Assassin
Tideborn · Stealth DD · APS Melee · Complete Guide
Class Overview
What is the Assassin?
The Assassin (Sin) is the only melee stealth DD in PWI. They wear Light Armor (LA), fight with two daggers and specialize in extremely high burst damage, Crowd Control and the unique Stealth mechanic specialized. In endgame the APS Assassin is among the most powerful DPS classes in the game – with Bloodpaint they self-heal through attacks and become a solo machine.
Uniqueness: The Assassin is the only class with Stealth – completely invisible to mobs and players. In PvE Stealth enables targeted pulls, bypassing mobs and dangerous opener combos. From Lv105 most mobs can no longer see the Sin!
| Stat | Effect for Assassin | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| DEX | Physical damage (Daggers!), Crit (+1%/20 DEX), Accuracy, Evasion, Bloodpaint heal scales with damage! | ★★★★★ Max it! |
| STR | LA & Dagger requirement: STR = Level + 4 | ★★★ Minimum, 1/Level |
| VIT | +13 HP/pt – beginner buffer, Endgame: 5 VIT or 20–35 VIT (budget) | ★ Early/budget only |
| MAG | Only MP – completely useless for Sin | Never! |
Daggers scale with DEX! Unlike normal melee fighters (who use STR for damage) the Assassin scales physical damage with DEX. Every DEX point gives +Damage, +Crit, +Acc and +Eva. DEX is by far the best stat.
Stat Scaling per Point
These are the base values you gain per attribute point. Use them for concrete calculations — e.g. +10 VIT = +130 HP.
| Stat | Pro Punkt | Hinweis |
|---|---|---|
| VIT | +13 HP | e.g. +10 VIT = +130 HP |
| STR | Req. only | Weapon/armor req. only — no ATK bonus |
| DEX | Phys. ATK ↑ · +1 % Crit / 20 DEX | Damage scales with DEX! + Accuracy + Evasion |
| MAG | +MP | No magic attacks — useless for this class |
PvE Builds Compared
Pure DEX Build
- Maximum damage & Crit
- Highest Bloodpaint heal through DEX
- Endgame standard on all servers
- 400+ DEX at Lv105 = ~20% base Crit
- Very low HP – prone to one-shots
- Expensive gear needed to survive
VIT Hybrid Build
- More HP – mistakes more forgiving
- Beginner-friendly up to Lv70
- Only 1 Restat Note needed for endgame
- Less Crit & damage
- Weaker Bloodpaint heal
- Restat to Pure DEX recommended
APS Interval Build
- 5 APS = highest DPS in the game
- Bloodpaint heals massively at 5 APS
- Nearly unkillable at full APS in PvE
- Unbeatable in FC & instances
- Extremely expensive −Interval gear needed
- Only realistic for endgame/Whales
Heavy Armor Build
- High phys. defense
- Surprisingly high damage (DEX stays high)
- Extremely limited stat points
- Very expensive & gear-dependent
- Impossible for beginners
★ Consensus of all guides: Pure DEX is the only true endgame build. VIT Hybrid is worthwhile for beginners/budget up to Lv70 – then restat to Pure DEX. APS build is Pure DEX + expensive −Interval gear. Quote TurboTaxi:"please go 1str/4dex. You won't regret it later on."
Bloodpaint – The Core Mechanic
Why DEX also saves your life?
Damage and HP/s values in the table are example calculations — not directly verified by PWpedia.
From Level 34 the Sin gets the skill Bloodpaint – a buff that returns 2% of dealt damage as HP. For an APS Sin dealing 10,000–15,000 damage per hit, that's 200–300 HP per hit – at 5 attacks per second that's up to 1,500 HP/sec self-healing!
From Level 34 the Sin gets the skill Bloodpaint – a buff that returns 2% of dealt damage as HP. For an APS Sin dealing 10,000–15,000 damage per hit, that's 200–300 HP per hit – at 5 attacks per second that's up to 1,500 HP/sec self-healing!
| Attack situation | Damage/Hit | APS | Bloodpaint HP/Sec | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (Lv50) | ~1,000 | 1.25 | ~25 HP/s | Useful but weak |
| Mid-Game (Lv80) | ~4,000 | 1.5 | ~120 HP/s | Noticeable – helps with grinding |
| Endgame Pure DEX | ~10,000 | 2.0 | ~400 HP/s | Strong self-healing! |
| 5 APS Endgame | ~12,000 | 5.0 | ~1,200 HP/s | Nearly immortal against mobs! |
Conclusion: More DEX = more damage = more Bloodpaint heal. This makes DEX for the Sin a unique "survival stat through offense". Taking more VIT hurts the Bloodpaint heal and is counterproductive once gear is available.
Stat Progression Table
Pure DEX Build – Cumulative stats per level
STR formula LA & Daggers: STR = Level + 4 | Endgame essential: 117 STR? for Warsoul Helm | Crit: +1% per 20 DEX
| Level | Min. STR | DEX (Pure) | DEX (Hybrid) | Base Crit | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0% | Start |
| 10 | 14 | 41 | 31 | 2% | – |
| 20 | 24 | 81 | 61 | 4% | – |
| 34 | 38 | 137 | 103 | 6% | ★ Bloodpaint! Everything changes from here |
| 40 | 44 | 161 | 121 | 8% | – |
| 50 | 54 | 201 | 151 | 10% | Restat window: VIT Hybrid → Pure DEX |
| 60 | 64 | 241 | 181 | 12% | – |
| 70 | 74 | 281 | 211 | 14% | FC accessible, APS gear worthwhile |
| 80 | 84 | 321 | 241 | 16% | – |
| 89 | 93 | 357 | 269 | 17% | ★ Demon/Sage! Triple Spark! Sin starts to shine! |
| 100 | 104 | 401 | 301 | 20% | – |
| 105 | 109 | 421 | 316 | 21% | ★ Max Level – 117 STR for Warsoul Helm (gear bonus!) |
Warsoul Helm (117 STR): The best helm in the game requires 117 STR – significantly more than 1 STR/level provides. The missing STR comes from gear bonuses (+STR on armor/jewelry). No reason to invest more STR via stat points – gear covers that!
Important Skills (Priority)
Skill Priority PvE
| Skill | Purpose? | PvE Level | Prio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodpaint (Lv34) | 2% damage returned as HP – ESSENTIAL, max immediately! | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Rib Strike | Best PvE skill: −target attack speed + damage | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Earthen Rift | AoE % damage (scales with char damage) – best AoE skill! | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Shadow Escape (Stealth) | Invisibility – mob reset, opener, emergency escape | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Tackling Slash | Stun + Chi (0.5 Spark) – always useful, cheap | Lv 1 (PvE) | ★★★★ |
| Dragon Strike | 1.5 Sparks instantly – Chi generator for Triple Spark Combo | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Head Hunt | Stun + high damage – good opener from Stealth | Lv 1–5 | ★★★★ |
| Maze Steps | +82% movement speed at Lv1 – perfect for kiting/escape | Lv 1 (!) | ★★★★ |
| Subsea Strike | Strongest single skill in combo – always max | Max (10) | ★★★★★ |
| Wolf Emblem (Passive) | +Crit Rate + Crit Damage – useful for PvP, situational PvE | Lv 1 (PvE) | ★★★ (PvP) |
| Inner Harmony | 2 Sparks at Lv10 – Chi generator, but costly | Lv 1 is enough | ★★★ |
| Deep Sting | Phys. Def. debuff on target – good in squad | Lv 1–5 | ★★★ |
PvE Combo (Skill Spammer): Stealth → Head Hunt (Stun opener) → Tackling Slash → Rib Strike → Subsea Strike → Dragon Strike → Earthen Rift → keep Bloodpaint active → repeat. Most mobs die before the end of this combo!
Keep Maze Steps at Lv1! Even at Lv1 Maze Steps gives +82% movement speed. That's enough for kiting and escape. Higher levels cost a lot without proportional benefit – Lv1 is optimal.
Demon · Sage · Glyph System
Cultivation – Demon or Sage?
From Level 89 you choose between Demon and Sage. For the Sin the choice is heavily gear-dependent. Does not affect stat distribution.
| Skill | Demon | Sage | PvE winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodpaint | Stronger at high APS? | +3% HP heal instead of 2% | Demon (5 APS) / Sage (Budget) |
| Earthen Rift | Normal AoE damage | +more % damage on AoE | Sage (AoE Grind) |
| Rib Strike | Stronger debuff value | Normal debuff | Demon |
| Shadow Escape | Faster re-stealth | Longer stealth duration | Sage (PvE Solo) |
| Dragon Strike | Higher damage | More Chi generated | Sage (Chi → Sparks) |
PvE recommendation: Demon for APS builds / Sage for Skill Spammers – Sage Bloodpaint verifiably gives +1% heal rate (3% instead of 2% HP heal). The Demon variant scales differently and is mainly advantageous at high APS / 5-APS builds. Rule of thumb: gear refine below +6 → Sage; above +6 → Demon.?(PvP: Demon for stun-lock burst.)
Ab Chaotic Soul Cultivation (Reawakening II + Lv100+) turns skills into Sanctified Skills – basis for Glyphs. Existing skills are retained. → Reawakening Guide
Unlocking: 6 slots via quests at the Glyph Masters (City Hall, Neverfall). First slots free via quest – don't miss it!
- Golden — +Damage / +Crit
- Verdant — +Chi / +Effect duration
- Ethereal — −Cooldown / +Range
- Sanguine — +CC / +Burst
- Argent — Instant-Cast / −Casting
- Verdant — +Chi / +Effect duration
- Ethereal — −Cooldown / +Range
- Sanguine — +CC / +Burst
- Argent — Instant-Cast / −Casting
| Glyph Lv | Bonus Stats (Sin) | Farm via |
|---|---|---|
| Lv 1–4 | Skill effects only | Dawnlight Halls, Glyph Master Quests |
| Lv 5 | +HP, +Phys.Res., +Mag.Res., +DEX | Combine 4× Lv4 |
| Lv 10 | +4 Atk Lv, +4 Def Lv, +50 Spirit | Endgame / very rare & expensive |
Sin Glyph recommendation PvE: Golden on Rib Strike (+debuff damage). Sanguine on Earthen Rift (+AoE burst). Verdant on Dragon Strike (+Chi → more Sparks). Argent on Subsea Strike (Instant-Cast = DPS boost in combo). Lv10: +4 Atk Level = extremely strong regardless of class!
Restat Guide
When & why redistribute?
| Situation | From | To | Timing | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIT → Pure DEX | VIT Hybrid | Pure DEX | Lv50–70 | Gear + Citrins fully replace VIT; Bloodpaint becomes stronger |
| Endgame STR trick | 1 STR/Lv (109 STR) | 117 STR total | Before Warsoul Helm | 8 STR short for Warsoul – gear bonuses usually cover it! |
| Skill Spammer → APS | Pure DEX | Same (Pure DEX) | No restat needed! | APS is a gear change, not a stat change. Same stats! |
Sin advantage: Switching from Skill Spammer to APS build requires no restat – it's just a gear change! Pure DEX always remains the base. Cheapest restat of all DEX classes: only 1 Note needed to remove early VIT.
Equipment Priorities
Gear stats for PvE (importance)
| Stat | Why important? | Prio |
|---|---|---|
| +DEX on gear | More damage + Crit + stronger Bloodpaint heal | ★★★★★ |
| −Interval (weapon/armor) | Reduces time between attacks = more APS = more Bloodpaint = more DPS | ★★★★★ |
| +Phys. Atk. (weapon) | Directly higher base damage of all attacks | ★★★★★ |
| +HP / Citrin Shards | Compensates for missing VIT – essential for Pure DEX builds | ★★★★ |
| Phys. Def. Adorns | LA has medium phys. def. – Garnet Shards in armor help | ★★★ |
| +STR on jewelry | Helps reach the 117 STR for Warsoul Helm | ★★★ |
−Interval explained: Daggers have 1.25 APS base. With −Interval gear: 1.5 → 2.0 → 3.0 → 5.0 APS possible. 5 APS (with Demon Spark) = highest possible DPS in the game. Cost: very expensive, but G15/G16 Lunar pants + TT gear with −Interval is achievable!
Gem Guide (Beginner vs. Pro)
Which gems for which budget?
Beginner (few coins)
| Slot | Gem | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Citrin Shard Lv1–3 | +HP – essential without VIT points |
| Armor Alt. | Garnet Shard Lv1–3 | +Phys. Def. – compensates LA weakness |
| Weapon | Garnet Shard Lv1–3 | +Phys. Atk. → more damage + Bloodpaint |
| Jewelry | Citrin Lv1–2 | +HP – survival foundation |
Tip: Garnet in weapon for more P.Atk = directly more Bloodpaint heal. Citrin in armor for HP – that's your only life protection as a Pure DEX Sin. Lv1–3 very cheap at the AH!
Pro / Whale (many coins)
| Slot | Gem | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Citrin Shard Lv8–9 | +2,000–3,000 HP per slot – essential! |
| Armor Alt. | Garnet Shard Lv7–8 | +massive Phys. Def. bonus |
| Weapon | Garnet Shard Lv8–9 | +enormous P.Atk → Bloodpaint explodes! |
| Jewelry | Diamond of Tiger / JOSD | +Atk Level or +Def Level |
Diamond of Tiger in weapon gives +1 Atk Level – against high-defense enemies better damage than pure P.Atk. Lv9 Citrins in armor for maximum HP pool.
| Lv | Cost | Garnet (+P.Atk) | Citrin (+HP) | Garnet (+P.Def) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free/Drop | +5 | +30 | +50 |
| 2–3 | Cheap | +10–18 | +65–110 | +100–160 |
| 4–5 | Medium–Expensive | +28–40 | +160–225 | +230–310 |
| 6–7 | Very expensive | +55–72 | +300–385 | +400–500 |
| 8–9 | Whale | +92–114 | +480–585 | +610–730 |
Genie Guide
Genie basics & Sin-specific recommendation
Genies from Level 1 (Watcher of the Earth, Heroes' Terrace). Skills cost Energy (auto-regen) and Stamina (Chi/Perfect Stones). For the Sin – who is naturally very fragile but deals enormous damage – certain Genie skills are indispensable.
Keep Cloud Eruption at Lv1! Instantly +1 Spark (300 Chi) for Triple Spark combo. Higher levels = exponentially more energy, barely more benefit.?
| Skill | Effect | Rec. Lv | Prio PvE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Path | Maximum movement speed (15 m/s) – extremely important for kiting & repositioning | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Absolute Domain (AD) | 5 sec. damage immunity – when aggro is lost despite Stealth | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Cloud Eruption | Instantly +1 Spark → Triple Spark Combo without waiting for Chi | Lv 1 (!) | ★★★★★ |
| Tangling Mire | −35% target Phys. Def. + 100% accuracy – directly more damage + Bloodpaint! | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Extreme Poison | +20% damage on target – for whole squad + own Bloodpaint efficiency | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Second Wind | Instant heal 800+ HP – emergency when Bloodpaint isn't enough | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
| Tree of Protection | HP buffer + HoT – better than Second Wind at endgame | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
| Frenzy (Will Surge) | +20% own damage for a short time – combo with TM + EP + Frenzy for maximum burst! | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
Sin-specific Genie recommendation (PvE)
| Skill | Why for Assassin? | Prio |
|---|---|---|
| Tangling Mire | −35% Phys. Def. = more damage = more Bloodpaint. TM is valuable for every physical DD, but for the Sin (who is already close to the mob) it's trivial to cast! | ★★★★★ |
| Extreme Poison | +20% damage on target – combined with TM and Frenzy the damage stacks extremely. Best damage boost for Sin + whole squad! | ★★★★★ |
| Cloud Eruption | Instantly Triple Spark → Earthen Rift Combo → massive AoE burst | ★★★★★ |
| Absolute Domain | Sin dies quickly when aggro is lost – AD buys time to escape into Stealth | ★★★★★ |
| Holy Path | Running to mob, repositioning, emergency escape when Stealth is on cooldown | ★★★★ |
| Frenzy | +20% own damage – maximize short burst windows. Costs lots of Stamina! | ★★★★ |
Recommended Sin Genie: Infliction (red) or Zeal (orange) – Infliction starts with Tangling Mire (core skill!). Zeal for Earthflame lure + all other skills. Stats: STR-heavy for stronger TM + Second Wind. MAG for more frequent AD. Many pros recommend: TM + Holy Path are essential, rest by choice!
Important Tips
- Cultivation Timing Demon/Sage at Level 89. Gear refine below +6 → Sage (Chi + AoE). Above +6 + −Interval gear → Demon (+3% Bloodpaint = massive difference at 5 APS). Switching is expensive!
- Bloodpaint ALWAYS active! Bloodpaint has a limited duration – always reactivate immediately after the buff expires. Without Bloodpaint you die from the first serious hit. It's your most important permanent buff.
- Use Stealth wisely! Stealth before pull → opener from Stealth (Head Hunt = Stun) → maximum burst. In instances: sneak through mob groups in Stealth, pick out single targets. On aggro loss: immediately Stealth!
- Never steal aggro! Sin deals extremely high damage – always wait 2–3 seconds until the Barb has aggro, THEN go full damage. An APS Sin that starts immediately gets instantly one-shotted by the boss.
- Fight inside the mob! Stealth → walk through the mob → then attack. Attacking from inside means no Crit hits in return. Well-known technique for Guardian Mobs in BH instances!
- Refine your armor! +3 on all pieces gives massive HP – replacement for VIT in the Pure DEX build. Endgame priority: pants to +5 to +10 (gives the most HP). Citrin Shards in pants + chest are essential.
- Bloodpaint ALWAYS active! Bloodpaint has a limited duration – always reactivate immediately after the buff expires. Without Bloodpaint you die from the first serious hit. It's your most important permanent buff.
- Use Stealth wisely! Stealth before pull → opener from Stealth (Head Hunt = Stun) → maximum burst. In instances: sneak through mob groups in Stealth, pick out single targets. On aggro loss: immediately Stealth!
- Never steal aggro! Sin deals extremely high damage – always wait 2–3 seconds until the Barb has aggro, THEN go full damage. An APS Sin that starts immediately gets instantly one-shotted by the boss.
- Fight inside the mob! Stealth → walk through the mob → then attack. Attacking from inside means no Crit hits in return. Well-known technique for Guardian Mobs in BH instances!
- Refine your armor! +3 on all pieces gives massive HP – replacement for VIT in the Pure DEX build. Endgame priority: pants to +5 to +10 (gives the most HP). Citrin Shards in pants + chest are essential.
Summary
Pure DEX – The Only True Endgame Sin
Golden rule: DEX = Damage + Crit + Accuracy + Evasion + Bloodpaint heal. More DEX simultaneously makes you a stronger attacker AND a better self-healing fighter. HP comes from Citrin Shards and armor refines. Bloodpaint keeps you alive – not VIT!