AA Choices for max dps

[Wallzak]

<p>Hi, got a mid 40 assissin.</p><p> I'm looking for advice on what aa's to pick for max dps and in what order you would pick them.</p>

[HellRaiserXX]

<p>Predator Tree:  Recommend STR 6 4 4 8 2 INT 7 4 4 8 2  Key is to max out melee and spell crits and get the final abilities of those lines.  Its really up to you how to put the other points.  You also put 7 in Poison combination so it does more damage.</p><p>Assassin Tree: Best build for maximum DPS is going to be</p><p>5 Scraping Blow 5 Flowing Wound 5 Deadly Would 3 Mark 5 Cloaked Assault 5 Sprint 5 Honed Reflexes 5 Deft Defense 5 Exacting 1 Getaway 5 Hemotoxin 1 Deadly Focus</p><p>However it honestly doesnt matter too much how you do it.  You will definately want to get 5 in hemotoxin and go for Getaway most likely expecially if you plan on raiding when you get big.  Putting all those points in the Bleed line only gives you about 50-60 extra DPS.  The Tricks line is a decent choice as well, especially if you plan to do much soloing. Have any questions ask.</p>

[Recca[BK]]

5 scraping blow 5 deadly wound 5 flowing wound 3 freezing strike 5 cloaked 1 excessive bleeding (wheather it works or not) 5 master strike 5 enmesh 5 hemo 3 brutal 5 exacting last 3 points i think atribrute poison, but you could max out brutal

[Graton]

Predator Tree Strength       6,4,4,8,2 Intelligence   7,4,4,8,2 Assassin Tree Bleeding Progression Scraping Blow         5 Flowing Wound       5 Deadly Wound        5 Paralyzing Strike    3 ( tricks) Master Strikes         5 (tricks) Cloaked Assault      5 Excessive Bleeding  1 Physicality Sprint                  3 Hemotoxin           5 Honed Reflexes   4 Deadly Focus      4 Exacting              5

[Executi]

I'm going a bit different. KoS - STR INT lines... EoF - 5 scraping blow 5 flowing wound 5 deadly wound 5 malignant mark 5 cloaked assault 1 excessive bleeding 3 sprint 5 honed reflexes 3 hemotoxin 3 deft defense 5 exacting 4 deadly focus 1 getaway The reason I chose this setup is because I mainly raid, but I do solo Poet's every now and then. The increase in Mark makes your mark trigger more soloing, while in raids it always triggers. The slight increase to Deft Defense will let u use defense every now and then and only decreases your slashing and piercing by 9 which isn't too big if you have decent gear. Exacting helps our damage a good bit, and my guild has a lack of haste buffers, so the increase in honed reflexes was good for me.

[benedictofamb]

What exactly is the large benefit of getaway on raids?

[Brimestar]

<cite>benedictofamber wrote:</cite><blockquote>What exactly is the large benefit of getaway on raids? </blockquote>I'm curious on that myself. I live on a pvp server and I've tried all of the EoF AA's and right now am all the way down Poison for Frontload (love it) and in Bleeding all the way down.  Besides getting another way to go into stealth and immunity to AOE what is the benefit of getaway? 

[grish]

Aside from the instant invis, the best part about it is the AOE blocker. It can really come into play in the EOF raids. Even with bards in every group, there comes a time where that extra block will come into play.

[Und3rt0w]

<p>I'm curious about the Archery AA path and if the DPS potential comes anywhere close to the INT/Poison path.  </p><p>Just thinking out loud, but i know Rangers can meet or exceed Assassin DPS in many instances so I'm wondering if a similarly equipped Assassin with the Ranged AA bonuses could benefit from that hybrid?</p>

[Jayad]

<p>You might benefit from it but I think you'd have to give up a lot to get the AGI line. Giving up spell crits kinda sucks. Somebody was going to experiment with a bow assassin, not sure what came of that.</p><p>p.s. unless you have a top bow and rare ammo it would probably be a bad idea for sure</p>

[Und3rt0w]

<p>I would definately try to get a nice bow for that arrangement if I try it, and the free respec. card might push my hand.</p><p>My thinking being in raid encounters where you have to stay ranged, at least I can still be doing reasonably ranged DPS in between Jousts.</p><p>Anyone know if the final AA in the INT (or whatever one doubles trigger percentages) works for proc. gear?  I wouldn't think so, but after reading the description it has me wondering.</p>

[Kaediin]

If your talkig about Frontload (the end skill of the poison EoF line) then it doubles the proc rate of everything you have that procs ( poisons, items, adornments, offensive stance etc) for 12 seconds. Basically if you have anything that procs this will doublethe proc channce. Is very nice when used with our aoe's as you can land poisons nicely on multiple mobs.

[silentpsycho]

Undertow@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote><p>I would definately try to get a nice bow for that arrangement if I try it, and the free respec. card might push my hand.</p><p>My thinking being in raid encounters where you have to stay ranged, at least I can still be doing reasonably ranged DPS in between Jousts.</p><p>Anyone know if the final AA in the INT (or whatever one doubles trigger percentages) works for proc. gear?  I wouldn't think so, but after reading the description it has me wondering.</p></blockquote> I think you also get a free respec when you compete your betrayal and join the ranks of rangers...

[CyriexVTZ]

<u><b>Sir Cyriex's Super Standard DPS Build</b></u> This is the build I used for the longest time, and is pretty much a variation of the ones you're already seeing here <b>Predator</b> STR 64482 INT 47482 <b> Assassin Bleeding Line</b> 5 Scraping Blow 5 Flowing Wound 5 Deadly Would 5 Mark 5 Cloaked Assault 1 Excessive Bleeding <b>Poisons Line</b> 5 Enmesh 5 Hemotoxin 5 Ignorant Bliss 5 Debuff Poisons 3 Apply Poison 1 Frontload <u><b>Mr Cyriex's Mental Melee Overload Build</b></u> This build is what I've been experimenting with lately.. I've been called crazy, its been discounted as 'impossible', but the simple fact is I'm parsing as high (and possibly higher) with this build than i was with my previous one above. It entirely ignores poison/proc damage for a focus on melee DPS. You get some additional utility and raid/solo survivability out of the effort too. <b>Predator</b> STR 64482 WIS 47482 <b> Assassin Bleeding Line</b> 5 Scraping Blow 5 Flowing Wound 5 Deadly Would 5 Mark 5 Cloaked Assault 1 Excessive Bleeding <b>Tricks Line</b> 5 Cheap Shot 5 Torture 5 Cripple 5 Mastery Strikes 1 Repeated Stabbing <b>Physicality Line </b>3 Honed Reflexes Take your pick.. The 'Standard DPS' build seems to be the kind that's far more popular (as this thread shows), and i've never heard of someone struggling to do well with it. My Melee-focused AA's have proven to work well for me and some others, tho a friend or two of mine has found it a little too tough for his liking (you need to get used to using surveil and stealth LOTS - you're not doing it right until you're using finding yourself casting surveilence and giving the 8% boost to scraping blow as its your only CA left! hehe) Good Luck!

[Siclone]

<cite>benedictofamber wrote:</cite><blockquote>What exactly is the large benefit of getaway on raids? </blockquote>well its an ae avoid that can come in handy at times depending on the encounter but that best thing it is an insta stealth.  so you fighting, and you got marked attack, puncture blade and cloaked assault up.    with getaway no problem, mark, puncture, getaway, cloaked assault if you did not have getaway, you would have to use surveil that has a 2 sec cast time? anyway saves you time. so your running a concealment chain and you get ae'd or what not and your chain breaks, no worries hit getaway and get that attack in your facing a mob, epic or heroic and killing blade or decap is up.   Tanking the tactision in MMIS? getaway to the rescue, while facing him, you can get killing blade and decap in while tanking!...I got decap and two killing blades in with getaway while tanking and lead the parse. mobs health is down to say 10 percent and killing blade just poped after your concealment chain,,,finish that bad boy off and show the parse who is boss pop getaway and killing blade for the win.  you can get marked puncture blade and use getaway for cloaked assualt and get in allot more of them to me, and I know others wont agree, and thats fine, we all have our play style, but to me, getaway is the single most dps boost, aa we have on the EoF side.

[Jayad]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....? Getaway is not, not at ALL the best AA. Not even close. If you were to pick the #1 it would have to be either Repeated Stabbing or Exacting in the EOF tree. Sure it was handy but you rarely need two stealths with concealment.

[Siclone]

<cite>Jayad wrote:</cite><blockquote>Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....? Getaway is not, not at ALL the best AA. Not even close. If you were to pick the #1 it would have to be either Repeated Stabbing or Exacting in the EOF tree. Sure it was handy but you rarely need two stealths with concealment.</blockquote>and front load is better? 15 sec buff that you cant caste in stealth or bleeding a temp hp debuff when it wears off the mob gets his hp's back? useless.  I told you why I like getaway, in detail,,,,,I get more dps out of getaway then any other EoF aa, and I told you why.  how are you getting cloak assault off? when you use masked attack with puncutre? waiting them 2 secs for surveil,,,oh my shame shame,,,, how you getting in killing blade with it pops, you know thats not on the same timer as the other ones, and when they are down how you getting it off? masked attack? then your missing the puncture blade,,,, at first I was like yea its nice but not great, now that I been working with it, and seeing the doors it opens with getting more attacks in, I have learned to get good solid benefit from it. and yeah I would not give up RS for it, but diffently underrated

[CyriexVTZ]

<blockquote> how are you getting cloak assault off? when you use masked attack with puncutre? waiting them 2 secs for surveil,,,oh my shame shame,,,, how you getting in killing blade with it pops, you know thats not on the same timer as the other ones, and when they are down how you getting it off? masked attack? then your missing the puncture blade,,,,</blockquote> Siclone, I'm using the WIS line - Surveil and Stealth recasting twice as fast than usual, that's how I'm getting all my stealth attacks off as soon as they're up, and getting the vast majority of them hitting for 8% more damage than yours are for my efforts too.. oh and they cast twice as fast too, meaning I can normally get stealth/surv and a decap/killing blade, etc off in their face even when they I'm tanking/soloing the mob... Each to their own.. but Getaway REALLY doesn't appeal to me..

[Jayad]

I liked Getaway, but I don't think I could argue it increases dps. With frontload, what I do is pop it right before the mobs get there, then cast the regular invis. (Stealth) Then I pop masked attack and the second AOE. I don't feel I lose any time with it if used properly. Cloaked assault is easy to get off, just used Masked if it's up. Puncture blade can go off with the concealment chain. It's worth using Surveil if multiple mobs are up to get Cloaked Assault going if you need to. With long-delay weapons you're not losing much to surveil if your CAs aren't up.

[pakelika]

cough /bump cough.  tired of lookin thru old posts to find this when im tryin to spec.

[pakelika]

cough /bump cough.  tired of lookin thru old posts to find this when im tryin to spec.

[LiquidFlex]

I'm curious what the 'Sprint' is for in our EoF tree. It seems a bit useless to me really. When do we use sprint during battle? I cannot even remember the last time I used sprint on any of my toons.

[Catseyes]

careful with bumping , it locks the thread sometimes <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I see a lot of opinions , tactics , choices.  I believe, each way has its mean to be optimized for dps .  Or it's raw dps increase, or it's stealth big hits increase ,or it's less global downtimes, or less stealth break under AE's.  At the end, isnt the best AA setting the one you like the more and are using with more ease in difficult battles ?  )   I mean, may be this one will more like using int line for just raw poison dps and debuffing poison, then this one likes more to stealth all time and launch more often big hits ?  i will like the home AA setting switch to try some settings between 2 raids for that )  Actually i still learn to max my dps , but i will have to see what tree is more fun and accurate to use for me later =)

[Jayad]

Yes, obviously you should use the one that suits you. not everybody wants dps, although most people want the 'best' dps setups. There's also some setups that are close and some people like their personal suite a little differently.

[Bobbubski]

I find it interesting that repeated stabbing is back "in".  just a few months ago it was being flamed as useless as it leads to button mashing which cuts down on auto attack damage. I personally have found that depending on the type of raid mob that RS really helps out in increasing damage, especially in using the concealment chain as you can possibly squeeze out 1 more stealth attack if you time everything right and lag is on your side that day. So is RS really back in as a viable choice?

[Jayad]

I think it's the best ability in EOF for us, followed closely by hemotoxin and exacting. You have to blow 15+1 points to get it, though. (The 5 put into master strike are good)

[HellRaiserXX]

the reason it was being flamed is because no one actually understood how autoattack works.  RS has 0 influence on autoattack really because autoattack hits during the recovery time and RS doesnt eliminate recovery, it halves it. Its easily the best AA we get in EoF lines IMO.

[MacNap]

<p>I like Repeated Stabbing and have used it for quite a while.</p><p>Now I'm giving the upgraded Frontload a try. It does not seem that bad anymore. 24 sec. if I'm not mistaken. Doubling trigger percentage and adding around 200 dmg to every proc of all 3 poisons we use. Sounds quite nice. Don't you think it may make up for the increase in recovery time? I mean, for burst DPS and shorter fights a quick recovery time helps a bit, but has it really any influence on the DPS in longer fights where you cycle through all CAs multiple times?</p><p>Anyway, I'll see how it works. C'ya <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Bobbubski]

<cite>HellRaiserXX wrote:</cite><blockquote> RS has 0 influence on autoattack really because autoattack hits during the recovery time... </blockquote>So chaining CA's together no longer prevents auto-atk damage as was previously thought? Is it still better to use slower weapons to increase auto dmg between CA's?

[Jayad]

It's better to use slower weapons because you miss less swings due to being busy casting/recovering. Auto-attacks cannot go off during casting or recovery. But they will go up right when that completes if you have a swing ready to go. In long fights, being able to get your CAs off faster reduces the time to when you could re-use it. Let's say your 8th CA in your standard fighting would normally go off 10 seconds into the fight and be usable again 40 seconds into the fight. With repeated stabbing, you might get it off in 8 seconds (due to faster recovery from previous CAs) and usable again 38 seconds. Over time that adds up. It's not the main benefit of RS, but it's a reasonable one. That's for PVE DPS - in soloing or PVP it's even better.

[Gazri]

excellent info, thanks guys !

[KunamitsuUK]

<p>Thanks for this.</p><p>Time to respec....</p>

[Cinomed]

<p>Thanks folks, this info is helping me develop my little Fae Assassin bunches <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Befallen_Valgav]

<p>Ok apparently Im a [Removed for Content]....dont say it....on the assassin tree....can someone clarify where to do what and when?</p><p>I dont  see the names listed....Also..so I do the rogue tree first or the assassin tree?</p><p>Sorry been too long since I played...thanks</p>

[Brimestar]

Depends on what you are looking for...Some ppl love bleeding and tricks which are the first 2 on the left...Me personally I'm on the 2 on the right cos i love frontload and the insta cast of getaway allows for insta stealth as I drop a decap (but I'm more pvp minded). Rest of my points are in cheap shot.

[Lord Montague]

<cite>Befallen_Valgav wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I dont  see the names listed....Also..so I do the<strike> rogue</strike> <i>predator</i> tree first or the assassin tree?</p></blockquote>Start with the predator tree first if you want to see the fastest, most tangible benefits first.  Long-term, it won't matter since they both end up 50/50.

[Rousso]

<p> I went repeated stabbing and frontload - with the extra points going to max out exacting. DPS is higher than ever. One important change for me has been to use auto attack/honed reflexes/frontload and just mele for a while after I have unloaded my stealth chain. If I have a dirge in the group and CoB is timed right my proc enhanced auto attack is sick DPS. repeated stabbing means my stealth chain has gotten longer - but thats cool since I am usually using it in conjunction with dispatch I just throw every high-damage attack I can find at the dispatch even if it doesnt require stealth. Once I have stopped sneaking I pop off honed reflexes and frontload and whale on the mob.</p><p>Usually puts me around the 3k range if everything is up and I am well buffed. Higher if decap is up. My auto attack (piercing) is easily 40%+ of my dps.</p>

[khufure]

Just a note to other assassins, don't expect to get Rousse's numbers especially % of autoattack dps without sick buffs and top gear especially weapons.  Especially you will need double attack (fortissimo from bard, and/or illu arm from illusionist) to reach the % autoattack number.  And of course 455 or more piercing.  (Hint : use swindler's HO chain all the time!!)In ROK, once you get the stamina AE autoattack it may be a different story on % of dps is autoattack.

[Lildebbie]

<cite>LiquidFlex wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm curious what the 'Sprint' is for in our EoF tree. It seems a bit useless to me really. When do we use sprint during battle?I cannot even remember the last time I used sprint on any of my toons.</blockquote>useless on carebear servers.  invaluable on PvP servers.  especially with all the sarnak betrayers /cough

[Armironhead]

<cite>smootheemaker wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>LiquidFlex wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm curious what the 'Sprint' is for in our EoF tree. It seems a bit useless to me really. When do we use sprint during battle?I cannot even remember the last time I used sprint on any of my toons.</blockquote>useless on carebear servers.  invaluable on PvP servers.  especially with all the sarnak betrayers /cough</blockquote>I thought that aa was disabled incombat on pvp?  Sure its great to be able to run from combat or to chase after rangers.  But it has no incombat use pvpwise.

[Armironhead]

<cite>Befallen_Valgav wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Ok apparently Im a [Removed for Content]....dont say it....on the assassin tree....can someone clarify where to do what and when?</p><p>I dont  see the names listed....Also..so I do the rogue tree first or the assassin tree?</p><p>Sorry been too long since I played...thanks</p></blockquote>Depends on which server ur on.  If ur playing pvp go with tricks -- stifle and root enhancements are a must.

[Lildebbie]

<cite>Armironhead@Vox wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>smootheemaker wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>LiquidFlex wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm curious what the 'Sprint' is for in our EoF tree. It seems a bit useless to me really. When do we use sprint during battle?I cannot even remember the last time I used sprint on any of my toons.</blockquote>useless on carebear servers.  invaluable on PvP servers.  especially with all the sarnak betrayers /cough</blockquote>I thought that aa was disabled incombat on pvp?  Sure its great to be able to run from combat or to chase after rangers.  But it has no incombat use pvpwise.</blockquote>wow i guess i have been away too long.  and now with all the character traits (racials)  there is no assurance you'll even get away.  /sigh  another useless AA  even in PvP

[Lildebbie]

<cite>Catseyes wrote:</cite><blockquote>careful with bumping , it locks the thread sometimes <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" />" width="15" height="15"> I see a lot of opinions , tactics , choices.  I believe, each way has its mean to be optimized for dps .  Or it's raw dps increase, or it's stealth big hits increase ,or it's less global downtimes, or less stealth break under AE's.  At the end, isnt the best AA setting the one you like the more and are using with more ease in difficult battles ?  )   I mean, may be this one will more like using int line for just raw poison dps and debuffing poison, then this one likes more to stealth all time and launch more often big hits ?  i will like the home AA setting switch to try some settings between 2 raids for that )  Actually i still learn to max my dps , but i will have to see what tree is more fun and accurate to use for me later =) </blockquote>atm i am full out nightshade.  for pvp, intox is HUGE.  i can intox, fight till i am 30%, root, step out of range and they drop.   <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/908627bbe5e9f6a080977db8c365caff.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />   i liked the Prowler line in PvE for reduced stealth cast, recast, and the 8% dmg increase, but i had a terrible time pvp'ing with it.  i lost like 10 straight .<img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />  i know that i was doing something wrong, but it was maddening.  so i am respecced to int, and am now going down the wis line again.  i think i will much better off now.  (the increased resists don't hurt either)  especially with the twinked out casters and priests runnining around

[Dakeras]

<cite>Cyriex@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><u><b>Sir Cyriex's Super Standard DPS Build</b></u>This is the build I used for the longest time, and is pretty much a variation of the ones you're already seeing here<b>Predator</b>STR 64482INT 47482<b>AssassinBleeding Line</b>5 Scraping Blow5 Flowing Wound5 Deadly Would5 Mark5 Cloaked Assault1 Excessive Bleeding<b>Poisons Line</b>5 Enmesh5 Hemotoxin5 Ignorant Bliss5 Debuff Poisons3 Apply Poison1 Frontload<u><b>Mr Cyriex's Mental Melee Overload Build</b></u>This build is what I've been experimenting with lately.. I've been called crazy, its been discounted as 'impossible', but the simple fact is I'm parsing as high (and possibly higher) with this build than i was with my previous one above. It entirely ignores poison/proc damage for a focus on melee DPS. You get some additional utility and raid/solo survivability out of the effort too.<b>Predator</b>STR 64482WIS 47482<b>AssassinBleeding Line</b>5 Scraping Blow5 Flowing Wound5 Deadly Would5 Mark5 Cloaked Assault1 Excessive Bleeding<b>Tricks Line</b>5 Cheap Shot5 Torture5 Cripple5 Mastery Strikes1 Repeated Stabbing<b>Physicality Line</b>3 Honed ReflexesTake your pick..The 'Standard DPS' build seems to be the kind that's far more popular (as this thread shows), and i've never heard of someone struggling to do well with it. My Melee-focused AA's have proven to work well for me and some others, tho a friend or two of mine has found it a little too tough for his liking (you need to get used to using surveil and stealth LOTS - you're not doing it right until you're using finding yourself casting surveilence and giving the 8% boost to scraping blow as its your only CA left! hehe)Good Luck!</blockquote><p>This is excellent, thanks.</p><p>Essentially I have a mixture of 1 & 2 and would like to know if I have crippled myself. I have Predator lines from first (<b>Predator </b>STR 64482 INT 47482) and the Assassin lines from the second setup.</p><p>I'm unsure how to parse these effectively to come to a conclusion on whether I have it right or not. I am used to using Concelament and pounding off all stealth attacks obviously but thought the additional INT line would help with using poisons as standard, not necessarily needing frontload and I was utlising the large stealth attacks for melee dmg.</p><p>Am I missing a fundamental mechanic in fighting? I tend to debuff with the Tricks line, then I unload with stealth attacks (particularly useful on raids when a brigand about for Dispatch) and pop any skills as they recover with some addidtional evade/stalk skills thrown in for good measure to keep hate low.</p><p>EDIT: Only concerned with PVE, carebear server!</p><p>Don't go too hard on me here. I've played for about 2 years and took a year off, just coming back. Would love to take your advice on getting max out of my DPS. </p><p>Thanks in advance</p><p>Deev</p>

[Zin`Car]

<p>i've had GREAT success with this setup.  It's similar to Cyriex's but i alter it just a little.  One thing many dont realize is that you DO NOT NEED apply poison in order to access Frontload.  IMHO, Apply Poison is simply a waste of an assassin's resources to put even a single point into it.  Who cares if the bard or fighter in your group is getting a little extra proc from your buff.  /yawn.  We are assassins.  WE kill.  We do not help <i>others</i> kill.</p><p><b>Poisons Line</b><b>3</b> Enmesh5 Hemotoxin5 Ignorant Bliss5 Debuff Poisons<strike>3 Apply Poison</strike>1 Frontload<b>Tricks Line</b>5 Cheap Shot5 Torture5 Cripple5 Mastery Strikes1 Repeated Stabbing<b>Physicality Line</b><strike>3 Honed Reflexes</strike>3 Deadly Focus5 Exacting</p><p>i know some people immediately turn their noses up at Deadly Focus.  /shrug...  The bonus to piercing really helps. However,  my concern is the reward afterwards of boosting Exacting which is a huge boon for assassins.  Haste tends to cap out fairly quick when in raids it seems, depending on your group makeup so alloting points to Honed Reflexes doesn't seem like as worth while an effort as putting points into Exacting.  Now with RoK out and more options open to us, i'll probably sink my points into the Bleed line or maybe Physicality... but i don't forsee any reason to alter what i've already established.  It's pretty well optimized for an assassin.  It's a wonderful thing to not need to put points into Apply Poison.  Such a waste of a skill when you can do more to benefit your own DPS elsewhere with the points.  Removing 2 from Enmesh, 3 from Honed Reflexes and 5 from Apply Poison gives you 8 points to play with.  Dump 3 into DF off the Poisons branch and then that connects to Exacting for the last 5.  Voila!  Significant DPS boost!</p>

[Dakeras]

<p>Thanks for response. Seems this is back more towards the "traditional" lines, obviously with your tweaks.</p><p>What kind of DPS are you getting and with what weps (raid situation)? I'm using a Dirk of Negativity and a Thirneg's Thorn (@lvl70) and seem to average around 1,700 DPS on a raid mob. I don't have uber gear and group sometimes isnt ideal. Should I be seeing a fair bit more than this? I think I should!</p>

[skidmark]

As a new Assassin on PvP, what order should I go about achieving this? Is it like the Brigand's AA where you do all KoS and then move on to the sub-class tree?

[Scotsman]

<p>Bless you guys.  You've given me wonderful info.  Please indulge my noobish curiosity and take me one step further.</p><p>My friend and co-worker has enticed me into coming over and playing EQ2.  So far, I really like EQ2 and I plan on staying awhile or until my wife brow beats me into going outside and getting some sunshine......ewww.  I have rolled two classes, an Inquisitor and an Assassin.  With my assassin, I sit here on 5 achievement points and not a clue in the world where I should spend them first.  In short, as I level, where should I focus my AA points first.  I believe I would like to stick with a simple, cookie-cutter build until I am better versed in the nastiness of assassin duty.</p><p>Many thanks in advance.</p><p>  </p>

[skidmark]

I am in the same boat. I have 13 so far and have started down the Str line. When I have spent 24 in it I will see how I like it then respec it into the Int line to see how I like that.

[Aimor N`Velahr]

This post is a bit dated as the information appears to only be for when we had the 100 point maximum. Level 80 assassins with max AAs want to post a bit?-Aimor

[Glamol]

<p>I've just dinged 77 last night and really now looking for the ultimate dps'ing spec for instance/raid runs!</p><p>Does anyone have any variations of the lvl 70 spec detailed here?</p><p> Many thanks!</p>

[Moltove]

<cite>Luinne@Kithicor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>i've had GREAT success with this setup.  It's similar to Cyriex's but i alter it just a little.  One thing many dont realize is that you DO NOT NEED apply poison in order to access Frontload.  IMHO, Apply Poison is simply a waste of an assassin's resources to put even a single point into it.  Who cares if the bard or fighter in your group is getting a little extra proc from your buff.  /yawn.  We are assassins.  WE kill.  We do not help <i>others</i> kill.</p><p><b>Poisons Line</b><b>3</b> Enmesh5 Hemotoxin5 Ignorant Bliss5 Debuff Poisons<strike>3 Apply Poison</strike>1 Frontload<b>Tricks Line</b>5 Cheap Shot5 Torture5 Cripple5 Mastery Strikes1 Repeated Stabbing<b>Physicality Line</b><strike>3 Honed Reflexes</strike>3 Deadly Focus5 Exacting</p><p>i know some people immediately turn their noses up at Deadly Focus.  /shrug...  The bonus to piercing really helps. However,  my concern is the reward afterwards of boosting Exacting which is a huge boon for assassins.  Haste tends to cap out fairly quick when in raids it seems, depending on your group makeup so alloting points to Honed Reflexes doesn't seem like as worth while an effort as putting points into Exacting.  Now with RoK out and more options open to us, i'll probably sink my points into the Bleed line or maybe Physicality... but i don't forsee any reason to alter what i've already established.  It's pretty well optimized for an assassin.  It's a wonderful thing to not need to put points into Apply Poison.  Such a waste of a skill when you can do more to benefit your own DPS elsewhere with the points.  Removing 2 from Enmesh, 3 from Honed Reflexes and 5 from Apply Poison gives you 8 points to play with.  Dump 3 into DF off the Poisons branch and then that connects to Exacting for the last 5.  Voila!  Significant DPS boost!</p></blockquote>Ok, so...I'm a Hemotoxin guy, sometimes even Vitality (the one that returns health). The poison spec up there doesn't seem very fitting, yet am I right to assume that the main thing is to get the 20 poison points in to get Frontload? Obviously 5 in Hemo is a must for me and many others, but the other two isn't so much. would it be wise to compensate for the fact I dislike using Bliss poisons by adding to Apply? Of all the poisons I would use, Bliss is not one of them. I manage my hate fine, and enjoy having the tank on his toes. The instance of having Apply makes it seem useless yes, however at least I would actually be putting points to good use. And please give me some insight on this, but you spent technically 18 points in poisons, how were you able to get Frontload?

[Gladiia]

<cite>Moltove@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Luinne@Kithicor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>i've had GREAT success with this setup.  It's similar to Cyriex's but i alter it just a little.  One thing many dont realize is that you DO NOT NEED apply poison in order to access Frontload.  IMHO, Apply Poison is simply a waste of an assassin's resources to put even a single point into it.  Who cares if the bard or fighter in your group is getting a little extra proc from your buff.  /yawn.  We are assassins.  WE kill.  We do not help <i>others</i> kill.</p><p><b>Poisons Line</b><b>3</b> Enmesh5 Hemotoxin5 Ignorant Bliss5 Debuff Poisons<strike>3 Apply Poison</strike>1 Frontload<b>Tricks Line</b>5 Cheap Shot5 Torture5 Cripple5 Mastery Strikes1 Repeated Stabbing<b>Physicality Line</b><strike>3 Honed Reflexes</strike>3 Deadly Focus5 Exacting</p><p>i know some people immediately turn their noses up at Deadly Focus.  /shrug...  The bonus to piercing really helps. However,  my concern is the reward afterwards of boosting Exacting which is a huge boon for assassins.  Haste tends to cap out fairly quick when in raids it seems, depending on your group makeup so alloting points to Honed Reflexes doesn't seem like as worth while an effort as putting points into Exacting.  Now with RoK out and more options open to us, i'll probably sink my points into the Bleed line or maybe Physicality... but i don't forsee any reason to alter what i've already established.  It's pretty well optimized for an assassin.  It's a wonderful thing to not need to put points into Apply Poison.  Such a waste of a skill when you can do more to benefit your own DPS elsewhere with the points.  Removing 2 from Enmesh, 3 from Honed Reflexes and 5 from Apply Poison gives you 8 points to play with.  Dump 3 into DF off the Poisons branch and then that connects to Exacting for the last 5.  Voila!  Significant DPS boost!</p></blockquote>Ok, so...I'm a Hemotoxin guy, sometimes even Vitality (the one that returns health). The poison spec up there doesn't seem very fitting, yet am I right to assume that the main thing is to get the 20 poison points in to get Frontload? Obviously 5 in Hemo is a must for me and many others, but the other two isn't so much. would it be wise to compensate for the fact I dislike using Bliss poisons by adding to Apply? Of all the poisons I would use, Bliss is not one of them. I manage my hate fine, and enjoy having the tank on his toes. The instance of having Apply makes it seem useless yes, however at least I would actually be putting points to good use. And please give me some insight on this, but you spent technically 18 points in poisons, how were you able to get Frontload?</blockquote><p>I consider bliss to be part of my DPS.  It allows me to worry that much less on hate control, and that much more on doing more damage.</p><p>Granted, it isn't a *need* but I do find it beneficial.</p>

[-Arctura-]

(( For PVP id say my fave current combo isBlademaster (finish STR line)Intoxication (finish INT line)Getaway (finish physicality line)Repeated Stabbing (finish tricks line)Frontload (finish poisons line)You can finish 3 eof lines with 70 points, or 2.5 lines of KoS with 70 points.I like to Finish STR, go STA half way, and finish INT (that way theres lots of hp for survival, yet TONS of dps for offensive <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /> = good at soloing, good at pvp)Frontload + INT line + Intoxication = super death.<img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/Arctura000/DarkShadow2ONEXX--------------.gif" alt="" border="0" />

[Moltove]

<cite>Gladiia@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite></cite><cite></cite><blockquote></blockquote><p>I consider bliss to be part of my DPS.  It allows me to worry that much less on hate control, and that much more on doing more damage.</p><p>Granted, it isn't a *need* but I do find it beneficial.</p></blockquote>The way I group (solo, or duo w/ Warden or just a regular group) I don't need the hate reduction. However,  I'm sure it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a stack with me, just in case the tank is a little papery, or in raid instances.Now, of course I'm only 59 atm, but with  Murderous Design (hate trans), Surveil, Concealment, and the Blessing from Bristlebane, I'm pretty adept at managing aggro. Plus normally I don't pull much aggro from regular groups. So it's just not in my benefit...yet.

[ohhhSnap]

<cite>Cyriex@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><u><b>Sir Cyriex's Super Standard DPS Build</b></u> This is the build I used for the longest time, and is pretty much a variation of the ones you're already seeing here <b>Predator</b> STR 64482 INT 47482 <b> Assassin Bleeding Line</b> 5 Scraping Blow 5 Flowing Wound 5 Deadly Would 5 Mark 5 Cloaked Assault 1 Excessive Bleeding <b>Poisons Line</b> 5 Enmesh 5 Hemotoxin 5 Ignorant Bliss 5 Debuff Poisons 3 Apply Poison 1 Frontload Take your pick.. The 'Standard DPS' build seems to be the kind that's far more popular (as this thread shows), and i've never heard of someone struggling to do well with it. My Melee-focused AA's have proven to work well for me and some others, tho a friend or two of mine has found it a little too tough for his liking (you need to get used to using surveil and stealth LOTS - you're not doing it right until you're using finding yourself casting surveilence and giving the 8% boost to scraping blow as its your only CA left! hehe) Good Luck! </blockquote>Just wondering, anyones input would help, but should you complete either tree first pr just work on both?like should i wait to put stuff into predator acheivements after i fill out the assassin ones, or vice versa?

[-Arctura-]

(( When i was growing up in pvp when it first began i went STR line hardcore all the way first and formost, and never looked back.i think its served me pretty wellyou should ALWAYS have STR as your highest stat if you are looking to do obscene damage in pvp <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />since all abilities are nerfed for pvp, our big hitters need to be every little bit stronger, STR helps tenfold

[Bledso]

<p>There was an interesting conversation in the Assassin channel on AB server last night regarding AGI line.</p><p>I was hard pressed to convince a few Assassins that this line if chosen should be one of the last lines and when you have extra AA's to spend.</p><p>I personally don't have any AA in AGI at 78 with 100 AA's I went STR & INT and followed Cyriex's guide in the Assassin tree.</p><p>However these AGI Assassns were screaming about how invaluable AGI is in raiding - just curious if this indeed is a wise investment if your a raiding Assassin - hate to have to spend 24pts to get the final trait to speed casts if its not a major investment.</p><p>I felt it would be more beneficial in cap str and int - poisons and dps AA's then AGI.</p><p>Advice - opinions and constructive critisisms welcomed</p>

[Golled]

I use, 64482 STR, 44682 AGI(Switched back to intox for I had played with poise...Like I was playing in slow motion, its was horrible), 5448 INT. Poise > Intox in every situation for me. With less points I would prolly go back to intox as it offers more immediate gains. EoF Lines I have Front Load, Repeated And bleeding(once I get a couple more pts..i'm a slacker). Then 3 pts in Deadly Focus to get 4 pts into Exacting.

[Mauvian]

<p>Lvl 80 with 138 aa's, didn't put a single point into agi line.</p><p>Don't have eq2 open atm, but I nearly maxed str and int, put some in wis, little bit of hate reduction there. Got frontload, getaway and excessive bleeding, which I'm considering changing.</p><p>I only really play to raid and every guild is different, you should talk with your class leaders or officers and see what they want from your toon on raids, then build your aa spec to suit that. Given the new "aa spec" house items, forget the name, it's easy to change from a solo spec to raiding.</p><p>The timer on getaway is perfect for most of the aoe's from tier 8 raid named, which means I'm keeping my dps on named and not having to joust in most cases. Pop it, wait 2 seconds start hitting again. In the big picture, I'm not needing heals or curing which adds to the effectiveness of the raid, as a whole. Something to think about if your a raider.</p><p>I'm not a fan of using a bow, when I can do considerably more dps sitting behind them mob poking it in the back. I rarely find myself needing to use bliss, however it's a great idea to have it up if your finding the mob stairing at you more often than not.</p><p>Not sure about anyone else, but I've easily increased my dps by 2k per mob from eof to rok, certainly the increase in effective legendary scout items has helped this. Just did all the rok quests and had several trips through the group instances and replace 95% of my gear from eof. SO there is hope for the non raider out there.</p>

[MrMojo]

<cite>-Arctura- wrote:</cite><blockquote>(( For PVP id say my fave current combo isBlademaster (finish STR line)Intoxication (finish INT line)Getaway (finish physicality line)Repeated Stabbing (finish tricks line)Frontload (finish poisons line)You can finish 3 eof lines with 70 points, or 2.5 lines of KoS with 70 points.I like to Finish STR, go STA half way, and finish INT (that way theres lots of hp for survival, yet TONS of dps for offensive <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" />"> = good at soloing, good at pvp)Frontload + INT line + Intoxication = super death.<img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/Arctura000/DarkShadow2ONEXX--------------.gif" border="0" alt="" width="693" height="231" /></blockquote>actually for pvp i go down bleeding, tricks and frontload, on predator its str in and half sta