One of Towerborne’s greatest strengths is its class diversity. If you’re all about that Assassin lifestyle, let me show you the best weapons, armor, skills, Aspects, and more in our best Towerborne Shadowstriker build.
Shadowstriker class overview, combos and Skills
The Shadowstriker is Towerborne’s answer to the Rogue or Assassin archetype. The class trades defense for overwhelming offense and impressively long combos.
The downside to such massive combo potential is survivability or lack thereof. Fortunately, the Shadowstriker does have tools to avoid getting hit, but if you’re in big trouble if you get swarmed.
As Towerborne is in early access, we may see dramatic changes before the 1.0 release, and we will update this guide accordingly.
Shadowstriker combos
The Shadowstriker can effortlessly land long air combos that deal a ton of damage. An easy string to use against mobs is to hold Light Attack to launch your opponent, then mash Light Attack as you follow your opponent into the air.
When you reach the apex of your jump, switch to Heavy attacks to continue your assault to the ground. Depending on size, your enemy may bounce when they hit the floor. If this happens, you can add in a cheeky ground combo by rapidly tapping the Heavy Attack button.
Keep in mind that combos are interruptible. You may catch a charging opponent with a lucky hit mid-combo, but you can also get knocked to the ground. It’s great to go for the highest damage combo you can pull off, but beware, you don’t overextend.
Shadowstriker Skill: Shadow Feint
You can press RB to unleash the Shadowstriker’s unique skill, Shadow Feint. The skill has a ton of utility, although you must use it wisely. You can use Shadow Fient to target a nearby opponent and “blink” toward them.
The Shadowstriker is invincible during travel, but you’re vulnerable the moment you reach your target. Shadow Feint deals respectable damage and can also break shields, which is a massive bonus.
You can use Shadow Feint as an approach tool, but it’s also good as a panic button. Shadowstrikers die if they get surrounded. If that’s about to happen, disengage early and make some space with your skill. You must use Shadow Feint before enemies get too close.
I like to keep one charge of Shadow Feint live for emergencies, and it’s kept me alive through a ton of tricky battles.
Best Weapons for the Shadowstriker in Towerborne
The Shadowstriker specializes in dual daggers, and even “Naruto runs” with them. All weapons in Towerborne come with two skills, and experimenting with new combinations is one of the best parts of the game.
Your mileage may vary, but these are the best skills I’ve found so far:
Smoke Veil
- Ace performs an AOE attack, granting Stealth for 6 seconds. The Ace is undetectable during Stealth and gains +20% Critical Chance and Haste. The effect is canceled upon taking damage.
Smoke Veil is a fantastic skill for the Shadowstriker, as it gives us another panic button and the potential for even more damage. The skill has a slight wind-up time before you bash the floor and go invisible.
I use Smoke Veil as a defensive tool, but it does have offensive uses against small groups. The most important thing to remember is you are not invincible during Stealth. You will still get hit if an opponent throws a projectile or is mid-swing.
Lightning Step
- Ace unleashes a multi-dash attack, launching enemies into the air and performing an 8-hit airborne combo. The final hit slams targets into the ground for more damage.
Lightning Step is a fantastic offensive ability and synergizes perfectly with our Shadowfeint Skill. You can Shadowfeint into a group, then unleash Lightning Step to launch multiple opponents.
You are still vulnerable during your air combo, but you will rarely get hit as you fly so high. If there aren’t any bombers on the screen, you should be okay with using Lightning Step.
It’s early days for Towerborne, and we will update this guide if a meta develops.
Best Armor for the Shadowstriker in Towerborne
Much like weapons, the part we care most about in our armor is the stats. Each piece of armor rolls with three stats, and some benefit our class much more than others. Stats aren’t too vital during the leveling process, as increasing your Armor Score is far more critical.
That said, here are some stats to prioritize that pair nicely with the Shadowstriker.
Helmet
- Umbra Ability Cooldown
- Defence +
- HP +
Sholders
- Umbra Strength +
- Strike Damage +
- Attack +
Chest
- Crit DMG+
- Attack +
- Affliction Duration
Legs
- Heal on Hit
- Crit Chance +
- Crit DMG +
Heal on Hit is incredible for the Shadowstriker as we land so many blows during our combos. Anything to boost Crit Rate and Crit DMG adds a ton of value to our attack strings.
I use my Umbra frequently, so Umbra Strength and Umbra Cooldown are both desirable perks, but your mileage may vary if you don’t often rely on yours.
Best Umbra for the Shadowstriker in Towerborne
Iska may be the first Umbra you get, but their ability patches up one major weakness in the Shadowstriker Kit.
Furiken
- Iska’s long-range projectile damages and knocks back enemies on the first hit.
The Shadowstriker suffers from poor range, and Iska’s ability adds a ranged tool to our arsenal. Furiken can also break a shield user’s defense, which is handy against a mixed group.
Umbra abilities are limited, but Furiken gets me out of trouble multiple times per mission.
Sten could be a decent alternative and an easy way to launch opponents for our devastating air combos.
Best Aspects for the Shadowstriker in Towerborne
I haven’t tried every Aspect thoroughly yet, but Poison seems pretty strong with the Shadowstriker. The Blighted Aspect has a 12% chance to inflict Poison stacks, and as we land so many hits, this debuff is live a lot of the time.
On that note, Poison Duration is a good sub stat to shoot for. Increased Airborne Damage is another stat that works well for us, thanks to our lengthy combos.
If you fancy trading your trusty daggers for a pair of oversized gauntlets, check out the Rockbreaker.