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Nightblade - Rapid Strikes vs Surprise Attack: Which one do you

• Noodles

  

  Member
   

  December 5, 2015

  Hey guys! How's the fight against Molag Bal going?

  I've recently hit level 46 with my Stamina based Nightblade. Up until recently I've been specializing in Assassination, Dual Wielding, a little bit of Bow and Siphoning. I'm quite pleased with my DPS build so far but I'm constantly searching for new ways of improving my damage output. Ever since the early stages of leveling, I've been using Rapid Strikes quickly followed by a light attack as my default attack midway into a lengthy fight. Over the past few levels however, I've decided to level up my Shadow abilities for the sole purpose of getting my hands on Summon Shade for my Bow setup. While doing so, Surprise Attack caught my attention. The ability looks like a good candidate should I ever consider replacing Rapid Strikes in my default attack pattern at max level. What I'm curious most at the moment is the following:

  Do you, Stamina - Dual Wielding - Nightblade players, prefer Rapid Strikes or Surprise Attack for a DPS build?

  At the moment, I have to say that I prefer Rapid Strikes, although I replaced it with Surprise Attack in my action bar. Over a period of two seconds, two Surprise Attacks can be activated and they do more damage than one Rapid Strikes alone at the cost of more Stamina. Also, Surprise Attack grants Major Fracture. However, Rapid Strikes quickly followed by a light attack in the same two seconds time frame seems to even the odds. Additionally, the casting time of Rapid Strikes gives me time to "breathe" during a battle while still remaining focused on killing my enemy.

  Hey guys! How's the fight against Molag Bal going?

  I've recently hit level 46 with my Stamina based Nightblade. Up until recently I've been specializing in Assassination, Dual Wielding, a little bit of Bow and Siphoning. I'm quite pleased with my DPS build so far but I'm constantly searching for new ways of improving my damage output. Ever since the early stages of leveling, I've been using Rapid Strikes quickly followed by a light attack as my default attack midway into a lengthy fight. Over the past few levels however, I've decided to level up my Shadow abilities for the sole purpose of getting my hands on Summon Shade for my Bow setup. While doing so, Surprise Attack caught my attention. The ability looks like a good candidate should I ever consider replacing Rapid Strikes in my default attack pattern at max level. What I'm curious most at the moment is the following:

  Do you, Stamina - Dual Wielding - Nightblade players, prefer Rapid Strikes or Surprise Attack for a DPS build?

  At the moment, I have to say that I prefer Rapid Strikes, although I replaced it with Surprise Attack in my action bar. Over a period of two seconds, two Surprise Attacks can be activated and they do more damage than one Rapid Strikes alone at the cost of more Stamina. Also, Surprise Attack grants Major Fracture. However, Rapid Strikes quickly followed by a light attack in the same two seconds time frame seems to even the odds. Additionally, the casting time of Rapid Strikes gives me time to "breathe" during a battle while still remaining focused on killing my enemy.

• Jake Johnson

  

  Member
   

  December 5, 2015

  Is it possible to go both ways?

  If so, then, I would first do one or two Surprise attacks, then finish the survivors with Rapid Strikes.

  BTW, I am more of a Skyrim player right now, and I fight "bow from stealth from afar, then the dual daggers."

  Is it possible to go both ways?

  If so, then, I would first do one or two Surprise attacks, then finish the survivors with Rapid Strikes.

  BTW, I am more of a Skyrim player right now, and I fight "bow from stealth from afar, then the dual daggers."

• Noodles

  

  Member
   

  December 5, 2015

  Yeah, it could be a good idea to launch a Surprise Attack followed by a Rapid Strikes. 

  Yeah, it could be a good idea to launch a Surprise Attack followed by a Rapid Strikes. 

• Ponty

  

  Member
   

  December 6, 2015

  Personally my Nightblade is set up as a tank, but I think it would be situational. Rapid Strikes sounds like it would work better solo, though the added armour reduction from Surprise Attack would make it invaluable in group situations, in either PvE or PvP. If everyone is using abilities with little bonus effects rather than just straight damage, it really starts to add up!

  Personally my Nightblade is set up as a tank, but I think it would be situational. Rapid Strikes sounds like it would work better solo, though the added armour reduction from Surprise Attack would make it invaluable in group situations, in either PvE or PvP. If everyone is using abilities with little bonus effects rather than just straight damage, it really starts to add up!

• Noodles

  

  Member
   

  December 6, 2015

  Good advice! How are things with your tank setup? 

  Good advice! How are things with your tank setup? 

• Ponty

  

  Member
   

  December 6, 2015

  This is one of my older toons, haven't really touched him for about a year. Would probably need to redo him a bit since the evasion/regeneration method of tanking I was doing doesn't quite work with all the ability changes they've made in the last 12 months!

  This is one of my older toons, haven't really touched him for about a year. Would probably need to redo him a bit since the evasion/regeneration method of tanking I was doing doesn't quite work with all the ability changes they've made in the last 12 months!