Talk:Flashing Blades

what a useless elite, critical defenses are much better and aren't elite --The preceding unsigned comment was added by User:78.0.72.96 .

It's a defensive skill linked to a weapon attribute, you were expecting what? Use those save attribute points for some utility. - HeWhoIsPale 21:40, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Another thing, Critical Defenses is an enchantment. Flashing Blades is a stance and can be kept up almost perpetually anyway. Anyone who's PvE'd a lot knows that enemies LOVE stripping your enchantments. KrelusDerian 17:22, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

Cover your enchantments with something cheap like shadow refuge so you can save your elite slot for something better.William Wallace 20:40, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, that would work... if shadow refuge wasnt an enchantment and it doesnt prevent spells. --The preceding unsigned comment was added by User:65.33.248.77 (talk).

What else would you like to use as an Elite for PvE? You don't need any powerfull combos, and this provides you a really great defense. This is easy to get, instant and you can use it constantly. --Alistair Cookie 23:27, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

Critical Defenses protects you on the way from one foe to another whereas this does not. Furthermore, stance-removal is by far more dangerous for you can't cover-stance. The elite point's already a heavy argument if not the one to bring down Flashing Blades alone because there are nice elite skills you even want to use in PvE - like Möbius Strike, Shattering Assault (conditionally) or Way of the Empty Palm.Noctarch 17:22, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

hahahaha the lack of stance removal in Ra and TA makes this a great skills for a pressure build, ive taken on four warriors, with flashing, jagged, wild, deathblossom, and way of perfection, when you combine this with crit def, enemies have a 6.25% chance to hit you, (is combined correctly) theres no reason for this skill to be overlooked, it has great pve potential too, a normal melee mob, is no problem, can almost solo raptor cave in hm, with a bonder, with this and crit def, its not bad, people need to stop overlooking sin elites. Shadowshock

You seem to forget there's a block chance cap. And I do not say, there's more stance-removal - if it happens it's just more perilous. Finally, I do not overlook assassin elites ... I overlook elites of all classes. Noctarch 21:04, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

whats the cap? Shadowshock

It's 75%. Noctarch 23:47, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Both have their ups and downs, flashing blade is brilliant, because it is a stance from a weapon attribute and it is not an enchantment, also it can be kept up constantly, the drawback is that if someone uses wild attacks (wild throw, wild blow, wild strike) it will render it useless, but a critical defense is brilliant too, it can be kept up if done correctly, it is not elite, but the downside is that it is an enchantment and also you need bypassing block skills. --77.96.222.63 15:03, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

If only this were a critical strikes linked skill......... Faul 15:59, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

After playing a crit defense build for a while, one thing I appreciate about this is it still works if you're blinded or hit with Blurred Vision. It does become an annoying liability when you're hit with, say, empathy, though. Either you stop attacking and become wide open or you keep attacking and take ridiculous damage anyway. I love tactical mind-games. Krelus Derian 21:35, 8 July 2008 (UTC)

• It's silly that there isn't a single elite in DM that's not an attack skill and is offensive. This elite is funny here. Its like a healing elite in smiting prayers... Eth 11:48, 17 July 2008 (UTC)
  • Read: Zealous Benediction, Expert's Dexterity, Arcane Languor. Raine - talk 08:21, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

Dead topic i know but..... Really, Wasnt aware that any of those elites were in DM. (Dagger mastery) In fact im looking and it seems those arent assassin skills at all. One looks to be derv, one seems to be ranger and one appears to be mesmer. I must just be a noob. =/ Briar 09:58, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

8-7-08 Update

Thanks for making it Gladiator's Defense. As if sins really need that. Bisurge 04:16, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Does it deal ranged dmg back too? It doesn't say melee only <.< 96.25.96.218 08:58, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, it does deal ranged dmg back. I was attacking a sin with a bow at shortbow range and taking dmg from said attacks.--Ryudo 18:11, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

That´s a permanent blocking stance that deals damage. Why do assasins get something like this? Its like a elite-elite gladiator defence and because it´s recastable after it expires i´ts not just annoying, as before, it´s a never-attack-the-assasins-except-you-are-not-melee-class-skill 84.176.40.183 12:20, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Wild Blow gg 65.94.31.145 13:33, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Make sins even stronger plox, this skill isnt making the 1337 versatile class 1337 enough. crit d serves no purpose now.--~Phill Gaston ‎ 16:23, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Lol, I thought izzy was trying to take the game away from passive defense, hence all the past changes to warrior blocking/defense stances. And then he goes and gives assassins an easily maintainable blocking stance that does retaliation damge to attackers? Why not just change it to "you are immune to all physical damage, gg." Guess all wars need to make room for wild blow...but rangers are just kinda screwed against sins now.--Ryudo 18:09, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Not entirely sure as to why people are spazzing out now. The retaliation damage isn't too bad, the duration is still the same, and it's fun to clobber a Flashing Blades sin with empathy/insidious/SS. No matter what they do in that situation, they're boned. And, frankly, if you know someone has a defense stance up and you keep throwing blockable attacks at them anyway, well, there are better things you can do with your time. Krelus Derian 19:35, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Besides that, everyone cried foul when Anet added the aftercast delay to shadowsteps. Now Assassins get a skill to help kind of cope with that and everyone begins spazzing again. It's just a game. Heck, one skill can shut down a sin with this. --Acidic Thought 20:26, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

How are Rangers screwed? The blocking only occurs when the assassin is attacking. Pin Down -> Kite -> Attack. If the sin is attacking someone else, they probably have a counter for it too. --Cjad the Nord 20:35, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

A normal way for me to attack melee classes is the usual Pin/kite, burn. Rinse and repeat. Trust me in the fact that rangers can probably beat out most melee classes simply because of ranged attack. There are counters to everything. -- Wandering Traveler 21:30, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

This is a cute skill for pve. In pvp, this and critical defenses are skills that simply should not exist. Permanent block stances are retarded. Pluto 22:01, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

Bwar. Krelus Derian 22:23, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

They're permanent if they're not removed. All of you are just whining about something that will never see use outside of CM, RA and PvE because everyone who deserves to win everywhere else will have a form of Stance removal and a form of Enchantment removal, as well as things such as Empathy, Spiteful Spirit, Visions of Regret and other take XX damage when you attack/use skill. This and Critical Defenses have drawbacks, they're balanced. And honestly, the way sins get hit because idiots can't make their own combinations, they need something like this. =\ So stop bitching. User:RitualDoll 05:53, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

I like it, i always used to use Flashing Blade's alot cause i used to block alot of attack, thus making it easier for monks, but in PuG i was alway yelled at for using it (its PvE who cares anyway). But now atleast it does something cool aswell :) My charr killing will be sooo much easier now :D My record is gonna fall like the backyard fence onto my "dirtcastle" (Sandcastle made out of dirt for the people who arent so smart) and yes it really did happen Darren Blacktail 13:44, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

What are you, five? Anyway, this skill is okay now, but in pve mobieus > this. Crit D + MystReg is all you need. CritAgl is great too. 72.75.24.15 20:26, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

The massive amount of enchantment removal in PvE r gonna pwn ur crit D even if u do have a cover enchantment, notice the word MASSIVE.

It's not that big a deal in PvE. What you do is, if you have heroes and henchmen, call your target so the rest of your party goes in. Let your warrior take the initial brunt (If you don't have a warrior, you're being silly). The monks will in turn, enchant him, he'll get smacked with enchant removal, then YOU go in and dead-ify all the enemies.Krelus Derian 18:28, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

I honestly don't see why ANYONE is whining about this. It's still rather underpowered in my opinion. Sure, they can block and keep this up forever, BUT! They have to be attacking. And how is this helpful when they are hunting down a kiting Monk or caster? It's not that great still.-- Media Control talk 00:29, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Why is everyone complaining? Because they are intent on makeing warriors useless! Come now they nerf every war stance to oblivion, beef up rangers stances, and invent newer and better sin stances... I thought warriors were supposed to be the masters of mellee? Why is it that every other class in the game through the use of skill can have either Better armor or Better blocking ability... If they are going to do this to flashing blades then they better start beefing up some war stances, no more of this "75% chance to block attacks for 5 seconds (FIVE SECONDS!!) at rank 16, and it ends prematurely if you breath in a nonrythmic pattern" crap.

Not to mention:

1.Unlike every other stance in the game, Flashing blades is linked to a weapon attribute and doesnt require you to take points that can be allocated to your weapon in an effort to defend yourself. Effectively makeing it so that the Sin only has to put points into 2 of their attributes(Dag and Crit)allowing them to easily defend themselve and easily make the kill w/o sacrificing anything.

2.Why limit Gladiators Defence dmg buff to Mellee attacks only yet have this skill as a endless all around ANTI ATTACK stance, that can be maintained forever.

3.True it can be countered, wild blow, wild strike and wild toss will all end its day pretty quick, but keep in mind that Wild blow requires warriors to sacrifice every bit of adrenaline that have, wild toss (or throw i dont remember) is an adrenaline based skill, and the likely hood of one getting 7 hits on a foe is blocking 75% of the time before they pwn you is pretty low, like 25%... (which is low). Hell wild strike is pretty much the only skill with a chance to counter this while still giveing the guy a chance to finish them off. Is this your goal? make sins the only thing that can take out a sin?

Look, all I'm saying is that if your going to beef this skill up so much, your have to beef up its counters and bring other class skills up to par to as well.

Realy though why is it that you would consider this skill to be blanced... Yet if I said Gladiators Defence should last 15 seconds have a 30 seconds cool down, block 75% of attacks and deal 25 dmg to foes whos attacks you have blocked, everybody would be crying "Unbalance!"... You have no doubt tipped the scales here my friend, no you must either couter ballance or remove the added weight... 70.6.52.198 14:23, 15 August 2008 (UTC)Auron Bushi

"Wild blow requires warriors to sacrifice every bit of adrenaline" Wow, the warrior has to give up the next to no adrenaline they have to remove a stance from the Assassin who, if the warrior is smart, will have to wait atleast 20 seconds to get it back since Flashing Blades has a 30 second recharge. Assassins will never replaced a warrior because of a skill like Flashing Blades. But best of luck to you in trying to make it seem like the warrior has any fear of losing it's thrown with all it's useful skills and elites. ~ Sabastian 21:50, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

Gladiator's defense has no drawback, it costs half as much energy, and does a hell of a lot more damage. And any PvPer worth his salt can counter blocking. Krelus Derian 17:53, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

Let's see, gladiator's defense lasts about a third as long but with the same 30-second recharge, and doesn't deal damage to ranged attackers. How on earth is it better? Never mind that you have to drop points into tactics for it, whereas with flashing blades you're just using your dagger attribute, which should be high anyway.--71.185.41.90 18:11, 18 February 2012 (UTC)

I play a sin and I seriously don't understand the logic behind this dealing damage back at ranged attackers. With melee sure, block the attack, nick the attacker with your dagger... are they saying you can deflect an arrow back at someone? I don't think that's possible in any world :P The physics of it make no sense. Add to that wands, what are they doing damage with there? No clue... That said, I might mess around with this again in pve... though I'll be sad to give up moebius... Tgannon83 06:48, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

Yeah I agree, and whats the logic of wands and bows that never run out of arrows. its a game that you can use magic.

omg it's name is FLASHING blades, it's SO obvious that you flash some light to the attacker dealing dmg... --85.1.206.113 19:25, 28 September 2009 (UTC)

capable for farming?

hey i was wondering if this skill was maybe capable for farming using the damage from flashing blades

<sarcasm>No, this isn't usefull for farming. not even in the slightest...*rolls eyes*</sarcasm>

Try it with a spirit bond build.70.100.80.18 16:55, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

>_> Out of interest..... this cappable from one of those lame new M.O.X. Quests? Yabababa of Blades guy has it =.

New effect?

How about this? Elite Stance. 2...24...30 Your attacks cause blindness for 0...2...2 seconds. You attack 33% faster.

Flashing blades in my opinion means that you're attacking, and attacking fast at that. Flashing I'd take to mean as in the light reflects off the blades and blinds the person. IDK. Just my opinion File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 01:12, 20 March 2009 (UTC)

Giving sins a viable IAS in their own attributes would break the game. EDA + Critical Agility = bad. Vili 01:16, 20 March 2009 (UTC)

Okay, so get rid of the 33%. How about that? But we need another viable PvE sin build. I'm tired of having my enchants stripped (off my moebius) File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 21:47, 20 March 2009 (UTC)

You kinda lost me there, too. Why do you need enchantments to use Moebius Strike? Vili 22:11, 20 March 2009 (UTC)

Critical Agility + Critical Defense = Enchantments.... File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 10:48, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Neither of which are necessary... Vili 20:33, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Both of which make the moebius a decent build.... File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 21:39, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

It works fine without them...before Critical Agility came out, people still used Moebius Blossom spam. Crit/Crit makes any build better; Agility is somewhat redundant with Flurry or even Way of the Assassin if you were brave enough to use that. >.> Vili 22:04, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

WoTA = Elite Moebius = Elite = does not work.... Flurry: I'm not a big fan of the lesser dmg. File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 01:15, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Obviously you'd go A/Me for Arcane Mimicry. Or you'd, you know, use it as a totally different build.

Flurry barely impacts your damage. It only reduces the 7...17 base damage which is laughable anyway. An Assassin without base damage is like a fish without a bicycle. Vili 01:37, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

Ah rlly? kool. I didn't know that. Thx for the info. well then i guess flurry is a decent IAS. File:User JonathanMartin Sig.jpgJonathan 18:41, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

I know this is old, but, my fish can ride a bike with no handlebars... none at all. Discuss 23:11, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

Only while attacking

I wish this would work even while you weren't attacking. I mean, things die so quickly in PvE that half the time I'm running towards the next enemy that I'm trying to kill which means that this skill (elite as it is) isn't doing anything during that time :-/ --208.179.66.2 21:31, 23 February 2011 (UTC)

That is what shadowsteps are for. If you want to be sneaky though, target one of your backline briefly and use Viper's Defense. 10 second recharge, AoE poison, and moves you away from your target (your backliner), thus TOWARD your enemy. Guildwarsrunner 02:41, 24 February 2011 (UTC)

Umm related skills ?

Do u really think Attacker's Insight is good for related skills ? I mean, the only thing in common is that they have block effect and (not counting) can be maintained. Other than that, FB's damage is triggered by block effect and the other by enchantment end. Just thought it wouldn't make very much sense. Respectfully Magnum 12:48, 1 March 2011 (UTC)

"you have a 75% chance to block incoming attacks while attacking" — Flashing Blades

"you have a 50% chance to block while attacking" — Attacker's Insight

All the skills listed as related offer blocking protection. FB and AI are the only two that require the user to be attacking to enable the blocks. So, I would say, they have more in common with each other than say, Whirling Defense, which provides unconditional blocking.  — Tennessee Ernie Ford (TEF) 12:58, 1 March 2011 (UTC)

Ok, if u say so, that is indeed correct. Dunno if it's enough but I guess ok. Btw - fast reply :) Respectfully Magnum 13:03, 1 March 2011 (UTC)

Personally I think Flashing Blades has more in common with Gladiator's Defense and Whirling Defense. Stances that cause damage to enemies when you block. Same block chance too. 209.216.173.206 15:52, 1 March 2011 (UTC)

Redundancy

'Any block while under the effects of this skill and while attacking will trigger the damage.' The skills effect says.. 'you have a 75% chance to block incoming attacks while attacking.' I find that note to be extremely redundant. Anyone else agree? For now, I'm removing it.Menzies the Bei Shun of Master 21:55, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

Trivia

This is a possible reference to the Iron Maiden song Flash of the Blade. Perhaps it should be included as part of the article.

Damage type

Is the blocking damage slashing typed or what? Can it be increased by EBSoH? Jeree95 (talk) 15:56, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure it's armor-ignoring, like Whirling Defense is, and thus won't be boosted by EBSoH. However it might work with Winnowing, Barbs, MoP, etc. like Whirling does; I've never tested that. Toraen - talk 13:10, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Well, some testing confirms that it is not physical damage. Neither Winnowing or Barbs triggered. Toraen - talk 08:36, 15 February 2016 (UTC)