FvS Lord of Blades Healer/Buffer/Fighter

[zwiebelring]

My experience with devotion/radiance/impulse is a little different. I find it easy to swap them in (as a weapon set) when needed. For AoV 2 shoulder cannon, radiance item only needs to be equipped at the time of casting it, it remains boosted even if you remove the radiance item. For DP, I only really use that on longer than 20-30 second fights, so swapping it in while casting that is not too much of an issue for me either. Healing seems fine to me in most quests without a devotion item (yeah I know this isn't the most efficient way...). I still manage to overheal a lot with my mass heal without a devotion item. The only time I really equip a devotion item full time is when I am acting as a full time healer in a raid or quest or when someone is taking fast damage. (This only really happens in epic hard raids or epic elite quests).

Yeah, I mentioned before I hate hotswapping and it has become more important these days so I am trying to keep a maximum spellpower permanently, for using quickened mass cure spells only in trash fights. Raid healing is done with a nice Thaumaturgy staff but then I am completely healbot, nothing else. Epic elite is is still too much incoming dmg. for my multitaksing skills lol. That is why I am not playing epic elite very often.

In general I aim for everything, which is providing permanent protection. I chose a Reflex boosting item as Cloak with Lightning Strike guard and a Smoke2 Helm. Displacement clicky is just that awesome. Stalker Ring somehow is protecting better than I thought. Tradeoff is your plan on Purple Dragon Knight set. I cannot use it with Stone Heart. I need Claw Gloves for avoiding redundancy (have a Stone Heart with +8 STR so combining it with PDG is wasted +7 STR :I).

I guess you will find even more options to combine xpack items depending on what random stats you will get. A +8 STR Conflux (blablubb of prowess, random STR/CON +8 or insight +3 iirc) might be another option and you can wear more caster stuff for boosting spell pen. and dmg.

I still do not see the utility of the Archon. I value APs too high and somehow the Archon is too less gain for invested AP. How much damage does it per tick (full spellpower assumed)?

1) remade GS bracers to include earthgrab guard (I equip the conc op ones now only if I NEEDto fill up). I feel there is no real need for conc op/torq anymore. I did this because I like to run earthgrab guard + freezing ice guard + air guard most of the time, a very potent combo.

I am using Epic Rock Boots for this guard. These boots have an insanely high proc rate, higher than GS as it seems to me so I got the boots and hotswap them in gang fights. Losing 30% Striding is not an issue since you are hasted anyway or crowded and/or can use wings. But yeah, if you are using a 3 piece Abi Shai then this is not an option. But it is actually easier than greensteel.

[Mellkor]

I do like those epic rock boots. Gonna have to incorporate those!

But I have to remake my bracers again! LOL.

I still like the purple dragon set, Thats why I went +8 dex on my docent instead of str or con. That made up for the loss +7 dex on the epic spectral gloves. The rock boots will make up for the loss of slots as well. so overall a winner!


Thanks for the tip!

[Mellkor]

Exalted Angel and Unyielding Senitnel are quite OK.
But wait until you get Legendary Dreadnaught ;-)
My bet is you won't ever switch back from that (when twists are finished).

I have a similar build (HElf though) and tried all EDs. LD is clearly my favorite for a melee FvS.

I look forward to trying it out. But will take a bit of time for me to get there....

[zwiebelring]

Having the LD at the moment and it got some nice base dmg boostings. But my personal favorite is Fury of The Wild. Primal Scream does a lot of aoe dmg AND is boosting STR/CON of all party members. One of the best party buffs imho. Further you can twist Damage Reduction for flat +6 PRR, which I did and replaced radiance spellpower. At last you can make your weapons to all out demon beaters with Gird Against Demons. If you are not proud owner of an eSoS - like me at the moment - that comes in handy and prevents a lot of weapon switching.

[~TROUBLEGIRL]

My title is my question is the build still recommended following the stats and leveling guide in the first post?
Thanks,

[Mellkor]

My title is my question is the build still recommended following the stats and leveling guide in the first post?
Thanks,

Yes, it is, however there will be some changes to the equipment list, epic feats, and enhancements. Stats remain the same, tho. I am still fiddling with equipment, but it will be close to what I have posted a few posts back. I hope to get this sorted by early next week.

-JR

[~TROUBLEGIRL]

Thank you for your quick reply

[Innara]

What feats did you end up taking at 21 and 24?

[dedloriel]

I currently have a Soul Survivor because I like the idea of tanking things with that style, but it's not working out for me anymore. This build seems to keep the dps and healing, so I'm considering switching. One thing I have trouble with now is landing any type of combat feats (trip/sunder) and I'm wondering if it would be worth spec'ing for Improved Trip at the expense of Empowered Healing and one of the epic feats. Any thoughts?

[Mellkor]

I currently have a Soul Survivor because I like the idea of tanking things with that style, but it's not working out for me anymore. This build seems to keep the dps and healing, so I'm considering switching. One thing I have trouble with now is landing any type of combat feats (trip/sunder) and I'm wondering if it would be worth spec'ing for Improved Trip at the expense of Empowered Healing and one of the epic feats. Any thoughts?

I would say if you do not do epic quests much, then maybe. If you want to do epic quests, then dont bother, you wont really get your DC's high enough on this build to justify it, IMO.

My experience with trip and sunder (on other toons) is it is good when soloing, but not very useful in a decent group. If you mostly solo, then it may be worth trying, but I have a hunch it really wont work too well on this build at end-game.

-JR

[Innara]

What feats did you end up taking at 21 and 24?

So...no answer to this?

EDIT: looked at yourddo and based on that I'm assuming you re-took adamantine body and took a prof feat for that gaxe you're wielding?

[Mellkor]

I updated the build for U15 in the OP. Sorry it took too long, but life had me very busy until the beginning of september.

I made some changes to the equipment list, starting stats, and enhancements. I also added an epic destiny section. Over all I am happy with the changes and enjoy this build a lot! It performs very well in epic elite quests as both a healer and a melee. However, the difference between this build's melee performance and top end melee performance has widened a bit from all the new changes to melee in the game. Before, this build did around 45% of a top end melee DPS, now I would guess it is around 30%. Adding in spell dps from divine punishment and the shoulder canon used to put this build about even, and I think it still does, since spell power got a boost since U15, but only on long fights where divine punishment has a chance to stack and your debuffs boosts its damage.

-JR

[Mellkor]

So...no answer to this?

EDIT: looked at yourddo and based on that I'm assuming you re-took adamantine body and took a prof feat for that gaxe you're wielding?

I took shield mastery and improved shield mastery. With the Unyielding Sentinal Destiny it is very powerful. I can hit 100 PRR and 104 AC. This combined with 40 DR while shield blocking and displacement clickies makes this build even more survivable than before! I tested this out in epic EDA the other day, I turtled up in a corner and hardly had to heal myself with a conc op weap and accessory equiped, all while DP and guard items went to work. I recalled out after the first boss was dead. It took a while to do it, but it was a great test of this builds survivability. And it passed with flying colors, in my book!

I gave up improved critical slashing to fit them both in along with adamantine body. In epic Elite quests going all out offense does not seem to work well. Defense is now as important as offense. I see all out offensive guys get shredded in seconds in EE quests all the time. (I usually just let them die and res them, it is more efficent, LOL)

So this build as I have it outlined performs very well in EE quests, even without improved crit slashing, ESoS still lays on the DPS. One could give up something else and keep improved crit slash, but IMO improved crit slash is the weakest of all the other feats on this build.

As for the g-axe, I did not take a proficincy. The only penalty is -4 to hit. This build can easily ignore that -4 to hit with no noticable difference in performance. The axe is interesting, but still not as good as ESoS. It does have limbchopper and improved curse spewwing on it, tho, which is occasionally useful (mainly in EE quests for CC and debuff for casters)

[voodoogroves]

The rock boots have both Stone Prison Guard and Earthgrab Guard - so two guards to proc. A winner item.

[HalfORCastrator]

As for the g-axe, I did not take a proficincy. The only penalty is -4 to hit. This build can easily ignore that -4 to hit with no noticable difference in performance.----------------------

This was changed with u14. Proficiency gives the 25% bonus now. Very different from -4 ab in the new system. Proficiency feat is a requirement now.

[Mellkor]

As for the g-axe, I did not take a proficincy. The only penalty is -4 to hit. This build can easily ignore that -4 to hit with no noticable difference in performance.----------------------

This was changed with u14. Proficiency gives the 25% bonus now. Very different from -4 ab in the new system. Proficiency feat is a requirement now.

ahh I was not aware of this. What is the penalty now, then, for non-proficiency? Even without a proficency it does not seem to too far behind my ESoS.....

[Nodoze]

I updated the build for U15 in the OP. Sorry it took too long, but life had me very busy until the beginning of september.

I made some changes to the equipment list, starting stats, and enhancements. I also added an epic destiny section. Over all I am happy with the changes and enjoy this build a lot! It performs very well in epic elite quests as both a healer and a melee. However, the difference between this build's melee performance and top end melee performance has widened a bit from all the new changes to melee in the game. Before, this build did around 45% of a top end melee DPS, now I would guess it is around 30%. Adding in spell dps from divine punishment and the shoulder canon used to put this build about even, and I think it still does, since spell power got a boost since U15, but only on long fights where divine punishment has a chance to stack and your debuffs boosts its damage.

-JR

JR, Thanks for doing the update. I noticed it looked like you only did 2 tier 1 twists thus far. Did you consider or try any of the following:
- Twisting in Exalted Angel's Radiant power? &/or
- Twisting in LD's Momentum Swing & swapping a feat for Cleave to reset it?

[Mellkor]

I havent fully explored the destinies and what is best to twist yet, really. This will take a long time, I think, LOL. But my initial thoughts are that whatever you twist in are relatively minor, so twist in whatever makes you happy. As for main destinies, I keep coming back to unyielding sentinel. It is that good (at least for EE quests and raids). For anything besides Epic Elite quests I will often switch to whatever for more melee dps or simply for destiny xp.

[Battlehawke]

Thanks for the update. I've been running mine more melee DPS and not enjoying the EE Stuff as much. Will try a LR and see how it goes.

[AegonTargaryen]

I a fvs almost exactly like this build (**** dex/ref save, max str, max con), and I can tell you, this is hands down the most durable, most versatile, and most solo capable toon in my entire arsenal.
Not only a very capable nannybot for raids and such, but also capable of contributing significantly to the party's damage output. With full light dmg enhancements, and clickies, I have seen DP ticks of over 1800.
I basically have 2 weapon sets: ESoS, and Leviks Defender/Alchemical radiance scepter(90 SP radiance, superior radiance lore, and some other stuff).
I'm getting ready to swap out extend for adamantine body later, as the amount of PRR you get from it is just too much to be ignored.

As a side note: Cully, I was wondering if you played around with Divine Wrath with you were in the EA destiny. I have been using it and Avenging light alot recently, and I have to say the amount of dmg you can put out with those 2 is stunning. I can't wait to get my cleric and evoker fvs geared out enough to play around with this on them, as AL and DW are dc based(wis or cha, whichever is higher). Even having trash cha and trashier wis, I have seen DW hit for over 3800! And its an AOE! I haven't used the ESoS in over a week now, 'cause the nuking turtle setup I've been playing with is just so much fun. And it gets even better in amrath/abbott/vod, 'cause then you can use Judgement/Lay to Rest as well. With all this dmg casting you can put out (that costs next to nothing in sp, I might add), I find I don't really have as much time to swing the sos.