Assassin Class In Log Horizon

Type: Weapon Attack
Role: Vanguard Attacker, Rearguard sniper
HP Level: Average
MP Level: Average
Assassins are weapon masters with a wide variety of damage skills, and specialize in felling enemies by unleashing massive burst damage. Of the twelve classes, the Assassin skill Assassinate can deal the highest instantaneous physical damage. Their modus operandi is delivering a quick, clean, high-damage strike to take down enemies in a flash.

On top of lightweight daggers, one-handed swords, and certain two-handed weapons, Assassins can also wield ranged weapons like throwing daggers and bows. It's no surprise that, with such a wide range of weapons at their disposal, Assassin builds have a great deal of variation.

However, Assassins have few defensive skills and can only equip lightweight armor such as leather or cloth. Because they have no skills that can reduce damage taken, Assassins can easily be taken down if an enemy's attack lands. Assassins instead focus on evading attacks and melding into the shadows. Movement skills like Gust Step and Trick Step put distance from the enemy, while "hiding" skills like Peek-a-Boo and Hide Walk allow them to avoid enemy detection. This has lent to a general impression that Assassin is a very "active" class.

Typical party tactics use a Warrior class, such as a Guardian or Samurai, to distract the enemy while the Assassin sneaks behind and unleashes an ambush with Stealth Blade or Deadly Dance. They can also inflict debuffs with skills like Paralyzing Blow or Venom Strike, or clear out lower-level mobs with Sweeper.

There are three main builds: Shadow Blade (sneak attacks and burst damage), Sniper (long-ranged attacks), and Sword Dancer (dual-wielders with steady damage).

• Shadow Blade: The orthodox Assassin build that focuses on sneak attack and burst damage. This build leans more towards solo players, giving the nickname "Solo Assassin".
• Sniper: Specializes in long-ranged attacks using longbows or crossbows. While it's easy to inflict high damage with a Sniper build, this also puts Snipers at risk of disrupting the front lines and drawing Hate away from the tanks. 
• Sword Dancer: A dual-wielding build focusing on more steady damage. Sword Dancers focus on a continuous rush of attacks. 

Known Skills

Attacks

Accel Fang
(Any Range) (Attack Support) (Movement Skill) A blow that nimbly cuts open an enemy while running through them. It does standard damage, but if the attack lands, there is a temporary increase in attack speed. This skill is used by Assassins who focus on mobility and number of hits rather than the damage of a single blow. Also, with the movement of slipping through the enemy, they can use it to fine tune their positioning.

Assassinate
(Any Range) (Special Move) Assassin's key and last-resort skill, it is the strongest instantaneous damage ability among weapon-based attacking classes. Deals large damage to an enemy's body; furthermore, enemies usually are killed instantly if their levels are at least ten levels lower than the Assassin's. Since the strength of this skill increases with higher ranks, the Assassin can potentially outclass the firepower of others. If the attack lands, a white glow appears on screen surrounding the enemy, showing their silhouette falling if it is instant death. The ranged version of this resembles a lightning strike by numerous arrows.

Atrophy Break
(Ranged) (Debuffing) An attack with arrow or throwing knife aimed at the opponent's nerves. If it hits the target, the enemy is paralyzed for a few seconds, and the target's movement speed is reduced afterwards. The paralysis duration is short compared to other skills, but the movement speed reduction effect suits ranged Assassins that repeatedly "shoot and run".

Deadly Dance
(Melee Range) Attacks from a low stance. Its base power is low, but it has a one-second cooldown and its damage increases if used consecutively. By chaining Deadly Dance, it is possible to kill the opponent in a flurry of hits. When in use, it takes on a pale glow and leaves trails in the air, and the glow strengthens with each hit. Because Deadly Dance's combo time is extremely tight, players focusing too hard on timing it tend to become careless about their surroundings.

Death Stinger
(Melee Range) (Debuffing) A special ability that damages the enemy and has a chance to poison them. It can only be used with a melee weapon, but the additional damage caused by the poison makes it MP efficient. A common tactic tactic is to hit an enemy with Death Stinger and then withdrawing to hit another enemy with Death Stinger, repeating the pattern. This method of killing is called "Crossroads killing", it is mostly popular due to the springing motion resembling a poison scorpion.

Extermination
(Melee Range) (Two-Handed Weapon) Only works with a two-handed weapon. Using large weapons like longswords or scythes, deal a single deadly bisection certain-kill blow to the neck of the enemy (or other equivalent vital points). The attack has a large flourish, creating large gaps between attacks due to the long motions. The potential for significant Hate gain because of the high damage, combined with a neglected defense from use of this skill, can lead to problems.

Fatal Ambush
(Any Range) After preparing the weapon and storing energy for a while, unleash a powerful slash or shot using your whole body's strength. Because it takes a long time to store up energy, one can easily be interrupted or separated from the target. To use the skill without risks, it is commonly used together with stealth skills. As the skill rank increases, the storage time decreases and becomes easier to use. When in use, the weapon or arrow glows a dark red and leaves a trail in the air.

Paralyzing Blow
(Any Range) (Debuffing) Attack by using a blade or arrow coated with paralysis poison. In addition to the increased damage during the duration of the effect, there is also a chance to paralyze the enemy, stopping the movements of the enemy. The weapon takes on a pale yellow glow when in use and when the attack hits it adds an effect like a running electric current.

Pain Needle
(Any Range) (Debuffing) Throws a small poisoned object, inflicting the target with poison status. The strength of the poison is weaker than Venom Strike's, but has small motions so it is a popular technique to use in between other skills. When used in combination with a subclass like Poison User which strengthens poisons, the effect is quite brutal.

Poison Fog
(Any Range) (AoE) Skill that produces a poisonous green fog that deals damage in an area around the designated location. An unusual attack skill where you can designate location, it shows its true might in tight corridors and the like, but one must take care of the timing since it damages both enemies and allies. Skill rank affects the duration, power and range of area affected by the poison fog. For solo ranged Assassins, a tactic is to lure enemies to a location where Poison Fog has been set up in advance, and by using hit-and-run tactics, they make the enemy pass through it many times. This strategy, called "kiting," requires a wide space to use so it is usually used outdoors.

Rapid Shot
(Ranged) Continuous rapid-fire shooting. A skill with many practical uses: for example, it can deal large damage by concentrating on one target, or can attack multiple targets by scattering the shots. Generic skill for ranged Assassins.

Spark Shot
(Ranged) Covers arrows in bluish-white electric shocks and fires them. The electric shocks split when it hits the target, giving minor damage to surrounding enemies. It is useful for cleaning up enemies that are grouped up together, however if you shoot without thinking, the enemies will rush in together as a group, so cooperation with a vanguard is needed.

Stealth Blade
(Any Range) Ambush the enemy, dealing a strong attack whose damage greatly increases if it hits the enemy from behind. It has a short cooldown and can be used aggressively if there is a chance. However, solo players must use it with other supportive skills to effectively make use of the "attack from behind" condition. Party play has it much easier, since the tank will hold the enemies' attention. This basic form of cooperation leaves the enemy open to surprise attacks from the back, creating a pincer attack.

Sweeper
(Any Range) (AoE) (Special Move) Skill that delivers a coup-de-grace with minimum movement. Enemies that are near death or are a considerably lower level than you are instantly killed. This is said to be a skill that makes an Assassin an Assassin, along with Assassinate. It has short motions, so it is easily used between other skills. Oftentimes, it is used to clean up mobs missed by other party members and to eliminate mobs that surround the boss.

Supportive

Dark Vision
Grants its user the ability to see, even without light source, a range determined by your level. However, it does not allow characters to see anything that they could not see otherwise invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still illusions.

Hide Walk
(Attack Support) (Defensive Support) Run into the enemy's blind spot, raising your next attack's hit and critical rate. While useful, constant reuse will heavily drain your MP, so it is said to show its power in short, decisive fights.

Silent Sniper
(Attack Support) Skill that silently marks an enemy without notifying them. While in effect, your hit rate, critical rate, and damage dealt is boosted against the marked enemy. While it is a powerful supportive skill that can change the outcome of a fight, it cannot be performed while moving and evasion rate is reduced. As a result, care must be taken when positioning. When in use, there is a target like the scope of a rifle locked onto the target.

Venom Strike
(Attack Support) (Debuffing) Coats your blade or arrow with deadly poison, increasing its attack power and granting a high chance of Poisoning on the enemy for additional damage over time. The weapon takes on a malicious purple hue when in use and when the attack hits it adds a boiling bubbling poison effect.

Aggro Management

Peek-a-Boo
(Special Move) Skill that hides yourself. Hiding skills on their own aren't particularly unique to Assassins, but Peek-a-Boo makes it more difficult for the enemy to detect you and Hate accumulated decreases faster. There are many skills where the power of the skill is strengthened when the enemy doesn't notice you like Stealth Blade, so a style where you sneak up with Peek-a-boo to land a blow with a stealth reinforced skill was created. A shadow effect is applied to the character while hiding, and the motion changes to one of a lowered creeping posture as well.

Shake Off
(Special Move) Throws something at the ground, creating a smoke screen to completely block the enemies line of sight for a short time. No matter how much Hate was accumulated before that, the line of sight is obstructed during the duration of the effect, so by using it with movement skills right after, it is possible to use skills that raises damage with special attacks. This is a very powerful skill, so it comes with a 12 hour cooldown, it is necessary to think about what to do after using it before actually using it.

Trinket Walk 

(Aggro Management) Dazzles the enemy with movements, Hate gained by your own actions are greatly reduced during the duration of the effect. If the warriors are doing a good job of holding the enemy and you use this skill, it is possible to use large damage moves like Assassinate without attracting the enemies attention. When this skill is activated an effect that looks like "a hand motioning to look over there" is shown above your head.