History of this Build
I worked on this build while getting deep gnome lifes for my main 4 characters. It works great all the way from 15 to 30, but like PMs in general it isn't an optimal solo build because when insta-kill isn't working the backup options require too much sp and wizard hasn't been gifted with ways to get around immunities like sorc, alchemist and to a lesser extent warlocks.
With changes to the game providing mitigation from evadable spells with a large shield, alchemical shields being best in-slot and evasion being less beneficial another good split for this build is 18 rogue 2 fighter for 2 shield mastery feats. Pure 20 wizard for one more feat is also compelling although you gain very little from 2 wizard levels besides 2 spell penetration and 1 bonus feat.
This is based on my original build from long ago I posted in another thread:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5795475
Much has changed since then.
Update 48 is an amazing update for Illusionist.
Race: Deep Gnome
Class Split: 18 Wizard / 2 Rogue (or 18 Wizard / 2 Fighter, 18 Wizard/2 Monk or even 20 Wizard)
Str: 6
Dex: 8
Int: 20 (all level ups)
Wisdom: 14
Con: 18
Char: 6
Feats
1) Spell Focus Illusion
1W) Quicken
3) Completionist
5W) Augment Summoning
6) Insightful Reflexes
9) Spell Penetration
10W) Extend
12) Past Life Wizard
15) Greater Spell Focus Illusion
15W) Heighten
18) Improved Augment Summoning
21) Epic Spell Focus Illusion
24) Embolden Spell
26) Spell Power Negative
27) Greater Spell Penetration
28) Mass Frog
29) Arcane Pulse
30) Scion of the Plane of Feywild
30) Epic Spell Penetration
*** With Feydark Illusionist your spells benefit from enlarge at no additional cost. Augment summon feats increase illusion DC with the feydark illusionist tree. If you don't have past lifes add maximize and empower for more spellpower, but use judiciously. Alternatively take arcane insight at 27 and move greater spell penetration back to heroic levels by swapping around feats a bit.
Enhancement Tree Breakdown
Feydark Illusionist: 41 points
Archmage: 25 points (PK SLA, tier 4 int and Illusion +1 DC)
Pale Master: 6 (just enough for self healing and 1 DC)
Deep Gnome: 18
** 6 discretionary if you have 96 action points (current max). If you have 80 instead take 10 points out of deep gnome.
I am going to show Intelligence and DC calculations with all the past lifes, but they aren't absolutely necessary, but as always with any DC build past lifes are a tremendous benefit. These are unbuffed other than ship buffs, yugo pots and remnant int potions which I can keep running all the time. I don't consider anything listed as extreme or gimping the character. Also note the magistrate set bonus is currently providing +5 DC instead of +4 indicated on the gear and +3 indicated on the buff bar. Since all evidence indicates the devs intend it to be +4 I am using that in the calculations and will assume it will be corrected in the near future.
Intelligence
Starting Base: 20
Level Ups: 7
Tome: 8
Completionist: 2
Racial Completionist: 2
Racial Past Lifes: 2
Item -Enhancement Bonus : 22
Item - Exceptional Bonus: 1
Item - Insightful Bonus: 10
Item - Quality Bonus: 5
Item - Profane Bonus: 2
Item - Artifact Bonus: 4 (Set Bonus - Masterful Magewright)
Item - Filigree: 12
Item - Reaper: 2
Item - Alchemical: 2
Augment: Festive Int: 2
Enhancement - Wraith Form: 2
Enhancement - Deep Gnome: 2
Enhancement - Feydark Illusionist: 6 (including capstone)
Enhancement - Archmage: 2
Enhancement - Reaper: 5
Epic Destinies - Magister: 5
Epic Destinies - Arcane Hymn Twist - 1
Epic Destiny - Int Twists - 2
Ship Buffs - 2
Yugo Potions - 2
Remnant Potions - 2
Total Int: 134
Illusion DC
Base: 10
Spell Level (Heighten): 9
Stat Bonus: 62
Spell Focus: 1
Greater Spell Focus: 1
Epic Spell Focus: 1
Past Life Wizard: 1
Embolden: 2
Deep Gnome Past Lifes: 3
Scion of the Feywild: 4
Item - Enhancement Bonus: 9 (Magewright Spectacles)
Item - Insightful Bonus: 5 (Magewright Spectacles)
Item - Quality Bonus: 2
Item - Augment Bonus: 2
Item - Profane Bonus: 2
Item - Sacred Bonus: 2 (Gloryborn gloves - feytwisted)
Item - Artifact Bonus: 4 (Set Bonus)
Item - Filigree: 4 (Otto + Eye of the Beholder Sets)
Enhancements - Racial: 3
Enhancements - Archmage: 1
Enhancements - Feydark Illusionist: 4
Enhancements - Feydark Illusionist w/Augment Summon: 1
Enhancements - Feydark Illusionist w/Improved Augment Summon: 1
Enhancements - Reaper: 4
Epic Destiny - Magister Cores: 6
Epic Destiny - Illusion Specialist: 3
Epic Destiny - Master of Illusion: 3
Epic Destiny - Draconic Presence Twist: 3
Ship Buffs: 1
Total Illusion DC: 154
Spell Penetration (Illusion):
Wizard Levels: 18
Feat: Spell Penetration: 2
Feat: Greater Spell Penetration: 2
Feat: Epic Spell Penetration: 4
Feat: Past Life Wizard and Favored Soul: 9
Item: Enhancement Bonus: 9
Item: Insightful Bonus: 5
Enhancement Tree: Feydark Illusionist: 3
Enhancement Tree: Archmage: 3
Enhancement Tree: Reaper: 5
Magister - Wizard Levels: 5
Master of Illusion (Illusion - Magister): 3
Epic Destiny Twist: 2 (Includes Arcane Song)
Ship Buff: 1
Eye of the Beholder Set: 1
Total: 72
*** To the extent you need more spell pen you can drop 2 int twists and swap in 1 spell pen for 3 more. You can also potentially drop meld for 3 more spell pen bringing the total to 78 in content where it might be needed, but I will stick with meld and 75 in those situations
Key Clicky DC and Spell Pen Buffs for this Build:
Reaper's Potency: +3 DC (20 seconds even though it's supposed to be 30)
Arcane Spellsurge from Magister: +5 DC (20 seconds 1 min cooldown)
Instakills
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Phantasmal Killer (deep gnome SLA): 5 spell points 16 second cooldown
Phantasmal Killer (archmage SLA): 10 spell points 6 second colldown
Unmeta'd Phantasmal Killer (spell with no metamagic): 20 spell points: 5 second cooldown (use this on low fort enemies when possible and use the metad slas on other enemies)
Phantasmal Killer spell: 56 spell points 8 second cooldown (only use when facing groups of high-fort enemies due to the almost triple spell point cost)
Power Word Kill spell: 48 spell points 210 second cooldown (not really needed but useful for high fort enemies immune to fear)
Also, don't underestimate how good greater color spray is for 2 spell points. With feydark illusionist players are finally appreciating how good that spell is.
CC
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Mass Hold
Otto's Dancing Sphere
Mind Fog for debuff
Crushing Despair for debuff
Power Word Stun - single target
Otto's Irresistable Dance - single target
Greater Color Spray
GEAR
Goggles - Legendary Magewright's Goggles: Spell Penetration 9, Illusion Focus 9, Insightful Illusion 5, Insightful Intelligence 10
Helmet - Legendary Crown of Snow: Permanent Fire Shield (Cold), Paragon Cerulean Wave, Spell Focus Mastery 7, Insightful Spell Focus Mastery 4, Reaper Stat Bonus
Necklace - The Zarash'ak Ward: Intelligence 22, Quality Spell Focus Mastery 2, Quality Potency 41, Force Absorb 20%
Trinket - Legendary Deep Promise Onyx: Quality Int 5, Insightful Negative Heal Amp 43, Quality Heal Amp 22, False Life 81
Cloak - Legendary Magewright's Cloak: Charsima 21, Wizardry 453, Enchantment Focus 9, Insightful Enchantment 5
Belt - Legendary Direbear Belt: Insightful Sheltering 27, Natural Armor 21, Rough Hide 5
Ring 1 - Legendary Celestial Sapphire Ring 5: Constitution 21, Dodge 21, Profane Well Rounded
Gloves - Gloryborne Gloves: Sacred Spell Focus II, Power of the Silver Flame 214, Quality Resistance 4
Boots - Legendary Deepsnow Boots: Insightful Constitution 10, Quality Constitution 5, Freedom of Movement, Fortitude Save 17
Ring 2 - The Legendary Shattered Onyx: Insightful Wisdom 10, Profane Spell Focus II, Insightful Resistance 8, Insightful Dodge 10
Bracers - Legendary Cold Iron Bracers: Ghostly, Protection 17, Vitality 72, Quality False Life 20
Armor - The Legendary Grey Leathers: Fortification 214, Physical Sheltering 54, Negative Healing Amp 85, False Life 81
Weapon 1 - Legendary Prince's Sceptre: Spell Focus Mastery 7, Insightful Spell Focus Mastery 4, Spell Penetration 9, Insightful Spell Penetration 5
Off-Hand - Alchemical Small Shield: Nullification 219, Void Lore 32, Alchemical Intelligence +2, Transmutation Focus +9
Boss Weapon
Weapon 1 - Null The Darkness Without: Nullification 208, Insightful Nullfication 104, Void Lore 30
Off-hand - LGS Ash MRR Debuffer: Enhanced Nullfication 105, 30% Fire Absorb, Exc Nullification 37
This setup is a lower nullfication spellpower which is my biggest concern with the gear setup - primarily due to self healing, but it does have more negative healing amp (trinket, winter set). The 4 piece winter set provide 25PRR, 15 stacking healing and negative healing amp and a 20% hit point bonus. Another option is 2 piece winter set (boots + hat) and legendary silverthread belt with legendary aether band bracers and legendary prince's scepter since all dc and spell pen stats are covered, but I find this setup slightly weaker overall.
Assuming the magewright set bonus will be fixed, using the dreadkeeper reduces DC by 3 (2 from gloryborne gloves and 1 from as intended DC set bonus). Currently the magewright set bonus is giving a +5 DC bonus instead of the +4 indicated on the gear or the +3 indicated in the buff bar.
Alternate setup which gives up +1 DC from the alchemical off-hand and 20% hp but significantly improves self-healing:
Goggles - Legendary Magewright's Goggles: Spell Penetration 9, Illusion Focus 9, Insightful Illusion 5, Insightful Intelligence 10
Helmet - Legendary Crown of Snow: Permanent Fire Shield (Cold), Paragon Cerulean Wave, Spell Focus Mastery 7, Insightful Spell Focus Mastery 4, Reaper Stat Bonus
Necklace - The Zarash'ak Ward: Intelligence 22, Quality Spell Focus Mastery 2, Quality Potency 41, Force Absorb 20%
Trinket - Legendary Deep Promise Onyx: Quality Int 5, Insightful Negative Heal Amp 43, Quality Heal Amp 22, False Life 81
Cloak - Legendary Magewright's Cloak: Charsima 21, Wizardry 453, Enchantment Focus 9, Insightful Enchantment 5
Belt - Legendary Silverthread Belt: Enhanced Nullfication 202, Void Lore 29, Enhanced Devotion 202, Healing Lore 29
Ring 1 - Legendary Ring of Fall's Decay: Acid Lore 31, Corrosion 214, Void Lore 31, Nullification 214
Gloves - Gloryborne Gloves: Sacred Spell Focus II, Power of the Silver Flame 214, Quality Resistance 4
Boots - Legendary Deepsnow Boots: Insightful Constitution 10, Quality Constitution 5, Freedom of Movement, Fortitude Save 17
Ring 2 - The Legendary Shattered Onyx: Insightful Wisdom 10, Profane Spell Focus II, Insightful Resistance 8, Insightful Dodge 10
Bracers - Legendary Levik's Bracers: Constitution 21, Competence Healing Amp 88, Vitality 74, False Life 83
Armor - The Legendary Grey Leathers: Fortification 214, Physical Sheltering 54, Negative Healing Amp 85, False Life 81
Weapon 1 - Legendary Prince's Sceptre: Spell Focus Mastery 7, Insightful Spell Focus Mastery 4, Spell Penetration 9, Insightful Spell Penetration 5
Off-Hand - Legendary Stygian Wrath: Insightful Nullification 107, Insightful Void Lore 18, Sinister Chill
With this setup you have much much higher self-healing numbers and gain 50 artifact spellpower from the 2 piece autumn set, but you lose 20% hp, 25 PRR and accept positive healing better. You lose 1 DC.
The reason I prefer the first setup is that it positions you better to take one big hit better (more PRR, more hp) and if you are in higher skulls with a balanced party you can get heals from someone else if needed.
Since this is not a solo build it just makes more sense to me to overweight hp and prr over aura #s. With gear tetris as crazy as it is I was not expecting to be able to max DC and get the 20% hp bonus so I am happy with it overall. Plus I can always swap gear sets as needed and effectively use all 3 gears sets above as needed.
OPTIMAL FILIGREE SETUP:
Please note you can't currently slot the same filigree in the same artifact, but you can slot the same filigree in a weapon and accessory. Those benefits will stack and both filigree will count towards your set bonus. It is uncertain whether this is working as intended, but it's been that way for a while and the devs haven't indicated they plan to change it.
So this setup gives you the max DC and Int bonuses including the extra +2 necro bonus from inevitable grave.
Weapon
Eye of the Beholder / Inevitable Grave: +2 Intelligence, +8 Universal Spellpower (Rare)
Eye of the Beholder: + 1 Intelligence, +2 MRR (Rare)
Eye of the Beholder: +6 Universal Spellower, +4 Universal Spellpower (Rare)
Otto's Irrevocable Power: Intelligence +1, MRR +2 (Rare)
Otto's Irrevocable Power: MRR + 2, PRR +2 (Rare)
Otto's Irrevocable Power: PRR + 2, MRR +2 (Rare)
Otto's Irrevocable Power: +6 Spellpower, +4 Spellpower (Rare)
Inevitable Grave: +1 Intelligence, +2 MRR (Rare)
Zarigan's Arcane Enlightenment / Voltaic Experiement: +2 Intelligence, +4 MRR (Rare)
Artifact Accessory
Eye of the Beholder / Inevitable Grave: +2 Intelligence, +8 Universal Spellpower (Rare)
Inevitable Grave: +1 Intelligence, +2 MRR (Rare)
Zarigan's Arcane Enlightenment / Voltaic Experiment: +2 Intelligence, +4 MRR (Rare)
Total Intelligence From Filigree: +12
Set Bonuses
- Eye of the Beholder X4: +4 Concentration, +1 Spell Penetration, +2 DC to all Spells
- Otto's Irrevocable Power X4: +5 MRR, 200 Spell Points, +2 DC to all spells
- The Inevitable Grave x4: +10 Spellpower, +2 Will Savings Throws, +2 DC to Necromancy Spells
- Zarigan's Arcane Enlightenment x 2: -10% Arcane Spell Failure
- Voltaic Experiment x2: +10 Universal Spellpower
One possible change is swapping the MRR +3/ PRR +2 otto's filigree with -10% arcane spell failure reduction if you plan to splash 2 fighter and use some combination of armor and an alchemical shield that requires more arcane spell failure reduction. This would give you 20% stacking reduction total from just filigree. A heavy or tower shield provides additional damage mitigation for evadable spells and alchemical crafting gives you the flexibility to craft benefits on to any shield type if you can get around the arcane spell failure.
Farming Feytwisted Items (Gloves)
The easiest way I found to farm for feytwisted items is by checking the water elemental chest in Make Believe.
I haven't received a feytwisted item with a reaper bonus, but I am assuming items can drop with these bonuses so I've been going in on R8 solo, bluffing the guards and then checking for the chest - rinse/repeat. When you find a chest you can bring in the dual boxes or invite friends/guildies. Be advised I've seen a worse case scenario of 4 champ elementals and 4 reapers so make sure you can handle that on the skull you choose or have friends/guildies that can help if you find the chest.
It took 74 runs to find my first chest and 31 to find my 2nd chest doing this. Each chest had a top-tier mythic bonus, but I haven't yet found any items with reaper bonuses.
Use a crafted item with bluff, insightful bluff and charisma and that should be enough if you don't have a high enough skill. I was able to do fine on R8 with my warlock with a high charisma, no ranks to bluff and no item (76 outside of reaper - a little higher in reaper)