What Niche Does Ash Fill?

[Centurus]

I'm trying to build Ash, and I was wondering what I should expect with this frame and how to play to its strengths.

[Valkav]

In my opinion, Ash is a lot like Loki, with more offensive ability. They share some of the same skills (invisibility, teleporting), but they're slightly different and Ash has two purely offensive abilities, whereas Loki has none.

He has a nice balance offensive and defensive capabilities, and looks pretty stylish to boot. He also has one of my favorite ultimates in the game. ;)

[LadyScootaloo]

Stealth and melee.

His first skill, Shuriken, is probably one of the strongest ranged first skills.

However, it's still not the most useful elimination skill and only does above-average damage by comparison.

Also, very hard to aim for some, it has a near-direct-pinpoint accuracy.

Smokescreen is used for hiding to revive teammates or to use to melee strong opponents.

(this second option isn't used often as guns do the job just as well)

Teleport. Teleports to your target. (must be a visible target)

Blade Storm. He basically does the generic NINJATELEPORTANDSTRIKE thing for a few moments.

It's supposed to be really handy, though not the best choice of 4th skills.

It used to be buggy, but, this was before u7 and I haven't any idea what it is now.

Simply put, Ash is 'useful'.

A slightly more melee-emphasis version of Loki.

Edited March 24, 2013 by FlameLaevateinn

[UnderYourBed]

He's the assassin to Loki's trickster.

[FallenKingErzon]

Stealth and melee.

His first skill, Shuriken, is probably one of the strongest ranged first skills.

However, it's still not the most useful elimination skill and only does above-average damage by comparison.

Also, very hard to aim for some, it has a near-direct-pinpoint accuracy.

Smokescreen is used for hiding to revive teammates or to use to melee strong opponents.

(this second option isn't used often as guns do the job just as well)

Teleport. Teleports to your target. (must be a visible target)

Blade Storm. He basically does the generic NINJATELEPORTANDSTRIKE thing for a few moments.

It's supposed to be really handy, though not the best choice of 4th skills.

It used to be buggy, but, this was before u7 and I haven't any idea what it is now.

Simply put, Ash is 'useful'.

A slightly more melee-emphasis version of Loki.

The 4th is ALOT less buggy, and can do up to 3000 dmg with a lucky strike, or 1000 dmg normal without mods. So pretty good :P Edited March 24, 2013 by FallenKingErzon

[Nitresco]

As someone who plays Ash often, I can help with this.

Short story, the Ash is bulkier Loki with a slight power max reduction. He has more health and more shields, meaning that he will get more benefit from shield and health mods. With power management, that 50 extra power max does not matter.

Ash's first ability, Shruiken, is basically a high-damage Paris projectile with no bullet drop. In skilled hands, it few Shruikens can easily kill any heavy enemy within seconds once it's upgraded. This only works if you're aiming for the head, which doubles damage output. It also kills silently, so if you're patient enough, you can stealth through an entire mission with just Energy Siphon and Shruiken.

Ash's second ability, Smoke Screen, is a direct upgrade from Loki's invisibility. It removes enemy aggro from you for a short while, stumbles nearby enemies, bestows immunity from Corpus door lasers, and 100% melee crits during its duration plus a split second afterwards. Once this skill is fully upgraded, it gives you that perfect window of oppurtunity to save a dying team or inflict extreme crit damage on a boss.

Ash's third ability, Teleport, is extremely handy for those who can think fast. Allowing you to instantly teleport to any enemy, team member, cryopod, and control console, it can save your life when you need to get somewhere fast or avoid some hard-hitting attack that you cannot dodge via any other method.

Ash's final ability, Blade Storm, is one of the most powerful ultimates in the game. With the simple press of a button, you can sit back in your chair and take a sip of whatever liquid you prefer to drink during gaming as your Ash teleports around killing lesser enemies and fatally wounding any greater ones. By the time the sequence of carnage ends, you will find yourself gifted with full shields (due to the invincibility period) as well as a fresh collection of energy, ammo, and possibly mods that dropped from the lacerated corpses of the 7/9/11 foes you just eviscerated. With enough luck, there's enough energy laying around afterwards for you to perform the ability again.

Ash is a fascinating combination of offense, defense, and stealth. He's able to become a temporary stand-in for a Rhino who is otherwise unable to deal damage at the time. He can be that hero who saves the team from the brink of failure. He can be that stealthy bastard who leaves his team behind as he stealths to the extraction point and ensures they get no credits from it.

Most of all, though, Ash is that edgy badass with armored sleeves, menacing helmet, and prominent crotch bulge that can strike awe in anyone who has the privilige of seeing him jump from foe to foe leaving nothing behind but severed body sections and a macabre mural on any nearby surface.

And that's basically my two-cents on Ash.

[RawGritz]

As someone who plays Ash often, I can help with this.

Short story, the Ash is bulkier Loki with a slight power max reduction. He has more health and more shields, meaning that he will get more benefit from shield and health mods. With power management, that 50 extra power max does not matter.

Ash's first ability, Shruiken, is basically a high-damage Paris projectile with no bullet drop. In skilled hands, it few Shruikens can easily kill any heavy enemy within seconds once it's upgraded. This only works if you're aiming for the head, which doubles damage output. It also kills silently, so if you're patient enough, you can stealth through an entire mission with just Energy Siphon and Shruiken.

Ash's second ability, Smoke Screen, is a direct upgrade from Loki's invisibility. It removes enemy aggro from you for a short while, stumbles nearby enemies, bestows immunity from Corpus door lasers, and 100% melee crits during its duration plus a split second afterwards. Once this skill is fully upgraded, it gives you that perfect window of oppurtunity to save a dying team or inflict extreme crit damage on a boss.

Ash's third ability, Teleport, is extremely handy for those who can think fast. Allowing you to instantly teleport to any enemy, team member, cryopod, and control console, it can save your life when you need to get somewhere fast or avoid some hard-hitting attack that you cannot dodge via any other method.

Ash's final ability, Blade Storm, is one of the most powerful ultimates in the game. With the simple press of a button, you can sit back in your chair and take a sip of whatever liquid you prefer to drink during gaming as your Ash teleports around killing lesser enemies and fatally wounding any greater ones. By the time the sequence of carnage ends, you will find yourself gifted with full shields (due to the invincibility period) as well as a fresh collection of energy, ammo, and possibly mods that dropped from the lacerated corpses of the 7/9/11 foes you just eviscerated. With enough luck, there's enough energy laying around afterwards for you to perform the ability again.

Ash is a fascinating combination of offense, defense, and stealth. He's able to become a temporary stand-in for a Rhino who is otherwise unable to deal damage at the time. He can be that hero who saves the team from the brink of failure. He can be that stealthy bastard who leaves his team behind as he stealths to the extraction point and ensures they get no credits from it.

Most of all, though, Ash is that edgy badass with armored sleeves, menacing helmet, and prominent crotch bulge that can strike awe in anyone who has the privilige of seeing him jump from foe to foe leaving nothing behind but severed body sections and a macabre mural on any nearby surface.

And that's basically my two-cents on Ash.

This was an awesome description. he's currently my favorite. Teleporting to downed teamates is great. Loki and ash together are awesome as teammates. Teleporting while jumping, flipping or wallrunning is handy too. Almost works like BLINK from Dishonored.

[Centurus]

-snip-

Aaaaand sold.