Level 45+ Assassin - What now? (build and development questions)

[DigitalDevil]

I recently got my Assassin to level 45, up until now I’ve not really thought about character development and had just been running the character as a second to my main. Now that I’m level 45 I’d like to start to put more focus into the character. So I guess my questions break down into four areas:

Companion
Hermit
Gear
Weapon

Ill start with companion, fortunately my main already has a level 10 pig so getting a pet to max level will be pretty easy, but what should I be looking for at each level (3/5/7/10). Looking through the top rankings the majority seem to have gone for Mana/Attack Speed/Mana/Crit %. Is this the best route to go with my pig or should I be looking for something different?

Looking through the top 10 Assassins there are 9 who have gone pure Mana and one that has gone pure DC, I’m guessing Mana is the best route to go here as well?

Then there’s gear and this is where things are fairly varied but with one main focus by the majority, stacking Mana +% on items, again I think there is only one in the top 10 who isn’t following this pattern. What should I be aiming for when it comes to gear and are there any things I should avoid?

Looking at the different Assassin weapons there’s doesn’t seem to be much (if anything) between the majority of them, I’ve seen LoO come up over Global and on TM multiple times fetching a pretty penny (10m+) but it doesn’t seem to be better than the Claws from level 38, does the level 49 weapon have hidden stats that make people want to pay this additional price tag or is there something else I’ve missed?? What weapon should I be aiming for and what should I be looking to refine onto it? Also, what’s the Pick Axe thing all about?

My final dilemma is that I’m sure I’ve read several posts from both Jamie and Shane that Assassins should focus on DC as their primary stat, but going back to the in-game rankings would lead me to believe that this is in fact wrong and a pure Mana build is by far the better route (confirmed by 9/10 going this route).

Any help in answering the above questions would be very much appreciated

 

[Shane/Banshee]

I've started a sin, level 47 now

I sold my warrior kit and went crit DC, I also purchased a luck 4 wep so it's very viable, only down side is 700 hp that I currently have.

If you don't have a luck 3 wep I would keep mana kit rolling.

I have gone DC aspeed DC crit on pig.

I currently have 185/188 DC when leveling in banyo or holy palace

Ive also been hunting with a level 60 sin that is full mana with red poisoned mob I see crits for 2k. So both are very viable, just DC has alot more effect on the below spells

Mele attacks between lotus, crit build DC these do 350+ very often.
Dragon repel tho I've not tested on my sin.
Flamesplash
He'll fire
Karma bonus damage
Puppet.


You could also review the sabuk wall rankings to see what I was capable of on a 44 sin, I was 1 hit about 15 times during the war no guild means everything and everyone hits me lol.

In a nut shell mana is perfectly fine and a cheaper way to get a decent character.

My sin's name is kubwaker

The level 49 wep has more top end DC, has better looks and the attack animation prior to the speed up in Jamie's animation means this wep was a better attack style.

Every wep now has the same speed/animation rate.

 

[GeeDee]

Banshee is spot on.

Go mp until you get at least luck 3 on your weapon.

Ideally you want a DC pig, a HP pig and an MP pig. The roll on 5 should always be aspeed and the roll on 10 should always be crit. I don't see any other viable stat on either of these rolls.

Banshee currently kills things at around the same speed I do. He is well kitted and has higher luck. He is 20 or so levels lower so his kill speed will go up.


Crit / luck / dc is the way to go.

 

[benny182]

Is it any easier to level your second/third companion? Only just got my first to lvl 9...

If you go DC build, is it best to go DC% or MP% as upgrades?

 

[Shane/Banshee]

DC % for DC builds
Mana % for mana builds

 

[GeeDee]

On your vigor set add mp%. On your dc / crit set add dc%.

Pets level 10x quicker once you have a level 10 pet you can make a level 10 pig in 3 days once you get your first one to level 10.

 

[benny182]

Pets level 10x quicker once you have a level 10 pet you can make a level 10 pig in 3 days once you get your first one to level 10.

This is super exciting.

 

[UnluckyXIII]

As a 200+ DC Sin (fully buffed) I hit like a wet n00dle in comparison to Fairy who is Mana build, my lotus skills land for 300-600 in Full DC kit while he hits out around 900-1100 in Mana build (figures are non-crit hits). My standard hits land at around 50 more than his so its really not worth going DC, if I had the money/gg required to fully respect Mana build (pig/hermit/kit) I would as DC feels like a waste imo.

Also you can build a much cheaper Mana/Crit kit then you can a comparable DC/Crit one so you need to take that into consideration when looking to build your items as you'll be much more out of pocket to get a reasonable amount of DC (take tainted bracelets 3-4m each vs evasion bracelets at 200k, you can have 3% mana for the same cost as 1 tainted brace).

A third option is to go with Numa set and be a "Hybrid" build, this seems to work nicely from what I've seen but the rarity of the kit means you are unlikely to be able to Lv. it up (or even get a full set any time soon).

I'd say go full Mana from my experience, its much easier and you'll be seeing them big 2000 crits lol!

XIII

 

[Fusion]

I think Mana is the way to go for now.

When you get higher level with better kit level 60 kit i would be testing dc kit but you will need high luck

if you stack Mana i find puppet is week its just gone to get out of combat and stun

Both D/C and Mana are a option but for Dps i think Mana is the best for now.

 

[DigitalDevil]

Had a play around with both DC and Mana builds (with the limited options available at my level) and Mana seems to come out far superior, the added damage to the bloom cycle seems to make DC pointless. In full DC my blooms are pitiful and the damage from regular hits doesn’t compensate for the damage lost (no where near in fact - was this better prior to the hermit change??). I honestly can’t see why anyone would roll anything other than pure Mana, watching the top ranked players those who’ve gone DC are far weaker, then when you see the pure Mana builds and them crits <3 <3 <3

Thanks for the replies though, glad I asked the question as with the above info confirming what I suspected I’ll be following the majority and going full Mana build over DC. People can talk up DC all they want, that it will be better blah blah blah but in the here and now it’s pure Mana baby!!

 

[GeeDee]

Yep, lm 60+ and still use mana. Unless you're lucky enough to get luck +4 on your weap, mana will always be the better option. .

 

[UnluckyXIII]

Yep, lm 60+ and still use mana. Unless you're lucky enough to get luck +4 on your weap, mana will always be the better option. .

After levels of going against the grain, trying to follow the advice from Jamie/Shane on these forums in that DC build was the best way to go I finally gave up on my DC build and started the long road back to been full Mana again (only changed Hermit so far as can’t afford to reroll pig or buy all new kit - 1800+ Mana at present), even at 240+ DC I still hit like a wet n00dle in comparison to comparable Mana Sins my level, since going Mana build I’m seeing constant silver numbers and getting crits as high as 2200-2500! I don’t even notice the loss in damage from the physical hits between lotus skills as I’m smashing through stuff that much quicker I don’t even have time to calculate it. The loss of damage to both DoS and Puppet is negated by the recent update removing them from the majority of PvP situations (Sub/Boss floors), the only place I might miss it is from DR as I’ll no longer be able to put down a lure of Monkeys for quick Freedom Passes.

To the OP go Mana, go Mana all the way, you won’t see enough of a benefit from a DC based build at the point in the game (or possibly ever) and will only feel left behind in comparison to everyone else if you do.

The real question for someone looking to build a Sin are if you should be aiming for the Numa Set or Vigor set with 2 Crit+ items, both seem to be viable builds at this point in the server (although both with limited upgrade potential in comparison to the other three classes kit development). Other than that the Sin class is a simple one to build, pick up some Lv.38 claws, Lv.44 armour and an elite helm and you are pretty much there. You will do just about as much damage in kit or without (weapon included), this even became a guild hunt joke where I would strip down and punch Subs to death because it had no direct impact on my damage or ability to survive.

XIII

 

[Shane/Banshee]

Also one thing to mention

Mana builds are directly effected by the MR of the mob
DC builds are directly effected by the AC of the mob

 

[LightBringer]

Numa Set bonus should give Crit%.... :P

 

[benny182]

Also one thing to mention

Mana builds are directly effected by the MR of the mob
DC builds are directly effected by the AC of the mob

This makes me feel like any new areas will have considerable MR increases...

 

[Shane/Banshee]

Well if you hit 1200 with the last lotus and the mob has 500mr you are still going to do 700 damage.

 

[Ksx]

Well if you hit 1200 with the last lotus and the mob has 500mr you are still going to do 700 damage.

And a Wiz/Tao with 480 mc/sc will just get "block" on all attacks? xd

 

[Shane/Banshee]

And a Wiz/Tao with 480 mc/sc will just get "block" on all attacks? xd

Yes if you come across a non boss mob with those stats

 

[Ksx]

Yes if you come across a non boss mob with those stats

If it's a boss, that changes?