Zergod - Human Khopesh 20 Ranger - Dire Charging Melee DPS

[kalaka]

Zergod Ranger 2.0
Ranger 20
True Neutral Human


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 18. . . .+7. . . .4: STR
Dexterity . . . .8. . . .+7. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 16. . . .+7. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . 16. . . .+7. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+7. . . 20: STR
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+7. . . 24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Search. . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spot. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spellcr . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Bluff . . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Diplo . . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Intim . . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Balance . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
UMD . . . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Tumble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .40 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10. 6
. . . . .40 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Weapon Focus: Slashing
.1 Human. : Exotic Weapon: Khopesh
.1 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Aberration
.3. . . . : Completionist
.5 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
.6. . . . : Maximize Spell
.9. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
10 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Elemental
12. . . . : Quicken Spell
15. . . . : Quick Draw
15 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Reptilian
18. . . . : Stunning Blow
20 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Construct
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Precision
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Tactician
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Weapon Focus: Piercing
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea


Enhancements (80 AP)

Tempest (43 AP)

• Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest, Graceful Death, Deflect Arrows, Whirlwind, Dervish
  
  1. Improved Defense III, Whirling Blades
  2. Improved Parry II, Whirling Blades
  3. Storm Dancer, Critical Mastery III, Whirling Blades, Strength
  4. Storm Tempest, Elaborate Parry III, The Growing Storm III
  5. Dual Perfection, Evasive Dance III, Cuts: A Thousand Cuts III, Dance of Death III

Deepwood Stalker (24 AP)

• Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Exposing Strike, Advanced Sneak Attack
  
  1. Favored Defense I, Increased Empathy III
  2. Survivalist, Melee/Range Power Boost III
  3. Survivalist, Thrill of the Hunt III, Favored Hunter III
  4. Killer III

Harper Agent (10 AP)

• Agent of Good I
  
  1. Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
  2. Versatile Adept III, Know the Angles II

Human (3 AP)

• Damage Boost
  
  1. Improved Recovery

Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought

1. Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III, Strength
2. Imp. Power Attack, Strength
3. Critical Damage III, Haste Boost III
4. (none)
5. Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
6. Master's Blitz

Twists of Fate (35 fate points)

1. Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
2. Balanced Attacks (Tier 3 Primal)
3. Hail of Blows (Tier 2 Flowers)
4. Primal Scream (Tier 1 Fury)
5. Brace for Impact (Tier 1 Sentinel)

Gear:
Goggles: Epic Mentau's Goggles
Helmet: Sightless
Necklace: Legendary Warriors Pendant
Trinket: Epic Litany
Cloak: Trip Positive Material Opposition HP Regen/Incap Range
Belt: Hasty 16 Stunning 15 Insightful Str 5
Ring1: Seal of House Avithoul (Will probably be replaced by DOJ ring)
Gloves: Iron Mitts
Boots: Warriors of Strength
Ring2: Deadly 10 Accuracy 10
Bracers: Triple Negative Material Opposition Immunity Item
Armor: TOEE Smoldering Leathers
Mainhand Wep: Triple Positive Affirmation Khopesh
Offhand Wep: Shocking TOEE Khopesh
Quiver: Epic Quiver of Alacrity

[Kodwraith]

Have you thought about taking dodge? I think you would find it more useful than WF:ranged. 3 AP + dodge gets you 6% standing dodge which is really nice. You're already using the tempest tree anyway.

I take it you are never planning on using your bow ever? You could conceivably spare the 2 feats for PBS, ic:ranged. You could conceivably take combat archery but that seems like not your style. I find the first two feats in the bow chain to be much more useful even without a huge investment in archery. Blinding speed is only really needed if you don't have enough gear. But if you have a +7 tome, you likely have at least one piece of speed 15 gear.

[kalaka]

Have you thought about taking dodge? I think you would find it more useful than WF:ranged. 3 AP + dodge gets you 6% standing dodge which is really nice. You're already using the tempest tree anyway.

I take it you are never planning on using your bow ever? You could conceivably spare the 2 feats for PBS, ic:ranged. You could conceivably take combat archery but that seems like not your style. I find the first two feats in the bow chain to be much more useful even without a huge investment in archery. Blinding speed is only really needed if you don't have enough gear. But if you have a +7 tome, you likely have at least one piece of speed 15 gear.

capped on dodge from masters blizt, which is always up. no speed item in gear setup hence blinding speed.

[Grailhawk]

Precision > Power Attack vs anything that is non trivial, power attack only pulls ahead if you are hitting 95% of the time (most people really aren't) and are fighting a 0 Fort mob which isn't that often anymore.

Quick Draw is a waist you can simulate its effect by using Sunder right after you hit your action boost. If you have a programmable mouse, keyboard or macro software you can set this up as a one button click.

Weapon Focus Ranged is mind baffling if you want a ranged DPS increase the first choice should be IC: Ranged, and Improved Point Blank Shot comes before WF:Ranged.

IMO Weapon Focus: Slashing would be better spent on a defensive feat like Dodge or Toughness, I kind of feel you have made a very fragile Glass Canon Ranger with all the offensive feat you have taken in place of defense.

IMO Blinding Speed is a trap you would be much better off trying to fit 15% alacrity in from gear.

IMO using gear + Dodge Feat + Improved Dodge Enhancements to max your dodge + PRR Masters Blitz is better then what you are doing with the Dodge Masters Blitz.

[kalaka]

Precision > Power Attack vs anything that is non trivial, power attack only pulls ahead if you are hitting 95% of the time (most people really aren't) and are fighting a 0 Fort mob which isn't that often anymore.

Quick Draw is a waist you can simulate its effect by using Sunder right after you hit your action boost. If you have a programmable mouse, keyboard or macro software you can set this up as a one button click.

Weapon Focus Ranged is mind baffling if you want a ranged DPS increase the first choice should be IC: Ranged, and Improved Point Blank Shot comes before WF:Ranged.

IMO Weapon Focus: Slashing would be better spent on a defensive feat like Dodge or Toughness, I kind of feel you have made a very fragile Glass Canon Ranger with all the offensive feat you have taken in place of defense.

IMO Blinding Speed is a trap you would be much better off trying to fit 15% alacrity in from gear.

IMO using gear + Dodge Feat + Improved Dodge Enhancements to max your dodge + PRR Masters Blitz is better then what you are doing with the Dodge Masters Blitz.

Have over 1500 HP. Not into toughness. May see if I can somehow fit speed and dodge into my gear, but don't see it happening without sacrificing a lot. Quick glance doesn't reveal a way to fit speed into my gear. As for dodge, I would need to look further. Maxing dodge and using blizt PRR is something that has crossed my mind, I just haven't explored it yet. I can't think of a way to really make it feasible though without sacrificing the shroud 18% hp and incap range, which I really do not want to do.

Weapon focus feats give 2 melee power each. I am going to be taking precision instead of WF:ranged, and will update the OP to reflect that change.

Thanks for the quickdraw tip. I will try that.

As for a glass cannon...I am able to melee in LE just fine and solo a lot of LE, including raids. 1500 hp and 120 PRR with 23% dodge, 15% incorp, 50% displacement, and 120 AC is a LOT of survivability. I use the two defensive cooldowns at my disposal for bigger pulls. I am essentially able to melt any trash in the duration of a dire charge stun, and dire charge is no fail. Player skill and tactical feats allow the best defense to be a good offense, once a certain level of defense is reached.

[Grailhawk]

Have over 1500 HP. Not into toughness. May see if I can somehow fit speed and dodge into my gear, but don't see it happening without sacrificing a lot. Quick glance doesn't reveal a way to fit speed into my gear. As for dodge, I would need to look further. Maxing dodge and using blizt PRR is something that has crossed my mind, I just haven't explored it yet. I can't think of a way to really make it feasible though without sacrificing the shroud 18% hp and incap range, which I really do not want to do.

Weapon focus feats give 2 melee power each. I am going to be taking precision instead of WF:ranged, and will update the OP to reflect that change.

Thanks for the quickdraw tip. I will try that.

As for a glass cannon...I am able to melee in LE just fine and solo a lot of LE, including raids. 1500 hp and 120 PRR with 23% dodge, 15% incorp, 50% displacement, and 120 AC is a LOT of survivability. I use the two defensive cooldowns at my disposal for bigger pulls. I am essentially able to melt any trash in the duration of a dire charge stun, and dire charge is no fail. Player skill and tactical feats allow the best defense to be a good offense, once a certain level of defense is reached.

IMO the issue with using the L29 feat on Precision is that Epic Reflex (no fail on a 1) and or Epic Damage Reduction +10 PRR are better in that slot. I would swap either WF:Slashing or Qucikc Draw for Precision then take one of the Epic Feat.

Also have you considered Scion of the Ethereal Plane or Scion of the Plane of Earth/Feywild if you are willing to invest in hide skill or spellpower you can get more damage out of those feats then Arborea.

[kalaka]

IMO the issue with using the L29 feat on Precision is that Epic Reflex (no fail on a 1) and or Epic Damage Reduction +10 PRR are better in that slot. I would swap either WF:Slashing or Qucikc Draw for Precision then take one of the Epic Feat.

Also have you considered Scion of the Ethereal Plane or Scion of the Plane of Earth/Feywild if you are willing to invest in hide skill or spellpower you can get more damage out of those feats then Arborea.

i wouldnt take epic reflex or epic damage reduction. they are both worthless to me, and my playstyle. Moar dps moar better.

feywild and earth are both not a consideration. not interested in attempting to get some lame amount of spellpower, and dealing with resists and immunities.

ethereal plane COULD be considered and would POTENTIALLY be more dps, especially with the 1.5 melee power scaling of SA, however I would prefer the more reliable DPS of the 20 melee power. 20 melee power is a LOT of damage, around 10% at my damage and melee power levels. 100 bonus damage+5w=122.5 122.5*2.8=343 *2.6=318. That is 25 damage a hit from 20 melee power. 80 hide=40 SA damage=136 SA damage (not multiplied on criticals). 136*19=2584. 25*38=950 damage The +2 enhancement bonus is 212.8 damage for a total of 1162. Yes the SA damage is theoretically more damage, I just prefer to bank on the melee power. The Sa would be about 74 more damage a hit. This does not take into account how melee power would affect seeker... seeker 21*2.8*25=1470 damage vs 1365 without that 20 melee power. Thats is 105 more to the melee power for a total of 1267. This bring sthe difference per a hit down to 69. If roughly <50% of attacks are sneak attacks then melee power wins.

tldr;assuming 80 hide 5d8 base damage and 100 bonus damage with 180 vs 160 melee power
SA=2584 damage
Melee power 1267 damage
<50% SAs mean 20 melee power is better.

PS my math could be wrong. i will admit that

[gwonbush]

Your build looks like it should have sneak attack damage most of the time. Dire Charge leaves trash helpless (vulnerable to sneak attack) and you also have Exposing Strike for 66% uptime of sneak attack single target. Another advantage of sneak attack for legendary content is that you get full sneak attack damage on grazing hits.

[Eth]

I agree with most of the tweaks grail mentioned.

Also I'd run FE: Undead or FE: Dragon over FE: Construct and twist construct in for shroud only.
Change to 3/3/2/2/1 for that since you want grim precision over sense weakness anyway and ditch brace for impact (is that needed anyway?).

[kalaka]

I agree with most of the tweaks grail mentioned.

Also I'd run FE: Undead or FE: Dragon over FE: Construct and twist construct in for shroud only.
Change to 3/3/2/2/1 for that since you want grim precision over sense weakness anyway and ditch brace for impact (is that needed anyway?).

I run brace to get to 200% fort. Kept getting crit soloing le curse. I don't fight any undead or dragons, and if I do then they're trivial.

Don't need to twist Grim Precision. Have 56% fort bypass naturally, and group debuffs bring their fort to 0 on portals anyways.

I dropped power attack for WF Slashing, changed WF slashing to WF ranged, and took precision.

[Grailhawk]

I run brace to get to 200% fort. Kept getting crit soloing le curse. I don't fight any undead or dragons, and if I do then they're trivial.

Don't need to twist Grim Precision. Have 56% fort bypass naturally, and group debuffs bring their fort to 0 on portals anyways.

I dropped power attack for WF Slashing, changed WF slashing to WF ranged, and took precision.

Why WF:Ranged over IC: Ranged or Improved Point Blank Shot?

[Eth]

Why WF:Ranged over IC: Ranged or Improved Point Blank Shot?

Maybe a false assumption, that it adds melee power, which is not the case?
Don't get it either - for more ranged damage PBS and IC range are both better indeed.

[Eth]

I run brace to get to 200% fort. Kept getting crit soloing le curse. I don't fight any undead or dragons, and if I do then they're trivial.

Don't need to twist Grim Precision. Have 56% fort bypass naturally, and group debuffs bring their fort to 0 on portals anyways.

I dropped power attack for WF Slashing, changed WF slashing to WF ranged, and took precision.

OK, fair enough.

Do you still get critted with 200% fort?

[kalaka]

Maybe a false assumption, that it adds melee power, which is not the case?
Don't get it either - for more ranged damage PBS and IC range are both better indeed.

Yes, I will need to change it to WF Piercing. It is ranged power from WF: Ranged, and it is taken for the melee power.

[kalaka]

OK, fair enough.

Do you still get critted with 200% fort?

Dying to crits there was not an issue after twisting it, no. In fact dying is hardly an issue for this character. 68% avoidance chance, without elaborate parry active, is nice. 75% avoidance chance with elaborate parry.

[kalaka]

Your build looks like it should have sneak attack damage most of the time. Dire Charge leaves trash helpless (vulnerable to sneak attack) and you also have Exposing Strike for 66% uptime of sneak attack single target. Another advantage of sneak attack for legendary content is that you get full sneak attack damage on grazing hits.

I am considering this change after more thought, and after taking exposing strike.

[QuantumFX]

I see why you have your APs where you have them. But, ****, giving up Mark of the Hunted is hard.

Feats:
Sneak of Shadows? Even without Scion of the Etherial Plane, your melee power should make this a nice clicky to have.

Something you could consider for your twists:
Set up the Tier 2 Favored Enemy in Primal Avatar to an enemy that you run into in raids, but you don't run into often outside of raids. This may or may not open up an additional FE slot. But, I would think in some cases, having slightly more FE damage and including another group of targets into your FE selection may be stronger than a 3% main hand doublestrike.

Also, are you sure your dodge bonus from Blitz isn't getting cut low by the max dodge nonsense? (No, I'm not talking about max dex bonus.) Seems like you should only be rolling with a +27% (25% Base +2% Fencing Master guild buff.) prior to Elaborate Parry.

[kalaka]

I see why you have your APs where you have them. But, ****, giving up Mark of the Hunted is hard.

Feats:
Sneak of Shadows? Even without Scion of the Etherial Plane, your melee power should make this a nice clicky to have.

Something you could consider for your twists:
Set up the Tier 2 Favored Enemy in Primal Avatar to an enemy that you run into in raids, but you don't run into often outside of raids. This may or may not open up an additional FE slot. But, I would think in some cases, having slightly more FE damage and including another group of targets into your FE selection may be stronger than a 3% main hand doublestrike.

Also, are you sure your dodge bonus from Blitz isn't getting cut low by the max dodge nonsense? (No, I'm not talking about max dex bonus.) Seems like you should only be rolling with a +27% (25% Base +2% Fencing Master guild buff.) prior to Elaborate Parry.

Sneak of Shadows isnt a bad idea...hmm...+25 sneak attack damage*3.77=95 SA damage...

I like the favored enemy idea. May explore it. FE Giant would be nice.

Yes my dodge is capped at 23% (max dex bonus on armor) or 27%. I wear no dodge items tho, so I get more return from the dodge blizt vs the prr one.

[adrian69]

Precision > Power Attack vs anything that is non trivial, power attack only pulls ahead if you are hitting 95% of the time (most people really aren't) and are fighting a 0 Fort mob which isn't that often anymore.

Quick Draw is a waist you can simulate its effect by using Sunder right after you hit your action boost. If you have a programmable mouse, keyboard or macro software you can set this up as a one button click.

Weapon Focus Ranged is mind baffling if you want a ranged DPS increase the first choice should be IC: Ranged, and Improved Point Blank Shot comes before WF:Ranged.

IMO Weapon Focus: Slashing would be better spent on a defensive feat like Dodge or Toughness, I kind of feel you have made a very fragile Glass Canon Ranger with all the offensive feat you have taken in place of defense.

IMO Blinding Speed is a trap you would be much better off trying to fit 15% alacrity in from gear.

IMO using gear + Dodge Feat + Improved Dodge Enhancements to max your dodge + PRR Masters Blitz is better then what you are doing with the Dodge Masters Blitz.

Except on certain builds like barbarians who can't use precision while raged, precision is much better. Quick Draw can be simulated, but it feels like a wasted feat. I'd only bother with IC: Ranged since you'll be melee most of the time, and still I'd probably not even worry about ranged feats. I think you either need to go all in for melee DPS or pick up Dodge or TWF Defense as suggested and PRR is would better for you.

[kalaka]

Except on certain builds like barbarians who can't use precision while raged, precision is much better. Quick Draw can be simulated, but it feels like a wasted feat. I'd only bother with IC: Ranged since you'll be melee most of the time, and still I'd probably not even worry about ranged feats. I think you either need to go all in for melee DPS or pick up Dodge or TWF Defense as suggested and PRR is would better for you.

Feats have been changed since OP. Check updated list.

I am all in for melee dps...

Quick draw is not a wasted feat. It is huge amounts of DPS. IIRC it halves it from 1.4 -> .7 activation time. At 8k DPS that is 5600 damage. You hit boosts every 20 seconds, and hit two of them. 5600*2=11,200/20=560 DPS from that feat.