Assassin
Assassin
The Assassin is one of the two second-class advancements of the Thief, the master of the Katar and of poison. Assassins strike from stealth for heavy single-target burst or wear enemies down with an arsenal of special venoms. On Vortex Legends the Assassin is built around two playstyles:
- Shadow Strike: Katar burst and stealth; dual-wield mastery and the spinning Sonic Blow finisher.
- Venom Master: a poison saboteur who coats weapons with venoms and plants toxins to grind enemies down.
The two lines are a matter of priority, not a cage: skill points can be spent freely, so hybrid builds remain fully playable. Assassins advance into the Assassin Cross after second class.
Specialization branches
Shadow Strike
The Shadow Strike Assassin is the Katar burst specialist. It stacks attack speed and critical power on the Katar, opens from invisibility and finishes single targets with Sonic Blow, while dual-wield mastery keeps a dagger build competitive.
Cloaking
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Active |
| Target | Self |
| Max level | 5 |
| SP cost | 15 |
The Assassin's core stealth tool, turning the user invisible while still able to move. At the lowest level it only works beside a wall, and higher levels raise movement speed and slow the steady SP drain.
→ Cloaking
Assassin Instinct
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 10 |
A passive mastery that permanently sharpens the Assassin's reflexes, raising AGI and Perfect Dodge.
→ Assassin Instinct
Katar Mastery
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 10 |
A passive mastery that raises Physical Attack and Attack Speed while a Katar is equipped. The foundation of the Katar build.
→ Katar Mastery
Sonic Blow
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Offensive |
| Target | Enemy |
| Element | Weapon |
| Max level | 10 |
| SP cost | 15 → 24 |
| Range | 1 cell |
| Cooldown | 2s |
The Assassin's signature finisher, a flurry of eight rapid slashes into a single target with a chance to Stun. The centrepiece of Shadow Strike burst.
→ Sonic Blow
Sonic Acceleration
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 10 |
A passive that deepens Sonic Blow when used with a Katar, adding damage and, at higher levels, unlocking critical hits and a shorter cooldown.
→ Sonic Acceleration
Grimtooth
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Offensive |
| Target | Enemy |
| Element | Weapon |
| Max level | 5 |
| SP cost | 3 |
| Range | 5 → 9 cells |
A Katar strike thrown from stealth that hits the target and the enemies around it, letting the Assassin open a fight from a safe distance while Hiding.
→ Grimtooth
Right-Hand Mastery
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 5 |
A passive that recovers the damage penalty on the right-hand weapon when dual wielding, restoring it to full at the highest level.
→ Right-Hand Mastery
Left-Hand Mastery
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 5 |
A passive that recovers the damage penalty on the left-hand weapon when dual wielding, the companion mastery to Right-Hand Mastery.
→ Left-Hand Mastery
Continues at the Assassin Cross with Enchant Deadly Poison and Soul Destroyer.
Venom Master
The Venom Master is the poison saboteur. It layers special venoms and toxins that wear enemies down, strip their poison resistance and set up a heavy finisher, trading raw burst for sustained pressure and control.
Poison React
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Support |
| Target | Self |
| Max level | 5 |
| SP cost | 16 |
| Duration | 120s |
A reactive stance that counters physical attackers with Envenom, and punishes Poison-element attackers with a heavy counter blow. The gateway to the venom line.
→ Poison React
Throw Venom Knife
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Offensive |
| Target | Enemy |
| Element | Weapon |
| Max level | 10 |
| SP cost | 10 → 15 |
| Range | 9 cells |
| Catalyst | Venom Knife |
A ranged poisoned knife with a strong chance to inflict Poison, hitting even harder against a target that is already poisoned. The branch's reliable ranged poke.
→ Throw Venom Knife
Venom Exploit
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Max level | 5 |
A passive that rewards keeping enemies poisoned, raising the Assassin's total damage against any target suffering from Poison or Deadly Poison.
→ Venom Exploit
Venom Coat
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Active |
| Target | Self |
| Max level | 3 |
| SP cost | 20 → 30 |
| Duration | 180s |
| Catalyst | Venom Canine |
Coats the weapon with a specialized venom whose effect depends on the level cast, giving weapon attacks a chance to inflict a status ailment. The heart of the Venom Master toolkit.
→ Venom Coat
Venom Impress
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Active |
| Target | Enemy |
| Max level | 5 |
| SP cost | 8 → 12 |
| Range | 9 cells |
| Duration | 120s |
A debuff that lowers a target's resistance to the Poison element, amplifying every poison-based hit that follows, most of all Venom Splasher.
→ Venom Impress
Venom Splasher
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Offensive |
| Target | Enemy |
| Element | Poison |
| Max level | 10 |
| SP cost | 12 → 30 |
| Range | 3 cells |
| Cooldown | 3s |
Plants a toxin on a target that detonates after a short delay for heavy Poison-element area damage. The branch's finisher, and an uninterruptible one.
→ Venom Splasher
Venom Dust
| Job | Assassin |
|---|---|
| Type | Active |
| Target | Ground |
| Element | Poison |
| Max level | 1 |
| SP cost | 15 |
| Range | 2 cells |
A poison field laid on the ground that inflicts Poison and grinds down every enemy standing in it. A Platinum skill granted through a quest.
→ Venom Dust
Continues at the Assassin Cross with Create Deadly Poison.
Advancement
The Assassin advances to the Assassin Cross. See Second Classes.