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Phoenix Strike Assassin Guide

Season 8

Last Updated:August 10, 2024|Changelog

The Phoenix Strike Assassin uses the elements of Fire, Lightning, Cold, and Physical to send her enemies screaming in terror! Also known as the "PS Sin," she is a devastating force against mass density and Act Bosses alike. She utilizes a unique mechanic of building up charges that are unleashed with a finisher move.

With the new mosaic Runeword, the Martial Arts tree has become an absolute powerhouse. You can have a 100% uptime on your charge-up skills when dual-wielding these claws. Charge up every single Martial Arts Skill you want to unleash them all with dragon talon to annihilate your enemies! The only thing you need to be aware of: You need to hit a target with a finisher move every 15 seconds to keep your charges up! And did we mention that you could pass for a Christmas tree?

You want to do Ubers as well? Go right ahead! This build blows them up faster than most builds! Only small adjustments are required!

Ideal Standard Setup
Ideal Standard Setup

Phoenix Strike

Dragon Talon

Teleport

Claws of Thunder

The Phoenix Strike Assassin also has a lot of utility through the Skills Fade, Cloak of Shadows, and Mindblast. These skills provide her with great Crowd Control, Resistances and Physical Damage Reduction, making her quite versatile in combat.

This build guide assumes you have a Character at Level 75 before transitioning to it. Check out our Assassin Leveling Guide and our General Leveling Strategies to reach Level 75.


Very Tanky ✔
Multiple Damage Sources
Incredibly Unique Gameplay ✔


Requires Build Up For Damage
Hard To View Charges In Combat
Lots Of Hotkeys While Charging Up

Sunder Charm Setup

Patch 2.5 introduces a new way of breaking Immunities: Sunder Charms. Any enemy that would be Immune to your damage type is instead reduced to 95% Resistance, before any other Resistance reductions apply. (e.g. Conviction, Lower Resist) The Charm also reduces YOUR Resistance against the sundered damage type! Check out our post on Sunder Charms to learn more about these new Charms.

Sunder Charm Setup
Sunder Charm Setup

Gear Changes

With the 4 damage types you never necessarily NEED to use a Sundering Charm. The Standard variant of this build utilizes Crack of the Heavens as the primary focus is Lightning Damage. To Min-Max efficiency in any Zone you farm you can use Cold Rupture, or Flame Rift

Counteract the negative effects of Sundering Charms with your small Charms. You can also replace your Gore Rider Myrmidon Greaves with Rare Myrmidon Greaves. You don't need Crushing Blow for most farming zones.

Terror Zones

The new Terror Zone mechanic combined with Sunder Charms open up a wide range of farmable areas. The following list highlights the best and worst Terror Zones for this build on the Starter or Budget setup. With the Sunder Charm Setup, more Terror Zones become accessible. Learn more about Terror Zones here and see how they stack up in our Terror Zone Tier List.

Best

The Secret Cow Level - High Density, Easy Mobility
Tal Rasha's Tombs - High Density, Many Elite Groups
Worldstone Keep + Throne of Destruction - High Density, Many Elite Groups
Chaos Sanctuary - High Density, Many Elite Groups, Bosses
Tristram - High Density, Many Elite Groups

Worst

Blood Moor + Den of Evil - Low Density, Few Elite Groups
Arreat Plateau - Low Density, Few Elite Groups
Burial Grounds + Crypt + Mausoleum - Low Density, Trash Mobility,
Spider Forest + Spider Cavern - Low Density, Few Elite Groups
Act 2 Sewers - Trash Mobility

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Weapon Block

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Dragon Talon
3. Claws of Thunder
4. Tiger Strike
5. fists of fire

You can invest 1 Skill Point into shadow warrior for an additional meat shield.

Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression
Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression

Damage

Utility

Attributes

Note: This section provides you with the standard Stat Point allocation. Build Variants can require a different allocation!

Strength

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength to equip all of your gear. Take into account how much Strength your gear provides when equipped.

Dexterity

Allocate enough Stat Points into Dexterity to equip all of your gear. Take into account how much Dexterity your gear provides when equipped.

Vitality

Allocate any remaining Stat Points into Vitality after meeting Strength, Dexterity and Energy requirements.

Energy

Don't allocate any Stat Points into Energy. This build gets enough Mana from gear, buffs, Charms, and Mana Potions.

Essentials

Gear Options

Farming Spots

Mercenary

Playstyle

Breakpoints

Hardcore

Build Variants

Starter
Budget
Standard
Magic Find
Ubers

Setup

The Phoenix Strike Assassin relies on specific stats to ensure smooth gameplay. Most important is Cannot Be Frozen, which you get from hearth. Gain as much +x to Sills / Martial Arts / Phoenix Strike on Claws, and Gloves. Both can be shopped from Anya in Nightmare. The Spirit Shroud grants +1 to all Skills and Cannot be Frozen, which allows you to switch to lore. The 2-piece Set combinations Angelic Wings + Angelic Halo, and Hsarus' Iron Stay + Hsarus' Iron Heel bring much-needed Attack Rating while you charge up your phoenix strike. They also grant Life, Resistances and Faster Run/Walk, which are your final needs to get going!

Mercenary

Focus on giving your Mercenary Resistances and Life. Insight is a pretty easy Runeword to farm that gives a great amount of damage and Quality of Life with Meditation. Get the Might Aura Mercenary for extra damage against Immunes. Put on Bulwark and smoke for easy survivability.

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Shadow Warrior
5. Dragon Claw
6. dragon flight
7. Death Sentry

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Fists of Fire
3. Claws of Thunder
4. Death Sentry

Attributes

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Put remaining Stat Points into Vitality.

Setup

The Budget Phoenix Strike Assassin balances the core utility requirements with as much damage as possible. raven frost satisfies the need for Cannot Be Frozen. Dual-wielding mosaic is the core of this build to gain a 100% Chance to not use charges and refresh charge timers when using a finisher (Dragon Claw or dragon talon).

The combination of Harlequin Crest, and String of Ears, and fade cap out your Physical Damage Reduction. treachery gives +45% Increased Attack Speed to get great Attack Speed Breakpoints for your charge-up Skills.

Mercenary

Focus on giving your Mercenary Resistances and Life. Insight is a pretty easy Runeword to farm that gives a great amount of damage and Quality of Life with Meditation. Get the Might Aura Mercenary for extra damage against Immunes. Put on Bulwark and treachery for easy survivability.

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Shadow Warrior
5. Dragon Claw
6. dragon flight

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Fists of Fire
3. Claws of Thunder
4. blades of ice

Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression
Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression

Attributes

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Put remaining Stat Points into Vitality.

Setup

The final version of the Phoenix Strike Assassin is reached when you don't need to worry about your defenses, as you are overwhelming enemies with brute force and crowd control! Dual-wielding mosaic are the core of everything. You can get up to 59% Chance to Block with weapon block. Dracul's Grasp are used for the occasional proc of life tap to keep you healthy against very tanky monsters. Griffon's Eye and Arachnid Mesh grant 45% Faster Cast Rate which is a decent Breakpoint for Teleport from Enigma Mage Plate. The remaining gear is used to achieve as many +x to Skills and capped Resistances with fade.

Mercenary

Might Aura Mercenary works well for extra damage against Immunes. Infinity Thresher pierces Resistances and even breaks some immunities. Andariel's Visage, and Fortitude provide the remaining damage and survivability needed.

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Shadow Warrior
5. Dragon Flight
6. Weapon Block

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Dragon Talon
3. Fists of Fire
4. Claws of Thunder
5. Blades of Ice
6. Weapon Block

Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression
Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression

Attributes

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Put remaining Stat Points into Vitality.

Setup

The Magic Find variant of the Phoenix Strike Assassin reaches more than enough damage to quickly annihilate anything in its path on a low player count. It combines mobility with as much Magic Find as possible. Replace Magic Gloves and Rare Boots with Chance Guards and wartraveler for more Magic Find. You don't need the damage from Shogukusha's Grand Charm of Vita on low player counts, use Gheed's Fortune and Small Charm of Good Luck. You won't be capped for Resistances with pure Magic Find charms, make sure some of them have Resistances! With a Fortuitous Ring of Fortune, Kenshi's Amulet of Luck, and Harlequin Crest you can reach upwards of 500% Magic Find!

Put Wizardspike + Spirit Monarch into your Weapon Swap to reach the 105% Faster Cast Rate Breakpoint for teleport.

Mercenary

Might Aura Mercenary works well for extra damage against Immunes. Infinity Thresher pierces Resistances and even breaks some immunities. Andariel's Visage, and Fortitude provide the remaining damage and survivability needed.

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Shadow Warrior
5. Dragon Flight
6. Weapon Block

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Dragon Talon
3. Fists of Fire
4. Claws of Thunder
5. Blades of Ice
6. Weapon Block

Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression
Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression

Attributes

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Put remaining Stat Points into Vitality.

Setup

The Ubers variant of the Phoenix Strike Assassin aims to overcap Lightning Resistances to make Uber Mephisto an easy task. Replace Mara's Kaleidoscope with a Caster Crafted Amulet, and The Stone of Jordan with a Rare Ring. Fill up your Inventory with Charms that provide Life and Resistances.

Rare Myrmidon Greaves are replaced with upgraded Gore Riders to add +x% Chance of Crushing Blow to your damage. You can opt into using Guillaume's Face instead of Griffon's Eye for even more Crushing Blow but less general damage.

Mercenary

Might Aura Mercenary works well for extra damage against Immunes. Infinity Thresher pierces Resistances and even breaks some immunities. Andariel's Visage, and Fortitude provide the remaining damage and survivability needed. Proc fade from treachery to increase his survivability before entering any Ubers Portal.

Skills

Put 1 Skill Point into each of the following Skills:
1. Cloak of Shadows
2. Mind Blast
3. Fade
4. Shadow Warrior
5. Dragon Flight
6. Weapon Block

Max out the following Skills in this order:
1. Phoenix Strike
2. Dragon Talon
3. Fists of Fire
4. Claws of Thunder
5. Blades of Ice
6. Weapon Block

Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression
Use the Scroll Bar to see Skill Point Progression

Attributes

Allocate enough Stat Points into Strength and Dexterity to equip your gear. Put remaining Stat Points into Vitality.

Mechanics

Death Sentry

Teleport

Video Guide

Summary

  • Use a sequence of phoenix strike, claws of thunder, blades of ice, and fists of fire to gain all charges. Make sure to use dragon talon or dragon claw to refresh the charge timers with mosaic equipped.
  • Place 1-2 Death Sentrys after the first monster dies to blow up the surrounding mobs with Corpse Explosion.
  • Keep your Mercenary close by for the Infinity Aura and additional DPS.
  • Utilize Dragon Flight on enemy targets for mobility, similar to Teleport.
  • Keep up Fade at all times.
  • Cloak of Shadows, Mindblast, Shadow Master and Charge 3 of Phoenix Strike are our sources Crowd Control.
  • Battle Command + Battle Orders boost your survivability and damage output.

With patch 2.6, the Phoenix Strike is one of the most powerful builds in Diablo 2! With all charges active, you can just blow up everything in no time!

Good luck!

Credits

Updated by Teo1904
Original Author BTNeandertha1
Reviewed by MacroBioBoi

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