Wrecking Blow or Suprise attack, Ambush or Critical Rush for a 2H/Bow Nightblade?

vote4ren · June 2015

I recently respecced from DW/Bow to 2h/Bow and I'm experimenting with new bar setups. The title pretty much explains it all. What do you guys think?

RavenSworn · June 2015

Wrecking blow for me, it has the empower buff.

In group play, critical rush. As long as you have an assassination ability slotted, whenever you crit you give a buff to your allies. In solo play however I prefer ambush. Empower is just too good a buff to pass.

Surfinginhawaii · June 2015

I personally like wrecking blow with ambush, just my 1/2 cent worth.

vote4ren · June 2015

Well then what about killers blade or executioner?

Surfinginhawaii · June 2015

On my two-handed bar I use the following: Brawler, wrecking blow, ambush, forward momentum, evil hunter and my ultimate is flawless dawnbreaker, this set-up has worked for me but it may not be what you wish to use.

Elijah_Crow · June 2015

I'm a fan of surprise attack and ambush. I will sometimes keep wrecking blow on my 2 hand bar in pvp (2H/DW) for some extra cc, but for straight damage it's surprise attack all day. (extra armor and spell resist buff is nice).

Lynx7386 · June 2015

Wrecking blow from stealth will do more damage than surprise attack from stealth, but it will not reduce the target's armor or stun for as long (still stuns, lower duration stun than surprise attack though). When not stealthed, wrecking blow will deal more damage, but it does have a short cast time/windup whereas surprise attack is instant.

Critical rush, when used at longer ranges, will do more damage than ambush. However, it does not receive stealth damage bonuses (ambush does), and it does not give you the 20% damage boost on your next attack that ambush does.

I prefer executioner over killer's blade, mainly because it also gives a damage bonus to wrecking blow, brawler, critical rush, and light/heavy attacks with my 2h weapon on low health targets. It's also got a greater reach than killer's blade (executioner is 7 meters, killer's blade is 5), which allows it to be used outside the range of some point-blank aoe spells, particularly those used by npc enemies.
That said, the animation for reverse slice is one of the best in the game, it's just too bad that the ability is useless next to it's other morph (executioner).
I tend to pick impale over killer's blade, despite it being magicka based, because I use it with my bow for a ranged execute and magicka dump.

Strider_Roshin · June 2015

Depends. I used WB in earlier levels, but once you get aspect of terror/mass hysteria I prefer to use surprise attack. It may be be more costly but it has great DPS, it's an instant cast and it activates your shadow barrier passive which provides excellent defense.