Sinister Strike

Sinister strike

'I can hit you whenever I want to.'

Sinister Strike is a combat ability that deals your normal damage plus a number of extra points of damage which is determined by the rank. You must have a melee weapon to perform. With the [Improved Sinister Strike] talent, this move's relatively low energy cost coupled with its excellent damage make it one of the most important tools in the rogue's combat arsenal.

Functionality

Unlike abilities such as [Backstab] or [Gouge], Sinister Strike can be used on any mob, in any position, in any combat state, and has no refresh rate beyond its Energy requirement.

Use

45 Energy
Instant cast
5 yard range
Requires Melee Weapon

Limitations

• Must be facing your target
• You must have a melee weapon (and not be "disarmed")

Rank Table

Rank	Damage	Level	Cost
1	Adds 3 damage	1	1
2	Adds 6 damage	6	1
3	Adds 10 damage	14	12
4	Adds 15 damage	22	40
5	Adds 22 damage	30	1
6	Adds 38 damage	38	1 62
7	Adds 52 damage	46	2 79
8	Adds 68 damage	54	4 32
9	Adds 80 damage	62	4 50
10	Adds 98 damage	70	12 60

Related Talents

• [Improved Sinister Strike] reduces the energy cost by 5, for a total cost of 40.
• [Remorseless Attacks] will give your next Sinister Strike a 20% or 40% increased chance to crit after killing an opponent that yields honor or experience. The improved crit chance lasts for 20 seconds.
• [Lethality] increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike by 6%, 12%, 18%, 24%, or 30%.
• [Blade Twisting] gives your Sinister Strike a 10 or 20% chance to [Dazed] your target for 8 seconds.
• [Aggression] increases the damage of Sinister Strike by 2%, 4%, or 6%.
• [Surprise Attacks] increases the damage dealt by your Sinister Strike by 10%.

Related Items

• The 4 piece bonus of the Bonescythe Armor Set gives you 5 Energy for every one of your Sinister Strike critical hits.
• The 6 piece bonus of the Bonescythe Armor Set reduces the threat generated from your Sinister Strike by 8%.

Damage Calculation Formula

The basic Sinister Strike damage calculation formula:

 [Aggression] = 1 + (0.02 * Aggression Rank)
 [Lethality] = 0.06 * Lethality Rank
 [Surprise Attacks] = 1 + (0.10 * Surprise Attacks)
Modifier = (Attack Power / 14) * Normalized Weapon Speed
Sinister Strike = (Weapon Damage + Modifier + Extra Damage) * Aggression * Surprise Attacks
Critical Sinister Strike = Sinister Strike * (2 + Lethality)

For more info and detailed formulas to compensate for talents, see Sinister Strike formulas.

Tips

• Often abbreviated to 'SS'.
• Although positioning isn't a requirement for using Sinister Strike, it is still recommended that you try to position yourself behind the mob you are attacking, as attacks from behind cannot be blocked or parried.
• It is recommended that you use a slow, hard-hitting weapon in your main hand when using Sinister Strike, as the damage from Sinister Strike is calculated from a range between your weapon's minimum and maximum damage.

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