Build:A/D Dark Shadow Forge Runner

From PvXwiki

The PvXwiki community finds this to be a good build. Through the PvX vetting system, it has reached an overall Rating in the range from 3.75 to < 4.75 and thus qualifies for the medium category of working builds: Good. This build has been designed for the following use: PvE running

This build enables an Assassin to solo run from Beacon's Perch to Droknar's Forge, and with some modification is suitable for running other areas. Agility and protection skills from the Shadow Arts line, plus the Dervish's anti-knockdown Fleeting Stability enchantment, make this a fragile yet efficient Droknar's Forge runner.

The build takes practice, timing, and knowledge of the whole Droknar's Forge run, particularly Lornar's Pass, in order to successfully complete the run. Ultimately, if nothing else, this is a challenging and fun alternative to experienced Drok's runners.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Dervish 12 + 1 + 3 Shadow Arts 12 Earth Prayers 3 Deadly Arts Fleeting Stability Nightfall Dervish. Earth Prayers 12 Fleeting Stability Enchantment Spell For 21 seconds, you cannot be knocked down. If this Enchantment lasts its full duration, you are knocked down. 10 1 10 Deadly Paradox Nightfall Assassin. Deadly Arts 3 Deadly Paradox Stance All of your attack Skills are disabled for 10 seconds. For 7 seconds, your Assassin Skills activate and recharge 33% faster. 10 15 Shadow Form Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 16 Shadow Form Elite Enchantment Spell For 22 seconds, all hostile Spells that target you fail and all attacks against you miss, but you deal 33% less damage. When Shadow Form ends, lose all but 53 Health. 45 1 10 Death's Charge Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 16 Death's Charge Spell Shadow Step to target foe. If that foe has more Health than you, you are healed for 209. 30 ¼ 5 Dark Escape Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 16 Dark Escape Stance For 16 seconds, you move 25% faster and take half damage. Dark Escape ends if you successfully hit with an attack. 30 5 Dash Factions Assassin. Unlinked Dash Stance For 3 seconds, you run 50% faster. 8 5 Dwarven Stability EotN No Profession. Deldrimor rank Dwarven Stability Enchantment Spell For 24..30 seconds, your Stances last 55..100% longer. If you activated this Skill while drunk, you cannot be knocked down. 30 ¼ 5 Feigned Neutrality Nightfall Assassin. Shadow Arts 16 Feigned Neutrality Enchantment Spell For 10 seconds, you have +7 Health regeneration and +80 armor. This Enchantment ends if you successfully hit with an attack or use a Skill. 25 ¼ 5 Template code

• "IAU!" over Fleeting Stability.
• Harrier's Haste with points in Wind Prayers, if you have a a low deldrimor rank or don't have EotN.

[edit] Equipment

• Armor: Any armor with +energy mods and attunement runes. You want your energy as high as possible.
• Weapons: A perfect Insightful Staff of Enchanting or a Totem Axe with a shield.

[edit] Usage

The skill bar above is laid out from left to right in the general order in which to use skills, depending on the situation. Dark Escape, Dash, Harrier's Haste, and Deadly Paradox plus Death's Charge are the main running skills. Death's Charge can be a massive overall speed buff (and self heal) if used efficiently. Almost all healing during the run can be accomplished while still moving.

Normal running sequence:

• Deadly Paradox -> Death's Charge -> Dark Escape -> Dash.

Anti-knockdown sequence (for wurms and giants):

• Fleeting Stability -> Deadly Paradox -> Shadow Form -> Death's Charge -> Dark Escape -> Dash.

Healing sequence when Shadow Form begins to fade out:

• Deadly Paradox -> Feigned Neutrality

When to use Shadow Form:

• To prevent Ice Imps and Ice Golems from slowing you down with hexes.
• Near Wurms and Avicara, use Fleeting Stability followed by Shadow Form, to prevent the Avicara from stripping Fleeting Stability.
• To nullify damage from enemies through intense parts of the run (Tundra Giants, Stone Summit, Avicara), although you can also tank through some enemies with Dark Escape, Heart of Shadow, Feigned Neutrality and Death's Charge.

[edit] Counters

• Enchantment stripping, mainly from Grawl Crones casting Chilblains. Simply stay out of their range. How ever this is no longer really a problem since the recent nerf to Chilblains.
• Conditions will severely hinder your chances of survival in most situations. Try to avoid Pinesoul traps -- NEVER use Death's Charge on a Pinesoul as you will likely teleport into a trap.

[edit] Variants

• Heart of Shadow can replace Dash, giving you a way (the only way) to escape being stuck inside a mob of enemies after a poorly executed Death's Charge.
• Feigned Neutrality can be replaced with Signet of Pious Light, giving you a safe way to disable Shadow Form with a self-heal if needed.
• Fleeting Stability can be replaced with I Am Unstoppable!".

[edit] See also

• Any/D Generic Forge Runner
• Google video of a successful run: Media (using the Deadly Paradox pre-nerf build).