To begin, here are a few builds:
The reasoning behind the choices is explained in the descriptions, but I'll re-post it here just because.
PvE - Statistics and Skills Build
Stats
38STR/ 33AGI/ 26VIT
This setup allocates all your points with none of them wasted while providing endurance as well as a solid Attack Power to Critical Rating ratio.
51STR/ 27AGI/ 4VIT
This setup is much more geared towards damage, if you prefer less survivability and more damage output, a setup like this might be more your play-style.
41STR/ 41AGI
This setup is geared towards a higher Critical Rating, if you prefer burst damage you might favor this build.
Skills
The skill setup is geared toward maximizing damage output, survivability, and utility. All your main damage skills are maximized, as well as your buffs, be sure to keep them active, and utilize potions to keep the Adrenaline Rush buff from Unstable Doping active and maxed out. Always activate Mark of Death, and use Dirty Plan for extra damage whenever possible. Gangster Paradise is maxed to aid survivability in addition to taking some strain off of your healers, remember that Rogues are fairly squishy.
PvP - Statistics and Skills Build
Stats
38STR/ 33AGI/ 26VIT
This setup allocates all your points with none of them wasted while providing endurance as well as a solid Attack Power to Critical Rating ratio.
Skills
The skill setup is geared toward maximizing damage output, survivability, and the ability to annoy your opponent through multiple uses of Hiding. Smoke Bomb is at two to provide an additional use in the Colosseum. 5/ 5 Mark of Death could be switched for 5/ 5 Poisoning Weapon and 2/ 5 Genocide Mark if you're going specifically for Colosseum PvP as your targets will usually go down too quickly and the cool-down time renders Mark of Death ineffective.
Hide > Opener > Smoke Bomb > Opener > Dirty Plan > Smoke Bomb > Opener > Wait for Smoke Bomb Cool-Down > Smoke Bomb > Opener
With the addition of 5/ 5 Crescent Moon and 5/ 5 Gangster Paradise, this build becomes highly survivable through stuns and self healing. Remember to keep all your buffs active and be sure to Mark of Death your opponent if you're using it. Use Potions when available and Gangster's Paradise if your HP drops below 50%.
Hybrid - Statistics and Skills Build
Statistics
A build of 51STR/ 27AGI/ 3VIT successfully spends all your points while maximizing your Attack Power to Critical ratio for steady damage. If you prefer burst damage or Critical builds, you might pursue a build of 41STR/ 41AGI, which while viable doesn't suit my play-style.
Skills
For me this build functions well in both PvP and PvE; with full points in Gangster's Paradise, you maximize your soloing potential. Five points in Unstable Doping is probably one of the most important boosts for any Rogue, however you will spend a fair amount of Zeny on potions to keeping the buff rolling at a full stack. Don't underestimate the validity of Smoke Bomb in both PvE and PvP, you leave combat and dump aggro, this allows for another opener or an opportunity to heal up via Potions (which don't break stealth). Also, in going down the tree to Smoke Bomb you pick up Dark Illusion, the nice opener which places you behind the enemy and crits most of the time, and Meteor Assault, which will be your only Area of Effect skill. Crescent Moon is also nice in PvE when handling additional monsters or protecting your casters, one of the primary functions of Rogues in PvE, and in PvP is essential.
For new players following this build, you should focus on maxing Double Attack and Deadly Blow first, since they will be your two main damage Skills. Even after you change class to Rogue you'll be using Deadly Blow occasionally. Poisoning Weapon is a extremely useful skill, but scales with Attack Power. Your main Finishing Move will be Moonlight Dance, If you save enough points and want it, you can get it right after the class change. The same goes for any Skill in the Rogue Tree.
Cards
The Cards that I have in the displays are just a guildline for stat ratios. I try to keep my STR/ AGI/ VIT bonuses from cards relatively balanced.
Unstable Doping Explanation
After you use it, Unstable Doping buff will be active for 30 minutes.
During it's duration, every attack has a percent chance (variable with skill level) of activating another buff, giving 20% Attack Power or 20% Critical Rate.This buff will last for 30 seconds and does not stack as it places a debuff on you preventing multiple acquisitions.
In addition, when you use a Health Recovery Potion, you'll receive a percent of Attack Power (variable with skill level). This bonus is generated trough the Adrenaline Rush buff, that lasts for 2 minutes. Every time you use a Potion to recover Health, your Attack Power goes up, but the buff only increases until it reaches 30% of your Attack Power; every time you use a Health Potion, the buff timer goes back to 2 minutes. If you let the time run out, you'll have to use several Potions to maximize the buff again. Once the Adrenaline Rush buff is maximized, you can use Low-Level Potions to keep it active, this will save you some money on Potions.
Tips and Tricks
1 - Healing Potions, Looting, Farming Materials, Food, Vendors, and Quest Givers don't break Hide.
2 - Keep your Buffs active.
3 - Combo Points cross targets, but you lose them all if you enter Hiding, however you do not lose Combo Mastery. Using Smoke Bomb to enter Hiding, you can double the damage on one of your Finishing Moves; a double damage Moonlight Dance can be absolutely devastating to any opponent.
4 -Grind out a level every now and then to stay about a level ahead of the Main Quest-line, this will help you maintain a fast pace while leveling.
5 - Grind on a group of 4-5 non-aggressive monsters to reduce the danger and enabling you to stop and heal if you need to.
6 - Utilize the Khara Menu for extra Experience, Zeny and titles.
Grinding Spots
Porings in the Starting Area
Poor Porings in the Starting Area
Lunatics in the Starting Area
Poporings just South of Prontera (650, 1700)
Peco Pecos in Southern Prontera Fields (550, 1180)
Stellaria in Izlude Hill (1430, 1520)
Truffles in Payon Forest (1350, 620)
Miho Guards in Payon Forest (1300, 230)
Potemkin in the Divided Plains (450, 700)
Hopefully you find this both informative and helpful, may all your loot be epic!
Zael
Edited by Zaellyr, 16 April 2013 - 01:44 PM.