After recent patch 1.2, what are the top 3 meta builds for Assassin to dominate solo queue?

Patch 1.2’s Impact on Assassins

The landscape of competitive play is constantly shifting, and Patch 1.2 has certainly shaken things up for Assassin players. With changes to itemization, talent trees, and even base character statistics, many of the old reliable builds have fallen out of favor. For those looking to climb the solo queue ladder, adapting to these changes is not just recommended, it’s essential. The key to solo queue dominance as an Assassin lies in leveraging burst damage, mobility, and the ability to dictate skirmishes, all while minimizing vulnerability.

This guide will dive deep into the three most potent Assassin builds currently dominating the meta, offering a clear path to understanding their strengths, core items, and optimal playstyles. Whether you prefer swift eliminations, disruptive engagements, or a slightly more resilient approach, there’s a meta build here for you.

Build 1: The Burst Machine – “Shadowstrike Executioner”

The Shadowstrike Executioner build focuses on maximizing raw, unadulterated burst damage to delete high-priority targets before they can react. This build excels at isolating and quickly dispatching squishy carries, making it ideal for snowballing leads and creating numerical advantages in teamfights. Its effectiveness in solo queue stems from its ability to punish enemy positioning errors decisively.

Core Items:

• Blade of the Whispering Wind: Essential for its on-hit damage and movement speed, enabling rapid target acquisition and escape.
• Eclipse Scythe: Provides a massive spike of physical damage and armor penetration, crucial for one-shotting.
• Viper’s Venomblade: Adds sustained damage and a potent debuff, ensuring even tankier targets feel the pressure.
• Specter’s Shroud: Defensive option that offers magic resistance and a crucial shield for surviving return fire after an engage.

Key Skills & Talents:

• Shadowstep: Maximize first for quick engages and disengages.
• Fatal Lunge: Your primary burst damage ability, prioritize after Shadowstep.
• Executioner’s Mark (Ultimate): Use to guarantee kills on low-health targets.
• Talents: Focus on ‘Lethality’ and ‘Coup de Grâce’ lines for maximum damage amplification.

Playstyle:

Identify isolated targets or overextended enemies. Initiate with Shadowstep, apply Fatal Lunge, and follow up with auto-attacks and item actives. Use your ultimate to secure the kill. Always have an escape route or follow-up plan. This build thrives on quick, decisive strikes and then repositioning for the next opportunity.

Build 2: The Stealthy Disruptor – “Phantom Weaver”

The Phantom Weaver build emphasizes sustained damage, enhanced mobility, and disruptive utility, allowing the Assassin to weave in and out of combat, constantly applying pressure and creating chaos. While it might lack the instantaneous burst of the Executioner, its ability to chase down targets, escape danger, and maintain uptime in fights makes it incredibly frustrating for opponents in solo queue.

Core Items:

• Ghostblade of Agility: Provides attack speed, movement speed, and a vital active for quick repositioning.
• Serpent’s Coil: Offers lifesteal and a strong slow on attack, enhancing sustain and chase potential.
• Duskblade of Silence: Crucial for its stealth-break damage and vision denial, perfect for surprising targets.
• Spiritwalker’s Sandals: Boosts out-of-combat movement speed for superior map presence and roaming.

Key Skills & Talents:

• Smoke Bomb: Prioritize for vision denial, escape, and disengage.
• Swift Strike: Maximize for sustained damage and gap closing.
• Illusory Dash (Ultimate): Use for juking, chasing, or escaping sticky situations.
• Talents: Focus on ‘Agility’ and ‘Trickery’ lines for mobility and cooldown reduction.

Playstyle:

Look for opportunities to flank or engage from an unexpected angle. Use Smoke Bomb to obscure vision and apply pressure. Swift Strike allows you to stick to targets. The key is to constantly move, making yourself a difficult target while chipping away at enemies. Your ultimate provides immense playmaking potential, allowing for daring engages or crucial escapes. This build excels at extending fights and outmaneuvering opponents.

Build 3: The Bruiser Assassin – “Unseen Vanguard”

For players who prefer a bit more forgiveness in their engagements, the Unseen Vanguard build strikes a balance between damage and durability. This build allows the Assassin to survive more punishment, engage in prolonged skirmishes, and still output significant damage. It’s particularly effective in solo queue where team coordination might be lacking, and you might find yourself needing to frontline for a moment or two.

Core Items:

• Black Cleaver: Essential for armor shred and bonus health, allowing you to deal with both squishies and tanks.
• Guardian Angel: Provides a critical second life, allowing for aggressive engages with a safety net.
• Death’s Dance: Offers damage, lifesteal, and a delayed damage passive, significantly boosting survivability.
• Sterak’s Gage: Grants health and a powerful shield when taking burst damage, preventing one-shots.

Key Skills & Talents:

• Iron Skin (Passive): Rely on this for damage reduction.
• Relentless Pursuit: Maximize for sustained damage and sticking power.
• Vanguard’s Resolve (Ultimate): Use for a temporary burst of durability and crowd control immunity.
• Talents: Focus on ‘Resilience’ and ‘Aggression’ lines for a mix of defense and offense.

Playstyle:

This build allows for slightly more aggressive frontlining and extended trades. Engage with Relentless Pursuit, focusing on a high-priority target. Don’t be afraid to take some damage, as your build offers significant sustain and defensive layers. Use Vanguard’s Resolve to shrug off crowd control or survive a crucial burst. Your goal is to be a disruptive force that cannot be easily dislodged, while still posing a significant damage threat.

General Tips for Solo Queue Dominance

Beyond mastering your chosen build, solo queue dominance as an Assassin requires acute game sense. Always pay attention to the mini-map; vision control and understanding enemy rotations are paramount. Look for isolated targets, especially enemy carries or junglers caught out of position. Timing your engages with your team’s pushes or objective contests can turn the tide of a game.

Remember that no build is universally perfect for every situation. While these three represent the meta, be prepared to make minor adjustments based on the enemy team composition. For instance, if facing a heavy magic damage team, prioritize magic resist items earlier. Adaptability is the mark of a true master. Practice these builds in normal games before taking them into ranked, and soon you’ll be dominating solo queue with unparalleled finesse.

Conclusion

Patch 1.2 has redefined the Assassin meta, presenting exciting new avenues for players to excel. The Shadowstrike Executioner offers devastating burst, the Phantom Weaver provides unparalleled agility and disruption, and the Unseen Vanguard delivers robust durability without sacrificing damage. Each build offers a distinct playstyle tailored for success in solo queue. By understanding their core principles and practicing their execution, you’re well on your way to becoming an unstoppable force and climbing those ranks.