Spear / Dagger PvP Build Guide
Last Updated:March 21, 2025|Changelog
Welcome to the Spear / Dagger PvP Build Guide. Shadowdancer is the premiere AoE Damging option for all melee weapon enthusiasts! Javelin Inferno paired with Thunder Spirit has massive AoE potential when throwing the Javelins into clumps of players!
You aren't just a glass cannon though, as you have multiple defensive abilities / passives as well! Unyielding Sentinel provides a solid barrier as well as increased Resistances or Heavy Attack Chance depending on your playstyle. Camouflage Cloak provides an incredible escape tool or can be used offensively to position safely near the group of enemies. Shadow Walker offers an incredible boost to your Evasion as well. Played to its fullest potential, you're an incredible asset to your team.
T2 Archboss Shadowdancer Build
If you're interested in PvE, check out our Spear / Dagger PvE Build Guide!
PvP Gear Progression
Acquiring Gear pieces and upgrading them is incredibly expensive and time-consuming. If you enjoy both PvE and PvP content, use these Spear / Dagger PvP Builds for PvE as well. Hover over the items to see multiple / alternative gear sources!
If you're interested in PvE Gear Progression, check out our Spear / Dagger PvE Build Guide here!
- There is no "Best Build", Talandre Gear allows for a wide variety of builds leading to different metas depending on your Server.
- Use the builds as a base, and swap different pieces around to gain the specific stats you desire.
- AGS is limiting gear availability for the launch of Talandre so Loot Tables may not be fully correct at during the first month of Talandre in Global Servers.
Consider the defensive and offensive breakpoints other classes can reach when building your gear.
- Melee
- Fully built Sword and Shield users reach 1500+ base Endurance.
- The amount varies depending on Trait Resonances and Runes.
- With the Palace Guard's Plate Armor item set, they will take even less damage. If you are targeting Sword and Shields, use the Shield Block Penetration Chance Rune Synergy.
- Greatswords can reach 2500+ base Melee Hit Chance fully geared without sacrificing damage.
- Spears can reach 2000+ base Melee Hit Chance before buffs.
- Fully built Sword and Shield users reach 1500+ base Endurance.
- Ranged
- Ranged Classes can reach 2000+ base Ranged and Magic Evasion or 1700+ Endurance pre-buffed without sacrificing damage. The specific numbers depend on the Runes the player slots and the Trait Resonance they use.
- Support
- If Bow / Wands follow the builds on this site, they can reach 2000+ Ranged and Magic Endurance with 500+ Heavy Attack Evasion. As mentioned above, these numbers differ depending on the Runes and Trait Resonance.
Considering the above, it's hard to find a one-size-fits-all solution. How you gear will entirely depend on the meta of your server.
- Is your server full of high Evasion users? Do you usually target those players? If so, build more Hit Chance.
- Spear's Mastery allows to gain additional Hit Chance on mobility skill use.
- Is your server more Endurance-focused? Are you trying to kill those Endurance users? If so, build more Critical Hit Chance. Lightning Infusion will help against opponents Endurance as well.
Set Effect Options
- 2 Pieces of Abyssal Beast for Hit Chance and Wildlands Protector for Evasion are very common options.
- Chaos Harbinger is a popular damage set effect for increased damage should you choose to build for high Critical Hit.
- Some servers end up having over 60-70% of the PvP playerbase as Sword and Shield users. Because of this, 4 - 6 piece Deathless One Set results in a great option to reach 90%+ Shield Block Penetration.
- Enchanting Pyromancer: Solar Stone is a solid choice for a quick burst of additional Hit for times you want to ensure the kill on a priority target.
Rune Synergy Options
- Critical Hit Damage Reduction for more defense.
- Shield Block Penetration Chance for more damage against Sword and Shield heavy comps.
- Attack Speed for faster combos resulting in potentially more Damage before players can react.
Defensive and Support Runes
This is interchangeable depending on what you need and your server meta.
- Use Ranged Evasion Runes if your server is heavy on Longbow users.
- Use Magic Evasion Runes if your server is heavy on Staff users.
- 3 Skill Damage Resistance Runes can be used in place of Hit Runes on the Belt and other places so long as the Hit Chance is high enough for your server without Hit Runes.
When you get a Rare Chaos Rune: Ring with a good stat, replace the Support Rune in your Rings.
PvP Stats and Traits
- Hit Chance, Critical Hit Chance, Heavy Attack Chance, Skill Damage Resistance, Skill Damage Boost, and Evasion are your most important traits.
- [tal-weapon-mastery-node id=941465334]Master of Evasion[/tal-weapon-mastery-node] and Shadow Walker lets your Ranged and Magic Evasion reach anywhere between 1800 - 2000.
- This lets you evade nearly 40 %- 50% of Ranged and Magic skills versus someone with 1000 Hit Chance.
Builds
Archboss Builds
Builds
Early T2 Transition Build
- This is an easy to obtain build for the first couple of weeks during the release of Talandre.
- The Abyss Slayer Set comes from 2 Star Dungeons.
- The Helmet comes from completing the Main Story Quest.
T2 Ranged/Magic Evasion
- This build focuses on maintaining high Ranged / Magic Evasions.
- The Imperial Tracker Set allows for relatively high Critical Damage.
- This build results in the following Offensive Stats
- 2000+ Hit
- 900+ Heavy Attack Chance
- 2000+ Critical Hit.
Stats and Gearing Logic
- Deluzhnoa's Hail Spear is THE STRONGEST spear possible, so use it if you ever get a chance to.
- Tevent's Fangs of Fury is still very much useful in desired in most cases due to the ability to go in and out of stealth frequently.
- The downside, is losing Perception compared to that of Bercant's Seductive Blade or Peerless Obsidian Razors.
- Shadowdancers can receive up to 700+ increased Hit so base 2000 Hit results in 2400-2700+ Hit during actual fights.
- While there are Melee and Triple Evasion options, as it stands, there's a lot to lose in regard to Offensive Stats when choosing to go those routes.
- There will be a Melee and Triple Evasion build uploaded after the meta is defined in Global.
Alternatives + Other Common Weapons / Armors
With so many variations and build options, here are a few common items that can be used as alternatives to reach specific stat goals.
- Hit Alternatives
- Nether Overwatcher's Leather Pants
- Nether Overwatcher's Leather Gloves
- Great Tree Sap Necklace
- This can be obtained from Material Transformation as well as Precious Blessing Pouch: Nebula which drops from regular Nebula Island Monsters making it very obtainable
- Ogre King's Horned Helm
- Admiral's Combat Hat
- Elite Resistance Fighting Spirit Gloves
- Elite Resistance Bone Bandana
- Evasion Alternatives
- Elite Resistance Fighting Spirit Armor
- Nether Overwatcher's Leather Gloves
- Red Demonic Eye Bracelet
- Offensive Stats Alternatives
- Admiral's Directive Gloves
- Provides both Attack Speed and Range as item effects and trait to allow for faster combos and/or more Range!
- Tree King's Ring
- Granting more Attack Speed and Bonus Damage, this was made for Scorpions
- Ogre King's Horned Helm
- Already listed under Hit alternative, this also grants high amounts of Heavy Attack Chance
- Master Assassin's Belt
- Violent Demonic Beast's Fur Boots
- Great alternative for more Bonus Damage and Attack Speed
- Admiral's Directive Gloves
Archbosses and Nebula Island Accessories are not in Global yet. This is why there are some empty slots, because Nebula Island Accessories will be in those slots.
T2 Archboss Shadowdancer Build
Stats and Gearing Logic
- Deluzhnoa's Hail Spear is THE STRONGEST spear possible, so use it if you ever get a chance to.
- Tevent's Fangs of Fury is still very much useful in desired in most cases due to the ability to go in and out of stealth frequently.
- The downside, is losing Perception compared to that of Bercant's Seductive Blade or Peerless Obsidian Razors.
- This is specifically a high damaging build.
- This isn't meant to tank / evade much, but purely to go in, bomb, stealth out, and repeat.
- If you're ever lucky enough to get this build fully online, prepared to be feuded by an entire server.
T1 Archboss Builds
Heroic Spear PvP Build w/ Runes
Engage with Bellandir PvP Build w/ Runes
Non Archboss Builds
Rune Synergy Options
- Critical Hit Damage Reduction for more defense.
- Shield Block Penetration Chance for more damage against Sword and Shield heavy comps.
- Attack Speed for more damage.
Defensive and Support Runes
This is interchangeable depending on what you need and your server meta.
- Use Ranged Evasion Runes if your server is heavy on Longbow users.
- Use Magic Evasion Runes if your server is heavy on Staff users.
- 3 Skill Damage Resistance Runes can be used in place of Hit Runes on the Belt and other places so long as the Hit Chance is high enough for your server without Hit Runes.
When you get a Rare Chaos Rune: Ring with a good stat, replace the Support Rune in your Rings.
PvP Stats and Traits
- Hit Chance, Critical Hit Chance, Heavy Attack Chance, Skill Damage Resistance, Skill Damage Boost, and Evasion are your most important traits.
- [tal-weapon-mastery-node id=941465334]Master of Evasion[/tal-weapon-mastery-node] and Shadow Walker lets your Ranged and Magic Evasion reach anywhere between 1800 - 2000.
- This lets you evade nearly 40 %- 50% of Ranged and Magic skills versus someone with 1000 Hit Chance.
Full Offensive Damage
Heroic Spear / Dagger PvP Build w/ Runes
Balanced Damage w/ High Hit
Shaikal Spear / Dagger PvP Build w/ Runes
Full Offensive or Balanced Damage w/ High Hit Builds
The Full Offensive Build results in consistently higher damage output at the expense of Hit. Most players opt for more Ranged / Magic Evasion builds in Large Scale which allows the Hit sacrifice. Should you find yourself missing often, switch to the Balanced Damage w/ High Hit Build as you gain over 1000 Hit.
Co-Op Dungeon Sources
- Beast King's Gilded Bracers from Cave of Destruction
- Plate of the Field General from Death's Abyss or Island of Terror
- Phantom Wolf Gloves from Voidwastes
- Also from Demonhoof Tracker in Syleus's Abyss 5F-6F
- Slayer's Quicksilver Pendant from Valley of Slaughter
- Shadow Harvester Boots from Carmine Rage Island
- Also from Avolos Tracker in Sanctum of Desire
- Slayer's Quicksilver Pendant from Valley of Slaughter
- Shadow Harvester Mask from Valley of Slaughter or Adentus
- Greaves of the Field General from Torture Chamber of Secrets or Grand Aelon
- Reaper's Interring Pants from Torture Chamber of Secrets or Junobote
Field Boss Drops
- Tycan's Bloodlust Belt from Aridus or Material Transmutation
Melee Evasion - Higher HP Version
Spear / Dagger PvP Build w/ Runes
Melee Evasion - Higher Hit Version
Spear / Dagger PvP Build w/ Runes
- This build is mainly for Arena PvP and Small Scale PvP where Melee users dominate.
- With [tal-weapon-mastery-node id=941465334]Master of Evasion[/tal-weapon-mastery-node], you reach over 2000 Melee Evasion.
- [tal-weapon-mastery-node id=941465334]Master of Evasion[/tal-weapon-mastery-node] and Shadow Walker lets your Ranged Evasion reach closer to 1600 - 1800 as well.
Defensive and Support Runes
Most defensive runes here have Melee Evasion slotted. Feel free to use Ranged Evasion Runes if you feel you need more.
When you get a Rare Chaos Rune: Ring with a good stat, replace the Support Rune in your Rings.
Gear Sources
- Darkslayer Daggers from Demonhoof Tracker in Syleuss' Abyss Floors 5/6
- Helm of the Field General from Valley of Slaughter or Chernobog
- Ancient Saurodoma Bracers from Tyrant's Isle
- Ebon Roar Sabatons from Tyrant's Isle
- Collar of Decimation
- Marienne's Necklace Collection Lithograph Book
- Kowazan
- Lycan Kowazan
- Gauntlets of the Field General from Reptilian Butcher and Reptilian Soldier in Saurodoma Island
- Resolute Crusader Greaves from Avolos Guardian
- Heroic Armor of the Resistance from completing Unfaltering Protection Lithograph Book Entry
- Belt of Combat Prowess from Shade Wizard in Temple of Sylaveth
- This is a good alternative for additional Melee Evasion at the cost of Stat Attribute Points.
Skill Builds, Rotations, and Mastery
Normal DPS Version
Death From Above Engage Version
- Death From Above is a great long-range engage tool so long as the entire party / guild can follow up, if not, stick to the Normal DPS Version.
- Javelin Inferno is only usable once Ember Stacks are obtained.
- First, isolate stragglers away from their guild and / or monsters to get Ember Stacks with Explosive Fury before engaging.
- Additional Ember Stacks are obtained while killing players with any Spear Skills.
Priority Buff
- Enforcer is important for increased Hit during the burst window.
- Use the Skill Specialization Sentinel's Bastion to instantly gain the Heavy Attack Chance buff instead.
- Lightning Infusion and Thunder Spirit are to be used at the same time when chucking your Javelins as they add additional AoE Damage.
Offensive Tools / Burst
- Javelin Inferno is the main source of damage in this Spear / Dagger PvP Build in Large Scale.
- The Javelin bounces back and forth a few times between enemies so long as there are additional enemies near the target. Don't waste this skill on an isolated target.
- Avoid targeting Endurance users as the damage is ultimately lowered without landing Critical Hits.
- Combined with tossing your Javelins, Phoenix Barrage is another fairly strong skill to use on multiple targets.
- The cone of damage is surprisingly large and with Heroic Polearm of the Resistance, it can reach closer to 12m+ Range!
- Use Abyssal Cleave before to ensure the target gets hit by the entire duration of this skill alongside outputting additional damage thanks to Abyssal Cleave's Skill Specialization, Critical Cleave.
- Rising Slash can be used as either a gap closer, or to explode the Ignite and Burst Stacks you have on an opponent to secure the kill and make sure the target doesn't get away!
Defensive Tools
- Sentinel's Bastion has a great tool for surviving during fights where there isn't a healer around with the skill spec Unyielding Shield.
- While increasing damage output is good, sometimes surviving is more important.
- Use this offensively / defensively at your own discretion.
- While increasing damage output is good, sometimes surviving is more important.
- Always use mobility skills like Block Blade, Shadow Strike, Gale Rush, or even Rising Slash to proc Shadow Walker.
- You always want to upkeep high Ranged and Magic Evasion to reduce the chances of getting hit by stray Flash Waves and other AoE Skills from Bow/Staff users.
- Use Camouflage Cloak at your discretion. Only you can determine when to use it offensively or defensively.
- Phantom Smokescreen is great to use to block enemy AoE and even Chain Hook from enemy tanks!
- This skill can also be used to help teammates as the smokescreen affects party members too.
- If you find yourself caught or in a bad position, using this skill can help give you time to find a way out.
- This helps to buy time for your teammates to notice and for skills to come off cooldown.
- Evading attacks here also proc Assassination Stance.
- If you decide to use that Passive, consider replacing Assassin's Step for it.
Poison Version
Thunderclouds Bombing Version
- Thunderclouds Bombing can be an excellent finisher, however it scales off the Dagger's Weapon Damage which isn't always that high depending on the build you use so Rising Slash can help to server as an alternative method of finishing off an opponent instead by exploding your Ignite and Burst Stacks.
- There are times the target can break free from your CC before being able to use Thunderclouds Bombing as well which is another reason to use Rising Slash as it's capable to be used from range.
- Rising Slash does however jump to other opponents, so another alternative is removing the Skill Specialization, Slaughtering Slash.
- The tradeoff is more time for the opponent to react / get healed as you have to cast it twice to explode the Ignite and Burst Stacks.
Priority Buffs
- Unyielding Sentinel is important for increased damage during the burst window.
- Use the Skill Specialization Sentinel's Bastion to instantly gain the Heavy Attack Chance buff.
- Lightning Infusion should always be used before engaging to ensure higher chances of landing Critical Hits throughout the combo.
Damage Combos
Full Combo
- Inject Venom or Lightning Infusion
- Umbral Spirit or Thunder Spirit
- Shadow Strike
- Ankle Strike
- Explosive Fury
- Both attacks of Culling Arc
- Abyssal Cleave
- Cyclonic Fury
- Thunderclouds Bombing or Brutal Incision
- Rising Slash
Partial 1 CC Combo
- Inject Venom or Lightning Infusion
- Umbral Spirit or Thunder Spirit
- Shadow Strike
- Abyssal Cleave
- Cyclonic Fury
- Thunderclouds Bombing or Brutal Incision
- Rising Slash
Additional Skills
- Knife Throwing can be added to help reduce Healing on a target.
- Tempest Strike can be added as a way of removing some pressure when you find yourself to be the focus of multiple Melee opponents at once.
Skill Prioritization
Active Priority
Passive Priority
Guardians
Guardians are special transformations that add offensive or defensive buffs or attacks to your character for 30 seconds. These are the recommended Guardians for this class in PvE and PvP situations.
- Pale Nemesis Hartach is a strong Guardian to force enemies to drop target as you get kills.
- This helps survivability and grants opportunities to reposition after each kill should the need arise while playing Shadowdancer.
- Lady Knight Kamarshea is a great defensive Guardian for PvP due to its shield.
Summary
- Shadowdancer provides fantastic AoE potential with Javelin Inferno and Thunder Spirit.
- There is an emphasis on taking advantage of enemies playing close together as opposed to attacking an individual target when tossing your Javelins.
- Target stragglers isolated from the enemy mainball to gain Ember Stacks before bursting enemies.
- Constant use of Shadow Walker by using Block Blade roll is crucial to staying alive in any form of PvP.
- The ideal stat breakpoint for any Spear / Dagger PvP Build you should achieve is 70 Dexterity, 50 Perception and 50 Strength.
Credits
Written by Bloo
Reviewed by Nymphellas and Tenkei