"The Maverick Hunter" a guide to melee Artificer

[Eelpout]

ok, didn't think of that, and out of curiosity have you looked at the new renegade master tree coming out? If so, would it be a viable option to use to increase dps and ac, instead of the construct tree? also what benefit did you get from 2-handed fighting since you are using a one handed weapon?

Increases the damage of glancing blow attacks when wielding a two-handed weapon by 10% (from a base of 20% normal weapon damage.) This feat also grants a 3% chance for weapon effects to trigger on glancing blows. While fighting with a two-handed weapon you gain a +2 Combat Style bonus to Melee Power.

Notes
As of Update 5 This feat will also work with glancing blows caused by Bastard Swords and Dwarven Axes when wielded as a single weapon or weapon and shield combination.

You would only want to take it if you are using Bastard Swords or Dwarven Axes.

[unbongwah]

ok, didn't think of that, and out of curiosity have you looked at the new renegade master tree coming out? If so, would it be a viable option to use to increase dps and ac, instead of the construct tree?

Uhh read one post up from yours and you'll see my initial thoughts on RM. I'm intrigued, but some of the feedback on Mighty Slam+Battlefist suggests it isn't strong enough yet to be worth the APs. You would still benefit from survivability bonuses like Embed Construct etc. but I haven't figured out a good AP spread yet.

[Alfaciii]

I'm theorycrafting an Arti 16/Pal 3/Wiz 1

Enhancements range ~~
BE 28
RM 31
SD 13
HA 8

This way is possible to get +20% HP twice in tree, going epic with UD for +60% base HP. Could work with Swf feat line, Quicken, Extended Tensers + Reconstruct SLA, Deadly Weapon and other buffs.

[Strimtom]

ok, didn't think of that, and out of curiosity have you looked at the new renegade master tree coming out? If so, would it be a viable option to use to increase dps and ac, instead of the construct tree?

When U38 drops, I will be rerunning this build and using a big chunk of the renegade mastermaker tree. Then I will update the guide. As far as I can tell, mighty slam seems like it is really the only thing that melee artificer needs to be viable in the end game. Reliable crowd control is essential. That, combined with better access to self repairing with the construct feats will make melee artificer very strong. Gnome artificer will gain a lot of crowd control with colour spray, and aasimar artificer will get a lot of extra damage. Mastermaker is super rad. Look for an update to this guide like 2 months after U38 comes out.

[TheBlueFox]

I've been trying my hand at this type of build recently, and I'm just curious what kind of spells you've incorporated into your attacks.

I can bet they're mostly buffs, but surely some of them get use offensively, right?

[Raiztlin75]

@strimtom U38 has dropped whats the latest on The Maverick Hunter using the new tree

[unbongwah]

Taking a stab at this using BE+RMM trees:

WF Meleeficer (U38)
Artificer 20
True Neutral Warforged




Stats
               36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength        10       +3       4: INT
Dexterity       10       +3       8: INT
Constitution    20       +3      12: INT
Intelligence    18       +3      16: INT
Wisdom           6       +3      20: INT
Charisma         6       +3      24: INT
                                 28: INT


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
Repair    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   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
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Haggle                               2     3  3  3  3  3  3  1  1     22
Balance      ½  ½  1     1  1  1  1     1                    1  1  2  11
Tumble                1                                                1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         32  9  9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12




Feats


 1        : Insightful Reflexes
 3        : Power Attack
 4 Arti   : Single Weapon Fighting
 6        : Cleave
 8 Arti   : Adamantine Body
 9        : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12        : Great Cleave
12 Arti   : Improved Critical: Bludgeoning
15        : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
16 Arti   : Quicken Spell
18        : Spell Focus: Evocation
20 Arti   : Maximize Spell
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Precision
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Ruin OR Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting OR Hellball
29 Destiny: Arcane Pulse OR Arcane Warrior OR Deific Warding
30 Epic   : Greater Ruin
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea OR Plane of Air




Enhancements (80 AP)


Battle Engineer (41 AP)
Battle Engineer, Infused Weapons, Infused Armor, Infused Weapons II, Infused Armor II, Master Engineer
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Thaumaturgical Conduits III
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Wracking Strike I, Caustic Strike I, Extra Action Boost III, Action Boost: Power III
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Shatter Defenses I, Intelligence
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Haste Boost, Agility Engine III
Reconstructed Arms, Weapon Attachment, Thunder-Shock: Melee, Unlock Potential, Tactical Mobility

Renegade Mastermaker (32 AP)
Renegade Defender, Alchemical Shield, Cure Serious Admixture, Constructive Conduit, Radiant Forcefield
Cure Light Admixture III, Easily Fixed, Supporting Construction III
Kinetic Discharge III, Mighty Slam III
Conjure Component, Battlefist, Intelligence
Kinetic Charge, Reconstruct III, Embed Component III

Harper Agent (7 AP)
Agent of Good I
Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
Know the Angles II



Destiny (24 AP)


Legendary Dreadnought
Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III
Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack
Lay Waste, Critical Damage III
(none)
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz, Pulverizer

Twists of Fate (35 fate points)
Energy Burst: Electricity (Tier 4 Draconic) OR Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
School Specialist: Evocation (Tier 2 Magister)
Hail of Blows (Tier 2 Flowers)

Specced for warhammers to save a feat and I happen to have a Mornh banked away. Using b.swords/d.axes instead is a trivial conversion.

Since I don't have the APs to spare for AT tree as well, I'm on the fence about caster DPS. But if nothing else, being able to toss off the occasional TacDet is probably still worth it (fingers crossed).

Has 4 AoE melee attacks (Cleave/GC/Kinetic Discharge/Lay Waste) plus a bunch of single-target special attacks (Momentum Swing, Thunder-Shock, Battlefist, etc.).

[Strimtom]

@strimtom U38 has dropped whats the latest on The Maverick Hunter using the new tree

Updated with Renegade mastermaker as well as full end game item set for maximum damage!

[gwonbush]

Updated with Renegade mastermaker as well as full end game item set for maximum damage!

Something to note: They changed how tomes scale a couple updates back, so level 3 your +3 tomes kick in, so if you have +3 tomes you can drop starting str and dex to 10, giving you 4 more build points.

Also, you chose your "most damage" gear set using a hammer despite not speccing for bludgeon. Wouldn't it be better to use the dwarven waraxe from U38 and just swap a feat for waraxe profiency? It would also mean you don't have to switch your battle engineer AP between hand and a half and warhammers. The waraxe does more damage anyway.

[Strimtom]

Something to note: They changed how tomes scale a couple updates back, so level 3 your +3 tomes kick in, so if you have +3 tomes you can drop starting str and dex to 10, giving you 4 more build points.

Also, you chose your "most damage" gear set using a hammer despite not speccing for bludgeon. Wouldn't it be better to use the dwarven waraxe from U38 and just swap a feat for waraxe profiency? It would also mean you don't have to switch your battle engineer AP between hand and a half and warhammers. The waraxe does more damage anyway.

Woops, yeah I meant to move to War Axe. Hammer was an old draft.

The tomes have changed but I gotta make a new graphic and ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm lazy. I'll update the graphic soon, but I feel like I like the fact that this build is accessible to those with +1 or 2 tomes.

[KaladorUK]

How do you get two handed fighting at level 20 as a single weapon fighter? It didn't give me the option when I leveled.

[ForgettableNPC]

How do you get two handed fighting at level 20 as a single weapon fighter? It didn't give me the option when I leveled.

Two Handed Fighting and Single Weapon Fighting are mutually exclusive.

Perfect Two Handed Fighting, however, is an Epic Destiny Feat that can be taken at either 26, 28, or 29, with at least one maxed Epic Destiny in the Martial Sphere and can be taken regardless of Single Weapon Fighting.

I did a similar build do the updated OP, only a few differences and decided to take Weapon Attachment over Tactical Mobility (Movement speed stops being an issue if you're just Dire Charging into enemies), taking Converter instead of Kinetic Discharge to emergency quicken repair a party member, and invests in Harper Leadership while sparing a few Feats for Augment Summoning and its improved counterpart to buff the Iron Defender a little, makes it easier to hit those high STR checks or be the designated Xyzzy charmer (Right over here).

Would appreciate any feedbacks so I can improve on it for future lives.

Though I've personally never used Burst of Glacial Wrath before, that might be interesting option to consider, but I played mine more like a melee than a melee caster, so it pretty much only had all the buffs instead with very little actual damaging spells.

But it was quite versatile, having access to every metal type and alignment damage as well as deadly on hand in case anyone needed it.

[Bacab]

This looks super fun.

Though I tend to modify builds slightly.

I really want to find a way to dip into Warforged Tree more, but I only have 2 free AP from Racial TRs.

I am struggling to find a lot of AP to remove. I absolutely need KTA from Harper (7) and (41) in BE for the Crit and T5 stuff. So basically have to weigh out Warforged Tree vs Renegade.

I think not taking Supporting Construction in RM (2 AP for 6 PRR) and instead taking Improved Body in WF (3AP for 12 PRR)

I also think just 1 rank in Mighty Slam is the way to go? Though you have to spend 10 AP to get to T3...so maybe that is the hang up.

I was also planning on using Warhammers as well, because I really like they way the look, and I have a few nice named ones...

That being said, I think at level 8 I will use the Star of Irian from Tempest Spine. It has an 18-20x2 profile.

Though Jeweled Hammer from Threnal has a 19-20x3 and a Red Slot.

Curious if Coronation from the Tome of Legend would be worth doing as well. It has a 19-20x3 Crit Profile and a Purple and Red Slot on it.

I guess the AP are just really tight on this build, especially if you want some Warforged Tree.

Either way, I am looking forward to running this build.

I also think this being a pure Arty, it would be easy to farm a few EPLs by changing to ranged or caster each life that you wanted to do.

[Bacab]

I swapped SWF and Addy Body.

I was getting roughed up pretty bad w/o Addy Body.

I did kill slower w/o SWF, but I was able to tank a few Carnage Reaper hits.

So it might be worth it to swap those if someone lacks a lot of reaper points or special gear.

[Bacab]

OK, I am level 15 now.

I have made my build so far more Renegade Mastermind and Warforged tree.

I will swap my AP probably next level.

Thus far, I have gotten a lot of mileage out of the Reconstruct SLA and the Reinforced Armor (50% more AC from Docents).

I had an Executioner's from the Slavers Chain.

At level 15, I have swapped to a Heartwood.

I am thinking at 16 or 17, I can have the BE T5s and the RM T3s (AC bonus) and up to Core 4 (level 12s).

This is an extremely fun build to play.

Alo, if you have a few Warforged party members,or even better, some guildies who want to run their WF racials or just Warforged Characters, the T5 from RM, Regenerative Construct works a lot like the Radiant Servant Aura for Warforged. It is pretty neat.

I can't lie, so far with all my AP dedicated to RM, Warforged Racial and Harper, this has been really fun. I do know BE is where I would be getting a lot more DPS...mainly the Haste boost and thee expanded crits.

[unbongwah]

Quick human conversion:

Human Meleeficer
Artificer 20
True Neutral Human


Stats
               36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength        10       +3       4: INT
Dexterity       10       +3       8: INT
Constitution    18       +3      12: INT
Intelligence    18       +3      16: INT
Wisdom           8       +3      20: INT
Charisma         8       +3      24: INT
                                 28: INT

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
Repair    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   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
Haggle             1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  2     2  2  2  2  2  2  1  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Heal         1     1     1     1     1     1  1  1     1     1     1  11
Balance   1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1  1  11
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         36 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13


Feats

 1        : Insightful Reflexes
 1 Human  : Quicken Spell
 3        : Power Attack
 4 Arti   : Single Weapon Fighting
 6        : Cleave
 8 Arti   : Construct Essence
 9        : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12        : Great Cleave
12 Arti   : Improved Critical: Bludgeoning
15        : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
16 Arti   : Improved Construct Essence
18        : Precision
20 Arti   : Maximize Spell
21 Epic   : Spell Focus: Evocation OR Construct Exemplar
24 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Burst of Glacial Wrath OR Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Hellball OR Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge OR Arcane Pulse
30 Epic   : Epic Reflexes OR Armor Proficiency: Heavy
30 Legend : Scion of: Plane of Air OR Mechanus


Enhancements (80 AP)

Battle Engineer (41 AP)
Battle Engineer, Infused Weapons, Infused Armor, Infused Weapons II, Infused Armor II, Master Engineer
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Field Scrapper III, Thaumaturgical Conduits III
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Caustic Strike I, Extra Action Boost II, Action Boost: Power III
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Shatter Defenses I, Intelligence
Hammer and Morningstar Training, Haste Boost, Agility Engine III
Reconstructed Arms, Weapon Attachment, Thunder-Shock: Melee, Unlock Potential, Tactical Mobility

Renegade Mastermaker (31 AP)
Renegade Defender, Alchemical Shield, Cure Serious Admixture, Constructive Conduit, Radiant Forcefield
Cure Light Admixture III, Easily Fixed
Kinetic Discharge III, Mighty Slam I, Converter
Conjure Component, Battlefist, Reinforced Armor III, Shielding Construct, Intelligence
Kinetic Charge, Reconstruct III, Embed Component II

Harper Agent (7 AP)
Agent of Good I
Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
Know the Angles II

Human (1 AP)
Damage Boost


Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought
Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III
Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack
Lay Waste, Critical Damage I
Anvil of Thunder
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz, Pulverizer

Specced for warhammers to save a feat; planning to use Whelm. Goes heavy into RMM for the survivability perks.

[Eldramar]

This may be a stupid question but how does this build get Bastard Sword proficiency at level 4? I see that masters touch would do it but the way the text is written it seems like there is a proficiency I am missing?

[Fedora1]

This may be a stupid question but how does this build get Bastard Sword proficiency at level 4? I see that masters touch would do it but the way the text is written it seems like there is a proficiency I am missing?

Good question, and the only two answers I have don't fit the L4 comment.

1. Chimera's Breath would give you B-sword at L5.
2. I see the L3 feat choice was exotic prof D-axe, this could be changed to B-sword.

[unbongwah]

This may be a stupid question but how does this build get Bastard Sword proficiency at level 4?

You can either: (A) take the proficiency feat after level 1 (note it req's BAB 1 and STR 13); (B) as Fedora1 suggests, equip Chimera's Breath which grants it free; or (C) if playing a human, taking the Sentinel Dragonmark will let you equip Chimera's Fang, although I consider that an obsolete weapon.

I see that masters touch would do it but the way the text is written it seems like there is a proficiency I am missing?

Master's Touch only grants martial weapon proficiencies; bastard swords, khopeshes, etc. are exotic weapons so you need to take the weapon prof feat manually. The one exception: dwarves treat dwarven axes as martial weapons so a dwarf Artificer can use Master's Touch for d.axes.

[DrawingGuy]

Endgame:
Head: Legendary Tiara of Madness
Eyes: Legendary Garstone Lenses
Neck: Legendary Ward Inscribed Pendant
Trinket: Legendary Curse Bane Focus
Cloak: Legendary Phase Cloak
Docent: Memory of a Tailor's Duress
Belt: Legendary Thrumming Spark Cord
Bracers: Legendary Construct Champion's Band
Gloves: Molten Silver Gauntlets
Boots: Legendary Flight Foot Greaves
Ring 1: Legendary Ring of Prowess
Ring 2: Legendary Band of Insightful Commands
Weapon Combo For Most Damage: Stormreach Guardian's Axe + Quarantine
Weapon Combo for cold immune mobs: Stormreach Guardian's Axe + http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Machination_of_Madness

Quite a good gear setup, though might I suggest a few changes? Your Legendary Phase Cloak has everything overlapped but the Quality INT 4. By swapping that to a Legendary Scarlet Scale Cloak, you gain +4 Ins Evo DCs, +4 CON, +22 Spellsight. The Quality INT then can be slotted on a Slave Lords ring. Something like:

17 WIS / 27 Repair Lore / 22 Spot (or skill of choice) / Qual INT 4

When you need to use Machination, just swap to Phase Cloak.

Alternatively you could stick with the Phase Cloak and load Shatter onto the Slave Lords (along with +4 CON) to shift away from the Tiara of Madness and slot Legendary Executioner's Helm for the DPS boost. Comes to a point of whether you care more about Rune Arm DPS (as well as DCs for Tactical Detonation and BoGW) or Melee DPS.


For your other ring, I'm assuming you have a typo in your gear list. You only 4 of 5 pieces for the Mist set, so it is a pretty safe assumption you're using a Legendary Ring of Nightfall for the Ins INT 9 and Ins Deadly 7.


I plan on doing a build like this for one of my Dwarf lives (or more if I love it). Not as strong as WF, but it is a wash with feats gaining D-Axe for free (using Master's Touch) and not needing Adamantine (heavy armor is pointless as the Crypt set is Medium only anyways), but then wanting to get the two Construct feats. Though I consider investing into T4 RM worth it anyways, and you can't go deep into WF while still affording everything else.