Gwhyn build - melee wizard EK

[Janitorman]

I searched the forums a bit and you seemed a good person to ask about this type of build. I wanted to try out a variation of this build before I took a break, and now that I am casually returning, thought I might give it a go.

I am planning on doing a related build and I has some questions about some of the abilities of the build. This build seems to offer a lot of versatility to playstyle which is always a plus to me.

For context my build will probably be mostly for flavor, and I understand that I will be making many sacrifices in the name of flavor. I am planning on doing a Half elf, SWF using a warhammer and rune arm. I want to get as many electrical imbue effects on my melee strikes as possible. I plan on going 12 Ftr/6 Wiz/2 Arty Int based using Harper tree.

For your build what order do you take the levels in? I was thinking getting 2 arty, 3 ftr, 6 wiz, then rounding out ftr.

My questions concerning EK abilities are how effective is the cleave attack from tier 1 with elemental imbue toggled on? with damage scaling with SP it seems like it might be able to hit some decent numbers, but then it says 0-2 per character level? Practically speaking does it actually do decent aoe dps?

How critical is Tensors? I can definitely scroll it at higher levels, and I would much prefer to use Kensai Tier 5 enhancements.

You mentioned you tried Harper Int build one life but did not like it compared to STR? Care to elaborate as to why?

In epic levels do you get good use out of energy burst? How high of SP are you able to reliably hit with chosen element? You have scion of Fire listed as Legendary feat. What kind of numbers are you seeing from this per hit? Does it really scale with SP?

Do you have any general tips for playing this build that you might find useful for someone trying it out for the first time?

I am currently finishing farming a TOEE lightning warhammer to use through heroics, so I still have some time before I TR into this.

I can post an exact build layout if that would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance!

[Ghwyn]

I searched the forums a bit and you seemed a good person to ask about this type of build. I wanted to try out a variation of this build before I took a break, and now that I am casually returning, thought I might give it a go.

I am planning on doing a related build and I has some questions about some of the abilities of the build. This build seems to offer a lot of versatility to playstyle which is always a plus to me.

For context my build will probably be mostly for flavor, and I understand that I will be making many sacrifices in the name of flavor. I am planning on doing a Half elf, SWF using a warhammer and rune arm. I want to get as many electrical imbue effects on my melee strikes as possible. I plan on going 12 Ftr/6 Wiz/2 Arty Int based using Harper tree.

For your build what order do you take the levels in? I was thinking getting 2 arty, 3 ftr, 6 wiz, then rounding out ftr.

Your leveling looks fine. The biggest difference is not being able to self heal easily. You might be better off with many more arty levels, and pass on most of the fighter. Kensai takes up so many feats, I'm not sure its worth it. If you go more arty, you could do construct essence to be able to self heal.

My questions concerning EK abilities are how effective is the cleave attack from tier 1 with elemental imbue toggled on? with damage scaling with SP it seems like it might be able to hit some decent numbers, but then it says 0-2 per character level? Practically speaking does it actually do decent aoe dps?

How critical is Tensors? I can definitely scroll it at higher levels, and I would much prefer to use Kensai Tier 5 enhancements.

My build is all about aoe damage. Its the cleaves that deal the damage. Tensors is not critical and I've played with some kensai variants, but will try some more after racials. Don't sell the t5 wk cleave short. It has saved me many times.

You mentioned you tried Harper Int build one life but did not like it compared to STR? Care to elaborate as to why?

I could get str higher than int. DPS was better str based when I was running it.

In epic levels do you get good use out of energy burst? How high of SP are you able to reliably hit with chosen element? You have scion of Fire listed as Legendary feat. What kind of numbers are you seeing from this per hit? Does it really scale with SP?

Definitely. Energy burst does great damage. I don't remember the numbers, but I used it often.

Do you have any general tips for playing this build that you might find useful for someone trying it out for the first time?

I am currently finishing farming a TOEE lightning warhammer to use through heroics, so I still have some time before I TR into this.

I can post an exact build layout if that would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance!

Have fun with it. Make it your own.

[Ghwyn]

updated original post

[Haphazarduk]

updated original post

Is there any reason not just to stick with Pally rather than take Fighter levels? Pally has Vanguard too. Is it for the feats?

Hap

[Ghwyn]

Is there any reason not just to stick with Pally rather than take Fighter levels? Pally has Vanguard too. Is it for the feats?

Hap

Yes, its for the feats.

[Katalissa]

I like the idea of this build and have used a lot of the ideas for one of my own toons.

I am curious though - why an 11/6/3 split? Wouldn't 2 rogue give you enough for trapping, while allowing 12 wiz, which gives you access to the 4th EK core ability? This gives you d8 spellsword dice, enough arcane spell failure reduction for heavy armour with no other enhancements needed, and some other nice things.

Also curious why the INT version using Harper "wasn't as good"? It would seem the logical choice for this build, giving synergy with the trapping and casting.

[Ghwyn]

I like the idea of this build and have used a lot of the ideas for one of my own toons.

I am curious though - why an 11/6/3 split? Wouldn't 2 rogue give you enough for trapping, while allowing 12 wiz, which gives you access to the 4th EK core ability? This gives you d8 spellsword dice, enough arcane spell failure reduction for heavy armour with no other enhancements needed, and some other nice things.

Also curious why the INT version using Harper "wasn't as good"? It would seem the logical choice for this build, giving synergy with the trapping and casting.

Much has changed since I originally did this build, and I could get str much higher than int.

I went with 3 rogue for the extra sneak attack die. Back then the EK cores were worthless.

The nice part of this build is that you can customize it and it still works. I'm actually thinking about another variation, maybe only 2 rogue and build for evasion and high dodge.

If you find something that works for you, post about it.

[Katalissa]

Hey, so I just took a character to 20 with a build inspired by this, but implemented pretty differently.

I kept the core idea of a STR based, self healing, cleave machine EK. I did skip the rogue levels though, not because I don't like it, just the character already had a few levels when I did this, so taking rogue at that point was never going to make up the skill points needed.

I went Halfling, 16/4 Sorcerer/Fighter.

26 points in Stalwart Defender to T4 for all the PRR/AC and HP bonuses.
12 points in Halfling for all the Dragonmark self-healing.

The rest mostly in EK to T5. It is tempting to throw a few points into either Kensei for the 30% attack speed boost, or into a chosen elemental savant for a little extra power.

I took both cleave feats and invested in THF.

I will say it was/is a fun character to play! Things I like include being a Sorc but wearing heavy armour and having WAY more PRR, AC and HP - which made the character MUCH more survivable, having 4 cleaves in heroics, and the self-healing - which after getting all the defender T4 stuff was often overkill. The only downside is missing the last two EK cores does drop weapon damage a bit, and of course spell DCs and elemental damage suffers. (Not that spells like chain lightning were useless, far from it, still surprisingly useful and important for the boosts it gives EK melee damage).

Would I do it again? Maybe... the extra survivability is very good. Probably a very new player/first life friendly concept. With the changes to EK though, I think a pure 20 Sorc split between EK and an Elemental Savant of choice might be better overall... I WOULD miss my Black Dragonplate... but the new Sharn caster sets like Arcsteel Battlemage with medium armour are so much better if you can get one.