Strong End Game Reaper Builds?

[TartanKane]

I am already thinking about Season 5 (I know, I know.....tragic).

I plan to go straight for level 30 and then farm reaper points.

What do people think are some strong end game R1 to R4 reaper builds on HC Server?

I have been told that DC bard and single weapon fighting pally are both excellent.

Would be interested in hearing about other builds.

[vryxnr]

Builds that I have done in previous seasons to get my HC reaper rewards:

Rogue Inquisitive. I like 18 rogue 2 fighter (taken at 13 and 14) to get IPS a level early. Yeah, kinda squishy, but very good DPS at range, plus trapping. Was in the top 10 reaper boards season 1. Very soloable if played smart, greater dps with a group because of consistent sneak attack damage when you're not the only target.

Auralock tanks. I've also gotten great results being an auralock. Fiend pact is good. Pre feywild gear (so using sharn and ravenloft) I had 3500 hp base, 4500 with temp HP (with a portion of that temp HP refreshing every 2 seconds because of your aura, giving you a safety net of refreshing temp HP and dps even if lag hits), 16000 hp in emergencies. PRR and MRR in the 200 range. Decent CC with Mass Hold Monster and Terror. Easy to solo R1 by mindlessly running in CC and blasting, though with this I was doing R4 (which required a bit more thought than run in, CC and blast... sometimes you had to jump and run around and use a different spell with champ immunities and special attacks)

Warlock DC caster. CC and Instakills are great, and possible to get your DCs 90-100 as a first lifer on hardcore (higher now with even better end game non-raid gear available). Kinda squishy though and some champs will give you trouble. Best with a group. I like Exalted Angel for it's wings/mobility, though magister will probably get you even higher DCs.

I've seen others find great success with Inquisitive variants. FvS inquisitive for example. For inquisitive epic destinies Shiradi is more DPS while Shadowdancer in more survivable and looks cooler. (yes, even with the nerf after season 1, inquisitive is still viable in HC for low reaper).

Artificer inquisitive to be able to use rune arms and dual wield xbows is popular. I personally hate losing evasion, even with knowing where the trap boxes are and how to physically avoid most traps, so my experience with Artis is very limited. I believe there is a ranger/arti split that gets you evasion plus a bunch of the ranged feats as bonus feats, though I've never done it.

Various bear builds have done quite well as well.

[TartanKane]

Thanks vryxnr. That's great info

[boredGamer]

Don't worry, not the only one anticipating it already. It is great fun.

I'm hoping personally they change up the rewards a bit, so would be hard to plan for the same thing exactly. Would also hope they could announce stuff ahead of time so we can plan and get excited.