swf barbarian

[painkiller3]

i ran a 12 rogue/5 barbarian/3 swashbuckler shadarkai and loved the new chain, but not very durable in mid-high reapers. i'm wondering if i could make a shadarkai barbarian that would be a little tougher. 17 barb/3 swashbuckler? i guess the problem is that the prr/mrr takes a hit with light armor and you miss some medium armor goodness from greater rage. what do people recommend for SWF or swashbuckler splashes with handaxes?

[PrinceOfAsphodel]

I think this problem exists because that type of build is better at maximizing raid boss dps than for getting through quests easier. You're probably right about Barbarian verison being a bit tankier but you will still fall into the same type of problems that other SWF builds have. They're better for raids, worse for quests. I would recommend 12 Barbarian, 5 Cleric, and 3 Bard for a tankier hand axe build. Animal would be the cleric domain you would want. This is a variation of the other hand axe dps build, the 12 barbarian, 7 bard, 1 fvs. Unfortunately, the 5 cleric version misses out on 3rd level bard spells, which means no displacement. You can get around this downside by having displacment clickies and/or an eternal potion of displacement. Also, of course, the lack of rogue levels means you lose Shadar-Kai and the chain attack, at least if you don't want to use a heart for it. You can make up for this loss of AOE slightly with Frenzied Berserker's Supreme Cleave, or even Swashbuckler's En Pointe, to a lesser degree.

[Anons]

What's your AP and gear layout? Those are just as important, if not more than the class split, and will give everyone more details to pick through.
I've been playing the same split about a week now, in r10's and raids and enjoying it. In reaper, 3k hp, 200prr, 100mrr, 26% standing dodge. add in meld / uncanny as well as your own cc effects and WASD and you probably won't be able to see the death count.

[painkiller3]

Unfortunately, the 5 cleric version misses out on 3rd level bard spells, which means no displacemen

i would be willing to invest the +1 heart and go shadarkai

What's your AP and gear layout? Those are just as important, if not more than the class split, and will give everyone more details to pick through.
I've been playing the same split about a week now, in r10's and raids and enjoying it. In reaper, 3k hp, 200prr, 100mrr, 26% standing dodge. add in meld / uncanny as well as your own cc effects and WASD and you probably won't be able to see the death count.

good idea! Here are my thoughts around 17 barb/3 swashbuckler shadarkai

gear is a different story. i was hoping to include 4 piece winter set, 6 piece summer set and use gem of many facets to get the melee power (vulkoor cunning set?) but i couldn't get that to add up (with prowess ring of course). 4 piece winter, 7 piece summer is hard to do with prowess ring as well. i put it in the bottom after the enhancements etc etc, but i'm pretty sure it's not optimal and there is lots of overlapping. i will need some help with that. i don't have it marked down, but i would be twisting haste boost from LD most likely

Class and Feat Selection
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Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Level 1 Requires a +1 Heart of Wood to switch out of Iconic Class
1 · · Barbarian(1)· · ·Standard: Single Weapon Fighting
2 · · Barbarian(2)· · ·
3 · · Barbarian(3)· · ·Standard: Power Attack
4 · · Barbarian(4)· · ·Strength: +1 Level up
5 · · Barbarian(5)· · ·
6 · · Barbarian(6)· · ·Standard: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
7 · · Barbarian(7)· · ·
8 · · Barbarian(8)· · ·Strength: +1 Level up
9 · · Barbarian(9)· · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
10· · Barbarian(10) · ·
11· · Barbarian(11) · ·
12· · Barbarian(12) · ·Standard: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
13· · Bard(1) · · · · ·
14· · Bard(2) · · · · ·
15· · Bard(3) · · · · ·Standard: Offhand Versatility
16· · Barbarian(13) · ·Strength: +1 Level up
17· · Barbarian(14) · ·
18· · Barbarian(15) · ·Standard: Toughness
19· · Barbarian(16) · ·
20· · Barbarian(17) · ·Strength: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Toughness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Damage Reduction
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Deific Warding
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Dodge
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 8, Universal 1
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Shadar-Kai - Points spent: 17
1 Core ·(1) Grit
2 Tier1 (1) Vicious Chain
3 Tier1 (1) Keen Senses
4 Tier1 (1) Keen Senses
5 Tier1 (1) Keen Senses
6 Tier2 (1) Forceful Chain
7 Tier2 (1) Guile I
8 Tier2 (1) Ghostly Essence
9 Tier2 (1) Ghostly Essence
10 Tier2 (1) Ghostly Essence
11 Tier3 (1) Ghastly Chain
12 Tier3 (1) Guile II
13 Tier2 (1) Improved Dodge
14 Tier3 (2) Displacement
15 Tier4 (2) Greater Spiked Chain Attack
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frenzied Berserker - Points spent: 33
1 Core ·(1) Die Hard
2 Tier1 (1) Extra Rage
3 Tier1 (1) Extra Rage
4 Tier1 (1) Extra Rage
5 Tier1 (2) Power Rage
6 Tier1 (2) Power Rage
7 Tier1 (2) Power Rage
8 Core ·(1) Frenzied Toughness I
9 Tier2 (1) Extra Action Boost
10 Tier2 (1) Extra Action Boost
11 Tier2 (1) Extra Action Boost
12 Core ·(1) Frenzy
13 Tier3 (2) Constitution I
14 Tier2 (1) Blood Tribute
15 Tier2 (1) Blood Tribute
16 Tier2 (1) Blood Tribute
17 Core ·(1) Frenzied Toughness II
18 Tier4 (2) Constitution II
19 Tier3 (1) Supreme Cleave
20 Tier3 (1) Supreme Cleave
21 Tier3 (1) Supreme Cleave
22 Tier3 (1) Blood Trail
23 Tier3 (1) Blood Trail
24 Tier3 (1) Blood Trail
25 Tier1 (1) Die Harder
26 Tier5 (1) Healing or Hurt: Raging Blows
27 Tier5 (1) Focused Wrath
28 Tier5 (1) Focused Wrath
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Swashbuckler - Points spent: 14
1 Core ·(1) Confidence
2 Tier1 (1) On Your Toes
3 Tier1 (1) On Your Toes
4 Tier1 (1) On Your Toes
5 Tier1 (1) Blow By Blow: Blow By Blow
6 Core ·(1) Swashbuckling
7 Tier2 (1) En Pointe
8 Tier2 (1) En Pointe
9 Tier2 (1) En Pointe
10 Tier2 (2) Fast Movement
11 Tier3 (1) Swashbuckling Style: Dashing Scoundrel
12 Tier2 (2) Deflect Arrows
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falconry - Points spent: 25
1 Core ·(1) Summon Falcon: Summon Snow Owl
2 Tier1 (1) Rugged
3 Tier1 (1) Rugged
4 Tier1 (1) Rugged
5 Tier1 (1) Out in Nature
6 Core ·(2) Ability I: Strength
7 Tier1 (1) Out in Nature
8 Tier1 (1) Out in Nature
9 Tier1 (1) Practiced Accuracy
10 Core ·(1) Well Rounded I
11 Tier3 (2) Conditioning
12 Tier1 (1) Practiced Accuracy
13 Tier1 (1) Hunter's Knowledge
14 Tier3 (2) Eyes of the Eagle
15 Tier3 (1) Strike for the Eyes: Strike for the Eyes
16 Tier3 (1) Strike for the Eyes: Strike for the Eyes
17 Tier3 (1) Strike for the Eyes: Strike for the Eyes
18 Tier4 (1) No Mercy
19 Tier4 (1) No Mercy
20 Tier4 (1) No Mercy
21 Tier4 (1) Deadly Instinct
22 Tier4 (1) Deadly Instinct
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Equipped Gear Set : Standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor · · · · Chainmail of the First Snow · Drops in: U48: Feytwisted Chest
· · · · · · · +15 Enhancement Bonus
· · · · · · · Fortification +142%
· · · · · · · Physical Sheltering +33
· · · · · · · Healing Amplification +53
· · · · · · · False Life +50
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Belt· · · · · Legendary Belt of the Ram · Drops in: U48 Quest: The Thornwrite
· · · · · · · Ram's Might
· · · · · · · Speed +30%
· · · · · · · Quality Strength +3
· · · · · · · Constitution +13
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Boots · · · · Legendary Deepsnow Boots· ·Drops in: U48 Quest: A Frosty Reception
· · · · · · · Insightful Constitution +6
· · · · · · · Quality Constitution +3
· · · · · · · Freedom of Movement
· · · · · · · Fortitude Save +10
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Bracers · · · Legendary Cold Iron Bracers · Drops in: U48 Quest: Immortality Lessons
· · · · · · · Ghostly
· · · · · · · Protection +10
· · · · · · · Vitality +44
· · · · · · · Quality False Life +12
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Cloak · · · · Legendary Cloak of Summer · Drops in: U48 Quest: Wake me up Inside
· · · · · · · Fire Absorption +50%
· · · · · · · Strength +21
· · · · · · · Insightful Strength +10
· · · · · · · Doublestrike +23%
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Gloves· · · · The Prince's Gauntlet · Drops in: U48 Any Feywild Quest
· · · · · · · Lifeblood of the Undead Prince
· · · · · · · Constitution +14
· · · · · · · Quality Resistance +2
· · · · · · · Quality Sheltering +9
· · · · · · · Blue: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Goggles · · · Legendary Tinkerer's Goggles· ·Drops in: U47 Raid: Legendary Master Artificer
· · · · · · · Melee Alacrity 15%
· · · · · · · Insightful Deception +5
· · · · · · · Quality Deception +2
· · · · · · · Nearly Finished (Intelligence EIQ): Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Tyrannical Tinkerer
Helmet· · · · Titania's Glory · Drops in: U48: Feytwisted Chest
· · · · · · · Crown of Summer
· · · · · · · Extra Smites
· · · · · · · Hallowed +13
· · · · · · · Eternal Holy Burst
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Necklace· · · Legendary Necklace of Bottled Sunlight· ·Drops in: U48 Quest: The Endless Revels
· · · · · · · Good Hope
· · · · · · · High Spirits
· · · · · · · Charisma +21
· · · · · · · Healing Amplification +85
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Ring1 · · · · Legendary Ring of Prowess · Drops in: Quest: Good Intentions
· · · · · · · Deadly +14
· · · · · · · Accuracy +28
· · · · · · · Melee Power +8
· · · · · · · Ranged Power +8
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
Ring2 · · · · Legendary Lionheart Ring· ·Drops in: U48 Quest: The Thornwrite
· · · · · · · Stunning +23
· · · · · · · Action Boost Enhancement
· · · · · · · Insightful Armor-Piercing +16
· · · · · · · Insightful Constitution +10
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Trinket · · · The Changestone · Drops in: U48 Raid: Dryad and the Demigod
· · · · · · · Changestone #1: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Changestone #2: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Changestone #3: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Changestone #4: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Summer
Weapon1 · · · The Magmatic Reaver · Drops in: U48 Raid: The Dryad and the Demigod
· · · · · · · Damage and Type 5[1d6+3] + 15 Slash, Magic
· · · · · · · Critical Threat Range 19-20 x3
· · · · · · · +15 Enhancement Bonus
· · · · · · · Dripping with Magma
· · · · · · · Keen
· · · · · · · Armor-Piercing +21%
· · · · · · · Flamebitten
· · · · · · · Red: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Purple: Empty augment slot

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[jskinner937]

How does one get +21 abilitiy enhancements on an item? I'm sorry just came back from a few year break and mainly just been doing the lives I missed during my break, so very little new content.

[Riffolk]

How does one get +21 abilitiy enhancements on an item? I'm sorry just came back from a few year break and mainly just been doing the lives I missed during my break, so very little new content.

There was recently a stat-squish on endgame items.
With Ravenloft, items were released up to +20 Enhancement bonus to Stat, if I recall correctly.
Sharn + Feywild had items up to +22 Enhancement bonus to Stat.

Update 50 lowered those values to 12 on lv 28 gear, 13 on lv 29, and 14 on lv 30 gear (with boosts on Raid gear).
So the items listed earlier in the thread are using the old values that don't exist in game anymore.

[jskinner937]

There was recently a stat-squish on endgame items.
With Ravenloft, items were released up to +20 Enhancement bonus to Stat, if I recall correctly.
Sharn + Feywild had items up to +22 Enhancement bonus to Stat.

Update 50 lowered those values to 12 on lv 28 gear, 13 on lv 29, and 14 on lv 30 gear (with boosts on Raid gear).
So the items listed earlier in the thread are using the old values that don't exist in game anymore.

Ah OK. That explains things much better. I appreciate it.

[wax_on_wax_off]

I've been playing around on paper with a lot of ideas for an SDK chains build.

I love the idea of the big Crits on the 12 rogue/5 barb/3 Bard but can definitely see a survivability issue without top level gear/past lives/skill. What I really feel is missing is crowd control to be able to

What I'd love to be able to build is a 12 Bard/6 Fighter/2 Rogue with Vanguard T5, Kensei C3, SDK T4, HW T3, SB T3 however this needs 33+11+18+13+13=88 action points at a bare minimum (and would definitely love an extra 6 in Vanguard for the T5 DPS boosts). Without all the extra AP the build can drop Kensei and not worry about Handaxes - definitely better choices in shortswords etc. With defensive Boosts from using a Shield and crowd control from Shield Rush/Stun I would hope to have reasonable survivability (but at what cost?!).

12 Fighter/6 Bard/2 Rogue is a nice alternative to the above as you can pick up Displacement in SDK enhancements and Haste in HW (with +1 AP). Better tactics DCs and HP (+10 tactics DCs from Tactical Combatant Mastery is a huge boost).

The tree that I keep coming back to that seems to have the most synergy with SDK chains though is VKF. So much if VKF are short term buffs that directly effect chains attacks and the only real downside I can see is daggers low base damage but is that really a downside with raid daggers that are available? The hardest part about a VKF Chains build is that most of the AP are taken up by universal trees (41 VKF+18 SDK+13 HW at which point what class split do you actually take to max out damage for the build? Could almost be tempted to go Animal Domain Cleric, Wisdom based and take Falconry 24 points instead of HW (again for the added crowd control).