edit: We are talking only Assa here ofc.
A still-too-long TL;DR:
Technically you are able to use it under the regular conditions (stealth or shadow dance), but the question is should you use it? I mean - without Blindside - is there any possible situation that can occur when you have access to stealth abilities and you want to choose Ambush over Garrote or Cheap Shot?
I tried to consider all the possible scenarios - with my not-so-extensive game knowledge - and here’s what I could come up with:
Looking at top pvp players: they never play Blindside. They never play Shadowdance either. And rarely play Subterfuge. This means they only get to use stealth abilities in their openers and after Vanish. In these relatively rare situations when you do get to use a stealth ability is it possible that Ambush is more useful than Garrote or Cheap Shot? Doesnt seem so - to me at least… Maybe with Subterfuge a Garrote–>Ambush opener? Dunno, just asking…
PvE: only single-target builds play Blindside. No Subterfuge, no Shadowdance. And again: in the rare occasions when you do get to use stealth abilities its either your opener or a Vanish–>Garrote to juice-up your garrote dot for a fat Exsanguinate. So in PvE as well - it seems to me that its kind of hard to find a proper opportunity for the use of Ambush without Blindside.
Pls correct me if I’m missing something here. Ty