Assassin Cross Apocalypse build: MVP, raid and PvP

General Set II

Best

Best for all three modes

• Set: STR +5, DEX +5, physical damage +2.5%
• Each piece: physical damage +2.2%, plus +0.4% per refine level
• All 3 at +10 (orange): physical damage +21.1% in total
• Works for every physical skill, melee or ranged

Odin Set III

Option

Test it if your M.ATK is high

• Set: STR +6, INT +6, ATK +2%, M.ATK +2%
• Each piece: ATK +1.4% and M.ATK +1.4%, plus +0.24% physical damage per refine level
• Armor also gives STR +1 and INT +1 per refine level
• Soul Destroyer scales from ATK plus M.ATK, so Odin is closer than it looks

Gale Set IV

Option

Only for Dancing Knife or Rolling Cutter

• Set: HP cap +5%, physical damage +2%
• Each piece: AGI +6, ATK +28, plus +0.38% physical damage per refine level
• All 3 at +10 (orange): physical damage +13.4%, ATK +84, AGI +18
• AGI helps attack-speed builds, not Soul Destroyer

Goibne Set III

Skip

Skip

• Set: Wind, Earth, Water and Fire skill damage taken -5%, VIT +6, Max HP +800, P.DEF +20
• No damage at all. A ranged Assassin Cross should stay out of reach instead

Values are orange (gold) quality. Royal pieces have the same bonuses plus more HP. Whether General or Odin is better for Soul Destroyer was already an open question at Lv.80; General is the safe pick because it helps every skill.

Stats

Apocalypse weapon trait

Gear

Royal Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +210Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Royal Holy Dagger III in the main hand: ATK +210, Soul Destroyer multiplier +7%, with more at refine +5 (+4%), +10 (+7%) and +15 (+11%). Baldur's Might adds ATK and M.ATK equal to refine × refine × 0.5.Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +140Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Holy Dagger III (orange) in the off-hand: ATK +140. Two daggers turn on Two-handed Mastery (P.ATK +10%). The off-hand special skill is sealed, so don't roll it.General's Assault Armor IILv.91 · HP +8329P.DMG Bonus +2.2%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%General Set II on armor, cape and shoes: physical damage +21.1% at +10 (see the armor section).Rogue's Treasure IIILv.90 · HP +1784 · ATK +50 · DEX +8P.DMG Bonus +2.8%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%Rogue's Treasure III: ATK +50, DEX +8, physical damage +2.8%, plus +0.4% per refine level.Cold Heart IIILv.90 · HP +1784 · ATK +50 · STR +8Ignore P.DEF +35
Refine +5, Ignore P.DEF +1.4%Cold Heart III: ATK +50, STR +8, ignore P.DEF +35. With Rogue's Treasure, the set adds ATK +2% and physical damage +2%.Bradium Brooch IIILv.90 · HP +1189 · ATK +33 · M.ATK +33M.ATK +1.4%, ATK +1.4%
For every Refine Lv. +1, M.ATK% +0.42%, ATK% +0.42%Alternative: Bradium Brooch III with Nile Rose III. ATK +1.4% and M.ATK +1.4%, plus +0.42% of each per refine level; both feed Soul Destroyer.

Special skills

Silent MindWeaponSoul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, cast range +2m, damage +0.6~33%Silent Mind on the main dagger: Soul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, range +2 m, damage +33% (red).

Focus MindAccessoryEvery 2s, when Soul Destroyer deals damage, triggers Soul Destroyer again on the target. Soul Destroyer damage +0.3~16.5%Focus Mind: every 2s, a Soul Destroyer hit triggers a second Soul Destroyer, and its damage is +16.5% (red).

Venom MasterAccessoryWhen dealing damage, has a 15% chance to Poison the target. Damage multiplier dealt to Poisoned targets +0.6~33%Venom Master: 15% chance to poison on every hit, and damage to poisoned targets +33% (red). Earlier tests found it stronger than Rapid Venom for this build.

Elite GuardArmorDMG taken from MVP, Mini, and Boss -0.5~27.5%.Elite Guard on armor and cape: damage taken from MVP, Mini and Boss monsters -27.5% (red).

Way of the AssassinAlternativeIgnore target's 0.3~16.5% P.DEF and M.DEF, PDMG Bonus +0.3~16.5%Way of the Assassin instead of Venom Master against Shadow and Undead MVPs: ignore 16.5% of P.DEF and M.DEF, physical damage +16.5% (red).

Cards

Weapon ×2

Minorous Card · Archer Skeleton Card · Strouf Card · Hydra Card

Minorous (damage vs Large +10.8 to 18%) plus one card for the MVP: Strouf vs Demon or Hydra vs Demi-Human. Archer Skeleton (ranged physical damage +6 to 10%) works on everything.

Headwear

Cramp Card

ATK +9~15

Cramp: ATK +9 to 15 and M.ATK +9 to 15. Soul Destroyer uses both.

Armor

Pharaoh Card · Pecopeco Card

Pharaoh: physical and magic damage taken -15%. Pecopeco (Max HP +3 to 5%) if you have no Pharaoh.

Cape

Nine Tail Card

INT +4~6

Nine Tail: INT +4 to 6.

Shoes

Wild Rose Card

STR +6~10

Wild Rose: STR +6 to 10.

Backwear

Mirage: Angeling Card

DMG vs Large% +3.60%~6%

Mirage: Angeling: damage vs Large +3.6 to 6%.

Accessory ×4

Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card

4 Zealotus: ranged physical damage +3.6 to 6% each. Orc Archer (+3 to 5%) is the cheaper version.

Starcore traits, in priority order

Rune Engine

Single-Target AmplificationIncreases single-target skill DMG multiplier by 2~12%Single-Target Amplification: single-target skill damage +8%. Soul Destroyer is a single-target skill in the game data.

Abnormal Damage BoostIncreases DMG multiplier by 2~12% to targets with abnormal statusAbnormal Damage Boost: +8% damage to targets with a status effect. Poison counts.

Desperate StrikeIncreases P.ATK and M.ATK by 2~12%. Reduces P.DEF and M.DEF by 2~12%Desperate Strike: P.ATK and M.ATK +8%, but P.DEF and M.DEF -8%. Swap to Mighty Guard if the MVP hits hard.

Balanced DefenseWhen HP is above 50%, DMG multiplier increases by 12%. When below 50%, DMG taken is reduced by 12%Balanced Defense: +8% damage while your HP is above 50%, -8% damage taken below it.

Layered BladeStacks when dealing DMG. Each stack increases DMG by 0.8%, up to 20 stacks, lasting 10s. After acquiring , gain 5 stacks each time DMG is dealt.Layered Blade: +0.4% damage per hit, up to 20 stacks (+8%).

Reroll affixes last, toward ATK%, M.ATK%, ranged physical damage and Max HP%.

How to play

• Open from Hiding. Enhanced Hiding gives physical damage +52% while you are hidden and for 2s after, so your first Soul Destroyers hit hardest. Hiding must be pressed by hand.
• Order: Enchant Deadly Poison, Poison Buster (Poison damage +35% for 12s), then Soul Destroyer. When Poison Buster ends, Deadly Poisoned targets explode for extra Poison damage.
• Against Shadow and Undead MVPs (Baphomet, Dracula, Doppelganger, Osiris, Dark Lord, Atroce, Drake), turn the poison skills off and use Way of the Assassin.
• Outside the raid, Aggressive and Defensive are worth almost nothing, so fill all 4 starcore traits with real stats and ignore color matching.

Stats

Apocalypse weapon trait

Gear

Royal Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +210Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Royal Holy Dagger III: Soul Destroyer multiplier +7%, more at +5, +10 and +15. On Taiwan's server a Lv.90 Royal dagger gave about 75 Break by itself.Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +140Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Holy Dagger III in the off-hand, as in the MVP build.General's Assault Armor IILv.91 · HP +8329P.DMG Bonus +2.2%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%General Set II on armor, cape and shoes. Activate Apocalypse on these three first, for Guard.Rogue's Treasure IIILv.90 · HP +1784 · ATK +50 · DEX +8P.DMG Bonus +2.8%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%Rogue's Treasure III: physical damage +2.8%, plus +0.4% per refine level.Cold Heart IIILv.90 · HP +1784 · ATK +50 · STR +8Ignore P.DEF +35
Refine +5, Ignore P.DEF +1.4%Cold Heart III: ignore P.DEF +35. Set with Rogue's Treasure: ATK +2%, physical damage +2%.

Special skills

Silent MindWeaponSoul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, cast range +2m, damage +0.6~33%Silent Mind: Soul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, range +2 m, damage +33% (red). The extra range keeps you farther from boss attacks.

Focus MindAccessoryEvery 2s, when Soul Destroyer deals damage, triggers Soul Destroyer again on the target. Soul Destroyer damage +0.3~16.5%Focus Mind: every 2s, a Soul Destroyer hit triggers a second one, damage +16.5% (red).

Way of the AssassinAccessoryIgnore target's 0.3~16.5% P.DEF and M.DEF, PDMG Bonus +0.3~16.5%Way of the Assassin: ignore 16.5% of P.DEF and M.DEF, physical damage +16.5% (red). It works on every boss, poison or not.

Large Monster GuardArmorDMG taken from large units -0.5~27.5%.Large Monster Guard on armor: damage taken from Large units -27.5% (red). All five bosses are Large.

Shadow ResistanceCapeShadow DMG taken -0.5~27.5%.Shadow Resistance on the cape: Shadow damage taken -27.5% (red), for Pharaoh and Bloody Knight. Elite Guard (-27.5% from Boss monsters) for the other bosses.

Cards

Weapon ×2

Minorous Card · Hydra Card · Pecopeco Egg Card · Strouf Card

Minorous every fight: all five bosses are Large. Second card: Hydra for Amon Ra, Pharaoh and Anubis (Demi-Human), Pecopeco Egg for Bloody Knight (Formless), Strouf for Dark Lord (Demon).

Headwear

Cramp Card · Mirage: Orc Lord Card

Cramp (ATK and M.ATK +9 to 15). Mirage: Orc Lord (damage taken from Large -3.6 to 6%) if you keep dying.

Armor

Pharaoh Card

PDMG Reduction% +15%

Pharaoh: physical and magic damage taken -15%.

Cape

Raydric Card · Nine Tail Card

Raydric (Shadow damage taken -6 to 10%) for Pharaoh and Bloody Knight. Nine Tail (INT +4 to 6) for the other bosses.

Shoes

Wild Rose Card

STR +6~10

Wild Rose: STR +6 to 10.

Backwear

Mirage: Angeling Card

DMG vs Large% +3.60%~6%

Mirage: Angeling: damage vs Large +3.6 to 6%, useful in all five fights.

Accessory ×4

Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card

4 Zealotus: ranged physical damage +3.6 to 6% each.

Starcore traits, in priority order

Rune Engine

Single-Target AmplificationIncreases single-target skill DMG multiplier by 2~12%Single-Target Amplification: single-target skill damage +8%, for Soul Destroyer.

Balanced DefenseWhen HP is above 50%, DMG multiplier increases by 12%. When below 50%, DMG taken is reduced by 12%Balanced Defense: +8% damage above 50% HP, -8% damage taken below it.

Agile DefenseIncreases DMG by 1~6% when stationary. Reduces DMG taken by 1~6% when movingAgile Defense: +4% damage while standing, -4% damage taken while moving. A ranged attacker stands still often.

Layered BladeStacks when dealing DMG. Each stack increases DMG by 0.8%, up to 20 stacks, lasting 10s. After acquiring , gain 5 stacks each time DMG is dealt.Layered Blade: +0.4% damage per hit, up to 20 stacks (+8%). Long boss fights keep it full.

Mighty GuardWhen taking single DMG exceeding 10% of max HP, reduces DMG by 4~24%. 15s cooldownMighty Guard: -16% on any single hit above 10% of your max HP. Never run Desperate Strike here: its -8% defense is deadly against hits that take 90% of your HP.

Reroll affixes last, toward ATK%, ranged physical damage and Max HP%.

How to play

• Guard before Break: activate Apocalypse on armor, cape and shoes first, and raise Guard to 80, then 160, then 240.
• Normal targets (Break / Guard): Amon Ra none, Pharaoh 80 / 80, Bloody Knight 160 / 80, Dark Lord 160 / 160, Anubis 240 / 160. Hard needs about 320 Break and 240-320 Guard. Below the target your damage halves (Break) or you take up to +90% damage (Guard).
• Your dagger starts with less Break than other weapons, so put Aggressive on the weapon and on both accessories. Stellar Power: when all 4 traits on a slot are the same quality, the season stats get +30% (blue) up to +100% (red).
• Leave poison off on Pharaoh, Bloody Knight, Dark Lord and Anubis (Shadow and Undead). On Amon Ra (Earth) you can turn it back on.
• Bring a priest. On Anubis, don't burst too fast: too much damage too fast stacks mechanics and wipes the party.

Stats

Apocalypse weapon trait

Gear

Royal Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +210Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Royal Holy Dagger III: Soul Destroyer multiplier +7% and Baldur's Might. The same Napalm Beat dagger as in PvE.Holy Dagger IIILv.90 · ATK +140Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +7%
Refine +5, Soul Destroyer DMG multiplier +4%Holy Dagger III in the off-hand, for Two-handed Mastery.General's Assault Armor IILv.91 · HP +8329P.DMG Bonus +2.2%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%General Set II on armor, cape and shoes: physical damage +21.1% at +10.Rogue's Treasure IIILv.90 · HP +1784 · ATK +50 · DEX +8P.DMG Bonus +2.8%
For every Refine Lv. +1, P.DMG Bonus +0.4%Rogue's Treasure III and Cold Heart III, as in PvE: ATK +2% and physical damage +2% for the pair.Eye of Dullahan IIILv.90 · HP +2974 · VIT +8All Elemental DMG Reduction +2.4%
Refine +5, All Attribute DMG Reduction +1.2%Alternative for the second accessory: Eye of Dullahan III if mages kill you. HP +2974, all elemental damage taken -2.4%, more with refine.

Special skills

Silent MindWeaponSoul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, cast range +2m, damage +0.6~33%Silent Mind: Soul Destroyer cooldown -0.2s, range +2 m, damage +33% (red).

Focus MindAccessoryEvery 2s, when Soul Destroyer deals damage, triggers Soul Destroyer again on the target. Soul Destroyer damage +0.3~16.5%Focus Mind: every 2s, a Soul Destroyer hit triggers a second one, damage +16.5% (red).

Way of the AssassinAccessoryIgnore target's 0.3~16.5% P.DEF and M.DEF, PDMG Bonus +0.3~16.5%Way of the Assassin: ignore 16.5% of P.DEF and M.DEF, physical damage +16.5% (red).

Duelist GuardArmorDMG taken from players -0.5~27.5%.Duelist Guard on armor and cape: damage taken from players -27.5% (red).

PDMG ReductionAlternativeWhen taking damage, PDMG taken -0.7~35.8% for 5s.PDMG Reduction on the cape instead, if melee classes kill you: physical damage taken -35.8% for 5s after you are hit (red).

Cards

Weapon ×2

Hydra Card · Archer Skeleton Card

Hydra (damage vs Demi-Human +12 to 20%) and Archer Skeleton (ranged physical damage +6 to 10%).

Headwear

Cramp Card

ATK +9~15

Cramp: ATK and M.ATK +9 to 15.

Facewear

Mirage: Dracula Card · Stalactic Golem Card

Mirage: Dracula (damage vs Demi-Human +3.6 to 6%). Stalactic Golem (Stun resistance +60 to 100) if stuns kill you.

Armor

Pharaoh Card

PDMG Reduction% +15%

Pharaoh: physical and magic damage taken -15%.

Cape

Nine Tail Card

INT +4~6

Nine Tail: INT +4 to 6.

Shoes

Eddga Card

Royal Might Damage Reduction+% +5%

Eddga: blocks one hard control effect and gives all control resistance +70% for 5s, every 20s.

Backwear

Mirage: Mistress Card

DMG Reduction vs Demi-Human% +3.60%~6%

Mirage: Mistress: damage taken from Demi-Human -3.6 to 6%.

Accessory ×4

Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card · Zealotus Card

4 Zealotus: ranged physical damage +3.6 to 6% each.

Starcore traits, in priority order

Rune Engine

Single-Target AmplificationIncreases single-target skill DMG multiplier by 2~12%Single-Target Amplification: single-target skill damage +8%, for Soul Destroyer.

Bloodthirsty BladeIncreases DMG multiplier by 4~24% to targets with HP above 70%Bloodthirsty Blade: +16% damage to targets above 70% HP. Your opening hits from Hiding land on full-HP players.

Balanced DefenseWhen HP is above 50%, DMG multiplier increases by 12%. When below 50%, DMG taken is reduced by 12%Balanced Defense: +8% damage above 50% HP, -8% damage taken below it.

Mighty GuardWhen taking single DMG exceeding 10% of max HP, reduces DMG by 4~24%. 15s cooldownMighty Guard: -16% on any single hit above 10% of your max HP. Burst classes hit that hard.

Fatal InjuryReduces target's healing received by 5~30% for 5s upon dealing DMG. 20s cooldownFatal Injury: your hits cut the target's healing received by 20% for 5s (20s cooldown). Use it against teams with a priest.

Reroll affixes last, toward ATK%, ranged physical damage, Max HP% and damage reduction vs Demi-Human.

How to play

• Start from Hiding: Enhanced Hiding gives physical damage +52% while hidden and for 2s after, and immunity to hard control while hidden.
• Keep your distance. Dodge (2 charges) and Hiding are your escape when a melee player reaches you.
• Guard barely helps in PvP: 150 Guard cut damage by only about 6% in a Taiwan test. Put starcore slots into real stats such as less damage from Demi-Human and less melee damage.
• Pyro 7 is the PvP color: +6% damage to players, and the target takes +4.5% damage. Geo 4 gives -3% damage from players and a 10% max HP shield every 15s.

• We found no Taiwan Assassin Cross raid log. The raid build follows the general raid rules (Guard first, Stellar Power, boss cards) and the Soul Destroyer core, not a tested Assassin Cross setup.
• Soul Destroyer "ignores Size Modifier". We assume this means the weapon size penalty only, so size cards (Minorous, Mirage: Angeling) still work. Test one fight with and without Minorous.
• Whether the off-hand dagger can get its own Apocalypse slot, and whether its cards and Soul Destroyer multiplier count. Its special skill is sealed.
• Whether Focus Mind's second Soul Destroyer and Napalm Beat's splash stack on each other.
• Whether Deadly Poison sticks on Shadow and Undead raid bosses at all. We assume it does little and leave poison off there.
• Exact Lv.90 stat numbers. No source gives them. Our rule: STR 99, then INT, the rest in VIT.
• Whether players count as Demi-Human in this game. The PvP picks (Hydra, Mirage: Dracula, DMG vs Human%) assume they do, as in classic Ragnarok.
• When SEA opens Calamity Zone Season 1, and whether SEA keeps Taiwan's Break and Guard targets.