Sithali, King of Burst DPS (12Mnk/6Rgr/2Ftr)

[Symerith]

Only recently did I discover the potential of AAs. Very often AAs will be put down and criticized but what I'm giving you is the highest burst DPS build in the game.
Nothing comes close to what FotW Epic moment + Adrenaline Manyshot can do.

I love this build. Monk movement speed, sprint boost, defenses. I have played this build (no OC version) at cap and it was a blast. I'm going through a couple of extra lives to perfect this build.
I love complex builds, I love to be self sufficient and solo stuff and most importantly I love to put barbarians to shame.
Forgive me for my lack of creativity for the build's name. I didn't have much time to think of one as I got a couple of requests after posting my original build's video (no OC ) that you can find on my youtube channel. I will be uploading videos of this build once I finish TRing.

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A lot information found on the forums is wrong.
#1: Arcane Archers lack in terms of DPS - False: Well built and well played AAs can rival in terms of DPS with any other melee build.
#2: Arcane Archers need to specialize for TWF - False: You do not need to put down the bow when Manyshot and 10kstar is on timer, even for ki generation thanks to Enlightment.
#3: Arcane Archers cannot handle the aggro they generate - False: When you are in a group, you can stop kiting and stand your ground. With your very solid package of defenses, this build can tank anything but Epic Elite LOB.

BUILD GOALS
#1: DPS
#2: DEFENSES Endgame isn't about DPS only anymore. PRR, AC, incorporeality, concealment, dodge, evasion, saves.
#3: SELF SUFFICIENCY 40 UMD for Scroll healing. This is very important on an AA as the use of silver flame potions will make 10kstars irrelevant.
#4: UTILITY Scroll healing/Off-tank/kiter

IMPORTANT NOTES
Playing an Arcane Archer is far more difficult than playing a melee. It isn't just sit back and shoot.
In every fight, you need to take into account many parameters:

• Range: you need to be close to gain 1W from Point Blank Shot
• Position: you will double, triple or more your DPS if you position yourself correctly to make use of Improved Precise Shot (Caves with many mobs such as Von1)
• Situation: Precise shot is now a lot more user-friendly and allows you to gain up to 30% damage when shooting at a single mob (Boss fights for example)
• Timing: Manyshot and 10k stars are very short abilities but they are also very powerful. Using them at the right times is key. This is the combination I usually follow: 10kstars->EpicMoment+Manyshot->10kstars.
• Others: You need to respect the players you are playing with. Kiting a mob all around while all the melees yell at you because they can't hit is not a good way to play an AA. You have 2 options: take a beating (with the defenses you have with the Sithali, this will not be a problem) or play smart and handle your aggro.
• Camera angle: Just like casters who cannot cast a spell because they are not facing the mob, you will need to anticipate enemies movements. With some time and practice, you will dramatically improve your gameplay, to the point where you can dodge an enemy's searing lights.

In every fight, you will need to analyse the situation and decide how to deal with it - especially if you solo a lot.
But remember, because it is complex and difficult, it is also very fun and doesn't get boring.

Unlike melees, the gap in terms of DPS between a well-played AA and the same AA that doesn't take into accounts all of those parameters is tremendous.

Finally, this build benefits a lot from past lives (Ranger, Monk) and 36 pt is pretty much a requirement.
As a matter of fact, you will get +6 damage from 3xRanger Lives, +3 from 3xMonk and +1 from Completionist for a total of +10 damage from past lives.


I give you the Sithali!


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SITHALI, LAWFUL NEUTRAL HALF ELF: 12 MONK / 6 RANGER / 2 FIGHTER w/ FURY OF THE WILD



STATS (36) All sustainable
Str - 17+2(lvl)+4(tome)+2(compl)+2(yugo)+2(ship)+8(item) +2(insight)+4(alchem)+5(primal)+1(fighter enh.)+2(madstone)+2(destiny)+2(ram's)+1(exc)= 56
Dex - 15+4(tome)+2(compl)+2(ship)+2(yugo)+7(item)+3(insi ght)+4(alchem)+1(exc)-2(stance)=38
Con - 13+4(tome)+2(compl)+2(ship)+2(yugo)+(7item)+2(insi ght)+4(alchem)+1(human enh)+5(primal)+1(exc)+3(stance)+4(madstone)= 50
Int - 8+4(tome)+2(Compl)+2(ship)=16
Wis - 16+4(lvl)+4(tome)+2(compl)+2(yugo)+2(ship)+8(item) +3(Insight)+1(human enh)+3(monk enh.)+1(exc)+2(destiny)= 48
Cha - 8+4(tome)+2(compl)+2(ship)+2(yugo)+7(item)+2(insig ht)+1(exc) = 28


Note: +4 str/dex tomes are not required but it would be very difficult to reach the 19 dex required for Improved Precise Shot and the 23 str required for Overwhelming Critical and still have a very powerful 10kstars.

FEATS
Normal (7) : Point Blank Shot, Completionist (or Toughness), Cleave, Great Cleave, Past Life: Arcane Prodigy, Weapon Focus: Ranged, Precision
Monk (3) : Power Attack, Zen Archery (8), Dodge
Fighter (2) : Improved Precise Shot, Improved Critical: Ranged
Ranger (2) : FE: Evil Outsider, FE: Construct
Epic (2) : Overwhelming Critical, Paladin Past Life (or Combat Archery when it works)
Leveling order: Depends on your playstyle, I'd pick up 2 monk early for evasion, 1 fighter for haste boost and the 6 ranger levels for TWF feats and use handwraps till 14 (Unwavering Ardency)

Twists
3. Critical Damage/Otto's Whistler (Tier 3 LD/Tier 3 Shiradi)
2. Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)
1. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal Avatar)

Fury of the Wild
1. Primal Scream (3), Fast Healing (3)
2. Acute Instincts (3), Str (2)
3. Str (2)
4. Sense Weakness (3), Gird Against Demons (2)
5. Fury eternal (2)
6. Unbridled Fury (2)


ENHANCEMENTS

• HALF ELF Rogue Dillie (6), AA (4), Conjure +5 Arrows (4), Slayer Arrows (5), Human versatility IV (10), Wis (2), Con (4), Trap Sense I (1)
• RANGER Ranger Sprint boost I (1), Favored Damage II (3)
• MONK Dark Monk II (6), Static Charge (2), Improved Jump II (2), Improved Tumble II (2), Earth Stance II (5), Patient Tortoise II (3), Wind Stance I (2), 10k Stars (1), Wisdom III (10), Improved Recovery I (2)
• FIGHTER Str I (2), Haste Boost I (1)

SKILLS
Max UMD (***)
Concentration (**)
Balance (**)
Spot (*)
Put 1 point in Tumble at start

SAVES
F-16+4(GH)+6(res)+1(alch)+1(ship)+2(luck)+20(stat= 50
R-13+4(GH)+6(res)+1(alch)+1(ship)+2(luck)+15(stat)+1 (haste) =42 + Improved Evasion (Traps: 42+1(enh)+3(destiny)=46)
W-10+4(GH)+6(res)+1(alch)+1(ship)+2(luck)+19(stat) = 43
*Quick note concerning the saves: It comes out as one of the major build downsides, but it really doesn't bother me in EE content. The dangerous enemies (casters) for an AA are dealt with first and therefore cause no issues.
With minor changes though, you can get to mid 50's (Ex: +4 insight on bracers, +4 pally dilly & +6 reflex twisted means 58/55/49).

HIT POINTS
20 base
+10 Favor
+50 Epic levels
+164 class
+400 con
+35 GFL
+30 barb pl
+100 FotW levels
+10 tortoise
+45 shroud
+20 yugo
=884 HP sustainable (around 950 if you don't have Completionist and picked up Toughness).

Enough when you have good saves and improved evasion.


GEAR

Ah, the gear... spent hours debating what was best and this is what I have.. although this will change in a few weeks when Epic GH is released.. Already have a few ideas

Helm: Epic Helm of Frost w/ Greater False Life
Goggles: Drow Smoke Goggles
Necklace: Gilvaenor's Necklace
Armor: Red scale robe w/ +1cha & +2 goodluck
Trinket: Planar focus of Prowess (str +8)
Cloak: Epic Envenomed cloak w/ Toughness
Belt: +45 hp belt
Ring1: Gilvaenor's Ring w/ +2 Insight. Str
Ring2: Seal of House Avithoul w/ +2 Insight. Wis
Boots: Epic Boots of corrosion w/ +1 con & +6 wis/ Madstone Boots
Gloves: Epic gloves of the claw
Bracers: Epic bracers of the claw

Weapon: Pinion, Cloud Piercer


New gear layout for U17


Helm: Helm of the Blue Dragon (Draconic Mind, Wis +3, Green slot: +14PRR , Yellow slot: +2 con)
Goggles: Intricate Field Optics (Spot +20, True Seeing, +8 wisdom, Yellow Slot:+2 insight cha, Green slot: +7 resistance)
Necklace: Gilvaenor's Necklace / Epic Adehrent's Pendant as a quick swap for +2 boosts & +54 spell power for cocoon (Constitution +6, Attack Bonus +2, Arcane Archer set)
Armor: Red scale robe/Black Dragonscale Robe (Colorless slot: Globe of imperial blood (+1 exc. all stats), Blue slot: Toughness)
Trinket: Planar focus of Prowess (Str +8)
Cloak: Mithril Cloak of the Wolf (Lose 1 seeker but the +3% dodge will stack with the +4% dodge from ring for a total of +7% dodge! ( Exceptional Seeker +4, Dodge 3%, Attack Bonus +3, Diversion 20%)
Belt: Epic Spare Hand (This is the GS cha item but it has 2 slots (Doublestrike 3%, Use Magical Device +3, Riposte, Exceptional Combat Mastery +5, Staggering Blow, Disable Device +15, Open Lock +15,Blue slot: +35 HP, Colorless Slot: +7 cha)
Ring1: Gilvaenor's Ring (Dexterity +6, Exceptional Dexterity +1, Arcane Archer set, Slotted: +20% Healing Amp)
Ring2: Dun Robar Ring (+7 con, +4% dodge, +10 Tendon Slice (fixed with ranged))
Boots: Treads of Falling Shadow / Madstone Boots (Striding +30%, Ghostly, Dexterity +8, Insightful Dexterity +3)
Gloves: Backstabber's Gloves (Bluff +20, Sneak Attack +5, Exceptional Sneak Attack +3, Improved Deception, Yellow slot: +2 str)
Bracers:+45 HP minII bracers
Quiver: Quiver of Poison (Venomed Ammunition - 1d10)

Weapon: Pinion, Cloud-Piercer (Red slot: +1d10 Ice damage)


DAMAGE CALCS

w/ Pinion

(14-49=~32) - 2.50+1PBS=3.50 [2d6] + 7 Pierce, Magic w/ 19-20 / x3

+3 passive monk PL
+6 passive ranged PL
+2 good hope slotted
+25 strength
+2 ram's might
+4 prowess
+2 ship
+3 divine favor
+8 enh. bonus
+5 FotW
=~92 on first number // ~525 base damage on a crit (1 arrow out of 4 being a crit), ~2625 base damage on an adrenaline crit (you always crit on an adrenaline).. varies from 2175 to 3050 when not boosting). Don't forget there's an 80% (50% from Stunned mob from Pin and an additional 30% from FotW destiny) for huge crits.

I have not done crit calcs for the following calculations as it's pretty difficult to take the non-base dmge into account.

+25 slayer
+3d6=9.5 SA
+3d6=9.5 Wailing
+1d8=4.5 epic red dragonscale
+1 force dmge ritual
+13 static SA
+5.5 ice slotted
+5.5 poison
=~166 base per arrow

When using Precise Shot & boosting:
+3 titan
+25% HV IV
=205
+30%
=~274

= 274 * 75% + ( 274 + 16 ) * 10% * 3 + (274 + 16) * 10% * 5
= 206 + 87 + 145
= 438 average damage per arrow

The Sithali Vs Dummy:


I've actually hit 5500 crits in raids with bard buffs and stunned mobs (Keep in mind Pin is +3W)

Parameters not taking into account:

• Attack speed (22% Alactrity + 10% Competence from AA set + 25% from Haste boost)
• -25% constant Fortification bypass with Precision (stacks with Precise shot and Improved Precise shot stances)
• Manyshot, 10kstar
• Non self buffs (bard buffs, artificers deadly's weapons)

QUICK RECAP
HP # 900
Saves # 50/42/43 w/ Improved Evasion
PRR # 57
AC # ~80
Dodge # 18-20%
Incorporeality # 25% dark monk
Concealment # 50% displacement - GS displace clickies/scrolls (also have cloudkill clickies)
Ranged damage # 161 dmge per arrow (base), 221 dmg per arrow (boosted)


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If you want to know how I did all my lives (i.e. what quests and how many times per level), check out the 2nd post of the Sith Project thread (link below).
If you want to see how I leveled this build, check out my Youtube Channel (I did 1 video per level w/ commentaries).


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I had some requests and questions concerning my last build so I decided to write down a better version of it.
It took me a while to do it so I hope you guys enjoy it.

Waiting to hear your thoughts on the Sithali,

Sith

[Wulverine]

Nicely laid out, and a nice build.
Ranged combat is definitely OP in this game, as you can tell by builds like these, and the amount of solo accomplishments of ranged chars. They do require both skills and smarts to play, and most people i find lacking in both. So i suppose it balances out haha

1 question, all your saves gain a +8 from CHA? Was this from another build that had a 2 pally in it? Or am i overlooking something?

[Symerith]

Nicely laid out, and a nice build.
Ranged combat is definitely OP in this game, as you can tell by builds like these, and the amount of solo accomplishments of ranged chars. They do require both skills and smarts to play, and most people i find lacking in both. So i suppose it balances out haha

1 question, all your saves gain a +8 from CHA? Was this from another build that had a 2 pally in it? Or am i overlooking something?

Thanks And good catch too! Took me 3 hours to put it all together and I used the saves part from my tukaw build which has 2 pally levels My mistake, thx!

[Wulverine]

Thanks And good catch too! Took me 3 hours to put it all together and I used the saves part from my tukaw build which has 2 pally levels My mistake, thx!

Then i suppose that "Past Life: Arcane Prodigy" is from your Tukaw as well

[Ellihor]

+1, thx so much

[Symerith]

Then i suppose that "Past Life: Arcane Prodigy" is from your Tukaw as well

It was either that or Mental toughness, and it's required for AA.

[Wulverine]

It was either that or Mental toughness, and it's required for AA.

Ahh ofcourse, my bad.

Are you sure your starting saves are correct for this split though?
You have 16/16/16 as a starting point for a 12m/6r/2f, and i think it should be 16/13/10.
Which would make your ending saves 50/41/41. That's well into dangerous territory for EE as you know
A solution might be getting the pally dilletante... 3d6 sneakattack is only a very minor portion of your DPS output at this point.

(hope I'm not overlooking something again :| )

[xTethx]

-2 dex from stance, and as has been stated your saves arent as godly as you think, maybe for anything not ee, but high 50's low 60's is now the number to reach for in saves.

[Ivan_Milic]

trinket: Planar focus of prowess (insightful str +8)

Minor typo

[Symerith]

Fixed the couple of mistakes now and there. I really didn't have any issues in EE running the non oc version of this build, mainly because everything is dead in seconds.

[rabrams99]

Great Build, I am making something like this, but hadnt considered OC. Does Fury Eternal work on vorpal attack regenerage an adreniline?

[Dieterstrife]

Where are you getting +2 destiny wisdom?

[T_ward7a]

Where are you getting +2 destiny wisdom?

You get +2 wis while raged from acute instincts so I assume he just put that as "destiny"

[Ellihor]

Where are you getting +2 destiny wisdom?

Acute instincts

@sym - would artificer work in place of figther lvs? Feats id put out would be completionist and arcane prodigy. Taths more because i have no idea how you get 40 umd (ok you could do some gear swaps but i hate to swap gear for umd if it is my only source of heal).

- HV4 is a 25% damage increase, in your calcs you put as a +5

- Unfortunally we have to use red dragonscale robe id love if light armor were ki items, the eberron red dragonhide is the best looking armor in the game

[Symerith]

I'm really into the "cosmetic" aspect of any MMO and I truly love the look of the red robe so I'm cool with that instead of the dragonhide.

UMD looks like smthg like this for me
11 ranks
4 gh
1 lolth helmet
8 cha
1 arti PL
2 completionist
5 item (GS goggles that I have on except if fighting humanoids)
2 goodluck
5 epic levels
2 ship
= 40 (might have missed something because I remember having 41 with the +5 GS cha goggles)

16 starting wisdom so you could always get cleric dilly for 95% chance on heal scrolls.

The artificer splash might be something good for someone who does not have the completionist feat, but for me, it makes it all work right.

I'll fix the damage in a sec calcs in a sec, thanks.

[Braegan]

Looks pretty solid.

Although you have in Epic Feats, Combat Archery (when it's fixed). Not sure you can take that with 15 Dex and +4 tome. Pre-req is 21 Dex.

[bergeau09]

Thanks for posting this build, was about to PM you to ask a couple questions then I saw you posted it! +1

Have a great day !

Hoss

[Dieterstrife]

I see it now, thank you for the clarification.

[Machination]

Hey Sith, nice build I came across this looking at recent monkcher builds as thinking to TR my monk to one. Pretty sweet.

[Thrudh]

So you don't put down the bow when 10k stars and manyshot are on timer?

Seems your average DPS drops quite a bit there during those times (40 seconds out of every 2 minutes). Of course, there's plenty of downtime in most dungeons running to the next encounter, so if you time things right, it's not that bad.

I'm not sure Overwhelming critical is worth 4 feats (3 of which are utterly worthless to you - Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave).

Seems a real waste to not have Stunning Fist and a melee option with such a nice Wisdom score.