Silverdance - Advanced TWF Cleric Build

[guardianx2009]

PREFACE:
Posting my build in response to request here. I do not consider this is a beginner's build. It is not intended to work with 28pt builds and requires, at least a +3DEX tome. You should be familiar with playing the cleric class and game mechanics beforehand.

Objectives:

• A versatile advanced cleric build capable of healing, casting, and melee.

• No Splashing. Goal is to maximize the cleric class abilities. Splashing is considered compromising the class.

• Solo epic elites

• Bonus with 1-2 CLR past life: Turn undeads in Epic Elites (CR34-36 variety).

20 Human Cleric
Base Stats:
        34pt  36pt
   STR     8    10 
   DEX    13    14
   CON    13    13
   INT     9     8
   WIS    17    17
   CHA    16    16

- All level-ups in WIS.

Feats:
  - Empower Healing
  - One of (Toughness / Quick Draw / Empower)*
  - Maximize
  - Quicken
  - Heighten
  - Improved Crit: Pierce
  - Two Weapon Fighting
  - Improved Two Weapon Fighting
  - Greater two Weapon Fighting
  - Spell Focus: Evocation
  - Epic: Ruin 
  - Epic Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting 
  - Epic Destiny: Forced Escape

 * Toughness/QuickDraw/Empower depends on your playstyle/preference.  Quick Draw is useful for reducing action boost lag, if you do a lot of weapon swapping and tactics involving weapon swaps.  Empower is decent for the slightly stronger spell damage .  Toughness for better survivability in extra hp. 

Skills:
  Max UMD, Max Heal, Rest in Balance, Concentration. 1pt in tumble.

STATS:

• Primary: WIS
  You are first and foremost a cleric. Starting at 17 (instead of 18) to save build points and because you can use +1 WIS from Human Versatility Enhancement to compensate.

• Secondary: CHA, CON
  For plentiful turns and for UMD. UMD is important: it gives you of versatility and martial weapon proficiency. Charisma powers the number of turns you get and also Divine Might. You can flip a few points into CON instead if you prefer, though I wouldn't go any lower than 14.

• Tertiary: DEX, CON
  Start CON at an odd score (13) with expectation that you are going to compensate for it with +1 CON from Human Versatility Enhancement. You need minimum 17 DEX to meet GTWF feat requirements. This means you need to start with either 13(+4 Tome) or 14(+3 Tome) DEX.

• Other:
  INT, ideally you should have at least a +2 INT tome for the necessary skill points to pump into UMD, Heal and to some extent balance/concentration. I would strive for a base INT (after tomes) of 12. STR is 8 - 10.. yes it's not a typo. I can already hear the naysayers already: "OMG YOU DUMPED STR! YOU CAN'T MELEE YOU GIMP!!!"... Please, get over it. Melee DPS comes from feats, gear and ED here.

MELEE:
Piercing weapons: Daggers, Heavy Picks, primarily Rapiers. You use Master's Touch scrolls to gain proficiency. Use different weapon combinations to achieve different melee effects. For example: Radiance/Edrain, edrain/imp. paralyzing, DPS/radiance combo. My current main set is Celestia/Rebellion combo.

GEARING:
Other than your standard cleric must haves (+wis, +DC, +sp, +hp), here are other notables:

• Healing Amp - ideally all 10, 20, and 30%. It is absolutely necessary to power an aura that heals you for 70-100/tick and for your burst to heal effectively

• Devotion - Highest devotion stick you can find for off combat casting. Idealy should have 80+ devotion gear for in-combat casting.

• Impulse/Arcane Lore - This should go without saying, you should have high impulse/arcane lore stick/set to swap in when casting Blade Barrier.

• Radiance Weapon - You should have a radiance weapon (GS Rad II Rapier, Celestia, etc). At the very least have one as your offhand weapon. Blinded mobs miss 50%, lowers mob AC so you'll land more hits, AND works on EE thanks to no save. I swear by it.

• Guards - The best guard effects are the defensive ones. Namely, Stone Prison, invisibility and earthgrab guard. Stone Prison and Earthgrab provides CC when you most need it while invisibility guard works great against mobs/archers that can't see invis (you can hit them, but they can't hit you). These guards work well even in EE.

• Melee - Needless to say, any gear that enhances both your melee strikes is ideal: seeker, sneak attack, etc.

• PRR - Very important if you want to survive EE! Wear heavy armor with +14PRR augment.

EPIC DESTINIES:

• Exalted Angel
  Twists:
  - Rej. Cocoon, Evo. Specialist, Sense Weakness
  - Precise Evo, Evo. Specialist, Sense Weakness
  
  Use this destiny for general questing, raid healing and destroying undead. Will not afford you great melee DPS, but you gain:
  . Mobility in Wings
  . Extra Spellpoints
  . Enhanced spell power/caster levels mean your aura can tick upwards of over 100hp.
  . Up to +3 DC from investing in WIS.
  . Renewal
  
  
  - T3 Balanced Attack, Pin, Rej. Cocoon
  
  This is a fun combination to use with Radiant/Warpriest (Warpriest with Aura). Pin is fantastic no fail CC. T3 Balanced Attack is auto knockdown no-fail CC on vorpal - procs often enought to be effective (~1 in 10sec).
  
  EA Strike Down ability (it works now, yay!) is a free 1000+ light damage smite (500 damage per weapon proc) every 15 seconds - though it takes some skill to manage the required 10 stacks of Righeous Fervor. (hint: use eternal cure minor wounds to load stack). In EE quests with lots of big undead (EE madstone), I would bring this ED/twist. Ascendance w/Dual Drow Rapiers does top notch DPS against them.

• Fury of the Wild
  Twists:
  - Brace for Impact, Pin, Evo. Specialist/Grim Precision
  - Rej. Cocoon, Pin, Evo. Specialist/Grim Precision
  
  Use this destiny for EE content, particularly when attempting to solo. Pin and Adrenaline are no fail CC. Rej. Cocoon and your Aura allow you to stay on vertical while you hack away. Grim Precision is effective when combined with armor piercing gear for bypassing fort on Bosses and undead.
  
  [Update]
  - T3 Balanced Attack, Pin, Rej. Cocoon
  - Echoes of the Ancestors: Fury of the Wild, Pin, Rej. Cocoon
  
  With this setup, you have a ton a no-fail CC option in Pin, Adrenaline and Balanced Attack. If more HP is desired, Echoes is a good option, particularly if you have an odd CON. It can grant over 50 extra HP.

• Primal Avatar
  Twists: Precise Evo, Evo Specialist, Sense Weakness/Acute Instincts
  
  Lots of synergies here. You can use this destiny for general questing in place of Exalted Angel.
  
  [Update]
  Tree twitching trick, appears to no longer work. You will want to invest 3 tiers into Balanced Attack.

• Grandmaster of Flowers
  Twists: Rej. Cocoon, Evo Specialist, Sense Weakness
  
  You can grab a pair of handwraps and go into this destiny for some fast and furious DPS and with high WIS, you can land a mean EIN. Use for fun general questing. Not recommended for EE because you won't have the defenses (no PRR from robes, low dodge %) to survive.
  
  [Update]
  I haven't played with this destiny again since U19. But now with all the extra PRR options from Enhancements, I imagine this ED could be EE viable with the following twists:
  - T3 Balanced Attack, Pin, Rej. Cocoon

SCREENSHOTS:
Unleashing Unbridled Fury on Sobrien


Dual Drow Rapiers in Angel Form destroying a Bebelith

[Stoner81]

Really nice build bud thanks for sharing it, I keep toying with the idea of leveling up a Cleric with past life feats etc and probably will do it eventually, currently working on my completionist toon so by the time I get round to it the game will have changed dramatically. Anyway awesome build!

Stoner81.

[Panzermeyer]

Nice build.

Do you think this build would work with a THF line? Though I would doubt that as you couldn't cast master touch on a two handed weapon right? Curious at your thoughts as running this as a Dwarf with THF using Great Axe might be quite nice.

Though there might be the option to try that with a Half-Elf using the fighter Dilly.

Thoughts?

I also would wonder about dropping toughness with the decrease in it's utility since U19 and maybe slotting in Improved Turning to help with the Shadows in Wheloon/Storm Horns and the Drow Necromancers.

[ThePrincipal]

I have a 26 cleric dwarf GA user who is going Legendary Draught. I was originally using the pally ED for the holy + pure good on each attack but it's not enough DPS for EE and I don't need 1000hp since 'I heajz mahself"(tm). LD should be a solid DPS boost without giving up much survivability since I'm not a shield user.

Crit Profile
GA 20 x3
Improved Crit 19-20 x3
Overwhelming Crit 19-20 x4
Devastating Critical 19-20 x5
Headman's Chop 19-20 x6

Feats
Toughness
Great Axe
Quicken
Empower Healing
Power Attack
Cleave
Great Cleave

Epic Feats
Improved Crit
Overwhelming Crit

ED Feats
Holy Strike
First Blood

[Panzermeyer]

Feats
Toughness
Great Axe
Quicken
Empower Healing
Power Attack
Cleave
Great Cleave

Epic Feats
Improved Crit
Overwhelming Crit

HOw does this build do in EE content.

Seems along the lines I was thinking.

Though due to changes with toughness and enhancements, I think I would drop toughness and pick up Maximize.
I also think I would drop Empower Healing and replace with regular Empower. For just an additional 5 SP to be able to add that to the DD SLA's and other regular spells as well as the Healing spells just seems to offer more use.

[ThePrincipal]

HOw does this build do in EE content.

Seems along the lines I was thinking.

Though due to changes with toughness and enhancements, I think I would drop toughness and pick up Maximize.
I also think I would drop Empower Healing and replace with regular Empower. For just an additional 5 SP to be able to add that to the DD SLA's and other regular spells as well as the Healing spells just seems to offer more use.

This is my old main battle cleric that is at least 2 years old and I'm attached to the dwarf. If I had to start new, I'd go human like the OP and pick up maximize.

[Cantor]

HOw does this build do in EE content.

Seems along the lines I was thinking.

Though due to changes with toughness and enhancements, I think I would drop toughness and pick up Maximize.
I also think I would drop Empower Healing and replace with regular Empower. For just an additional 5 SP to be able to add that to the DD SLA's and other regular spells as well as the Healing spells just seems to offer more use.

The reason for empower healing instead of empower is that it works with aura. For any build that doesn't use aura you are right.

[guardianx2009]

Nice build.

Do you think this build would work with a THF line? Though I would doubt that as you couldn't cast master touch on a two handed weapon right? Curious at your thoughts as running this as a Dwarf with THF using Great Axe might be quite nice.

Though there might be the option to try that with a Half-Elf using the fighter Dilly.

Thoughts?

I've explored the THF line many times.

Yes, main problem is you can't scroll cast master's touch. Which means you have to invest a feat or splash. Both cases aren't desirable because:
- Feat means you're limited to one weapon subtype, which for a lot of reasons isn't very good.
- Splash screams "Baaaattle cleeerric"... for obvious reasons.

In some ways, THF is even more feat intensive than TWF. Since at minimum, you need to invest in PA, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Improved Crit, in addition to proficiency. Without leaving room for the "core" cleric feats, you're not much different from a battle-melee only cleric.

Not saying you can't, but I found it too restrictive and not enjoyable.

I also would wonder about dropping toughness with the decrease in it's utility since U19 and maybe slotting in Improved Turning to help with the Shadows in Wheloon/Storm Horns and the Drow Necromancers.

I don't recommend investing a feat for Improved Turning.. unless you've done your homework and made sure that +1 cleric level is going to make a difference... otherwise you've just wasted a feat.

You are better off getting that cleric past life or three which is waay better and doesn't cost a feat (+1 turn, +2 cleric level).


On a side note:
I discovered a love for Quick Draw feat:
Being able to swap weapons in an instant means not needing to slot +impulse/lore item on gear.

Take for example:
Melee, melee, melee,
Instant swap +130impulse/+17lore sceptre,
Cast Ruin (BAM.. instant burst 2250dam.. 4500crit..)
Swap back,
Melee, melee

Without quick draw, this swap is too slow and clumsy. Takes some hotkey/hotbar practice. But like haste, it gets addictive.

[firemedium_jt]

CLR17/WIZ1
WIZ1 at Character lvl2
WIZ1 for a meta feat, Master's Touch for THF build, Scrolls and wands like Stoneskin and Displacement. Teleport scrolls are nice at lvl7 with a 25% chance of success. They are faster than all that running around for fast travel.

You can get away with this build for a while without the Battle Cleric stigma although it is really a Melee Cleric stigma we are talking about. You can fit in PA, IC and maybe even Cleave for a Heroic build. FTR1 or FTR2 helps with more feats at heroic lvls although with the extra feats at high lvl you might not need the addition splash. You can even mix in some spell pen or spell focus if you don't dump Wisdom.

Everyone forgets that the THF only work if you stand still. So how often as a Cleric you think you will tank and stand still matters, but I still like it.

Cleave is important to me for a THF build for pre req for Legendary Dread Momentum Swing and Lay Waste. I don't think you need Great Cleave for Lay Waste. More cleaves mean these attacks will reset. Also Cleaves interrupt THF line attack sequence, so you might not benefit for GTHF. Cleave is nice with Paralyzers, and Cursespewing to mobs.

Many TWF Clerics only take the first TWF.

Really with the Epic lvl feats now at lvl28 you can fit in a lot of melee feats.

[Elibolas]

Don't play Clerics very often, but might give this a whirl. How come you put points into Concentration? You have Quicken. Why not Heal or Spellcraft?

Eli Bolas

[JollySwagMan]

CLR17/WIZ1
wands like Stoneskin and Displacement.

Hold on a tic, where do I find wands of Displacement? Those would be very handy.

[eachna_gislin]

I've explored the THF line many times.

Yes, main problem is you can't scroll cast master's touch. Which means you have to invest a feat or splash. Both cases aren't desirable because:
- Feat means you're limited to one weapon subtype, which for a lot of reasons isn't very good.
- Splash screams "Baaaattle cleeerric"... for obvious reasons.

In some ways, THF is even more feat intensive than TWF. Since at minimum, you need to invest in PA, Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Improved Crit, in addition to proficiency. Without leaving room for the "core" cleric feats, you're not much different from a battle-melee only cleric.

Not saying you can't, but I found it too restrictive and not enjoyable.

I would respond with the note that a half elf with fighter dilly works beautifully as you can use any non-exotic melee weapon. I mostly play half-elves and this is one of my preferred dilettante feats (along with Paladin for the saves). However this build has too low a starting strength for it. I think you can "afford" to play this as a half elf if you have a couple extra +3/+4 tomes to massage your stats into the right starting configuration (and still keep UMD). I didn't count all the points spent but it looks like enough were spent in the human tree to move over to the half elf tree and get most or all of the dilly line.

Kudos to playing your cleric as a pure class and making it viable in EE. Any chance of you building a pure EE paladin?

[Maelodic]

Are you still using this build? I think it's really awesome- and probably will be doing it for my next life.

I have a couple questions if that's alright-

How do you spread your enhancements?

Do you have any opinion on Druid PL for Flame Blade?
Makes use of all that Wisdom and breaks quite a bit of DR- adds blinding embers and inferno- can be used as a general option. I'm not new to the game, but I don't really have any good weapons for this- I'm thinking it might be useful should end up going with this build.

Are you still rocking everything?

[Panzermeyer]

MELEE:
Piercing weapons: Daggers, Heavy Picks, primarily Rapiers. You use Master's Touch scrolls to gain proficiency. Use different weapon combinations to achieve different melee effects. For example: Radiance/Edrain, edrain/imp. paralyzing, DPS/radiance combo. My current main set is Celestia/Rebellion combo.

Is there a particular reason you went piercing? Or is just flavor?

[guardianx2009]

Is there a particular reason you went piercing? Or is just flavor?

Weapon Diversity. There are a good number of interesting Daggers, Shortswords, Rapiers.

Dual Sacrificial Daggers - eDrains EE orange names... FAST...
High Priestess Blade/Sacrificial Dagger - Drain AND paralyze...
Dual Drow Rapiers - (dunno if there is a scimi version?) Highest Crit rate in the game combined with Ascendance = proc radiant blast (800-900 light damage) vs undead almost every other swing - yes this lights up Truthful One also.
Celestia/Rebellion - Both are shortsword subtypes.

And then there's Heavy picks - which was awesome when helpless mobs meant auto-crit. But nowadays, the X4 multiplier is still very useful for Unbridled Fury - (which is effectively autocrit every 2-3 seconds.)

I suppose you can go Slashing, if you don't care about diversity or if you can somehow get it work.. You're basically limiting yourself to Scimi's (unless you invest a feat in Kopesh).

[Drag-]

Snip

• No Splashing. Goal is to maximize the cleric class abilities. Splashing is considered compromising the class.

Snip

Why no splashing? How does it compromise the class. It looks like most of the level 20 cleric abilities arent that good.and the only one you would be able to use with out completely cutting out the human tree would be the radiant servant level 20 ability and that is ****.
It sounds like you have alot of experience with clerics and if you do you should know that the difference between a level 20 cleric and a level 18 cleric is very little other than spell pen and even then its not used in end game any more, so please explain.
There are so many more options you could open up very easily by splashing 1, 2, or 3 levels of something else. Such as pally for saves, fighter for martial feats and a free feat or two, Monk for evasion stances and free feats, ranger for twf and opening up the ranged options, wizard for a free feat. There so much you could do and you are limiting your self by staying pure cleric. I did not even take into account all the different enhancements you could get.

Heck you could splash as deep as 5 and still have a fully functional cleric and i know this personally because i played a 15 cleric 3 monk 2 ranger for quite a while and it was able to solo EEs, Furyshot, great melee damage, and also keep up any party. I even solo healed a couple citws so i know it is possible to heal with less than a pure cleric.

[guardianx2009]

Why no splashing? How does it compromise the class.

Because I'm a purist. Goal is to be the best CLERIC; Not the best clonk, not some 18/2 'battle cleric' derivative, etc etc.

You are not a true (100%) cleric if you have to dip into other classes for abilities. This is what I am referring to when to when I say 'compromise'.