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Considering adding an assassin to my Astra Militarum tournament list, mostly to apply pressure, and force opponents to have to alter their deployments/movements to deal with the potential threat, and possibly take our critical characters. Which assassin has been the most effective for you and how did you use them to their fullest potential?

Haven't used one in 8th myself but an Eversor by all accounts sounds like what you are looking for.

2-3 Eversors backed by a culexus works wonders. Especially if you have other deepstriking elements.

Eversors have a ton of wounds for the cost with a 4++ and are great at clearing landing positions for your scions (or other deepstriking elements) and have that sweet 3d6 charge.

Culexus for the -2 psychic tests is quite valuable. With the new character targeting rules not quite as valuable but with the new smite rules your enemy shouldn't be able to get off more than 2 smites without some issues (5+ to a 9+ for the 3rd smite or less than 28% vs 58% without one)

Pound on something with mortars, charge with 2 eversors and 9/10 times it's gone.

Also, anything that forces your enemy to make choices creates the opportunity for mistakes. It's not hard to find a spot to drop one if your enemy makes deployment/movement mistakes. Really only should be used in hyper competitive games, don't be a jerk in casual settings but at a tourney go for it.

This means nothing you less we see your list.

I'm going to speak up for the Callidus.

It's not going to be as competitive level powerful as the Eversor or Culexus, fair enough. But for fun mind games in a more casual game they are a blast. Polymorphene gives them a very good chance of getting in to melee when they arrive, and Reign of Confusion means your opponent is unlikely to risk using any Strats on turn one. The phase sword is nice against anything that relies on invulnerable saves for durability too.

Everson is quite good for taking out characters, but you probably want to.

The lady with the topknot is also very good. Has a good chance to get off a charge meaning she makes deployment difficult. She also eats command points, a good thing.

I think the Vindicare is your best option and I run two to maximize their potential to kill enemy characters in one shooting phase. They really crimp some armies.

I'm very partial to Culexus assassins. Forcing opponents to shoot/swing at BS/WS 6+ against him is very powerful, and even the shots that go through have to get through his 4+ invul save. The animus speculum is underrated too, as it has crazy high ap. If you opponent has even 1 psyker in their army that they're relying on to do something, the Culexus will put a massive kink in their plans, if not shut it down. One rule I often see overlooked is that Culexus assassins can target pysker characters even if they're not the closest mode. Combine this with Animus speculum becoming Assault D6 when a psyker is near, and you might just take out the enemy psyker with the animus alone. Another ability I find easily overlooked is that all of the Culexus' melee attacks completely ignore armor saves. This makes him better at melee than an Eversor in my mind.

IMO, for best results, take 1 vindicare and 1 Culexus.

I love the Eversor assassin for deployment shenanigans. He is an auto include in my inquisition list

the Celexus works wonders with or without Psykers (only hitting on 6's with shooting or CC? good luck killing him.)

Those are probably the only two I'd use.

Keep your Cullexus away from enemy flamers.