Quote Originally Posted by CThruTheEgo View Post
I tried out advancing blows and the buff does appear in my buff bar, although I have not done any testing to verify that it is actually applying. I would assume that it is. Given the lowish crit rate of repeaters, though, I never picked up more than a couple stacks and so I don't think it's essential. I'll keep it for now, but if you need to free up some points in dreadnaught for something else, I'd say this is worth cutting.

It was recently brought to my attention that PRR augments do not apply to MRR like the sheltering effect does. So I'd like to work in a sheltering item on Dubbell, but I'm having trouble figuring out where to slot it.

Sheltering 30 is found on Dumathoin's Bracers, Shroud of Ardent (neck), and Mythic Minos Legens. The Sage's Locket is the only way to get evocation focus outside of the weapon, so this is not something that can be given up. Epic Inferno Bracers is the best elemental spell power item that I am aware of, so I can't see giving this up either. Epic Deific Diadem just looks like a really nice helm. The lesser heighten is useless to me, and the wis 11 and cha 11 are nice but certainly not vital. Int 11 can be slotted elsewhere (gloves or ring), but deific focus is something I'd certainly like to have.

Sheltering 24 is on the Guardian's Ring. If I lose Consuming Darkness, I'd have to slot seeker in the goggles slot using Epic Mentau's Goggles and giving up the Intricate Field Optics which is my source of insightful int 3, which I don't want to do. Or I could lose the Avithoul Seal. I will have exceptional sneak attack on the Epic Quiver of Alacrity, but I won't have regular sneak attack or improved deception anywhere else. I could use Backstabber's Gloves for sneak attack and improved deception, but then I'd lose deadly and 2d6 light damage, which I don't think is a good trade off. Improved deception is not as vital for a ranged build as it is for a melee. And while I don't want to lose 8 points of sneak attack damage, 24 MRR would give me another 9% magic damage reduction on top of the 31% I have without it. So I'm leaning toward dropping the Avithoul Seal and using the Guardian's Ring instead, but I'd like to know what you all think about these options, or if you see other options.
I'm having the exact same issue. +8 SA vs 24 PRR and MRR. Let me know which you decide, but I think I'm leaning slightly towards the Guardian's Ring. But if you are surviving just fine with your current setup, then surely the DPS would be more useful.