Claws/Nin or DB/Nin?

I'm currently trying to make a /Nin Stalker to fit a concept I have. I won't go into specifics, but I hold a writer's copyright to his name and general description. Now I know the whole copyright thing in-game, but if I hold the copyright (as proved by a company that rhymes with Larval) there's no issue. So here we go.

I want to know what you would pair with Ninjitsu given the choice. Claws, or Dual Blades? Dual blades is flashy and visually appealing, with two cones and some interesting attacks with Combos.

Claws is fast, end-light, has a sweet Ranged attack, and two cones and conceptually fits my character idea more than Dual Blades. The only reason DB is available to my interest is way it looks.

Can I get some expert opinions on both primaries, and which one would feel better with /Nin?

And no, I will not do Ninja Blade.

My experience with claws on a stalker says "Don't do it!"

You don't get two cones, since eviscerate for stalkers is not a cone.

The ranged attack is awesome. No denying that.

The biggest problem, I feel, is that followup is one of claws' defining powers, which doesn't work for a stalker. I don't feel the set was balanced properly after adding build up in its place.

Again, that's just my experience, and I deleted the character before I got to Shockwave.

I personally would go with Dual Blades. The combos are a subject of derision and scorn among stalkers, but think about this:

By level 12, you'll have access to the sweep and empower combos. Most of the problem with these is that they are tied to build up/AS/Placate(empower) or build up /AS/ablating strike (sweep). By 18 you'll get the attack vitals combo.

So basically at the start of a battle you can decide - based on spawn size and position - whether you want to mitigate damage by knocking down the entire spawn with the sweep combo or you can extend your burst damage with an empower combo followed by an attack vitals combo.

::shrug:: Some people don't like such situational combos, though, and don't like waiting so long to get the remaining ones. YMMV.

Before dual blades came out, claws was considered a graceful set. Now, it is hands down dual blades in my opinion. Let me also say that sweeping strike drastically alters how dual blades plays, similar to claws' focus, such that you may choose to drop attack vitals at that point. And to echo what was said above you are able to obtain three out of the four dual blade combos for stalkers before level 20. And the set functions really well even without the combos. I am looking forward to buildup + one thousand cuts out of hide, as I have heard many good things about that. The difference is that dual blades seems pound for pound a hard hitting lethal set across many of the attacks compared to claws, and the set has flexibility. You can go purely single target, or multi-target/single targete.

The only thing to be aware of with DB/Nin is that you can run into situations with a lot of annoying redraw...like when you Mez protection recharges in the middle of a combo. Or if you need to pop off a heal. Not a deal-breaker IMHO, but it can be very annoying and if the timing is wrong it can mess up a combo.

My DB/Nin is currently 18.

Good lord he's a blast. It's such a fast and fluid set. Having Sweep at level 8 is amazing, and Caltrops just makes things way too easy.