Primal EK-Wizard

[Smokewolf]

Below is a fun little build I've been running for the past few lives. I'll complete the full write up as time permits with a few screen shots of the current build in game.

Highlights:

1. Can wear Heavy Armor and Tower Shield without spell failure, allowing for pretty good AC, PRR and MRR values.
2. Large pool of hitpoints due to Weapon Styles and Temp hitpoints with Shard Storm & Shield Striking. Makes limited off-tanking possible.
3. Capable of casting 9th level spells, including Insta-kills and CC's. (DC's gear dependent)
4. Undead form with Auras.
5. Trapping and Search Skills.
6. Tons of low cost SLA's to deal massive amounts of AoE damage. (Carrion Swarm, Thorn, Shard Storm, Greater Shout, Arcane: Bolt / Blast)
7. Very efficient mana use thanks to Primal Avatar: Evergreen & regrowth, Fate Singer: Masquerade.
8. Epic Moments Cut-The-Strings and Turn-The-Tide.
9. Off healing via Primal Avatar: Hear the voice my Friend (Greater Shout) & Rejuvenation Cocoon.
10. Full range of Meta Magics, including Fate Singer: Enlarge for double range Insta-Kills and Hold Monster.
11. Reduced hate from spells, 95% and extended critical range for Acid / Poison / Force / Sonic.

-Smoke

Classes: 18 Wizard, 1 Fighter, 1 Dark Hunter, 10 Epic, 2 Legendary
Race: Gnome
Alignment: Neutral

Starting Stats with all tomes (+8) to intel.
Str:· · 12
Dex:· · ·9
Con:· · 17
Int:· · 20 (All level ups into Intel)
Wis:· · ·8
Cha:· · ·8
Immunities: Charisma Damage (Fatesinger: Majesty)

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Standard: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Shield Mastery
2 · · Dark Hunter(1)· ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Vermin
3 · · Wizard(1) · · · ·Standard: Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Metamagic: Extend Spell
4 · · Wizard(2) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Wizard(3) · · · ·
6 · · Wizard(4) · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
7 · · Wizard(5) · · · ·Metamagic: Quicken Spell
8 · · Wizard(6) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Wizard(7) · · · ·Standard: Precision
10· · Wizard(8) · · · ·
11· · Wizard(9) · · · ·
12· · Wizard(10)· · · ·Standard: Improved Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Metamagic: Maximize Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Wizard(11)· · · ·
14· · Wizard(12)· · · ·
15· · Wizard(13)· · · ·Standard: Improved Shield Mastery
16· · Wizard(14)· · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Wizard(15)· · · ·Metamagic: Empower Spell
18· · Wizard(16)· · · ·Standard: Heighten Spell
19· · Wizard(17)· · · ·
20· · Wizard(18)· · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Greater Two Handed Fighting
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Acid
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Intensify Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Force
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Greater Shield Mastery
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Poison
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Arcane Insight
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Feywild
31· · Legendary(1)· · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Sonic
32· · Legendary(2)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 12, Universal 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gnome - Points spent: 12
Core1 Perseverance I
Core2 Intelligence I
Tier1 Stealth or Awareness: Awareness - 2 Ranks
Core3 Perseverance II
Core4 Intelligence II
Core5 Retain Essence
Tier2 Greater Color Spray - 1 Ranks
Tier3 Illusion - 2 Ranks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arch-Mage - Points spent: 35
Core1 Specialization I: Illusion I: Invisibility
Tier1 Spell Critical: Elemental and Force I
Tier1 Subtle Spellcasting - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Spell Critical: Elemental and Force II
Core2 Specialization II: Illusion II: Blur
Tier2 Efficient Metamagic: Efficient Quicken - 3 Ranks
Core3 Specialization III: Illusion III: Displacement
Tier3 Intelligence I
Tier3 Spell Critical: Elemental and Force III
Tier3 Arcane Bolt - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Spell Penetration - 1 Ranks
Core4 Specialization IV: Illusion IV: Phantasmal Killer
Tier4 Intelligence II
Tier4 Spell Critical: Elemental and Force IV
Tier5 Arcane Blast - 3 Ranks
Tier5 Arcane Supremacy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eldritch Knight (Wiz) - Points spent: 32
Core1 Eldritch Strike
Tier1 Improved Mage Armor - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Toughness - 3 Ranks
Core2 Spellsword
Tier2 Improved Shield - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Mystic Wards - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Shield Training
Core3 Imbue the Blade
Tier3 Ability I: +1 Intelligence
Tier3 Arcane Barrier
Tier3 Eldritch Accuracy
Core4 Subtle Force I
Tier4 Knight's Transformation
Tier4 Force's Point
Tier4 Ability II: +1 Intelligence
Tier4 Offhand Defenses: Shield Striking - 1 Ranks
Core5 Subtle Force II
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pale Master - Points spent: 13
Core1 Dark Reaping
Tier1 Negative Energy Conduit - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Deathless Vigor - 2 Ranks
Core2 Pale Shroud: Shroud of the Lich
Tier2 Cloak of Night
Tier3 Ability I: +1 Intelligence
Core3 Undead Augmentation I: Deathly Tough
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feydark Illusionist - Points spent: 1
Core1 Find Familiar: White Cat
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epic Destinies: 40 APs + 17 permanent Destiny Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primal Avatar - Points spent: 28
Core1 This is your Nature: Thorn
Tier1 Well Weathered - 2 Ranks
Tier1 Epic Strikes: Carrion Swarm
Tier1 Rejuvenation Cocoon
Core2 Now Grow: Sky
Tier2 Spirit Boon: Mind - 2 Ranks
Tier2 Mantle of Nature: Thorn - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Primal Choice: Shard Storm
Tier2 Thrive
Core3 Weathering the Elements
Tier3 Magic of the Old World: Enchantment - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Ever Green - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Shared Mantle
Tier3 At it's Core - Upgrade Primal Spell: At Its Core - Thorn
Core4 Regrowth
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fatesinger - Points spent: 37
Core1 Fate Singer's Repertoire
Tier1 Harmonic Resonance
Tier1 Music of the Spider Queen - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Tune of the Weave - 1 Ranks
Core2 Intoxicating Presence
Tier2 The Rhythm to Reign - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Master the Acoustics - 3 Ranks
Tier3 The Magic of Music: Illusion - 3 Ranks
Tier3 The Sonata to Serve - 3 Ranks
Core3 Glitter of Fame
Tier3 Masquerade - 3 Ranks
Core4 Hear my Voice Friend
Tier4 Majesty
Tier4 Shout it out: Greatest Shout
Tier4 Metamagics Attunement: Enlarge
Tier5 Mastering the Strings - 3 Ranks
Tier5 Blade Song
Tier5 Turn the Tide
Tier5 Cut the Strings
Tier5 Ballad of the ages
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Note: I appear to be having problems getting the images to show directly. For now I'll just provide the links. Just so you know, the images show the character standing in a Reaper instance unbuffed.

Character https://flic.kr/p/2oCAzZQ
Enhancements https://flic.kr/p/2oCyBmC
Epic Destiny https://flic.kr/p/2oCzq3X
Inventory https://flic.kr/p/2oCAzZj
Filgrees https://flic.kr/p/2oCzq3S

 

[unbongwah]

Wouldn't it make more sense to start with Dark Hunter (unlock trap skills) and take fighter at level 20 so you have BAB 11 for Greater THF?

Also don't understand why you don't have Harper, unless it's just because your APs are spread thin.

 

[Smokewolf]

Wouldn't it make more sense to start with Dark Hunter (unlock trap skills) and take fighter at level 20 so you have BAB 11 for Greater THF?

Also don't understand why you don't have Harper, unless it's just because your APs are spread thin.

Being that this is an intel build, I can manage to cap all trap skills by 20th easily. While sure I could net a few more skill points by taking the Dark Hunter level 1st, but I'd lose one of the free Fighter feats. (Yeah I tried it both ways in DDOBuilder)

As the build currently stands the BAB at 20 is "11". However, GTHF can only be taken at 21st as there isn't a feat available at 19 or 20. To increase the BAB further would require adding more levels of fighter, which would water down the casting abilities too much.

Harper is only useful "If" the intel-to-dmg was worth having, which IMO its not for 12 AP. Especially when those points pretty much cover the cost of Pale Master enhancements. Besides, with the spell effects doing most of the damage, melee ends up just being another means to proc the "Bitter Blade", Triggering Frostbite vulnerability. While Frigid Response (Mob Freeze) triggers from every melee attack, offensive spell and death aura I've got running.

Wiki: https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:The_Bitter_Blade

Sure I could go for a more melee focused build but the damage from EK-melee pales in comparison to what I've been seeing from the ED SLA's. Most of which cost 2-6 SP, cooldowns around 6 seconds, while hitting for thousands of damage each. (AoE's at range) All the while further triggering the Bitter Blade for some free crowd control.

Side Note: Each of the offensive SLA's can trigger Arcane Supremacy, allowing for some spectacular spell criticals.

Your offensive spells gain a 10% chance to trigger Arcane Supremacy.
Arcane Supremacy: +25% Spell Critical Chance, +100% Spell Critical Damage. 12 seconds duration. This effect may trigger only once every 90 seconds.

-Smoke

 

[unbongwah]

As the build currently stands the BAB at 20 is "11". However, GTHF can only be taken at 21st as there isn't a feat available at 19 or 20. To increase the BAB further would require adding more levels of fighter, which would water down the casting abilities too much.

Yes, that's why I suggested you delay your fighter splash until level 20 to slot GTHF there, rather than "waste" the bonus feat at level one: Dark Hunter 1 -> wizard 1-18 -> fighter 1. So your heroic feat progression becomes something like: Shield Mastery (1), bastard sword (3), Insightful Reflexes (6), THF (9), ITHF (12), Improved Shield Mastery (15), Precision (18), GTHF (20). If you want to use tower shields in heroics, just cast Master's Touch.

Your epic feat slots are pretty crowded; moving GTHF down a level makes room for Arcane Insight at 21 and frees your level 30 slot for Embolden Spell or whatever.

Harper is only useful "If" the intel-to-dmg was worth having, which IMO its not for 12 AP. Especially when those points pretty much cover the cost of Pale Master enhancements. Besides, with the spell effects doing most of the damage, melee ends up just being another means to proc the "Bitter Blade", Triggering Frostbite vulnerability.

Fair enough, it was just odd to see a wizard with so many melee feats and over 30 points into EK but no Harper.

Just realized there's no crit feats, but I presume that's intentional, given you just said melee DPS isn't the priority.

 

[Smokewolf]

Yeah, melee damage was never intended to be a major part of the build. It was being used to attain the style based hitpoint boost, survivability, and a good bit of strike-thru. Which does come in handy for prok'n the Bitter Blades effects and a bit of imbue based damage. Not 100% sure, but I recall having 13 or 17 imbue dice at level 32. (last time I capped) Which isn't bad considering I wasn't building for imbues.

Now, as for the swap, you're proposing... I'll give it another look to see how much more can be squeezed out of the Epic levels. While doing comparisons between each to maximize what's possible.

-Smoke

 

[Smokewolf]

OK did some work with DDO builder, changing when FTR is taken. Which ends up looking a lot like the prior build but with somewhat different arrangement of when feats are taken. Most noticeably, the shields feats are acquired later (In Epics) and one has to be given up to have Embolden Spell meta. Skill points appear to give an nice overall boost of approximate 12 across the combined levels. Which thus far appears to be the only advantage vs the original build, while also leaving AC / PRR / MRR lagging until the heavy armor and tower shield can be equipped. (In Epics)

At level cap this isn't an issue as the character will have everything needed unlocked with the extra skill points to boot. However leveling it up this way would mean less survivability until the cap is reached. From a min-max perspective this would absolutely be the way to go...

-Smoke

***Comparison Variant 5-13-2023 ***
Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Dark Hunter(1)· ·Standard: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Vermin
2 · · Wizard(1) · · · ·Metamagic: Extend Spell
3 · · Wizard(2) · · · ·Standard: Two Handed Fighting
4 · · Wizard(3) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Wizard(4) · · · ·
6 · · Wizard(5) · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Metamagic: Quicken Spell
7 · · Wizard(6) · · · ·
8 · · Wizard(7) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Wizard(8) · · · ·Standard: Precision
10· · Wizard(9) · · · ·
11· · Wizard(10)· · · ·Metamagic: Maximize Spell
12· · Wizard(11)· · · ·Standard: Improved Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Wizard(12)· · · ·
14· · Wizard(13)· · · ·
15· · Wizard(14)· · · ·Standard: Empower Spell
16· · Wizard(15)· · · ·Metamagic: Heighten Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Wizard(16)· · · ·
18· · Wizard(17)· · · ·Standard: Shield Mastery
19· · Wizard(18)· · · ·
20· · Fighter(1)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Greater Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Arcane Insight
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Acid
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Intensify Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Force
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Improved Shield Mastery
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Poison
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Embolden Spell or Greater Shield Mastery
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Feywild
31· · Legendary(1)· · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Spell Power: Sonic
32· · Legendary(2)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up

 

[Holmgang]

Why does it require a feat swap with fred at level 1 for bastard sword?

 

[unbongwah]

Why does it require a feat swap with fred at level 1 for bastard sword?

Bastard sword proficiency requires STR 13. +1/2 tomes count at level 1, but - thanks to DDO's uhh "quirky" behavior - only after character creation, not during. So you have to take a filler feat, then go talk to Fred to swap it out.

Technically with a +6 (or higher) tome, you could start STR 11, but that would force you to delay ITHF to level 15 and this build is incredibly feat-constrained already. Though I just noticed OP takes Empower Spell at level 15, not a minimum-BAB-8 feat (i.e., Improved Shield Mastery), so possibly that would be okay.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Ability_tome#Bonus_at_level

 

[Smokewolf]

Just capped at level 32 again... Will try to take a few pics of the enhancement spread as well as the Epic Destiny's. (Tomorrow)
Odds are though the I'll do some gear Tetris soon'ish so I'll stick with my level 29 gear till that's finished.

-Smoke

 

[Holmgang]

Bastard sword proficiency requires STR 13. +1/2 tomes count at level 1, but - thanks to DDO's uhh "quirky" behavior - only after character creation, not during. So you have to take a filler feat, then go talk to Fred to swap it out.

Technically with a +6 (or higher) tome, you could start STR 11, but that would force you to delay ITHF to level 15 and this build is incredibly feat-constrained already. Though I just noticed OP takes Empower Spell at level 15, not a minimum-BAB-8 feat (i.e., Improved Shield Mastery), so possibly that would be okay.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Ability_tome#Bonus_at_level

Cool, thanks did not realize that.

 

[Eleazzar]

Just capped at level 32 again... Will try to take a few pics of the enhancement spread as well as the Epic Destiny's. (Tomorrow)
Odds are though the I'll do some gear Tetris soon'ish so I'll stick with my level 29 gear till that's finished.

-Smoke

Please do. I would be interested in this.

 

[Smokewolf]

Updated main thread...

Edit: Was able to provide the links but not the images directly to DDO. Not sure why that is as the images are in JPG format.

-Smoke

 

[Smokewolf]

As of today, I'm Wearing Legendary Red Dragon Heavy Armor and Helm. Dripping with Magma procks from all melee, auras (I think) and spell effects. Unfortunately I'm wearing all lvl 28-29 gear as I'm still playing gear Tetris with the Isle of Dread stuff.

-Smoke