Build:Any/A General Shadow Form Runner

The PvXwiki community finds this to be an excellent build. Through the PvX vetting system, it has reached an overall rating in the range from 4.75 to 5.0 and thus qualifies for the highest category of working builds: Great. This build has been designed for the following use: PvE running

Uses Shadow Form to provide a safe and fast build for any profession. This works well on any profession, but casters will find it much easier to use due to faster energy regeneration and larger energy pools.

Attributes and Skills

No profession / Assassin 12 Shadow Arts Shadow Form Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 12 Shadow Form Elite Enchantment Spell For 18 seconds, you cannot be the target of enemy Spells, and you gain 5 damage reduction for each Assassin enchantment on you. You cannot deal more than 21 damage with a single skill or attack. 30 1 5 "I Am Unstoppable!" EotN No Profession. Norn rank "I Am Unstoppable!" Shout For 16..20 seconds, you have +24 armor and cannot be knocked down or Crippled. 30 5 Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Optional Core No Profession. Unlinked Optional Optional Optional. Death's Charge Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 12 Death's Charge Spell Shadow Step to target foe. If that foe has more Health than you, you are healed for 173. 30 ¼ 5 Heart of Shadow Factions Assassin. Shadow Arts 12 Heart of Shadow Spell You are healed for 126, and you Shadow Step to a nearby location directly away from your target. 15 ¼ 5 Drunken Master EotN No Profession. Deldrimor rank Drunken Master Stance For 72..90 seconds, your movement and attack speeds are increased by 10..15%. If you are drunk while activating this Skill, your movement and attack speeds are increased by 25..33% instead. 60 5 Template code

• Dwarven Stability for permanent anti-KD and very long Drunken Master, requires alcohol.
• Deadly Paradox perma-SF if you can afford the energy
• Dark Prison for faster runs.
• Dash for faster runs, you'll need a second IMS to cover the down time. It can also be used to break aggro quickly.
• "Don't Trip!" can be used as an additional anti-knockdown shout.
• Feigned Neutrality or Shadow Sanctuary can be brought if you're in a tough spot.
• Shroud of Distress can be used if you tend to die too fast, however it requires a 1 second cast and will slow you down. Remember that it will be stripped by Guiles.
• "You Move Like a Dwarf!" to interrupt random Ice Golems.

• Cure Hex for backup.
• Remove Hex for backup.

• Inspired Hex or Revealed Hex in case a hex gets through.

• "Fallback!" and Godspeed for faster runs.
• "Can't Touch This!" to counter touch-skills.
• Bring Enduring Harmony to maintain "I Am Unstoppable!" and other shouts indefinitely.

• Bring Dodge and Zojun's Haste for fast runs and blocking. Chain them with Dash.

• Bring Vocal Was Sogolon to maintain "I Am Unstoppable!" indefinitely.

• Signet of Stamina for more health.
• Balanced Stance if you're lazy with IAU.
• "To the Limit!" and Soldier's Speed if you can manage the cost.

Equipment

• Full Radiant/Survivor/Sentry (Depending which is more necessary for an area).
• Full Attunement/Vitae (Depending on which is more necessary for an area).
  • High Armor Set
    • Spear.
      • "I Have the Power!" Inscription.
      • 20% longer Enchantments.
    • 16 Armor Shield.
      • -2 (while in stance).
      • +45hp (while in stance).
  • High Energy Set
    • Any staff with +10 energy and 20% halves skill recharge of spells.
      • Defensive, Hale, Swift, or Insightful Staff Head.
      • "Don't think twice", "Hale and Hearty" or "Seize the Day" Inscription.
      • Staff Wrapping of Enchanting (+20% useful for lengthening Shadow Form).

Usage

• Use Shadow Form only around Ice Golems, Stone Summit Heretics, and Ice Imps.
• Spam Death's Charge to escape aggro and cover more ground faster.
• Use Heart of Shadow for spike healing and running. Remember to use Heart of Shadow when your target is behind you.

Variants

• Dark Escape if you really, really don't want to use alcohol.
• Return, Death's Retreat, or Ebon Escape to shadowstep to dwarves and for healing.

Counters

• Ice Imps
• Ice Golems
• Rubberbanding in narrow passages i.e. the two troll caves
• Lag causing any of the above