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I am a big fan of using many passives versus the one or two big hits (Viper/IP). That being said, my current layout is:

Augment str1/dex2/qui/2/const1
Dodger 2
Duelist 1
MoP 2
avoid Magic 1
long winded 1
Toughness 1

I am overall very happy with this build so far. However, I am now to the point where I have to start banking RA points and deciding what to do next...

Wild Arcana would give me the chance to do something I am normally not able to do at all, and it is on all the time. However, I have to spend 4 points in aquity which does jack poopy for me as a NS. Also, I feel I would need at LEAST lvl 2 WA (more likely lvl 3) for it to be reasonably effective, and therein lies the crutch. Is WA worth the 8-14 point expenditure? Or should I bone up and buy Purge instead? My playstyle is that of a group-based NS, since the game is pushing itself to be more pvp group oriented.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!


Lucke Fabulous
46 NS
100k Rps gained, 200K probably donated

I only really tested this on Pen, and there mostly PvE.
Personally, I also like passives. That said, Wild Arcana is a little too inconsistant for me. With RAs like Dodger or Mastery of Pain you're receiving a chance to benefit every swing (Or rather... Every swing the enemy takes, for dodger, and ever swing you take, for mastery of pain). Wild Arcana has a chance to take effect every time you poison someone. Granted, seeing up to double damage each tick on your DoT is nice, but it won't always be there. And you'll see very small criticals on it as well as the big ones, so it'll average out to 50% more damage on your DoT, 20% of the time. (Or whatever the actual crit % is for it. I can't remember offhand, and am too lazy to check ). Mastery of Pain also suffers from this weakness, in that ever if you do get a crit, occasionally it's just not all that significant.
Dodger doesn't deal with this at all. When you get its benefits, it simply negates a hit. (Or possible hit? I can't remember if evade is applied before or after the server resolves whether there was a hit)
The other issue is that the prereq for Wild Arcana is pretty much worthless. If intelligence actually affected our poison damage (Or spells for that matter), Augmented Acuity might be rather nice. As is, it's more or less a 4 point waste. At least with Augmented Quickness and Dex you gain enhancements in combat - both stats affect evade % for instance.
In my opinion, dodger is the best of the passives. Combined with an assassin's naturally high evades, plus an assassin's naturally high quickness and dex, it feels much more consistant than the other RAs (I don't think it is... It just feels that way, since you do it more).
Wild Arcana just has far too high of a chance of not helping you at all in a fight, whereas the other passives will help you more evenly (While dodger only affects defense against a melee opponent (Or an archer, if you're facing him, I believe), it also gives the opportunity for more evade reactionaries in that situation, and hence enhances offence).
Since you already have quite a few RAs (Including Dodger and MoP), it may be worth it to you to get Wild Arcana. I just prefer abilities that are more dependable (Less effect, but a higher number of times it could potentially help).

Buy FA 1 (First Aid) first.

For 3 pts, heals 367 hps instant.

Saved my ass 6 times in last 2 days versus archers that have hit TS.

On the point of the post, shoot me a tell tonight Lucke. If not, WA owns, I love the extra dot crit damage and at WA3 i see it proc alot.

It is especilly nice considering I dual weild 2 lifebane proc'ing weapons that stack on top of poison as well as have potential to crit. And they do often.

I remember jumping crownii, landed dot that proc'd and was hitting for 145 a tick, then my piercer proc'd and WA proc'd for another 152 a tick. He dropped hard and fast.

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Yeah I think FA would probably be a good deal for me as well. Its usually only the last few HPs I need to get away after killing someone in a crowd and they notice me when I'm half way away from them.

Now, if Aug Acuity actually raised STR like its supposed to, it would be MORE than worth the points, especially for me as a bladeshade, likewise for piercers since thrust is 50% reliant on STR. I'm still iffy about it and hoping our TL or someone finally mentions getting our Acuity changed to STR, in the meantime I'll focus on FA/Dodger/MoP like planned.

I think of it this way. You spend 5 points (4 on pre-req and 1 on WA1) to have the ability to do something you previous could NEVER do. 5% to critical all 4 poisons is ALOT better than 0%.

As it stands I have WA3 and Viper. I also group 95% of the time and I chose passive skills to augment maximum poisoning potiential.

Its also one of the few things that makes Nightshades stand out from our competitors. Why not give yourself this edge?