Good item sets for a kicker assassin?

[PoomasterSOS]

Any sets envolving a sheild would be nice. I don't use claws, and I'm welling to use heavy weapons like hammers. Becuase with burst of speed the slowness penalty won't really be a problem. She is set up like this... well... going to be set up like this.

20 tiger strike
20 Dragon talon
20 shadow master
20 blade sheild
5 burst of speed

[Blue Bird]

Hmm... kickers need Myrmidon Greaves. Whatever set you pick, make sure they don't involve boots (because no set boots are good for kick).

Although Natalya's Set WOULD be viable for your build. You'll hit fast (hopefully), have maxed resists, HUGE life leech and Damage Reduction will make you practically unkillable - you'll be back to full life after every charged kick. However, you'll do crap damage and that is very frustrating, so I suggest you overlook this and get a unique set up. Just remember - Myrmidon Greaves is like 75% of the important equipment out of the way.

[Blue Bird]

Hmm... kickers need Myrmidon Greaves. Whatever set you pick, make sure they don't involve boots (because no set boots are good for kick).

Although Natalya's Set WOULD be viable for your build. You'll hit fast (hopefully), have maxed resists, HUGE life leech and Damage Reduction will make you practically unkillable - you'll be back to full life after every charged kick. However, you'll do crap damage and that is very frustrating, so I suggest you overlook this and get a unique set up. Just remember - Myrmidon Greaves is like 75% of the important equipment out of the way.

[LordRigorMortis]

Why the hell would you use the dragon talon? I use the dragon tail which is infinitely better anyway. If you use the Dtail you get the wide spread damage killing everything around you and I think is does more straight up damage than talon as well. My ASN does 7k-9k with the three charges of TS and Dtail. Go with Dtail.

As for the boots if you get the whole nats set then use the boots. I use them right now with no ther parts and let the damage speak for itself...

[PoomasterSOS]

From what i read thats very false. I don't remeber how it went exactly, but somthing along the lines of DT hitting multible times while Dtail on hits once. And to be dead honest I don't like... well... anything fire damage. It dosn't seem to do me any good in hell diff. Seeing as just about everything is imune to it. :undecided:

[PoomasterSOS]

From what i read thats very false. I don't remeber how it went exactly, but somthing along the lines of DT hitting multible times while Dtail on hits once. And to be dead honest I don't like... well... anything fire damage. It dosn't seem to do me any good in hell diff. Seeing as just about everything is imune to it. :undecided:

[JanusJones]

Why the hell would you use the dragon talon? I use the dragon tail which is infinitely better anyway. If you use the Dtail you get the wide spread damage killing everything around you and I think is does more straight up damage than talon as well. My ASN does 7k-9k with the three charges of TS and Dtail. Go with Dtail.

As for the boots if you get the whole nats set then use the boots. I use them right now with no ther parts and let the damage speak for itself...

Dragon Tail is, as you say, a quite viable skill when used in concert with Tiger Strike. The area of effect damage possible is quite gratifying.

But Dragon Talon outshines it.

How, you ask? By providing, simply put, the fastest melee attack skill in the game. Even with the best equipment, the damage possible only reaches a maximum of around 2~3k. However, this is on an attack that can reach 3 fps, and fires off (when well equipped) up to 6 kicks.

So what?, I hear you ask.

Well, the point, if you will, is a simple one - when kicking, each time you hit you apply certain attack modifiers. Deadly Strike doesn't work, but any chane to cast effect, Open Wounds, or Crushing Blow is.

This means that you can apply maxed crushing blow to a target at 3 fps. The ubers fall faster than to any other class - even a frenzied barbarian or smiting pally.

Also handy is the fact that Dragon Talon takes so little investment to shine. Simply max the skill and wear the correct equipment and you're good to go. This allows you amazing flexibility when customizing your character. You really shouldn't max Tiger Strike, as its benefits will only usually be applied to one of your kicks (sometimes more than one, but there is no garuntee), and the increase in damage will be inconsequential; Dragon Talon's base damage is not at all significant.

As far as sets go you have only a few viable options. Natalya's is only worth it if you forgo the use of the claw and boots, in which case the benefits are questionable. A better bet would be the Immortal King set, used without the boots - the Strength bonuses will help you meet the high attribute prerequisites for Myrmidon Greaves (provided you do not have access to upped Gore Riders or Shadowdancers, both of which have lowered requirements - making them far easier to wear), and the Maul's good base Crushing Blow and speed will make your kicks effective.

A better option would include a shield, as you noted, so I would also reccomend (provided you are really attached to the idea of using a set) the Orphan's Call set. The helm alone, Guillaume's Face, is a prime choice for kickers due to its significant 35% crushing blow modifier. The shield is a good choice for achieving max block without too much over-investment in Dexterity, the gloves provide IAS and AR, and the belt gives both mana and life leech.

The best choices will always be a combination of uniques, runewords, and set items. The best weapons are Last Wish or Beast in a suitably fast weapon (Last Wish in a Phase Blade, Beast in a Berserker Axe), Fortitude armor for the ED, Guillaume's Face (particularly if you're using Beast - otherwise Last Wish can cover your Crushing Blow needs by itself), Dracul's Grasp (necessary for Life Tap if you aren't using Last Wish; otherwise +2 Martial Arts/+20% IAS crafted blood gloves work wonderfully, as do Trang Oul's Claws, which provide a significant boost to Venom damage), Highlord's or Cat's Eye (Deadly Strike won't work on kicks, so you may want to use Cat's Eye in order to give yourself more Dexterity for blocking), Stormshield (which, P-diamonded and used in concert with Fade, will easily provide 50% DR and heavily stacked resists), and Gore Riders or Shadowdancers (the former if using Beast, the latter if not). Rings and belt are open to personal preference; I use rares with resist all, leech, and heavy Strength boosts so as to optimize my stat points and allow for maxed block and a heavy investment in Vitality to increase survivability.

If you're looking for other options, check out my guide to the Warrior-Monk (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=392666&page=1&pp=10) or Ilkori's well-researched Kicker guide (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=405240). You'll also want to explore JRichard's posts to discover how to ensure your kicks will hit the fastest break point.

Good luck!:thumbsup:

[JanusJones]

Bah. System error lead to a re-posting. Apologies!

[PoomasterSOS]

Thanks for the insight :brainiac: Now I feel even more confidant about this build.

[JanusJones]

Thanks for the insight :brainiac: Now I feel even more confidant about this build.

That's what we're here for, baby.

:afro: