Ka'karifer, the Blade of Retribution

[DrWily]

Alright, so this is only the second build I've come up with that I've put on the forums, and the first one I'm actually testing in-game thus far. I haven't gotten Necro4 yet, so feel free to tweak the gear I have listed (incomplete as of the time of editing).


Build Goals:
Run an Occult Slayer (pretty obvious)
Do something with the Runearms in my bank besides have them collect dust
Run a Barb that does SWF (Yes, Single-weapon)
Be able to solo stuff on Elite (both Heroic and Epic), or at least contribute to overall usefulness in a party
Do stuff without Raging. Ever.


Race: Shadar-kai (mostly for flavor so you can pick any other race and it'll work)
Level Split: 13 Barbarian/4 Artificer/3 Rogue


Stats:
I kinda went loose on stats since I didn't know exactly what I needed, and I don't remember what stats I had at start. I will update this as I finish adding up all the gear bonuses.

Str: As high as possible, more damage will help on this build (13 minimum at start for PA and BSword Prof)
Dex: 13 minimum (enough for Dodge)
Con: 14
Int: 12 is enough to get most if not all skills (especially with an Int tome)
Wis: 14, could be set higher if you want higher Will saves
Cha: 6 (dumpstat)


Skills:
Balance: 7 ranks for GSWF, no need going any higher
Disable Device, Open Lock & Search: All as high as possible. A third of your levels are trapper levels, it only makes sense using them.
Use Magic Device: High enough to use whatever scrolls you plan on using without failing (for me that would be Teleport and Raise Scrolls)


Feats:
Lv 1: Power Attack
Lv 3: Single-weapon Fighting
Lv 6: Cleave
Lv 9: ISWF
Lv 12: Dodge
Lv 15: GSWF
Lv 18: G Cleave
Arti Bonus Feat Lv 20: BSword Prof.
Lv 21: Imp Crit: Slash
Lv 24: Overwhelming Crit
ED Lv 26: PSWF
Lv 27: Blinding Speed
ED Lv 28: Forced Escape


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This is my take on what I call a speed-hit build. The goal is not to hit as hard as possible, but as fast as possible, for 2 reasons.

• It builds up Weapon Bond quicker, which is needed for 2 main abilities: One Spirit and Driving Force.
• It builds up Blitz faster.
• It procs Nightmare's weapon effects more often. Which means more healing, more crits (level drain), and more Phantasm procs killing off mobs for you.

Questions?




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I'll update this after I hit 20.

[DrWily]

Current Enhancements



Current Destiny: Legendary Dreadnaught

Gear:
Weapon: Nightmare, the Fallen Moon, red slot Star Ruby
Runearm: Lucid Dreams
Armor: Shadowhide
Goggles: Shadowsight EE, green slot Good Luck +2
Helm: Dragon Masque
Necklace: Eidolons, green slot Golem's Heart
Bracers: Dumathoin's
Ring 1: ToD Ring, preferably Mechanic's (healamp +40)
Ring 2: undecided
Boots: undecided
Gloves: Iron Mitts
Belt: Matching ToD Belt
Cloak: GS Con-Opp (+10hp/+150sp)
Trinket: Planar Prowess (+3 Str)

[DrWily]

Reserved for something.

[DrWily]

Any questions, advice, etc?

[unbongwah]

Do stuff without Raging. Ever.

Is there any particular advantage to not Raging? It blocks spellcasting, ofc, but with only arty 4 it's not like you have much; and I don't see any SLA Twists, not even Rejuv Cocoon, in your final split. And you didn't take Precision, so it's not because of that.

[DrWily]

I do use some of the low level Arti spells, more specifically Elemental Weapons, Enchant Armor and Ablative Armor. I have Raise scrolls in case an ally dies when I'm in a party, which I wouldn't be able to use whilst raged.

I mostly don't rage cause I hate getting fatigued when it ends, and I'm not a fan of using up inv space to hold potions for one specific purpose (Lesser Restore pots). I also don't have any enhancements taken to improve the stock Rage feature

[Blackheartox]

Ok disregarding split feats and playstyle i have a more simpler question.
Why so many points into wisdom?

[DrWily]

Higher Wis means higher will saves. Which I'm still low on (it's my lowest save I think, I'll have to check again)

And to answer your other thing about playstyle, I tend to buff up, attack casters first, then champions, then other mobs. Between having Improved Uncanny Dodge and a source of Displacement (I have an eternal flask that I use whenever needed), and having a fairly high source of dodge (I've hit the cap on my current armor without using any items, should I get an item I can probably drop some AP) and PRR/MRR I have some survivability. And with Fury Damage Reduction and OS enhancements I also have DR 10/-, meaning when I do get hit it won't be for very much. As a personal playstyle preference I just don't use Rage ever. Only used it in the first 5 levels (on non-iconics). Didn't like the fatigue aftereffect, and I still had low will saves when raging (Hold Monster was a pain for me, and still is)

Also, a benefit from being Shadar-kai is that I have Shadow Jaunt as an emergency GTFO button