PvM Kicker

[Clervis]

Hey, I don't want this to just be one of those posts where somebody posts awesome gear and asks if it will work, but I'm interested in building something to the same effect as JanusJones' Warrior-Monk and Ilkori's Kicker.

I really want it to be oriented towards killing monster packs, not just Ubers. So, tell me where you think my weak points are and any other suggestions you might have.

Gear:
LW Phase Blade
Storm Shield (Um)
Guillame's (15 IAS)
CoH
Mara's
Trang's Gloves
Arachnid Mesh
Shadow Dancer
Ravenfrost
SoJ
(Cta/Spirit Switch)
Anni
Torch

Merc:
Act 1 Cold with Ice Bow

Skills: (+11 from gear)
15 Pre-reqs (phew!)
20 DragonTalon
1 DragonFlight
20 Venom
5 Shadow Master (18 after +skills)
1 Cloak of Shadows
1 Mind Blast
1 Blade Fury
1 Death Sentry

That's 65 skill points. What the heck do I do with the rest?

I'm thinking that I'll use the rest of my points to boost Death Sentry for its Corpse Explosion radius and elemental damage.

Strategy: Prebuff: BC, BO, Shadow Master, and Venom. Use CoS run up and DT one or two to death, alternate between DT and DS until they're all gone. For Oblivion Knights I'll use CoS then BF until they're gone. For Phys. Immunes use Venom and DS.

Questions:

Does Fade give you 1% physical damage reduction per level, does that go towards the 50% cap, and does that mean I'll have 11% phys. dam. red. from Lash Wish?
Is Blade Fury really capable against OK packs?
Is Blade Shield worth it?
Should I boost Str, Dex, or just the usual all life route after gear reqs?
Recommendations, Criticisms, or Tips?

[mystified]

no real argument to put in, as it is quite standar set up that's effective.
personally I don't like LW on assasins due to fade..
you are usually able to cast higher lv fade. LW ruins it. Res wouldn't really matter but that's extra 5% + PDR. that's like a ber rune. :S
also don't see point in using arach. for +1 to venom/traps?
Use dungos or SoE, both with nice PDR, and other mods that are quite effective for kickers. Personally SoE in PvM (easiers to get, cannot be botered to do gear changes with my better char :p)

put remaining skills to DS and LS. will help you vs certain annoying PI.
Fury is not great. DMG is just weak.
shield is same. plus attack frame and range is too low to be any real use. Duration is short too. I regretted putting 1 point into it.
use usual life routine. You will appreciate it as you really don't need that much str or dex in the end.

PS compare your attack speed with different weapons. CB is nice, but you will have some hard time VS PI.
I just used azurewrath. Cold and magic dmg is nice (although it doesn't show) enough to hand PI in single room. you wil lose 60+ CB, but we can get that from upped gore + guil face =50 CB.
you can add in duress if you wish. and actually use fade.
azure gives you ~ 1000 dmg per kick, which may not seem very nice but actually powerful. (for average kicker, that's like 4~5 kicks..with that much added dmg).
Stormlash with same effect too.

[Clervis]

I used Arachnid mesh because if you have 11% from fade and 35% from Stormshield, you'll have 46%. That's only 4% from the cap, which is why the fade from LW serves its pupose well enough.

I guess this build really benefits from weapon elemental damage. I'll have to consider that. I just like all the cool mods on LW.

Also, about the life, I understand that assassins are pretty good at dealing with low life because of CoS and such, but I'm wondering if maybe I could use a weapon switch with elemental damage like your Azurewrath. Or maybe Gimmers or something of the like. I guess I'll have to give it a shot to really see.

I don't suppose it is worth it at all to add points into Blade Fury or Blade Shield is it?

[Sepdick]

You don't need very much DR for the ubers anyway.

Most attacks are elemental (lightning), and that's what hurts.

[LokiLoF]

I don't suppose it is worth it at all to add points into Blade Fury or Blade Shield is it?

It is, since it benefits from knockback etc. This way you can keep enemies on a distance.

Personally I like the maxed tigerstrike/dragon tail option.

[ilkori]

How powerful do you want this build to be? A different skill setup may serve you a bit better for raw kill power, though this skill setup is good for doing the most based on Talon damage.

Personally, I keep at least one item around for Ubers since Meph's conviction isn't the "typical" situation you deal with playing the game.

There are quite a few PI solutions, including using a high-powered merc. Your PI solution also plays into the skill setup. My preference is to drop Venom and boost LS/DS.

Without traps, though, Stormlash will be your best weapon against groups with the Static. (Btw, with this equipment setup, I'm seeing +16 to Shadow skills with the buffing, so the Shadow level could drop a little.)

There are also other alternatives with some of the slots. Building around a Last Wish is a very different ball game than the typical setup since so many of the mods are covered right there.

[mephiztophelez]

I don't suppose it is worth it at all to add points into Blade Fury or Blade Shield is it?
they are worth a maximum of one point each. 'fury has some good pvm applications (throw on a gimmershred, some AR gear and a point in b'fury and any 'sin can solo hell). b'shield was nerfed in an earlier patch and is really only super-useful in some pvp situations.

i'll second the Stormlash idea. ctc static charge will speed things up no end. jah it, ber it, shael it, you can even res-jool it. replace the trags with dracs and you'll still be immortal.

i'm also a fan of the kick/trap hybrid build. for pvm/pvu, venom isn't a great killer, even at insane levels.

if your yet to build your 'sin, perhaps leave venom at a base point (gravy damage basically), pull a few points from 'talon (hit level 18 or 24 with +skills) and pump the rest into traps.

in any event, i'd say maxxing Death Sentry is a must.

[Clervis]

Yea, I haven't built her yet. I was just wondering some of people's general impressions and it seems like I've gotten quite a few. Thanks guys.

Keep in mind that I really don't consider Ubers when I make builds. It's just wierd to me that that is what people concentrate so much on, considering it's such a small part. I figure she's going to be a Uber-butchering machine this way anyhow, or with just some small gear substitution anyhow.

Ilkori: You forgot the shadow dancers +2 Shadow Disciplines. (Thanks for the guide btw)

I figured for PI's all I'd have to do let Venom, LS, and my Ice Merc take one down. Cast Maxed/Synergized DS and then it should all be downhill from there. But I can really see how Stormlash would make that a million times faster. Switch maybe?

How important do you guys think CtA would be on her? I'm going to be using CoS, 46% damage reduction, LT, and 75% resists, so am I really going to be taking much damage?

On Blade Fury, am I does elemental damage get added to that? How about the ITD? CtC? CB?


PS: :brainiac: Krang smiley?

[mephiztophelez]

But I can really see how Stormlash would make that a million times faster.
at 7/3 kicks the CtC static charge on 'lash will be procing off a fair bit. it'll neatly knock the tops off every non-lit immune in range, which in turn makes your death sentry a lot more effective once you make a few corpses for it to pop and get a whole chain reaction bizzoid happening.

the answers to the rest of your questions are in ilkori's guide.

[ilkori]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[ogie]

Sry, I don't mean to hijack ur thread but I didnt want to make a new thread...
I plan on make a traps/kick sin hybrid for uber trist only... I was wondering how does this template look like?

Helm: Shako or Guillame's
Armor: CoH
Ammy: Highlords
Rings: Carrion Wind and raven
Wep: Stormlash
Shield: Stormshield
belt: arachnid mesh or nosferatu's coil
Gloves: Laying of Hands or Dracs
Boots: upped gores
Charms: 9 traps/anni/torch

Maxed DT, LS/DS/CBS and 1 point for the rest.

Any advice or tips would be very helpful thanks!! Sorry again for hijacking ur thread man..

[ogie]

sry i posted my own thread haha dont know how to edit my post so forget about my post..