Psionic Assassin Lab 10, Sam and deimoss viable

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Enigma
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Intro:
Ola, if you haven't met me my name is Rhys, i'm a long time median player. I enjoy pushing builds to their limits content wise and I only play builds I expect to be able to push into Lab 10 comfortably. This is the first guide i've written; so any feedback is welcome.

Psionic Assassin has long been a favourite build of mine playstyle wise, but it just wasn't end game viable until 2.5; previously struggling once it entered Lab 7.

Unfortunately i'm writing this after I've finished the season so i've had my character stripped of gear by friends who are still playing. Here is the not armory though: https://median-xl.com/char/Chopstick

I'm gonna write this guide so a new player can follow from start to finish so I will put everything behind spoilers to make it a little more user-friendly for experienced players. Pls give advice on formatting.

If you're a pro and just want to see the end game setup to smash content, just skip the spoilers to the end game section.

2.5 seemed like the perfect time to push the build for a few reasons:
- Magic spell damage characters are typically out of favour, making some of the more important items more accessible and cheaper in trading.
- BIG damage buff due to the last cognition bonus being reworked to now add 15% magic pierce as well as the buff to magic/phys damage in labs.
- Assassin gaining a massive avoid buff in labs 7+: from ~30% to 60%.

This build utilises Mind ripple, Singularity and Shuriken Flurry as it's main weapons.

[b]Pro's/Con's:
► Show Spoiler


Early Game A1 normal to A2 NM (1-70):
► Show Spoiler



Early game 2: Nightmare A3 onwards (70-100):
► Show Spoiler



Early-Mid (100-135):

Now it's just tuning up your death star build.

Most 125 bosses are difficult as death star however. There are 2 options to solve this:
a) Infected roots relic ASAP.
b) Start to accumulate psionic gear to respec for bosses.

Personally, I just leveled to 135 first which gave me time to accumulate psionic base gear via trading. Then when I respec'd psionic I did all my 125 charms before hitting scols. But infected roots relic is more efficient if you are able to snag one.

Gear:
Crafted Wrist Blade + Another or a crafted sin shield: Just keep making better ones.
Body armor:
Lumen Arcana
Lumen Arcana
Body Armors

'Ith'
Runeword Level: 18
+1 to All Skills
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(25 to 50)% Enhanced Defense
+2 to Light Radius
->
Thelema

Thelema
Body Armors

'LewIuHel'
Runeword Level: 110
+4 to All Skills
55% Cast Speed
+(80 to 95)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(200 to 250)% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(120 to 150) to Vitality
15% to Vitality
+(101 to 125) Mana when Struck by an Enemy
->
The Awakening
The Awakening
Full Plate Mail (Sacred)

Defense: 11673 to 14304
Required Level: 130
Required Strength: 690
Item Level: 130
Ethereal
When Cubed with The Sleep, Enables an Additional Awakening
(The Armor will be Disenchanted by the Recipe)
5% Chance to cast level 50 Banish on Death Blow
+(1 to 4) to All Skills
50% Combat Speeds
-(31 to 35)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+200% Enhanced Defense
+25 Maximum Stamina
Magic Resist +5%
Socketed (6)
(awakening not required; just best).
Gloves:
Kali
Kali
Gloves

'LumKo'
Runeword Level: 48
15% Chance to cast level 13 Seal of Fire on Kill
+2 to All Skills
+15% to Summoned Minion Resistances
-214 Defense
5% to Strength
Maximum Fire Resist +4%
Fire Resist +25%
->
Lorekeeper
Lorekeeper
Light Gauntlets (Sacred)

Defense: (1018 - 1179) to (1159 - 1342)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength:
300
Item Level: 120
+3 to All Skills
20% Combat Speeds
+(5 to 10) to Firedance
+(90 to 120)% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana +(40 to 60)%
Requirements -50%
Socketed (4)

Belt:
Viper Skin
Viper Skin
Belt (Sacred)

Defense: (2860 - 3204) to (3036 - 3402)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
385
Item Level: 115
30% Attack Speed
(51 to 75)% Bonus to Attack Rating
-(11 to 20)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target (3 to 8)%
+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
Requirements -33%
Socketed (2)

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
Boots:
Darkling
Darkling
Heavy Boots (Sacred)

Defense: (1677 - 1879) to (1776 - 1989)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Item Level: 115
+(0 to 1) to All Skills
(15 to 45)% Movement Speed
(7 to 12)% Life stolen per Hit
+(6 to 15)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
-100 to Life
Socketed (4)

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
Helm:
Crown of the Black Rose
Crown of the Black Rose
Diadem (Sacred)

Defense: 870 to 983
Required Level: 110
Required Dexterity: 524
Item Level: 105
Orb Effects Applied to this Item are Doubled
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(20 to 30)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(14 to 20) to Black Lotus Strike
+(90 to 150) Life Regenerated per Second
Maximum Poison Resist +(2 to 3)%
(25 to 50)% Bonus to Defense
Cannot Be Frozen
Socketed (4)
High roll
Rings: + 1 skills with poison pierce
Amulet:
Angel of Death
Angel of Death
Amulet

Required Level: 90
Item Level: 123
2% Chance to cast level 33 Punisher Bolt on Striking
+(0 to 2) to All Skills
+(11 to 30)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
MO's/Sockets: Whatever you need to hit your resies, and speed breakpoints (Use the speed calculator in the tools section of the forum); then poison runes for pierce as needed to hit 145 pierce for bosses or 135 pierce for pre scolsglen farming.

Skills: In order
Meditation 3
Max way of the spider
Max shadow rush
1 in beacon
Max Perfect being
Max Prismatic cloak
Pinnacle 24
Remainder into anything that gives cognition till cognition 100 (massive survivability buff with Blood bath up permanenetly).
Once cognition is 100, choose whatever masteries you want: I did Life and potions

Stats:
Str and dex to use gear. Rest vitality

Mid game (Scolsglen and early labs):

► Show Spoiler


End Game (Lab 6+, Sam Deimoss):[/b]

Time for the cash value of the build!

Requirements for Lab 9+:
90% max res F/L/C
14k life (I had 18k at the end)
Highest FCR breakpoint
86 (but preferably 200) FHR.
No block speed as Ligeia nerfs your block rate so you can't get block locked.
Phoboss switch gear; You can do phoboss T10 with only 92% max cold but it's ideal to switch into 96.
60% phys res (Hooray shadow refuge).
55% avoid (Labs 7+ pierce your avoid by 5)

Gear:
► Show Spoiler


Charms/Relics:
► Show Spoiler


Skills:
► Show Spoiler


Stats:
► Show Spoiler


Play style gems:
► Show Spoiler



Any questions: Just ask!
Edited by Gavin_K88 8 months. Reason: Updated version to 2.5 via the dropdown
PeterHatEater
Bone Archer
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Great guide man. Really unique and underappreciated build.

Respect that you played magic in a ladder of physical builds.

Looking forward to playing next season with ya.
midknight
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Great guide thanks for sharing. Its nice to see someone share a guide that has different build transitions as I think this is the way most of the top players play. Small note you can buy a wrist blade at gheeds or charsi at level 1 for even more zoom. :-D
racerx
Stygian Watcher
41 | 5
9 pt energize makes psi storm a nice panic button heal. you end up using the points anyways for 150 cog

cheap phoboss swap is stareyes with onyx. moon crystals if you need to make up the fcr.

im assuming you use shadow ref relic for the regen? i think when i played it last on sc i went with shuriken/vessel of retribution/blood fury

what was your top end ripple damage with that massive crafted chest? iirc mine was around 75k
Enigma
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racerx wrote:9 pt energize makes psi storm a nice panic button heal. you end up using the points anyways for 150 cog

cheap phoboss swap is stareyes with onyx. moon crystals if you need to make up the fcr.

im assuming you use shadow ref relic for the regen? i think when i played it last on sc i went with shuriken/vessel of retribution/blood fury

what was your top end ripple damage with that massive crafted chest? iirc mine was around 75k


Yea I had my points in energize but found I never use it. I found Bloodbaths healing is so big that it pushed you to move forward and kill for sustain.

Stareyes work but I wanted to max out damage so I rolled with lamha+sagi to keep my SF capped. In truth, phobss is so easy for this build it doesnt matter; I didnt even use phoboss switch gear on T8.

Yea, the life regen on refuge is too busted to not use it IMO; I tend to build for survivability first in labs and I was TANKY. I had vessel relic but didn't rate it, especially as I found mind rake to be very superior to sagi. I also found, surprisingly, that singularity relic was really strong; both in that boss killing is the most dangerous times and it speeds it up and also that I used singularity a lot while clearing for crowd control and the extra damage was killing/FHR locking mobs more.

I'm not sure what my end damage was tbh, I should have snapshotted it. Similar I guess but I built for survivability; No blood fury and used invisible over lodestone to cap avoid in high labs.
Enigma
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Enigma wrote:
racerx wrote:9 pt energize makes psi storm a nice panic button heal. you end up using the points anyways for 150 cog

cheap phoboss swap is stareyes with onyx. moon crystals if you need to make up the fcr.

im assuming you use shadow ref relic for the regen? i think when i played it last on sc i went with shuriken/vessel of retribution/blood fury

what was your top end ripple damage with that massive crafted chest? iirc mine was around 75k


Yea I had my points in energize but found I never use it. I found Bloodbaths healing is so big that it pushed you to move forward and kill for sustain.

Stareyes work but I wanted to max out damage so I rolled with lamha+sagi to keep my SF capped. In truth, phobss is so easy for this build it doesnt matter; I didnt even use phoboss switch gear on T8.

Yea, the life regen on refuge is too busted to not use it IMO; I tend to build for survivability first in labs and I was TANKY. I had vessel relic but didn't rate it, especially as I found mind rake to be very superior to sagi. I also found, surprisingly, that singularity relic was really strong; both in that boss killing is the most dangerous times and it speeds it up and also that I used singularity a lot while clearing for crowd control and the extra damage was killing/FHR locking mobs more.

I'm not sure what my end damage was tbh, I should have snapshotted it. Similar I guess but I built for survivability; No blood fury and used invisible over lodestone to cap avoid in high labs.



midknight wrote:Great guide thanks for sharing. Its nice to see someone share a guide that has different build transitions as I think this is the way most of the top players play. Small note you can buy a wrist blade at gheeds or charsi at level 1 for even more zoom. :-D

Ah yes, I couldnt remember if I did or not. Ty.
Enigma
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Enigma wrote:Intro:
Ola, if you haven't met me my name is Rhys, i'm a long time median player. I enjoy pushing builds to their limits content wise and I only play builds I expect to be able to push into Lab 10 comfortably. This is the first guide i've written; so any feedback is welcome.

Psionic Assassin has long been a favourite build of mine playstyle wise, but it just wasn't end game viable until 2.5; previously struggling once it entered Lab 7.

Unfortunately i'm writing this after I've finished the season so i've had my character stripped of gear by friends who are still playing. Here is the not armory though: https://median-xl.com/char/Chopstick

I'm gonna write this guide so a new player can follow from start to finish so I will put everything behind spoilers to make it a little more user-friendly for experienced players. Pls give advice on formatting.

If you're a pro and just want to see the end game setup to smash content, just skip the spoilers to the end game section.

2.5 seemed like the perfect time to push the build for a few reasons:
- Magic spell damage characters are typically out of favour, making some of the more important items more accessible and cheaper in trading.
- BIG damage buff due to the last cognition bonus being reworked to now add 15% magic pierce as well as the buff to magic/phys damage in labs.
- Assassin gaining a massive avoid buff in labs 7+: from ~30% to 60%.

This build utilises Mind ripple, Singularity and Shuriken Flurry as it's main weapons.

Pro's/Con's:
► Show Spoiler


Early Game A1 normal to A2 NM (1-70):
► Show Spoiler



Early game 2: Nightmare A3 onwards (70-100):
► Show Spoiler



Early-Mid (100-135):

Now it's just tuning up your death star build.

Most 125 bosses are difficult as death star however. There are 2 options to solve this:
a) Infected roots relic ASAP.
b) Start to accumulate psionic gear to respec for bosses.

Personally, I just leveled to 135 first which gave me time to accumulate psionic base gear via trading. Then when I respec'd psionic I did all my 125 charms before hitting scols. But infected roots relic is more efficient if you are able to snag one.

Gear:
Crafted Wrist Blade + Another or a crafted sin shield: Just keep making better ones.
Body armor:
Lumen Arcana
Lumen Arcana
Body Armors

'Ith'
Runeword Level: 18
+1 to All Skills
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-(3 to 8)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(25 to 50)% Enhanced Defense
+2 to Light Radius
->
Thelema

Thelema
Body Armors

'LewIuHel'
Runeword Level: 110
+4 to All Skills
55% Cast Speed
+(80 to 95)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(200 to 250)% to Summoned Minion Attack Rating
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(120 to 150) to Vitality
15% to Vitality
+(101 to 125) Mana when Struck by an Enemy
->
The Awakening
The Awakening
Full Plate Mail (Sacred)

Defense: 11673 to 14304
Required Level: 130
Required Strength: 690
Item Level: 130
Ethereal
When Cubed with The Sleep, Enables an Additional Awakening
(The Armor will be Disenchanted by the Recipe)
5% Chance to cast level 50 Banish on Death Blow
+(1 to 4) to All Skills
50% Combat Speeds
-(31 to 35)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+200% Enhanced Defense
+25 Maximum Stamina
Magic Resist +5%
Socketed (6)
(awakening not required; just best).
Gloves:
Kali
Kali
Gloves

'LumKo'
Runeword Level: 48
15% Chance to cast level 13 Seal of Fire on Kill
+2 to All Skills
+15% to Summoned Minion Resistances
-214 Defense
5% to Strength
Maximum Fire Resist +4%
Fire Resist +25%
->
Lorekeeper
Lorekeeper
Light Gauntlets (Sacred)

Defense: (1018 - 1179) to (1159 - 1342)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength:
300
Item Level: 120
+3 to All Skills
20% Combat Speeds
+(5 to 10) to Firedance
+(90 to 120)% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana +(40 to 60)%
Requirements -50%
Socketed (4)

Belt:
Viper Skin
Viper Skin
Belt (Sacred)

Defense: (2860 - 3204) to (3036 - 3402)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
385
Item Level: 115
30% Attack Speed
(51 to 75)% Bonus to Attack Rating
-(11 to 20)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Slow Target (3 to 8)%
+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
Requirements -33%
Socketed (2)

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
Boots:
Darkling
Darkling
Heavy Boots (Sacred)

Defense: (1677 - 1879) to (1776 - 1989)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Item Level: 115
+(0 to 1) to All Skills
(15 to 45)% Movement Speed
(7 to 12)% Life stolen per Hit
+(6 to 15)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(141 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
-100 to Life
Socketed (4)

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
Helm:
Crown of the Black Rose
Crown of the Black Rose
Diadem (Sacred)

Defense: 870 to 983
Required Level: 110
Required Dexterity: 524
Item Level: 105
Orb Effects Applied to this Item are Doubled
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(20 to 30)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+(14 to 20) to Black Lotus Strike
+(90 to 150) Life Regenerated per Second
Maximum Poison Resist +(2 to 3)%
(25 to 50)% Bonus to Defense
Cannot Be Frozen
Socketed (4)
High roll
Rings: + 1 skills with poison pierce
Amulet:
Angel of Death
Angel of Death
Amulet

Required Level: 90
Item Level: 123
2% Chance to cast level 33 Punisher Bolt on Striking
+(0 to 2) to All Skills
+(11 to 30)% to Poison Spell Damage
-(6 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance

Astrogha's Moon
(Wyrd Set)
High roll
MO's/Sockets: Whatever you need to hit your resies, and speed breakpoints (Use the speed calculator in the tools section of the forum); then poison runes for pierce as needed to hit 145 pierce for bosses or 135 pierce for pre scolsglen farming.

Skills: In order
Meditation 3
Max way of the spider
Max shadow rush
1 in beacon
Max Perfect being
Max Prismatic cloak
Pinnacle 24
Remainder into anything that gives cognition till cognition 100 (massive survivability buff with Blood bath up permanenetly).
Once cognition is 100, choose whatever masteries you want: I did Life and potions

Stats:
Str and dex to use gear. Rest vitality

Mid game (Scolsglen and early labs):

► Show Spoiler


End Game (Lab 6+, Sam Deimoss):[/b]

Time for the cash value of the build!

Requirements for Lab 9+:
90% max res F/L/C
14k life (I had 18k at the end)
Highest FCR breakpoint
86 (but preferably 200) FHR.
No block speed as Ligeia nerfs your block rate so you can't get block locked.
Phoboss switch gear; You can do phoboss T10 with only 92% max cold but it's ideal to switch into 96.
60% phys res (Hooray shadow refuge).
55% avoid (Labs 7+ pierce your avoid by 5)

Gear:
► Show Spoiler


Charms/Relics:
► Show Spoiler


Skills:
► Show Spoiler


Stats:
► Show Spoiler


Play style gems:
► Show Spoiler



Any questions: Just ask!
Edited by Enigma 10 months.
mortimer_85
Djinn
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I know that a good rolled
Mind Rake
Mind Rake
Claws (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 42 to 44
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 400
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.13 per Dexterity)%
10% Chance to cast level 60 Doom on Death Blow
+(3 to 5) to Assassin Skill Levels
-50% Cast Speed
+(51 to 70)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
Regenerate Mana +33%
Physical Damage Reduced by 50
+100 Life after each Kill
1% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (3)
can't be beat by anytihng else damage wise but have you ever tried/considered a gg crafted Claw as main weapon?
4sk, 40 pmsd would be main affixes and 40aa/10%, cnbf, flat HP, 100 Laek are really nice additions then you get shrien modifiers on top.
I think a gg craft can come close in performance and when rolled with cnbf you free up one socket and avoid the big cast rate penalty that might bring at least one other ring slot into the mix.
Enigma
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mortimer_85 wrote:I know that a good rolled
Mind Rake
Mind Rake
Claws (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 42 to 44
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 400
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.13 per Dexterity)%
10% Chance to cast level 60 Doom on Death Blow
+(3 to 5) to Assassin Skill Levels
-50% Cast Speed
+(51 to 70)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
Regenerate Mana +33%
Physical Damage Reduced by 50
+100 Life after each Kill
1% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (3)
can't be beat by anytihng else damage wise but have you ever tried/considered a gg crafted Claw as main weapon?
4sk, 40 pmsd would be main affixes and 40aa/10%, cnbf, flat HP, 100 Laek are really nice additions then you get shrien modifiers on top.
I think a gg craft can come close in performance and when rolled with cnbf you free up one socket and avoid the big cast rate penalty that might bring at least one other ring slot into the mix.


It might be theoretically possible but i'm not even sure it's relevant unless you roll a massive corrupt on a ring as 15%PMSD + other rare ring mods are pretty mediocre when you have 700%PMSD already. The +1max from adrenaline is already better than rare rings mods + the MO space IMO. Movement speed is also strong. Also, it's easier to upgrade to +2 skill adrenalines than to get big corrupts on rings.

Main issue though is you'd have to roll a 1 in 100k claw and you're already so overworked on your shrines as it is due to BIS being a craft in boots and armor. (I rolled ~ 300 shrines for an end game armor and still settled for a decent but not incredible one; +2skill 20%vit failed corrupt). My boots were +1 skill, +2 max res's, +life, meaningless corrupt, so extra shrines could upgrade those too.
Theologist
Prowler
17 | 1
How hard is to craft a sin claw with Death Star oskill? I have used like 150 shrines (1500 charges, damn) and still found nothing.