Helves Angel: A Burst DPS Build (12ftr/6Rgr/2Monk)

[altrocks]

I agree completely. I used to be a IPS doubter, but no longer. It makes this build incredibly powerful on Many Shots. There are a ton of creative ways to use it in the new raids.

I'd drop Qucik Draw or Stunning Blow before I'd drop IPS. You don't need ewp: khop though, just have someone use improved destruction, or start off with your Epic Shatterbow as you close the distance.

I find Scimitars to be an excellent choice in TWF weapons for rangers. There's lots of good ones out there both named and random gen. And with the CC event coming back soon, you can always make a pair of the tier3 scimitars from there. My AA uses them all the time to great effect. Also lets you easily use the Epic Chaos Blades and Epic Kronzek's Cruelty without having to do much at all.

[infiniteblusky]

Hello, very nice build i have few questions:

- i have no access to half elf,will it be so awful use a "normal" elf? (i can use the drow, but as i know it has no access to arcane archer)

- i don't have any past life feat, since the build will be a 28pt can be a good idea add a toughness?

- i can only use 28 pt build, what should i lower to adapt it?

Thanks

[Dark-Star]

You can adapt it to 28 points, just drop strength a bit.

Elf can work, but half elf is far better.

I'll tell you what someone told me when I started: take the time and grind enough favor to open up 32 point builds (and now the races/classes), and you will thank yourself on every subsequent character that you make.

[Seamonkeysix]

I have this build on a first life TR. I absolutely endorse it. I went with a khopesh focus and throw around LitII for main weapons. 676 HP madstoned is a bit low, but I don't attempt to main tank often.

For burst DPS, utility and fun, I have to say this is a great build. This comes with somebody who capped it around 6 months ago and won't TR him, because it is just too much fun at 20.

[unbongwah]

- i have no access to half elf,will it be so awful use a "normal" elf? (i can use the drow, but as i know it has no access to arcane archer)

- i don't have any past life feat, since the build will be a 28pt can be a good idea add a toughness?

- i can only use 28 pt build, what should i lower to adapt it?

It's actually pretty easy to do a "poor man's" F2P 28-pt version: elf ftr 12 / rgr 6 / rogue 2; base stats 16 / 17 / 14 / 8 / 8 / 8 with all level-ups into STR; you'll drop pally PL and Extend feats (lose 2 feats w/out monk splash) but gain UMD instead; you still need +2 DEX tome for Imp Prec Shot, but that can be delayed until pretty late if you don't have it by lvl 12. With the nerf to helplessness in U9, heavy picks no longer have an advantage vs helpless mobs; I would either go with khopeshes or elven racial weapons (rapiers or scimitars) instead.

You won't have quite the DPS of Helves Angel, of course, but that's what you get for not grinding through a first life and unlocking HEs & monk. I call it "poor man's" for a reason.

[Limey]

I started this build but with PL ranger not pally. But now I'm not sure if it will be good enough as the selctable ranger feat is lame.

So my question is should I go 6 ranger/ 2 monk/ 12 pally so I can TR again and get a 36 point build with both pally and ranger pls? How much of a nightmare would it be to run a toon with 12 levels of pally with a base cha of 8?

[Dark-Star]

Not having the pali past life is not a deal breaker, you will still have a phenominal charater. But it's a great feat to fit in.

As to going 12 pali and TRing, that really depends on how much you want to invest in your character. Leveling a 12 pali 6 ranger 2 monk should be very easy, you'll have high AC, evasion, good saves and moderately good DPS. It's not a character I'd play at cap, but should be fine for leveling.

[FengXian]

I can confirm 12/6/2 pally/ranger/monk is a valid split. I leveled one for the past life as well and dps is actually surprisingly good (with DMII, divine favor, damage boost 4 and 3x ranger PL) both burst and sustained. Hp is decent 600ish, 40ish reflex and other goodies, it's not bad at all even you plan on sitting at 20 for a while

[maestro973]

Actually came up with a build very much like this and then came upon this thread. So I suppose I will bring the latest dilemma in my effort to perfect it here and see what opinion you all may have. Basically I'm fine with how my build is working out but I've got 2 feats I can swap around at level 18 and trying to figure out an optimal path.

As an aside the character is currently backed by
3 past lives as a fighter
3 as a ranger
2 as paladin
3 as monk
1 as rogue

Instead of the rogue dilly I went monk for the 20% boost to healing amp. As things stand now, at level 20 I'll boast a 272% amp without the ship buff and 300% with it. Before you dismiss this as unnecessary and tell me to go back to rogue, I will acknowledge regular heals will overfill my health at this level, however, I find the ability to drink a CSW potion and get 60-100 HP is invaluable and makes you terribly difficult to kill. Also drastically increases your viability as a tank if that becomes necessary when you can be healed with cure wands/scrolls.

With that being said, the current feat list I have planned is:
Weapon Focus: Ranged
Past Life: Soldier of the Faith (paladin)
Mental Toughness
Toughness
Power Attack
Point blank shot
Improved critical: ranged
Improved critical: slashing
Precise shot
Greater Two-weapon fighting
Stunning Blow
Weapon Focus slashing
Weapon specialization: slashing
Greater weapon specialization: slashing

This leaves me with 2 feats to choose from and honestly I'm not 100% sure which way I should go. The options I'm battling with and maybe some pros/cons follow:

Improved precise shot - Admittedly an awesome feat for ranged characters, but due to the nature of a burst build, I'm guessing most ranged combat is carried out against your big HP boss-types where there isn't a whole lot of trash that I'm focusing on..especially at cap. Feel free to argue this point as I have not used it so am basing this off mostly assumption.
weapon specialization: ranged - More damage..plain and simple enough
Improved sunder - DC would be 35 without an item(Assuming +16 base str mod), 45 with a +10 weapon, even higher with STR boosts/rage/etc (albeit another thing to swap out).
quick draw - Improved all-around speed with boosts and weapon swapping
Zen archery - Stay in stance
whirling steel strike - Stay in stance, pidgeon-holes weapon selection to longswords

I suppose being in stance all the time isn't really necessary, especially while ranged, but the effect is +1 attack/damage from the STR boost, and with jidz-tetka bracers another 25% boost to healing amp (which effectively grants another 100% and puts me over the 400% mark). For the sake of argument, whirling steel strike would be better than zen archery as I shouldn't be taking heavy damage when ranging, but as stated above..then you're stuck with longswords.

I realize that is a ton of text so I thank you for reading if you've made it this far or just skimmed over it. Feel free to post your opinions/insults etc on how you would proceed. I think as it stands I'm leaning toward whirling steel strike as one option.

[Dark-Star]

Extend for Ram's Might and Pali past life.

Improved Precise Shot - one of the most powerful feats on the build. Not optional.

WSS is ****. Go handwraps if you want to stay in stance.

[Flintsen]

[B][U]
The other significant deviation from my original plan is that I have taken the cleric dilettante while leveling up. I still plan on swapping a feat and going rogue dilettante at 20, but having 95% success heal scrolls, no fail res, spell resistance, prot from evil, etc. has put soloability and group contribution at a whole new level.

Per DDO Wiki

DilettanteCleric.bmp
Half-Elf Dilettante: Cleric Passive Able to use wands and scrolls as if you were a level one cleric. Half-Elf, 13 Wisdom

How did you get Wisdom 13 to do this with your original build Dark? Am I missing something?

[Dark-Star]

The intention is to use the Cleric Dilettante while leveling, then LR stats to max DPS at cap.

[Flintsen]

Dark I love the look of this build but I have a favor to ask. How does this build play from 1-19 without Epic items. I for one am not a fan of Epic items that you can only use at lvl 20. Would it be as powerful with just named items? Prob not but speaking of that which named items would you use in each slot? How much of a hit does it take on stats? Can I reach 60 str bursts? 600 hp? I wish I could see your build but MY DDO is still messed up. I'd love your feedback. Thanks in advance.

[Dark-Star]

It's a blast to level .

You do not need all of the gear I have listed, the Helves Angel can be very functional with easier to get items. I like listing what I think are the best items to equip for all of the builds that I create to give me and others a goal to strive for. There are many new items that are much more accessible, like the new challenge bow for example, and the bow coming in 12.1 looks strong too.

I won't list sub-optimal gear sets, there is just so much to choose from. Spend some time with your gear list and other items that are accessible to you and the path should be clear.

[Limey]

Thanks for all the replies Dark.

I decided to get the Pally pl for this and for some reason went for a Ranger 6/Fighter 6/Pally 8 version but I'm 18 now anyway so not long now and it seems to do all right in quests.

However, now I really like the idea of having a Barb pl (esp for the active) before I make the real deal. (So I would have Ranger, Pally and Barb PLs in total)

So I have two questions:

1) Do you have a Barb past life giving build (just the level splits is fine) you could recommend that is still a bit of an arrow beast?

2) I plan on taking both Pally and Barb active feats once I get to your build. Fitting in the extra active feat Past Life:Barb is the tricky bit. Am I right that I could swap the Toughness feat you have at level 8 as the Barb PL active feat also opens up the Toughness enhancements/APs? If not what would be the way to squeeze it in?

Many thanks

[wax_on_wax_off]

Thanks for all the replies Dark.

I decided to get the Pally pl for this and for some reason went for a Ranger 6/Fighter 6/Pally 8 version but I'm 18 now anyway so not long now and it seems to do all right in quests.

However, now I really like the idea of having a Barb pl (esp for the active) before I make the real deal. (So I would have Ranger, Pally and Barb PLs in total)

So I have two questions:

1) Do you have a Barb past life giving build (just the level splits is fine) you could recommend that is still a bit of an arrow beast?

2) I plan on taking both Pally and Barb active feats once I get to your build. Fitting in the extra active feat Past Life:Barb is the tricky bit. Am I right that I could swap the Toughness feat you have at level 8 as the Barb PL active feat also opens up the Toughness enhancements/APs? If not what would be the way to squeeze it in?

Many thanks

Barb PL opens the racial and class toughness enhancements so you can make a straight swap.

For a barbarian PL giving build I'd basically do exactly what you did with the paladin PL: 6 ranger, 7 fighter, 7 barbarian. Alternatively, 12 barbarian, 6 ranger, 2 fighter would work fine too.

By level 12 you want 6 ranger (for ITWF and to be eligible for GTWF on level 12 feat) and 6 barbarian for frenzy I. You can do the leveling to that point as you like but probably plan to just use a carnifex (for instance). 6 ranger/1 barbarian straight up is fine too if you want to TWF and Manyshot sooner.

After level 12 it's up to you if you want more barbarian or some fighter. Either works and you won't experience much difference overall I wouldn't expect.

[sweez]

Barb active pl? What does exactly trading +2 intimidate for -2 hp do for this build?

[Limey]

I was thinking the Rage, does that get extended with the Extend feat?

edit: Just noticed Dark's comments on post #5, so will probly can the Barb.

[Crann]

Any thoughts of trying to fit Ten Thousand Stars (with required Zen Archery) in now that it applies to bows?

[Dark-Star]

Any thoughts of trying to fit Ten Thousand Stars (with required Zen Archery) in now that it applies to bows?

Yes many thoughts about that.

There are pros and cons, and getting 10,000 Stars makes for more of a true ranged build, vs. what this is: burst ranged during Many Shot and melee in between.

In short it is a different build all together. I may put an idea I have on paper after I complete the current TR of my Monk.