Darkness Sith Assassin 5.x Tank Class Guide

Change Discipline:

Gearing & Stats

The tables on this page were generated using optimizer scripts created by Bant aka Goblin_Lackey. The stats were calculated to give the maximum theoretical DPS/HPS/DTPS for each discipline, however you may wish to alter the builds depending on your play style or what content you are facing in SWTOR. Each table assumes you have a full set of the specified gear.

Suggested Best-in-Slot Stats

Name GEMINI MK-5
Tier 4: Legendary
(248)
GEMINI MK-3
Tier 4: Artifact
(246)
Iokath MK-5
Tier 3: Legendary
(242)
Iokath MK-2
Tier 3: Artifact
(240)
Eternal Commander MK-15
Tier 2: Legendary
(236)
Eternal Commander MK-13
Tier 2: Artifact
(234)
Mastery 712768506714671464516315
Power 910910910910910910
Critical 000000
Alacrity 000000
Accuracy 000000
Absorb 1749 (3xE, 11xA)1648 (4xE, 8xA)1628 (4xE, 8xA)1628 (4xE, 8xA)1723 (7xE, 3xA)1696 (8xE, 1xA)
Defense 406338753793379336053523
Shield 2037 (7xE, 3xA)2020 (6xE, 6xA)1986 (6xE, 6xA)1986 (6xE, 6xA)1785 (3xE, 11xA)1758 (2xE, 13xA)

"E" = Enhancement or Implant or Earpiece
"A" = Advanced _ Augment 45
"C" = Advanced _ _ Color Crystal (+41 ones)

Discipline Statistics

Name GEMINI MK-5
Tier 4: Legendary
(248)
GEMINI MK-3
Tier 4: Artifact
(246)
Iokath MK-5
Tier 3: Legendary
(242)
Iokath MK-2
Tier 3: Artifact
(240)
Eternal Commander MK-15
Tier 2: Legendary
(236)
Eternal Commander MK-13
Tier 2: Artifact
(234)
DTPS 2,4142,4452,4642,4692,5002,524
% Reduction75.86 %75.55 %75.36 %75.31 %75 %74.76 %

DPS Rankings

Current
Rank
Previous
Rank
Rank
Change
DPS Standard
Error
vs Average DPS
(9,991)
Imperial Class Republic Class
5 5 - 10,336 +/- 284 +3.46% Annihilation Marauder Watchman Sentinel
8 8 - 10,150 +/- 299 +1.6% Carnage Marauder Combat Sentinel
12 8 4 9,828 +/- 351 -1.63% Fury Marauder Concentration Sentinel
10 10 - 10,027 +/- 372 +0.36% Vengeance Juggernaut Vigilance Guardian
11 15 4 9,857 +/- 488 -1.34% Rage Juggernaut Focus Guardian
7 7 - 10,157 +/- 582 +1.67% Deception Assassin Infiltration Shadow
14 13 1 9,640 +/- 346 -3.51% Hatred Assassin Serenity Shadow
18 18 - 9,327 +/- 304 -6.64% Lightning Sorcerer Telekinetics Sage
16 16 - 9,520 +/- 268 -4.71% Madness Sorcerer Balance Sage
9 9 - 10,054 +/- 516 +0.64% Arsenal Mercenary Gunnery Commando
4 4 - 10,432 +/- 414 +4.42% Innovative Ordnance Mercenary Assault Specialist Commando
13 12 1 9,679 +/- 505 -3.12% Advanced Prototype Powertech Tactics Vanguard
15 14 1 9,556 +/- 383 -4.35% Pyrotech Powertech Plasmatech Vanguard
17 17 - 9,448 +/- 461 -5.43% Marksmanship Sniper Sharpshooter Gunslinger
3 3 - 10,441 +/- 270 +4.51% Engineering Sniper Saboteur Gunslinger
2 2 - 10,467 +/- 161 +4.77% Virulence Sniper Dirty Fighting Gunslinger
6 6 - 10,157 +/- 526 +1.67% Concealment Operative Scrapper Scoundrel
1 1 - 10,754 +/- 322 +7.64% Lethality Operative Ruffian Scoundrel

Note: DPS rankings assume best-in-slot 242-rating gear.


Suggested Best-in-Slot Gear & Items

Type Quantity Name
Augment3 (228)
Augment11 (228)
Enhancement
Earpiece
Implant
3 or or (248)
Enhancement
Earpiece
Implant
7 or or (248)
Color Crystal2 (136)
Mod9 (248)
Relic1 (248)
Relic1 (248)
Armoring8 (248)
Hilt1 (248)
Stim1
MedpacN/A
AdrenalsN/A

Note: Tank B mods are to our knowledge currently unavailable, however if you find one you can swap Warding Mod 52 for Warding Mod 52B with minmal impact on mitigation.


Set Bonuses

Pieces Set Bonus
2Wither or Slow Time increases damage reduction by 2% for 3 seconds.
4Wither or Slow Time reduces the cooldown of Mind Control and Mass Mind Control by 2 seconds per activation.
6Dark Ward's or Kinetic Ward's duration is increased by 3 seconds and charges are increased by 3.

Suggested Utility Skills

PvE

Suggested PvE Utility Build

Unknown - please email us one at admin@torcommunity.com!

Suggested PvE Utilities

Unknown - please email us one at admin@torcommunity.com!

PvP

Suggested PvP Utility Build

Unknown - please email us one at admin@torcommunity.com!

Suggested PvP Utilities

Unknown - please email us one at admin@torcommunity.com!

Abilities

Darkness Discipline Abilities

Name Description Type
Causes up to 8 targets to wither under the weight of the Force, dealing <<1>> kinetic damage, slowing the movement speed of all affected targets by 30% for 10 seconds, and weakening all affected targets for 45 seconds. Weakened targets deal 5% less melee and ranged damage. Does not damage sleeping, lifted, or incapacitated enemies. This ability generates a high amount of threat.Instant
Strike up to 8 nearby enemies with dark energy, dealing <<1>> internal damage and generating a high amount of threat.Instant
Deals <<1>> energy damage to the target and consumes 40 Force over the duration of the channel. Slows the movement speed of the target by 50% and stuns weak or standard enemies while channeled. This ability can be channeled while moving.Channeled
Surrounds you in a dark ward with 15 charges that increases your shield chance by 15% for 20 seconds. Each time you successfully shield, Dark Ward loses 1 charge. Does not break Stealth.Instant
Uses the Force to draw the target in, instantly pulling it to your location and generating a high amount of threat. Does not work against targets in cover.Instant

Sith Assassin Advanced Class Abilities

Name Description Type
Enters stealth mode, increasing your stealth level by 15 and making your movements difficult to detect, but slowing movement speed to 85% of normal. Your companion will not react to enemy attacks while in stealth. Most hostile actions prematurely end the effect. Cannot be used in combat.Instant
Forces all enemies within 15 meters to attack you for 6 seconds if Dark Charge is active. If Dark Charge is not active, threat towards all current enemies is immediately reduced. Player targets deal 30% less damage for 6 seconds when attacking anyone other than you.Instant
Spikes the target upon an overloaded lightsaber, dealing <<1>> energy damage and stunning the target for 2 seconds. Standard and weak enemies are additionally knocked down. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff. Only usable in stealth mode.Instant
Deals <<1>> weapon damage to up to 8 targets within 5 meters. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff.Instant
Increases your total Endurance by 3%. In addition, Saber Strike restores 1 Force each time it damages an enemy.Passive
Deals <<1>> weapon damage to a single target. Only usable from behind the target. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff.Instant
Attempts to assassinate the target, dealing <<1>> weapon damage. Only usable on targets at or below 30% max health.Instant
Controls the mind of the target, forcing it to attack you for 6 seconds. Player targets deal 30% less damage for 6 seconds when attacking anyone other than you.Instant
Lightning pulses through your double-bladed lightsaber, giving your melee attacks a 50% chance to deal <<1>> energy damage.Passive
While active, the guarded player takes 5% less damage and generates 25% less threat. In addition, so long as you remain within 15 meters of the guarded player, 50% of all incoming damage from enemy players is transferred back to you.Instant
Purges all hostile removable effects and increases your chance to resist Force and tech attacks by 200% for 3 seconds. Does not break Stealth.Instant
Strikes the target twice. Each hit deals <<1>> weapon damage.Instant
Unleashes your current lightsaber charge upon the target, applying an effect based on your current charge. Only usable with a charged double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff. Dark Charge: Strikes up to 8 nearby enemies, dealing <<1>> internal damage and generating a high amount of threat. Puts Discharge on cooldown for 10 seconds. Lightning Charge: Deals <<2>> energy damage over 18 seconds. Surging Charge: Releases your Static Charge to deal <<4>> internal damage. This damage scales up with each stack of Static Charge.Instant
Traps the target's mind, leaving it bewildered and unable to act for 60 seconds. Damage will break the effect prematurely. This ability is only usable in stealth mode and cannot be used against a target in combat. Only one target can be incapacitated at any given time. Cannot be used on droids.Instant
Increases your ranged and melee defenses by 50% for 12 seconds. Requires a melee weapon.Instant
Use the Force to move through time and space, appearing at your enemy target and increasing your movement speed by 75% for 3 seconds. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used against targets in cover. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff.Instant
Critical hits with Force attacks increase your melee critical chance by 5% for 10 seconds.Passive
Overcharges your lightsaber charge for 15 seconds, immediately restoring 15% of your max health, increasing the damage of all Charges by 50%, increasing the chance to trigger their effects by 25%, and healing you for <<2>> when their effects are triggered. The triggered healing cannot occur more than once per second. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber or electrostaff.Instant
Uses the Force to vanish from sight, immediately exiting combat and entering stealth mode. For 10 seconds, you become virtually undetectable.Instant

Sith Inquisitor Class Abilities

Name Description Type
Deals <<1>> energy damage and knocks back up to 8 enemies within a 15-meter cone in front of you. Standard and weak enemies are additionally knocked down for 3 seconds.Instant
Grants 2 charges of Recklessness, which increases the Force critical chance of your direct attacks and heals by 60%. Each time a direct Force ability critically hits or each time a channeled Force ability is activated, 1 charge is consumed. Lasts 20 seconds.Instant
Shocks the target for <<1>> energy damage. Standard and weak targets are additionally stunned for 3 seconds.Instant
Deals <<1>> kinetic damage and slows the target's movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds.Instant
Traps the target in a whirlwind for 8 seconds. Non-player, non-standard, and non-weak targets heal rapidly while trapped. Damage causes this effect to end prematurely.Casted
Increases movement speed by 150% for 2 seconds. Does not break Stealth.Instant
Interrupts the target's current action and prevents that ability from being used for 4 seconds.Instant
Electrocutes the target, dealing <<1>> energy damage and stunning it for 4 seconds.Instant
Summons the unbreakable will of the Sith, immediately purging incapacitating and movement-impairing effects.Instant
Deals <<1>> weapon damage spread across a flurry of 3 melee attacks.Instant
Increases the target's Mastery by 5% and internal and elemental damage reduction by 10% for 60 minutes. If the target is a group member, all other group members are also affected.Instant
Seize the moment, restoring 2% of your maximum health every 3 seconds. Requires an active companion. Lasts 60 seconds.Instant

Rotation

Rotation

Shock > Filler > Wither > Filler > Shock > Filler > Depredating Volts > Depredating Volts*

Filler: Discharge (6%) / Thrash (0%) / Mault (16%/0%) / Assassinate (0%/16%) / Saber Strike (44%)

Minor Rotation:
Major Rotation: 8 GCDs

Comments: Tank Classes are handled differently and the dps rotation changes based on the resource proc bonuses of a boss hitting you. Time averaged Absorb is calculated based on the boss attack rate and attack type and the current defense and shield chances. All rotations for tanks are for Energy Balanced DPS.

References: KeyboardNinja, Aelanis, Dipstik, Methoxa

Advanced Tactics

Advanced Tactics

No advanced tactics have been written yet for this guide. If you would like to write this section, please email us at admin@torcommunity.com. Thanks!

About the Author
Hayward
Author: Hayward
Hayward founded TORCommunity in 2008 the day after SWTOR was announced. Engineer by day, software dev by night, he does his best to keep the site up to date.