Making an Ice Martial Artist, suggestions?

[King Of Cold]

Alright well, after leveling both my Trapper and my WW Shadow up high, I've decided to try and tackle the Martial Artist. Now as my name suggests I enjoy employing the more icy of moves when I can. Now I was wondering, I've read the Ice Maiden post, but basically I would like to know if any of you have tried using Blades of Ice as your main move? I was just hoping for some pointers in regards to other skills to max, I'm not really sure what finishing move to use, or if I should use pheonix strike, etc, etc.. . Equipment is not really an issue considering I enjoy the hunt. Also I noticed that the Ice Maiden build was listed as PvM. I was considering using the character for PvM as well, but there is always the urge to make my characters PvP viable to a point. For example I do not expect to be able to take down a fully geared smiter, or any extremely well geared character for that matter. I simply wish to be able to hold my own, without falling prey to every single person who hostiles me. I've always been interested in kick sins as well, but that is another thing unto itself, it would be cool to employ kicks considering the fact that I'll be loaded with Martial Gcs.. but whether or not it is feasible is truely the question.

So as to not ramble on more then is necessary, Basically I am asking for you Assassin sages to bestow upon me a flake of your wisdom. Thank you for your time, looking forward to your replies.

Stay Frosty :wink2:

[King Of Cold]

Also I should mention that thus far I have maxed Blades of Ice & Claw Mastery, I was told that maxing tiger strike and Dragon flight were also good ideas? Opinions anyone? :) Thanks again for your time. :scratch:

[stephan]

Since PS is a synergy to BoI you should have maxed that, instead of claw mastery (CM is usually one of the last things you want to max). IIRC the Ice Maiden Build is more about gear than skills though.

You can forget about this working in PvP. Everyone has ravenfrosts and the damage is simply too low.

[King Of Cold]

So in your opinion would it still at this point be possible to make them a hybrid kicker? or does that kind of build require a strict still allocation?

[stephan]

With DTail, no not really, you will miss the PS synergy. With DTalon, skillwise yes, but I'm not sure if that is very optimal gearwise.

[relliKniaP]

Well King of Cold, i recently had an urge to start a rather unortodox Sin.

She would charge in melee wielding Claw/Shield and having Blade Shield on. She would freeze enemies with BoI while dancing around and damaging everything with BS. She would use DTail to blow up frozen enemies and DS to blow up corpses.
Basicaly, this Sin is suposed to unleash huge damage on limited space and to tank well.
If youre interested, proceed :P

20 Blades of Ice
Main attack skill.

20 Phoenix Strike
The only synergy for BoI. Also serves as a backup attack skill for various immunes. Very versatile in that.

20 Dragon Tail
Explosive fire power used for shattering frozen clusters of monsters. How satisfying. This is our release.

1-20 Blade Shield
I know, i know. It doesnt trasfer CB anymore. And tons of other stuff. In a matter of fact, it only works with few mods now. Those are - Leech, Deadly Strike and "CtC on Attacking" (but not "CtC on Striking"!). And i think it works with Venom as well. BS also transfers 1/4 of your weapon damage either it be physical or elemental. Another thing thats worth mentioning is that the physical pulse dmg from BS is every 1 second.
BS seems a shadow of what it once was. But if you aim for high Dual Leech, 100% Deadly Strike and a weapon with "CtC on Attacking" mods - not hard to obtain btw - BS might be more than viable.

I said "1-20" because i wanted to maximize BS' physical pulse potential
I wanted to get as much phys from pulse as possible, and a nice damage weapon - even though BS transfers only 1/4 weapon damage to begin with. By the way, BS' pulse is every one second and not every two seconds like Paladin's pulse auras. Im not sure if DS multiplies the pulse as well as 1/4 weapon damage though.

You can leave this skill at base for +skills to handle it.
BS trasfers mods regardless of points invested. The main reason for not maxing it is that. And 1/4 weapon damage. And maxing another skill. Lol

1-20 Fists of Fire
A synergy for PS. Assassin can have charges of more than one attack skill swirling around her. Then why not incinerate your enemies while they are encased in ice?
Max FoF OR BS.

1 BoS
1pt wonder. Adds IAS which means more charges which means more damage.

1 Fade
1pt wonder. Makes the game much less stressful.

Claw Mastery
1pt wonder. Adds damage, attack, CS.

Death Sentry
1pt wonder. Tremendously increases killing speed.

1 Venom
Even though Blade Shield transfers Venom, this is just for getting the most out of +skills. Our Venom isnt going to have much damage. IF it indeed works with BS, i am not sure lol


PS - You can ofcourse use C/C and not C/S with this build
PPS - The main goal for me with this build was to have fun and have a challenge. And to not suck too bad lol. And have style, as always.