"Sneaky Kliink" // Half Elven Kensei AA (12ftr/6rgr/2mnk)

[angiaks]

Note: This is a work in progress.

This build is a purely ranged specced Kensei Arcane Archer meant for survivability, massive burst dps, and soloability.

The original blueprint for Kliink was the Helves Angels build, however unlike HE more focus has been put on both ranged damage and survivability.

Don't get me wrong, HE is still a solid build - but with the introduction of epic destinies, there has been a major boost in non-manyshot burst dps. That being said, I have focused more on defensive feats rather than fully speccing for melee damage.

This build is a 34pt and includes taking a barbarian past life in order to gain the ability to rage situationally. The decision to take the past life feat was based more on 'while raged' enhancements in Fury of the Wild rather than the boost to STR and CON.

Before I go into the specifics of the build, I'd like to cover a few key points that (I think) separate "Sneaky Kliink" from other archer builds such as the currently popular Monk Archer, or Monkcher.

Like it's monk counterpart - Kliink benefits from both high saves and evasion by using a monk splash - however currently no stance is used since the zen archery feat isn't taken and situationally khopeshes are used.

Unlike a monkcher, Sneaky Kliink is able to self buff or easily maintain 66 STR and hit up to 70 situationally. This is without any ED str enhancements. Furthermore, with 12 fighter levels and the kensei prestige enhancement - kliink gains +3 to damage, +2 to hit, and +4 to confirm critical and critical damage while using a longbow. With fighter critical accuracy, kliink enjoys another +4 to confirm criticals with any weapon.

Currently, when using the Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf and corymirian redscale- kliink enjoys essentially a 23 seeker when using a longbow, and 19 seeker when using anything else. This is key, since with dual drow khopeshes or pinion kliink has a 30% critical chance (with imp crit slash/ranged) - and when bursting with haste boost, haste, manyshot and adrenaline (especially unbridled fury) the dps potential is insane. Also, unlike other AA builds, kliink enjoys many other enhancement lines such as fighter strength, fighter toughness, and most importantly fighter haste boost. Haste + Haste boost + damage boost (human versatility) + either double rainbow or unbridled fury is a potent burst dps mix.

"Sneaky Kliink"

Race: Half Elf

Alignment: Lawful Good

Stats:

68 Str: 17 +5 level ups +5 tome +7 item +2 ftr +1 racial +8 Power Surge +2 rage spell +2 Madstone +2 Ram's Might +2 Yugo pot +2 ship +3 insightful +4 PL Rage +5 Primal Scream +1 exceptional = 68 (70 with bard song)
44 Con: 13 +4 tome +7 item +2 ship +2 rage spell +2 insightful +4 Madstone +4 PL Rage +5 Primal Scream +1 exceptional = 44
34 Dex: 17 +4 tome +8 item +3 insightful +2 ship = 34
16 Int: 11 +3 tome +2 ship = 16
22 Wis: 8 +4 tome +6 item +2 ship +2 primal scream = 22
20 Cha: 8 +4 tome +6 item (situationally for umd) +2 ship =20

Feats:

1. R: Point Blank Shot, (Bow Str), (FE: Undead)
2. R: (TWF), (Rapid Shot)
3. R: Weapon Focus: Ranged, (Die Hard)
4. R
5. R: (FE: Elf)
6. R: Precision, (ITWF), (Many Shot)
7. M: Power Attack
8. M: Toughness, (Evasion)
9. F: Improved Crit: Ranged, Improved Crit: Slashing
10. F: Dodge
11. F
12. F: Mental Toughness, GTWF
13. F
14. F: Improved Precise Shot
15. F: Weapon Specialization: Ranged
16. F: Mobility
17. F
18. F: Cleave, Spring Attack
19. F
20. F: Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged

Epic Feats: Great Cleave, Overwhelming Critical


Skills


Max UMD, then fit in as available balance (max during monk levels), hide and move silently (max in ranger levels).

A 36-38 UMD is attainable with some gear swapping, getting us close to no fail heal scrolls if really needed, but with good heal amp, fast healing from Fury should keep you topped off.


Enhancements


Arcane Archer (14)

5 +5 Arrows
5 Slayer Arrows
4 Arcane Archer I

Fighter (35)

10 haste Boost IV
1 Weapon Specialization I
2 Weapon Mastery II
3 Attack Boost II
3 Critical Accuracy II
4 Kensai I
2 Kensai II
3 Toughness II
6 Strength II
1 Extra Action Boost

Ranger (4)

3 FE Damage II
1 Sprint Boost I

Half elf (27)

2 Human Str I
6 Rogue Dilettante II
3 racial toughness II
10 Human Versatility IV
6 Human Improved Recovery

Pictures, Gear, and epic level information to follow!

[angiaks]

End-Game Gear

Head: Shroud Smoke Screen Hit Points w/ Diisplacement
Neck: +8 Con of Natural Armor +6
Trinket: Planar Focus of Prowess (Ins Str +3, +4 to hit / damage and 15 PRR with conflux)
Cloak: Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf / Epic Mabar
Belt: Epic Spare Hand w/Major Luck Slotted
Boots: Epic Elite Treads of Falling Shadow (+8 dex, +3 ins dex, ghostly, striding 30)
Gloves: Purple Dragon Guantlets (30% heal amp, +7 str, +2 con)
Goggles: Lenses of the Woodsman / Tharnes
Ring 1: Seal of Dunrobar (ins str2 / Tendon Slice) / Seal of Dunrobar (ins con2 / Vertigo)
Ring 2: Exceptional Fort 25% of Resistance +7 / charismatic +8 ring (for umd)
Bracers: Convalescent of Superior Parrying (20% Heal Amp)
Armor: Epic Cormyrian Red Dragon Hide

End-Game Weapons

Pinion (main)
Epic Bow of the Earth
Epic Bow of the Silver Flame
Alchemical Khopesh (earth/earth/water)
Alchemical Khopesh (earth/fire/water)
Drow Khopesh (shatter)
Drow Khopesh (vertigo)

[blerkington]

Hi,

Does the combat archery feat work, and is it selectable at L18?

Thanks.

[angiaks]

Yes Combat archery works just fine. In regards to taking it at lvl 18, honestly I wont know till servers are back online. Currently, I took it by swapping feats when I finally pulled a +4 dex tome.

[Bahamut2119]

Combat archery is a epic feat and cannot be taking untill lvl 21. Overall i do like the build dps looks solid the only feat id question is mt if you went power attack, cleave, great cleave, and a a epic feat overwhelming critical. It would give your weapons all of em a extra +1 mod on crit damage multiplier ie; a x3 crit multiplier weapon becomes a x4.

[angiaks]

It would give your weapons all of em a extra +1 mod on crit damage multiplier ie; a x3 crit multiplier weapon becomes a x4.

Glad you are replying anafell - since you have run with kliink before. Before I respecced I had cleave great cleave, power attack(required), and overwhelming critical. However, I noticed that in ee content, I am not suited for standing in the middle of a melee fight, but rather well suited for hopping and kiting with a bow. Considering most of the dps from my bow comes from either shiradi procs or many shot spray - x4 on a 19-20 (half my crit range) is not worth the 4 feats. Also - I think its still broken for bows.

[blerkington]

Hi,

I should have said before that I like the look of this build. You seem to be doing some noteworthy things with it too, so well done.

Combat archery is still in the Broken Things master list < http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...=broken+things > as not applying extra damage dice. When I last had it selected, which was some time ago now, the dodge portion of the feat did seem to be working.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the feat is not selectable below L20.

Thanks.

[Dieterstrife]

Tell ya what man, much as you want to disagree I say those 2 nightmares you have are better than those drow khopeshes. You've got the dunrobars, not much point besides a tiny bit of dodge on them to use them, and you get +4 to damage and can beat stuff down so much nicer with them. Your alches are obviously a kind of boss beater, but Nightmare makes those drows look like toys.

[Jasparion]

Arent you giving up a heap by not having 10k Stars?

[Dieterstrife]

*cough* ignore me.

[Miluan]

First, I'd like to start by saying DIE, JELLIE! Also, save me a spot for Web. :P (Uncle Meth here.)

This build is a 34pt and includes taking a barbarian past life in order to gain the ability to rage situationally. The decision to take the past life feat was based more on 'while raged' enhancements in Fury of the Wild rather than the boost to STR and CON.

The "while raged" enhancements work with any type of rage (spell, clicky, primal scream from fury), so you definitely don't need to waste your time on getting a barb life. eBrawn's Spirits is a 5x1,5 min rage clicky, if you ever run out of primal scream (they don't stack). Those two keep me going just fine when I solo on my very angry paladin. Also, some of them only work for melee, but I'm assuming you're picking up mostly the passive ones.

Furthermore, with fighter critical accuracy, kliink enjoys another +4 to confirm criticals and critical damage with any weapon.

I thought FCA only gives a bonus to the confirm roll, not the actual critical damage. Sorry if my info is old, last time I rolled a fighter was years ago. That particular caveat is what made FCA kinda useless, but since it's a prereq for Kensei, you gotta take it anyway.

And yeah, Combat Archery is still partway broken, as some have stated - it doesn't apply the extra [W] damage, but the dodge bonus still works. If I were you I'd take Resilience instead (+4 to saves defensive stance) and swap between that and Precision as needed.

[angiaks]

Hmm, well it is a shame combat archery is broken.. I guess the boost in damage I noticed was due to other changes I made the other day.

Will post totals on saves/hp/dodge/ac etc later as well as epic level information.

thought FCA only gives a bonus to the confirm roll, not the actual critical damage. Sorry if my info is old, last time I rolled a fighter was years ago. That particular caveat is what made FCA kinda useless, but since it's a prereq for Kensei, you gotta take it anyway.

Yes, thanks for catching that. Was a mistake in writing it not in thinking incorrectly when designing kliink 2.0.

[angiaks]

Your alches are obviously a kind of boss beater, but Nightmare makes those drows look like toys.

Actually, quite the contrary. Although flametouched and slotted to break whatever DR I need, they are the best CC alchemicals you can make. For red names, I prefer using a bow as I am not one that likes taking hits from bosses.

Also, I think people are missing the fact that when factoring double rainbow and slaying arrows, I seem to average the same dps if not more using a bow than using melee weapons. When it comes to unbridled fury + manyshot + haste boost there is no question which takes the cake for damage.

[angiaks]

OK - Updated feats in favor of taking power attack, cleave, and great cleave in order to get overwhelming critical since combat archery is bugged...

[Dieterstrife]

I still say the dropeshes are garbage. Can't break dr, and you said your alches are your trash killers. Though it's hopelessly expensive, at least at some point the Nightmares can break dr.

I guess I've never ran with you on your fighter, you've always been on your fvs trying to solo heal elob :P

Also, what armor do you use when you're using your bow on a boss? Switch out to the blackscale, so much nicer than doublestacking seeker 10 for no reason besides keeping heavy fort (slot it elsewhere!!)

[angiaks]

I still say the dropeshes are garbage. Can't break dr, and you said your alches are your trash killers. Though it's hopelessly expensive, at least at some point the Nightmares can break dr.

No - I said the alchemicals were great trash killers, not that they were my trash killers. Don't use them as much unless I need to break DR.

With imp. crit Drow khopeshes have a 15-20 critical roll as opposed to nightmare at 17-20.

Either way, I rarely ever use melee anymore - and if something has DR chances are I'm using my bow.

Also, what armor do you use when you're using your bow on a boss? Switch out to the blackscale, so much nicer than doublestacking seeker 10 for no reason besides keeping heavy fort (slot it elsewhere!!)

I will worry about black scale when its either epic, or I'm TR"ing again (which could be very soon)

[Miluan]

With imp. crit Drow khopeshes have a 15-20 critical roll as opposed to nightmare at 17-20.

There's no doubt that the Drow khopeshes are superior straight-up DPS compared to the Nightmares on no-fort mobs. But allow me to mess with your mind a lil bit here.

On 100% fort mobs, the Nightmares will give you better results, not only because of higher weapon damage (9-30 for Drow khopeshes, 9-37 for Nightmares, including the + enhancement), but also weapon effects - 2d6 irresistable damage per swing, and negative levels on crit (20% of the time with 17-20). Off the top of my head only WF, undead, DWed mobs and reds/purples are immune to those.

The thing about 'em (and I'm assuming you're gonna use Fury) is that every adrenaline swing is a guaranteed level drain because it'll (almost) always crit with a 17-20 weapon. For epic elite mobs (especially orange), shaving off the top few levels right away means they lose several thousand maximum HPs (which they don't get back even when those levels are regenerated) usually more than you can hope to hit them for even with a Drow khopesh. So technically their DPS can increase greatly based on how and when you use 'em. That's what I really like about them. That debuff, combined with the Nightmares vorpal effect, will often outright destroy a sufficiently weakened mob, even on EE. It's even more fun to hit a cleave and outright PK a nearby mob that you weren't even attacking, though that usually happens on lower difficulties.

Let's not forget vampirism, 1d3 HP back per swing. That works really nice with 200% healing amp, giving 2-4-6 HPs back per swing. That alone can practically keep you up through almost any EH content. Granted, EE is another story, but it still helps.

What is more, they are keen. So technically you don't need IC: Slashing if you plan on using only them as your backup melee weapons. And since you're taking IC: Ranged, you'll still be able to pick up Overwhelming Critical. So technically that could give you an extra feat to play with. Maybe even ditch the monk levels (I assume you're only taking them for the extra feats) and take 2 rogue for max UMD, that still gives you evasion and a much better UMD to work with, not to mention you can get +30% scroll effectiveness for 1AP from the rogue enhancements for some really strong scroll healing.

And last, but not least, you get to keep your planar set bonuses. +4 attack/damage, +15PRR.

Just some thoughts I've already been through when I was weighing equipment options for my paladin. Hope a different perspective is of help to you.

P.S. Speaking of scroll healing, you might want to see if you can max out concentration if you plan on using heal scrolls mid-battle. Failing your concentration checks while taking damage is bad, very bad. Normally you can hop around or retreat far enough away to pop one off in a pinch, but that doesn't work too well when dotted by a priestess, for example.

[Dieterstrife]

What he said. There's a lot more than just straight dps on those swords. I wouldn't keep suggesting them otherwise.

Btw, I ran some numbers on the dropeshes and the Nightmares and that extra 2 on the crit range only evens out the damage, it doesn't make it soar over top of them bastards.

[LightSol]

Do you not get the khopesh feat? And how do you get the AA without a past life?

[angiaks]

Mental Toughness feat allows for Elven AA line. You will have enough attack bonus without the khopesh feat.