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
Required 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
Slvl
AR +X%
Damage +X%
Critical Strike Chance +X%
Slvl
AR +X%
Damage +X%
Critical Strike Chance +X%
Slvl
AR +X%
Damage +X%
Critical Strike Chance +X%
Slvl
AR +X%
Damage +X%
Critical Strike Chance +X%
1
30%
35%
3%
6
80%
55%
13%
11
130%
75%
17%
16
180%
95%
20%
2
40%
39%
6%
7
90%
59%
14%
12
140%
79%
18%
17
190%
99%
20%
3
50%
43%
9%
8
100%
63%
15%
13
150%
83%
18%
18
200%
103%
20%
4
60%
47%
11%
9
110%
67%
16%
14
160%
87%
19%
19
210%
107%
20%
5
70%
51%
12%
10
120%
71%
17%
15
170%
91%
19%
20
220%
111%
21%
Psychic Hammer
Required 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]
Slvl
Mana Cost
Damage
Magic Damage
Slvl
Mana Cost
Damage
Magic Damage
Slvl
Mana Cost
Damage
Magic Damage
Slvl
Mana Cost
Damage
Magic Damage
1
4
2-5
2-5
6
5.2
7-10
7-10
11
6.5
13-16
13-16
16
7.7
21-24
21-24
2
4.2
3-6
3-6
7
5.5
8-11
8-11
12
6.7
15-18
15-18
17
8
23-26
23-26
3
4.5
4-7
4-7
8
5.7
9-12
9-12
13
7
16-19
16-19
18
8.2
25-28
25-28
4
4.7
5-8
5-8
9
6
10-13
10-13
14
7.2
18-21
18-21
19
8.5
27-30
27-30
5
5
6-9
6-9
10
6.2
12-15
12-15
15
7.5
19-22
19-22
20
8.7
29-32
29-32
Burst of Speed
Required 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
Slvl
Attack Speed +X%
Walk Run Speed +X%
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Attack Speed +X%
Walk Run Speed +X%
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Attack Speed +X%
Walk Run Speed +X%
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Attack Speed +X%
Walk Run Speed +X%
Duration (seconds)
1
21%
23%
120
6
41%
45%
180
11
46%
54%
240
16
51%
59%
300
2
27%
29%
132
7
42%
47%
192
12
47%
55%
252
17
51%
59%
312
3
31%
34%
144
8
44%
49%
204
13
49%
56%
264
18
52%
60%
324
4
34%
39%
156
9
44%
51%
216
14
50%
57%
276
19
52%
60%
336
5
37%
42%
168
10
45%
52%
228
15
51%
57%
288
20
52%
61%
348
Cloak of Shadows
Required 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
Radius
20 Yards
Skill Level Progression
Slvl
Def. +X%
Enemy Def. -X%
Duration (secs)
Slvl
Def. +X%
Enemy Def. -X%
Duration (secs)
Slvl
Def. +X%
Enemy Def. -X%
Duration (secs)
Slvl
Def. +X%
Enemy Def. -X%
Duration (secs)
1
10%
15%
8
6
25%
30%
13
11
40%
45%
18
16
55%
60%
23
2
13%
18%
9
7
28%
33%
14
12
43%
48%
19
17
58%
63%
24
3
16%
21%
10
8
31%
36%
15
13
46%
51%
20
18
61%
66%
25
4
19%
24%
11
9
34%
39%
16
14
49%
54%
21
19
64%
69%
26
5
22%
27%
12
10
37%
42%
17
15
52%
57%
22
20
67%
72%
27
Weapon Block
Required 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
Slvl
Block +X%
Slvl
Block +X%
Slvl
Block +X%
Slvl
Block +X%
1
26%
6
44%
11
51%
16
56%
2
32%
7
46%
12
52%
17
56%
3
36%
8
47%
13
53%
18
56%
4
39%
9
49%
14
54%
19
57%
5
42%
10
50%
15
55%
20
57%
Fade
Required 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.
Tooltip updated to now show the physical damage resist reduction
Shadow Warrior
Casting 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
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X%
Def. +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X%
Def. +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X%
Def. +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X%
Def. +X%
1
27
376
40%
12%
6
29
658
240%
72%
11
32
940
440%
132%
16
34
1222
640%
192%
2
27
432
80%
24%
7
30
714
280%
84%
12
32
996
480%
144%
17
35
1278
680%
204%
3
28
488
120%
36%
8
30
770
320%
96%
13
33
1052
520%
156%
18
35
1334
720%
216%
4
28
545
160%
48%
9
31
827
360%
108%
14
33
1109
560%
168%
19
36
1391
760%
228%
5
29
601
200%
60%
10
31
883
400%
120%
15
34
1165
600%
180%
20
36
1447
800%
—
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
Required 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
Slvl
Dmg.
% Chance To Confuse
Stun Length (secs)
Slvl
Dmg.
% Chance To Confuse
Stun Length (secs)
Slvl
Dmg.
% Chance To Confuse
Stun Length (secs)
Slvl
Dmg.
% Chance To Confuse
Stun Length (secs)
1
10-20
18
2
6
20-30
28
3
11
39-49
32
4
16
64-74
35
5
2
12-22
21
2.2
7
22-32
29
3.2
12
44-54
33
4.2
17
72-82
35
5.2
3
14-24
24
2.4
8
24-34
30
3.4
13
49-59
33
4.4
18
80-90
35
5.4
4
16-26
26
2.6
9
29-39
31
3.6
14
54-64
34
4.6
19
88-98
35
5.6
5
18-28
27
2.8
10
34-44
32
3.8
15
59-69
34
4.8
20
96-106
36
5.8
Venom
Required 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
Slvl
Poison Damage
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Poison Damage
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Poison Damage
Duration (seconds)
Slvl
Poison Damage
Duration (seconds)
1
60-80
120
6
135-155
140
11
225-245
160
16
325-345
180
2
75-95
124
7
150-170
144
12
245-265
164
17
350-370
184
3
90-110
128
8
165-185
148
13
265-285
168
18
375-395
188
4
105-125
132
9
185-205
152
14
285-305
172
19
400-420
192
5
120-140
136
10
205-225
156
15
305-325
176
20
425-445
196
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
Casting 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
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X
Resist All +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X
Resist All +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X
Resist All +X%
Slvl
Mana Cost
Life
AR +X
Resist All +X%
1
35
376
40
5%
6
37
658
240
42%
11
40
940
440
56%
16
42
1222
640
63%
2
35
432
80
16%
7
38
714
280
46%
12
40
996
480
58%
17
43
1278
680
65%
3
36
488
120
25%
8
38
770
320
49%
13
41
1052
520
59%
18
43
1334
720
65%
4
36
545
160
32%
9
39
827
360
51%
14
41
1109
560
61%
19
44
1391
760
66%
5
37
601
200
38%
10
39
883
400
54%
15
42
1165
600
62%
20
44
1447
800
67%
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:
