Greetings all

I thought I would dust off my L50 Shadowblade and perhaps "respec" him from swords to axes - just for something different to try. I am also considering making him a form of assassin too for an extra challenge.

So, fellow SBs, who perhaps specialize in axes, what would you consider a good series of combinations from stealth and to perhaps to continue the battle if the opening salvo does not have the desired kill? How about your RAs?

I would appreciate any tips or advice from anyone willing to share their secrets!

Peace all!

I don't get it. There's no difference between sword and axe same slash damage and you use only LA styles anyway. Why do it?

If you are wanting to give up your from stealth openers, and instead just focus on straight melee damage, Axe spec makes a lot of sense.

50 Axe
39 LA
35 Env
35 Stealth


should actually out DPS 50 LA spec's DoubleFrost damage when you are using the Havoc -> Tyr's Fury chain. You end up relying on a front chain for your anytime damage, but it does have a better growth rate, and you don't lose evade stun. It is pretty good for dropping other assasins. Need RR9 for PA though. And on live Pillager was a higher value combat speed debuff, so opening with pillager + SC envenom was pretty nice, prolly not even worth the hotbar spec here though.

and once again I read feary tales of shadow zerker crap....when will ppl finally get it?


CRIT styles are W A Y superior to any other styles on Sb...open with pa maybe? could also follow up with cd then...rather basic huh?


+ PLZ understand this : Since defense pentration and weaponskill are totally BROKEN here...skilling a weapon up is USELESS...it was stated already so many times...all that skilling weapon does : reducing you dmg variance

So what ya gona do? RIGHT : use the styles with the best gw...best effects....crit...

Cjasca wrote:+ PLZ understand this : Since defense pentration and weaponskill are totally BROKEN here...skilling a weapon up is USELESS...it was stated already so many times...all that skilling weapon does : reducing you dmg variance

Not exactly.

Skilling up a weapon line increases style damage if you are using styles from that line. Increasing left axe spec will increase your base dmg by .34% per level on each hand. Increasing the spec in any line you're using a 2H from will increase base dmg .5%.



And of course there is style availability. 50 AXE unlocks the .9 GR follow up to havoc for example. That brings in a lot more potential style damage than the gains one would see from spec alone when going from 49 to 50 axe.


Now whether or not giving up your high damage from stealth openers is worth it is an entirely different conversation. On live, I had fun with both types of SBs.

well theoretically youre right...I tested this up and down for swords...I even hat 0 sword for a week...down to a certain point as well as up to a certain point, there is NO difference at all with is more or less composite 50 spec. sure theres low dmg with 0 weapon...and theres a huge variance...but tbh...why play a assassin like a offtank? I really never understood...I´d rather play it like what it was made for...

assassin = 50crit, envenom and stealth on lvl, main weapon lvl+1, dual weapon rest. nothing else to add.
any other spec is just pointless and ofc not decent compared to this one.

If you are rr4 50la 36 weapon 36 stealth 36 envenom 10 cs.

always go for as much la as you possibly can with your rr, 21 cs is the way to go as low rr.

PA vs rangers and solo armsmans, reavers...? Rofll.

vangonaj wrote:PA vs rangers and solo armsmans, reavers...? Rofll.

Er Rangers I can see, but are SB's really supposed to be able to beat heavily armored opponents such as armsmans and reavers? Doesn't seem to fit in with the whole rock, paper, scissors design of this game.

Kyleran wrote:

vangonaj wrote:PA vs rangers and solo armsmans, reavers...? Rofll.

Er Rangers I can see, but are SB's really supposed to be able to beat heavily armored opponents such as armsmans and reavers? Doesn't seem to fit in with the whole rock, paper, scissors design of this game.

In one day you've become the biggest whiner on the server congrats.