Ass/Combat Builds

Crit Spec

The of this build point here is damage from crits.

Malice + Dagger spec equals 10% more crits across the board. Imp Backstab equals 30% more when backstabbing. Remorseless fit the theme for 40% more crits after a kill, not to mention getting to Seal Fate. Lethality increase crit damage. Cold Blood guarantees a crit. This all adds up to ~50% crit rate for backstabs for 230% damage and ~60% crit rate for ambush with 230% damage!

Imp Slice'N'Dice and Im SS both lead to more attacks faster for more crit opportunities. Precision helps all of these attacks to land to have a chance to crit.

Seal Fate turns all of the crits from combo point generating abilities into extra Combo points. Imp Evis turns those combo points into extra damage.

Ruthlessness and Relentless Strike are in there to get to Seal Fate. But they will also help to keep building the combo points for chains of finishing moves.

Subtlety Talents (0 points)

None

Lightning Reflexes is purely to get up the tree. These points could just as easily go into Deflection or any other talent. Improved gouge helps set up solo backstabs.

The only thing really missing in this build is the basics in Subtlety: MoD, Opportunity, Imp Ambush. These three Talents are traded off for: Lightning Reflexes (2/5), Precision, Dagger Specialization.

Sword Spec

The point of this build is consistent steady high damage.

Assassination Talents (18 points)

Malice - 5/5 points

Increases your critical strike chance by 5%.
Gets you up the tree.

Improved Slice and Dice - 2/3 points

Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 30%.
More SnD for less combo points. Saves you combo points for other finishers.

Ruthlessness - 3/3 points

Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a combo point to your target.
More combo points for the next finisher.

Lethality - 5/5 points

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Ambush, Ghostly Strike, or Hemorrhage ability by 30%.
More damage when you crit on a special attack.

Relentless Strikes - 1/1 point

Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 energy.
More energy for more special attacks.

Improved Instant Poison - 2/5 points

Increases the chance to apply Instant Poison to your target by 4%.
More poison damage.

Combat Talents (33 points)

Improved Sinister Strike - 2/2 points

Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5 Energy.
More Sinister Strikes faster with a big slow weapon.

Improved Gouge - 3/3 points

Increases the effect duration of your Gouge ability by 1.5 seconds.
Helps to set up solo backstabs and gets you up the tree.

Precision - 5/5 points

Increases your chance to hit with melee weapons by 5%.
Allows you to hit more consistently.

Deflection - 5/5 points

Increases your Parry chance by 5%.
Gives you some defense and allows for Riposte.

Riposte - 1/1 point

A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 6 seconds.
A very low energy cost attack with fun side effects like a disarmed target and a combo point.

Dual Wield Specialization - 5/5 points

Increases the damage done by your offhand weapon by 50%.
More, consistent, damage.

Improved Kick - 2/2 points

Gives your Kick ability a 100% chance to silence the target for 2 seconds.
A Rogue needs to have some tricks up his sleeve. This is a good one.

Blade Flurry - 1/1 point

Increases your attack speed by 20%. In addition, attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 seconds.
20% more DPS.

Sword Specialization - 5/5 points

Gives you a 6% chance to get an extra attack after dealing damage with your Sword.
More opportunities for damage.

Aggression - 3/3 points

Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 6%.
6% more damage on your bread and butter attack.

Adrenaline Rush - 1/1 point

Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 seconds.
Allows you to have plenty of Energy for 15 seconds.

Subtlety Talents (0 points)

None