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There’s a lot of variance in character builds inDragon Age: Inquisition, and few classes have more variance than Rogues. This class has a lot of room for interpretation, able to build itself to accentuate a few different strengths that are present in the skill trees.
Cole’s unique skills in the Assassin tree provide him the chance to fully flesh out one of the more fun strengths that Rogues have: dealing increased damage with every hit. This tree can interact with a few different trees present by default with the Rogue, and this build makes use of a few of them.
Best Skill Choices For An Assassin Build
Assassin is Cole’s unique tree, and it’s a key aspect of this build. Alongside that, we’ll be diving into both theDouble Daggerstree and theSabotagetree (as well as exactlyone skill from the Subterfuge tree); all of these trees work towards the same goal, and are going toallow Cole to unleash a lot of attacks in a short time, and these attacks are going to deal an alarming amount of damage.
The Best Skills In The Assassin Tree
TheAssassin tree is one of the most free-standing unique trees that any of the characters have. It doesn’t necessarily revolve around mechanics that a different tree provides, and can instead slot into a lot of different builds very smoothly.
One of the biggest strengths of this build overall, and one that this tree helps push further, iscritical damage. Cole is going to be hitting a lot, running thosegood odds of scoring critical damagevery often.
We’ll be skipping mentioning skills that are needed to grab to progress through a tree, but don’t play a pivotal part of this build. They will still be counted in the total skill point costs. If necessary,you can always respecto either switch into this build, or to tinker with it.
Hidden Blades (Active)
Overkill
With the Overkill upgrade,Cole attacks enemies six times, dealing 300 percent of weapon damage.
Throatcutter
N/A
Deal2 percent extra damage for every ten percent of health an enemy is missing.
I Was Never Here
Killing a target recharges Cole’s stealth cooldown. This also increases Cole’s Dexterity by +3. (Dexterity increases a Rogue’s attack, and increases the critical damage bonus.)
Knife In The Shadows
Attacking from stealth ensures a critical hit. This also increases Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Gaps In The Armor
Increase armor penetration by 25 percent, as well as increase Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Mark Of Death (Active)
Marks an enemy, anddealing damage to a Marked enemy increases the Mark’s power. Detonate the Mark before the ability deactivates to deal bonus damage.
Aside from the important boost in Dexterity, these skillsprovide a passive backbone to a lot of Cole’s attacks. On top of that,Hidden BladesandMark Of Deathare going to be regulars in his damage rotation.
The Best Skill In The Subterfuge Tree
There’sonly one skillwe’re going to grab from the Subterfuge tree for this build, and it’s the very first:Stealth. We’re also going to grab the upgrade for this skill,Lost In The Shadows, which allows Cole to enter Stealth immediately.Going in and out of Stealth is going to be a staple for this build, and this skill is a non-negotiable inclusion.
The Best Skills In The Double Daggers Tree
TheDouble Daggers tree is going to be a busy one in this build, with a heavy skill point investment. But it’s going to be worth it, with a lot ofbonus damageavailable in this tree that’s going to improve every single attack.
Flank Attack (Active)
Skirmisher
Leap through an enemy to attack them from behind, gaining any flanking damage bonus Cole has. The Skirmisher upgradeautomatically enters Cole into Stealth after using this ability, ensuring that your next attack deals critical damage due to the Knife In The Shadows skill.
Twin Fangs (Active)
Ripping Fangs
Deal damage to the target twice, withincreased damage when attacking from the flank. With the Ripping Fangs upgrade, attacking from the flank also Sunders.
Bloodied Prey
Deal 10 percent extra damage to foes with less health than Cole. Also increases Cole’s Cunning by +3. (Cunning increases critical chance and ranged defense.)
Dance Of Death
Gain 50 stamina for every kill, as well as increases Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Unforgiving Chain
Every hit increases critical chance by two percent until Cole scores a hit, resetting the chance. Also increases Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Sneak Attack
Increases flanking damage by 20 percent, as well as improving Cole’s Cunning by +3.
Deathblow (Active)
Thrill Of Victory
Deal damage twice, with an extra three percent more damage for every one percent below 50 health an enemy has. For instance, if an enemy has 37 percent health, this skill will deal an additional 3% * 13%, giving a 39% bonus. With the Thrill Of Victory upgrade, killing a target with this ability removes the cooldown on it.
The passives in this tree arefoundational to the build, and the active abilities, especially Deathblow, add an incredible amount of damage to the rotation.
The Best Skills In The Sabotage Tree
TheSabotageTree is the final stop in this build, as we’re running out of skill points. But, there are still some important things here that are going to add a flat increase to our damage in the form of poison and bleed.
Poisoned Weapons (Active)
Infected Wounds
With the infection wounds upgrade,this causes 50 percent extra weapon damage per second on an enemyhit by Cole’s blades for 8 seconds after the last attack.
Caltrops (Active)
Tread Lightly
Litters the ground withCaltrops, slowing and damaging enemies that walk over them, as well as causing bleed.
Fighting Dirty
Increases poison and sunder duration by 25 percent, which would increase the Poisoned Weapons skill effect to 10 seconds. Also improves Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Looked Like It Hurt
Each critical hit regains ten stamina. This also increases Cole’s Cunning by +3.
Explosive Toxin
Enemies that die while poisoned explode, inflicting poison on every enemy inside three meters. This also increases Cole’s Dexterity by +3.
Thepoison effectsfrom this tree are going tomeaningfully increase Cole’s damage output, and improve the value of skills like Deathblow and Throatcutter.
The Completed Cole Assassin Build
This build costs27 skill points overall, and is going toconstantly deal a barrage of damage while leaving Cole difficult to keep track ofand even more difficult to hit.With a tank like Cassandraor Blackwall beside him, he’s going to remain in the background,dealing an absurd amount of damage without having to worry about dying, himself.
The finished Tactics slots will include:
Alternative Cole Options
You couldskip the Sabotage skillsin lieu of includingmore Subterfuge skills; this will increase your stealth options,making Cole more maneuverable and give him the ability to put enemies to sleep. Overall, this would make for aslightly more defensive build, but in party lineups with a weaker tank, this could be viable, or even necessary.
