With the upcoming Western release of Lost Ark on Feb. 11 (unless you are one of those playing early), players are searching for the class that most suits their playstyle. There is a lot to consider for a game that includes both PvP and PvE when looking at where classes will fit in the release meta. After playing through a brief tutorial sequence, characters will divide into one of two available subclasses (except for female Gunners and male Martial Artists who have one).
Assassins are exclusively female in the game, as are mages, specializing as Shadowhunter or Deathblade following the introduction. With both of these being melee options, which to select depends on which abilities appeal to the player for the game’s various activities, be it PvP or the game’s new take on raiding. Although Assassin may not be the most potent class overall, both subclasses are highly viable for much of the game and should remain so for a while after launch.
Speed is of the Essence
It would not be an overestimation to say that speed is critical to successfully running an Assassin character. Regardless of your subclass choice, chaining together quick attacks and abilities is vital for maximizing damage output. Being a melee class, the Assassin does have some capacity to absorb damage and get out of trouble. However, the limited dodge range could prove to be a problem in getting out of the way during high-level encounters.
Deathblade Brings A Swift End For Enemies
The Deathblade subclass wields three swords, using a dizzying array of abilities and powers to drain the life pool of enemies before they have a chance to do anything about it. During the late game, the Deathblade starts to suffer more than other classes and subclasses, with its maximum damage output lower than the very best in the current meta. It is still an excellent character for newer players and is one of the more traditionally fun options, even if it is marginally less viable further down the road.
This class has five primary attacks:
Flash Blink: A straight-line dash, this ability deals initial damage using slashing swords before knocking enemies in the air for further fall damage.
Spincutter: Again dashing forward, the character twirls their blades in a circle, damaging all enemies within its radius. This can also be popped twice consecutively.
Soul Absorber: A simple enough blade thrust, this attack can be charged for more significant damage.
Blitz Rush: Another charge attack with a flurry of sword blows at the end. It can be overcharged for sequential damage between the dual sword and longsword.
Moonlight Sonic: An ability with a large area of effect, this sweeping attack also pulls enemies in closer, making them vulnerable to other weapons in the Assassin’s arsenal.
The developer describes Deathblade as offering death by a thousand cuts, which holds up. In isolation, these abilities provide limited power and good range, but together they can be used for unrivaled mobility and significant burst damage. Distance is unlikely to be an issue with the proper rotation, and jumping between targets should be easy.
Shadowhunters Unleash Demonic Energy
Arguably the weaker of the two subclasses overall, there are a couple of significant features that make it worth consideration. First off is the baseline 12% damage buff, the highest in the game alongside the Berserker class, offering good levels of basic output for each ability. The second is the ability to switch to a demonic form, buffing the speed of attacks and total health for a set duration. Beyond that, the Shadowhunter can employ powers as follows:
Demon Vision: This is essentially a beam of energy with a knockback that can put distance between the player and NPC’s. Also able to be charged for extra damage.
Sharpened Cut: It is very similar in execution to the Spincutter ability that Deathblade employs, outputting slightly more damage due to Shadowhunter’s passive damage buff.
Fallen Ruin: Only able to be used while in demon form, this is one of the more exciting tools available to the Assassin class. It allows the character to jump in the air before shooting a laser for initial damage, followed by an explosion as a secondary effect. It, again, acts as a knockback.
Demonic Clone: This calls forth a short use minion to fight alongside the character. This minion cannot be controlled independently and strikes the nearest enemy with two punches and a ground strike.
Spinning Weapon: The first pop of this ability will throw one blade and cause it to rotate rapidly in an area, keeping enemies at bay and doing good damage. It can also be triggered a second time for the other weapon.
The Assassin class occupies a strange place between being relatively easy for new players to get to grips with but maybe not being as viable for high-level play during the end game. Everything here is perfectly adequate, but it may be difficult to tear up any trees here. That being said, skillful players may find hitting ability combinations as an Assassin uniquely rewarding within the systems of this MMO. Picking between the two subclasses will largely depend on playstyle preference, but Deathblade may be the smarter choice for viability in both PvP and PvE.
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