no? (Or... did you not take UMD??? )

A single level of something "divine" will get you no-UMD Cure Moderate Wands - but by Level 15, that's pretty weak healing, doubly so in Reaper.

Without seeing the build, if you're going there, I'd make the other level Barbarian, for the run speed. But Fighter, Wizard or Arti could also work, depending on what your priorities are. Rogue 19 too, for that extra Special Ability.

[DrrIzzy]

If you multi you'll miss out on the Rogue Mech capstone, which is not the end of the world but is nice.

Assuming you're already Level 15, I'd think you could UMD Heal scrolls or at least any medium-cure wands, no? (Or... did you not take UMD??? )

A single level of something "divine" will get you no-UMD Cure Moderate Wands - but by Level 15, that's pretty weak healing, doubly so in Reaper.

Without seeing the build, if you're going there, I'd make the other level Barbarian, for the run speed. But Fighter, Wizard or Arti could also work, depending on what your priorities are. Rogue 19 too, for that extra Special Ability.

Just sketching at the moment, can do any split. Thinking of rog/clr/art 11/5/4. Cleric for radiant servant and arti for battle engineer. I hate swapping repeater/great xbow in the middle of the fight. On pure bladeforged rogue, repairing is easy, but I struggle with fleshie SDK healing concept for my forthcoming ITR lives.

[OdiumReigns]

Hi, I'm planning a shadar-kai iconic for my 8th life (tired of doing mid-level heroics tbh, want to do the sprint to 20 then jump to epics), but I would prefer TWF to SWF and I don't have Horizon Walker or racial AP. Is this build workable if I do the feat swaps for TWF and use Vistani Knife Fighter buffs instead of Horizon Walker?

I have some tomes buffing my stats so those aren't a huge concern, and I've got the following PLs: Drow Elf 1, Barb 1, Fighter 2 (once I TR, currently only 1), Paladin 1, Warlock 1, Ranger 1. I don't have much high-level or epic Rogue gear.

[unbongwah]

Is this build workable if I do the feat swaps for TWF and use Vistani Knife Fighter buffs instead of Horizon Walker?

I'll just quote what I wrote earlier:

It's a straight feat swap, however remember the whole point of this build (apart from novelty) is trading single-target DPS for better AoE damage from SDK chains. So the big incentive to SWF for this build is the higher base damage modifier (2x with full SWF + Offhand Versatility vs 1x for TWF). Basically you're going back to a typical TWF Assassin build but with heavy racial investment. APs are reaaally tight if you don't have extra racial APs: 41 Assassin (capstone) + 17 SDK (Greater Chain Attack) + 23 VKF (Double Daggers + Celerity) = 81 APs leaving no room for a Battle Trance (Know the Angles or No Step Missed) unless you drop VKF down to 11 APs or so.