BlueZebra's Assassin Guide

Updates -

Added tips from players from this thread, as well as a shuriken launcher tips from another thread, thank you for your contributions.

Also added match up tips, when to use gremlins, when not to be an assassin, and my own set of shuriken tips.

A few anti-class tactics I like to use:

Snipers - I anticipate they have laid traps unless I am following them for long enough to know better. A stationary sniper gets a dash/leap out of me as I close the distance for my strike. I find them to be more dangerous when they run and gun and I will RB lunge out of the area, restealth and change my approach angle.

Gunners - These are one of my favorite kills as they so often consider themselves invulnerable that they don't always pay attention to their surroundings, plus when they are laying waste to things, they move so slowly I can usually turn off dash. If you do give yourself away, or don't finish them off, a quick smokebomb followed by the RB lunge will get you out of the area of their attack, then go stealth and dash if you wish to leave the scene. I do find the slowing effect of their bullets to be a pain though.

Tanks - I like to shuriken these guys a bit, let them try and figure out where it's coming from, stealth and close the gap. You have to watch out for the fire though, and let them spin before you move in. Only attack from the front if they are already 75% health or less.

Assault - These guys can be a pain due to the charge/grapple and their overall mobility. Often if I have been seen I will just leave the area. If you wish to give chase, let them hover and burn the gas before you attack, a quick RB lunge/smokebomb/stealth/dash combo will let you 'leave' the area while remaining relatively close to see what they do next (is true for all enemies) then you may choose to return and try again.

Support - The worst thing about these guys are their firebases, but you can shuriken them in 2-3 clips max. If the support is custom and has added armor, he may be a bit harder to take down, but for the most part when away from a firebase these guys count as a moderately easy kill in my book.

Assassins - First it depends on how well they know what they can do. I like to stalk them as they stalk my teammates, I also up my cloak and dash early so I can overtake them when their's drop. If they are exposed (waiting for cloak to regen) pick them off easily. A custom assassin with Gold armor can sustain a facestab and quickly return the favor. I've killed more than my fair share who got the drop on me simply because I could take the hit and they couldn't.

Most turrets and bots can be shurikened, I will grapple the bouncers if a teammate is in trouble and of course the jackbot goes down easily to a grapple or two.

Smokebombing the turrets gives you a few seconds of time to unload on them before they target you. You can also use the turret you're attacking as cover from another turret, but once your target blows up, you're fair game for the other one.

The money ball is toast if you can get juice and use your shurikens.


Any thoughts on your fav arenas?
I never remember the names of them, but the rectangular one is my least fav as an assassin because the area is so tight. Follow that with the one with the based around the circular one with the huge hole in the middle...it's a very enclosed space without much room to move around.

If you don't mind anyone answering this, haha... I honestly think that the best part about this game is the maps. They're all fairly well designed and their symmetrical nature leads to balanced gameplay.

Like I said, I've pretty much been playing exclusively assassin, so I really like ALL of the maps, but my favorite would have to be Grenade III. Lots of Smoke Bomb jumping into their spawn, great turret placement options, and easy bot lanes to clear. The Ejector can be nearly abused on that map.

Grenade III Arena personally. It feels as though middle isn't the focus of the game but controlling both lanes simultaneously and just using middle as the bridge is. It stands out from the rest because of that and the assassin has a ton of possibilities for her approach and escape.

Great minds think alike?

I'll admit, I think that is my fav as well. I love to leap out of one side to the middle, then turn and leap deeper back into the same side. So much fun to sneak up on a guy who thinks he just chased you off!

As assassin being my favorite class, it really bugs me when I pick it first and 2 other people also pick assassin, and I'm the only one that changes to a different class :roll:

But when I do get to play as her, I don't do really well so thanks for this guide.

I know that I'll become a better assassin soon

I'm mainly an assassin (unless my team is full of them, then I'm a sniper... <_<)

But my basic strategy goes a bit like this.

My main concern? Bots. Assassins are the best at taking out bots. When I play I go for bots, and if I spot an enemy player, I'll go after them. Especially if they are wrecking my team. Killing bots will eventually get me juice.

When juiced, I cloak into the enemy base, juice up, and then WRECK as many turrets as possible. A Juiced up assassin can decimate like 3-4 turrets before being brought down.

Using this strategy I've almost singlehandedly escorted bots to victory. I kill any bot oppositions, Jack Bots are cake, and as soon as I get juiced I wreck the enemies defenses.

I usually get passive to level 2 and build one level 3 lazer turret. I then wait until I can get level 3 passive since the sword is a great plus versus clusters of bots.

Keep in mind the assassin is not only capable of taking down bots, she also keeps strong opposing players in check allowing her team to push. She needs to control the map with her quick pushes and quick kills.

If you get into Overtime, buy some juice and smoke-jump onto a side exit from their spawn, find an aim so that all shurikens hit the moneyball and then juice = pretty much an instant win.

You should try this for your custom assassin class, I do really well with it on a constant basis.

3 Rate of fire
2 Armor (only for surviving frontal grapples)
1 crit hit

Shurikens and slashes kill so quickly with this combo! It's especially fun to sneak into the other team's base, juice up, and kill EVERY turret in one quick swoop with the blade dash/slash. The best part is with this setup you'll typically survive to get away and continue being a general nuisance to the other team.

I need some help.

Everyone says how easy it is to take down turrets, but whenever I attack them with my shuriken I get killed almost instantly.

any tips?

I believe shurikens are quicker than swording, but you're right it can get you killed real fast because of the huge trail left by them. Instead here's what I do:

1: Use the charge attack out of stealth for an autocrit
2: Smokebomb to stun the turret
3: Slash away until the turret is dead or out of stun.

Players often won't notice you raping their turret under the catwalk and just respawn and walk right past you, so you can then walk up and assassinate them after your turret kill.

Find a quiet spot to shuriken from. There are a few spots that put you quite out of the way on different maps and people will be completely oblivious to your presence.

I need to update this...

Well instead of me just thinking what I should put in, I'd like to know what you would like to see discussed.

Map control? Assisting players? Fun tricks to get to the opponents base without being spotted? You name it, I'll write about it.

Also if there's any assassin threads you'd like featured in this guide, let me know and I'll add it(with the thread owners permission).

If you have problems with supports camping at their firebases here's an easy trick to kill him: Go in for a back grapple (shouldn't be that hard), when the grapple animation starts press cloak (RS/Y). This will prevent the firebase from shooting you and you should be able to run away and shuriken the firebase before he gets back.

Nice guide you have here.

To be honest, I was really hoping I would dislike the Assassin class when I first started playing MNC. Mainly because people associate them with kids who just want to 'pwn nubs in da face'. Turns out it's the class I have the most fun playing as. :roll:

This guide has helped me step up my game, though I'm nowhere near to being consistent. There's game where I'm dominating, and then there's other games where I totally get my butt kicked. But still, I'm just going to keep on going. I'm sure that in time, people will see that not only kids like to play as the Assassin.

Really sorry I haven't updated this in sometime. Updating tomorrow with good stuff. Also been trying tactical, will post a comparison between default and tactical as the assassin.

If anyone has a layout of the MNC maps, I'd love to have a copy so I can finally get started on perfect spots to smoke jump over, good escape/approach routes, etc.