Assassin (Dragon Age II)

For the specialization in other games, see Assassin (Origins) and Assassin (Inquisition).

Assassin
type	Rogue
effects	+10% critical damage
description	Anyone can kill for money, but those who follow the Antivan traditions know how to do so with style. While every assassin is different, some favoring up close and personal kills and others striking at range, they are all deadly predators and skilled at exploiting their foe's weaknesses. There are a surprisingly large number of assassins at work in Kirkwall, though most are away on contract at any given time.

Assassin is one of the specializations available to the rogue class in Dragon Age II.

Background

Assassins do not simply end lives. Anyone can kill. Accidents can kill. But sometimes it's not just the death that matters—it's the means and the message. Assassins remove problems with surgical precision as efficiently as possible. They hit where and when it hurts most, exposing vulnerabilities that allow others to do the same. For the Assassin, cold calculation matters more than raw speed or ferocity, and each victory can improve the odds of success in the next. This specialization has been raised to an art form in Antiva, but its raw utility has ensured that it knows no borders. Where there are people, there are both clients and targets.

Talent tree

Talents

Mark of Death

Activated Activation: 25 Duration: 10s Cooldown: 40s Requires: Level 7

The assassin marks a target, revealing weaknesses that allies can exploit. Attacks from any ally against a marked target inflict extra damage. Enemy damage resistance: -25%

Enduring Mark Upgrade Requires: Level 11 Requires: 2 points in Assassin

The Mark of Death lingers longer on the assassin's target. Duration: +10s (total: 20s)

Mark of Doom Upgrade Requires: Level 13 Requires: 3 points in Assassin

The Mark of Death further increases damage from incoming attacks. Enemy damage resistance: -25% (total: -50%)

Bloodlust

Passive Requires: Level 8

Drawing energy from the kill, the assassin regains stamina upon killing an enemy. Stamina regeneration: Minimum 5% upon enemy death, based on enemy rank

Pinpoint Strikes

Activated Activation: 30 Duration: 10s Cooldown: 40s Requires: Level 9 Requires: Mark of Death Requires: Bloodlust

For a short time, the assassin exploits enemy weaknesses with deadly accuracy, scoring a critical hit with every blow. Attack: +100% Critical chance: 100%

Relentless Strikes Upgrade Requires: Level 13 Requires: 3 points in Assassin

The assassin's Pinpoint Strikes become an unrelenting assault. Duration: +10s (total: 20s)

Devious Harm

Passive Requires: Level 12 Requires: Pinpoint Strikes Requires: 4 points in Assassin

The more cunning the assassin, the more damage critical hits inflict. Critical damage: +1% per point of cunning

Assassinate

Activated Activation: 40 Cooldown: 50s Requires: Level 10 Requires: Pinpoint Strikes

Assassinate kills weak enemies outright, while survivors suffer a massive critical hit. Deathblow vs. normal enemies Physical damage: * Dual wield: 7.3x * Archery: 4.5x Critical chance: 100%

Annihilate Upgrade Requires: Level 14 Requires: 3 points in Assassin

Assassinate now inflicts a critical hit against enemies who would otherwise be immune. It is even more devastating against BRITTLE targets. Physical damage: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets Cooldown: -10s (total: 40s)

Overkill Upgrade Requires: Level 16 Requires: 4 points in Assassin

Assassinate becomes tremendously powerful, instantly fatal to all but the toughest enemies. Physical damage: * Dual wield: +3.7x (total: 11x) * Archery: +2.3x (total: 6.8x)

Tactics

Assassins, more so than any other class, are focused on obscene damage in an extremely short timeframe. This makes them extremely adept at taking out a single, powerful enemy quickly (such as a leader or boss), but they tend to be less effective against swarms of lesser enemies than other classes. Another unfortunate side effect of that damage is that it tends to draw the attention of enemies, while the assassin is limited in defense.

In order to maximize the damage output, focus on Cunning to utilize the full power of Devious Harm. Talents like Pinpoint Strikes, Precision and Unforgiving Chain can provide the necessary critical hit chance (although most Dual Weapon talents score a critical hit automatically).

When facing a tougher enemy, activating the Mark of Death talent will allow teammates to begin tearing into them. Follow up with Pinpoint Strikes to make sure you score a critical hit. Finally, use the Assassinate ability to deplete a substantial portion of their health, if not kill them outright.

To increase your effectiveness against swarms of enemies, try to max out Rush. Using Pinpoint Strikes can allow the player to kill enemies much quicker, but be aware that they will attract more attention from the damage dealt.

Another smaller point is that the Assassinate ability will cause the player to backflip away from the target, which can be useful for Archery assassins.