Storm crows doing just fine

[Neyhanis]

Hi there, this is just a quick showcase to show that storm crows is doing just fine.
On all footage the character is with only level 125 charms, a bad shield and one of the rings being wrong aswell, no MOs/UMOs (other then some +mf) and no trophies either. All in all plenty of room for improvement/getting more of both dmg and defense.


Baal then a tiny bit of farming in fauzt and scosglen (shouldve recorded longer...)




Edyrem's path (uldy)


______________________________

► MINIGUIDE gear and skills

Gear used in videos :

WEAP :

Sky Murder

Sky Murder
Balanced Knife (Sacred)
Throw Damage: (163 - 182) to (370 - 390)
One-Hand Damage: (102 - 114) to (307 - 320)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 612
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
+1 Extra Target to Storm Crows
+(3 to 4) to Assassin Skill Levels
50% Attack Speed
+200 to Maximum Damage
-30% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(151 to 180)% Enhanced Damage
5% Deadly Strike
Maximum Lightning Resist +(2 to 4)%
Socketed (2)

Rings :

Witchcraft

Witchcraft
Ring
Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
+2 to All Skills
20% Cast Speed
-5% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
Maximum Mana (-5 to 5)%
20% Bonus to Defense

+ a random rare ring
BOOTS :

Wind Runner

Wind Runner
Boots
'SilElqSilGul'
Runeword Level: 100
+(0 to 1) to All Skills
50% Attack Speed
10% Movement Speed
Adds 25-68 Damage
250% Bonus to Attack Rating
(12 to 15)% Life stolen per Hit
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Defense

SHIELD :

Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth
Assassin Shields
'IgnTahaUn'
Runeword Level: 110
+25 Fire Damage per 100 Dexterity
10% Chance to cast level 59 Pentagram on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
30% Block Speed
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Weapon Physical Damage -150%
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(41 to 50) to all Attributes
Maximum Fire Resist +1%
Elemental Resists +(15 to 25)%

(VERY BAD IDEA, forgot it has -150% ewd, cuts my life and manasustain down)

BODY :

Eternal

Eternal
Median 2005-2012
Thanks everyone!
Body Armors
'TahaLewGhalFelQorKa'
Runeword Level: 110
+4 to All Skills
+15 Spell Focus
+10 to Maximum Damage
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+1 to Disco Inferno
5% Deadly Strike
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
10% to All Attributes
+2 Life on Striking

//

Silks of the Victor

Silks of the Victor
Ancient Armor (Sacred)
Defense: (8603 - 9489) to (10651 - 11748)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 770
Item Level: 105
Level 10 Nephalem Weapons
5% Innate Elemental Damage
Adds Fire and Lightning Damage:
20-30% of base Strength and Dexterity
10-15% of base Vitality
+1 to All Skills
5% Mana stolen per Hit
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+1.125% Enhanced Defense (Based on Character Level)
+(300 to 700) to Life
Physical Resist -5%
Socketed (6)

(alternating.slight more def/sustain with eternal, bit more dmg and life on silks)
HELM :

Blackskull's Horns

Blackskull's Horns
Crown (Sacred)
Defense: 4437 to 4914
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 120
Adds 100-150 Fire Damage
+25% to Fire Spell Damage
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+200% Enhanced Defense
+50 to Strength
15% to Strength
Maximum Fire Resist +2%
+5 Fire Absorb
Socketed (4)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)

BELT :

Doomcloud Spine

Doomcloud Spine
Plated Belt (Sacred)
Defense: 4089 to 4479
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 120
Adds 100-150 Lightning Damage
+25% to Lightning Spell Damage
-15% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
+200% Enhanced Defense
+50 to Vitality
15% to Vitality
Maximum Lightning Resist +2%
+5 Lightning Absorb
Socketed (2)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)

GLOVES :

Stareye's Claws

Stareye's Claws
Gauntlets (Sacred)
Defense: 1674 to 1959
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 625
Item Level: 120
Adds 100-150 Cold Damage
+25% to Cold Spell Damage
-15% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+200% Enhanced Defense
+50 to Dexterity
15% to Dexterity
Maximum Cold Resist +2%
+5 Cold Absorb
Socketed (4)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)

AMU : +4 luckied

The Dreamcatcher

The Dreamcatcher
Amulet
Required Level: 80
Item Level: 80
+(1 to 3) to All Skills
20% Cast Speed
-(4 to 10)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
Elemental Resists +(20 to 25)%
+(10 to 15) Mana after each Kill

(QT is more pierce but less dmg, might swap in someday vs ubers)
WEAPONSWAP :

Shamanka

Shamanka
Long Staff (Sacred)
Two-Hand Damage: 56 to 58
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 203
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(3 to 6) to Sorceress Skill Levels
45% Cast Speed
45% Hit Recovery
+(21 to 25)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(21 to 25)% to Cold Spell Damage
+(21 to 25)% to Poison Spell Damage
+(6 to 16) to Bloodlust
Maximum Life +(10 to 13)%
Fire Resist +(50 to 70)%
Lightning Resist +(50 to 70)%
Socketed (4)

(crap roll)

Skillplan :
MAX all ways
24/25 Stormcrows
MAX Perfect Being
MAX Prismatic Cloak
...spend the rest in whatever defensive and utility skills you can (blink shadow refuge

Notarmory link :
https://tsw.vn.cz/char/NeyLovesAandS

[heamn]

any videos on full clearing? preferably with more pack size, like jam jam pack.

[Neyhanis]

any videos on full clearing? preferably with more pack size, like jam jam pack.

yeah i was kinda lazy and did really quick showcases.
But I can already say, when its jampacked, its not the best. Survival when swarmed is totally okay (avoid, block, a bit of def and lifeleech) at least before scosglen, and tanking a few mobs in scos is also ok.
As for aoe... its not a good aoe skill. The video shows that small packs are no prob, but the skill doesnt have a huge aoe, or even any aoe at all, its just that you have many highdmg projectiles so small packs die quickly.

In the end, for lvling you either use another build, or optimise your lvling to this build by playing harder content, for instance playing in mp games with several players to make content harder and more rewarding, because you may not have aoe, but your damage is enough to overkill most monsters so making it a bit harder wont change your pace but will increase xp/loot returns

[heamn]

any videos on full clearing? preferably with more pack size, like jam jam pack.

yeah i was kinda lazy and did really quick showcases.
But I can already say, when its jampacked, its not the best. Survival when swarmed is totally okay (avoid, block, a bit of def and lifeleech) at least before scosglen, and tanking a few mobs in scos is also ok.
As for aoe... its not a good aoe skill. The video shows that small packs are no prob, but the skill doesnt have a huge aoe, or even any aoe at all, its just that you have many highdmg projectiles so small packs die quickly.

In the end, for lvling you either use another build, or optimise your lvling to this build by playing harder content, for instance playing in mp games with several players to make content harder and more rewarding, because you may not have aoe, but your damage is enough to overkill most monsters so making it a bit harder wont change your pace but will increase xp/loot returns

Thanks for the reply, i'm a sucker for auto homing skills, stormcrow is one of my favorite skills to play, it has never short for single target deeps, jam packed clearing was the weak point, at least until geared up.

currently working on side project of barb vs necro vs assassin summoner comparison, will continue on stormcrow sin after getting a Phul Rune. xD

[Neyhanis]

....you can let go of summoner sin to be fair, its just not worth it. Well it got slightly better this ladder, but still not worth (coming from the batlady/summoner sin guide author).

The mechanic got gutted too hard, and several buffs in a row "might" make it half-ok to play somewhat hybrid (claw+summons), but the use/efficiency will die off past midgame for sure.
If anything, paladin or sorc summonner are better tries (though I don't think they're good either, just slightly more viable then summonner-sin), or even amazon unsummoner with fire elemental bombers (used to be pretty good but then it got reworked and new items for it... might be even better then before? )

[rugby_1]

Any preference for the shield slot? Scorched Earth reduces EWD which probably harms your overall dmg a little bit with Sky Murder. Would something like

The Doom Gong of Xiansai

The Doom Gong of Xiansai
Aspis (Sacred)
Defense: (3146 - 3539) to (3672 - 4131)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Required Dexterity: 559
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 12 Thunder Slam on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
Adds (10 to 40)-(50 to 100) Damage
(10 to 20)% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
20% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)

make sense for the additional dmg or is most of your dps coming from elemental add-ons anyways?
Currently playing a clawsin who has the same issue when it comes to clear speed.

[Neyhanis]

Any preference for the shield slot? Scorched Earth reduces EWD which probably harms your overall dmg a little bit with Sky Murder. Would something like

The Doom Gong of Xiansai

The Doom Gong of Xiansai
Aspis (Sacred)
Defense: (3146 - 3539) to (3672 - 4131)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Required Dexterity: 559
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 12 Thunder Slam on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
Adds (10 to 40)-(50 to 100) Damage
(10 to 20)% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
20% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)

make sense for the additional dmg or is most of your dps coming from elemental add-ons anyways?
Currently playing a clawsin who has the same issue when it comes to clear speed.

Shield is the big debate, I'm doing tons of testing right now (and yeah

Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth
Assassin Shields
'IgnTahaUn'
Runeword Level: 110
+25 Fire Damage per 100 Dexterity
10% Chance to cast level 59 Pentagram on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
30% Block Speed
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Weapon Physical Damage -150%
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(41 to 50) to all Attributes
Maximum Fire Resist +1%
Elemental Resists +(15 to 25)%

is a VERY BAD idea because of the -ewd. Only used it as placeholder before i got something else, and even so it was a bad idea;.. -EWD means less life and mana sustain)

*

Hexward

Hexward
Totem Shield (Sacred)
Defense: (1668 - 2085) to (1932 - 2415)
Chance to Block: 4%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 527
Item Level: 105
Maelstrom MkI: +25% Bonus Magic Damage
2% Chance to cast level 50 Shadow Blade on Striking
+(140 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
(20 to 30)% to Dexterity
20% Curse Length Reduction
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (6)

I was hopeful for it's proc to help with big targets but the procs damage kinda sucks, so nope

*

The Doom Gong of Xiansai

The Doom Gong of Xiansai
Aspis (Sacred)
Defense: (3146 - 3539) to (3672 - 4131)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Required Dexterity: 559
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 12 Thunder Slam on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
Adds (10 to 40)-(50 to 100) Damage
(10 to 20)% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
20% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)

85 to 90% of our damage is elem, but this extra phys, 20% dex and the LL roll means nearly doubling our life sustain and gaining a bit of phys damage, so its definitely a good choice. Also boosts manasustain thanks to higher phys dmg. need enough pierce elsewhere so there's that.

*

Svalinn

Svalinn
Shields
'RhalLoOhn'
Runeword Level: 115
-1% to Enemy Elemental Resistances per 150 Dexterity
8% Chance to cast level 7 Life Spark when Blocking
1% Base Block Chance
15% Block Speed
20% Hit Recovery
+(151 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(30 to 40) to all Attributes
(15 to 20)% to Dexterity
+200 to Life
Fire Resist +(20 to 25)%
Lightning Resist +(20 to 25)%
Cold Resist +(20 to 25)%
Poison Resist +(20 to 25)%
Fire Absorb (3 to 5)%
Physical Resist 5%

best defensive option (life spark on block / life / maxres / also a bit more sustain trough phys, because of +flat and %dex, and 3jewels with +life/manaleech next to it)

*

Silver Scorpion

Silver Scorpion
Parma (Sacred)
Defense: (2875 - 3375) to (3231 - 3793)
Chance to Block: 4%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 525
Required Dexterity: 529
Item Level: 105
+8 Storm Crows Projectiles if you have not taken weapon damage recently
+(1 to 2) to Assassin Skill Levels
+363 Poison Damage over 1 seconds
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
Slow Target 10%
+(130 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
+2 Life on Striking
Socketed (4)

smaller, less sockets. life on striking and slow target help a bit but not a lot. However... for farming in any area which has ranged wdm damage, such as Fauztinvill or Scosglen, this is the best offensive option, because you'll get +8 knives for 5sec very often/most of the time, and thats an average of +33% more damage, a boost no other shield can bring. This socketed with +%mf is my farm choice (it also has quite less block)

*

Zayl's Temptation

Zayl's Temptation
Bladed Shield (Sacred)
Defense: (2035 - 2181) to (2430 - 2604)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 1100
Item Level: 120
Regens 15% Life Over 5 Seconds Upon Taking Weapon Damage
+(4 to 6) to Assassin Skill Levels
1% Base Block Chance
-(11 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
Slow Target (15 to 25)%
+(180 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
Maximum Elemental Resists +1%
Maximum Block Chance +10%
Requirements +100%
Socketed (6)

best offensively (except for farming, but even so its not conditionnal so probably just best overall), and second best defensive option (regen, maxres, maxblock, slow target...), only downside : very popular so a bit more expensive (used by most good sin builds)

For me it's between Doom Gong; Svalinn and Zayls. The difference is Doom Gong is offensive sustain (way better life leech) whereas Svalinn and Zayls is defensive sustain (life spark on blocking or more block and life regen). If your opponent is a spellcing uber, only Doom Gong will help sustain more (though the two others would bring maxres, and zayls would bring a bit more dmg then doom gong too)

[rugby_1]

Any preference for the shield slot? Scorched Earth reduces EWD which probably harms your overall dmg a little bit with Sky Murder. Would something like

The Doom Gong of Xiansai

The Doom Gong of Xiansai
Aspis (Sacred)
Defense: (3146 - 3539) to (3672 - 4131)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Required Dexterity: 559
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 12 Thunder Slam on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
Adds (10 to 40)-(50 to 100) Damage
(10 to 20)% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
20% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)

make sense for the additional dmg or is most of your dps coming from elemental add-ons anyways?
Currently playing a clawsin who has the same issue when it comes to clear speed.

Shield is the big debate, I'm doing tons of testing right now (and yeah

Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth
Assassin Shields
'IgnTahaUn'
Runeword Level: 110
+25 Fire Damage per 100 Dexterity
10% Chance to cast level 59 Pentagram on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
30% Block Speed
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
-(10 to 15)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Weapon Physical Damage -150%
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(41 to 50) to all Attributes
Maximum Fire Resist +1%
Elemental Resists +(15 to 25)%

is a VERY BAD idea because of the -ewd. Only used it as placeholder before i got something else, and even so it was a bad idea;.. -EWD means less life and mana sustain)

*

Hexward

Hexward
Totem Shield (Sacred)
Defense: (1668 - 2085) to (1932 - 2415)
Chance to Block: 4%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 527
Item Level: 105
Maelstrom MkI: +25% Bonus Magic Damage
2% Chance to cast level 50 Shadow Blade on Striking
+(140 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
(20 to 30)% to Dexterity
20% Curse Length Reduction
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (6)

I was hopeful for it's proc to help with big targets but the procs damage kinda sucks, so nope

*

The Doom Gong of Xiansai

The Doom Gong of Xiansai
Aspis (Sacred)
Defense: (3146 - 3539) to (3672 - 4131)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 550
Required Dexterity: 559
Item Level: 105
2% Chance to cast level 12 Thunder Slam on Melee Attack
1% Base Block Chance
Adds (10 to 40)-(50 to 100) Damage
(10 to 20)% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
20% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)

85 to 90% of our damage is elem, but this extra phys, 20% dex and the LL roll means nearly doubling our life sustain and gaining a bit of phys damage, so its definitely a good choice. Also boosts manasustain thanks to higher phys dmg. need enough pierce elsewhere so there's that.

*

Svalinn

Svalinn
Shields
'RhalLoOhn'
Runeword Level: 115
-1% to Enemy Elemental Resistances per 150 Dexterity
8% Chance to cast level 7 Life Spark when Blocking
1% Base Block Chance
15% Block Speed
20% Hit Recovery
+(151 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(30 to 40) to all Attributes
(15 to 20)% to Dexterity
+200 to Life
Fire Resist +(20 to 25)%
Lightning Resist +(20 to 25)%
Cold Resist +(20 to 25)%
Poison Resist +(20 to 25)%
Fire Absorb (3 to 5)%
Physical Resist 5%

best defensive option (life spark on block / life / maxres / also a bit more sustain trough phys, because of +flat and %dex, and 3jewels with +life/manaleech next to it)

*

Silver Scorpion

Silver Scorpion
Parma (Sacred)
Defense: (2875 - 3375) to (3231 - 3793)
Chance to Block: 4%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 525
Required Dexterity: 529
Item Level: 105
+8 Storm Crows Projectiles if you have not taken weapon damage recently
+(1 to 2) to Assassin Skill Levels
+363 Poison Damage over 1 seconds
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
Slow Target 10%
+(130 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
+2 Life on Striking
Socketed (4)

smaller, less sockets. life on striking and slow target help a bit but not a lot. However... for farming in any area which has ranged wdm damage, such as Fauztinvill or Scosglen, this is the best offensive option, because you'll get +8 knives for 5sec very often/most of the time, and thats an average of +33% more damage, a boost no other shield can bring. This socketed with +%mf is my farm choice (it also has quite less block)

*

Zayl's Temptation

Zayl's Temptation
Bladed Shield (Sacred)
Defense: (2035 - 2181) to (2430 - 2604)
Chance to Block: 5%
(Assassin Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 1100
Item Level: 120
Regens 15% Life Over 5 Seconds Upon Taking Weapon Damage
+(4 to 6) to Assassin Skill Levels
1% Base Block Chance
-(11 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
Slow Target (15 to 25)%
+(180 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
Maximum Elemental Resists +1%
Maximum Block Chance +10%
Requirements +100%
Socketed (6)

best offensively (except for farming, but even so its not conditionnal so probably just best overall), and second best defensive option (regen, maxres, maxblock, slow target...), only downside : very popular so a bit more expensive (used by most good sin builds)

For me it's between Doom Gong; Svalinn and Zayls. The difference is Doom Gong is offensive sustain (way better life leech) whereas Svalinn and Zayls is defensive sustain (life spark on blocking or more block and life regen). If your opponent is a spellcing uber, only Doom Gong will help sustain more (though the two others would bring maxres, and zayls would bring a bit more dmg then doom gong too)

Thanks for the insight! Thinking of swapping from claw to stormcrows since I like the playstyle more. Since most of the dmg is Elemental, any thoughts on stacking elemental dominions on a Dawn or even white knife?

[Neyhanis]

Thanks for the insight! Thinking of swapping from claw to stormcrows since I like the playstyle more. Since most of the dmg is Elemental, any thoughts on stacking elemental dominions on a Dawn or even white knife?

I just equipped a white weapon to test. With 12x dominion at level 121 (=+3600 flat dmg average, 1200 per element) you get relatively same damage (13-28k becomes 14.5k - 27k). So it might be a slight upgrade with x13 at levels 131 (+3900 dmg) or even x14 at level 141 (+4200 dmg)

However, you do lose out a lot :
- lose out 30% all res pierce, gotta make up for it
- no more phys dmg base, so gotta change windrunner boots (spirit walker are next best, for +2sk -15pierce)
- no more phys means no lifeleech no manaleech. need 3/3 in meditation and +25%manaregen on each jewelry slot and hopefully thats enough (maybe not when prolonged spam on some ubers)
- you lose 2-4% max light res
- you lose the yellowtext from sky murder : +1 extra target, and this splitting dmg between targets helps a lot to provide more aoe when farming. it doesnt make SC an aoe skill but makes it way better then without this mod

All in all the dmg gain is absolutely not worth the losses in my opinion. Moreover its mostly a tooltip gain, while practically mana issues and less aoe when farming might make it a net loss. Last but not least, although the life leech isnt huge, losing it is also a bit sad

[rugby_1]

Thanks for the insight! Thinking of swapping from claw to stormcrows since I like the playstyle more. Since most of the dmg is Elemental, any thoughts on stacking elemental dominions on a Dawn or even white knife?

I just equipped a white weapon to test. With 12x dominion at level 121 (=+3600 flat dmg average, 1200 per element) you get relatively same damage (13-28k becomes 14.5k - 27k). So it might be a slight upgrade with x13 at levels 131 (+3900 dmg) or even x14 at level 141 (+4200 dmg)

However, you do lose out a lot :
- lose out 30% all res pierce, gotta make up for it
- no more phys dmg base, so gotta change windrunner boots (spirit walker are next best, for +2sk -15pierce)
- no more phys means no lifeleech no manaleech. need 3/3 in meditation and +25%manaregen on each jewelry slot and hopefully thats enough (maybe not when prolonged spam on some ubers)
- you lose 2-4% max light res
- you lose the yellowtext from sky murder : +1 extra target, and this splitting dmg between targets helps a lot to provide more aoe when farming. it doesnt make SC an aoe skill but makes it way better then without this mod

All in all the dmg gain is absolutely not worth the losses in my opinion. Moreover its mostly a tooltip gain, while practically mana issues and less aoe when farming might make it a net loss. Last but not least, although the life leech isnt huge, losing it is also a bit sad

Thanks for confirming the theorycraft. On a side note - I am crossing my fingers they buff the bat sin - was my favourite sin build by far to play.