Twist on DA Melee

Vathailos

Well-known member
So, I initially posted this idea as I was working a first build in another thread. I've been through three variants now and it's shaping up to be pretty solid. I think it's newer player friendly, and the more racial APs you have the better it rounds out. Caveat: I have a +3 Racial AP tome from MD that I use to get the infinite rage charges.

The gist:

9 Dark Apostate (STR Domain)/8 Barbarian/3 Rogue

Race: Shifter

Self-heal with Inflict Critical and negative on-damage gear.

ED: Fury of the Wild for Quick Cutter and strikethrough, Legendary Dreadnaught stance, and splash of Draconic for casting while raging

Notable Perks:

- Crazy good unconsciousness range with self-rez from DA T-4

- 2HF, Staff melee with great strikethrough (285-335 w/ Focus Wide), good crit profile (increased range from Improved Critical and Swords to Plowshares, x2 crit multiplier from FZ Berserker T-5). Patience could add another x1 obviously. Two available +1 multipliers on 19-20 rolls.

- High STR, and Evasion with very good saves because it's based on STR via Strength Domain (and immunity to knockdown).

- Constant +4W damage boost (2 from Crazed Strikes, always up if you hit target, 1 from T-5 FZB, and 1 from LD ED), plus +25% morale boost to doublestrike (up > 90% of the time, assuming you hit) via Quick Strikes staff attack.

- Good imbue dice (toggle Bane or Evil damage).

- Undead survivability and immunities.

- Swords to Plowshares via Thief-Acrobat core.

- 50% uncapped dodge (Improved Uncanny Dodge) clicky via Barbarian level 8 helps survival.

- Perma-Rage to keep STR damage bonus higher, more CON too.

- Regenerating Haste Boost (Haste Boost from TA enhancements, regenerating via Legendary Dreadnaught).

- Find Traps / Disable Device / Open Lock.

Drawbacks:

- No Harm self-heal, smaller SP pool, undead vulnerabilities, light armor (required for evasion), self-rez can only work once every 3 minutes.

Points:

Frenzied Berserker: 35 points
Dark Apostate: 24 points
Thief-Acrobat: 17 points
Shifter: 7 points

Feats:
2HF, I2HF, G2HF
IC-B
Dodge
Quicken
Power Attack

I had someone on that other thread ask for how I'd proceed through the build, so here it is 😁

The only "must do" would be to take Rogue as your first level (for the extra Skill Points), and enough in Dex (your tomes may vary) for Dodge (13 IIRC).
 
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Vathailos

Well-known member
Have you thought about using Destruction domain instead for free casting while raging? It would free up having to take Draconic Incarnation.
Indeed, and good question. But the STR for reflex saves was too valuable since the build has Evasion. It also helped me decide that STR Domain has knockdown immunity.

It's worth noting that you could just dismiss rage to cast (no fatigue since you're undead), and I do that while leveling up as needed.
 
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