Shadowblade

2014-03-07T22:28:37Z

NightDragon: /* Talent Categories */

{{class
|name=Shadowblade
|metaclass=Rogue
|starting_life=100
|locked=No
|life_per_level= +0
|dexterity= +3
|magic= +3
|cunning= +3
}}

==Description==
Shadowblades are Rogues that are touched by the gift of magic, able to kill with their daggers under a veil of stealth while casting spells to enhance their performance and survival.

Their use of magic is innate and not really studied; as such they do not naturally regenerate mana and must use external means of recharging.

They use the schools of Phantasm, Temporal, Divination and Conveyance magic to enhance their arts.
Their most important stats are: [[Dexterity]], [[Cunning]] and [[Magic]]

==Starting Equipment==
*Iron Dagger
*Iron Dagger
*Rough Leather Armor
*[[inscriptions|Manasurge Rune]]

==Starting Talents==
*Dual Strike
*Shadow Combat
*Phase Door
*Lethality

==Talent Categories==

{{Talent_table
| class_rows =
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Technique (category_type)|Technique]]
| Name = [[Dual weapons (category)|Dual Weapons]]
| Mastery = 1.2
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Dual weapon training (talent)|Dual Weapon Training]]
| talent2 = [[Dual weapon defense (talent)|Dual Weapon Defense]]
| talent3 = [[Precision (talent)|Precision]]
| talent4 = [[Momentum (talent)|Momentum]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Technique (category_type)|Technique]]
| Name = [[Dual techniques (category)|Dual Techniques]]
| Mastery = 1.2
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Dual strike (talent)|Dual Strike]]
| talent2 = [[Flurry (talent)|Flurry]]
| talent3 = [[Sweep (talent)|Sweep]]
| talent4 = [[Whirlwind (talent)|Whirlwind]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Technique_(category_type)|Techniques]]
| Name = [[Combat techniques (category)|Combat Techniques]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Rush (talent)|Rush]]
| talent2 = [[Precise strikes (talent)|Precise Strikes]]
| talent3 = [[Perfect strike (talent)|Perfect Strike]]
| talent4 = [[Blinding speed (talent)|Blinding Speed]]
}}

{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Dirty fighting (category)|Dirty Fighting]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Dirty fighting (talent)|Dirty Fighting]]
| talent2 = [[Backstab (talent)|Backstab]]
| talent3 = [[Switch place (talent)|Switch Place]]
| talent4 = [[Cripple (talent)|Cripple]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Lethality (category)|Lethality]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Lethality (talent)|Lethality]]
| talent2 = [[Deadly strikes (talent)|Deadly strikes]]
| talent3 = [[Willful combat (talent)|Willful combat]]
| talent4 = [[Snap (talent)|Snap]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Shadow magic (category)|Shadow Magic]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Shadow feed (talent)|Shadow feed]]
| talent2 = [[Shadow combat (talent)|Shadow combat]]
| talent3 = [[Shadow cunning (talent)|Shadow cunning]]
| talent4 = [[Shadowstep (talent)|Shadowstep]]
}}

{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Spell (category type)|Spell]]
| Name = [[Phantasm (category)|Phantasm]]
| Mastery = 1.0
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Illuminate (talent)|Illuminate]]
| talent2 = [[Blur sight (talent)|Blur Sight]]
| talent3 = [[Phantasmal shield (talent)|Phantasmal Shield]]
| talent4 = [[Invisibility (talent)|Invisibility]]
}}

{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Technique_(category_type)|Techniques]]
| Name = [[Combat veteran (category)|Combat Veteran]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = yes
| talent1 = [[Quick recovery (talent)|Quick Recovery]]
| talent2 = [[Fast metabolism (talent)|Fast Metabolism]]
| talent3 = [[Spell shield (talent)|Spell Shield]]
| talent4 = [[Unending frenzy (talent)|Unending Frenzy]]
}}

{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Ambush (category)|Ambush]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = yes
| talent1 = [[Shadow leash (talent)|Shadow leash]]
| talent2 = [[Shadow ambush (talent)|Shadow ambush]]
| talent3 = [[Ambuscade (talent)|Ambuscade]]
| talent4 = [[Shadow veil (talent)|Shadow veil]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Stealth (category)|Stealth]]
| Mastery = 1.3
| Locked = yes
| talent1 = [[Stealth (talent)|Stealth]]
| talent2 = [[Shadowstrike (talent)|Shadowstrike]]
| talent3 = [[Hide in plain sight (talent)|Hide in Plain Sight]]
| talent4 = [[Unseen actions (talent)|Unseen Actions]]
}}

{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Spell (category type)|Spell]]
| Name = [[Temporal (category)|Temporal]]
| Mastery = 1.0
| Locked = yes
| talent1 = [[Congeal time (talent)|Congeal Time]]
| talent2 = [[Time shield (talent)|Time Shield]]
| talent3 = [[Time prison (talent)|Time Prison]]
| talent4 = [[Essence of speed (talent)|Essence of Speed]]
}}

| generic_rows =
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Technique_(category_type)|Techniques]]
| Name = [[Combat training (category)|Combat Training]]
| Mastery = 1.2
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Thick skin (talent)|Thick Skin]]
| talent2 = [[Armour training (talent)|Armour Training]]
| talent3 = [[Combat accuracy (talent)|Combat Accuracy]]
| talent4 = [[Weapons mastery (talent)|Weapons Mastery]]
| talent5 = [[Dagger mastery (talent)|Dagger Mastery]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Cunning (category type)|Cunning]]
| Name = [[Survival (category)|Survival]]
| Mastery = 1.1
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Heightened senses (talent)|Heightened Senses]]
| talent2 = [[Charm mastery (talent)|Charm Mastery]]
| talent3 = [[Piercing sight (talent)|Piercing Sight]]
| talent4 = [[Evasion (talent)|Evasion]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Spell (category type)|Spell]]
| Name = [[Conveyance (category)|Conveyance]]
| Mastery = 1.0
| Locked = no
| talent1 = [[Phase door (talent)|Phase Door]]
| talent2 = [[Teleport (talent)|Teleport]]
| talent3 = [[Displacement shield (talent)|Displacement Shield]]
| talent4 = [[Probability travel (talent)|Probability Travel]]
}}
{{Talent_row
| Type = [[Spell (category type)|Spell]]
| Name = [[Divination (category)|Divination]]
| Mastery = 1.0
| Locked = yes
| talent1 = [[Arcane eye (talent)|Arcane Eye]]
| talent2 = [[Keen senses (talent)|Keen Senses]]
| talent3 = [[Vision (talent)|Vision]]
| talent4 = [[Premonition (talent)|Premonition]]
}}

}}

==Strategy==
The Shadowblade is fast, stealthy, mobile, and deadly. He is a [[Rogue]] who has learned rudimentary magic, much to the chagrin of his opponents.

The Shadowblade uses daggers, one in each hand, for his offense. Leading with a [[Dual techniques (category)|Dual Strike]] or some good old-fashioned [[Dirty fighting (talent)|Dirty Fighting]] to stun, and then following up with a [[Flurry (talent)|Flurry]] or a [[Sweep (talent)|Sweep]] to kill, leaves a path of carnage.

Shadowblades rely on [[Defense]] rather than [[Armour]], preferring to avoid blows rather than to absorb their impact. The [[Dual weapons (category)|Dual Weapon Defense]] and [[Phantasm (category)|Blur Sight]] talents, plus the inherent Defense bonus provided by their high [[Dexterity]], make them hard to hit.

They are highly mobile, with access to the full suite of [[Conveyance (category)|Conveyance]] talents, as well as [[Shadowstep (talent)|Shadowstep]], a devastating talent when combined with [[Track (talent)|Track]] or any other ESP source. They also get [[Rush (talent)|Rush]] -- both of these trees are unlocked at birth. In addition, they may unlock the Temporal tree, leading to [[Essence of speed (talent)|Essence of Speed]], should they choose.

Another build choice is to go for [[Stealth (category)|stealth]]. Unlocking this category gives talents that allow striking from the shadows with huge bonuses.

They may also unlock the [[Divination (category)|Divination]] tree, but generally most players find they need the points for other choices.

Shadowblades do not get any stun resistance or elemental resistance talents. Spellcasters are their worst enemies, since virtually all of their damage mitigation is focused on dodging or avoiding physical attacks. (In the end game, your damage mitigation against spellcasters is "kill them before they even know you're there". It works incredibly well.)

Shadowblades do not get any healing talents either, but they can learn a few shielding spells. Shadowblades may find it helpful to pick up the [[Light (category)|Celestial/Light]] tree from an Anorithil [[escorts|escort quest]], for the Healing Light, Barrier and Providence talents.

The biggest challenge with hybrid classes like the Shadowblade is deciding whether to generalize or specialize your point investments, and if specializing, deciding where to do so. Shadowblades have three primary stats -- [[Dexterity]], [[Cunning]] and [[Magic]] -- in addition to needing [[Constitution]] (like everybody else). This means they can easily find themselves spread too thin, weak in everything instead of strong in a few areas.

{{classes}}

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Shadowblade