kizen
09-18-2008, 12:10 PM
In The Fray: Introduction
The Shadow Warrior class allows for a very dynamic, and flexible playstyle. While it is situated under the "Ranged DPS" archtype for High Elves; this often leads to a misconception that a Shadow Warrior needs to stay towards the rear and shoot the enemy. This notion is not only wrong, but cripples the class. Shadow Warriors are afforded Assault Stance, as well as a mastery tree to further increase our ability to do melee combat. This guide will cover three things for an Assault Mastery Shadow Warrior: Where you should spend your mastery points, what tactics and morale abilitys to use, and how to put it all together in an rvr situation.
This is not a pve guide, and is only meant for rvr and scenario use. Also, this guide will be updated as I level my Shadow Warrior to 40 (she is currently 27).
Abilities and Tactics:
Assault Tree Sinister Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9130
Merciless Soldier:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9129
Exploit Weakness:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9108
This gives you 16 points in the Assault tree. The other 9 points will be spent in skirmish (I am not using a 30 point scheme because it simply is not viable yet).
Also take note of Swift Strikes and Sweeping Strikes as they are also good situational skills.
Skirmish Tree Shadow Sting:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9109
This is one of the most important skills for a Shadow Warrior to pick up. It is our only healing reduction skill, and is critically important in being able to kill healers, or anyone for that matter. After picking up Shadow Sting, the left over points will be spent in skirmish (3).
Final Build
http://www.wardb.com/career.aspx?id=18#0:0:13:10368:8:32:25:544:9130:91 29:9116::::648:649:9139:651.
Stats:
The most important stat for any class in this game is toughness. If you're dead, you're useless. So maximizing how long you can stay alive is critical.
1 - toughness
2 - Strength
3 - wounds
Abilities: Grim Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9083
Damage: moderate
AP: 35
Usage: Bread and butter melee attack.
Debuff: (wrist slash tactic) Reduces targets initiative and weapon skill, and returns it to you
Cooldown: None
Other Thoughts: Be careful to not spam away all of your AP on this attack.
Brutal Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9086
Damage: High
AP: 40
Usage: Only usable from behind. Our most powerful dd in assault stance. Use it everytime its up.
Debuff: (Sinister Assault tactic) Ignores all armor
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Other Thoughts: Be CAREFUL against Witch Elves, and trying to move behind them. They have an attack that annihilates melee when you move. Just stand there and let it wear off.
Draw Blood:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9091
Damage: High - dot
AP: 25
Usage: Make sure it is always up. Damage to ap ratio is amazing.
Debuff: none
Cooldown: none
Other Thoughts: One of our best attacks in melee combat, especially in 1v1. It loses some of its effectiveness in group combat because targets die before the full duration.
Opportunistic Strike:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9098
Damage: Low
AP:20
Usage:Cripple melee careers effectiveness
Debuff: Disarms opponent for 5 seconds
Cooldown:30 seconds
Other Thoughts: Highly effective against witch elves and tanks that like to use 2 handed weapons. It does not last very long, but provides an extremely good opportunity to set up a kill.
Counter Strike:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9099
Damage: Low-Medium
AP: 25
Usage: Disrupts any abilities the target is building up, while dealing some damage.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Swift Strikes:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9106
Damage: Medium - High
AP: 20/sec
Usage: Two attacks per second that deal extra damage when target is building an ability
Cooldown: 13 seconds
Other Thoughts: This attack is basically worthless against melee, but incredibly devastating against any caster.
Sweeping Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9107
Damage: Medium - High
AP: 30
Usage: Directional AE attack that stretches out to 30yards
Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Other Thoughts: A good attack if you want to pad your damage in scenarios. It is a decent ability none-the-less, and can be used to hit an enemy that's *just* out of melee range, but too close to switch to skirmish.
Tactics: Sinister Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9130
Merciless Soldier:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9129
Wrist Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9116
Expert Skirmisher:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=544
Morale: Point Blank:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=648
Point-Blank has a handy knock back effect, and is more of a utility skill.
or
Concealment:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=652
Unshakable Focus:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=649
The key morale ability is unshakeable Focus which gives a 100% damage bonus for 7 seconds (which is enough to get off four abilities within the global cooldown - 1.5x4=6) but with lag, it is safer to say you will get 3 off. What is really unique about this ability is that it works for the full durration of Draw Blood even after the morale buff wears off.
Instill Fear:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9139
Instill Fear is yet another utility skill, for situational use.
Hail of Doom:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=651
Hail of doom is an area of effect direct damage like skill. The rank 4 morale abilitys are terribly under par, so I doubt this will be used very much, but nevertheless it is there.
Putting It Together:
Target Selection:
Unless the group is using an /assist type mentalitly (which I'm sure will be common) the Shadow Warrior needs to pick its targets properly.Priority 1 - Healers
Priority 2 - Ranged DPS
Priority 3 - Melee DPS
Priority 4- Tanks
No matter how much damage you do, if the target you're attacking is getting healed, it wont die. Ranged damage is second because the damage they can put out is devastating. They also have low armor and health, which means they are much easier to kill. The same logic applies to melee damage.
The Flow of Battle:
The "flow" of battle can be described as who is dead, are you winning or losing, and position. The Shadow Warriors ability to move around the battle field and control the flow is what makes the class shine.
Fighting Ranged Careers:
Start off by using Takedown on your target. This is to prevent them from running away, and out of melee range.
Next is to apply Broadhead Arrow, which is a nice damage over time attack. With Broadhead Arrow applied, you are able to use Shadow Sting, which is a decent damage over time, and 50% healing reduction.
After these three attacks there will usually be enough time to get off 1, maybe 2 sprial fletched arrows before you're within 5yards of your target.
It is important to remember that all of these attacks can be used while on the move.
Once in melee range, promptly switch to Assault Stance.
Start off with Draw Blood, and be sure to reapply it every time it wears off. The added pressure, and damage really stacks up, especially with broadhead arrow on the target.
The next attack generally is going to be Brutal Assault. The raw numbers this attack can put out are simply amazing, especially with the Sinister Assault Tactic.
After which, use grim slash until Brutal Assault is back up (5 second cooldown).
Healers:
If you do not have Shadow Sting yet (due to levels), and find yourself fighting a healer, there is no way to out damage their heals. This is of course, untill the rank 2 morale ability, Unshakeable Focus, pops. Take your time, and don't go below 50% of your action points, but apply fair pressure until your rank 2 moral pops.
Once it is up, use Vengeance of Nagrythe, and then use Unshakable focus. For seven seconds you are dealing 120% more damage. Immediately use Draw Blood, and then use Brutal Assault and Exploit Weakness. After which, spam grim slash until they die. This seems overly simple, but the burst damage done is overwhelming, and most players simply don't execpt this kind of damage, especially from a Shadow Warrior meleeing them.
Fighting Melee Careers:
If your target happened to be a Marauder, Disciple of Khaine, Black Orc, or one of the other melee oriented classes, do not run directly into combat. Rather, "kite" for a short while getting their health down 30-35% before trying to engage.
Once you are ready to move to assault, use Draw Blood as usual, but make use of opportunistic strike, and exploit weakness. The ability to cripple their damage, is key in being able to win against any other melee class.
NOTE: Against Witch Elves, be weary of moving around a lot, since their Enfeebling Strike will guarantee your death. It does require Prowling to be used though, so after their initial attack it shouldn't be much of a problem.
The usage of our rank 2 morale ability, as stated before, also gives us the ability to beat most classes in a solo situation, and be effective in a group.
Final Thoughts:
To be able to break out of the pidgeon hole of, "you are a ranged class, you must sit back and spam eagle eye" is something Shadow Warriors need to break free from if they are to be successful.
In teir 2 scenarios, I am top 3 in damage 95% of the time. Also, I am usually able to be first in solo kills, as well as overall kills. Not everyone in the scenario was level 19, 20, or 21, I was effective, and that is what this game is about.
My experiences in Tier 3 combat are not as good as my Tier 2 ones, but I will attribute this to being out-leveled and doing 99% of scenarios w/out an organized group. Never the less, I have found that the damage is comparable to a scout or skirmish spec'd shadow warrior; In certain situation's I'll even say that is is superior, especially in caster-heavy situations.
The one drawback of this is that it does rely somewhat on our rank 2 morale ability. In a group, morale goes up so quick that I don't see this to be much of an issue, but in an solo enviroment it requires patience. Neverthless it is highly damaging.
My apologies on the format. I'll be making it more user friendly as I go along. Thank you for reading, and please make suggestions so this can become an even better source of information!
Future Plans:
Alternative Specs
Graphic Links vs. hover over
Raw dps breakdown
Further breakdown of fights to subcategories
Log:
9/19/08 - Format Update 1. Grammar and spelling fixes.
9/20/08 - Added information on skills
9/22/08 - Added new skills. Tier 3 rvr thoughts.
The Shadow Warrior class allows for a very dynamic, and flexible playstyle. While it is situated under the "Ranged DPS" archtype for High Elves; this often leads to a misconception that a Shadow Warrior needs to stay towards the rear and shoot the enemy. This notion is not only wrong, but cripples the class. Shadow Warriors are afforded Assault Stance, as well as a mastery tree to further increase our ability to do melee combat. This guide will cover three things for an Assault Mastery Shadow Warrior: Where you should spend your mastery points, what tactics and morale abilitys to use, and how to put it all together in an rvr situation.
This is not a pve guide, and is only meant for rvr and scenario use. Also, this guide will be updated as I level my Shadow Warrior to 40 (she is currently 27).
Abilities and Tactics:
Assault Tree Sinister Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9130
Merciless Soldier:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9129
Exploit Weakness:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9108
This gives you 16 points in the Assault tree. The other 9 points will be spent in skirmish (I am not using a 30 point scheme because it simply is not viable yet).
Also take note of Swift Strikes and Sweeping Strikes as they are also good situational skills.
Skirmish Tree Shadow Sting:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9109
This is one of the most important skills for a Shadow Warrior to pick up. It is our only healing reduction skill, and is critically important in being able to kill healers, or anyone for that matter. After picking up Shadow Sting, the left over points will be spent in skirmish (3).
Final Build
http://www.wardb.com/career.aspx?id=18#0:0:13:10368:8:32:25:544:9130:91 29:9116::::648:649:9139:651.
Stats:
The most important stat for any class in this game is toughness. If you're dead, you're useless. So maximizing how long you can stay alive is critical.
1 - toughness
2 - Strength
3 - wounds
Abilities: Grim Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9083
Damage: moderate
AP: 35
Usage: Bread and butter melee attack.
Debuff: (wrist slash tactic) Reduces targets initiative and weapon skill, and returns it to you
Cooldown: None
Other Thoughts: Be careful to not spam away all of your AP on this attack.
Brutal Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9086
Damage: High
AP: 40
Usage: Only usable from behind. Our most powerful dd in assault stance. Use it everytime its up.
Debuff: (Sinister Assault tactic) Ignores all armor
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Other Thoughts: Be CAREFUL against Witch Elves, and trying to move behind them. They have an attack that annihilates melee when you move. Just stand there and let it wear off.
Draw Blood:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9091
Damage: High - dot
AP: 25
Usage: Make sure it is always up. Damage to ap ratio is amazing.
Debuff: none
Cooldown: none
Other Thoughts: One of our best attacks in melee combat, especially in 1v1. It loses some of its effectiveness in group combat because targets die before the full duration.
Opportunistic Strike:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9098
Damage: Low
AP:20
Usage:Cripple melee careers effectiveness
Debuff: Disarms opponent for 5 seconds
Cooldown:30 seconds
Other Thoughts: Highly effective against witch elves and tanks that like to use 2 handed weapons. It does not last very long, but provides an extremely good opportunity to set up a kill.
Counter Strike:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9099
Damage: Low-Medium
AP: 25
Usage: Disrupts any abilities the target is building up, while dealing some damage.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Swift Strikes:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9106
Damage: Medium - High
AP: 20/sec
Usage: Two attacks per second that deal extra damage when target is building an ability
Cooldown: 13 seconds
Other Thoughts: This attack is basically worthless against melee, but incredibly devastating against any caster.
Sweeping Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9107
Damage: Medium - High
AP: 30
Usage: Directional AE attack that stretches out to 30yards
Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Other Thoughts: A good attack if you want to pad your damage in scenarios. It is a decent ability none-the-less, and can be used to hit an enemy that's *just* out of melee range, but too close to switch to skirmish.
Tactics: Sinister Assault:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9130
Merciless Soldier:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9129
Wrist Slash:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9116
Expert Skirmisher:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=544
Morale: Point Blank:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=648
Point-Blank has a handy knock back effect, and is more of a utility skill.
or
Concealment:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=652
Unshakable Focus:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=649
The key morale ability is unshakeable Focus which gives a 100% damage bonus for 7 seconds (which is enough to get off four abilities within the global cooldown - 1.5x4=6) but with lag, it is safer to say you will get 3 off. What is really unique about this ability is that it works for the full durration of Draw Blood even after the morale buff wears off.
Instill Fear:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=9139
Instill Fear is yet another utility skill, for situational use.
Hail of Doom:
http://www.wardb.com/spell.aspx?id=651
Hail of doom is an area of effect direct damage like skill. The rank 4 morale abilitys are terribly under par, so I doubt this will be used very much, but nevertheless it is there.
Putting It Together:
Target Selection:
Unless the group is using an /assist type mentalitly (which I'm sure will be common) the Shadow Warrior needs to pick its targets properly.Priority 1 - Healers
Priority 2 - Ranged DPS
Priority 3 - Melee DPS
Priority 4- Tanks
No matter how much damage you do, if the target you're attacking is getting healed, it wont die. Ranged damage is second because the damage they can put out is devastating. They also have low armor and health, which means they are much easier to kill. The same logic applies to melee damage.
The Flow of Battle:
The "flow" of battle can be described as who is dead, are you winning or losing, and position. The Shadow Warriors ability to move around the battle field and control the flow is what makes the class shine.
Fighting Ranged Careers:
Start off by using Takedown on your target. This is to prevent them from running away, and out of melee range.
Next is to apply Broadhead Arrow, which is a nice damage over time attack. With Broadhead Arrow applied, you are able to use Shadow Sting, which is a decent damage over time, and 50% healing reduction.
After these three attacks there will usually be enough time to get off 1, maybe 2 sprial fletched arrows before you're within 5yards of your target.
It is important to remember that all of these attacks can be used while on the move.
Once in melee range, promptly switch to Assault Stance.
Start off with Draw Blood, and be sure to reapply it every time it wears off. The added pressure, and damage really stacks up, especially with broadhead arrow on the target.
The next attack generally is going to be Brutal Assault. The raw numbers this attack can put out are simply amazing, especially with the Sinister Assault Tactic.
After which, use grim slash until Brutal Assault is back up (5 second cooldown).
Healers:
If you do not have Shadow Sting yet (due to levels), and find yourself fighting a healer, there is no way to out damage their heals. This is of course, untill the rank 2 morale ability, Unshakeable Focus, pops. Take your time, and don't go below 50% of your action points, but apply fair pressure until your rank 2 moral pops.
Once it is up, use Vengeance of Nagrythe, and then use Unshakable focus. For seven seconds you are dealing 120% more damage. Immediately use Draw Blood, and then use Brutal Assault and Exploit Weakness. After which, spam grim slash until they die. This seems overly simple, but the burst damage done is overwhelming, and most players simply don't execpt this kind of damage, especially from a Shadow Warrior meleeing them.
Fighting Melee Careers:
If your target happened to be a Marauder, Disciple of Khaine, Black Orc, or one of the other melee oriented classes, do not run directly into combat. Rather, "kite" for a short while getting their health down 30-35% before trying to engage.
Once you are ready to move to assault, use Draw Blood as usual, but make use of opportunistic strike, and exploit weakness. The ability to cripple their damage, is key in being able to win against any other melee class.
NOTE: Against Witch Elves, be weary of moving around a lot, since their Enfeebling Strike will guarantee your death. It does require Prowling to be used though, so after their initial attack it shouldn't be much of a problem.
The usage of our rank 2 morale ability, as stated before, also gives us the ability to beat most classes in a solo situation, and be effective in a group.
Final Thoughts:
To be able to break out of the pidgeon hole of, "you are a ranged class, you must sit back and spam eagle eye" is something Shadow Warriors need to break free from if they are to be successful.
In teir 2 scenarios, I am top 3 in damage 95% of the time. Also, I am usually able to be first in solo kills, as well as overall kills. Not everyone in the scenario was level 19, 20, or 21, I was effective, and that is what this game is about.
My experiences in Tier 3 combat are not as good as my Tier 2 ones, but I will attribute this to being out-leveled and doing 99% of scenarios w/out an organized group. Never the less, I have found that the damage is comparable to a scout or skirmish spec'd shadow warrior; In certain situation's I'll even say that is is superior, especially in caster-heavy situations.
The one drawback of this is that it does rely somewhat on our rank 2 morale ability. In a group, morale goes up so quick that I don't see this to be much of an issue, but in an solo enviroment it requires patience. Neverthless it is highly damaging.
My apologies on the format. I'll be making it more user friendly as I go along. Thank you for reading, and please make suggestions so this can become an even better source of information!
Future Plans:
Alternative Specs
Graphic Links vs. hover over
Raw dps breakdown
Further breakdown of fights to subcategories
Log:
9/19/08 - Format Update 1. Grammar and spelling fixes.
9/20/08 - Added information on skills
9/22/08 - Added new skills. Tier 3 rvr thoughts.