Question about PVM Hybrid/Dtailer guide in sticky, and 1.11 der=0>

**Strieder** · 01-03-2008, 18:54

I just came back to D2, and started an Assassin to play with a friend. I'm using the guide in the sticky, the max TS/DT/WOI assassin. Is this guide viable as is in 1.11? If not, what should I change to ensure that I don't end up making a character not worth playing?

Currently she is level 21, and I have not touched any trap skills yet, so there is room for changing plans if need be.

Thank you

**maiku** · 01-03-2008, 19:19

For PvM hybrid Dtailer, I had great success with maxed Death Sentry and Lightning Sentry. This allows your Sin to also have lightning and CE at her disposal, and you can use TS + Dtail to keep killing to feed your traps. If you add Decrepify and get it to proc from your Merc ("Lawbringer" or Reaper's Toll), you will be almost invincible. That is my current hybrid Dtailer, and it works very well in Hell.

**Strieder** · 01-03-2008, 19:25

So no points of CoT as a source of elemental damage? Already put 1 in CoT (and one in FoF as a pre req). Is it salvageable? Do I want to put any points into synergies for those traps?

**chronowarp** · 01-03-2008, 19:26

You can use COT as you want, it depends on whether or not you want to rely on traps.

I use COT/TS on my sin and it does fine.

**Strieder** · 01-03-2008, 19:41

So max COT/TS/DT/WOI is viable? Would I need to put any points in synergies for WOI (if i have extra skill points)

**stephan** · 01-03-2008, 20:01

If you want CoT, you should max phoenix strike as well and forget about WoI. Well, you should really forget about WoI in any case, it's the worst trap of the bunch by far.

**Strieder** · 01-03-2008, 20:31

Hm...well what would you guys recommend I do overall right now? I have:

8 Tiger Strike, 4 DTail, 1 Fist of Fire, and 1 in most other prereq/required skills. None in traps so far.

What would be the best way to make this character from here on out?

**stephan** · 01-03-2008, 21:17

If you are really scared about wasted skill-points level 21 is not too troublesome to rebuild IMO. Otherwise the 1 wasted point in FoF/CoT does not really matter. You just max your last synergy a few levels later.

Either max TS/DT/LS/DS or TS/DT/CoT/PS (with maybe a 1 point DS). Both are fine and it depends a little on what you want and like. The LS/DS variant is probably faster, but Death Sentry can become too dominating sometimes and kill your play style a little. LS/DS also gives you an IM solution, but there are other methods to circumvent it (a point in Blade Fury for example).

**chronowarp** · 02-03-2008, 06:35

Originally Posted by Strieder

Hm...well what would you guys recommend I do overall right now? I have:

8 Tiger Strike, 4 DTail, 1 Fist of Fire, and 1 in most other prereq/required skills. None in traps so far.

What would be the best way to make this character from here on out?

Max TS
max Dtail
Max COT or BOI
Max PS

...rest into 1 point wonders and pump the stuf you think is necessary.

Dtail + TS is going to give you huge fire/phys damage splash on groups. This works GREAT until hell where fire immunes are abundant. THis is when you turn to your secondary skill, I use COT, BOI is also a viable option. The cold/freeze will help a lot in hell seeing as anyhits will do a lot more damage than you want. And if you choose COT you can still use the 3rd charge on PS for freezing groups.

The general strategy is:

Cast cloak of shadows, mindblast the group, put a few death sentrys in the middle, dflight onto a monster that is moving away from the group (so you don't land in the middle and get obliterated). If they aren't fire immune charge 3 tiger strikes, and a few cobra strikes if your health is deteriorating. Then release, and repeat. mind blast is your friend.

Honestly, Dflight is probably the most helpful skill on this build, and not because of damage, but simply because of time saving qualities it gives you. IT's extremely good for placing yourself/merc/shadow in a position where you want. It allows you to chase down fleeing monsters (those dumb gremlin things in A5, in particular), and you can use it tobypass walls, or empty spaces you otherwise would've had to walk around, assuming there was an enemy on the other side.

It's not good a finisher, but it's super effective in increasing your killing speed.

**Strieder** · 02-03-2008, 21:56

With that setup, what is the use of PS? Would death sentry be one of the one point wonders?

I didnt know you could even have multiple charges going at once, like CS and TS. Guess I have a lot to learn