Introducing Ithril, DC caster, pure wizard build U30

[Hulligan]

Greetings folks,

It took me quite some tome to perfect one of my favourite toon - Ithril, the DC caster.
There was a time when such casters ruled all the servers - these times are gone, yet I decided not to give up and max the build in every way.
In the final process I was looking at forum threads to see what feats, enahncements, items, destinies/twists to take and saw only ranting on theoretical max DC which if one would take the effort could realize it's impossile (for instance you can't spend 130 points into enhancements try as you hard :P ).
So here it is.
Ithril, now finally complete. I'll not only show the end result but provide a full breakdown in numbers (for which I took my time and test and count everything) in case anyone wishes to reproduce.

Please Note: this is NOT a beginner build. In fact a couple number of past lives is a must unless you go for lesser achievement, which is dumping INT, spell pen, DC or all of them the same time.
Absolutely minimal recommended on past lives:
- 3x Wizard
- 3x Favored Soul

Ithril has maxed out all heroic past lives, all iconic past lives and 30 of 36 epic past lives.



INTELLIGENCE : 96

20 - Starting stat
7 - Level up
7 - Tome
Enhancements:
2 - Morninglord Core 2 and 4: +1 Intelligence
2 - Archamge tier 3 and 4: +1 Intelligence
2 - Pale Master core 5: Shroud of the Lich
2 - Pale Master core 6: Master of Death
2 - Pale Master tier 3 and 4: +1 Intelligence
2 - Pale Master tier 5: Improved Shrouding (+lich form)
Feats:
2 - Completionist
Destiny/twist:
6 - Magister destiny tier 1-6
4 - Twist of fate slot (tier 4-2-1-1)
1 - Fatesinger tier 3: Echoes of Ancestor twist
Items:
15 - Enchantment: Legendary Green Steel Sceptre tier 1
7 - Insightful: Legendary Green Steel Sceptre tier 2
2 - Exceptional: Legendary Green Steel Sceptre tier 3
3 - Quality: Legendary Construct's Mantle
2 - Profane: Epic Litany of the Dead
Buffs:
2 - Ship buff
Augment:
2 - Festive: Diamond of Festive Intelligence +2

TOTAL: 92

Semi-perma buff:
2 - Yugoloth potion: Essences of Cunning
TOTAL usual questing: 94

Possible extra buff :
2 - Lasting Elixir of Supreme Ability (Store potion, 60 min buff)
TOTAL maximum sustainable : 96

Necro DC : 93

10 - BASE
9 - Spell level /w heighten
43 - INT modifier (with INT 96)
Enhancements:
1 - Pale Master core 5: Shroud of the Lich
1 - Archmage tier 4: Primary spell focus: Necromancy
1 - Pale Master tier 5: Necromantic Focus
Feats:
1 - Spell Focus: Necromancy
1 - Greater Spell Focus: necromancy
1 - Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
1 - Wizard active past life
4 - Scion of the Shedowfell
2 - Embolden
Destiny/twist:
3 - Magister tier 2: Necromancy Specialist
Items:
2 - Epic Deific Diadem (with Death aura always on) - Deific Focus II
2 - Robe of the Celestial Sage - Insightful Spell Focus Mastery +2
6 - Random lootgen goggles: Necromancy Focus +6
2 - Epic Increased Potential: Quality Spell Focus +2
Augment:
2 - Topaz of Greater Necromancy
Buff:
1 - Ship buff

TOTAL: 93

Enchant DC : 79



10 - BASE
9 - Spell level /w heighten
43 - INT modifier
Enhancements:
Feats:
1 - Wizard active past life
2 - Scion of the Shedowfell
2 - Embolden
Destiny/twist:
Items:
2 - Robe of the Celestial Sage - Insightful Spell Focus Mastery +2
5 - Epic Band Immaterial: Enchantment Focus +5
0 - Epic Band Immaterial: Insightful Enchantment Focus +2 (does not stack with armor)
2 - Epic Increased Potential: Quality Spell Focus +2
Augment:
2 - Topaz of Greater Enchantment
Buff:
1 - Ship buff

TOTAL: 79



Spell Penetration : 58

30 Level
6 - 3x Wizard Past lives
3 - 3x Favored Soul Past lives
2 - Spell Penetration feat
2 - Greater Spell Penetration feat
3 - Archamge tier 3: Spell Penetration
6 - Random lootgen goggles: Spell Penetration +6
2 - Epic Increased Potential: Insightful Spell Penetration +2
3 - Epic Destiny (Magister)
1 - Ship buff

TOTAL: 58

Feats taken:

1 Insightful Reflexes
*1 Maximize
3 Spell Penetration
*5 Spell Focus: Necromancy
6 Wizard active Past Life
9 Extend
*10 Quicken
12 Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
*15 Empower
15 Completionist
18 Greater Spell Penetration
*20 Heighten
21 Epic Spell focus: Necromancy
24 Embolden Spell
26 Epic Spell Power: Force
27 Ruin
28 Elusive Target
29 Arcane Pulse
30 Greater Ruin
30 Scion of Shadowfell

* Wizard class bonus feat

Enhancement List :



Epic Destinies :



Twist of Fate slots :
Tier 4 : Intelligence +1 (from Shadowdancer)
Tier 3 : Echoes of the Ancestors (from Fatesinger)
Tier 2 : Intelligence +1 (from Shadowdancer)
Tier 1 : Intelligence +1 (from Shadowdancer)
Tier 1 : Intelligence +1 (from Draconic Incarnation) (requires Epic completionist)

Occasional changes (for Legendary Elite Tempest Spine):
* Drop Tier 4, +1 INT from twist
* Drop Tier 3, Echoes of the Ancestors (-1 int, -2 spell pen)
* Take Tier 3, Spell Penetration +3 from Draconic Incarnation
* Take Tier 3, Spell Penetration +3 from Exalted Angel
Thus dropping INT by 2 (1 DC) and gaining +4 Spell Pen

Items (as of U30) :
Goggles : Reanimating 6 Goggles of Spell Penetration 6 (random loot)
Armor : Robe of the Celestial Sage

slotted with Festive Intelligence +2

slotted with Vitality +20

Bracers : Dumathoin's Bracers

slotted with Sapphire of Protection +8

Helm : Epic Deific Diadem

slotted with Topaz of Fear Immunity

slotted with Sapphire of Good Luck +2

Necklace : Necklace of Mystic Eidolons

slotted with Sapphire of False Life +40

Trinket : Epic Litany of the Dead

slotted with Diamond of Strength +8

empty slot

Cloak : Legendary Construct's Mantle

empty Green slot

Belt : Epic Belt of Thoughtful Rememberance

slotted with Topaz of Feather Falling

slotted with Topaz of Greater Necromancy

Boots : Legendary Boots of the Devil Commander

slotted with Sapphire of Crushing Wave Guard

Gloves : Epic Fanged Gloves

slotted with Globe of Imperial True Blood

empty Green slot

Ring 1 : Dire Impulsive 22 ring of Impulse 151 (random loot)
Ring 2 : The Epic Band Immaterial

slotted with Topaz of Greater Enchantment

Main Hand : Legendary Green Steel Sceptre : Triple negative
tier 1 : +15 Intelligence (Enhancement bonus)
tier 2 : +7 Intelligence (Insigtful bonus)
tier 3 : +2 Intelligence (Exceptional bonus)
Off Hand : Epic Increased Potential
slotted with Meridian Fragment

Cosmetic Head : Glowing Eyes - Infernal Fire

Festival Fire Resistance 10

Cosmetic Armor : Violet Lead Outfit

Festival Glaciation 120

Closing remarks
I see very little improvement possibility in this build. I'm working on to get Gauntlets of the Arcane Soldier, which if I'm not mistaken, would benifit me an extra +2 Spell Pen and +1 DC for the price of 10% save on SP; but frankly doing DOJ recently (since the Data Center move) wasn't an easy task because of the lag.

I'll keep this post updated as future updates will come (and when I happen to get the gloves)-
If there's anything I missed, let me know. Any and all feedback is most welcome.

[Morroiel]

Few thoughts....

Drop extend for enchant DC focus (extend really is just an excuse to be lazy stop being lazy and recast buffs )
Gear needs some work - drop sage robe, pick up thunderholme shadow robe for profane +1, goggles w/ +7 focus +2 insight focus for necro (if you were so inclined you could get a pair of enchant focus/insight focus as well), spell pen gloves (with insight spell pen if you can get).


Additionally keep an eye out for next update, belt is really good (quality int +4), enchant quality DC +2 on necklace as well. Some nice items for all builds coming in U31.

Changes I mentioned above net you: Necro goes up by 2, enchant goes up by 2 with feat change and gear.

Question:

You mention lasting elixirs being available from commendations of valor - I am not aware of this? I was under the impression that the commendation of valor pots provided +2 insight bonus to all stats for 10 minutes - therefore not stacking with your legendary greensteel stick (+7 insight bonus to int). I assume that you mean store pots which last for 60 minutes and provide a +2 unique bonus to a select stat? Is there someway to get these from commendations of valor that I'm not aware of?

[Hulligan]

Few thoughts....

Drop extend for enchant DC focus (extend really is just an excuse to be lazy stop being lazy and recast buffs )
Gear needs some work - drop sage robe, pick up thunderholme shadow robe for profane +1, goggles w/ +7 focus +2 insight focus for necro (if you were so inclined you could get a pair of enchant focus/insight focus as well), spell pen gloves (with insight spell pen if you can get).


Additionally keep an eye out for next update, belt is really good (quality int +4), enchant quality DC +2 on necklace as well. Some nice items for all builds coming in U31.

Changes I mentioned above net you: Necro goes up by 2, enchant goes up by 2 with feat change and gear.

Question:

You mention lasting elixirs being available from commendations of valor - I am not aware of this? I was under the impression that the commendation of valor pots provided +2 insight bonus to all stats for 10 minutes - therefore not stacking with your legendary greensteel stick (+7 insight bonus to int). I assume that you mean store pots which last for 60 minutes and provide a +2 unique bonus to a select stat? Is there someway to get these from commendations of valor that I'm not aware of?

Hey,

Thanks for the feedback.

- I'll not drop extend because I personally don't care about the enchant DC. If I can kill it then I will. If not, I let the party do. I can still masshold or cast danceball with good chance in LH/LE content but against opponents that really matter I'll cast irresistible because that can't be saved. On the other hand Displacement and Death Aura benefits from Extend - to me these matter the most (and even with extend the aura lasts only 2 min 48 sec). It's not that I'm lazy, but I don't want to die because I forget to recast it.

- I haven't seen googles w/ +7 focus yet not to mention it has to be +7 focus/+6 spell pen at least as my spell pen item is also in goggles
+2 insightful necro in goggles would not stack with Sage Robe.
If I happen to find a +7 necro focus / +6 spell pen goggle that would net me +1 DC true but of course I'd be wearing that now Anything other suffix than spell pen would force me took for a place to put it and I'd be in trouble.

- If I take a spell pen into gloves I'd have nowhere to put the DoJ gloves which holds Arcane Augmentation IX, which is basicly +2 stacking spell pen (thus I would end up losing spell pen altogether).

- Insighful Spell Pen 2 exists in offhand (Epic Increased Potential)

- Thunderholme Armor would give +1 profane but Sage Robe gives +2 Focus Mastery which is +1 net DC. If there was a place to put +2 Focus Mastery without loosing anything from current setup (which there isn't to my understanding), I'd do it, otherwise I'd be loosing 1 DC here.

Even with this setup I more often have spell pen problems than DC problem, especially in LE Tempest, where the drow block my spell with their spell resists. If I'm lucky to break it they're dead.

- The new belt in U31 looks more than appealing to me so I'm already thinking how to fit it in the current build, but I'm waiting for it to make it live, in case the item would get any modification.

Regarding the pot: you're right I had the 60 min store pot on me, Valor gives +25 spell power pots which I also use and mixed it up. I'll update OP accordingly.

[Wipey]

You can get "store" pots for 250 remnants and since there's nothing to spend em on and you get like 2-3k per life it's quite sustainable.

New cloak and belt look like must haves. Better Ruins, Pulse and Prism Spray yay.
But that leaves spell pen either on gloves, eyes or Whelon bracers.

Never really liked the silly summon neck, it does nothing except some 30 hp extra for you ( and annoying summon ). Better insight necro + prr random gen or MoD neck.
Mine still has TF robe so ghostly covered that way.

Diadem
2 insight necro prr neck ( MoD neck would be ideal here but then there's no way to get insight DC )
Litany
new cloak
new belt
brazenband
I have GS gloves on mine, spell points save don't stack with Magister iirc. Or invasive random with insight neg possibly ? DoJ gloves DC don't stack with Increased Potential and DoJ sucks for wiz so I kinda abandoned the idea.
Sage boots ( yes I know, but I like Web and it really doesn't make a difference in elite TS or Shroud hehe, robe user gets one shotted either way .. at least mine gimpy 4th lifer does :P perhaps with your past lives and super extra hp you can survive one hit ? )
14 - 15 con ring
Sage's bracers
TF robe
6 necro 2 enchant eyes

Agreed on Extend hehe, I dropped it recently and it starts getting on my nerves to recast Displace and Rage all the time.

Grats on awesome toon either way !

[Ellihor]

I think the belt of Rememberance reduces the amount of healing you get from the aura. Have not logged for some months, thought.

[slarden]

- I'll not drop extend because I personally don't care about the enchant DC. If I can kill it then I will. If not, I let the party do. I can still masshold or cast danceball with good chance in LH/LE content but against opponents that really matter I'll cast irresistible because that can't be saved. On the other hand Displacement and Death Aura benefits from Extend - to me these matter the most (and even with extend the aura lasts only 2 min 48 sec). It's not that I'm lazy, but I don't want to die because I forget to recast it.

Yeah I won't run my PM without extend either - it saves so much sp. Your enchant DC is high enough - 1 more won't matter. The way you have it is optimal for the current content - max spell pen, max int, max necro DC and get what you can get with enchant.

[Scope333]

What feat if any would you consider giving up for epic spell pen?

[ValariusK]

I have a question. What are you using maximize/empower for on this build? Is it just for ruin and negative energy burst?
I'm working on a similar build where I substitute mental toughness/improved mental toughness for those 2 feats.