beta build: Lord Critalot, the devoted assassin

[Madscientist]

I have created the fast assassin for PoE1: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/93566-class-build-the-fast-assassin-dual-wielding-rogue/

I think that PoE2 allows me to create a char that is even closer to my idea of a perfect assassin.

 

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Lord Critalot

 

class: devoted fighter / assassin rogue

 

race: hearth orlan

 

background: the white that wends

 

stats:

mig 17

con 10

dex 10

per 21

int 10

res 10

 

skills:

max out stealth

 

profiency: sword

 

talents:

lv1: constant recovery (auto), disciplined barrage, crippling strike

lv2: two weapon style

lv3: backstab

lv4: fighter stances, dirty fighting

lv5: confident aim

lv6: knockdown

lv7: disciplined strikes, escape

lv8: rapid recovery

lv9: riposte

lv10: weapon specialisation, shadowing beyond.

later comes fighter stance upgrade and deep wounds

 

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comment:

stats: perception is the most importent stat, because you want to crit as much as possible. Devoted gives +25% crit damage and +3 penetration, assassin gives +100% crit damage, +25acc and +4 penetration out of stealth or invisibility. Crit gives also *1,5 penetration. I chose hearth orlan and several talents to maximize my crit chance.

Might was an additive modifier among others in PoE1. Now it is multiplicative and with all the other modifiers you have there is a lot to multiply. So might is very importent if you want to deal damage. But the 3 might difference between orlan and aumauna gives 9% more while a crit from this char gives 50% more (150% from stealth or invisibility) and hearth orlans have high per and crit more often.

I kept the other stats at 10 because I dislike stat dumping.

 

weapon: I assume that devoted is not bugged and you can only be profient in 1 weapon. There will be enemies with high resistance or even immunity against one damage type, so I take a weapon with 2 damage types. Sword has higher damage than hammer and with all my bonusses penetration should be high enough. I am dual wielding of course. Use weapons that have an "on crit effect" (stunn or prone) or are anihilating (more crit damage).

 

talents:

- escape -> shadowing beyond + backstab: Thats what makes you an assassin. Become invisible and strike the enemy with a devastating blow. Repeat until you have used all guile for this. Start combat stealthed for an initial backstab.

- disciplined barrage -> disciplined strikes: no more misses and 50% hit -> crit, could there be anything better . If you can keep this up all the time, you can skip confident aim for something else.

- I hope that constant -> rapid recovery help you to stay alive

- The active skills allow you to do sneak attacks, everything else should increase your damage passively.

 

upgraded fighter stance, vigorous defense and deep wounds should be taken later. When there is more than one enemy in front of you, you should use cleave stance because you will kill things fast, else ( improved ) fighter stance.

 

advantages:

- very high single target damage, though Boeroer said that a soul balde / assassin is even better (while being more fragile)

 

disadvantage:

- You are more fragile than other char (+15% damage taken, not high con or res) and you have no healing except rapid recovery.

- Once you have used all shadowing beyonds, you have very little things that help you to avoid being hit.

- It takes until lv 10 until you can use the trick that defines your character

 

Please remember that this is for the first version of the beta, so tons of things will change.

Edited November 22, 2017 by Madscientist

[Cavymac]

Is this build still viable post-beta? I like the devoted/assassin idea, but am not sure if the crit potential still holds up. Any inputs would be appreciated.

[Sanctuary]

Assassinate was nerfed to +50% crit damage.  I also thought they went back to Might being additive too.  It's still a strong build for Backstabs, but a Shattered Pillar/Assassin is probably stronger overall, similarly with the aforementioned Soul Blade/Assassin; neither of which locks you into one weapon either.

Edited May 19, 2018 by Sanctuary

[Dorftek]

I'm playing a Bleakwalker/Assassin. FoD alpha strike from stealth is very sexy.

[Sanctuary]

I'm playing a Bleakwalker/Assassin. FoD alpha strike from stealth is very sexy.

 

That was actually my first Assassin combination, and yes, it does do well for the initial burst damage, especially if you need to open up from range.  The other three are for higher difficulties/longer fights.  Thing about the Soul Blade variant is, that although it's taken primarily for Soul Annihilation, you could eventually open up with an Assassination attack that gives you enough focus to cast Ringleader right after.

Edited May 20, 2018 by Sanctuary

[dunehunter]

Backstab without lash is not a real backstab.

[Alhoon]

Remember that dual wield full attacks don't backstab for both hits, only the first one. For this reason, two handers (or even single one hander) is better than dual as far as backstabs are concerned.

[Sanctuary]

Remember that dual wield full attacks don't backstab for both hits, only the first one. For this reason, two handers (or even single one hander) is better than dual as far as backstabs are concerned.

 

It's still inferior to dual-wielding after the first attack thanks to the recovery time.  Also, Full Attacks don't get the Backstab bonus with the off hand, but they do get the Assassinate and Sneak Attack bonuses.

 

edit: I suppose you could always just open up with a two-handed attack and then weapon switch, but you also end up giving up a ranged item unless you grab the extra arms slot.  I'm also not sure how much of a delay there is between attacks when weapon switching in melee.

Edited May 20, 2018 by Sanctuary

[Dorftek]

Yeah Cipher/Assassin was my first try but it was too fragile as I'm playing only solo until they have fixed the difficulties