Build:Deadeye - Power DPS D/D

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Raids

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on April 14, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A power DPS build for Deadeye in raids.

Deadeye's weakness is that it is lacks cleave damage or any utility other than Basilisk Venom. It is also heavily reliant on allies providing boons and conditions for Premeditation and Exposed Weakness respectively. This means it works best when surrounded by other DPS classes that can cover its shortcomings.

This guide is focused on raids. For the fractal version see Deadeye - Power DPS D/D (Fractal). For variants using other weapons see Deadeye - Power DPS Rifle and Deadeye - Power DPS P/P.

Skill Bar

Dagger/Dagger

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Your DPS rotation only involves Dagger/Dagger so your 2nd weapon set can be based on personal preference - Shortbow for mobility from Infiltrator's Arrow or an offhand pistol for additional emergency CC from Headshot are both common options.

Skill Variants

Utility Skills

Prepare Pitfall offers good CC, and will be higher damage than venoms if you are able to "precast" it during downtime in fights. Otherwise, it can be replaced with:

• Signet of Agility if you don't have a druid providing Spotter to you. If you take this, you can use full Berserker stats gear.
• Spider Venom or Skale Venom, depending on how much the boss moves.

Elite Skills

• Thieves Guild if you don't need CC from Basilisk Venom.
• Shadow Meld is recommended if you have doubts about yourself, your lag, or your Quickness provider.

Template Code

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Specializations

Specialization Variants

• Invigorating Precision if you're having trouble surviving. This is a ~10% DPS loss.

Equipment

Head
Assassin

Shoulders
Assassin

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Assassin

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Assassin

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Dagger
Berserker

Dagger
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

• You can run full Berserker stats gear if you always bring Signet of Agility. You will not require Spotter this way.

Consumables

Food

• or ascended versions

Utility

• /

Usage

Rotation

The rotation for this build is very simple - start off with the following opening burst

1. Deadeye's Mark
2. Heartseeker x2
3. Shadow Flare
4. Cloak and Dagger
5. Assassin's Signet
6. Malicious Backstab
7. Heartseeker x3
8. Auto Attack chain
9. Stolen skill
10. Malicious Backstab

Loop

After the opener, the basic loop is:

1. Heartseeker x2
2. Deadeye's Mark (if available)
3. Auto Attack chain
4. Shadow Flare (if available)
5. Cloak and Dagger
6. Assassin's Signet (if available)
7. Malicious Backstab

Assassin's Signet burst

After using Assassin's Signet, your next loop is slightly different:

1. Heartseeker x3
2. Auto Attack chain
3. Stolen skill
4. Malicious Backstab

This deals more damage than your regular loop, but requires a stolen skill. Thus you only do this burst while under the effects of Assassin's Signet.

Video example

Notes:

• It doesn't matter if you use Heartseeker before or after the auto chain in each loop, so go with whatever feels most comfortable.
• Deadeye's Mark, Shadow Flare and Assassin's Signet all have different cooldowns, so each loop may be slightly different depending on which are available.
• Deadeye's Mark has a slightly longer cooldown than Assassin's Signet so eventually you will have no stolen skill available for the burst. In this case, just do the normal loop.
• Shadow Flare has a long cast time and it will be interrupted by Cloak and Dagger if you use it too early, so make sure to finish the cast.
• Below 50%, if the boss is about to phase, you can use up any excess initiative by spamming Heartseeker - Just make sure to leave yourself enough initiative for Cloak and Dagger if you will also have time for another Malicious Backstab! Above 50%, Heartseeker is lower DPS than the auto chain.
• This rotation is highly susceptible to lag, as you need to be fitting Cloak and Dagger and Malicious Backstab in between the pulses of Shadow Flare. If this is likely to be a problem, bring Shadow Meld as your elite, and quickly use it to re-enter stealth in the event that Shadow Flare reveals you before you can use Malicious Backstab.
• Spider Venom/Skale Venom (if you're running it)should be used whenever available.
• Make sure you're always flanking (attacking from behind or the sides) the boss to maximize the damage dealt with backstab. If you cannot consistently flank the boss consider swapping to another DPS build.

Break bars

• Basilisk Venom should be cast while you are standing in melee range of 5 allied units (mesmer illusions, ranger pets and necromancer minions all count towards this).