I posted my CoT Assassin in the trophy room (here:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/index.php?showtopic=3163135&st=0), and I have been receiving PMs ever since.
Before I go on about this Assassin, I should point out 3 things:
- This build is 90% PvM.. she has great potential in PvP, if only charges lasted a little longer.
- This build is for skilled players ONLY. It's extremely complex to play- makes triangle WW look like cake.
- This build is, albeit not too expensive, hard to put together, because not many Martial Art items are circulating. Heck, I used to sell Martial Art skillers to the vendor.
So, with that off the hook, here is the guide for Keni's
Lightning Martial Art Assassin (LMAA) <Insert fancy irrelevant background story here>
Skills Distribution20 Claws Mastery - Although you'll be dealing lightning damage, you'll need CM for the Attack Rating bonus.
20 Claws of Thunder - Primary Skill
20 Phoenix Strike - Secondary Skill and synergy to Claws of Thunder (as well as synergized by it, making it powerful)
4-6 Claw Block to reach 58-60%
1 Burst of Speed - Primary Buff
1 Fade - Secondary Buff for use in tough areas
1 Death Sentry - Clear mobs for you after one release.. too powerful, takes away the fun of playing the LMAA lol
1 Mindblast - Turns monsters against themselves, creating invaluable meatshields
1 Dragon Flight - Get to your next pack of monsters before your charges disappear!
1 Shadow Warrior - You'll NEED her
14 Pre-reqs
= 86 Total Skill Points, as you level up you may put the extra points into the Finisher that suits you the most.
SELECTING A FINISHER:
Dragon Talon: Fast, releases the charges the quickest.
Dragon Claws: Packs a punch, and utilizes both claws. Biggest damage of all finishers.
Dragon Flight: Mobility.
Dragon Tail: Crap.
I went with Dragon Claws, purely because of damage. However, you'll still need to use Dragon Flight to approach enemy before charges disappear.
You can also put some points into Shadow Warrior, if you are too lazy to recast her over and over again.
Stats DistributionEnough STR/DEX to use gear. Rest in Vitality.
I use Eth Up'ped Zodded Bartucs on my left hand, and Non Up'ped Bartucs with 15% resistance jewel on my right. Basically I equip my right hand first to give +20 STR bonus so I can equip the Up'ped Bartucs.
If you have a high anni, torch and 15STR treks, you're not going to need much into anything but vitality.
EquipmentsI have tried EVERYTHING for this Assassin. I ended up going with Shako/Bartucs anyway. I tried Griffons (even bought a 15% for her) and found out later that +skill% does NOT work with Claws of Thunder.
Repeat: FACETS WILL NOT WORK WITH CLAWS OF THUNDER OR PHOENIX STRKE
I also got a +3 Martial Art/life/2os Circlet and was going to put 2 facets in there. Turns out it doesn't work, and there is absolutely no reason to use the circlet over Shako. I also thought about getting +2 Assassin +3 Claws of Thunder +3 Phoenix Strike claws... but decided against it because 1) they are impossible to find and 2) it lacks the invaluable 30% FHR + 40 stats and doesn't add that much more damage anyways.
Headgear:
PvM: Ber'ed Shako - 18% DR and 50%MF (hey, this is PvM after all!)
PvP: Cham'ed Shako
Armor: Fort for Insane Defence and physical damage bonus (good for leeching) or CoH for resists and lightning damage bonus (yes, yes and MF)
I use Fort only for PvP
Weapons: Eth Up'ped Bartucs 'Zod' + Normal Tucs with 15% Resist Jewel
Switch:
PvM: CTA + Lidless
PvP: CTA without shield for BO, and switch to user infinity
Rings:
PvM: High stat/AR raven frost, BK Ring
PvP: 2 x 10%FCR Rings with life and AR. Have dex on the rings to compensate the lost Raven Frost
Amulet: +2 Assassin +high stats rare ammy, or Maras Kaleidescope
Belt:
PvM: Verdungos 15% DR
PvP: Spidersash - now you have 65% fast cast with Fort, FCR rings and belt to do MB lock with sentry
Boots: Treks with 15Strength
Gloves: Something like this:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j59/kenikenikeni/Screenshot100.jpgCharms: Martial Art Lifers.. but for PvP, leave enough room to store CTA while you switch to infinity. You'll need that room in PvM too for picking up items.
You SHOULD have the 86% FHR breakpoint from Verdungos, 2 x Bartucs and Treks (90%), however, if you swapped verdungos and spiders, you'll need to make up for it with 2 x fhr scs.
Merc: Eth Infinity (duh), Any helm any armor, most likely Andys and fort so he stays alive by leeching
How to play the LMAAFirst of all, the LMAA is realllllly fun to play with. That's the point of making her. She's not a super tank or a crazy fast monster mopper. She is challenging to play with, but very potent in that coupled with conviction aura, her 37K+ releases can take down mops in one hit.
If you wish to mop down cows in 3 seconds, do the following:
1) Cast shadow warrior, put Death Sentry on right attack so your shadow casts it for you non-stop
2) MB twice so that about 20% of the monsters become your meatshield (You don't want to MB too many times, otherwise they all get converted and stand around)
3) Charge 2 charges of Phoenix Strike (not 1, not 3)
4) Charge 3 charges of Claws of Thunder
5) Conviction Aura from your merc's infinity should be activated now
6) Release.
7) Walk over to next mob while death sentry kills off the remaining monsters.
8) Hold ALT to check for GG items
9) Repeat.
PVP Strat: I hope, in the next patch, they'd prolong the duration of the charges. You simply don't have enough time to hit people with your fully charged CoT.
However, here's what I do, when I DO duel with her.
1) Name lock with Mindblast
2) Don't let go of click, and switch to lightning sentry
3) Lightning sentry again
4) Mindblast
5) Dragonflight In
6) Charge CoT while opponent is stunned by the lightning sentry
7) Switch to Infinity and run away
8) the INSTANT conviction comes on, dragon flight back in
9) immediately switch to Dragon Talon and kick nonstop til charges set off, or, if you're not so lucky, expire.
Well that's the LMAA!! I hope some of you have as much fun as I do with her!!
+5 cool points if this gets a sticky!