The MachineBow build -by Aldbar

[Aldbar]

Imagine this: using an enhancement tree to give you extra attack and damage on your Crossbows starting at tier 1 all the way up to tier 5. Not bad!
Now let's say you could do that all the way up to tier 12… Introducing the MachineBow build.

In this video I present my MachineBow build. All of the build details can be found in the video.





This is a powerful, versatile and flexible build, which is centered around quick bursts of ranged damage from any type of crossbow.
(my favorite is Great Crossbow, so that's what i use...)

This build is viable for both beginner and advanced level characters.


This build is a split of 6 rouge 4 artificer and 6 fighter with the last 4 levels in whichever you prefer. In my case I took artificer.

The goal is to take as many crossbow enhancements as possible from rouge mechanic artificer battle engineer and fighter kensei.

Your main stat is intelligence and you will be using it as your attack modifier and adding it to the damage of your crossbow

The main source of burst damage is from the artificer enhancement endless Fusillade

Once you get improved precise shot you will be able to hit all of the enemies in your line of fire with a single shot.


I made a whole other video where I go into all the fine details of playing this build, but the general summary is this:

1. Roundup a group of enemies
2. Get them to line up by walking backwards and making them all file into a line
3. Hit endless Fusillade and blast thru all of the enemies at once

The only rigid aspect of this build is the leveling process

There are many auto granted feats and some class specific feats.
If you are not careful you may accidentally take a feat that is auto granted later or find yourself with a class specific list of feats that you don’t need.
Some leveling choices might seem odd but be sure to check it first with a build planer before you change anything
I tested my build on Lamannia before I made it on the live server. This is a good idea for anyone who wants to try out a new build concept.

I made another video where I discuss many different variants of this build.

I displayed 2 different variants of the epic destiny layout, one as a tank and for DPS.
I made another video where I show a side by side comparison of the 2 styles.


P.S. this video was made pre u45 and there are some notable changes:

1. improved precise shot now does 20% less damage. this means you kill trash a bit slower.
2. precise shot gives stacks of +5 ranged power instead of +3. so more DPS for single targets.
3. Asimar tier 4 gives +5% to base HP instead of +10%.

Also there is some other very dominate ranged build that has been all over the game, but i can't seem to remember its name...

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Tank vs DPS video





MachineBow build variants video





MachineBow play guid video - done - see lower in this thread

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Build option 1

Classes: 10 Epic, 8 Artificer, 6 Fighter, 6 Rogue

Race: Aasimar · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral Good

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Rogue(1)· · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Aasimar Bond: Aasimar: Protector Bond
2 · · Artificer(1)· · ·
3 · · Artificer(2)· · ·Standard: Point Blank Shot
4 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Rogue(2)· · · · ·
6 · · Artificer(3)· · ·Standard: Precision
7 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Precise Shot
8 · · Fighter(2)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Rapid Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Rogue(3)· · · · ·Standard: Dodge
10· · Rogue(4)· · · · ·
11· · Rogue(5)· · · · ·
12· · Rogue(6)· · · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Fighter(3)· · · ·
14· · Artificer(5)· · ·
15· · Artificer(6)· · ·Standard: Mobility
16· · Artificer(7)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Fighter(4)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Shot on the Run
18· · Fighter(5)· · · ·Standard: Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
19· · Fighter(6)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Power Critical
20· · Artificer(8)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Precise Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Combat Archery
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Empower Healing Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Holy Strike
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doubleshot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Elusive Target
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea



Build option 2

Classes: 10 Epic, 10 Rogue, 6 Fighter, 4 Artificer

Race: Aasimar · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral Good

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Rogue(1)· · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Aasimar Bond: Aasimar: Protector Bond
2 · · Artificer(1)· · ·
3 · · Artificer(2)· · ·Standard: Point Blank Shot
4 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Rogue(2)· · · · ·
6 · · Artificer(3)· · ·Standard: Precision
7 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Precise Shot
8 · · Fighter(2)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Rapid Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Rogue(3)· · · · ·Standard: Dodge
10· · Rogue(4)· · · · ·
11· · Rogue(5)· · · · ·
12· · Rogue(6)· · · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Fighter(3)· · · ·
14· · Fighter(4)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Improved Precise Shot
15· · Rogue(7)· · · · ·Standard: Mobility
16· · Rogue(8)· · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Fighter(5)· · · ·
18· · Fighter(6)· · · ·Standard: Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Power Critical
19· · Rogue(9)· · · · ·
20· · Rogue(10) · · · ·Rogue Special Ability: Improved Evasion
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Combat Archery
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Empower Healing Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Holy Strike
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doubleshot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Elusive Target
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea



Build option 3

Classes: 10 Epic, 10 Fighter, 6 Rogue, 4 Artificer

Race: Aasimar · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral Good

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Rogue(1)· · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Aasimar Bond: Aasimar: Protector Bond
2 · · Artificer(1)· · ·
3 · · Artificer(2)· · ·Standard: Point Blank Shot
4 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Rogue(2)· · · · ·
6 · · Artificer(3)· · ·Standard: Precision
7 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Precise Shot
8 · · Fighter(2)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Rapid Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Rogue(3)· · · · ·Standard: Dodge
10· · Rogue(4)· · · · ·
11· · Rogue(5)· · · · ·
12· · Rogue(6)· · · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Fighter(3)· · · ·
14· · Fighter(4)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Improved Precise Shot
15· · Fighter(5)· · · ·Standard: Mobility
16· · Fighter(6)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Shot on the Run
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Fighter(7)· · · ·
18· · Fighter(8)· · · ·Standard: Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Power Critical
19· · Fighter(9)· · · ·
20· · Fighter(10) · · ·Fighter Bonus: Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Combat Archery
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Empower Healing Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Holy Strike
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doubleshot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Elusive Target
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea



Enhancements: 80 APs

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mechanic - Points spent: 39
1 Core ·(1) Arbalester
2 Tier1 (1) Lacerating Shots
3 Tier1 (1) Lacerating Shots
4 Tier1 (2) Sharpshooter I
5 Tier2 (2) Sharpshooter II
6 Tier1 (1) Lacerating Shots
7 Tier1 (1) Mechanics
8 Tier1 (1) Mechanics
9 Tier1 (1) Awareness
10 Tier1 (1) Awareness
11 Tier1 (1) Awareness
12 Tier1 (1) Mechanics
13 Core ·(1) Tanglefoot
14 Core ·(1) Targeting Sights
15 Tier3 (2) Sharpshooter III
16 Tier3 (1) Use Magical Device
17 Tier3 (1) Use Magical Device
18 Tier3 (1) Use Magical Device
19 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
20 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Intelligence
21 Tier4 (1) Fletching
22 Tier4 (1) Fletching
23 Tier4 (1) Fletching
24 Tier4 (2) Sharpshooter IV
25 Tier5 (2) Sharpshooter V
26 Tier5 (2) Sniper
27 Tier5 (2) Mechanical Reloader
28 Tier5 (1) Rapid Fire
29 Tier5 (1) Rapid Fire
30 Tier5 (1) Rapid Fire

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Battle Engineer - Points spent: 24
1 Core ·(1) attle Engineer
2 Tier1 (2) Weapon Training I: Crossbow Training I
3 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
4 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
5 Core ·(1) Infused Weapons I
6 Tier2 (2) Weapon Training II: Crossbow Training II
7 Tier1 (1) Field Engineer
8 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
9 Tier3 (2) Weapon Training III: Crossbow Training III
10 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
11 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
12 Tier2 (2) Extra Action Boost
13 Core ·(1) Infused Armor I
14 Tier4 (2) Weapon Training IV: Crossbow Training IV
15 Tier4 (2) Battle Mastery: Endless Fusilade

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Kensei - Points spent: 12
1 Core ·(1) Kensei Focus: Kensei Focus: Crossbows
2 Tier1 (2) Weapon Group Specialization I: Kensei Focus: Crossbows
3 Tier1 (1) Action Boost: Haste Boost
4 Tier1 (1) Action Boost: Haste Boost
5 Tier2 (2) Weapon Group Specialization II: Kensei Focus: Crossbows
6 Core ·(1) Spiritual Bond
7 Tier1 (1) Action Boost: Haste Boost
8 Tier1 (2) Extra Action Boost
9 Core ·(1) Strike With No Thought

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Harper Agent - Points spent: 5
1 Core ·(1) Agent of Good I
2 Tier1 (2) Harper Enchantment
3 Tier1 (2) Strategic Combat I

[Pilgrim1]

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...ade?highlight=

Might wanna take a look at that.

[Aldbar]

...Might wanna take a look at that.

my goal was to make a build that is powerful with ALL crossbows.

i didn't want a build that is OP, but only with heavy/light crossbows.

i have a nice collection of crossbows that i've been hoarding over the years and i wanted to make a build that would let me play with ALL of them without feeling underpowered.

[C-Dog]

my goal was to make a build that is powerful with ALL crossbows.

Diff crossbows are diff weapons, like short swords, long swords, bastard swords and great swords. You pick one style of weapon and focus on that. Trying to do too much rarely works out for the best.

But GL!

[Aldbar]

... You pick one style of weapon and focus on that....

i just add the video that talks about that.

https://youtu.be/kEXuZbIEKKo

[Aldbar]

Apparently you can't add more than 3 videos in 1 post...

So this is the last one.

MachineBow Play Guide