How should I spend the last 30 skill points on my Uber runner? der

[TheMightyGoat]

I just built an Uber-running Assassin. She's a Dragon Talon/trap hybrid. I successfully soloed the Ubers with her last night at level 89, so she's capable, but she could stand improvement.

Current equipment:

Vampire Gaze, Ort'd.
Last Wish Phase Blade.
Stormshield, p. diamond'd.
Treachery.
Highlord's Wrath.
Thundergod's.
Upped Gore Rider.
Grafted gloves with 10% CB, leech, resists et cetera.
Raven Frost.
Rare leech/resist ring.
Demon Limb on switch.

I think I'm gonna swap the crafted gloves out for some Dracul's, as I noticed the Ubers seemed to like healing themselves, and I take it my current 10% isn't hitting them often enough to prevent that. I probably don't need the 95% Crushing Blow anyway. (Does Deadly Strike work with Dragon Talon?)

Right now her skills are:
24 Dragon Talon after +skills.
20 Death Sentry.
20 Lightning Sentry.
1 Mind Blast.
1 Dragon Flight
Prerequisites.

What else can I do that would make the Uber battle go easier? I suppose I could raise Mind Blast to help ward off the mobs of summons. What about Shadow Warrior/Master? I know nothing about them. I only assume that neither would last long in the middle of an Uber fight. I also don't want anything that could cast spells over my Life Tap. I could dump a few more points into Dragon Talon to boost my attack rating a little (currently have ~60% chance of hitting the Ubers). Or if I maxed Blade Shield, would it kill mobs that surround me as I attack an Uber?

Failing all that I guess I'll just go for Lightning Sentry synergies. But would one of the above options help me more?

[Sass]

Deadly Strike does not work with kicks

Actually, pumping mind blast will make your Shadow Master a mind blasting machine. 10 points should be enough for a big difference. 10-20 here.

Shadow Master is a tank. She can do anything the assassin can (except cast more shadows). Other than that, she can do any and all. Her AI is based on your skills though. The higher it's point, the higher frequency she'll use it, and the higher lvl it is once used. Along with more life, stronger attacks, and more res, she can keep things off of you (and also attract them when roaming about). 1-20 here.

You can also pump more trap dmg if you like that. 1-20 in Charged Sentry (shadow master likes these, might as well boost if you go traps route.

I'm not sure how effective poison is vs ubers, but maybe venom (if it's even worth it.). 1-20 here.



My advice is doing master / mind blast.

[TheMightyGoat]

Deadly Strike does not work with kicks

Actually, pumping mind blast will make your Shadow Master a mind blasting machine. 10 points should be enough for a big difference. 10-20 here.

Shadow Master is a tank. She can do anything the assassin can (except cast more shadows). Other than that, she can do any and all. Her AI is based on your skills though. The higher it's point, the higher frequency she'll use it, and the higher lvl it is once used. Along with more life, stronger attacks, and more res, she can keep things off of you (and also attract them when roaming about). 1-20 here.

You can also pump more trap dmg if you like that. 1-20 in Charged Sentry (shadow master likes these, might as well boost if you go traps route.

I'm not sure how effective poison is vs ubers, but maybe venom (if it's even worth it.). 1-20 here.



My advice is doing master / mind blast.

I have 7 +skills, so Mind Blast is level 8 already. Would I still see an improvement to invest in it? I could put something like 7 more points in it and still max Shadow Master with prerequisites. But wouldn't she cast CoS sometimes? That would mean instant death during Ubers.

[Sass]

Well, she doesn't need to MB too much. I can't remember if it was hard points or + skills that helped her cast, but base isn't too bad anyway.

For an Uber runner, her casting cos is a GOOD thing. 1. you don't have to while you focus on one of the them. 2. Her CoS wouldn't be too much lower than yours (if you max SM, but keep cos at only 1 point, she'll cast it HIGHER than you do!)

For general pvm, it is indeed bad, but you can cast her when nearing the battle to get her to CoS the ubers and not just CoS anything that moves :P But, with one point, she wouldn't go crazy. Especially if you enter battle soon (she'll MB, maybe trap and then move into melee beside you; mostly trying to Phoenix Strike).

Oh, and I looked into it, and Venom was used in the Warrior Monk, so it's good for Ubers. >< Still worth maxing / putting some points in.

[TheMightyGoat]

But CoS will override my Life Tap, won't it? = instant death.

I use Treachery so Venom is triggered automatically.

[Sass]

Right, forgot treachery has venom XD

And CoS won't overwrite Tap. Only other curses will.

[Ceramic Weasel]

Right, forgot treachery has venom XD

And CoS won't overwrite Tap. Only other curses will.

Actually, I think it does override curses. Though in all the years I've had my shadow by my side, I don't recall seeing her ever use CoS.

[Sass]

Meh, the warrior monk still says it's good >>

You can cast to keep things of and then start tapping (master will distract and not cos anyway).

It's all good as a 1 point wonder :P

[TheMightyGoat]

I just tested. CoS does override curses.

Is there any way to discern what skills Shadow Master is most likely to cast? The skill you've invested the most points in, maybe? The highest level skill available?

[Ceramic Weasel]

Is there any way to discern what skills Shadow Master is most likely to cast? The skill you've invested the most points in, maybe? The highest level skill available?

She'll definitely cast your highest level skills more often... much more often. And her skill level is (1/2 her level) + (1/2 your skill level). She usually lays a few traps, Mind Blasts, then Dragon Flights in and starts with charge-ups.

There's some stuff I've never seen her use though, like CoS or Blade Fury.