Few truly know of the Skinshifters, as Skinshifters are rarely seen… or at least recognized. In TCoS the SS is the Rogue class that can truly be stealthy. Using various forms they traverse the shards, scouting and assassinating those that oppose the Enclave and High Houses. 

All classes in The Chronicles of Spellborn have six sets of skills. The first is the basic set that is shared for the overall class type. After that each set has three shared skills and three class specific skills. The rogue class typically alternates between close range and long range attacks, a focus on dodging to ‘tank’ damage, manipulating the Concentration state with some Physique manipulation as well, and positional attacks — backstabbing. The Skinshifter is primarily a single-target melee DPS class with plenty of backstabs and Concentration manipulation to take advantage of all the shared Calculated attacks (Calculated: increased damage if the target has lower Concentration than the skill user) that rogues get.

The class’ special body slot ability is the Crystal Maze which allows the user to take on various forms. These forms allow the Skinshifter to blend in with different types of enemies, as to not attract attention, and to gain different short term buffs. The buffs are usually pretty nice, but the Skinshifter does have to stay in the form for 5 seconds before acquiring the buff and they typically only last 30 seconds. So, they’re not always great to use in combat, or possible to use. I’ve found the only real way to use the buffs in PvE is to do it before charging in, and hoping that one buff time will be enough. Haven’t tried it in PvP, or really given PvP a shot yet anyway, but I suspect it will be even harder as everyone has a ranged weapon — unless they just don’t take advantage of it or don’t know — you’ll likely be popped out of the form before you can get the buff applied. Tactical terrain use will likely be the biggest chance for getting these off in PvP.

The Chronicles of Spellborn is a fast paced game — combat-wise. Anyone that’s played a third-person action game that’s hack n’ slash will be somewhat familiar with the controls. The skill deck does change a lot of this. Using the skill deck you set up columns of skills to use in a ‘combo’ fashion and you can cycle through the columns during any row — often this is necessary as the flow of combat changes. The combat of TCoS, itself, is not too complicated. You run around the enemy, sweeping into and out of range, actively dodging attacks and using the combos you have lined up while shifting between them as the need arises. The true ‘strategic’ part comes while setting up your deck. A poorly constructed deck can turn even the best player into rubbish while a well thought out deck can turn your average player into a great one. Knowing how your abilities relate to your other abilities is key. For my Skinshifter that comes into play with manipulating Concentration. I tend to start with a combo string that lowers the enemy’s Concentration while increasing mine. Afterwards I use a string that has several Calculated attacks that increase in damage when I have higher Concentration. This is a pretty basic setup, since I’m still fairly low level, but it works very well. In fact, when I got a new row for more abilities in my deck at level 15 (or 14? I can’t remember now) and tried fitting it with some abilities that I had used elsewhere (saving up for the next set of abilities at 16, so I had some skill gaps) my deck completely fell apart — I couldn’t kill nearly as well with ‘more’ skills on the deck in a poorer setup than with fewer skills in a better one. Setting up the deck properly is absolutely key to doing well.

So, how does a fight go as a Skinshifter? I typically start with a buff from a shift (currently I like the physical resistance buff from the Arionite form) then I use Slither Back to teleport behind an opponent — this also applies a couple debuffs that increase my damage. Once behind the target I use a backstab and Side Step, which lowers their Concentration and applies another melee debuff. (same one as Slither Back though, so I think it just refreshes it) After that short chain I move on to my next which starts with Exterminate to further remove any Concentration and another backstab attack with Gash as a DoT. At this point I’m usually near full Concentration and my target is completely drained, so I start up my Calculated chain opening with Quick Strike and ending with Dance of Blades. Once I finish out the last bit of 15 and hit 16 I’ll be capping the chain with Moulinet as a finisher and moving Liquidate in as the opener. During the entire round of combat I’ll be moving — this game has no set parry/dodge/block stats, you have to dodge actively. Learning to do so can be the difference between victory and defeat. At the same time I use Slither Back to catch ranged mobs, run behind cover to get shifts in and buff (usually running around trying to avoid any damage for 5 seconds so it applies) and taking down enemies one at a time. Mob AI isn’t too shabby in TCoS, they use various skills to manipulate your states, apply debuffs, stay at range (if they’re ranged), retreat, etc. This can make for some pretty fun fights. But it can also make for some pretty deadly fights. When a Skinshifter find itself in a bad way and need of escape, the forms can come to their rescue — provided they don’t have a DoT effect that will take it off, or hit the wrong form at the wrong time. Being able to think on your feet is the best way to stay alive.

Lastly, there’s grouping. Groups in TCoS are small, only four people, so team work is usually needed. The fast paced combat that often turns chaotic makes this very challenging, especially to a class who’s primary focus is solo’ing. Yup, the Skinshifter is a wonderful solo’er, but it lacks a bit in groups. I think the SS has the poorest ranged ability of all the Rogues, and it certainly has the poorest AoE. Single targets are where we accel. This makes us pretty effective against named bosses, especially if a tank is around to hold the aggro. Being in a group does give us the benefit of easier shifting during combat — this is often where I do the most to get different buffs as needed. (like the plant form’s heal buff) What SS’ can bring to a party, apart from high single target DPS, is debuffs and some heals. (something most classes have, I think, but more is always good) In fact, looking at the spellborn wiki it seems — for the Rogue class — the SS has the most ‘group heals’. Using the plant form’s buff and various sigils, it seems the SS could be a competent healer. At least for melee classes.

The Skinshifter is a different breed of Rogue and this is simply a brief overview of the class. More to come when I’m higher level.