Pure THF Kensai Fighter that Trips/Stuns

[Guilllotine]

This build is a Half-Orc.

This build only requires a +1 INT Tome to be used no later than level 5.

This is a solid THF pure fighter that utilizes trips and stuns in regular/epic content to devastate his foes. I will be equipping a Lightning II Great axe that will really complement the Fighter 10% double strike capstone as well. I chose to take Combat Expertise so that I can take Improved Trip. The reason I took it so early is because I am able to without sacrificing a delay of Kensai I. Improved Trip has a better cool down time, along with up to a minute of a foe being on his back, very useful indeed. Since I'm a low AC death dealer, I need all the crowd control I can muster, and Improved Trip greatly increases my survivability in epic content, especially since the trip can last up to a minute. I also utilize Stunning Blow at level 14, this was about the most convenient time I could fit it in due to the THF line of feats. My Greataxe Mastery will shine in my Stunning Blow/ auto-crit situations. I also chose taking another Toughness over Quick Draw because I believe the extra HP will make a bigger difference until I acquire better gear. Once I get better, I will switch it for Quick Draw to have a couple extra swings on my Haste Boost.

Since I have a starting 12 INT, I get more skill points too! I chose to max out Intimidate, Balance and Haggle. I chose Intimidate because it's nice to keep trash off casters or control mobs to trip/stun and maximize my DPS with glancing blows. This all depends on the situation of course. I chose balance because I am doing 0 damage on my back, so I need to recover soon as possible. I chose Haggle over UMD because it's really not my play style to use wands, or restricted equipment. I just chug pots and use gear that I have, so haggle saves me a lot of money over my life.

Raise STR on every level up. Enhancements are kind of a toss up right now, just make sure you take all the corresponding prerequisites for Kensai 1-3. Since you can reset these often, not a big deal to post right now.

I present to you Razortusk Deathshock. A formidable fighter that decimates his enemies with trips/stuns and his "Deathshock" Greataxe that benefits from 10% doublestrike. Enjoy!

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.7.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Razortusk Deathshock
Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(20 Fighter) 
Hit Points: 324
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 5
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             20                    25
Dexterity             8                     8
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence         12                    13
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               1                     1
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         3                     3
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                 -1                    -1
Intimidate            2                     2
Jump                  5                     7
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently        -1                    -1
Open Lock            n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     1
Search                1                     1
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                  5                     7
Tumble               n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 5 (Fighter)


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Trip


Level 7 (Fighter)


Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Handed Fighting


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Stunning Blow


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 19 (Fighter)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons

[FuzzyDuck81]

Simple, solid build - might want to switch out the 2nd toughness feat for rapid draw, as it also lets you use your boosts faster but thats more a matter of taste... however, since you're going to be using stunning blow, it'll also make it much easier to have a +stunning maul to make sure the stun works, then you can switch quickly to the lit2 axe to take them down even faster.

[Guilllotine]

Thanks. I also stated in the last sentence of my first paragraph that I will switch out the 2nd toughness for Quick Draw when I get better gear to have it really make a difference.

[Guilllotine]

I have fallen in love with this guy! The only people who consistently out DPS me seem to be TR's (and I would hope so!). I find myself ahead of most horc barbs and non-horc fighters out there frequently. I'm finding a stable 48 STR so far, I know it will be higher with better gear and such. I can trip Sub-T skellies, elite trash, giants and most orange names with no trouble at all, every 10 secs at that thanks to improved trip. My stunning blow is a little lacking with 18+ mobs, but it lands quite frequently without a weighted maul. I have 11 Haste Boosts/Power Surges right now, and that is awesome!

[CrunK.]

I made a 28 point build and skimped on the CON bringing it down to a 14 while leaving INT at 12 for the skill points.

[Fattiest]

Noob Question here as im looking to TR my old main that i havnt played in a while to something like this.

Why True Neutral when there is no umd?

[Guilllotine]

Noob Question here as im looking to TR my old main that i havnt played in a while to something like this.

Why True Neutral when there is no umd?

True Neutral is having the capability to wear the litany trinket, but going with UMD and a good-type alignment can help you with gear/weapons while leveling. I dropped UMD because I already have leveling gear for him, and it's not my playstyle to whip a wand in combat, id rather chug a pot and keep slashing

[Lunzatis]

What enhancements do you currently have on the character. Did you spend any action points on the trip enhancements? What enhancements did you focus on? Did you get any of the strength enhancements. This is how I'm looking to set up my version of what you built. Tell me what you think.

Str - 18
Dex - 10
Con - 16
Int - 13
Wis - 10
Chr - 6

Thanks.

[Scythera]

Let me get this straight.....


324 hp.... seriously? And, honestly, I looked at nothing else, and just saw this... and, I am not bashing anything (yet), right now I am seriously curious as to why you would be so... fleshy...

[Consumer]

Let me get this straight.....


324 hp.... seriously? And, honestly, I looked at nothing else, and just saw this... and, I am not bashing anything (yet), right now I am seriously curious as to why you would be so... fleshy...

That 324 does not include gear and the OP has not included a con tome.

[Emili]

True Neutral is having the capability to wear the litany trinket, but going with UMD and a good-type alignment can help you with gear/weapons while leveling. I dropped UMD because I already have leveling gear for him, and it's not my playstyle to whip a wand in combat, id rather chug a pot and keep slashing

Litany trinket aside with stunning I'd wear epic marilith...

Btw... I for years people have asked me why I toted CE on my fighter while she's a gtwf kensai III - the largest reason was/is Improved trip (just cannot beat that cooldown) - she TR'd now and going down the same exact feating paths. Fighters are born into the tacticals and they're a hell of a lot more fun than intimidate or just whacking away... I run my barb up to 80 str compared to my fighter at 62 the fighter will land many more trips than the barb ever will just for shear spamability.

Let me get this straight.....


324 hp.... seriously? And, honestly, I looked at nothing else, and just saw this... and, I am not bashing anything (yet), right now I am seriously curious as to why you would be so... fleshy...

That character is in fine shape ... come end game will be in about's 600-700hp tomed and geared easly before being buffed up.

What enhancements do you currently have on the character. Did you spend any action points on the trip enhancements? What enhancements did you focus on? Did you get any of the strength enhancements. This is how I'm looking to set up my version of what you built. Tell me what you think.

Str - 18
Dex - 10
Con - 16
Int - 13
Wis - 10
Chr - 6

Thanks.

My advice to him is not to take the tacticals to trip ... if he's improved trip shove all in str/dps and let kensei pick up the difference. If he feels the urge with stun ... the possibilty lies there but I doubt he needs it. My human kensai III with max'd str was landing tacticals very well in Epics with no hitch before I TR'd her (without any tactical enhancements)... and he'll potentionally have +3 more str so least +1 more DC.

[Kasen_Darksword]

My one suggestion is to drop the blugeon spec/focus/crit. Those 3 feats can be used for more toughness and quickdraw. Two handed fighters have low reflex saves and take full dmg from spells so better have hp to live through it.

[Talltale-Storyteller]

Let me get this straight.....


324 hp.... seriously? And, honestly, I looked at nothing else, and just saw this... and, I am not bashing anything (yet), right now I am seriously curious as to why you would be so... fleshy...

You do realize that is 324 HP with no gear on, right?

[Guilllotine]

You do realize that is 324 HP with no gear on, right?

Right. I'm sitting at 500 hp at level 18. This is only with common gear, no named or crafted stuff. I don't have alot of the toughness enhancements either.

[Guilllotine]

My one suggestion is to drop the blugeon spec/focus/crit. Those 3 feats can be used for more toughness and quickdraw. Two handed fighters have low reflex saves and take full dmg from spells so better have hp to live through it.

Sure, you can do this, but that is adding your personal flavor. I chose these simply because I will do more damage when using a stunning maul. As for quickdraw, I will take that when I get better gear, I need my 2nd toughness more than quickdraw at the moment.

The only "downside" I have found with this build is that he is a bit squishy, but this only because he has no gear to speak of right now. HP is very easy to acquire, so this disappears rather quickly. If that's all you have to say about my build, then I believe I have done an excellent job, given gear/hp is a matter of time, not "just" toughness feats. Feel free to swap them if you wish however.

[Arlathen]

What kind of DCs are you achieving with Trip/Stun? Can you give a breakdown?

How much would you recommend as a minimum for Trip/Stun to be effective against most Elite/Epic content?

[Kasen_Darksword]

Sure, you can do this, but that is adding your personal flavor. I chose these simply because I will do more damage when using a stunning maul. As for quickdraw, I will take that when I get better gear, I need my 2nd toughness more than quickdraw at the moment.

The only "downside" I have found with this build is that he is a bit squishy, but this only because he has no gear to speak of right now. HP is very easy to acquire, so this disappears rather quickly. If that's all you have to say about my build, then I believe I have done an excellent job, given gear/hp is a matter of time, not "just" toughness feats. Feel free to swap them if you wish however.

I was trying to help you not myself. I dont know if you plan on doing elite or epics at end game but you need to specialize in one weapon as a fighter if you plan to be the main tank. Two things you need as the main tank are HP and Max DPS with your kensai weapon of choice. Failed saves from spells on epic = 200 to 300 points of dmg.

My Tank Kisa is maxed out on gear for hp and I just break the 700hp. I also have 45 fire, 45 electric and 40 cold resists on all the time to help absorb dmg. Im not saying you have to be maxed but you should be aware of what awaits you.

Also on a side note stunning blow lands a ton more on epic than trip. Trip is good for normal content though and is fun to use.

Have fun with your build no matter which way you decide to go.


-Kasen

[ChaosEmperorDragon]

Also on a side note stunning blow lands a ton more on epic than trip. Trip is good for normal content though and is fun to use.

Why is that? I've never done epics.

[Guilllotine]

Also on a side note stunning blow lands a ton more on epic than trip. Trip is good for normal content though and is fun to use.

I think he's basing this on his own personal experiences (stated he has a "tank"), which means he may not have improved trip or high STR that horcs have. With improved trip, you get an extra +4 DC so the base for improved trip (DC 14 + Str mod). Add more if you have a vertigo weapon, high as 10. As a general rule of thumb, a DC of 40 is considered uber.

Kensai III get 3 DC
Improved Trip 14DC
50 STR modifier 20DC

"Base" DC w/o enhancements or vertigo = 37DC (high 30's is excellent)

+4 DC from enhancements
+10 DC from vertigo weapon
= 51DC (more than necessary)

Let him make judgement if his DC is anywhere from 37+ on his trips. Otherwise, his judgement is based on lack of high DC.

NOTE: This formula is the same for Stunning Blow as well on this toon.

[Lunzatis]

I've been playing around with the build for the last couple of days and it has been working nicely. I have a slightly different version of the build. I have the toon up to lvl 8 so far.

32 Point Build

Str - 18
Dex - 10
Con - 16
Int - 13
Wis - 10
Chr - 8

Read +1 Int tome at lvl 3 non veteran status or lvl 4 if you have veteran status.

Feats - all feats 9 and above are subject to change as I play the character.

!. Toughness
2. Two Handed Fighting
3. Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
4. Iron Will
5. Power Attack
6. Improved Two Handed Fighting
7. Weapon Specialization: Slashing
8. Combat Expertise
9. Improved Trip
10. Improved Critical Slashing Weapons.
11. Greater Two Handed Fighting
12. Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
13. Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
14. Toughness
15. Stunning Blow
16. Luck of Heros
17. Superior Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
18. Resilience

Enhancements - subject to change

Fighter Attack Boost III
Fighter Haste Boost III
Fighter Weapon Alacrity
Kensai Greataxe Mastery III
Fighter Critical Accuracy IV
Fighter Kensai III
Fighter Greataxe Specialization II
Fighter Flanking Mastery II
Half Orc Extra Action Boost II
Half Orc Fury III
Orcish Melee Damage I
Half Orc Power Attack I
Half Orc Strength I
Orcish Great Weapon Aptitude II
Racial Toughness II
Fighter Strength II
Fighter Toughness IV

What does everyone think. As I said it has worked well so far.