The Aion Assassin is the swift melee class that often leaves their opposition wondering where the heck that guy came from and where is that lube when you need it?

With low defense and high damage, playing a melee DPS class can be quite the trick.  The Assassin has to be in close but they can’t afford to take the hits that their fighter comrades can.  This means the high burst damage and stuns are the key to the Assassin’s success in PvP.

Strengths

• - High melee damage
• - Great arsenal of stuns
• - Solid crit rate that adds to surprise burst damage

Weakness

• - Low defense
• - Reliant upon close combat

Solo PvP

Probably the biggest problem that Assassins will have in PvP combat is when they come in contact with ranged players.  Not being able to actually hit the other guy obviously is problematic because the Assassin has no reliable ranged skills at all.  If the Assassin is the one engaging combat, it will be important to use your stealth skill before positioning yourself behind your target and attacking. Just remember to use it early so the other player isn’t seeing your skill use scroll on their chat box. 

Stealthing in to take your victim might be difficult if the opposing player has been tipped off to your presence but not to worry, you have a little trick for those who try to get away as well!

If a stealth attack isn’t appropriate or you are dealing with a ranged player that has engaged you then you’ll want to make use of your stigma skill Ambush.  This stigma is insanely necessary in PvP combat and if you don’t have it, you need to go get it.  Once you’ve used Ambush and managed to get yourself close to your enemy, winning is just a matter of stunning and out damaging.  You’ll want to stay close to your target, but never stay still.  Any chance to get behind your mark and take a backstab is a shot at substantial damage.

Group PvP

Pair up with a ranged combatant or a warrior and life is good for the Assassin.  Choose to PvP with players that are more aggressive damage dealers such as a Gladiator so that the players you are targeting are more distracted by the player with the bigger hit points than the sneaky Assassin.  With other players, the key will be in being almost transparent.  Moving around, using Ambush and stealthing frequently will cause enough confusion in your opponent that they won’t always be sure where they should be targeting.

Whether you are in a group or on your own, your best skill combination will either be opening with a stealth and Surprise Attack or opening with Ambush and Surprise Attack.  After your opening move, you’ll want to switch between engraving and bursting signets for the stun potential (always stun first, damage second) and using your damage skills. The signet engraving skills refresh fairly quickly and you’ll have plenty to choose from.  Keep a couple of your best burst signet skills on your hotbar and switch between them as they refresh a bit slower. Continue to use Surprise Attack whenever it is up and positioning allows.

Defense as an Assassin is less of a priority than quick damage.  Your best hope in PvP is generally to out damage your opponent, but don’t get caught without your potions and poison.  If another player immobilizes you outside of stabbing distance you have no chance so keep a stack of cures.  You can also take advantage of extra damage and chance of stun if you keep Scolopen Poison on hand and pick up the Apply Deadly Poison stigma.  The stigma skill lasts 2 minutes so you can cast it early in battle or even before to take advantage of its assistance.

Assassins are great for PvP but they do take some time and skill to learn.  Once you master your Assassin though, you will very much be a formidable killing machine!

Source: Tentonhammer