Assassin v6 Pre Workout Review (The Hype is Real)

Released February 2020 by Apollon Nutrition’s sister company Anarchy Labs, version 6 of the notorious Assassin pre workout had a lot to live up to.

Version 5 (with the yellow label) received incredibly enthusiastic reviews from a lot of discerning pre workout reviewers upon its release in 2019, but was removed from shelves after only a few months.

So when Apollon Nutrition announced that a new version of Assassin was being released, the fitness community took notice.

I was one of those eager individuals and I’m here to take you through my experience with the new Assassin v6 pre workout.

Experience

I took this pre workout today before a big workout and I was absolutely floored.

I took 3/4 of a scoop, not wanting to subject myself to the “full scoop experience” in case I wasn’t ready, but wanting to get a taste of what Assassin had to offer.

I had the pineapple mango flavor and overall it was fine. It’s definitely a little bitter, but it’s not terrible.

You’ll know you’re drinking pre workout and not fruit juice, but that’s the point, right?

At the Gym

Within 10 minutes I could feel increased altertness and focus.

Within 20 minutes, as I started my warm up sets, I felt super focused. I was also resting less in between my sets. I just wanted to rip into the weights.

Whenever I got sidetracked by talking to gym friends, I found myself cutting conversations short to get back into the weight rack. I could not be distracted.

I worked through a tough set of squats and was just feeling good, ready to keep going.

I moved on to bench press and after several warm up sets I hit a new 10RM. Was it the pre workout? Probably not, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt.

I moved on to deadlifts and ground through a tough set of heavy reps. This was a tough set, but the pre workout definitely helped me keep throwing all of my effort into each heavy rep.

All in all my work out took about 2 hours and I’d say I had the super focus for about 90 minutes. After that I still had immense energy and alertness.

Mood + After the Gym

Mood wise, I felt very good.

I did not feel “elated” or “super happy” or anything like that, but I also did not feel angry as I’ve read in some other Assassin reviews. This suggests to me that individual experiences will probably vary a bit. Again, I’d say the biggest mood shift was a high level of focus and motivation.

I also did not need to redose caffeine later in the afternoon as I normally do -- I just kept on going about my day. There was no crash, no jitters, no real negative side effects. Maybe a slight headache and “stimmed” feeling, but overall I’d 100% absolutely take this again.

I would recommend it for mornings though -- it is very likely too much to take at night without disrupting your sleep (which is an essential part of recovery).

Final Thoughts

This is definitely one of the strongest pre workout I’ve ever taken. This is the real deal, folks.

I won’t be able to take this during my evening workouts, but for AM workouts this is pretty great.

With that said, this is not an every day pre workout. This is like a once a week pre workout. Pay attention to your mind and body when you take it. If you notice yourself building a tolerance or not feeling great after taking it -- it’s probably best to take the foot off the gas for a few weeks.

Where to Buy Assassin

Assassin is available from the following places:

• Ruesco.com (Use code LIFTVAULT for 5% discount)
• Apollon Nutrition

Assassin Pre Workout Ingredient Label

If you’re reading this review, you probably have one thing on your mind: what’s in this pre workout?

All measurements mentioned below are of 1 full scoop, which may be more than most folks need. The experience above reflects a 3/4 scoop.

Let’s walk through some of the highlights here.

Caffeine

If you like caffeine, you’ll love this new version of Assassin. Between the 500 mg of caffeine anhydrous and 100 mg of di-caffeine malate, a full scoop of Assassin contains 600 mg of caffeine.

That’s more than enough for even the most experienced pre workout enthusiast.

L-Citrulline

4 grams of L-citrulline is a little less than a full clinical dose, but it’s not bad and will help with pumps.

Beta Alanine

Interestingly, Apollon chose to eschew the typical 3.2 gram dosage of beta alanine and increase it by 10% for a 3.5 gram dose. If you like the tingles, then this will keep you happy. Beta Alanine can help with lactic acid buffering, aiding endurance exercises.

L-Tyrosine

1.5 grams of L-Tyrosine is a hefty dose that helps offset the “crash” effect from a large caffeine dose (which Assassin certainly has). There is also promising research around its effects as a cognitive booster in stressful environments.

Agmatine

Agmatine is often looked at as a pump ingredient, though this view is somewhat controversial and you should decide for yourself. 1 gram is a standard “strong” dose in pre workouts.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane (yamabushitake) is a relatively new nootropic on the scene, with some research supporting anti-anxiety, cognition boosting, and well-being effects.

According to Examine, there has only been a single human study of Lion’s Mane and the individuals took 1 gram orally three times a day. While that dosage appeared effective, it is unknown if this was optimal.

Assassin has 1 gram of lion’s mane and there isn’t enough research available to determine if this is an effective dose by itself. We’re on the fringes of science here.

DMAE

Not to be confused with DMAA or DMHA, both of which have appeared in previous versions of Assassin, DMAE is the active ingredient used to treat cognitive decline in elderly patients in a pharmaceutical known as Lucidril. The 750 mg dosage in Assassin appears to be on the higher side of what most nootropic blogs recommend, but research is limited on the subject.

B-Phenethylamine (PEA)

PEA can help inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, though this mechanism is not understood clearly. A full dose of Assassin contains 500 mg of PEA.

N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine (Eria Jarensis)

Eria Jarensis is a stimulant that has grown in popularity with extreme pre workouts as other alternatives, like DMAA or DMHA, or have become more difficult to sell without running into legal issues.

You’re getting 300 mg of Eria Jarensis in a full dose of Assassin, which is a very high dose. In my analysis of 300 pre workouts to find the best and strongest pre workouts around, that ingredient topped at 225 mg in a single dose with Kracked by Halopharm.

Combined with the 600 mg of caffeine, the 300 mg of Eria Jarensis will be like attaching a rocket to your back, then throwing some gasoline on it for good measure.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract is an antioxidant and can help improve blood flow. 300 mg is a very solid dose.

Theacrine

Theacrine is often taken to help minimize the negative effects of caffeine, like L-Tyrosine. Again, this is helpful considering the massive 600 mg caffeine dose found in Assassin. 120 mg of theacrine will help soften that landing.

Isopropylnorsynephrine

Isopropylnorsynephrine is a lipolytic agent, meaning it helps break down fat into glycerol (energy). It is a “fat burner.” It may also possess energizing effects.

The 60 mg in a full scoop of Assassin is a solid dose.

Hordenine

Hordenine is similar to isopropylnorsynephrine in that it acts as a lipolytic agent and stimulant, triggering fat burning and stimulating the CNS.

A full scoop of Assassin contains 50 mg of hordenine, which is a good, honest dose.

Bioperine

Also known as black pepper extract, bioperine acts to increase the bioavailability of nutritional supplements. In other words, it helps you body absorb all the crazy stuff in Assassin.

Rauwolscine (Alpha Yohimbine)

Alpha Yohimbine, also known as “alpha yo,” is a love it or hate it stimulant. Some individuals are particularly sensitive to alpha yohimbe and avoid any pre workout with it outright. Common negative side effects can include anxiety, headaches, sweating, frequent urination, and increased blood pressure.

2.5 mg is a high dose and those who are sensitive to alpha yohimbine will certainly not want to take Assassin.

Interview with Apollon Nutrition Founder, Robert Samborsky

This is a really interesting interview with the founder of Apollon Nutrition (of which Anarchy Labs is a sister company), Robert Samborsky. He begins talking about the decision to make version 6 of Assassin pre workout due to the overwhelming demand around the 7:00 mark.