As melee class, I tend to have big problems with assassins. Can't seem to hit them well at all, can't keep pace with their maledicts. Within a few rounds all busted up, can't use all your weapon skills, dex/str dropped close to null. Throw in ground control on top of that (which also drops like -8 dex) and it does not go well. And it's usually not even close.

What's the recipe for cooked assassin? I am clearly missing something, but I also haven't really played assassin at high ranks because I find them to be lame, which is admittedly my source of ignorance on how to kill them. We'll assume said assassin doesn't have 6 mobs assisting at its side...what do you recommend?