Sinister Strike

Sinister Strike
Sinister Strike (10 ranks) Rogue ability 5 . yd range 45 Energy Instant An instant strike that causes X damage in addition to your normal weapon damage. Awards 1 combo point.
Properties
Class	Rogue
School	Physical
Cooldown	None/Global Cooldown
Other information
Requirements	A melee weapon equipped
Improvements	See below

It adds injury to insult.

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.

Notes

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.

Must be facing your target, and you must have a melee weapon equipped (and not be "disarmed").

• 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%.
• The 4 piece bonus of the Slayer's Armor Set increases the damage of your Sinister Strike by 6%.

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.

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
11	174	76	24

Improvements

• [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%.
•  [Glyph of Sinister Strike] gives its critical strikes a 50% chance to add an additional combo point.

Tips and tactics

• 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 weapon with the highest average damage that you can attain for 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.