Phoenix Striker Questions

[Rane-]

I'm making a phoenix striker for general PvM and was wondering if there was anyone experienced in these in 1.11? I've read up on them but a few things I'm still unsure on;

Obviously 1pt dflight is useful, but as a main finisher what's best? Should I use talon, claw, or tail?

CoT/Phoenix are my two main attacks, is FoF and/or BoI worth maxing to synergise Phoenix? If so are either of them useful at any instacne themselves?

Shadow Master vs Shadow Warrior? Shadow Master is normally the go, but seeing as though I'm going to be focusing on certain attacks at cetain times perhaps I should get Shadow Warriro to mimic what I'm doing?

The biggest question: Claw/Claw or Claw/Shield? What's your experience?

[Kretschmer]

I'm currently running an untwinked Phoenix Striker through hell. My favorite Diablo character; very dynamic and involved.

I use claw as a finisher (1 pt). While phoenix strike only hits once, some of the assassin abilities will hit with both claws, which is useful if you're trying to leech, or do more damage.

CoT/Phoenix Lightning will be your most powerful attack, but you'll need a backup for LIs. Phoenix meteor is your best choice, as it does much more damage than the chaos ice bolts, and only requires one charge.

I prefer shadow master to shadow warrior. Diversity is strength, and a well-placed mind-blast or death sentry can do wonders. The resistance bonus doesn't hurt, either. I'm not sure if a warrior could keep up with an assassin's charge rotation, too.

I'd do Claw/Claw over Claw/Shield for the following reasons:

-Phoenix strikers are all about speed. 2 claws allows you to charge up your non-PS attacks twice as fast, and release them twice per finisher.
-A shield requires a massive dexterity investment. More dex means less vit, and a very unhappy assassin. Also, a shield won't block when you're running; Phoenix strikers never stop running. Weapon blocking requires no dex, blocks physical and magical attacks, and works at 100% effectiveness while running. To be short, weapon block blows shield blocking out of the water.
-2 claws gives you higher possible +skills, which is very important to a PSer. As a bonus, those two claws can be bought from Anya in nightmare without breaking a sweat.

Oh, and burst of speed beats out fade for survival, interestingly enough.

[stephan]

Also, a shield won't block when you're running; Phoenix strikers never stop running. Weapon blocking requires no dex, blocks physical and magical attacks, and works at 100% effectiveness while running. To be short, weapon block blows shield blocking out of the water.

This is incorrect. Shields block at full effectiveness when walking and at 1/3 of their effectiveness when running. Weapon Block *only* works when standing still, casting or attacking.

[Rane-]

Was gonna say what stephan said lol.

Also I find it really hard to get one charge for phoenix strike with dual claws, is there some trick to it? And is claw better than tail as a finisher?

[stephan]

You attack the same when single or dual wielding a claw with Phoenix strike. If you can do it with one claw, there is no reason why you can't do it with two.

Dragon Tail appears to be useful as a finisher for CoT, because the knockback cancels out the next delay. But Dragon Claw with it's dual hit gives you a better chance of releasing.

[wasonlp]

Mi bild of phoenix is this

20 phoenix
20 fof
20 cot
20 claw masteri
Resto in Shadow master+Venom+WeaponBloq

I use claw/claw, and Dragon claw as the final hit (with 1 point).

I think 2 claws is the best in this assa, becaouse the 3 sinergies of phoenix can be carged with 2 claws... so u only need 2 "cliks" using 2 claws to take the last carge ot them... (if you use w/s u need 3 "cliks" to take the las charge of the sinergies).

I say this becouse normaly i use 1 or 2 (and even the 3) sinergies of the phoenix convinated with the carge of the phoenix that i whant, to hit with all. And i must hit and charge as fast as posible to can make it (thats one of the reasons too cause i usa bos and NO fade).

Using 2 claws u can use dragon claw as the final hit... and it gives u 2 hits using only one "clik"... so you have the double of posibilities of hit and make the charges work. (if you use tail or fligth, u just have 1 posibilitie x "clik"...)

You also can use Talon, as final hit, but with just 1 ponti it dont work nice... or at least it dont work as well as the dragon claw with 1 point (becouse with claw u will have the +%AR & +%dmg from the Claw masterie).

About the shadow... i prefer the S master. It help you much more than warrior in my opinion, it can use traps, or cos or mb, while you are striking, and its a great help. The warrior can be better to make a better combo dmg, but at last... i prefer the Master ;)

Well with my bild i can make 5x Ks max dmg... of convinated dmg of: fire, cold, ligth, phisic & poison. I love this assa, its powerfull & its hard to use & the most important = its very very funny ;)


PS: sorry so much about my bad eanglis... i only hope you can undertand me :(

Cu

[BIGeyedBUG]

-Phoenix strikers are all about speed. 2 claws allows you to charge up your non-PS attacks twice as fast, and release them twice per finisher.

No, like everything else, it'll only release once.

The point about speed is debatable too, since a lot of the time (and maybe almost all of the time depending on the player) the Assassin will be using the Strikes. In that case two claws confer no speed advantage.

[BIGeyedBUG]

My favorite fire/lightning Phoenix chassis is:

20 Phoenix, CoT
10+ FoF, Warrior
3+ WB
1 DS, BF, Venom, MB, DFlight, and all prereqs.

Additional points going into FoF, Shadow, or MB. Primary aura is Fade, primary finisher DC, primary damage dealer Phoenix2...but every charge-up except BoI is hotkeyed. HC, solo, and untwink oriented, though it would work great regardless.

[Kretschmer]

No, like everything else, it'll only release once.

The point about speed is debatable too, since a lot of the time (and maybe almost all of the time depending on the player) the Assassin will be using the Strikes. In that case two claws confer no speed advantage.

Actually, certain attacks seem to release twice (tiger strike + cobra strike, for example). And on attacks like phoenix strike? There are two chances to connect per finishing click, increasing the odds of a successful finisher.

[stephan]

Actually, certain attacks seem to release twice (tiger strike + cobra strike, for example).
No charge up releases twice with Dragon Claw.

[BIGeyedBUG]

Actually, certain attacks seem to release twice (tiger strike + cobra strike, for example). And on attacks like phoenix strike? There are two chances to connect per finishing click, increasing the odds of a successful finisher.


I'm not sure what you mean exactly. With Tiger + Talon charges will "linger" sometimes, but it's a bug, rare, and not worth constructing a build around. I've never seen it happen with DC, and I've never seen any kind of simultaneous double release.

As far as the usefulness of DC in giving multiple -chances- to release, I think we're in agreement.

[Kretschmer]

Hmm my bad.