Shadowblades of midgard, aid a follower of loki´s lies.

[psychoid]

As a follower od deceitfull Loki.
I have made a series of misstakes in the creation of my Shadowblade.
And wish for your advice.

Short story: created the char a long time ago and just recently decided to level it, so after swiftly exping it up to 42 i decided to use my "full respec" only to learn i had to use them within 2 levels after 1.48.
And i have seemly levelled past my partial respecc. at lvl40 i thought i could w8 to 42, to use it. ( couldnt even at 41 )

So i am now at a waypoint, where i must choose... delete or keep on exping and steering it in a new direction.

What i can do from my current critblade specc.
is to branch of i this direction.

today i have, at lvl42

41crit, 40 sword, 18stealth ( was unaware of autotrain), 15 envenom.

Here i was going pureish critblade.

This is the branch i was thinking of.
41crit, 40sword, 39 Left axe, 35 stealth, 15 envenom.

What do you think?
Would this specc cripple me and make me more a "gimp" then going pure critblade.

The idea of a critblade appeals me, however i feel that an unstealthed critblade has little use and chance.
That is why i was thinking shadowzerk´ish.
Having more pure melee dmg.
Items and a full SC set will put all weapons to 50, crit to exeed 50, stealth 50, envenom +4 for next line.

What do you think, i especially wish for experienced shadowblades ideas.

How does a critblade work in unstealthed fights? what do you think of my possible branch off?

Gimp or able spleen remover.

 

[Xandax]

will not tell you what spec is the best - in my oppinion there is no best (well unless you go 30 sword, 30 axe, 30 left axe.... you get my drift). It all comes down to what you like to play.

The spec you are heading towards is what most people know as soulblade (although usually soulblade is no envnom at all) and many people feel that spec is viable with the SC resisting envenom loads. (and even more later when more people get access to their "uber" SC-ed armour)

Others will tell you, that you need to go full SZ or full CB or 5spec or you will gimp yourself.... again - it all comes down to how you like to play. But soulblades exsist and can - like most other SBs - find their niche in RvR. You might not hit as hard as a SZ in ordinary meele, but you will have the PA/CD.

Although with your spec. at presently, with no respec I would proberly continue down the more "pure" critblade seeing as your CS is already above 34 (CD-style) wich most people seem to aggree might be a waste.

 

[Runolaz]

I think you have too little Envenom. Having said that your spec seems like the Soulblade, and for some that works out just fine.

I think most SoulBlades aim for 44LA and main weapon close to that. Typical spec will be something like 44SW/44AXE/34CS/33ST/15EN...or ST 34-35 and less main weapon.

A Critblade is like 33-35ish EN and ST 34-35, rest into main weapon and CS. Main weapon should be the highest of the two, arround 44-48.

 

[psychoid]

i thank you for your input i will, process the data.

 

[froler-mid]

im afraid you must delete...i will quote jox for a excellent spec:

jox
If I were you I should go Stealth 50(So nobody sees you) and Envenom 50(So you become a true Poison-Master!) and then perhaps save the rest of the skill points(you never know if they release the disguise-skill in 1.98 or something)...

/remi

 

[Zill]

I advise you go Soulblade Spec: Stealth 33, Sword 40, LA 41, CS 41, Env 15

-15 Env - will be more or less redundent to you, as against higher level players it will nearly always be resisted.
-41 CS - for PA. CD and SS styles. Should get a decent PA damage cap.
-41 LA - for the the lvl 39 Frosty Gaze (medium duration stun) and you will at least stand more of a chance againt other stealthers.
-40 Sword - ideal level for damage output and enough for the required styles intended to be used.
-33 Stealth - perfect if you intend on playing for the long haul. When I was playing I had 33 based stealth with items and RR making 49 in total.

I personally believe you will stand more of a chance on the battlefield with this spec.

The alternative is a Critblade. Against other assassin classes you would be cannon fodder. You would have high Envenom and deal out higher damage but with slower reaction time and if you're parried/evaded/blocked this can present a problem.

 

[koskos]

you get a respec in 1.56 I think

 

[Xandax]

Originally posted by koskos
you get a respec in 1.56 I think

only RA respec due to loosing access to IP - not a skill respec.

 

[psychoid]

Thank you, i have decided to go towards soulblade specc.
I did not ask to get a shure specc, without thinking myself.

I wished for input from experienced shadowblades since i could not afford to fekk it up anymore, due to lack of chances to respecc.

I have gotten the feeling that my critblade is limited and very very dependent on stealth.

It is slightly gimped in some manors i will do decent damage though and conserve endurance with PA, CD, SS.
And have the Hamstring, Leaper combo with evades, and comeback, frosty gaze combo on left axe on evade.

I should be quite ok, even though i lack the comfort and damage add of high end poison, i will still get skald dmg song comparative DoT due to RA´s and items.

And my dmg output on ordinary melee will not vary extrelemly much, since i got 40+ on both weap speccs.

Well should i fekk up i got 2 other lvl50 chars to fall back too )

once again thanks for your informative input.

 

[katt!]

you should get enough envenom to at least get the first str/con debuff.

i recommend you stop LA at 39 as well.

 

[Conchabar]

5 spec would be the best i think most americans use it from reading vn boards though would be best to ask more experienced shadowblades in midgard.... 5 spec to me is best as u can get all ure stats as high as pos. This allowing you to have a nice pa and you r ok if they get the jump on you. Though imho choose a spec that chooses your play style cb r still effective at there job for caster killers if thats all you want to be.

 

[noaim]

Im starting a shadowblade, not quite sure if im gonna specc SZ, CB or Soulblade.

COuld any experienced assassin please post the benefits and the setbacks for me when it comes to these 3 classes?

Also, why are every SB going sword? Wouldnt Axe make more sense, since str is easier to max out than any other ability?

Third, i know lots of people posted good templates in this thread, but i'd be very grateful if anyone would post templates on all three SB 'professions'.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mirak_naijmi]

Originally posted by froler-mid



jox
If I were you I should go Stealth 50(So nobody sees you) and Envenom 50(So you become a true Poison-Master!) and then perhaps save the rest of the skill points(you never know if they release the disguise-skill in 1.98 or something)...

:bazbeer:
:bazbeer:
:bazbeer:
:bazbeer:

 

[mirak_naijmi]

Im still laughing.....


:bazbeer:

:bazbeer:

 

[Xandax]

Originally posted by noaim
Im starting a shadowblade, not quite sure if im gonna specc SZ, CB or Soulblade.

COuld any experienced assassin please post the benefits and the setbacks for me when it comes to these 3 classes?

Also, why are every SB going sword? Wouldnt Axe make more sense, since str is easier to max out than any other ability?

Third, i know lots of people posted good templates in this thread, but i'd be very grateful if anyone would post templates on all three SB 'professions'.

Thanks in advance.

SZ = good meele, basically a zerk with poison and stealth, lower defence.
CB = hard hitting opening styles, slower meele.
5 Spec = combination of SZ and CB, long perspective spec because you need realm ranks to be effective (and to a degree SC).
Soulblade = 5spec. without envenom.

SZs are great, they can tear down most opponents, especially if they are buffed, I've seen SZs take down heros.
They lack the big opening style but over time they do loads more damage. This it the "staying to fight SB" as I see it.
A problem with SZ is they will get affected worst of the SBs by loosing IP and capping evade here in the 1.56 patch because they need to stay in the fight longer to get the kill.
A typical SZ spec would look something like this:
Weapon: 43
Left Axe: 44
Critical Strike: 10
Envenom: 35
Stealth: 35
Some things to remember with most SZ specs are that CS at 10 gives you Backstab 2, a bubble breaking style that have a short stun.
Also left axe at 44 gives you Icy Brilliance, a "must have" weaponstyle for SZ. Rest is rather individual.
Most SZs autotrain stealth to a level to get a little extra points though

Critblades are the harder spec. They live and especially die by the big opening of PA (Perforate Arthory) and have to 2-3 shot their opponents. This makes this class hard to play because they will often yeild and fight with a 2h weapon makeing meele slow. (Or switch from 2h to a faster 1h for meele)
This class excells at keepdefence/keeptakes because of the high damage that is possible in 1-2 hits.
This class have to choose its targets a bit more then the SZ, so patience is usually a good trait to posses as a CB.
I don't know a typical CB spec, but if I were to spec one I would go something like:
Weapon: 48
Critical Strike: 39
Envenom: 35
Stealth: 36
Reason I don't take CS over 39 is because it is the last step of the PA chain (PA->CD->SS) One could increase CS and lower weapon to make them both around mid 40s.
I've always personally wanted to try a critblade, because I often play my own 5Spec. as a critblade

5spec. is the allrounder spec. It can meele better then CB, but worse then SZ, it can open with a harder shot then SZ but lower then CB.
Although with the introduction of SC these opening hits can be serverly negated and the emphasisme on left axe damage has been incresed.
Although I've still 1-2 shot mages and other rogues.
A typical 5 spec. would look something like this:
Weapon: 34
Left Axe: 39
Critical Strike 34
Envenom: 35
Stealth: 35
Although most 5spec level as SZ and thus autotrains stealth to a level to get some more points.
Some considerations one needs to remember is that L.Axe is needed at 39 for the Frosty Gaze style, a stunning style that chains from evade. And CS at 34 for CD(Creeping Doom), the stunning style in the PA chain.

Soulblade is generally a CSing SZ or a no-envenom 5spec. depending on how you see it.
Many people feel that envnom have to little bonus given the newer circumstances of SC and alchymy why they focus more on higher weaponspecs.
If this is true or not I can't help you with, although I would currently have a hard time giving up my poisons.
A Soulblade could look something:
Weapon: 44
Left Axe: 44
Critical Strike: 34
Stealth: 35
Again - left axe needs to be above 44 for access to that weaponstyle and CS at 34 for access to CD.


Hope this helps a bit

What is best? - Well none of them, they all have their strenghts and weakness, it all comes down to how you like to play.

 

[mirak_naijmi]

5-specc ownage a la jiriki(FoM):

37 Axe
44LA
34CS
33Stealth
28Env

IB/37debuff and all the other cute things bout an sb!



:bazbeer::bazbeer::bazbeer: