Pure Casting Warlock DC Eld Blast Build

[RumbIe]

Thanks for the response. I assume that if you go shield you go with all 3 or none right? Getting two would not be worth it to preserve one conjuration DC (just asking as I think u29 has some changes that make you go dps or dc casting right?)

My blast is sonic so should I be looking for some sonic item to boost it, then switching to an impulse item for force when i go to cone? I also assume you mean that I should stick with blast instead of pursuing aura and maybe master touching a nice named great axe or frostbrand at lower levels.

[slarden]

Thanks for the response. I assume that if you go shield you go with all 3 or none right? Getting two would not be worth it to preserve one conjuration DC (just asking as I think u29 has some changes that make you go dps or dc casting right?)

My blast is sonic so should I be looking for some sonic item to boost it, then switching to an impulse item for force when i go to cone? I also assume you mean that I should stick with blast instead of pursuing aura and maybe master touching a nice named great axe or frostbrand at lower levels.

No feats + the tower shield with master's touch spell gets you 15 PRR/MRR

Taking shield proficiency by itself doesn't do anything since the master's touch spell gives you thta. Taking shield proficiency + shield mastery gets you +10 PRR and opens up the legendary shield mastery twist from unyielding sentinel for +10 PRR. Taking shield profiency + shield mastery + improved shield mastery gives you +15 PRR and opens up the legendary shield mastery twist for +15 PRR.

You can definitely good benefit with 2 shield feats (+25 PRR/ +15 MRR). If you don't plan to take the legendary shield mastery twist it's only a difference of 5 PRR. In that case you would be giving up 1 DC for 10 PRR or 2 DC for 15 PRR. I can definitely see 2 shield feats as an option.

At lower levels I tend to use a great axe with master touch maxing out str gear, deadly, accuracy etc to make up for low str.

Once you get into spells and blast you will want to max sonic and force initially with cone and eventually light and sonic. If you have cannith crafting you can craft some nice lore items (mobility ring of sonic lore for example). For the most part at heroic levels just find the best you can and it's fine. Warlocks are really OP in heroic levels once you get past the low level quests with your axe.

[Heathir]

Thanks for the response. I assume that if you go shield you go with all 3 or none right? Getting two would not be worth it to preserve one conjuration DC (just asking as I think u29 has some changes that make you go dps or dc casting right?)

My blast is sonic so should I be looking for some sonic item to boost it, then switching to an impulse item for force when i go to cone? I also assume you mean that I should stick with blast instead of pursuing aura and maybe master touching a nice named great axe or frostbrand at lower levels.

I've found its all a matter of your comfort level. If you are used to leveling with weapons then go heavy on EA until you can add utter dark. Stick with Auras and the survivability in EA and youll be fine. I tend to do the shield feats to 20, then twist in legendary shield and stay with that until 26 when I can put on lantern ring. Then I strip out my shield masteris and load in the dc's.

It's all play style. I hate the glass cannon feel and I only have 3 divine past lives and 3 pdk past lives so I use shining throufh all the way to 28. Trust me when I say that your dps doesn't suffer much at all. Beyond the fact that EA Warlock is really an epic survivability build not a dps build.

Heavy EA is solid and can run every EE in the game ubdergeared and always be an asset. You just won't be the dps king, but no one can touch your ability to deal with groups. Go the shield route, invest ap as slarden shows and just add in shining through and you can tank just about any mob spawn out there. Granted don't try to stand in a pack in Doj elite and just suck up the dmg. Stay mobile, hold the aggro and let the shuricannons, twf builds, and archers burn the mobs in chunks while you take pieces off all of them and stay alive easily.

[RumbIe]

Thanks for the answers. Looking forward to leveling up and getting out of this low dps situation. Not used to it, but I've run with Warlocks so I know it will be worth the wait.

[huey9187]

slarden do u have the original pure casting dc build saved anywhere i wanna mess around with it?

[slarden]

slarden do u have the original pure casting dc build saved anywhere i wanna mess around with it?

Hi, the original build was put up before Warlock was released on live and I made several changes to it as the devs tweaked warlock before warlock even hit live.

The build was always primarily ES/Tained Scholar but I switched around which was tier 5 and which was the capstone back and forth a few times.

The first few build iterations focused on enchantment cc using mass hold to boost party damage. Now that most of the end-game enemies have spell resistance I don't think warlocks are optimal enchanters for several reasons:

1) They don't get crushing despair and using unquickened scrolls is too clunky for today's EE environment.
2) Being in EA and not being sun elf, elf or half elf means you won't have a good enough spell penetration for high-end enemies unless you max everything else out and that means too many gear/ED/feat trade-offs
3) Warlocks are feat starved and can't fit in dps, spell pen and DC. Pick any 2.
4) Too much lobbying by people on Lamannia claiming warlocks were the best dc casters (absolutely not true - never was - not even close) due to race and EA abilities. The devs ended up making warlock DC casting choices less appealing as a result of those arguments. This might be the reason solid fog was taken away from warlocks and never actually disclosed by devs. The wiki still lists solid fog as a spell even though I can't find a way to get it. I was able to take it on Lamannia.
5) Too many good epic feat choices means you can't make up for being feat-starved by taking heroic feats at epic levels.

If you are looking for cc, you can overcome saves of around 100 with a druid's earthquake - nothing comes close to that. A wizard will be much better as an enchanter due to the extra feats, crushing despair and better gear options (+2 spooky bonus + 3 quality int bonus from new cloak). A Sun elf wizard will be solid, but wizards of most races will do well.

With druid my mob spell rotation was earthquake, ice storm, divine wrath, sun burst. As an example, everything in U27 except green abashai and archers are blinded and laying down.

A warlock's place in U29 is mob AOE damage in my opinion. Boss damage is below melees. DC casting options are weak compared to druid, wizard and even bard. Evard's wasn't working real well, but I didn't test it during the last few Lama iterations. The devs did make some adjustments to monster saves, but since Evard's is based on strength I am not sure if it works better or not.

They should be really good at AOE damage still with good defenses. I will get whatever utility I can out of Evard's without a massive feat/ed investment.

[huey9187]

what do u think about pure warlock shiradi?

[slarden]

what do u think about pure warlock shiradi?

Shiradi always has benefits for a caster. Depending on your playstyle it might be a great option.

Pluses
- free double rainbow, force and sonic procs that aren't dependent on DC
- Nerve venom (biggest benefit in my opinion)
- 15 universal spellpower
- audience with the queen benefits are mostly really good

Minuses
- Loss of 5-6 DC on pact damage and evard's
- Loss of epic moment
- Loss of spellpower from radiant power/blood and radiance and most likely empyrean magic since an aura build wouldn't make sense for shiradi - you would want to go pew pew to maximize your shiradi procs
- Loss of mass cure moderate sla
- Loss of reborn in the light epic moment to raise self and/or gain 100 spellpower for 2 minutes along with better defenses and spell point reductions
- Loss of divine wrath which can be timed for useful healing in addition to dps

If going Shiradi you would want to multi-class for sure, but those builds are depending on some favorable game bugs that could be fixed at any moment. Basically you would use aura and mm/cm for dps (say 12 warlock 6 wiz).

I really like the utility of evard's for cc and dps.

You can try out Shiradi to see what you think. If you decided on pure warlock it's fairly easy to switch destinies.

1) Exalted Angel (best DC, good burst dps and self healing)
2) Unyielding Sentinel (best defenses)
3) Draconic (best burst dps)
4) Shiradi (best choice if DC isn't working anyhow)

[majorhavoc]

This Build is now updated to include Update 28 Patch 1 changes. I updated enhancements, epic destinies, gear, light spellpower, etc.

QUICK NOTE
-----------------------------------
This is a DC conjuration focused Eldritch Aura Build using the aura along with other burst SLAs and single-target SLAs. I give up some DC by running in enlightened spirit instead of tainted scholar, but it increases my survivability and I believe is better dps overall despite the loss of 30% extra crits. I tested the combination of Souleater (Tier 5) with Tainted Scholar (Capstone) 39/41 AP split - and although it's the best DPS potential of any warlock build - I found this build better overall and the difference in DPS is minimal, however, the Souleater (39)/ Tainted Scholar (41) split does have better dps. There are no builds on the forum with this split, but it's fairly easy and will be the most common build for pure warlocks.

If you value higher PRR/MRR and survivabiliy this is another option 17 warlock / 3 fighter or 17 / 3 paladin. The DPS is still solid, but not quite as good, however defenses are much better: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/460700-Pure-Casting-Warlock-DC-Eld-Blast-Build?p=5708220&viewfull=1#post5708220

Basically the fighter option gives you shield proficiency, tower shield proficiency and 2 fighter feats which presumably would be shield mastery and improved shield mastery. In all cases you must use the EE Skyvault shield which gives no arcane spell failure at level 28. Lower level version of this are available starting at min level 13. If you go with paladin levels instead you either give up 2 conjuration dc for the shield feats or alternatively you give up the extra PRR from the shield feats and twists. PRR/MRR bonus is as follows:

I play this build as Randowl on Sarlona as a pure 20 Warlock.

Pure Warlock 20 (in all cases Master's Touch spell is used for tower shield proficiency)
-No shield / No feats / No twist: 0
-Shield with no proficiency, no feats and not twists: PRR 15 / MRR 15
-Shield with 3 feats taken in place of 3 conjuration DC (shield proficiency, shield mastery, improved shield mastery): PRR 30 / MRR 15
-Shield with 3 feats taken in place of 3 conjuration DC (shield proficiency, shield mastery, improved shield mastery) with legendary shield twist from Unyielding Sentinel: PRR 45 / MRR 15

17 Warlock / 3 Fighter (Master's Touch spell not necessary)
-No shield / No feats / No twist: 0
-Shield with no feats and not twists: PRR 15 / MRR 15
-Shield with shield mastery/improved shield mastery for bonus feats : PRR 30 / MRR 15
-Shield with shield mastery, improved shield mastery and legendary shield twist from Unyielding Sentinel: PRR 45 / MRR 15

Basically you take this option for the defense stance and feats so you don't have to give up conjuration DC.

17 Warlock / 3 Paladin (in all cases Master's Touch spell is used for tower shield proficiency)
-No shield / No feats / No twist: 0
-Shield with no proficiency, no feats and not twists: PRR 15 / MRR 15
-Shield with 2 feats taken in place of 2 conjuration DC (shield mastery, improved shield mastery): PRR 30 / MRR 15
-Shield with 2 feats taken in place of 2 conjuration DC (shield mastery, improved shield mastery) with legendary shield twist from Unyielding Sentinel: PRR 45 / MRR 15

Basically you take this option for the defense stance and +14 saves (11 from divine grace with cap and 3 from defense stance)

This build will let you switch between cc and higher defense with a shield during an etr since race and class split is identical. The one drawback of eldritch blast is that everytime I interrupt it to cast a higher dps spell I feel like there is a delay and I am losing dps. This is why I prefer enlightened spirit pure warlock 20 DPS build using aura rather than blast. While the aura is passively at work I use low cost spells and slas for more dps.

Results of U28 Patch 1 testing comparing different class/enhancement splits: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5710879

With the second nerf to Enlightened Spirit I thought for sure this build concept was dead, but due to the superior light spell power of Enlightened Spirit plus the fact that my SLA rotation fully supports maximize/empower the DPS is very similiar to souleater/tainted scholar which relies heavily on the cone basic eldritch blast pew pew which doesn't support empower or maximize. Additionally I am casting spells constantly so the aura ends up being bonus dps on top of my regular dps. All of these facts make this build close to souleater/tainted scholar in terms of dps while providing other survivability benefits.

The basic idea is to keep the aura going and use other spells instead of alternating between the eld blast and other spells. This does cost more sp, but I use mostly low costs slas and free warlock clickies. Ruin is very nice, but it drains your sp in a hurry. I took it in my original build, but dropped it in place of epic damage reduction for 10 more PRR. I am not missing Ruin and find I have less sp issues since the easy-button temptation of Ruin is gone.

The aura and blasts charge up empyrean magic and blood and radiance. The reborn in light epic moment is worth taking. Basically, the aura blasts and self healing will keep you at 10 stacks of everything. The DPS is higher than the 17 warlock / 3 paladin and 17 / 3 fighter versions, but PRR, MRR and saves are lower. Still it's a very survivable build with the great self healing and hp bonus from enlightened spirit. It really depends on your personal play style which is best to play. I strongly prefer the pure 20 warlock versions on a character with divine/pdk past lifes. If you don't have past lifes you can use one of the shield options listed above - either for just 15 PRR/MRR or more PRR if you give up conjuration DC and possibly a twist. Every so often you will fail a save and die, but for the most part with a few PDK/Divine past lifes you will have a solid PRR/MRR and high hp, but saves are a bit weak.

The aura keeps ticking and acts as a burst.

My spell rotation for bursts is:

Divine Wrath - 40 sp
Spirit Blast- 0 sp
Eldritch Burst 0 sp
Energy Burst 20 sp (Cold is my default element, but I can switch to acid or fire as needed since I have solid spellpower and crits for all 3)

Single target spells:
Avenging Light - 3sp
Consume - 0 sp
Stricken - 0 sp

Mass CC and Survivability Spells:
Evard's Black Tentacles + Sleet Storm (only use sleet storm if your party has fom)
I throw this when I am approach a big mob - and my priority is making sure I get casters so they can't exploit my low fort and reflex saves. Sleet Storm slow enemies which allows me to avoid damage as I can move freely with fom boots

Single Target CC
Otto's Irresistable Dance
Power Word Stun
Delerium (0 sp but with chance enemy breaks free on damage)
Web (rarely use this)

Irresistable Dance and Power Word Stun have spell pen checks. Web has a reflex save followed by a strength check. Delerium has no save, but has a 10% chance to be broken by damage.

Escaping a mob of hostiles: Misty Escape which comes with fey. This ability saved me many times. It allows me to burst in mobs and if I get surrounded and trapped I can use this ability to break free. I love abilities that allow me to take more risks by giving me an escape button.

Raising yourself from the dead: Yes you have that. Reborn in the light lets you raise yourself from the dead on steroids every 10 minutes. It gives you 2 minutes with big benefits including 100 light spellpower. Again I love this because it allow me to take more chances when it's not on a timer knowing I can just raise myself and get stronger in the process.

Sustainable light spellpower is about 600 before metamagic. It's over 800 with metamagic and max potential with reborn in the light and other non-sustainable buffs and potions is over 1000. The exact break-down is detailed further down in this post.





RACE: Drow

Starting Stats
Str: 8
Dex: 8
Wis: 8
Con: 14
Int: 16
Char: 20 (All level ups)

GEAR

Goggles: Intricate Optics Ins Charisma +3 (dex + 8 / draconic soul gem slotted)
Helm: Sightless (power 250 and str +8 slotted)
Necklace: Epic Noxious Embers (Ins Con +2 and Sonic Resistance 40 Slotted)
Trinket: Manual of Stealthy Pilfering (for bonus to spellcraft basically - spellpower trade off for 1 dc) (Fire Resist 40 Slotted)
Cloak: Mysterious Cloak (Heal +15 and Armored Agility +2 slotted - armored agility increases dodge cap by 2)
Belt: Epic Chord of Reprisals (Deathblock and Natural Armor 8 slotted)
Ring: EH Ring of Shadows (Cold Resist 40 slotted) - basically for ghostly
Gloves: Iron Mitt (spellcraft 15 slotted)
Boots: Boots of Blessed Travels (Globe of True Imperial Blood and Greater Evocation slotted)
Ring 2: Lantern Ring (Greater conjuration and int +8 slotted)
Bracers: Dissolution (Feather Falling and Protection +8 slotted)
Epic Energized Scalemail Armor(HP 40 slotted) - Also Cold and Fire versions for swap items.

Epic Rod of Mythant with +4 mythic bonus (Meridian Fragment slotted)
Epic Doused Club with +2 mythic bonus / 156 Glaciation 23% ice lore (Devotion 138 slotted)

There is alot of raid gear, but you don't need any of it really. One thing to be careful of regarding TOEE set is that the enhancement bonus is only +7 vs. +12 for thunderforged. I am using +12 Epic Rod of Mythant in my main hand and get my implement bonus from that. If you are using a shield or orb and getting implement bonus from TOEE weapon you are losing 15 spellpower from implement bonus so only benefiting +7 net from the set bonus (EE Skyvault Shield is also only +7 and orbs don't have an implement bonus as far as I can tell).

FEATS:

1) Empower
3) Maximize
6) Conjuration Focus (Shield Proficiency if wanting max shield PRR bonus)
9) Quicken
12) Force of Personality
15) Heigten
18) Improved Spell Focus Conjuration (shield mastery if wanting max shield PRR bonus)
21) Epic Eldritch Blast
24) Epic Spell Focus Conjuration (improved shield mastery if wanting max shield PRR bonus)
26) Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast
27) Epic Damage Reduction
28) Spell Power Light

If you have completionist and/or past life wizard you can substitute in place improved and/or epic spell focus conjuration focus since the 2 past life feats help evard's and eldritch blast pact damage.

EPIC DESTINY
As shown above my epic destiny of choice is exalted angel. If you are finding certain content difficult due to enemy damage, you can run in unyielding sentinel for more PRR/HP and survivability. If you do this twist in the 30 spellpower from exalted angel. You lose some dps, but it will enable you to complete the quest and your dps wll still be solid.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT EXALTED ANGEL
You should always keep the Angelic Presence stance on for more charisma. You should always keep Astral Vibrance off by default due to the sp draining. I don't bother with Ascendance although it's turned on automatically with Reborn in the Light.

The reborn in the light epic moment has some inconsistent behavior where it leaves astral vibrance on after the 2 minute epic moment is up. Towards the end of the epic moment I always turn off Astral Vibrance. If you don't do this your sp can run out really quick. Astral Vibrance should be off by default.

EPIC DESTINY TWISTS
Energy Burst (Cold is main element and switch to acid or fire situationally also)
Empyrean Magic
Fey Form (or Conjuration specialist for more DC)
Rejuvenation Cocoon

* Drop Fey form if not epic completionist or if you don't have enough points

SPELLS
1: Obscuring Mist (Fey), Master's Touch, Nightshield, Obscuring Mist (Tainted Scholar)
2: Blindness (Fey), Blur, Invisibility (command undead if planning to run with CC in MOD) Web (Tainted Scholar)
3: Slow (Fey), Displacement, Dimension Door, Crushing Despair (Tainted Scholar)
4: Greater Dispel Magic (Fey), Evard's Black Tentacles (Flesh to Stone if planning to run with CC in MOD) Dimension Door, Deathward (Tainted Scholar)
5: Otto's Sphere of Dancing (Fey), Mass Invisibility, Mind Fog,
6: Otto's Irresistable Dance (Fey), Power Word Stun, Mass Hold Monster

Self Healing
- Cocoon (great for topping off in battle since it has the "over time" effect)
- Maximized/Empowered Mass Cure Moderate Wounds spell from Exalted Angel (big emergency heal ability for 35 sp)
- Divine Wrath (getting some extra heals while in combat)

* I don't take shirning through but it's another option - I don't need it beyond heroics

With the second Enlightened Spirit DPS nerf in U28 patch 1 I decided to sqeeze some more spellpower into this build although there isn't much left to do:

Spellpower Light
Item: 144
Spellcraft: 91 (with GH)
Power of Enlightenment Tier 2 Light Spellpower: 15
Power of Enlightenment Tier 2 Universal Spellpower: 6
Power of Enlightenment Tier 3 Light Spellpower: 15
Power of Enlightenment Tier 3 Universal Spellpower: 6
Ultimate Enlightenment Light Spellpower: 20
Ultimate Enlightenment Universal Spellpower: 10
Tainted Spellcasting: 17
Inhuman Understanding: 15 (5 increase)
Hungry for Destruction Tier 1: 6
Hungry for Destruction Tier 2: 6 (6 increase)
Eldritch Focus: 3 (3 increase)
TOEE Set Bonus: 20 (20 increase)
Epic Rod of Mythant Mythic Bonus: 4 (4 increase)
TOEE weapon Mythic Bonus: 2 (2 increase)
Exalted Angel: Radiant Power: 30
Past Life Morninglord Active Feat: 30
Epic Spellpower Light Feat: 20
Spellcasting Implement: 36
Guild Ship Buffs: 15
Fey Form: 15
Tome of Universal Spellpower: 2
Total Before Sustainable Effects and Potions: 528 (40 increase)
Blood and Radiance: 30
Empyrean Magic: 20
Potion of Greater Brilliance: 20
Total Before Metamagic: 598 (40 increase)
Maximize: 150
Empower: 75
Total Sustainable Spellpower: 823 (40 increase)
Reborn in Light Epic Moment: 100
Tainted Spellcasting: 25
Meridian Fragment: 24
Commendation Potion of Universal Spellpower: 25 (yes it stacks with the other potions)
Using Potion of Irian's Light instead of Potion of Greater Brilliance: 5 (5 increase)
Almond-Coated Shadow Apple (until it disappears later this year): 10 (10 increase)
Total Burst Light Spellpower: 1012 (55 increase)

Note: I am currently using past life Energy Criticals since I am using Energy Burst. If you aren't using energy burst you can get 9 more spellpower by using past life enchant weapon which gives +3 weapon bonus which equates to 9 more spellpower from implement bonus. Humans can boost this with 20 by taking human versatility spellpower boost. In addition 2 more is available with a +4 mythic bonus on the TOEE weapon instead of +2. Also a tier 2or 3 thunderforged radiance weapon would increase spellpower by 2 more. Gauntlets of the Arcane Soldier will add 5 more spellpower. With these boosts you can get a max burst light spellpower of 1050. I am sure I am missing something also.

Obviously the commendation potions are not sustainable to run continuously and the Epic Moment is only available 2 out of 10 minutes.

PRR
Medium Armor with Resilience of Body: 42 (BAB full 24 * 1.5)
Spiritual Bastion: 13
Sightless: 35
Epic Damage Reduction: 10
Resilience of Body: 6
TOEE Armor - Mythic Upgrade: 2
Past Lifes: 0 - 36 Divine/PDK
----------------------------------
Total PRR depending on past lifes: 108 - 144 (+ 15- 45 for EE Skyvault tower shield option)

If you run the alt sheld (instead of conjuration) feat setup (shield proficiency, shield mastery, improved shield mastery and twist in legendary shield mastery this adds 45 PRR and regardless of past lifes you have a very solid PRR for EE content).

MRR
Paragon's Aegis Feat x 5: 25
Sightless: 35
Shape Vestements: 10
Resilence of Soul: 6
Spiritual Ward: 13
Mysterious Cloak: 25
Past Lifes: 0 - 9
--------------------------
Total MRR depending on # of warlock past lifes 114- 123

Resistances:

Fire/Cold/Acid/Electric/Sonic

Mix of Draconic Soul Gem and 40 Resist Augments
Ship Buffs: 15
Ranger Past Lifes: 6

Sonic Only: Fey Resistance: 5

Fire: 61
Cold: 61 (30% absorb slotted)
Acid: 51
Electric: 51 (30% absorb slotted)
Sonic: 66

SAVES

Saves are a definite weak spot of this build. With GH (from scroll or draconic necklace swap) saves are:

Fortitude: 58
Reflex: 57
Will: 73

I have 4 ways to mitigate problems from my low saves:

1) CC: I have power word stun, otto's irresistable, dark delerium and black tentacles. This takes care of most any enemy that can exploit my low saves. It obviously won't help me against red names,.e.g, the boss in EE what goes up - if he throws a flesh to stone at me I am dead.
2) High DPS. It goes without saying that the faster I take down an enemy the shorter amount of time they have to do damage to me.
3) MRR: 109-118 MRR reduces a good amount of incoming spell damage by 52% or so. High MRR is a class feature of warlock.
4) Recovery: One feature of the Reborn in Light epic moment is that I can use it while dead to revive myself to full, give me 100 light spellpower, 50% incorporeality and 100 positive spellpower. Basically it's my "do over" button. This is a great feature of someone that solos because we all know stuff happens sometimes - lag, unexpected players actions changes enemy ai, etc. I prefer to group and solo mainly for challenge, but even in a group it's helpful to have this ability. It also helps at the end fight of defiler of the just if the party wiped due to lag and the bosses big ability. It gives you a non-jibbers option.

If Paladins and Barbarians are "A" builds, warlock is probably an "A-" or "B+". The defenses are solid, but fortification save is a major weakness. AOE dps closely matches thf paladins and barbarians, but single-target dps is lower than most well-built melees. However, the great cc from evard's is a huge benefit which makes this build close to or maybe even on-par with paladin/barbarian depending on your playstyle preference.

Note on Race Selection

Human is probably the best race in restrospect. I am not taking any racial enhancements so I only benefit from the +2 charisma and +2 int. This means my starting stats as a drow are 20 charisma, 16 int and 14 con. With human it would be 18 charisma, 16 int and 16 con, but I get a bonus feat which will improve my DC by 1 for everything but energy burst and divine wrath. In addition I get the 20 spellpower action boost x6 for 1 AP and more hp. For now I am sticking with drow, but if I ever find myself wanting to TR I would try human out.

I am having fun with my current version:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.28.102
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Stormmage TinCannon
Level 28 True Neutral Bladeforged Male
(20 Warlock \ 8 Epic) 
Hit Points: 522
Spell Points: 1422 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 11
Will: 17

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 28)           (Level 28)
Strength              8                 17                   17
Dexterity             6                 15                   15
Constitution         20                 29                   31
Intelligence         11                 20                   20
Wisdom                7                 16                   16
Charisma             18                 33                   37

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11
+4 Tome of Strength used at level 15
+4 Tome of Dexterity used at level 15
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 15
+4 Tome of Intelligence used at level 15
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 15
+4 Tome of Charisma used at level 15
+5 Tome of Strength used at level 19
+5 Tome of Dexterity used at level 19
+5 Tome of Constitution used at level 19
+5 Tome of Intelligence used at level 19
+5 Tome of Wisdom used at level 19
+5 Tome of Charisma used at level 19
+6 Tome of Strength used at level 23
+6 Tome of Dexterity used at level 23
+6 Tome of Constitution used at level 23
+6 Tome of Intelligence used at level 23
+6 Tome of Wisdom used at level 23
+6 Tome of Charisma used at level 23
+7 Tome of Strength used at level 27
+7 Tome of Dexterity used at level 27
+7 Tome of Constitution used at level 27
+7 Tome of Intelligence used at level 27
+7 Tome of Wisdom used at level 27
+7 Tome of Charisma used at level 27

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 28)          (Level 28)
Balance              -2                 11                   13
Bluff                 0                 10                   23
Concentration         0                 33                   43
Diplomacy             0                 10                   23
Disable Device        n/a              n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                 10                   23
Heal                  0                 10                   13
Hide                 -2                  8                   10
Intimidate            0                 10                   23
Jump                 -2                  8                   11
Listen                0                 10                   13
Move Silently        -2                  8                   10
Open Lock             n/a              n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a              n/a                   n/a
Repair                5                 24                   29
Search                3                 13                   18
Spellcraft            2                 33                   38
Spot                  0                 10                   13
Swim                 -4                  6                    9
Tumble               -1                  9                   11
Use Magic Device      n/a              n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Body
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Artificer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Artificer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Artificer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Bard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Cleric
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Druid
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Druid
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Druid
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Rogue
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Warlock
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Warlock
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Warlock
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard


Level 2 (Warlock)


Level 3 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Completionist


Level 4 (Warlock)


Level 5 (Warlock)


Level 6 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness


Level 7 (Warlock)


Level 8 (Warlock)


Level 9 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Mental Toughness


Level 10 (Warlock)


Level 11 (Warlock)


Level 12 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell


Level 13 (Warlock)


Level 14 (Warlock)


Level 15 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 16 (Warlock)


Level 17 (Warlock)


Level 18 (Warlock)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 19 (Warlock)


Level 20 (Warlock)


Level 21 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Epic Mental Toughness


Level 22 (Epic)


Level 23 (Epic)


Level 24 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Epic Eldritch Blast


Level 25 (Epic)


Level 26 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Arcane Sphere: Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast


Level 27 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Ruin


Level 28 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Arcane Sphere: Hellball
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Improved Fortification (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Warforged Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Improved Fortification (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Warforged Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Communion of Scribing (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Communion of Scribing (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Bladeforged - Communion of Scribing (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Tainted Spellcasting (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Tainted Lore I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Stanch (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Tainted Lore II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Blood Component (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Heretical Lore (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Feigned Health (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Feigned Health (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Feigned Health (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Strong Pact I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Utterdark Blast (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Eldritch Blast Shape: Chain (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Strong Pact II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Confusion (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Confusion (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Confusion (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Strong Pact III (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Enervating Shadow (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Bewitching Blast (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Bewitching Blast (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Bewitching Blast (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Strong Pact IV (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Eldritch Power (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Eldritch Ball (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Spell Focus: Evocation (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tainted Scholar (Wlk) - Planar Focus (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Eldritch Aura (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Aura of Courage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Shape Vestments (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Resilience of Body (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Resilience of Body (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Defense (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Defense (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Bastion (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Bastion (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Bastion (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light I (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light I (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Ward (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Ward (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Ward (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light II (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Power of Enlightenment - Light II (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Retribution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Retribution (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Spiritual Retribution (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Enlightened Spirit (Wlk) - Charisma (Rank 1)

[Heathir]

Howdy yall,

So I have been using this build for my 3 EPLS I have done and am no where near any kind of completionist, but wanted I give ya an idea on why I think this build is better in u29. It's all summed up in 1 word: survivability.

I play this build but I took shining through. I also took all 3 shield feats and twist legendary shield. I do this because of a lack of prr. My gear consists of random junk and a few nice pieces. My only big ticket items are a lantern ring, manual of stealthy, orcish privateer boots, TF tier 2 weapon and a countenance. I have 3 divine past lives and 2 pdk past lives. On the other end I have a caster heroic past set up 3wiz, 3 sorc, 3 fvs, 1 bard, 1 cleric.

Using all that in EA I only sit at 140 prr and 120mrr. Light 480, sonic 398 and positive 378. Those numbers are just sitting with ship buffs only. I don't understand pots and other things to know where I end up while hunting .


So for the raids

LE tempest
Was kind of a joke. No issues I could absorb any hits thrown at me.

LE shroud
This run proved to me that this build works. My hp buff to 2600 in a raid group. I was able to take multiple hits no problem. I had a few ohh cap moments where I had to cycle cure serious, cocoon, singing through, stuanch to stay up and a few moments where I dropped to 500 hp when swarmed by a pack....but LE shroud and not a single death even though I was constantly being targetted.

We may not have the best dmg, but as for sustainable dps through the course of the raid. Yep this build does it.

Thank you for the build slarden, it's awesome. Now if I could see some of these amazing loot Gen people are talking aboit....lol

[slarden]

Howdy yall,

So I have been using this build for my 3 EPLS I have done and am no where near any kind of completionist, but wanted I give ya an idea on why I think this build is better in u29. It's all summed up in 1 word: survivability.

I play this build but I took shining through. I also took all 3 shield feats and twist legendary shield. I do this because of a lack of prr. My gear consists of random junk and a few nice pieces. My only big ticket items are a lantern ring, manual of stealthy, orcish privateer boots, TF tier 2 weapon and a countenance. I have 3 divine past lives and 2 pdk past lives. On the other end I have a caster heroic past set up 3wiz, 3 sorc, 3 fvs, 1 bard, 1 cleric.

Using all that in EA I only sit at 140 prr and 120mrr. Light 480, sonic 398 and positive 378. Those numbers are just sitting with ship buffs only. I don't understand pots and other things to know where I end up while hunting .


So for the raids

LE tempest
Was kind of a joke. No issues I could absorb any hits thrown at me.

LE shroud
This run proved to me that this build works. My hp buff to 2600 in a raid group. I was able to take multiple hits no problem. I had a few ohh cap moments where I had to cycle cure serious, cocoon, singing through, stuanch to stay up and a few moments where I dropped to 500 hp when swarmed by a pack....but LE shroud and not a single death even though I was constantly being targetted.

We may not have the best dmg, but as for sustainable dps through the course of the raid. Yep this build does it.

Thank you for the build slarden, it's awesome. Now if I could see some of these amazing loot Gen people are talking aboit....lol

Thank you, I am glad it's working out. I will also be switching back to shining through, possibly swapping out 2 charisma and making up for it with new gear.

The enemies are hitting a little harder in U30 so I agree survivability is key.

As far as random loot, I think I will be upgrading my TOEE set with random armor and ideally a heavy shield. If I am lucky enough I would like to find +90 implement bonus, the best insightful light spellpower and insightful sonic spellpower items I can find an 21-22 spell lore.

I found a pair of gloves with reconstruct 148 and spell lore 21 that is going to my bladeforged shiradi wizard, but am hoping to find something like that for my warlock as well - preferably on a large shield or armor.

I will update the build shortly, but it might take me a bit to understand gear options with the new loot scheme.

Spellpower is going up from several new sources:

1) Epic levels: 60
2) Intensify: 75
3) Insightful Spellpower Item: 78
4) Implement Bonus: 54 (90-36)
5) reduced by 22 if I swap out TOEE set

Total Increase from just these things: 245

This means sustainable light spellpower will be over 1,000 with burst spellpower over 1350 with wellspring adding more burst spell power and crits.

Evards is not working effectively for me at all in LE content, but that seems ok with the survivability and dps. So I am looking at taking a single evocation feat + heighten for evards and twisting in evocation augmentation instead of going with conjuration for more pact damage. T

So far I am really liking wellspring of power, intensify. arcane pulse and scion of the plane of fire. I thought heighten + embolden might be enough for a workable evard's but that is not the case. Evard's almost never works for me in LE and I will re-adjust the build accordingly soon - likely dropping heighten and embolden which serve ilttle purpose if Evard's isn't working.

I should be updating the build by early next week.

[slarden]

So this is my crazy idea for the weekend. Dire charge is working really well on my melees.

So this would be some 0 sp cc with a higher DC than evard's that has a relatively quick cooldown. Thematically it fits in well with the warlock build and continues to give this build the playing feel of a melee.

Basic idea would be to use dire charge into a mob and then burst - getting a significant damage boost for those 6 seconds to the extent the stun worked as it creates the helplessness condition.

DC is 20 + charisma modifier + stunning + insightful combat mastery + 6 by twisting in legendary tactics (tier 1 twist from LD). I think you can see where this is going to absolutely blow away the DC of Evard's and while you are losing the evard's damage you are also going bonus helpless damage for 6 seconds. Basically the DC 20 would be compared to 10 + spell level (6) + 3 DC from Exalted Angel which is one less than the 20. Then all other conjuration bonuses would be compared to what you can get for stunning which fall well short of what you can get with stunning.

I am working a little on all my main 6 characters + a puppy charmer I made for eHox. So I might be a little slow updating the build, but I will get to it by the coming week. I want to try out some things and am also trying to find a heavy shield/medium armor with the right casting bonuses on it.

Dire charge also makes me want to try out a PM caster again with the super high int they can get.

[Heathir]

I like it. Check out the celestial armors in tempest. I swapped out my TF chest plate as soon as I got it. Has so many stats on it that you can rotate your other slots. I play valeance as a in your face aoe blaster, so will try building for this when I start up tonight and let you know. I find I really don't use evards as much as I would like, but then I actually have to use shrines now with having max, emp, quicken, in testify going on most of my spells. Evards cost just makes my sp bar hurt even more. I would rather save that mana for dps. I am considering dropping cocoon as shining through, shields and cure serious/staunch should be enough. If I can drop the man from evards I will be in better shape to do that...so can twist in the tactics

[slarden]

I like it. Check out the celestial armors in tempest. I swapped out my TF chest plate as soon as I got it. Has so many stats on it that you can rotate your other slots. I play valeance as a in your face aoe blaster, so will try building for this when I start up tonight and let you know. I find I really don't use evards as much as I would like, but then I actually have to use shrines now with having max, emp, quicken, in testify going on most of my spells. Evards cost just makes my sp bar hurt even more. I would rather save that mana for dps. I am considering dropping cocoon as shining through, shields and cure serious/staunch should be enough. If I can drop the man from evards I will be in better shape to do that...so can twist in the tactics

Yeah unfortunately dire charge takes up the level 29 destiny spot and I really want arcane pulse for boss damage - both would be great but it's not possible. So it comes down to which is a big priority mitigating a weakness by adding arcane pulse for single target damage or dire charge which builds on the strength of the build against mobs.

Anyhow it's just a concept for now - I want to play around with it both ways and see what works.

[Heathir]

I am not using arcane pulse at 29. I opted for prr/mrr. Which with the new raids was a sound investment. Being able to survive 2 to 3 hits without dying was huge for me. As in watching paladins and Barbs die while I stayed up and healed through.

I will play with the feats, I can move some things around, but if dire charge will work in raids it's worth it since evards is very lackluster in raids.

I think building to the strengths is the best route. If I want boss dmg then building for a pew pew ranged warlock would be a whole different build, skill set. I have created a solid niche for this toon as an aoe trash killer, survivor. Example in eshroud standing in the group that is killing portals I can use aoe to keep all the trash off the melee so they can just focus fire, same with last phase of shroud with the codex. I can charge and hold down the spawns while the dps burns the codex.

I will let ya know how it feels after this weekend and will do a full build post in here as mine I think is differing from your original

[slarden]

I am not using arcane pulse at 29. I opted for prr/mrr. Which with the new raids was a sound investment. Being able to survive 2 to 3 hits without dying was huge for me. As in watching paladins and Barbs die while I stayed up and healed through.

I will play with the feats, I can move some things around, but if dire charge will work in raids it's worth it since evards is very lackluster in raids.

I think building to the strengths is the best route. If I want boss dmg then building for a pew pew ranged warlock would be a whole different build, skill set. I have created a solid niche for this toon as an aoe trash killer, survivor. Example in eshroud standing in the group that is killing portals I can use aoe to keep all the trash off the melee so they can just focus fire, same with last phase of shroud with the codex. I can charge and hold down the spawns while the dps burns the codex.

I will let ya know how it feels after this weekend and will do a full build post in here as mine I think is differing from your original

Yes DPS is at it's lowest when dead. I look forward to reading your post and getting some good ideas!

My str based melee can get way higher str than I can get char with my warlock due to divine grace, but if I can get a workable dire charge with a non-str based character it makes a con-based warlock much more appealing since they are only losing half pact damage and not the cc.

[Heathir]

I cant figure out how to post a pic from in game...lol I am computer illiterate. But here goes.

I am a pure Warlock and all dumps into CHA. I am currently PDK also:

Hp w/shining and cocoon temp 2028
SP 2446

PRR 161
MRR 120
Light 521
Cold 362
Positive 449
Sonic 390

Fortification 200
Resists are:
45 across the board


Feats:

Empower
Heighten
Quicken
Maximize
Force of Personality
Shield
Shield Master
Improved Shield Master
Scion of Celestia
Epic Arcane Blast
Intensify
Forced Escape
Ruin
Deific Warding

Destiny is EA
Exact same as yours

Twists:
Eburst cold
Legendary shield
Rejuvination

Past lives:
3x Warlock, 3x Sorc, 3x Wiz, 3x FVS, 1 Cleric, 1 Bard

Iconic Lives:
2 x Morning Lord, 1 x PDK

Epic past lives:
3x Power over life and death

Gear
Googles EN shadowsight
Head Epic Mushroom Cap
NeckNecklace of Mystic Eidolons Attuned
Trinket Manual of Stealthy pilefering Attuned
Cloak Countenance (Featherfall, Draconic gem)slotted
Belt E belt of thoughtful remembrance
Ring Legendary Brazenband
Gloves Purple Dragon Gauntlets
Boots Orcish Privateer Boots (Globe of Imp Blood Slotted)
Ring Lantern ring attuned
Wrist War Wizard Bracers
Chest Breastplate of the Celestial Sage

Main TF resonance (meridian and devotion 138 slotted)
Off Fanion (Spellcraft 15 slotted)
Quiver epic Dynmastic quiver

Costmetic Glowing Circlet with 120 Glacation slotted from festivul

As you can see my gear is HORRID. Its a work in progress and has so many upgrades available, havent seen any good lootgen items to fill those spots yet and have had horrid luck in DOJ.

That toon and that build was able to take 3 hits in EE shroud and still be at 500+ HP
Can handle just about any pack in the game
Can tank EE Summit dragons
Solo EE the new quests

I am meaning to shift around most of the CC feats. I am just finding with that build that CC isnt that necessary which means I really dont need Heighten at all. So can add something else there.
The build is meant to be in the thick of things and still put out strong trash dmg and survive tanking as needed. If think I can change the spells to straight buff spells and be good across the board. I spend 75% of my mana on the bursts and single target boss burns. Very little goes into Evards, Hold, web, or disco.

I know i need alot of upgrades and am in the process of starting a new spreadsheet so i can maximaze that gear. My biggest issue is I am working on getting into a full time EE guild. Once i can sustain nonstop EE raids and Quests then the gear will improve.

I am looking at huge increases in power as my gear improves and the past lives grow. But its a work in progress. Its hard to motivate doing TR's on this toon rather than my project toon when she handles all current content as she sits.

Shoot my any ideas and changes Slarden.

ps. I didnt get a chance to try dire charge. I spent a good 4 hours trapped in the bridge between worlds on my project toon.

[slarden]

I cant figure out how to post a pic from in game...lol I am computer illiterate. But here goes.

I am a pure Warlock and all dumps into CHA. I am currently PDK also:

Hp w/shining and cocoon temp 2028
SP 2446

PRR 161
MRR 120
Light 521
Cold 362
Positive 449
Sonic 390

Fortification 200
Resists are:
45 across the board


Feats:

Empower
Heighten
Quicken
Maximize
Force of Personality
Shield
Shield Master
Improved Shield Master
Scion of Celestia
Epic Arcane Blast
Intensify
Forced Escape
Ruin
Deific Warding

Destiny is EA
Exact same as yours

Twists:
Eburst cold
Legendary shield
Rejuvination

Past lives:
3x Warlock, 3x Sorc, 3x Wiz, 3x FVS, 1 Cleric, 1 Bard

Iconic Lives:
2 x Morning Lord, 1 x PDK

Epic past lives:
3x Power over life and death

Gear
Googles EN shadowsight
Head Epic Mushroom Cap
NeckNecklace of Mystic Eidolons Attuned
Trinket Manual of Stealthy pilefering Attuned
Cloak Countenance (Featherfall, Draconic gem)slotted
Belt E belt of thoughtful remembrance
Ring Legendary Brazenband
Gloves Purple Dragon Gauntlets
Boots Orcish Privateer Boots (Globe of Imp Blood Slotted)
Ring Lantern ring attuned
Wrist War Wizard Bracers
Chest Breastplate of the Celestial Sage

Main TF resonance (meridian and devotion 138 slotted)
Off Fanion (Spellcraft 15 slotted)
Quiver epic Dynmastic quiver

Costmetic Glowing Circlet with 120 Glacation slotted from festivul

As you can see my gear is HORRID. Its a work in progress and has so many upgrades available, havent seen any good lootgen items to fill those spots yet and have had horrid luck in DOJ.

That toon and that build was able to take 3 hits in EE shroud and still be at 500+ HP
Can handle just about any pack in the game
Can tank EE Summit dragons
Solo EE the new quests

I am meaning to shift around most of the CC feats. I am just finding with that build that CC isnt that necessary which means I really dont need Heighten at all. So can add something else there.
The build is meant to be in the thick of things and still put out strong trash dmg and survive tanking as needed. If think I can change the spells to straight buff spells and be good across the board. I spend 75% of my mana on the bursts and single target boss burns. Very little goes into Evards, Hold, web, or disco.

I know i need alot of upgrades and am in the process of starting a new spreadsheet so i can maximaze that gear. My biggest issue is I am working on getting into a full time EE guild. Once i can sustain nonstop EE raids and Quests then the gear will improve.

I am looking at huge increases in power as my gear improves and the past lives grow. But its a work in progress. Its hard to motivate doing TR's on this toon rather than my project toon when she handles all current content as she sits.

Shoot my any ideas and changes Slarden.

ps. I didnt get a chance to try dire charge. I spent a good 4 hours trapped in the bridge between worlds on my project toon.

This looks great! Sorry to hear you had reincarnation issues. I had problems twice previously and since then - I wait a few minutes before logging out and I haven't had a problem since. Not sure if it's luck, but what I've heard is alot of things actually happen after you use the heart and waiting a bit makes sure everything finishes properly.

As for build, the build is working great for you so I would just keep refining it to your playstyle.

As a pdk you will be able to use dire charge even better since for 3 AP you can take cormyrean training for 3AP that gives you a bonus to dire charge of 1/3 your charisma modifier. So you are actually the perfect race to use it. Here is the catch though - you must use a short sword, long sword or bastard sword to get the bonus - unless it's bugged which is entirely possible.

If you remake your TF weapon (or new greensteel) as a short sword for example, you would get that bonus.

Now I suspect the cooldown on dire charge to be increased as there is already some forum rage about it, but even so it's a really complementary ability for a warlock and as pdk you are the perfect race to make it work. The hard part is finding where to slot the stunning and insightful combat mastery.

For gear changes iron mitt would be a nice upgrade for gloves - basically it is just a better version of pdk gloves with a slot. You can get that from the 3bc wilderness chests. There is some nice random loot with healing amp also that might have that perfect combination. Other than that alot of gear changes happen when you get the right random loot item. So if something like ins char 6 stunning +15 drops I would definitely pick it up

I am taking the gear changes slowly since I want to see what kind of random loot and raid gear drops I get over the next few weeks. I am doing ok in LE content now so I am not in a huge hurry to make changes although I am currently using random armor giving me about 100 more light spellpower on top of the bonuses from feats and epic levels.

Thank you for the post - it's great to hear you are doing great in LE shroud and other LEs!

[slarden]

ok I am almost ready to update this build.

I think which direction people go will depend quite a bit on wizard/fvs past lifes since spell penetration #s are hard to reach without those.

I am looking to bring enchantment DC back into this build as it will be effective in LE with a mid 70s #s, but a target spell penetration of 60 is needed and that won't be enough to get all drow. It will continue to be a bursting dps build and of course mass hold will increase that damage but also the sp cost. I plan to make minimal investment to enchant DC relying almost solely on a high charisma to get to the DC needed.

As mentioned quite some time ago I did take a look at dire charge and it was as effective as I thought it would be, but giving up arcane pulse is a huge cost. Arcane pulse patches the biggest weakness of the build - boss damage. I plan to keep arcane pulse and get some cc with mass hold instead.

For someone without the past life wizard/fvs this build still does great as a bursting dps build, but evard's is less effective due to spell pen requirements.

One interesting development with U29 is that fiend warlocks are in high demand due to hurl through hell one-shotting the crystal and orange named beholders. If you plan to mainly do raiding, it might be worth looking at fiend even though fire is a sub-optimal element.

[rockingsuphastar]

I received a PM asking about gear and build changes for someone without alot of past lifes and gear. Here are my suggestions. This is what I run on my alt Randult which doesn't run raids and has only a few irrelevant past lifes from days past.

RACE: Human

GEAR
Goggles: Intricate Optics Ins Charisma +3 (or sage's spectacles with +2 char slotted)
Helm: Epic Halcyonia
Necklace: Epic Pendant of Quiet Movements
Trinket: Manual of Stealthy Pilfering (for bonus to spellcraft basically)
Cloak: Mysterious Cloak (Heal +15 and Armored Agility +2 slotted - armored agility increases dodge cap by 2)
Belt: Epic Chord of Reprisals (Deathblock and Natural Armor 8 slotted)
Ring 1: Cannith Crafted Mobile Ring of Sonic Lore with a colorless and yellow slot (if you don't have cannith crafting levels you can post on the marketplace forum for your server and someone will help you out.)
Gloves: Iron Mitts
Boots: Either Sage's Shoes (level 27) or Epic Ship Kickers. Sage's Shoes is your best option to make evard's work. If you can't get it to work reliably go with ship kickers for save bonus.
Ring 2: Lantern Ring
Bracers: Epic Inferno Bracers
Armor: Epic Thunderforged Shadowscale (medium) Armor with shadow caster added (technically a raid item but it only takes 100 shadow scales and coms to make - it's fairly easy to obtain these ingredients).

Epic Rod of Mythant with +2 mythic bonus for Evocation or random loot with sonic lore for sonic crit chance. Epic Rod is probably your best option since you slot Meridian Fragment which also boosts your light spellpower. If you use epic rod of mythant try and find a meridian fragment to slot in it.
Shield: EE Skyvault Shield with Glaciation 138 and Acid 138 Slotted

For augments you will want conjuration focus, evocation focus, +8 int, ins char+2 if you don't have the optics, hp 40, ins con +2 and fill in the rest as needed. You can get some ideas for augments from my original gear list.

FEATS:

1) Empower
1 Human Bonus) Maximize
3) Shield Proficiency
6) Conjuration Focus
9) Quicken
12) Force of Personality
15) Heighten
18) Shield Mastery
21) Epic Eldritch Blast
24) Improved Shield Mastery
26) Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast
27) Epic Damage Reduction
28) Spell Power Light

EPIC DESTINY TWISTS
Energy Burst (Cold is main element and switch to acid or fire situationally also)
Empyrean Magic
Rejuvenation Cocoon

Spellpower Light
Item: 144
Spellcraft: 85 (with GH)
Power of Enlightenment Tier 2 Light Spellpower: 15
Power of Enlightenment Tier 2 Universal Spellpower: 6
Power of Enlightenment Tier 3 Light Spellpower: 15
Power of Enlightenment Tier 3 Universal Spellpower: 6
Ultimate Enlightenment Light Spellpower: 20
Ultimate Enlightenment Universal Spellpower: 10
Tainted Spellcasting: 17
Inhuman Understanding: 15
Hungry for Destruction Tier 1: 6
Hungry for Destruction Tier 2: 6
Eldritch Focus: 3
Epic Rod of Mythant Mythic Bonus: 2
Exalted Angel: Radiant Power: 30
Epic Spellpower Light Feat: 20
Spellcasting Implement: 36
Guild Ship Buffs: 15
Tome of Universal Spellpower: 2
Epic Laurel Helix Mythic Bonus: 1
Total Before Sustainable Effects and Potions: 454
Blood and Radiance: 30
Empyrean Magic: 20
Potion of Greater Brilliance: 20
Total Before Metamagic: 524
Maximize: 150
Empower: 75
Total Sustainable Spellpower: 749
Reborn in Light Epic Moment: 100
Tainted Spellcasting: 25
Meridian Fragment: 24
Commendation Potion of Universal Spellpower: 25 (yes it stacks with the other potions)
Using Potion of Irian's Light instead of Potion of Greater Brilliance: 5 (5 increase)
Almond-Coated Shadow Apple (until it disappears later this year): 10 (10 increase)
Total Burst Light Spellpower: 938

PRR
Medium Armor with Resilience of Body: 42 (BAB full 28 * 1.5)
Spiritual Bastion: 13
Epic Laurel Helix: 24
EE Skyvault Shield: 15
Improved Shield Mastery: 15
Epic Damage Reduction: 10
Resilience of Body: 6
Pendant of Quiet Movements Mythic Bonus: 1 (+3 is available but hard to get)
Epic Halyconia Mythic Bonus: 1 (+3 is available but hard to get)
----------------------------------
Total PRR: 127 (this is solid for EE in my opinion, but not tanky, you need to be careful but can survive in EE just fine)

You can get 15 more PRR by twisting in legendary shield mastery from unyielding sentinel but it only improves your DR from 55% to 58% - I don't think it's worth giving up energy burst or empyrean magic for that.

The nice thing about running in exalted angel is that you can etr and gain 3 PRR each time. So going from 127 to 136 would take 3 divine ETR.

MRR
Paragon's Aegis Feat x 5: 25
Epic Laurel Helix: 24
Shape Vestements: 10
Resilence of Soul: 6
Spiritual Ward: 13
Mysterious Cloak: 25
Skyvault Shield: 15
Pendant of Quiet Movements Mythic Bonus: 1 (+3 is available but hard to get)
Epic Halyconia Mythic Bonus: 1 (+3 is available but hard to get)
--------------------------
Total MRR: 120 (also very solid for EE)

Hi am running a warlock level 12 human pact GOO no tomes no past life above seems very good , so its full dc based? leaving the ES tree how will use the Spirit blast how it works? with tainted scholar line?