Treachery Runeword on C/C Assassin

So I'm thinking about starting up a Phoenix Striker assassin (assuming I can find some half decent claws) and I'd like to use the Treachery runeword, if it's at all viable. The question being, should I not even bother. I realize it is probably a less than ideal setup, but just wanted to get some opinions. I am ok with a slightly slower killing speed as long as it would offer decent enough protection for Hardcore (from a Defense perspective). I would probably not risk just running the treachery for unreliable resists and run with a fade of at least level 10-13 after +skills (however many hardpoints it would take to get to that level). This would however net me a decent amount of extra IAS, 15 free venom points and 2 to all skills.

Will probably run 20 PS, 20 CoT, decent number of points in fade/Claw Mastery/Weapon Block, enough points to get to at least a level 17 SM (I like a durable tank), 1 point in dragon flight/death sentry/mind blast. Any remaining points I was thinking about pumping FoF for the meteor synergy for lightning immunes, but I'm mainly looking to rely on death sentry for those. Since I have no decent weapons, I'm probably going to look to run some crushing blow where I can get it (most likely from blood crafted gloves).

Any thoughts, suggestions, critiques? (I'd plan on probably using a defiance merc, but would consider holy freeze as well)|||If you plan on actively using CoT, you'll need either additionally fast claws, or BoS (no go on Treachery if you use BoS).

For the same reason you avoid BoS with Treachery, just allow the self fade rather than trying to over ride it.

Also, be sure you can keep your timing if you use PS with WB.

But yeah, Treachery is a PS viable armor.|||Hmm. I'm attempting to do this on the lowest budget possible (mainly because I don't have many great assassin items), while still making sure I'll feel safe enough for hardcore. Hence the plan for running fade over BoS. I would be aiming for greater/runic talons (assuming I can find a decent pair) and probably throw a couple imbues at them hoping I can get something useable. I have a rare +2 assassin skills diadem with 15 to all resists, some mf, str and I think energy on it that I'm looking to put to use. Somewhat hoping that this, plus treachery would get my elemental damage high enough without great claws. I think I have a rare set of gloves with +2 to martial skills and some other decent mods, but I would have to sacrifice crushing blow for them.

Would you recommend not bothering with putting more than 1 point in fade and just waiting for it to trigger? I haven't run treachery before so I wasn't sure if that's reliable enough for hell.|||Well, coupled with Cloak of shadows it's pretty safe to let it trigger, and ofcourse you can go to the bloodmoor to let the small red monsters trigger it if you're in a dificult area.

Also consider an insight prayer merc for life and mana regen. That way you're less dependent on leech (meaning physical damage becomes less important). It also helps wonders for your DS, as it can get mana intensive.

If you plan on using CoT as an active skill, it needs massive IAS when dual wielding (58 IAS with lvl 20 BoS for fastest bp). You can also use the WSM bug for a faster base speed (best would be -50 WSM, 174 IAS no BoS, 23 IAS with lvl 20 BoS). If you only use PS (CoT is only a synergy, not a used skill), the need for IAS is much lower (60 IAS no BoS for fastest claws, 24 IAS with max WSM bug effect).

So for a workable solution, Treachery + 15 IAS from an other source (perferably ias jewel or IAS mod on a claw) will get you the fastest PS breakpoint, leaving your other slots open. Somewhere you'll need CBF, either deaths sache or Ravenfrost comes to mind, angelic bling for jewelry, any nice belt if using ravenfrost. Your helm is set, leaves the boots (anything with faster run/walk, ik boots are nice for the stats) and the gloves (blood gloves are nice for some CB).

Weapons of notice are bartucs on right claw for stats ands +skills, either strenght or malice runewords in the other for open wounds or extra CB (malice for general use, keep a strenght claw in stash vs act bosses). Remember these need to be the fastest claws (WSM -30). If you can't get a bartucs just go for strenght in left claw and malice in the right. Useful +skills on claws are claw block, claw mastery. Any claws you find with +x to (shadow) skills and/ + to shadow master can go on switch for prebuffing.



Don't know if this setup will get you through hell, but it will at least get you to nm mephi. He can drop bartucs, better belts and boots mainly, good merc helm and armour.|||So some developments...

I got home last night and through doing a run through hell catacombs on my sorc I found off a boss arachnid a Bartuc's claw. I was also fortunate enough to find a Guillame's face as well (which now makes me sad I won't be wearing over my assassin circlet).

I guess I did not realize how slow CoT was in comparison to PS. Would it make more sense to go with a shield? Sadly, if I go with a shield I almost don't need the fade (or the treachery then...) which I was kind of hoping to make haha. I was going to go C/C only because I assumed it would be faster for stacking charges and I wouldn't need to allocate so many dex points for blocking (meaning more life for HC). Hmm, I guess I could really use some suggestions. I have a Whistan's guard I could use for a shield which has high blocking. And with the Bartucs it would elimate the need for find a second viable claw. But I easily could make a malice or strength runeword. Or I suppose I could run a Rhyme shield for CBF.

I think I may have given the impression that I have zero good items, which isn't totally accurate. I have am 84 sorc with almost 300 MF, so I can certainly get decent items from NM/Hell. But just what I have at the moment may not be the ideal setup and I was hoping to get to see Treachery in action. Maybe I'll just run PS and only run CoT as a synergy and see how that goes?

I do have some decent runes (at least of one everything up to and including a gul) so I can make most mid level runewords as well.|||Let's see, Guillaumes Face, Treachery, and you have an Um for a Crescent Moon. Sounds like the games telling you to make a Kicksin You are only a pair of Gore Riders away from the main pieces. NM Meph for Gores/Tgods and you'd be all set.

Although that Bartucs is tempting.|||Nat's set is very cheap, only the claw is a bit more expensive, the rest should be easy to get with just a few pgems. There, you have both fade and BoS. The only downside is that the claw has a quite high lvl requirement. (I played as a trapper until I got at lvl 79.)

Add Bartuc's to the set, and you have -45 WSM with WSM bugging. With a decent lvl BoS, even the fastest breakpoint (FoF, CoT) is quite easy to hit with some IAS. (35% IAS with lvl 14 BoS here.)

I don't recommend using PS as a primary attack, as the timing is very difficult to get right; even if you are good with it, so many things have influence on the success, such as AR and blocking for example. I'm using CoT and FoF as primary attacks; PS is a good "first blood"/backup skill, but I don't see it working that well as a primary skill because of the reasons mentioned above.

In my opinion, FoF is a very underestimated skill and works great against lightning immunes you encounter.

SS of my Nat's set MA sin:

http://users.jyu.fi/~eeaslaht/d2/assa.jpg|||So after looking at some EIAS breakpoints and the gear I have available to me, I think I am going to go for BoS with a C/S setup. I have a bartucs which should be good enough to last me through hell and I should be able to pick up enough resistances through a shield/smoke (or any other decent resist armor) to feel comfortable on hell. I'll abandon the treachery runeword idea, even though I would enjoy the 15% PDR I would get from fade (don't really have any other way to pick PDR%), however I think BoS will make running around more fun even if it's a little less safe against hard hitting monsters. I'll just have to make a little bit better use of mindblast.

I'm going to take the prayer/insight merc suggestion. I figure with a decently high enough shadow, I can let her do most of the tanking and just try to keep my merc from not getting hit. I'm used to playing with defiance whenever I'm playing a melee character, but I'm assuming I'll adjust to the lower defense. Meditation will no doubt be nice for the DS spam .

Looking at my bartucs, if I shael it and pick up another 20%ish ias elsewhere that will get me to the second fastest breakpoint for Claws of Thunder, which maybe not perfect, should be playable enough. I'll still probably try to craft some decent blood gloves with crushing blow and either IAS or +skills on them. Helm is already decided. If anyone else has any other suggestions let me know, but I think I'm getting to the point where I feel confident in this build. Already got her started and just hit level 18 yesterday!