Some of the combo's and tips for build

Dont leave feedback if you think this is good. But I do like opinions and logic.

Leave feedback if you think this build could be improves and how to improve it with example of how and why, because i love using this uncommon beast of a build. I feel like a monster when i fight and in complete control, even though i have crappy gear at the moment which actually doesnt matter with this build : )

Do not use this build if your ping is bad, as in many ways this needs ping just like a shadowblade to be a monster. If you have bad ping then switch Shadowplay tree for Defence tree to become a Tanky Defiler.

PVP = Use how you wish, you wont be much use in a zerg, as classes for zergs are about spamming AOE's and things. This build is not built for zerging.

PVE = CC and mob disruptor, Do not expect to be useful for bosses as they cannot be CC'd

I tweaked this build slightly, as My new tactic now is to go in hit hard and fast with all the combo's I have (You can start basically anyway you like which is what I love about this now due to latest lvl55 patch, backdrop into stealth to rince and repeat, has been working like a charm due to faster stealth cooldown, It is usually up everytime my combo's are done, so this is now even smoother to fight with.

My favorite combo to start with when ganking currently is:

-> -> -> - > -> -> - > (Works like a charm and hits like a truck)

Big description of Build

This build revolves around using your brains than brawn and not just spamming 1, 2, 3 keys like a tier 1 class, with there fixed combo's YAWN. This build Generally requires skill and knowledge of the game due to the amount of combo's you can do and how to counter other classes, this build has cc's for every class to help you nuke or to toy with them. There are so many ways to start a fight with this class, this what makes this build very powerful is that you can constantly control and shut down your opponent which is where your real defence comes from.

If you initiate, you basically win the fight unless you miss a attack in a combo, your fall back is then basically anything that works for the occasion, you then backdrop stealth and recover then retry. One thing I enjoy about this build is that you have the power to decide on whether you want to fight or if you simply want to escape.

Getting Tripped and bubbled is your only real problem. For bubble your only form of defence is shadowstep to the opponent or backdrop to negate fall damage, or in WvW pvp use your glider. Typical sorcery Bubble combo skills hit hard, but you have enough time to destroy your opponent about 90% of the time after they are done because sorcerer's are slow and have to stand still most of the time. Physical enemies are your weakness, so you will want to raise your physical defence pretty high.

I really cant stress how good this build is :)

This build sadly has a long learning curve though and is not for players who don't like many keyboard keys to press along with having to have fast reaction times to situations. My version of the build here has 24 skills at your disposal and it can be mind blowing to use if you decide to create your build like this. It eats mana like there is no tomorrow which you will find annoying until you get equipment and some spirit. Monstrous desire scepter from GHA which will really help you out in pve and pvp if the fight drags out, pop its ability if you can before you engage if you can.

Players who like to toy with there victims, push them off high places for ***** and giggles, but it can also be used very aggressive when they like just like a Shadowblade/Daggerspell will be happy, except this is a bit better IMO as it uses less mana to kill reasonably fast when assassinating single targets. (This build is the P2W slayer).

There are quite a few starting combo's to use so you can adapt to many situations to fight different styles of players.

I do however suggest to pick off players in 1v1's as this is no tank, this build focuses all its damage into one single target rather than lots of AOE damage. If you come across 1+ players take one on at a time if you can or just abort, if you decide to take one on at a time, have intervals by using stealth and wait for cooldowns and then carry on to your next target.

Negative sides of this build:

Don't over extend, don't try to do major combo's when fighting in a party, don't be the hero, don't try to do clever combo's when saving party members from ganks unless you have headsets or something to coordinate, as they will probably ruin every one of your combo's without meaning too. Don't think that you will be like one of those players on youtube who go straight for those Tier 1 builds.

To put a particular point across though; in a 1v1 situation you would destroy one of those monster Youtuber's and you will always be called a cheap player no matter what you do, but who cares :) its how you like to play and it is definetly fun.

Notes

This passive is not necessary but is a option that can be switched out for , Depends on equipment. You can also play with these and switch for , , as i am yet undecided about these as i find all four quite good fillers although the difference in power is obvious.

Many like this skill , personally this is a pve skill, this calss is not designed to stand still.

Here is the Second most powerful combo, this will always take off over a third of opponents health and sometimes half there health in one go usually save this for fighting tanks as is not usually needed in a fight. These are good opening combo's though. Will work 99% of the time without interruption.

I will not be including a description of its most powerful combo as it breaks the game(Sorry), But the combo not shown here is the Shroudmasters version of god's whip, well damage wise anyway, yet all the damage is concentrated into one player.

Aim of the game

Shut your opponent down, remove there buffs, be relatively quick with the kill and then hide again in stealth.

A couple of common combo's I do:

-> -> ->

Usually after they are prepared I then do this combo:

-> -> ->

If you are too far away to cast then quickly use and then cast

(You Should use mana force just before the sleep kicks in so they are asleep while in the air to stop any drop back or gliding skills being used, and they should land asleep too. While they are air bourne it is a good opportunity to use -> if you need some time to have a think on what to do next. It does not matter if they too as there health will have lost a good chunk, and if they do get there next attack on you, who cares, because every time you fight you should be going in thinking your gonna die anyway, and if they beat you, then hands up to them and clap :)

You can cheese ball pretty much any player by doing the above if ust want to keep bouncing them, as you could be a mean player :), as this can be done all day long :)

Shroudmaster uses cheap tactics (That's why I like it a lot) and at the same time it is hard to play and will make any opponent cry, especially archers.

Tip, buy entangling bow, it may not be very powerful but it is a very good filler and chains with earthen grip when you get it to tier two for longer duration, also adding another CC to your arsenal.

This build is all about timing and analyzing your opponent first to predict there skills, it is very diverse at handling situations.

To be honest if you stealth for a while and analyse the opponent skilltrees, you should have the arsenal and a general of how to handle any player if you get in the first hit in.

The Most important skills in your build for most fights:

End Game Equipment - why 2 Leather and 4 cloth?

Many will disagree and I am yet certain of this myself but this build seems logical to me.

End game equipment is to help boost mana amount, physical and magical defence evenly, while keeping a nice health pool.

Plan is to use 5 cloth and 2 leather, so you get 4 cloth buff, I'm not really bothered about 7 cloth buff for this build.

Scepter/Spear or Obsidian Katana and shield (Will be explained why I choose these over staff)

Equipment as follows:

Head - Cloth

Chest - Leather

Belt - Cloth

Arms - Cloth

Hands - Cloth

Legs - Leather

Feet - Cloth

4 x Cloth stone set (for extra physical defense and to help with mana regen between fights)
2 x Obsidian Leather (For extra defence and health)
1 x Obsidian pure Shoes (Reduce Cast time)
For Gem slots use physical / magical defence gems (Balance your defences out around 7-8k (Don't like swapping armours, and stamina luna's (spirit if you feel mana does not regen quick enough).

Your backpiece is up to you. I prefer either block increase, cast time reduction or speed increas.

Obsidian Flute - Help with Physical defence.
Gale Necklace - 4% damage reduction
Wave earings x 2 - 3% damage reduction
(Life ring) or (gale ring) x 2 - increase damage output by 3.2% and increases health pool or (7% increase damage output)

Meadow scepter (Obsidian scepter / Obsidian Katana) - Best ones to use personally, adds to health pool and Mana regen (Occasional health from hits, I find i do not miss using a staff with this build, as the shield makes it harder for melees to kill you). Obsidian Katana is the best if you do not like weapon swapping or you know you are just bad at it.

Earth shield or Obsidian Shield or Berserk Red Dragon Fireguard is best.

Mighty Entangling bow is my personal favorite but alternatively you can use Wave bow.

Estimated stats with equipment slots filled (lvl 55 epic)

Magic attack - 490+

physical attack - 490+

intelligence - 700+

Stamina - 650+

agility - 160+

Ranged dodge - 170+

spirit - 340+ (regen 340 a second in health and mana when not attacking or out of battle)

physical defence 7 - 8K (maybe more)

magical defence 7 - 8K (Maybe more)

HP - 20k+
MP - 13k+


(Update for lvl55)

Below skills can be changed for other skills, these are mainly to fill in the extra skill points available and found these to be the best for me.

- pve.

Use these + if you think your opponent will trip you before you can use , i usually start a fight with for the trip and damage increase.

or while opponent is trippe or sut down by CC's, good quick fillers i have found before using , especially as they stack bloodthirst.

this is a filler.

To be honest I can't decide on skills to use with extra points as the build works so well already for me.

this I am considering, as when I fight I find melee crit alot from my experience with pvp.

+ Obsidian Katana + Opsidian Pure shoes helps with casting ,