New Build, need help with it.

[CrazeP8ntballer]

Hey wats up yall. Im kinda new to this site, but ive played diablo 2 for years. I am going 2 make an assassin and i would like some help. Im looking for a straight up fighting assassin, duel claws most likely. I wanna go hack and slash. I was wondering if there are any good support/damage spells that would be good for this type of build. Also, being new to assassins all together, what should i put stats into and wat are some key items that i will need. Someone plz help me with this.

[BIGeyedBUG]

It's very helpful with questions like this to specify a few basic things: PvM or PvP? HC or SC? Rich or Poor? More details are always good, but those are the essentials. You're much more likely to get the answers you need that way.

[ilkori]

Also, unique to Assassins, how much hotkey swapping do you want to do? Most builds require more than is needed with other classes - some require way more.

[CrazeP8ntballer]

It's very helpful with questions like this to specify a few basic things: PvM or PvP? HC or SC? Rich or Poor? More details are always good, but those are the essentials. You're much more likely to get the answers you need that way.

It would be strickly PvM, Sc char, and poor. Some other details might be i wanna use claws...most like duel claws, and also this is my first char on this account. I quit playing a while back and lost all my things...so i need to start over. Since i am basically new to the assassin all together i have no idea about good skills for a build like this so i can't make ne specifics. It seems like you know alot about them, so im willing to leave most of this build up 2 you. Then, when i get familiar with the assassins, I am looking to make my own, unique build.

Also, unique to Assassins, how much hotkey swapping do you want to do? Most builds require more than is needed with other classes - some require way more.

I perfer not to much hotkey swapping, but i am willing 2 do as much as needed for this char. I am basically a newbie to assassins, i have no idea about their skills or ne thing. I hope this information should clear up how i want this char to be.

P.S- Thank God somebody responded :D

[Naliworld]

In that case, two main builds you should consider are:

1) Pure Phoenix Striker:
-More hotkey-intensive
-Melee most of the time, so hope to find equipment that will provide safety, i.e. PDR/FHR/life
-Fast claws(especially with +skills) are almost a requirement, but you should come across a few serviceable ones even untwinked
-Better equipped to deal with Immunities of any kind
-More engaging/fun (though this is subjective, Trappers are boring to play for most people, despite being one of the more effective builds)

2) Lightning Trapper:
-Less hotkey-intensive
-You won't be in melee, so you'll be reasonably safe. You can concentrate on +skills, etc. as long as your resists are decent
-Fast claws help, but aren't a necessity
-Lightning Immunes pose a threat: though you can pick up Fireblast to deal with them, given its radius is pretty small you will have trouble with large LI packs(fortunately not very common)
-Boring (again, subjective. Depends on which playstyle you prefer more, ranged or melee)

If by some stroke of luck you're on ladder and come across a Shadow Dancer or perhaps Gore Riders with the items needed to upgrade it, you can also try a Tiger Strike/Dragon Tailer(possibly paired with a Phoenix Striker), though it may not be the best path, as you will have trouble balancing VIT for your life and STR for your damage. I won't suggest a DTalon'er even if you find the above boots, as you need further specialized equipment, and PvM DTalon'ers are primarily Weapon/Shield, not dual claw.

Once you've decided what build you've chosen, you can look at the stickied Compendium of guides thread at the top of the forum, which have links to all the builds mentioned.

[Pherdnut]

DTalon kickers are fun for the untwinked. All you need for heavy damage is to constantly upgrade your boots to the best type you can find. It's a good skill throughout the game and only takes 20 points. You can mix in Trapper skills to supplement and handle physical immunes in Hell I'd rather go with full venom and Blade Fury (a one point wonder) to handle those physicals. Burst of Speed is great for getting out of a jam quickly and Fade is huge for reducing damage of all kinds. The nice thing about assasins is that they have a ton of skills that require no synergies whatsoever so there are lots of possibilities for people without godly gear. Trappers are kind of yucky and I don't say that just because people hate dealing with them in duels. All you do is run around and drop stuff. Not much fun there and they get really weak in Hell without great gear.

[BIGeyedBUG]

[I tried to post this a couple of times yesterday and got the boot both times. Anyway this build is based on your wanting to go "hack and slash". Both of the builds Nali recommended are more conventional. The Trapper especially would be a lot easier.]]

A basic build would go something like this then:

20 Dragon Claw, Claw Mastery, Venom (Max last.)
10 Shadow Master or Warrior
5 Weapon Block
1 Death Sentry, Blade Fury, Mind Blast, DFlight, and all prereqs.

BoS to max or near-max breakpoints, or Fade to taste. One point in Tiger and Cobra might also be useful, but I'd skip them.

Equipment wise, you'll really want the highest damage claws you can get. A lot of your choices will depend on whether you go BoS or Fade. BoS makes Dragon Claw much more flexable with weapon types, but you'll be hurting for resists. Fade is nice for safety, but basically limits your choices to the fastest base speed claws. Obviously both of these will have an impact on your other equipment too.

Natalya's would be a good fit if you can get it. It's got enough defensive properties that you could use BoS.

If you can get a source of CTC Amp, you'll have a much easier time.

There's more I could say about the build, as well as some other alternatives, but that's a good start.

[CrazeP8ntballer]

Hey guys, thanks for all the help. I think im gonna go with BigEyedBugs suggestions. Thanks Nali for your options as well. Bug, if i have ne more questions ill get back 2 u.

One of these questions is, What do i put my stat points into?

[ilkori]

Same as all builds. Well, besides Titans and Glass Cannons.

Enough str/dex for equipment and max block
Zero into nrg
Rest into Vitality

Since blocking is based on your skill level for dual wielding, you just need enough strength for your armor (118 for claws, or up to 150ish for armor), and enough dex for your claws (118 for the highest requirement).

[BIGeyedBUG]

Ilkori is right basically, but since this is a SC, primarily phys damage build, it could be done a bit differently than the norm. Some additional investment in DEX would help damage and AR quite a bit.

If you like playing SC like it's HC though, I'd stick with the VIT plan.