Post by DragonDeadMe on Jan 9, 2010 0:23:17 GMT -8
Greetings everyone. I'm writing this guide after carefully studying the Assassin class and it's abilities. Because this is one of the first guides on Assassin, I will update this guide as I progress on my character.
The Assassin
Assassins are not fighters, they are specialists. One has to understand that, even in history, they were not the most durable and heavily armored people out there. Assassins get the job done with as little as possible, so they rely more on skill and sabotage than they do direct fighting.
In Perfect World, the Assassin class cannot be described as a sub-category of any other class (such as Blade Master). Though there can be claims of similarity, there are simply too many of them for too many different classes to label Assassin to be similar to a single one.
Why be an Assassin?
As mentioned above, the Assassin is a specialist and not a fighter. The Assassin's skill set is designed for a more technical and indirect way of fighting. Many of the skills that the Assassin has possesses an ulterior motive and are meant to work in conjunction with one another. While the skills themselves are self explanatory, when combined in a specific order, they can overcome many obstacles that other classes face constantly.
Is Assassin for me?
Through careful observation, it turns out that Assassin is not for everyone. Many found Assassin far too difficult to play and run into issues such as dying constantly and worrying about the constant low health. Others seem to go for a more direct approach with using strong, direct attack skills; however, they still run into minor tads of trouble, such as having gaps in their attacks that allow the opponent to retaliate harshly.
The Assassin class are built for methodical thinkers. The ideology is to plan ahead, strike fast, strike quickly, don't give the opponent the chance to think. If you like direct fighting, being able to take hits, and not having to think while you're swinging your weapon away, this is not the class for you.
Common Misconceptions and Explanation
Well, let's start off by restating that the Assassin is a specialist, not a fighter. The fighter classes in PWI optimizes their DPS (damage per second) by using normal attacks. While this is a viable option early on for Assassins, it becomes a major detriment to the Assassin later. One of the skills Assassins get at mid levels increases their damage base dramatically (30 Attack Levels, meaning you'll always do 30% more damage), but at a massive cost. Once this skill is maxed, your attack speed get shot down 100%. Yes, this is correct, your normal attacks literally stop at 0.05 or lower (this means you'll be doing one attack every 10 seconds or so). So, this clearly indicates that Assassins were meant to methodically pin down opponents with skill spamming unless you happen to have a Speed Focus (which will be explained in a bit).
The Assassin class's strongest defense is within it's offense and adaptability. Though it is offense oriented, it's still not as capable in direct combat as Archers, Blade Masters, and Barbarians. Archers have defensive capabilities of Range; Blade Masters with Heavy Armor, Defense Buffs, Self Healing, and Pure Damage oriented skills; Barbarians with Heavy Armor, High HP, Defense Oriented Skills, and High Damage weapons. Unfortunately, the Assassin's weapons are among the weakest of all the physical damage oriented classes, Light Armor without the benefits of Ranged Combat, Weak and Limited Self defense skills, and is by no means a ranged class.
Assassin skills are very indirect in nature. Instead of overwhelming the opponent with sheer power, they set the pace of combat in their favor. By limiting what the opponent can do (such as making them unable to move, cast, run, chase, self-destruct nearby, attack quickly, attack accurately, so on, and so forth), the Assassin makes it so the opponent cannot function and fight under normal conditions. Assassins are meant to fight debuffed opponents while buffed, this is their edge.
Assassin Stat Builds
The Assassin class revolves around Light Armor and Daggers. The dagger's damage comes from the dexterity stat. Dexterity influences accuracy, evasion, and critical hits. There are both pros and cons to each build, but it is highly recommended to stick to one of the three builds.
Pure Dex Build
Every Level: 1 Str, 4 Dex
Pros: Maintain highest damage ratio and critical rate.
Cons: Rather fragile.
Hybrid Build
Every Even Level: 1 Str, 4 Dex
Every Odd Level: 1 Str, 1 Vit, 3 Dex
Pros: Fair attack ratio, survive a few more hits
Cons: Each fight will take just a little longer to win.
Vitality Build
Every Level: 1 Str, 1 Vit, 3 Dex
Pros: Most HP of the 3 and survive some harsh blows.
Cons: Lower damage and critical ratio, losing 1% critical every 20 levels compared to Pure Dex build.
Note: In order to maintain up to date weapons and light armor, 1 Str and 3 Dex is absolutely vital.
Assassin Focuses
The Assassin class is very varied in terms of gameplay styles, thus why many arguments and debates drag on in conversations about skills and their uses. Each skill actually has it's own uses and efficiency. The longer you play Assassin, the more you realize the effectiveness of each skill when used properly and efficiently. There will always be debates on whether or not a skill is effective, but you must first question which focus you're aiming for first before questioning others. Simply because one skill does not appeal to you does not mean it will not appeal to another.
Assault Focus
Those with this mindset will mostly be MP heavy with the mindset that every little bit of damage adds up to the speed of the kill and it is the speed of the kill that determines how much damage is taken per monster. With little belief in defense, those with this focus will concentrate more on Chi and Skill Damage. Added effects will seem only a bonus to the kill to those with this focus. Channel and Cast will also play a major role to their decision making.
Defensive Focus
Those with this mindset will not be as MP heavy as those with an Assault Focus. Attack Skills are only secondary to one's own survival. Those with this belief will concentrate more of their Spirit Points into skills that minimizes the damage one takes. Attack is crucial to those with this focus, but too many will seem like a burden than helpful. With this focus, damage is not important, thus if offensive skills do not meet a certain criteria they will view it as useless.
PvP Focus
Those with this mindset will be the most range oriented of them all. Their focus aims towards punishing opposition from all angles and punish them as quickly as possible. They minimize Spirit consumption by only aiming for critical attack and defense skills, leaving the rest for mobility and range. Those with this focus will be proficient in PvP, but the least efficient in PvE when compared to the other focuses.
Speed Focus
The rarest breed of them all, those with speed focus. Those with this mindset are minimalists in terms of skills and concentrate their spirit more into chi building skills only. Their aim is to optimize spark eruption efficiency and to kill quickly with as little MP consumed as possible. Instead of focusing on skills, they aim more towards gear that up their attack speed and critical rate. Movement is a plus, but not essential to those with this mentality. This is only recommended to those who have alternative characters over level 90 with much coin (in the hundred millions range) to throw around to optimize this build.
Assassin Skills
Twin Strike
Range melee
Mana -5+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 0.9second
CoolDown 3.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
A stabbing thrust with both daggers.
Deals base physical damage plus (-41.2+<skill level*7>+<skill level*51>).
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Early on, this skill is pointless, but later on used when in aerial combat as a starter attack to minimize range between player and target to compensate for the slow acceleration of wings to get into attack range. The ONLY viable replacement for normal attacks once Chill of the Deep reaches a very high level. On later note, around level 50, when used twice in 6 seconds, the damage on par with Slipstream if brought to level 10.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Pointless skill, no added defensive bonus.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Subtle skill that adds damage quickly before the opponent runs. A rather unexpected move, but more useful than normal attacks when high level Chill of the Deep is active.
Speed Focus Priority - None: No speed bonus.
Puncture Wound
Range 4.5meters
Mana -2.2+5.6*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
Deals base physical damage plus (50+5*skill level)% of weapon damage.
Causes the target to bleed for (-105.5+<skill level*35>+<skill level*274.1>) physical damage over 9 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Highest: The strongest skill in terms of damage over time. Always within the first 3 attacks those with this focus uses.
Defense Focus Priority - Highest: One of the few attack skills worth investing in due to it's sheer power. Usually used prior to Deep Sting.
PvP Focus Priority - High: One of the critical attack skills in PvP. Deady and Effective.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: The added bonus is nice, but it's very slow and MP can be used for something else.
Slipstream Strike
Range melee
Mana 1.7+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.9second
CoolDown 6.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
A powerful strike with the full force of the arm.
Deals base physical damage plus
(50+5*skill level)% of weapon damage plus (35.1+<skill level*22.2>+<skill level*188.4>).
Assault Focus Priority - Highest: Highest immediate damaging skill. Nothing more needs to be said.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: One of the few attack skills worthwhile in leveling due to it's sheer power.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Very fast quick damage, but might scare off some people due to the damage efficiency.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of MP and Spirit.
Raving Slash
Range melee
Mana 5.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(83.5+<skill level*12.8>+<skill level*115.9>) physical damage.
Increases own movement speed by (30+2*skill level)%. Lasts for 3 seconds.
Costs 30 Chi.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Low channel, cast, cooldown, and moderate damage, this is a decent investment. It's one of the more used skills until mid levels (post-50). This is exceptionally better than normal attacks when using high level Chill of the Deep, the only replacement for this is actually Twin Strike.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage does not suffice enough to remove defense for. The added speed bonus simply isn't very appealing. Leave it at 1 and save spirit for something that'd be more defense effective.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage is too low, but if used the very second before someone tries to flee on ground, can add one more attack after.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs Chi. Saving for a spark is more effective than this.
Tide Form
Range self
Mana 20*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Transform into a fish.
Increases your Defense Level by (5+0.5*skill level)
and your Swim speed by (20+6*skill level)%.
Only available in water.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Does not allow usage of skills.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Decent Defense bonus, but the lack of attack skills can be rather painful.
PvP Focus Priority - Low: When on the run or chasing those who dive into the water, the defense bonus will help with the flee and the swim speed can help chase down opponent and help flee nixes.
Speed Focus Priority - High: Added Defense Bonus in addition to your already fast attacks. What's not to like?
Shadow Walk
Range self
Mana 20
Channel 0.7second
Cast 2.8second
CoolDown 6.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Enter stealth mode.
Enemies with an Awareness Level lower than your Stealth Level can not see you.
Costs (25-1*skill level) mana per second.
Only usable when out of combat.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Doesn't do damage and is MP heavy. No real effective use for this skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Allows you to close into targets unseen at a cost. Something to be considered when other skills normally used to close into targets are still going through cooldown.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Used rather often, thus warrants some spirit to save some MP for attack skills.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too much MP used.
Wolf Emblem
Range self
Mana 25+1.5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Increases your critical strike damage by (10+2*skill level)%.
Lasts 30 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Adds damage, but it is very chanced at low levels due to critical hit rate. A more stable attack skill is more effective than this skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Low MP cost and adds additional damage occasionally. Efficient in optimizing the damage of the few attack skills you might have.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Throwing in that one very fatal critical hit is a very satisfying thing.
Speed Focus Priority - Medium: No channel and cast time. Low MP cost, adds chi, and adds damage. Definitely something to be warranted.
Wind Push
Range self
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Increases own movement speed by (50+5*skill level)%,
Lasts for 10 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Speeding up is nice, but not enough to sacrifice attacks for.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Not very defensive.
PvP Focus Priority - None: PvP Opponents rarely stay on the ground, thus a pointless skill to level past 1.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Closes the gap between monsters, no biggie.
Deep Sting
Range melee
Mana 23.5+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 0.8second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(107.3+<skill level*4.2>+<skill level*46.3) physical damage.
Has a (85+1*skill level)% chance to bring target to sleep for 5 seconds.
Costs 50 Chi
Assault Focus Priority - None: Not very powerful, only warrants 1 level to interrupt casts.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Interrupting Casts can save you on some HP, especially to close in magical monsters. Used right after Puncture Wounds in order to minimize damage taken and optimize damage given.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Stop opponents in place with lower chance of failure. Useful in stopping opponents in place for a strong attack, letting your HP charm cool down, and letting Bleed do it's work.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs far too much chi. Avoid at all costs.
Focused Mind
Range self
Mana 56+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 1.6second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Increases your chance to evade enemy skills by (10+1.5*skill level)%,
Lasts for (30+3*skill level) seconds.
Focused Mind shares a 90 second cooldown with Tidal Protection.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Doesn't increase damage at all. Extremely long cooldown. Leveling does not increase the % enough to warrant levels early on.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Reduces normal attacks from monsters to 1. Leveling it extends how long it is effective and how many more hits can be dodged.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Irritate the living heck out of heavy skillers by dodging their attacks, lasts long enough for one kill, always.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Low Chi builder, that's it.
Knife Throw
Range （20+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.0second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Throw your dagger at the target.
Deals base physical damage plus (98.3+<skill level*3.8>+<skill level*42.4>).
Has a (40+3*skill level)% chance to interrupt channeling.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage is far too low to warrant any levels and it's cooldown is horribly long.
Defense Focus Priority - Medium: Adds an attack beforehand and can interrupt spell casts. Rather useful for the monsters that try to kite you and cast at the same time.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: There are a lot of casters in PvP and a whole lot of those that run away. Might as well punish them for that.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Build little chi and spark right before they get to you, nothing special.
Dagger of Devotion
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases damage dealt by daggers by (0+6*skill level)%.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Rib Strike
Range melee
Mana 100+5.6*Skill lvl
Channel 0.3second
Cast 1.9second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Stab up under the enemy's ribs.
Deals base physical damage plus
(50+5)% of weapon damage plus (990.8+<skill level*16.2>+<skill level*225.6>).
Reduce target's attack speed by (25+2.5*skill level)% for 30 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Your third most powerful skill early on, used within the first 3 attacks to optimize damage with some added defense bonus.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Drastically lowers enemy attack speed, lowering the damage taken and optimizing the damage given.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Half the game are casters; they're very squishy and don't use normal attacks at all. For the classes that do use normal attacks though, this is a priceless skill to have. So you have to decide between killing squishies and killing slowpokes to determine how much you want this skill.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of MP that can be used for Chi Skills.
Shadow Escape
Range self
Mana 100
Channel 0.7second
Cast 2.8second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Force yourself into stealth. Dispel all negative status.
Enemies with an Awareness Level lower than your Stealth Level can not see you.
Costs (25-1*skill level) Mana per second.
A successful cast will increase one Spark.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Build Chi and potentially escape additional monsters, that's it.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Builds Chi and Avoids additional monsters that do not need to be killed at that point in time.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Builds Chi, forces opponent to lose target of you, and extending the time you can remain in this state.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Builds Chi and reduces the amount it costs to build that Chi.
Sharp Observer
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases your Awareness Level by (0+2*skill level).
Assault Focus Priority - None: Monsters don't hide.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Monsters don't hide.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Fellow hiding Assassins can be annoying.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Fellow hiding RPK Assassins can be annoying.
Cat-like Thread
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases your Stealth level by (0+2*skill level).
Assault Focus Priority - None: Why hide when you can fight.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Allows you to avoid fights with unnecessary monsters.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Being able to hide from higher level opponents can always lend an edge to the kill.
Speed Focus Priority - None: If you have to hide, it's probably not worth killing.
Blood Paint
Range self
Mana 56+35*Skill lvl
Channel 1.8second
Cast 2.4second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Make all friendly units within 10 Meters can absorb HP equals to
2% of damage it dealt each physical melee attack.
Lasts for (150+15*skill level) seconds.
Only available for Blademaster, Barbarian, and Assassin.
Only available for melee attacks.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Raising levels does not raise efficiency, only extends time.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Extends the time you can absorb HP.
PvP Focus Priority - None: It already lasts long enough for a kill in PvP at level 1, no point in extending it.
Speed Focus Priority - Medium: Longer duration allows less time worried about losing the buff in the middle of a fight.
Tackling Slash
Range 4.5meters
Mana 33.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(601.3+<skill level*12.4>+<skill level*161.3>) physical damage.
Immobilize target for (5.4+0.6*skill level) seconds,and increases own Chi by 50.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Does average damage, but the cooldown time pulls away from it's efficiency. Builds 50 Chi and holds monsters in place either way. Very useful for Kiting Mobs.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Builds Chi, stops kiting monsters. You get those effects already at level 1. Increasing it will be very pointless.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: If you have to hold someone in place, might as well do some mildly high damage while at it.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Builds Chi to allow you to spark faster, might as well optimize the damage while you're at it.
Shadow Jump
Range （15+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 35+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown （30-1.5*Skill lvl）second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Instantly move to the target's location.
Costs 20 Chi
Assault Focus Priority - None: Already pretty efficient at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Medium: Increasing this in levels shortens the cooldown and extends the range it can be cast. More levels means it can be used more often.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: The higher level this skill is, the less likely a person can ever get away from you when trying to flee.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Doesn't do anything for your chi.
Throatcut
Range melee
Mana 33.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 1.1second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(50+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(1821.1+<skill level*12.6>+<skill level*250.6>) physical attack.
Has a (85+1*skill level)% chance to interrupt enemy channeling.
Silence target for (2+0.2*skill level) seconds.
Costs 1 Sparks
NOTE: This skill actually seals your target instead of silencing. What this means is that the target cannot use normal attacks either and players most likely cannot move.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Does some considerably high damage and only gets higher as you level it. The cooldown low and your chi skills allow you to use this move rather often. Definitely an upper tier attack skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: While it's very strong, it's also very costly. Interrupts casts and seals the opponent only briefly. Worth putting little consideration in, but not at the cost of defensive skills.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Does great damage and seals those annoying opponents briefly. What more can you really ask for?
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs 1 spark that could have been used for spark eruption instead.
Deaden Nerves
Range self
Mana 56+5*level
Channel 1.5second
Cast 2.6second
CoolDown （300-12*Skill lvl）second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Avoid one attack that would kill you within the next two minutes.
Recovers 20% HP upon avoiding death.
NOTE: This skill will still save you on various "sudden death" mechanisms such as the self-destructing hands in Twilight Temple.
Assault Focus Priority - None: No attack bonus.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Lowering the cooldown can potentially save you more often than you think.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Saves you from that unlucky critical the opponent can give you and you can not be one shot by anything as long as this is active.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Builds little Chi and some added HP if you ever need it.
Chill of the Deep
Range self
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Channel 0.7second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Reduces your attack speed by (50+5*skill level)%.
Increases your Attack Level by (15+1.5*skill level). Lasts 10 minutes.
NOTE: At level 10, this skill will not actually shoot your attack rate to 0.00, but rather to roughly around 0.50 or so. While slow, your attacks will not come to a complete halt.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize damage your skills do at the cost of your typically unused normal attacks. Good trade.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Increases attacks at the cost of normal attacks. Since normal attacks are the staple of Defensive Focused people, it's not really worth it to invest in this.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: 30% Extra Damage at max level, what's not to like?
Speed Focus Priority - None: Anything that slows your attack speed is your worst enemy.
Maze Steps
Range self
Mana 100
Cast instant
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Increases own movement speed by (80+2*skill level)%,
Immune to Stun and Immobilize. Lasts for 10 seconds.
Costs 1 Spark
Assault Focus Priority - None: Already decent at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Pretty good at level 1, but only useful for monsters that decide to slow you before or after kills.
PvP Focus Priority - Low: A lot of casters have skills that slow your movement speed and they usually stay on the ground to optimize that effect. Might as well break that illusion of safety they have.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Anything that costs 1 spark and does not spark erupt is your enemy.
Earthen Rift
Range melee
Mana 94.5+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.7second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Coalescence
Detonate the ground under the enemy. Deals base physical damage plus
(200+20*skill level)% of weapon damage to all enemy units within 8 meters.
Assault Focus Priority - High: This skill does the most damage of your free skills at very late levels due to it's reliance on your weapon damage. When stacked with Spark+ or greater, the damage tends to go over the roof.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Does moderate damage, but you risk attacking other non-aggressive monsters in the area of cast.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Takes too long to cast, damage isn't good. However, you really don't have to aim with this skill, just be in the general area and use it. However, at late levels, this becomes the damage equivalent to Archer's Deadly Shot, if not greater. Definitely worth considering if you want to do intense damage.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of Spirit.
Rising Dragon Strike
Range 4.5meters
Mana 75.6+6.7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Coalescence
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(50+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(1377.4+<skill level*7.8>+<skill level*171.4>) physical damage.
Increases own Chi by 150.
100 percent accuracy.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Does some moderately high damage. Adds Chi. However, it has a horribly long recast time. Level only for the bonus damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: You get the Chi bonus regardless of the damage you do, level it only if you want to add some damage.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Might as well do fairly high damage while gaining Chi for other skills that potentially annoys your enemies to death.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Builds a lot of Chi. Might as well do some damage while at it.
Subsea Strike
Range 4.5meters
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.3second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly strikes all nearby targets.
Deals base physical damage plus (1848.1+<skill level*4.6>+<skill level*143.0>)
to all targets within 8 meters.
Increases all damage taken by the target by (15+1.5*skill level)% for 8 seconds.
This skill works with the Heaven's Flame skill.
This skill will cancel the Extreme Poison skill.
Costs 2 Sparks
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage that can be done with the 30% Amp effect while doing some serious damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Does some serious damage, but the other 2 spark moves will be more effective for those with this focus.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Does good damage and amps opponents, but has the lowest PvP quality of the 2 spark attack skills.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi.
Headhunt
Range 4.5
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.5second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(55+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(3569.7+<skill level*8.6>+<skill level*276.2>) physical attack.
Stun enemy for (3+0.2*skill level) seconds.
Costs 2 Sparks
Assault Focus Priority - High: One of Assassin's strongest skills and does immense damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Stunning prevents incoming damage, always. Do very good damage while at it. Costly, but useful.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Stunning opponents does so many things, I don't even know where to begin.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi.
Power Dash
Range 4.5
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 0.8second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(-) physical damage.
Increases your Rage Damage by (20+2*skill level)%. Lasts for 8 seconds.
Costs 2 Sparks
NOTE: After various tests and with many other testers, it is concluded that this skill raises Critical Attack Rate, not Rage.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Gives you an outrageously high critical attack rate. Definitely worth considering.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Makes the critical attack rate obscenely high, but not as defensive as the other skills.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Do some devastating damage with sheer amounts of criticals. With your high critical hit rate and added damage to it, you have a very good chance to slaughter your opponent with the next few hits with this skill.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi, but allows you to achieve critical hits like a madman.
Tidal Protection
Range self
Mana 56+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.6second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Increases your chance to avoid negative status effects by (25+2.5*skill level)%.
Lasts (30+3*skill level) seconds.
Tidal Protection shares a 90 second cooldown with Focused Mind.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Cooldown is horribly long and the effects aren't that great for Assault types.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Especially useful for monsters that casts poison and other negative effects later on.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Nothing is more irritating than being slept, stunned, immobilized, sealed, bled, so on, and so forth. Definitely the best buff against squishies.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Does nothing for speed and Chi.
Inner Harmony
Range self
Mana 84+8.4*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly gain (150+5*skill level) Chi.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Already gives very good chi at level 1. No point in raising it much.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Already gives good chi at level 1. No point in raising it much.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Adds a lot of chi and a little more extra each level. Allows you to spam those chi and spark costing skills more.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: You have no greater friend in this game. This skill is your best friend. Don't leave home without it at capped level.
Shadow Teleport
Range （20+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 75+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 180second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly move to the target's location.
Stuns the target for 3 seconds.
Costs 1 Spark
Assault Focus Priority - None: Stunning is good, but it's already very good at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Stuns while teleporting and increases the distance it covers. Still, the cooldown is horrible.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Horrible cooldown, but PvPers can't complain because it stuns those annoying runners to add in that additional fatal blow.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs Chi, not worth it.
Overview
Overall, Assassin is a deadly class when in the right hands. While it's a fairly popular class, it is definitely not recommended for all. Thank you very much for reading and I'll try to keep this guide up to date as often as possible.
Combo List
This is for reference for those who are interested in Combos. Keep in mind I have an Assault Focus.
NOTE: "Loop" is actually the "Walk behind Enemy" icon. What it does is start again from that location once the combo ends. If you do not know where this icon is, it is circled in red in this picture. img94.imageshack.us/img94/766...oopcommand.jpg
Combo 1: Twin Strike > Slipstream Strike > Twin Strike > Rib Strike > Twin Strike > Slipstream Strike > Twin Strike > Earthen Rift
Combo 2: Knife Throw > Tackling Slash > Twin Strike > Loop > Rib Strike > Slipstream Strike > Earthen Rift > Puncture Wound
Combo 3/4 > Twin Strike > Spark Erupt(+) > Tackling Slash/Rising Dragon Slash > Loop > Rib Strike > Slipstream Strike > Earthen Rift > Puncture Wound
Combo 5: Super Ninja
Knife Throw > Spark Eruption > Shadow Jump
Buff 1: All at once (Re-use once Focused Mind is up and ready)
Chill of the Deep > Bloodpaint > Focused Mind > Wolf Emblem
Originally Credited to
pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=553811
The Assassin
Assassins are not fighters, they are specialists. One has to understand that, even in history, they were not the most durable and heavily armored people out there. Assassins get the job done with as little as possible, so they rely more on skill and sabotage than they do direct fighting.
In Perfect World, the Assassin class cannot be described as a sub-category of any other class (such as Blade Master). Though there can be claims of similarity, there are simply too many of them for too many different classes to label Assassin to be similar to a single one.
Why be an Assassin?
As mentioned above, the Assassin is a specialist and not a fighter. The Assassin's skill set is designed for a more technical and indirect way of fighting. Many of the skills that the Assassin has possesses an ulterior motive and are meant to work in conjunction with one another. While the skills themselves are self explanatory, when combined in a specific order, they can overcome many obstacles that other classes face constantly.
Is Assassin for me?
Through careful observation, it turns out that Assassin is not for everyone. Many found Assassin far too difficult to play and run into issues such as dying constantly and worrying about the constant low health. Others seem to go for a more direct approach with using strong, direct attack skills; however, they still run into minor tads of trouble, such as having gaps in their attacks that allow the opponent to retaliate harshly.
The Assassin class are built for methodical thinkers. The ideology is to plan ahead, strike fast, strike quickly, don't give the opponent the chance to think. If you like direct fighting, being able to take hits, and not having to think while you're swinging your weapon away, this is not the class for you.
Common Misconceptions and Explanation
Well, let's start off by restating that the Assassin is a specialist, not a fighter. The fighter classes in PWI optimizes their DPS (damage per second) by using normal attacks. While this is a viable option early on for Assassins, it becomes a major detriment to the Assassin later. One of the skills Assassins get at mid levels increases their damage base dramatically (30 Attack Levels, meaning you'll always do 30% more damage), but at a massive cost. Once this skill is maxed, your attack speed get shot down 100%. Yes, this is correct, your normal attacks literally stop at 0.05 or lower (this means you'll be doing one attack every 10 seconds or so). So, this clearly indicates that Assassins were meant to methodically pin down opponents with skill spamming unless you happen to have a Speed Focus (which will be explained in a bit).
The Assassin class's strongest defense is within it's offense and adaptability. Though it is offense oriented, it's still not as capable in direct combat as Archers, Blade Masters, and Barbarians. Archers have defensive capabilities of Range; Blade Masters with Heavy Armor, Defense Buffs, Self Healing, and Pure Damage oriented skills; Barbarians with Heavy Armor, High HP, Defense Oriented Skills, and High Damage weapons. Unfortunately, the Assassin's weapons are among the weakest of all the physical damage oriented classes, Light Armor without the benefits of Ranged Combat, Weak and Limited Self defense skills, and is by no means a ranged class.
Assassin skills are very indirect in nature. Instead of overwhelming the opponent with sheer power, they set the pace of combat in their favor. By limiting what the opponent can do (such as making them unable to move, cast, run, chase, self-destruct nearby, attack quickly, attack accurately, so on, and so forth), the Assassin makes it so the opponent cannot function and fight under normal conditions. Assassins are meant to fight debuffed opponents while buffed, this is their edge.
Assassin Stat Builds
The Assassin class revolves around Light Armor and Daggers. The dagger's damage comes from the dexterity stat. Dexterity influences accuracy, evasion, and critical hits. There are both pros and cons to each build, but it is highly recommended to stick to one of the three builds.
Pure Dex Build
Every Level: 1 Str, 4 Dex
Pros: Maintain highest damage ratio and critical rate.
Cons: Rather fragile.
Hybrid Build
Every Even Level: 1 Str, 4 Dex
Every Odd Level: 1 Str, 1 Vit, 3 Dex
Pros: Fair attack ratio, survive a few more hits
Cons: Each fight will take just a little longer to win.
Vitality Build
Every Level: 1 Str, 1 Vit, 3 Dex
Pros: Most HP of the 3 and survive some harsh blows.
Cons: Lower damage and critical ratio, losing 1% critical every 20 levels compared to Pure Dex build.
Note: In order to maintain up to date weapons and light armor, 1 Str and 3 Dex is absolutely vital.
Assassin Focuses
The Assassin class is very varied in terms of gameplay styles, thus why many arguments and debates drag on in conversations about skills and their uses. Each skill actually has it's own uses and efficiency. The longer you play Assassin, the more you realize the effectiveness of each skill when used properly and efficiently. There will always be debates on whether or not a skill is effective, but you must first question which focus you're aiming for first before questioning others. Simply because one skill does not appeal to you does not mean it will not appeal to another.
Assault Focus
Those with this mindset will mostly be MP heavy with the mindset that every little bit of damage adds up to the speed of the kill and it is the speed of the kill that determines how much damage is taken per monster. With little belief in defense, those with this focus will concentrate more on Chi and Skill Damage. Added effects will seem only a bonus to the kill to those with this focus. Channel and Cast will also play a major role to their decision making.
Defensive Focus
Those with this mindset will not be as MP heavy as those with an Assault Focus. Attack Skills are only secondary to one's own survival. Those with this belief will concentrate more of their Spirit Points into skills that minimizes the damage one takes. Attack is crucial to those with this focus, but too many will seem like a burden than helpful. With this focus, damage is not important, thus if offensive skills do not meet a certain criteria they will view it as useless.
PvP Focus
Those with this mindset will be the most range oriented of them all. Their focus aims towards punishing opposition from all angles and punish them as quickly as possible. They minimize Spirit consumption by only aiming for critical attack and defense skills, leaving the rest for mobility and range. Those with this focus will be proficient in PvP, but the least efficient in PvE when compared to the other focuses.
Speed Focus
The rarest breed of them all, those with speed focus. Those with this mindset are minimalists in terms of skills and concentrate their spirit more into chi building skills only. Their aim is to optimize spark eruption efficiency and to kill quickly with as little MP consumed as possible. Instead of focusing on skills, they aim more towards gear that up their attack speed and critical rate. Movement is a plus, but not essential to those with this mentality. This is only recommended to those who have alternative characters over level 90 with much coin (in the hundred millions range) to throw around to optimize this build.
Assassin Skills
Twin Strike
Range melee
Mana -5+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 0.9second
CoolDown 3.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
A stabbing thrust with both daggers.
Deals base physical damage plus (-41.2+<skill level*7>+<skill level*51>).
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Early on, this skill is pointless, but later on used when in aerial combat as a starter attack to minimize range between player and target to compensate for the slow acceleration of wings to get into attack range. The ONLY viable replacement for normal attacks once Chill of the Deep reaches a very high level. On later note, around level 50, when used twice in 6 seconds, the damage on par with Slipstream if brought to level 10.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Pointless skill, no added defensive bonus.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Subtle skill that adds damage quickly before the opponent runs. A rather unexpected move, but more useful than normal attacks when high level Chill of the Deep is active.
Speed Focus Priority - None: No speed bonus.
Puncture Wound
Range 4.5meters
Mana -2.2+5.6*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
Deals base physical damage plus (50+5*skill level)% of weapon damage.
Causes the target to bleed for (-105.5+<skill level*35>+<skill level*274.1>) physical damage over 9 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Highest: The strongest skill in terms of damage over time. Always within the first 3 attacks those with this focus uses.
Defense Focus Priority - Highest: One of the few attack skills worth investing in due to it's sheer power. Usually used prior to Deep Sting.
PvP Focus Priority - High: One of the critical attack skills in PvP. Deady and Effective.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: The added bonus is nice, but it's very slow and MP can be used for something else.
Slipstream Strike
Range melee
Mana 1.7+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.9second
CoolDown 6.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Initiate
A powerful strike with the full force of the arm.
Deals base physical damage plus
(50+5*skill level)% of weapon damage plus (35.1+<skill level*22.2>+<skill level*188.4>).
Assault Focus Priority - Highest: Highest immediate damaging skill. Nothing more needs to be said.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: One of the few attack skills worthwhile in leveling due to it's sheer power.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Very fast quick damage, but might scare off some people due to the damage efficiency.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of MP and Spirit.
Raving Slash
Range melee
Mana 5.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(83.5+<skill level*12.8>+<skill level*115.9>) physical damage.
Increases own movement speed by (30+2*skill level)%. Lasts for 3 seconds.
Costs 30 Chi.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Low channel, cast, cooldown, and moderate damage, this is a decent investment. It's one of the more used skills until mid levels (post-50). This is exceptionally better than normal attacks when using high level Chill of the Deep, the only replacement for this is actually Twin Strike.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage does not suffice enough to remove defense for. The added speed bonus simply isn't very appealing. Leave it at 1 and save spirit for something that'd be more defense effective.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage is too low, but if used the very second before someone tries to flee on ground, can add one more attack after.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs Chi. Saving for a spark is more effective than this.
Tide Form
Range self
Mana 20*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Transform into a fish.
Increases your Defense Level by (5+0.5*skill level)
and your Swim speed by (20+6*skill level)%.
Only available in water.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Does not allow usage of skills.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Decent Defense bonus, but the lack of attack skills can be rather painful.
PvP Focus Priority - Low: When on the run or chasing those who dive into the water, the defense bonus will help with the flee and the swim speed can help chase down opponent and help flee nixes.
Speed Focus Priority - High: Added Defense Bonus in addition to your already fast attacks. What's not to like?
Shadow Walk
Range self
Mana 20
Channel 0.7second
Cast 2.8second
CoolDown 6.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Enter stealth mode.
Enemies with an Awareness Level lower than your Stealth Level can not see you.
Costs (25-1*skill level) mana per second.
Only usable when out of combat.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Doesn't do damage and is MP heavy. No real effective use for this skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Allows you to close into targets unseen at a cost. Something to be considered when other skills normally used to close into targets are still going through cooldown.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Used rather often, thus warrants some spirit to save some MP for attack skills.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too much MP used.
Wolf Emblem
Range self
Mana 25+1.5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Increases your critical strike damage by (10+2*skill level)%.
Lasts 30 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Adds damage, but it is very chanced at low levels due to critical hit rate. A more stable attack skill is more effective than this skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Low MP cost and adds additional damage occasionally. Efficient in optimizing the damage of the few attack skills you might have.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Throwing in that one very fatal critical hit is a very satisfying thing.
Speed Focus Priority - Medium: No channel and cast time. Low MP cost, adds chi, and adds damage. Definitely something to be warranted.
Wind Push
Range self
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Spiritual Adept
Increases own movement speed by (50+5*skill level)%,
Lasts for 10 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Speeding up is nice, but not enough to sacrifice attacks for.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Not very defensive.
PvP Focus Priority - None: PvP Opponents rarely stay on the ground, thus a pointless skill to level past 1.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Closes the gap between monsters, no biggie.
Deep Sting
Range melee
Mana 23.5+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 0.8second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(107.3+<skill level*4.2>+<skill level*46.3) physical damage.
Has a (85+1*skill level)% chance to bring target to sleep for 5 seconds.
Costs 50 Chi
Assault Focus Priority - None: Not very powerful, only warrants 1 level to interrupt casts.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Interrupting Casts can save you on some HP, especially to close in magical monsters. Used right after Puncture Wounds in order to minimize damage taken and optimize damage given.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Stop opponents in place with lower chance of failure. Useful in stopping opponents in place for a strong attack, letting your HP charm cool down, and letting Bleed do it's work.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs far too much chi. Avoid at all costs.
Focused Mind
Range self
Mana 56+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 1.6second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Increases your chance to evade enemy skills by (10+1.5*skill level)%,
Lasts for (30+3*skill level) seconds.
Focused Mind shares a 90 second cooldown with Tidal Protection.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Doesn't increase damage at all. Extremely long cooldown. Leveling does not increase the % enough to warrant levels early on.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Reduces normal attacks from monsters to 1. Leveling it extends how long it is effective and how many more hits can be dodged.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Irritate the living heck out of heavy skillers by dodging their attacks, lasts long enough for one kill, always.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Low Chi builder, that's it.
Knife Throw
Range （20+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.0second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Principle
Throw your dagger at the target.
Deals base physical damage plus (98.3+<skill level*3.8>+<skill level*42.4>).
Has a (40+3*skill level)% chance to interrupt channeling.
Assault Focus Priority - Very Low: Damage is far too low to warrant any levels and it's cooldown is horribly long.
Defense Focus Priority - Medium: Adds an attack beforehand and can interrupt spell casts. Rather useful for the monsters that try to kite you and cast at the same time.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: There are a lot of casters in PvP and a whole lot of those that run away. Might as well punish them for that.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Build little chi and spark right before they get to you, nothing special.
Dagger of Devotion
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases damage dealt by daggers by (0+6*skill level)%.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage
Rib Strike
Range melee
Mana 100+5.6*Skill lvl
Channel 0.3second
Cast 1.9second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Stab up under the enemy's ribs.
Deals base physical damage plus
(50+5)% of weapon damage plus (990.8+<skill level*16.2>+<skill level*225.6>).
Reduce target's attack speed by (25+2.5*skill level)% for 30 seconds.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Your third most powerful skill early on, used within the first 3 attacks to optimize damage with some added defense bonus.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Drastically lowers enemy attack speed, lowering the damage taken and optimizing the damage given.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Half the game are casters; they're very squishy and don't use normal attacks at all. For the classes that do use normal attacks though, this is a priceless skill to have. So you have to decide between killing squishies and killing slowpokes to determine how much you want this skill.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of MP that can be used for Chi Skills.
Shadow Escape
Range self
Mana 100
Channel 0.7second
Cast 2.8second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Force yourself into stealth. Dispel all negative status.
Enemies with an Awareness Level lower than your Stealth Level can not see you.
Costs (25-1*skill level) Mana per second.
A successful cast will increase one Spark.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Build Chi and potentially escape additional monsters, that's it.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Builds Chi and Avoids additional monsters that do not need to be killed at that point in time.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Builds Chi, forces opponent to lose target of you, and extending the time you can remain in this state.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Builds Chi and reduces the amount it costs to build that Chi.
Sharp Observer
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases your Awareness Level by (0+2*skill level).
Assault Focus Priority - None: Monsters don't hide.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Monsters don't hide.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Fellow hiding Assassins can be annoying.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Fellow hiding RPK Assassins can be annoying.
Cat-like Thread
Range passive
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Increases your Stealth level by (0+2*skill level).
Assault Focus Priority - None: Why hide when you can fight.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Allows you to avoid fights with unnecessary monsters.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Being able to hide from higher level opponents can always lend an edge to the kill.
Speed Focus Priority - None: If you have to hide, it's probably not worth killing.
Blood Paint
Range self
Mana 56+35*Skill lvl
Channel 1.8second
Cast 2.4second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Make all friendly units within 10 Meters can absorb HP equals to
2% of damage it dealt each physical melee attack.
Lasts for (150+15*skill level) seconds.
Only available for Blademaster, Barbarian, and Assassin.
Only available for melee attacks.
Assault Focus Priority - None: Raising levels does not raise efficiency, only extends time.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Extends the time you can absorb HP.
PvP Focus Priority - None: It already lasts long enough for a kill in PvP at level 1, no point in extending it.
Speed Focus Priority - Medium: Longer duration allows less time worried about losing the buff in the middle of a fight.
Tackling Slash
Range 4.5meters
Mana 33.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(601.3+<skill level*12.4>+<skill level*161.3>) physical damage.
Immobilize target for (5.4+0.6*skill level) seconds,and increases own Chi by 50.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Does average damage, but the cooldown time pulls away from it's efficiency. Builds 50 Chi and holds monsters in place either way. Very useful for Kiting Mobs.
Defense Focus Priority - None: Builds Chi, stops kiting monsters. You get those effects already at level 1. Increasing it will be very pointless.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: If you have to hold someone in place, might as well do some mildly high damage while at it.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Builds Chi to allow you to spark faster, might as well optimize the damage while you're at it.
Shadow Jump
Range （15+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 35+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown （30-1.5*Skill lvl）second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Harmony
Instantly move to the target's location.
Costs 20 Chi
Assault Focus Priority - None: Already pretty efficient at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Medium: Increasing this in levels shortens the cooldown and extends the range it can be cast. More levels means it can be used more often.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: The higher level this skill is, the less likely a person can ever get away from you when trying to flee.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Doesn't do anything for your chi.
Throatcut
Range melee
Mana 33.6+7*Skill lvl
Channel 1.1second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(50+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(1821.1+<skill level*12.6>+<skill level*250.6>) physical attack.
Has a (85+1*skill level)% chance to interrupt enemy channeling.
Silence target for (2+0.2*skill level) seconds.
Costs 1 Sparks
NOTE: This skill actually seals your target instead of silencing. What this means is that the target cannot use normal attacks either and players most likely cannot move.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Does some considerably high damage and only gets higher as you level it. The cooldown low and your chi skills allow you to use this move rather often. Definitely an upper tier attack skill.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: While it's very strong, it's also very costly. Interrupts casts and seals the opponent only briefly. Worth putting little consideration in, but not at the cost of defensive skills.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Does great damage and seals those annoying opponents briefly. What more can you really ask for?
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs 1 spark that could have been used for spark eruption instead.
Deaden Nerves
Range self
Mana 56+5*level
Channel 1.5second
Cast 2.6second
CoolDown （300-12*Skill lvl）second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Avoid one attack that would kill you within the next two minutes.
Recovers 20% HP upon avoiding death.
NOTE: This skill will still save you on various "sudden death" mechanisms such as the self-destructing hands in Twilight Temple.
Assault Focus Priority - None: No attack bonus.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Lowering the cooldown can potentially save you more often than you think.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Saves you from that unlucky critical the opponent can give you and you can not be one shot by anything as long as this is active.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Builds little Chi and some added HP if you ever need it.
Chill of the Deep
Range self
Mana 10+5*Skill lvl
Channel 0.7second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 15.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Reduces your attack speed by (50+5*skill level)%.
Increases your Attack Level by (15+1.5*skill level). Lasts 10 minutes.
NOTE: At level 10, this skill will not actually shoot your attack rate to 0.00, but rather to roughly around 0.50 or so. While slow, your attacks will not come to a complete halt.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize damage your skills do at the cost of your typically unused normal attacks. Good trade.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Increases attacks at the cost of normal attacks. Since normal attacks are the staple of Defensive Focused people, it's not really worth it to invest in this.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: 30% Extra Damage at max level, what's not to like?
Speed Focus Priority - None: Anything that slows your attack speed is your worst enemy.
Maze Steps
Range self
Mana 100
Cast instant
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Discord
Increases own movement speed by (80+2*skill level)%,
Immune to Stun and Immobilize. Lasts for 10 seconds.
Costs 1 Spark
Assault Focus Priority - None: Already decent at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Pretty good at level 1, but only useful for monsters that decide to slow you before or after kills.
PvP Focus Priority - Low: A lot of casters have skills that slow your movement speed and they usually stay on the ground to optimize that effect. Might as well break that illusion of safety they have.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Anything that costs 1 spark and does not spark erupt is your enemy.
Earthen Rift
Range melee
Mana 94.5+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.7second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 8.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Coalescence
Detonate the ground under the enemy. Deals base physical damage plus
(200+20*skill level)% of weapon damage to all enemy units within 8 meters.
Assault Focus Priority - High: This skill does the most damage of your free skills at very late levels due to it's reliance on your weapon damage. When stacked with Spark+ or greater, the damage tends to go over the roof.
Defense Focus Priority - Very Low: Does moderate damage, but you risk attacking other non-aggressive monsters in the area of cast.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Takes too long to cast, damage isn't good. However, you really don't have to aim with this skill, just be in the general area and use it. However, at late levels, this becomes the damage equivalent to Archer's Deadly Shot, if not greater. Definitely worth considering if you want to do intense damage.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Waste of Spirit.
Rising Dragon Strike
Range 4.5meters
Mana 75.6+6.7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.2second
Cast 1.8second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Aware of Coalescence
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(50+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(1377.4+<skill level*7.8>+<skill level*171.4>) physical damage.
Increases own Chi by 150.
100 percent accuracy.
Assault Focus Priority - Medium: Does some moderately high damage. Adds Chi. However, it has a horribly long recast time. Level only for the bonus damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: You get the Chi bonus regardless of the damage you do, level it only if you want to add some damage.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Might as well do fairly high damage while gaining Chi for other skills that potentially annoys your enemies to death.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: Builds a lot of Chi. Might as well do some damage while at it.
Subsea Strike
Range 4.5meters
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.3second
Cast 1.3second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly strikes all nearby targets.
Deals base physical damage plus (1848.1+<skill level*4.6>+<skill level*143.0>)
to all targets within 8 meters.
Increases all damage taken by the target by (15+1.5*skill level)% for 8 seconds.
This skill works with the Heaven's Flame skill.
This skill will cancel the Extreme Poison skill.
Costs 2 Sparks
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Optimize Damage that can be done with the 30% Amp effect while doing some serious damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Does some serious damage, but the other 2 spark moves will be more effective for those with this focus.
PvP Focus Priority - Very Low: Does good damage and amps opponents, but has the lowest PvP quality of the 2 spark attack skills.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi.
Headhunt
Range 4.5
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.5second
Cast 1.5second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Deals a damage equals to your basic attack plus
(55+5*skill level)% gear attack and another
(3569.7+<skill level*8.6>+<skill level*276.2>) physical attack.
Stun enemy for (3+0.2*skill level) seconds.
Costs 2 Sparks
Assault Focus Priority - High: One of Assassin's strongest skills and does immense damage.
Defense Focus Priority - Very High: Stunning prevents incoming damage, always. Do very good damage while at it. Costly, but useful.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Stunning opponents does so many things, I don't even know where to begin.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi.
Power Dash
Range 4.5
Mana 156.8+8.4*Skill lvl
Channel 0.4second
Cast 0.8second
CoolDown 30.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Deals a damage equals to your basic physical attack plus
(-) physical damage.
Increases your Rage Damage by (20+2*skill level)%. Lasts for 8 seconds.
Costs 2 Sparks
NOTE: After various tests and with many other testers, it is concluded that this skill raises Critical Attack Rate, not Rage.
Assault Focus Priority - Very High: Gives you an outrageously high critical attack rate. Definitely worth considering.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Makes the critical attack rate obscenely high, but not as defensive as the other skills.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Do some devastating damage with sheer amounts of criticals. With your high critical hit rate and added damage to it, you have a very good chance to slaughter your opponent with the next few hits with this skill.
Speed Focus Priority - Low: Too expensive in both Spirit and Chi, but allows you to achieve critical hits like a madman.
Tidal Protection
Range self
Mana 56+7*Skill lvl
Channel 0.1second
Cast 1.6second
CoolDown 90.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Increases your chance to avoid negative status effects by (25+2.5*skill level)%.
Lasts (30+3*skill level) seconds.
Tidal Protection shares a 90 second cooldown with Focused Mind.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Cooldown is horribly long and the effects aren't that great for Assault types.
Defense Focus Priority - High: Especially useful for monsters that casts poison and other negative effects later on.
PvP Focus Priority - Very High: Nothing is more irritating than being slept, stunned, immobilized, sealed, bled, so on, and so forth. Definitely the best buff against squishies.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Does nothing for speed and Chi.
Inner Harmony
Range self
Mana 84+8.4*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 60.0second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly gain (150+5*skill level) Chi.
Assault Focus Priority - Low: Already gives very good chi at level 1. No point in raising it much.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Already gives good chi at level 1. No point in raising it much.
PvP Focus Priority - Medium: Adds a lot of chi and a little more extra each level. Allows you to spam those chi and spark costing skills more.
Speed Focus Priority - Very High: You have no greater friend in this game. This skill is your best friend. Don't leave home without it at capped level.
Shadow Teleport
Range （20+1.5*Skill lvl）meters
Mana 75+5*Skill lvl
Cast instant
CoolDown 180second
Weapon dagger
Require Cultivation Transcendent
Instantly move to the target's location.
Stuns the target for 3 seconds.
Costs 1 Spark
Assault Focus Priority - None: Stunning is good, but it's already very good at level 1.
Defense Focus Priority - Low: Stuns while teleporting and increases the distance it covers. Still, the cooldown is horrible.
PvP Focus Priority - High: Horrible cooldown, but PvPers can't complain because it stuns those annoying runners to add in that additional fatal blow.
Speed Focus Priority - None: Costs Chi, not worth it.
Overview
Overall, Assassin is a deadly class when in the right hands. While it's a fairly popular class, it is definitely not recommended for all. Thank you very much for reading and I'll try to keep this guide up to date as often as possible.
Combo List
This is for reference for those who are interested in Combos. Keep in mind I have an Assault Focus.
NOTE: "Loop" is actually the "Walk behind Enemy" icon. What it does is start again from that location once the combo ends. If you do not know where this icon is, it is circled in red in this picture. img94.imageshack.us/img94/766...oopcommand.jpg
Combo 1: Twin Strike > Slipstream Strike > Twin Strike > Rib Strike > Twin Strike > Slipstream Strike > Twin Strike > Earthen Rift
Combo 2: Knife Throw > Tackling Slash > Twin Strike > Loop > Rib Strike > Slipstream Strike > Earthen Rift > Puncture Wound
Combo 3/4 > Twin Strike > Spark Erupt(+) > Tackling Slash/Rising Dragon Slash > Loop > Rib Strike > Slipstream Strike > Earthen Rift > Puncture Wound
Combo 5: Super Ninja
Knife Throw > Spark Eruption > Shadow Jump
Buff 1: All at once (Re-use once Focused Mind is up and ready)
Chill of the Deep > Bloodpaint > Focused Mind > Wolf Emblem
Originally Credited to
pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=553811
