-Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction Tiger Strike Assassin Guide (1.11) -V3.0 (3/3/07) -By IR0NMA1DEN DISCLAIMER: This is property of IR0NMA1DEN (Ben Ferrara). This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. In plain English, this means that it is against the law for you to copy this guide. If you want to print it out, that's fine, but if you wish to use any part of it, please contact me to ask first. I will put my email address in the CONTACT ME section of this FAQ. ===================== - TABLE OF CONTENTS - ===================== I. Version History II. Purpose of the Guide III. Overview of a Tiger Striker IV. Skills* V. Attributes VI. Equipment A. Multi Player Setup B. Single Player Setup VII. Inventory VIII. Mercenary IX. How to Use X. Contact Me XI. Credits/Thanks *The Skills section is based on my Single Player test character. None of the items or stats are impossible to get playing legitimately. None of the skills are higher than normally possible either. The Inventory is full of bugged small charms, but they are possible to get on the realms. I made it to have something to look at while writing this guide for quick reference. I. VERSION HISTORY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1.0 (3/3/07) Newly released. -=-=<>=-=- II. PURPOSE OF THE GUIDE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Tiger Striker is so under-used and under-rated. I tested it out for a friend because he was interested in a Martial Artist build, and I discovered an unknown gem, figuratively speaking. This build is immensely powerful. I like it so much, I feel I have to share it with the gaming community. I hope to see an outbreak of Martial Arts Assassins out there after this. -=-=<>=-=- III. OVERVIEW OF A TIGER STRIKER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Tiger Striker is a very fast, very strong melee fighter. She uses the Martial Arts Charge-Up skill Tiger Strike as her main method of killing, with a Dragon Talon technique to unleash it's power. And trust me, it packs a considerable punch. She poisons her claws with Venom to add a little surprise to the hit. This build isn't difficult to get the hang of. -=-=<>=-=- IV. SKILLS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This build doesn't take too many skills to complete it. The good thing about it is that the Tiger Strike has no synergies, nor needs them. So that leaves you free to get passive skills from Shadow Disciplines, which is where most of your skills go. I will only list skills relevant to this build. So if you don't see a skill in the list, that's because it's not used or it's not a prerequisite to a different skill. So please don't send me e-mails about skills not being listed. No, I'm not stupid, I do these things to save time. If you do send an e-mail regarding this, I will tell you nothing except to read a little better. Now that I've cleared that up, let's get down to business. A. Martial Arts <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ================== - Tiger Strike - ================== Required Level - 1 Tiger Strike is a charge-up skill that adds damage per charge level. At high levels it is quite powerful. Max this one. Skill Points Used - 20 ================== - Dragon Talon - ================== Required Level - 1 Dragon Talon is a finishing move that is a series of kicks. The number of kicks increases at higher levels. Just a prerequisite. Skill Points Used - 1 ================= - Dragon Claw - ================= Required Level - 6 This is a finishing move that, unlike the others, uses the claws to unleash any charges you may have. The others use a kick. Kicks are no good to this build. Tiger Strike's charges give you an enhanced damage percentage to whatever you use to unleash the charges. Considering this build is built around claws, this skill is fitting. Max it out. skill Points Used - 20 B. Shadow Disciplines <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ================== - Claw Mastery - ================== Required Level - 1 This passive skill increases damage done by claw class weapons. Max it. Skill Points Used - 20 ==================== - Burst of Speed - ==================== Required Level - 6 When active, you move and attack faster. Skill Points Used - See the bottom of this section.* ================== - Weapon Block - ================== Required Level - 12 This passive skill gives you the ability to block while dual wielding claw class weapons. Max it. Skill Points Used - 20 ========== - Fade - ========== Required Level - 18 While active, this skill increases all resistances. We just need it to get the next skill, Venom. Skill Points Used - 1 =========== - Venom - =========== Required Level - 30 While active, this skill adds poison damage to your claws. A nice way to add additional damage to your attacks. Skill Points Used - See the bottom of this section.* Max your skills in this order. 1. Tiger Strike 2. Dragon Claw 3. Claw Mastery 4. Weapon Block *After maxing the above mentioned skills, alternate your remaining skill points between Burst of Speed and Venom. Divide them up to your liking. -=-=<>=-=- V. ATTRIBUTES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stats are desperately important to get right! Especially for this character. You will lack sufficient life if you add stats to something that doesn't need it. So please do this carefully. ============== - Strength - ============== You only need enough strength to wear your items. Using an Annihilus and a Hellfire Torch, you can add up to 40 Points without using points. The way I go about doing strength, I level up to 75 to use the Torch and Annihilus. That way, I gain up to 40 points in stats without using points. Then I look and see what I can put on after the boost. Some of it adds more strength. I put all that on til I can't put on anything else without using stat points. Then I add only enough to get the next lowest piece on til eventually I'm wearing all my stuff. This way leaves you more points for other more helpful stats. =============== - Dexterity - =============== Add dexterity until you have 10,000 attack rating with Tiger Strike. I'm saying this as if the equipment is exactly as I list it in this guide. If you use any different equipment, you're on your own, and you can do as you like. ============== - Vitality - ============== All additional points should go here. The more life, the better. ============ - Energy - ============ No points should be added here. This build is very mana efficient. -=-=<>=-=- VI. EQUIPMENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Equipment can make or break your character. I'll put in here what you should be looking for. In any available sockets, put in a Ruby Jewel of Fervor or a similar jewel. The Ruby Jewel of Fervor has 40% Enhanced Damage and 15% Increased Attack Speed. The multi player and single player setups are different because of the realm only multiplayer items. A. Multi Player Setup <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ====================== - Primary Weapon 1 - ====================== Bartuc's Cutthroat - Greater Talons Damage: (77-88) To (137-155) (107-121.5 Avg) Required Level: 42 Required Strength: 79 Required Dexterity: 79 Durability: 69 Weapon Speed: [-30] (Assassin Only) +150-200% Enhanced Damage (varies) Adds 25-50 Damage 30% Faster Hit Recovery 20% Bonus To Attack Rating 5-9% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) +20 To Strength +20 To Dexterity +2 To Assassin Skill Levels +1 To Martial Arts Skills (Assassin Only) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ====================== - Primary Weapon 2 - ====================== Jade Talon - Wrist Sword Damage: (98-115) To (130-153) (114-134 Avg) Required Level: 66 Required Strength: 105 Required Dexterity: 105 Durability: 56 Weapon Speed: [-10] (Assassin Only) +190-240% Enhanced Damage (varies) +1-2 To Martial Arts (Assassin Only) (varies) +1-2 To Shadow Disciplines (Assassin Only) (varies) +30% Faster Hit Recovery 10-15% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) All Resistances +40-50 (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) ====================== - Secondary Weapon - ====================== Call to Arms - Flail or Crystal Sword Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm +1 To All Skills +40% Increased Attack Speed +250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies) Adds 5-30 Fire Damage 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +2-6 To Battle Command (varies)* +1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)* +1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)* Prevent Monster Heal Replenish Life +12 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items ====================== - Secondary Shield - ====================== Spirit - Monarch Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn +2 To All Skills +25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies) +55% Faster Hit Recovery +250 Defense Vs. Missile +22 To Vitality +89-112 To Mana (varies) Cold Resist +35% Lightning Resist +35% Poison Resist +35% +3-8 Magic Absorb (varies) Attacker Takes Damage of 14 (LADDER ONLY) =========== - Armor - =========== Chains of Honor - Dusk Shroud or Archon Plate Dol + Um + Ber + Ist +2 To All Skills +200% Damage To Demons +100% Damage To Undead 8% Life Stolen Per Hit +70% Enhanced Defense +20 To Strength Replenish Life +7 All Resistances +65 Damage Reduced By 8% 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items ============ - Helmet - ============ Crown of Ages - Corona Defense: 349-399 (Base Defense: 111-165) Required Level: 82 Required Strength: 174 +50% Enhanced Defense +100-150 Defense (varies) +1 To All Skills Damage Reduced By 10-15% (varies) All Resistances +20-30 (varies) +30% Faster Hit Recovery Socketed (1-2) (varies) Indestructible (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) (LADDER ONLY) ============ - Gloves - ============ Dracul's Grasp - Vampirebone gloves Defense: 125-145 (Base Defense: 56-65) Required Level: 76 Required Strength: 50 Durability: 14 +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) +10-15 To Strength (varies) +5-10 Life After Each Kill (varies) 25% Chance of Open Wounds 7-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 5% Chance To Cast Level 10 Life Tap On Striking (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) =========== - Boots - =========== Gore Rider - War Boots Defense: 140-162 (varies)(Base Defense: 43-53) Required Level: 47 Required Strength: 94 Durability: 34 Assassin Kick Damage: 39-80 +160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies) 30% Faster Run/Walk 10% Chance Of Open Wounds 15% Chance Of Crushing Blow 15% Deadly Strike Requirements -25% +20 Maximum Stamina (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ============ - Amulet - ============ Highlord's Wrath Required Level: 65 +1 To All Skill Levels 20% Increased Attack Speed + (0.375 Per Character Level) 0-37 % Deadly Strike (Based On Character Level) Lightning Resist +35% Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage Attacker Takes Lightning Damage Of 15 (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) =========== - Rings - =========== Raven Frost Required Level: 45 +150-250 To Attack Rating (varies) Adds 15-45 Cold Damage, 4 sec. Duration (Normal) Cannot Be Frozen +15-20 To Dexterity (varies) +40 To Mana Cold Absorb 20% (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ========== - Belt - ========== Verdungo's Hearty Cord - Mithril Coil Defense: 125-158 (Defense: 58-65) Required Level: 63 Required Strength: 106 Durability: 16 16 Boxes +90-140% Enhanced Defense (varies) 10% Faster Hit Recovery +30-40 To Vitality (varies) Replenish Life +10-13 (varies) +100-120 Maximum Stamina (varies) Damage Reduced By 10-15% (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) B. Single Player Setup <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> ====================== - Primary Weapon 1 - ====================== Bartuc's Cutthroat - Greater Talons Damage: (77-88) To (137-155) (107-121.5 Avg) Required Level: 42 Required Strength: 79 Required Dexterity: 79 Durability: 69 Weapon Speed: [-30] (Assassin Only) +150-200% Enhanced Damage (varies) Adds 25-50 Damage 30% Faster Hit Recovery 20% Bonus To Attack Rating 5-9% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) +20 To Strength +20 To Dexterity +2 To Assassin Skill Levels +1 To Martial Arts Skills (Assassin Only) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ====================== - Primary Weapon 2 - ====================== Jade Talon - Wrist Sword Damage: (98-115) To (130-153) (114-134 Avg) Required Level: 66 Required Strength: 105 Required Dexterity: 105 Durability: 56 Weapon Speed: [-10] (Assassin Only) +190-240% Enhanced Damage (varies) +1-2 To Martial Arts (Assassin Only) (varies) +1-2 To Shadow Disciplines (Assassin Only) (varies) +30% Faster Hit Recovery 10-15% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) All Resistances +40-50 (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) ====================== - Secondary Weapon - ====================== Call to Arms - Flail or Crystal Sword Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm +1 To All Skills +40% Increased Attack Speed +250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies) Adds 5-30 Fire Damage 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +2-6 To Battle Command (varies)* +1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)* +1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)* Prevent Monster Heal Replenish Life +12 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items ====================== - Secondary Shield - ====================== Lidless Wall - Grim Shield Defense: 271-347 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150) Required Level: 41 Required Strength: 58 Chance to Block: Pal: 50%, Ama/Asn/Bar: 45%, Dru/Nec/Sor: 40% Durability: 70 Paladin Smite Damage: 14 To 20 +80-130% Enhanced Defense (varies) +1 To All Skills Increase Maximum Mana 10% 20% Faster Cast Rate +3-5 To Mana After Each Kill (varies) +10 To Energy +1 To Light Radius (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) =========== - Armor - =========== Chains of Honor - Dusk Shroud or Archon Plate Dol + Um + Ber + Ist +2 To All Skills +200% Damage To Demons +100% Damage To Undead 8% Life Stolen Per Hit +70% Enhanced Defense +20 To Strength Replenish Life +7 All Resistances +65 Damage Reduced By 8% 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items ============ - Helmet - ============ Vampire Gaze - Grim Helm Defense: 252 (Base Defense: 60-125) Required Level: 41 Required Strength: 58 Durability: 40 +100% Enhanced Defense Adds 6-22 Cold Damage - 4 Second Duration 15% Slower Stamina Drain 6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) Damage Reduced By 15-20% (varies) Magic Damage Reduced By 10-15 (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ============ - Gloves - ============ Dracul's Grasp - Vampirebone gloves Defense: 125-145 (Base Defense: 56-65) Required Level: 76 Required Strength: 50 Durability: 14 +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) +10-15 To Strength (varies) +5-10 Life After Each Kill (varies) 25% Chance of Open Wounds 7-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 5% Chance To Cast Level 10 Life Tap On Striking (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) =========== - Boots - =========== Gore Rider - War Boots Defense: 140-162 (varies)(Base Defense: 43-53) Required Level: 47 Required Strength: 94 Durability: 34 Assassin Kick Damage: 39-80 +160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies) 30% Faster Run/Walk 10% Chance Of Open Wounds 15% Chance Of Crushing Blow 15% Deadly Strike Requirements -25% +20 Maximum Stamina (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ============ - Amulet - ============ Highlord's Wrath Required Level: 65 +1 To All Skill Levels 20% Increased Attack Speed + (0.375 Per Character Level) 0-37 % Deadly Strike (Based On Character Level) Lightning Resist +35% Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage Attacker Takes Lightning Damage Of 15 (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) =========== - Rings - =========== Raven Frost Required Level: 45 +150-250 To Attack Rating (varies) Adds 15-45 Cold Damage, 4 sec. Duration (Normal) Cannot Be Frozen +15-20 To Dexterity (varies) +40 To Mana Cold Absorb 20% (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ========== - Belt - ========== Verdungo's Hearty Cord - Mithril Coil Defense: 125-158 (Defense: 58-65) Required Level: 63 Required Strength: 106 Durability: 16 16 Boxes +90-140% Enhanced Defense (varies) 10% Faster Hit Recovery +30-40 To Vitality (varies) Replenish Life +10-13 (varies) +100-120 Maximum Stamina (varies) Damage Reduced By 10-15% (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later) -=-=<>=-=- VII. INVENTORY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Inventory will give you a considerable boost to your damage. This build will need 9 Shogukusha's Grand Charms, a Hellfire Torch and an Annihilus. Single player characters can not get a Hellfire Torch or an Annihilus legitimately, so if you do play legitimately, substitute those for another Martial Arts Grand Charm. Fill any empty spaces with either Shimmering Small Charms of Balance or Fine Small Charms of Vita. Annihilus - Small Charm Required Level: 70 +1 To All Skills +10-20 To All Attributes (varies) +10-20 To All Resistances (varies) +5-10% To Experience Gained (varies) Hellfire Torch - Large Charm Required level: 76 25% Chance of casting Lvl 10 Firestorm on striking +3 to one character class's Skills (varies, eg.Paladin, Necromancer) +8 Light Radius +10-20 All Resistances (varies) +10-20 All Stats (varies) Lvl 30 Hydra Charges (10/10) Fine Small Charm of Vita - Small Charm +3 Maximum Damage +20 Attack Rating +20 Life +3 Maximum Throw Damage (Not visible unless viewing on Hero Editor) Shogukusha's Grand Charm +1 Martial Arts (Assassin only) Shimmering Small Charm of Balance +5% Resist All +5% Faster Hit Recovery -=-=<>=-=- VIII. MERCENARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Nightmare Offensive Desert Mercenary is the best choice for this build. The Might Aura will help you do more damage. Equip him as follows. A note about the armor. You can upgrade the armor from an Exceptional to an Elite on single player as well as multiplayer by placing the armor, a Ko Rune, a Lem Rune and a Perfect Diamond in the Horadric Cube and clicking Transmute. These items do not have to be ethereal, but ethereal is best because equipment will not lose it's durability while on a Mercenary. The defense on the armor is a lot less than what it would be after the upgrade from Templar Coat to Hellforge Plate. The stats are copied from the non-ethereal Templar Coat version. The same goes for the helmet; just copied from the non-ethereal Grim Helm version. The same cube recipe can be used for a helmet to upgrade. ========================= - Multi Player Weapon - ========================= Pride - Ethereal Cryptic Axe Cham + Sur + Io + Lo 25% Chance To Cast Level 17 Fire Wall When Struck Level 16-20 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies) 260-300% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies) +1-99% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level) Adds 50-280 Lightning Damage 20% Deadly Strike Hit Blinds Target Freezes Target +3 +10 To Vitality Replenish Life +8 1.875-185.625% Extra Gold From Monsters (Based on Character Level) ========================== - Single Player Weapon - ========================== Doom - Ethereal Cryptic Axe Hel + Ohm + Um + Lo + Cham 5% Chance To Cast Level 18 Volcano On Striking Level 12 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped +2 To All Skills +45% Increased Attack Speed +330-370% Enhanced Damage (varies) -(40-60)% To Enemy Cold Resistance (varies) 20% Deadly Strike 25% Chance of Open Wounds Prevent Monster Heal Freezes Target +3 Requirements -20% =========== - Armor - =========== Guardian Angel - Ethereal Hellforge Plate Defense: 770-825 (varies)(Base Defense: 252-274) Required Level: 45 Required Strength: 118 Durability: 60 +180-200% Enhanced Defense (varies) +20% Increased Chance Of Blocking +30% Faster Block Rate + (2.5 Per Character Level) 2-247 To Attack Rating Against Demons +1 To Paladin Skill Levels +4 To Light Radius 15% To Maximum Poison Resist 15% To Maximum Cold Resist 15% To Maximum Lightning Resist 15% To Maximum Fire Resist (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) ============ - Helmet - ============ Vampire Gaze - Ethereal Bone Visage Defense: 252 (Base Defense: 60-125) Required Level: 41 Required Strength: 58 Durability: 40 +100% Enhanced Defense Adds 6-22 Cold Damage - 4 Second Duration 15% Slower Stamina Drain 6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) Damage Reduced By 15-20% (varies) Magic Damage Reduced By 10-15 (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later) -=-=<>=-=- IX. HOW TO USE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this section I will tell you an effective way to use the build and set up the skill hotkeys. To set a skill hotkey, click on the right click skill picture, and then hover the mouse over the skill you wish to set a hotkey to. This is the hotkey setup I use. Left Click - Always Tiger Strike Right Click Hotkeys F1 - Dragon Claw F2 - Burst of Speed F3 - Venom F4 - Battle Command F5 - Battle Orders To fight using this build, start by hitting 'W' to switch to the Call to Arms and Spirit/Lidless Wall. Press F4, then cast it twice. Then press F5, and cast once. Press 'W' again to get back to the Bartuc's Cutthroat and Jade Talon. Press F2 and cast. Then press F3 and cast. Press F1 again, then find a target. Left click on it until you have three white orbs circling you, then right click to unleash the Tiger Strike. Rinse, repeat. I have not tested this build in PvP, so I don't know how effective it would be in that respect. It's incredibly strong though. I wish everyone a lot of luck with your new Tiger Striker. I enjoy the hell out of it. -=-=<>=-=- X. CONTACT ME ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you wish to comment on any of this material or you still have questions, feel free to email me. Keep in mind that ALL hate mail will be deleted. Don't waste your time even writing it. If you seriously have the time on your hands to write me a hate mail, I suggest getting a job or something. If you wish to use any of this guide, please contact me to ask permission and please credit me in the event that I grant that permission. Thank you. Email: FinalFantasyO_o@msn.com -=-=<>=-=- XI. CREDITS/THANKS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Above all, I want to thank XboxPro for asking me to test a Martial Artist and to give him some feedback on which works best. Without him asking questions, I would never have found this amazing build. GameFAQs.com for posting my guides. ExarKunnn for the stats on the Non-Ladder Runewords. BCD for some of the stats on the Unique items. Sir Alex for some of the stats on the Unique items. Kirbix for the stats on the Hellfire Torch. DeckardCain for the stats on the Ladder Runewords. Blizzard for making the game.