Assassin Attack Speed Notes & Reference:


Over time I spent a good while going over this and I have another set of calculations for normal attacks about down but as the various attacks take in different effects to the equation which I haven't figured out rather than posting an incomplete equation that also turned out to be a somewhat longer and more complex equation than most would want to deal with and I found a good on-line attack speed calculator I'll just make some notes on attack speeds and list the address of the site found. I noted the odd thing there that did not seem to figure quite right and the Fuzzbox attack speed page listing just the IAS for a max attack speed is somewhat off for the final numbers and also uses max attack speeds faster than seem possible for at least normal attacks also only looking at what you need to hit the top speed is a poor idea as noted below. So while I can't seem to locate anything that seems bang on the link listed is really very close from what I can see and that should be all you really need.

Diablo2.InGame.DE Weapon Calculator


General Notes:

• The game measures in frames with 25 frames per second.
  
• From my testing and the fore mentioned page the max normal attack speed is about 7.5 frames or just a shade slower (I kept getting about 3.2 attacks per second or about 7.75 frames per attack).
  
• For some reason I noticed it seemed like with normal attacks you attack faster with the slower claw when it is in the left inventory slot rather than the right one. It seemed like when the claws were entered this way your base claw speed was average or the base speed of the slower one just ignored altogether. This did not make much sense so likely is a bug or something of that nature.
  
• At times the game seems to get a bit confused when calculating attack speeds depending on the order in which you placed the claws in your weapon slots. So if you note you're attacking more quickly or slowly after changing weapon sets or starting a new game that would be due to the fact it had the chance to reset things and your current attack speed is what you should have while before it was an error.
  
• Shields appear to have no effect (positive or negative) on your attack speed so everything would then depend on the claw you're using and the IAS you're picking up.

• When using Tiger Strike, Cobra Strike or Phoenix Strike you seem to get a small attack speed bonus beyond what you get with normal attacks and the max speed appears to be faster, likely 7 frames which is also what the site above says.
  
• With Trap laying and tossing you seem to have a slower attack speed than with a normal attack and the max attack speed is supposed to be slower as well (just 9 frames for the top speed here according to the noted site above).
  
• When using the three single element charge ups with one claw your attack speed is a bit slower than with a normal attack, possibly as with traps your max is slower as well.
  
• When using Dragon Claw or the three single element charge ups with two claws you get an attack speed bonus and the max is supposed to be 5 frames per swipe or 10 frames for the full attack.
  
• When using any of the charge ups, Dragon Claw, kicks or in laying/tossing traps the base attack speed of both your claws is used (seems to be averaged) in your attack speed then the IAS on your items and claw in the left weapon slot is added to that. So if you have a Runic Talons and a War Fist your attack speed would be slowed due to the War Fist or improved by the Runic Talons depending on how you look at it then the one with more IAS added to it should be put in the left slot. So if using Nat's set if you used a claw in your right slot with a faster than 0 base speed rather than a shield your attack speed with any kick or claw attack other than a normal attack would be improved as the average base weapon speed would be from 5-15 rather than 0.
  
• IAS from items and added to your claws seem to have a depreciated effect which becomes more evident with added IAS where as the base claw speed and IAS from Burst of Speed is not, or at least not as much.
  
• The added IAS on your claw in the right weapon slot has no effect other than with normal attacks when that claw is swung.

• The hardest attacks to get at top speed would be Dragon Claw and the three single element charge ups when using two claws as their top speed is supposed to be 5 frames per swipe. Now while with your claws you may be able to hit 5.5 frames per swipe with a reasonable investment in IAS and even Burst of Speed at around level 5 getting that final 0.5 frame improvement may take a difficult IAS investment which will prevent you from adding other things that may be of more use. In fact at times you may need to add about as much added IAS for that final 0.5 frame improvement as it took to get it at 5.5 frames per attack in the first place. This is why just looking at what you need to max out your attack speed is not a good idea as while you may not be able to hit the top speed with what you have you may get it at 6 or 5.5 frames per swipe with out too much trouble which will not result in a big difference in your attack speed so really don't be too worried about hitting the max speed, just get it at a good high speed and add other things to boost your damage or other things.
  

• Claws with higher base attack speeds will be easier to get a max attack speed with so for kickers and skill based builds (Phoenix Strikers and elemental trappers) it's best to stick with those claws. For instance you should be able to hit the top speed (with Phoenix Strike and trap laying/tossing) if using two Greater Talons and/or Runic Talons or one with a shield then about 60% IAS on your items and/or left claw. This would mean you could use Fade rather than Burst of Speed as all Burst of Speed would do any more is increase your movement rate.
  

• If what you are after is physical damage the spread between the damage on Runic Talons and Suwayyah/Scissors Suwayyah averages at 11.5. As noted earlier it will not take too much to get Runic Talons at top speed and once you've done that you won't be able to put any more damage out. With Suwayyah/Scissors Suwayyah while they have a slower base speed they make this up with potential damage per second right from the start. It also should not be too difficult to get your attack speed at least close to the max if not maxed with the help of Burst of Speed if your second claw is a Greater Talon or Runic Talon claw. If both are Suwayyah/Scissors Suwayyah it would take more to top out your attack speed but would not be too terribly difficult to get it at least in the area even with Dragon Claw. Then once you are at least nearing top speed even if not at top speed as you have one or two claws with a higher average damage which only gets magnified by enhanced damage you would be able to put out a modest amount more damage per second than if you had used the fastest claw types.