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Assassin Shadow Disciplines

Diablo 2 Assassin

To remain protected from exposure to the potential corruption of magic, Assassins must defeat their sorcerous opponents without actually using spells themselves. To this end, they have mastered the clandestine talents, as well as the arts of obfuscation, and honed their latent psychic abilities to develop the Shadow Disciplines. These skills represent the end result of generations of strict mental conditioning and intensive stealth training.

  • Burst of Speed and Fade can not be used at the same time.
  • Shadow Warrior and Shadow Master can not be used at the same time.

Claw Mastery

Claw-MasteryRequired Level: 1
Prerequisites: None
Requires: Claw-class weapons
Passive Effect: Well-disciplined training in this skill improves the artistry with which an Assassin wields her unique claw-class weapons.
Synergies: None

Skill Level Progression

SlvlAR +X%Damage +X%Critical Strike Chance +X%SlvlAR +X%Damage +X%Critical Strike Chance +X%SlvlAR +X%Damage +X%Critical Strike Chance +X%SlvlAR +X%Damage +X%Critical Strike Chance +X%
130%35%3%680%55%13%11130%75%17%16180%95%20%
240%39%6%790%59%14%12140%79%18%17190%99%20%
350%43%9%8100%63%15%13150%83%18%18200%103%20%
460%47%11%9110%67%16%14160%87%19%19210%107%20%
570%51%12%10120%71%17%15170%91%19%20220%111%21%

Psychic Hammer

Psychic-hammerRequired Level: 1
Prerequisites: None
Effect: By utilizing her intense mental prowess, an Assassin creates a powerful force of mental energies and directs it towards a hostile creature, blasting it backwards. Psychic Hammer is effective early in the game. You don’t have to aim it so it’s easy to use, and it pushes enemies back.
Synergies: None

Skill Level Progression [e]
SlvlMana CostDamageMagic DamageSlvlMana CostDamageMagic DamageSlvlMana CostDamageMagic DamageSlvlMana CostDamageMagic Damage
142-52-565.27-107-10116.513-1613-16167.721-2421-24
24.23-63-675.58-118-11126.715-1815-1817823-2623-26
34.54-74-785.79-129-1213716-1916-19188.225-2825-28
44.75-85-89610-1310-13147.218-2118-21198.527-3027-30
556-96-9106.212-1512-15157.519-2219-22208.729-3229-32

Burst of Speed

Burst-of-SoeedRequired Level: 6
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery
Effect: Increases Attack And Movement Speed For A Period Of Time
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • Burst of speed will also benefit some assassin trap skills as they are affected by Increased Attack Speed.
  • Burst of Speed and Fade may not be used at the same time.
Mana Cost:10
Skill Level Progression
SlvlAttack Speed +X%Walk Run Speed +X%Duration (seconds)SlvlAttack Speed +X%Walk Run Speed +X%Duration (seconds)SlvlAttack Speed +X%Walk Run Speed +X%Duration (seconds)SlvlAttack Speed +X%Walk Run Speed +X%Duration (seconds)
121%23%120641%45%1801146%54%2401651%59%300
227%29%132742%47%1921247%55%2521751%59%312
331%34%144844%49%2041349%56%2641852%60%324
434%39%156944%51%2161450%57%2761952%60%336
537%42%1681045%52%2281551%57%2882052%61%348

Cloak of Shadows

Cloak-of-ShadowsRequired Level: 12
Prerequisites: Psychic Hammer
Effects: This spell blocks some monster effects; sand maggots cannot lay eggs, unravelers cannot use their poison breath, venom lords cannot use their Inferno attack etc. Most monsters stop moving when you cast Cloak of Shadows until you get close to them. Once you attack them, they can use their skills again.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • The Assassin receives a defense bonus while this spell is in effect.
  • Enemies receive a defense penalty while this spell is in effect.
  • You can´t recast this spell until it wears off.
Mana Cost:13
Radius20 Yards
Skill Level Progression
SlvlDef. +X%Enemy Def. -X%Duration (secs)SlvlDef. +X%Enemy Def. -X%Duration (secs)SlvlDef. +X%Enemy Def. -X%Duration (secs)SlvlDef. +X%Enemy Def. -X%Duration (secs)
110%15%8625%30%131140%45%181655%60%23
213%18%9728%33%141243%48%191758%63%24
316%21%10831%36%151346%51%201861%66%25
419%24%11934%39%161449%54%211964%69%26
522%27%121037%42%171552%57%222067%72%27

Weapon Block

Weapon-BlockRequired Level: 12
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery
Requires: Dual claw-class weapons
Passive Effect: After developing this skill, an Assassin wielding two claw-class weapons can use her blades to deflect incoming attacks, thus giving herself a defensive edge without using a shield.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • Assassins that use dual claw-class weapons will want to invest heavily in this skill. Even a 1% Increase in Blocking will provide a great amount of protection.
  • Weapon Block does not benefit from Dexterity or increased chance of blocking.
  • You will only block while standing still or attacking. Weapon Block does not work while walking or running.
  • Whirlwind is an attack and Weapon Block will still function during the attack.
Skill Level Progression
SlvlBlock +X%SlvlBlock +X%SlvlBlock +X%SlvlBlock +X%
126%644%1151%1656%
232%746%1252%1756%
336%847%1353%1856%
439%949%1454%1957%
542%1050%1555%2057%

Fade

fadeRequired Level: 18
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery, Burst of Speed
Effect: Raises all resistances and resists curses for a period of time.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • Fade has a hidden bonus to Physical Resistance. Being hidden, it doesn’t display on your character or on the skill. It is capped at 50%.
  • Fade reduces Shrine duration by the same percentage as it reduces curse duration. To avoid lessening Shrine duration, cast Burst of Speed before touching the shrine; once you touch the Shrine, cast Fade again.
  • Burst of Speed and Fade will not work at the same time.
Mana Cost:10
Skill Level Progression
SlvlCurse Time -X%Resist All +X%Length (secs.)Phys. Resist +X%SlvlCurse Time -X%Resist All +X%Length (secs.)Phys. Resist +X%SlvlCurse Time -X%Resist All +X%Length (secs.)Phys. Resist +X%SlvlCurse Time -X%Resist All +X%Length (secs.)Phys. Resist +X%
147%19%1201%667%45%1806%1175%56%24011%1680%62%30016%
253%27%1322%769%47%1927%1276%57%25212%1780%62%31217%
358%33%1443%871%50%2048%1377%58%26413%1881%63%32418%
462%38%1564%973%52%2169%1478%60%27614%1981%63%33619%
565%42%1685%1074%54%22810%1579%60%28815%2082%64%34820%

D2R Changes Patch 2.4 – 14 April 2022

  • Tooltip updated to now show the physical damage resist reduction

Shadow Warrior

Shadow-WarriorCasting Delay: 6 Seconds
Required Level: 18
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery, Psychic Hammer, Weapon Block, Cloak of Shadows
Effect: The Assassin trained in this discipline has the ability to project a “shadow” of herself. The Shadow Warrior makes use of normal attack and the two skills the Assassin has readied for herself. Shadow Warrior uses the skills you have selected. This allows you to control what kind of spells she will use.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • The Shadow Master, the next minion, can cast spells that you do not have so consider this before spending many points in Shadow Warrior.
  • Shadow Warriors have a base strength and dexterity equal to their level * 10. Also, the Shadow Warrior gains +4 resistance to all per level, to a max of level 75.
  • You can have only one active shadow at a time, either a Shadow Master or a Shadow Warrior.
Skill Level Progression
SlvlMana CostLifeAR +X%Def. +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +X%Def. +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +X%Def. +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +X%Def. +X%
12737640%12%629658240%72%1132940440%132%16341222640%192%
22743280%24%730714280%84%1232996480%144%17351278680%204%
328488120%36%830770320%96%13331052520%156%18351334720%216%
428545160%48%931827360%108%14331109560%168%19361391760%228%
529601200%60%1031883400%120%15341165600%180%20361447800%

D2R Changes Patch 2.4 – 14 April 2022

  • Casting Delay reduced from 6 seconds to 0.6 seconds
  • Casting Delay will no longer share its cooldown with other skills that have Casting Delays
  • Tooltip updated to now display Casting Delay

Mind Blast

Mind-BlastRequired Level: 24
Prerequisites: Psychic Hammer, Cloak of Shadows.
Effect: Focusing her anima, an Assassin using this potent ability can crush the will of a group of enemies. Mind Blast stuns and confuses the feeble minded into attacking their comrades.
Synergies: None

Mana Cost:15
Duration:6-10 Seconds
Skill Level Progression
SlvlDmg.% Chance To ConfuseStun Length (secs)SlvlDmg.% Chance To ConfuseStun Length (secs)SlvlDmg.% Chance To ConfuseStun Length (secs)SlvlDmg.% Chance To ConfuseStun Length (secs)
110-20182620-302831139-493241664-74355
212-22212.2722-32293.21244-54334.21772-82355.2
314-24242.4824-34303.41349-59334.41880-90355.4
416-26262.6929-39313.61454-64344.61988-98355.6
518-28272.81034-44323.81559-69344.82096-106365.8

Venom

VenomRequired Level: 30
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery, Burst of Speed, Fade.
Effect: Poison use is another technique an Assassin has to help even the odds when battling demons and their ilk. An Assassin who has mastered this skill secretly coats her weapons with vile toxins.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • Venom caps the poisoning duration at 0.4 seconds, thus preventing long term poisoning. Consequently, all other items will only inflict poison damage for 0.4 seconds. Example: Though 700 damage over 10 seconds might seem impressive only 28 damage will be inflicted due to the 0.4 seconds cap.
Mana Cost:12
Poison Duration:0.4 Seconds
Skill Level Progression
SlvlPoison DamageDuration (seconds)SlvlPoison DamageDuration (seconds)SlvlPoison DamageDuration (seconds)SlvlPoison DamageDuration (seconds)
160-801206135-15514011225-24516016325-345180
275-951247150-17014412245-26516417350-370184
390-1101288165-18514813265-28516818375-395188
4105-1251329185-20515214285-30517219400-420192
5120-14013610205-22515615305-32517620425-445196

D2R Changes Patch 2.4 – 14 April 2022

  • Buff Duration scaling per level changed from 4 seconds to 12 seconds (matching Burst of Speed and Fade)

Shadow Master

Shadow-MasterCasting Delay: 6 Seconds
Required Level: 30
Prerequisites: Claw Mastery, Psychic Hammer, Weapon Block, Cloak of Shadows, Shadow Warrior.
Effect: This discipline allows an Assassin to project an even more powerful shadow avatar. The Shadow Master has access to all of the Assassin skills, including those you don’t have.
Synergies: None
Notes:

  • The Shadow Master has greater resistance than the Shadow Warrior. Most players choose the Shadow Master for play past level 30 although the Shadow Warrior offers more control over which skills and spells she casts.
  • Shadow Masters have a base strength and dexterity equal to their level * 10.
  • The skills a Shadow Master casts have the skill-level equal to half her skill-level +1.
  • You can have only one active shadow at a time, either a Shadow Master or a Shadow Warrior.
  • Resistances of the Shadow Master do not suffer from the penalties in Nightmare and Hell difficulty. Furthermore, they are not capped at 75%. Hence, it’s possible to create a Shadow Master with immunity to elemental attacks.
  • Shadow Masters use the following skills: Cloak of Shadows (rarely), Mind Blast, Fade, Burst of Speed, Death Sentry, and a few other Martial Arts and Traps skills.
Skill Level Progression
SlvlMana CostLifeAR +XResist All +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +XResist All +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +XResist All +X%SlvlMana CostLifeAR +XResist All +X%
135376405%63765824042%114094044056%1642122264063%
2354328016%73871428046%124099648058%1743127868065%
33648812025%83877032049%1341105252059%1843133472065%
43654516032%93982736051%1441110956061%1944139176066%
53760120038%103988340054%1542116560062%2044144780067%

D2R Changes Patch 2.4 – 14 April 2022

  • Casting Delay reduced from 6 seconds to 0.6 seconds
  • Casting Delay will no longer share its cooldown with other skills that have Casting Delays
  • Tooltip updated to now display Casting Delay

Shadow Master Equipment

Shadowmasters are created wearing some of the following items: