Class Tiers, Tempest?

[red_kain]

With the recent discussion of the melee changes, I've been seeing people make the claim of Tempests, (wraps) Monks, and Kensai at the top of melee DPS builds. Monks, and kensai makes sense to me, but I don't quite understand how tempest is a T1. Can anyone point out what Tempest gets that makes them so great? I mean growing storm seems nice but +10 you build doesn't seem equal to what monk and kensai can pickup. Is it just a bunch of multiclass combinations or are people thinking of Dance of Death AoE damage? What am I missing?

Instructions unclear, eyes in back of head.

[Qhualor]

Since this is a question about Tempests and Reaper, I don't know. But when players talk about Tempests being a top tier dps they are referring to Dance of Death and Dire Charge.

[red_kain]

Does dance of death increase the aoe on dire charge by splashing then? That would actually be cool and understandable.

[Kaboom2112]

if a Picture is worth 1000 words, how many words are videos worth?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4StUmag2ek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oyUZYDMqNg

[red_kain]

if a Picture is worth 1000 words, how many words are videos worth?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4StUmag2ek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oyUZYDMqNg

It shows tempest can do good damage, but tells me NOTHING about HOW

[Kaboom2112]

It shows tempest can do good damage, but tells me NOTHING about HOW

Number of swings. Tempest get the most attacks per second, it's not more complicated than that.

I'm pretty sure a tempest's DPS isn't that hot at level 20. At level 30 we get so many more damager/swing additions (especially sneak attack) that it pushes ahead.

[red_kain]

Number of swings. Tempest get the most attacks per second, it's not more complicated than that.

I'm pretty sure a tempest's DPS isn't that hot at level 20. At level 30 we get so many more damager/swing additions (especially sneak attack) that it pushes ahead.

Thank you, that helps. So it is mostly about the offhand doublestrike and chance to occur in the cores? I'm surprised a vistani assassin isn't mentioned then, with the sneak damage and 100% offhand. Oh well.

Since the videos are there, any chance of linking to a forum post of the build or breakdown of the damage? Mostly I'm wondering if that damage is a sustainable number or a prowess +600 avg on hit short buff that sucks outside the boosted kind of thing?

[Kaboom2112]

Thank you, that helps. So it is mostly about the offhand doublestrike and chance to occur in the cores? I'm surprised a vistani assassin isn't mentioned then, with the sneak damage and 100% offhand. Oh well.

Vistani is good on a tempest if you like doing less damage.

Since the videos are there, any chance of linking to a forum post of the build or breakdown of the damage? Mostly I'm wondering if that damage is a sustainable number or a prowess +600 avg on hit short buff that sucks outside the boosted kind of thing?

There's a few posts on the 'other' forum but nobody posts good builds here anymore.

[red_kain]

PM me a link to the other forum? Since I have no clue which one you're talking about.

[Gilga1]

Hey. I recently played a ranger. I hope I can give you some clarification.

Yes, TWF pure ranger is a tier 1 melee option, and you can compete with monks, rogues, etc.
As for any melee character, (a lot of) PLs and reaper points will help you to be effective (and stay alive) in high skulls content.

Tempest tree is really strong, and DWS too.
Pure ranger is a basic build: I went DEX based (for more defenses). 41 points in tempest, 31 in DWS, 8 harper for KtA, 12 racial bonus. Scion of Ethereal at 30. LD is by far the best destiny for any melee build...
Equip: Silent Avenger set, Adherent set, Slavers might 3 pieces set (helm +2 crafted).
Base weapon set: Legendary Vulkoor's Edge (Prowess 5, Sucker Punch 2, any melee power) + Flow.
Ranger melee power is inferior to other melees, but you will have top tier weapon damage and doublestrike (main and offhand).

Ranger has very good single target dps (...and A Thousand Cuts), excellent area dps via Dance of Death, good CC using Flow in off hand (guardbreaking).
Ranger has good defenses, high PRR for a light melee, evasion, Elaborate Parry for dodge boost.

I don't record videos, but you can see my ranger in action here:
https://youtu.be/1NBmFyA3LlM
https://youtu.be/LFcXMsGeQhY

[Selvera]

It's pretty much summed up; but what makes tempest T1 dps from my experiance is:

1) Dance of Death, A Thousand Cuts and Growing Storm boost stacking with each other and with haste/reaper strike boosts.
2) Dual Perfection with 100% offhand strike and 25% offhand doublestrike.
3) Gives the minimum amount of melee power, doublestrike, base damage and critical multipliers to keep up with other melee trees.

[QuantumFX]

Vistani is good on a tempest if you like doing less damage.

2 caveats to that statement:

First, if you're a Scourge Aasimar.

Second, if you spend more than 2 AP on the tree to pick up Undead Hunter. (Undead Hunter, and Hunter's Knowledge are pretty good investments for 4 total AP.)

[Luxmus]

What about 20 monk and 8/6/6 druid/barb/cleric (Symbiont from Ascendance). I've seen both builds do pretty **** good aswell. What do you think about them?