Help with a pure martial artist.

[winmar]

Hello everyone.

I've decided to try a full martial artist since i have never built one before. The problem is that i have zero experience with the martial art-tree and i can't find any decent guides.

Should i just max Phoenix Strike + synergys + 1 point in every shadow skill, and im done? What about a finishing skill? I already have a kicker so i do not wan't to rely on Dtalon. Perhaps Tiger Strike is something i should look into, or should i just forget about it?

Is it worth to spend more then 1 point in claw mastery?

When i run the numbers in a skill-planner the damage seems very low. Keep in mind that i will solo the entire game. I will twink though and i have decent gear.

Is Crushing Blow something i should get alot of? Perhaps i will not hit enough enemies fast enough for it to be effective. +skills might boost my damage more? How much IAS is enough?

This is some of my gear im thinking of.

Bartucs + Jade Talon, socketed with ETH-rune.
Lionheart
Laying of Hands, Gloves with +MA and 20 IAS, Dracul's
G-face or Shako?
Mara's or Warlords?
Thundergod's Vigor, Verdungo's, String of Ears
Gore Rider or Shadow Dancer
Bul-Khato's
Ravenfrost

x2 +3 Shadow claws on switch for pre-buffing.

Thanks in advance.

[PrkChopXpress]

If you want to use Pheonix Stike (or any of the elemental charge-up for that matter), the common wisdom says that you use either a 1pt DClaw or a normal attack as a finisher. Tiger Strike is generally only used in conjunction with DTail.

[oakienko]

One thing to note is how much +skill to the MA tree you should have. Generally +10 if you can acheive it because it will heavily help ur combo and finisher.

Should i just max Phoenix Strike + synergys + 1 point in every shadow skill, and im done?
CoF synergises well with Pheonix Meteor. CoT as well but keep in mind of NextDelay with Phenoix Lightning. BoI and Chaos Ice doesn't do as much damage (only hits once) as the other 2, but it's a real neat crowd control spell. You can do a better job than a sorc with gs.

What about a finishing skill? I already have a kicker so i do not wan't to rely on Dtalon. Perhaps Tiger Strike is something i should look into, or should i just forget about it?

TS is worth it depending on your build. However if you think about how much +skill you will have, you will notice that your damage came from your +ma skills and that your points are better spent elsewhere.

Is it worth to spend more then 1 point in claw mastery?

tweaked? not really, seeing as how ma sins rely on +skills for their pheonix to reach high damage (generally ~+10) My sin has a few points left over so I threw it in there.

When i run the numbers in a skill-planner the damage seems very low. Keep in mind that i will solo the entire game. I will twink though and i have decent gear.

+skill gear

Is Crushing Blow something i should get alot of? Perhaps i will not hit enough enemies fast enough for it to be effective. +skills might boost my damage more? How much IAS is enough?

CB on your blood gloves is good. I usually just look for that and if possible, get +2 ma on it too :cool:
IAS is a hard one to twink, but if you know your claw weapons already then play around with the speed calc and tweak it.