Hoko's Blink'blade/Shadowdancer guide for 1.5

[Hokonoso]

Due to all the nerfs/changes I am making a new thread with this guide with all the aoe macros rotations, original macros have also changed so ignore the old discussion threads. I also do not care what you call this spec, nor do I care who came up with it first, I am posting the guide because that is what I do.

Spec: 27sin/20rs/19bd Defaults at 2/3 combat efficiency, can drop to 1/3 if you like to spam tablets, but imo 3% dex is worth the money you save by not using tablets.

Macros:
Hoko Button™
#show Backstab
cast Backstab
cast Puncture
cast Precision Strike
cast Quick Strike
cast Keen Strike
cast Expose Weakness
cast Blade Tempo
cast Poison Malice

Blink Macro (note it changed due to the first 2 blinks giving 2cps)
#show Shadow Assault
cast Shadow Assault
cast Shadow Blitz
cast Shadow Stalk

AoE Macro
#show Rift Disturbance
cast Shadow Blitz
cast Rift Disturbance
cast Twin Strike
(rift disturbance may be a dps loss now that it does not add a cp, but it by itself hits harder than twin strike so I left it in macro for now, take it off if it becomes a dps loss, also it hits more targets than twin strike, so up to your personal preference here)

Hotkeys: Deadly Strike, Flash of Steel, Shadow Shift, Weapon Barrage

Rotation: keep shadow buffs up, spam hoko button to deadly dance as usual, getting 2cps will be confusing, but im sure a new optimum rotation will arise, if not, who cares, ignore the extra cp and play as normal (what i do anyways as going from 4-6cps is rarely a dps loss). May keep keen strike on bar to use at 4cps tho, probably a dps gain in most situations. I like to start fight with shadow shift>flash of steel, jumping forward 35m in 1 second is very cool! AoE rotation is simple, spam aoe button and deadly strike, keep up shadow assault but ignore shadow stalk, having 5 seconds of no buff is fine, since you want to shadow blitz off cooldown anyways.

Imo this build will be the winner for most movement fights, especially those with any adds at all since it has good aoe and very high single target. use the t1 BD crystal for this one and don't worry about getting the hk crystal.

Credits go to Potis, Igenous and anyone else who helped make this build what it is today.

[Absent]

Still applying Annihilation buff? Not reading it in ur guide. Thought i'd ask.

[Hokonoso]

Still applying Annihilation buff? Not reading it in ur guide. Thought i'd ask.

yes still applying it, forgot it in this guide, thanks for bringing it up.

[fresku]

I was wanting to use this spec hoko. I was looking at the skills and began to copy and past stuff. I noticed with your current set up, thier is no flash of steel. Am I incorrect? Anyways this spec looks tight as ****. Not sure if the link above was suposed to have it or not. If ya get some time id sure like to know if you intended it to be in thier =)


Thank you

Fresku

p.s thx for all the hard work.

[Coffande]

Talked about it in another thread.

Don't u think 34sin/20rs/10mm+2 is better?
Not sure about the last two points. Slip Away, Armor pen, poison potency, etc.

Edit: What the heck, u alrdy made another guide, lol.

[Absent]

I'm having serious doubts between the blinkblade or the bleedblink spec u posted..
I like both, but need to make choices which will be best raidbased with t1 crystal, saved up for one or the other.. Big uptime of EW or 230ish AP from bd. Which u reckon will beat the other in raidcontent on bossfights.. purely thinking about ST-damage here.

[Drathmar]

Talked about it in another thread.

Don't u think 34sin/20rs/10mm+2 is better?
Not sure about the last two points. Slip Away, Armor pen, poison potency, etc.

It will be better on single target fights...

And even then, much harder rotation so more likely to mess up so more likely to actually come out less in a real raid situation.

On any fight with AoE the shadowdancer comes ahead.

[Absent]

Talked about it in another thread.

Don't u think 34sin/20rs/10mm+2 is better?
Not sure about the last two points. Slip Away, Armor pen, poison potency, etc.

I'm convinced 32/20/14 will beat 36 version though. 20% armor penetration seems something u shouldn't neglect imo.

[Darkkazul]

I was wanting to use this spec hoko. I was looking at the skills and began to copy and past stuff. I noticed with your current set up, thier is no flash of steel. Am I incorrect? Anyways this spec looks tight as ****. Not sure if the link above was suposed to have it or not. If ya get some time id sure like to know if you intended it to be in thier =)

Or if you actually looked at the PTS Flash of Steel becomes a root ability in the BD tree at 14? pts

[Absent]

It will be better on single target fights...

And even then, much harder rotation so more likely to mess up so more likely to actually come out less in a real raid situation.

On any fight with AoE the shadowdancer comes ahead.

The rotation might be harder then the average spec out there, but after some running about with it, I don't particular find it harder to use.. Even on moving fights u'd still have impale running which beats instant damage u can't use if needed to dodge something.

I just can't decide, like'm both.. like a kid in a toystore.

[fresku]

ahh cool. My bad neglected to look at patch notes..

Thx~

[Drathmar]

The rotation might be harder then the average spec out there, but after some running about with it, I don't particular find it harder to use.. Even on moving fights u'd still have impale running which beats instant damage u can't use if needed to dodge something.

I just can't decide, like'm both.. like a kid in a toystore.

Oh I agree, this one is very good ST once you get use to the rotation, however... it's less viable on most fights compared to blink blade due to a lot needing AoE.

However even with that I am torn between which one to run. Either way they should both be better than sabdancer on any fight that requires target switching as well.... hell on any fight requiring target switching almost any spec will be better than sabdancer now. Woot for more instant damage.

[Absent]

Oh I agree, this one is very good ST once you get use to the rotation, however... it's less viable on most fights compared to blink blade due to a lot needing AoE.

However even with that I am torn between which one to run. Either way they should both be better than sabdancer on any fight that requires target switching as well.... hell on any fight requiring target switching almost any spec will be better than sabdancer now. Woot for more instant damage.

On swapping targets the bleed spec would lose hard.. Another good thing about shadowdancer = instant damage when swapping and the dps buff applying to urself, not ur target.

[Voldor]

i though you weren't gonna post more specs here cuz Trion nefs them... or whatever

[Drathmar]

Nevermind they have stalker phase listed twice.