Noob in pet builds, need some clarifications...

[LezDole]

Ok, im starting a cabalist pet build, and I was wondering about few things from more veteran players.

1. Basically, since pets really are heavy point investment, do you guys generaly just put all points in basic pet skill like Raise skeleton, or do you also go full for transmutes? Especially wondering on the Hellhound, since it has like 3 extra transmute that all can be filled by 12 points :/ Are they worth from your experience.

2. Secon of all, considering skeletons, tooltip says Skeletal warrior abilities: 106 % to all damage.

106% to all damage of what? Basic skeleton attacks?. Tooltip also says on the bottom "Anicent weapons do 10-20 physical dmg (example)". So does it means 106% of that damge so it will do more then 10-20, or is 106% already calculated in 10-20 physical damage.

If I have a spell or item that adds for example 20 acid damage to pet attacks, will the 106% increase that so it will be around 40 acid damage or will it affect at all?

3. Im also confused by another tooltip: (example)

Skeletal warriors attributes: 2000 hp
Skeletal warriors abilities: +80% health.

So whats the point of giving it ability to buff its own health, why not just give him that extra health from the start, or does the 80% benefit something else? I dont get it.

4. Regarding Shepherd of the lost souls set, can the blueprint for head piece be bought from any vendor? Like that plant in AOM dungeon?

Ty for responses.

[Matthew]

Increase % damage applies to all sources, yes. This makes any sort of flat damage you can add to pets very strong. Pet damage is often higher than it appears on the character sheet.

No, as far as I know, all the level 94 hat blueprints are random drops.

[Včelí medvídek]

This is my current (targeted) build I am playing right now:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWJeqd2

It shoudl answer your questions from my perspective.

I am currently lvl 80 and since beginning of elite I ahve almsot feeling of being too OP.. curious if it remain for Ultimate too, b ut right now I am jsut running through zones while my pet army shred everything in seconds.Almsot boring:p

EDIT: ok, bit mroe specific reply - you should consider that you and your pets get various additional abilities from many sources, nto jsut from their abilities in skill tree.

That is reason both flat and +% skills are presented and work together.

Eg. if u have Nature guardian devotion ability it add 40 physical damage to your pets - this +106% doubles it..

Beside and another example if playing cabalist you likely go for skills like Mastery of death skill that convert 25% of pet physical damage to vitality damage.

So at that moment +% all damage boost both physical and vitality parts, while eg. + % vitality damage boost only vitality part..

[FlamingX21]

1. Yes.
2. Skeleton's abbilities, I would understand ass they have their own skill which buffs total damage by 106% in that scenario, when they all die off, skill which increases damage by 106% won't happen because they don't exist.
3. Probably same as 2nd one... instead of damage (DPS) it's health,
4. Blurpeint for head for Sheaprd of Souls... I hoenstly don't know because I usully see only non-myth which are below lvl 75 and never really lvl 94 blueprints, easier than finding blueprint is ask someone in lobby and bring specific componments so you don't feel guilty that they give it for free and make sure you won't get scammed by giving away componments but I really hope these people won't shwo up for you, we are often more nice as community and help each other out.

To add something from myself, skeletons never were my favourite, I prefer buffy ones (briathon, helldog ect.) but each on their own...

[LezDole]

Originally posted by Včelí medvídek:

This is my current (targeted) build I am playing right now:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWJeqd2

It shoudl answer your questions from my perspective.

I am currently lvl 80 and since beginning of elite I ahve almsot feeling of being too OP.. curious if it remain for Ultimate too, b ut right now I am jsut running through zones while my pet army shred everything in seconds.Almsot boring:p

Not bad actually. But I think Shephard of lost souls set would be kinda tricky to get, without trading at least. Do you happen to know if the head pice sells in the AOM dungeon vendor? The plant thing.

[Včelí medvídek]

Originally posted by LezDole:

Originally posted by Včelí medvídek:

This is my current (targeted) build I am playing right now:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWJeqd2

It shoudl answer your questions from my perspective.

I am currently lvl 80 and since beginning of elite I ahve almsot feeling of being too OP.. curious if it remain for Ultimate too, b ut right now I am jsut running through zones while my pet army shred everything in seconds.Almsot boring:p

Not bad actually. But I think Shephard of lost souls set would be kinda tricky to get, without trading at least. Do you happen to know if the head pice sells in the AOM dungeon vendor? The plant thing.

Easy to trade for it /though i got all beside scepter in Crucible farming), I can craft helm too if u will be itnerested add me.

And no, the vendor dont sell 94 recipes.

nBtw edited my original post with additional info.

[LezDole]

Originally posted by Včelí medvídek:

Originally posted by LezDole:

Not bad actually. But I think Shephard of lost souls set would be kinda tricky to get, without trading at least. Do you happen to know if the head pice sells in the AOM dungeon vendor? The plant thing.

Easy to trade for it /though i got all beside scepter in Crucible farming), I can craft helm too if u will be itnerested add me.

And no, the vendor dont sell 94 recipes.

nBtw edited my original post with additional info.

Thank you for your response, and y I understand the philosophy behind the pet design, after checking some devotions, and your explanation. Some things are clearer for me definately. Im still low level, but when I reach more serious content I can do some gear searching/trading. Too low for that for now anyway.TY

[deathcaster]

I am a new player to this game, I am having real problems with my pet build, I have 9 skeletons, 1 hellhound, 1 familiar, 1 blight fiend, and a spirit crab (from item).

Killing base mobs and heroe mobs is a breeze and pretty fun. But bosses in this game are really OP, they kill most pets really fast and basically 1 shot me.

I can't play the Crucible DLC because I just get killed so fast. I am level 45 and have not found 1 legendary, I am running all green items, because blue items do not seem to come in pet build types. I have found lots of blue items, most for warrior builds.

I know I am probably doing something wrong.

[Faust Wither]

Originally posted by deathcaster:

I am a new player to this game, I am having real problems with my pet build, I have 9 skeletons, 1 hellhound, 1 familiar, 1 blight fiend, and a spirit crab (from item).

Killing base mobs and heroe mobs is a breeze and pretty fun. But bosses in this game are really OP, they kill most pets really fast and basically 1 shot me.

I can't play the Crucible DLC because I just get killed so fast. I am level 45 and have not found 1 legendary, I am running all green items, because blue items do not seem to come in pet build types. I have found lots of blue items, most for warrior builds.

I know I am probably doing something wrong.

increase blood of dreeg skill to heal your pet at least 8.

more tips: Will of Crypt, Hellfire, Storm Spirit skill flat damage increased by Spirit Attributes you had.

[Befuddled Honey Badger]

I have a pet Cabalist too:

https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jqz8vN

I tried Dying God which gives the pets bigger crits but the Howl of Mogdrogen's 15% OA seems to be more effective making them crit more often especially with all the +% Total Speed. And I havent played in a while so I still need to replace one of the rings with maybe a Rotmender's ring, I haven't decided yet.

Also, one thing to mention is the Pet Command. I have it bound to the RMB, as you can see in the Grimtools link, and I am always using it to move out the pets out of range of aoe, especially bleed stuff, or the big, telegraphed attacks from Bosses/Nemeses. I thought playing a pet build, I would occasionally use skills for procs/heals but otherwise I could just sit back and watch the carnage, however, it is very involved and I am always doing something (usually repositioning the pets every few seconds otherwise they will die often).

[Včelí medvídek]

Originally posted by Befuddled Honey Badger:

I have a pet Cabalist too:

https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jqz8vN

I tried Dying God which gives the pets bigger crits but the Howl of Mogdrogen's 15% OA seems to be more effective making them crit more often especially with all the +% Total Speed. And I havent played in a while so I still need to replace one of the rings with maybe a Rotmender's ring, I haven't decided yet.

Also, one thing to mention is the Pet Command. I have it bound to the RMB, as you can see in the Grimtools link, and I am always using it to move out the pets out of range of aoe, especially bleed stuff, or the big, telegraphed attacks from Bosses/Nemeses. I thought playing a pet build, I would occasionally use skills for procs/heals but otherwise I could just sit back and watch the carnage, however, it is very involved and I am always doing something (usually repositioning the pets every few seconds otherwise they will die often).

I would say you are bit unfocused with this - eg. you ahve bonuses for various damage types like acid, retaliation, lighting and bleeding damage for your pets but not any (or very low) source of it.. (yep Blight use Acid but rest dont benefit it - it would be probably better forcus on +% all damage for benefit all and it would synergy much betetr at the end)

Seems overall somehow fragile too.. (I personaly love my life-savers too for ♥♥♥♥♥ moments like turtle shell or OH proc.. but ofc its not necessary)

And last but not least - I would say that (not only but main) reason for use lost soul set is 2x hellhound -does not amke sense have it not maxed than.

[darth.crevette]

Originally posted by Včelí medvídek:

Originally posted by Befuddled Honey Badger:

I have a pet Cabalist too:

https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jqz8vN

I tried Dying God which gives the pets bigger crits but the Howl of Mogdrogen's 15% OA seems to be more effective making them crit more often especially with all the +% Total Speed. And I havent played in a while so I still need to replace one of the rings with maybe a Rotmender's ring, I haven't decided yet.

Also, one thing to mention is the Pet Command. I have it bound to the RMB, as you can see in the Grimtools link, and I am always using it to move out the pets out of range of aoe, especially bleed stuff, or the big, telegraphed attacks from Bosses/Nemeses. I thought playing a pet build, I would occasionally use skills for procs/heals but otherwise I could just sit back and watch the carnage, however, it is very involved and I am always doing something (usually repositioning the pets every few seconds otherwise they will die often).

I would say you are bit unfocused with this - eg. you ahve bonuses for various damage types like acid, retaliation, lighting and bleeding damage for your pets but not any (or very low) source of it.. (yep Blight use Acid but rest dont benefit it - it would be probably better forcus on +% all damage for benefit all and it would synergy much betetr at the end)

Seems overall somehow fragile too.. (I personaly love my life-savers too for ♥♥♥♥♥ moments like turtle shell or OH proc.. but ofc its not necessary)

And last but not least - I would say that (not only but main) reason for use lost soul set is 2x hellhound -does not amke sense have it not maxed than.

That belt is fine for any pet build. Not BiS unless you're using a lightning pet build, but fine. Same with the medal, even if only the Fiend really benefits from it, as there are few ways to have its damage really complement your other pets. It gives you quite a bit of extra health, too, and the +skills aren't too shabby.
Survivability-wise, I've found that the fiendflesh greaves can make any pet build quite tanky.

Personally for a Vitality pet build I'd go with something like that: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/xZyb8bKN

[Včelí medvídek]

Originally posted by deathcaster:

I am a new player to this game, I am having real problems with my pet build, I have 9 skeletons, 1 hellhound, 1 familiar, 1 blight fiend, and a spirit crab (from item).

Killing base mobs and heroe mobs is a breeze and pretty fun. But bosses in this game are really OP, they kill most pets really fast and basically 1 shot me.

I can't play the Crucible DLC because I just get killed so fast. I am level 45 and have not found 1 legendary, I am running all green items, because blue items do not seem to come in pet build types. I have found lots of blue items, most for warrior builds.

I know I am probably doing something wrong.

Not necessary wrong. On veteran difficulty I ocassionaly struggled on some bosses with simialr issue (pets died too fast) - but as you progres they become stronger and stronger. I am just finishing game on elite and my skellies die only rarely (and usualy it is Blight that take all agro and damage and skeletons die only if it is dead (particularly if my squad is consisted of skeleton mages and archers that keep their distance) - so is good keep watch his HP and rather recast in time). If you loook on build I posted above I selected almost all devotions for bost pet resistances and health rather than damage (as tons come from items and auras). Found it very beenefical for those reasons.

Gear wise iut is fine use greens from faction vendors, as you dont need so much for yourself and let pets do their job. So jsut select all those gear with pet bonuses and just augment and use components for boost resistances and you should be fine.

Also on lower levels you might consider to rather focus on less pets but max their abilities instead have more but weak (eg exclude hellhound for time being and let jsut blight tank and skellies do dps while boost them by necro auras and bond of bysmiel for extra hp + blood fo dreeg for regular healing)

[Faust Wither]

the ironic of pet build, the more type of pet you had the less damage they had, and lets not forget skeleton, Skeleton Warrior damage type; Phy & Vital, Skeleton Archer damage type; Phy, Pierce & Vital, Skeleton Mage damage type; Fire & Burn, Skeleton Revenant Vital & Phy. to managing it, is better to go "all damage".
cabalist has 4 damage type that can deal massive damage:

-lightning & elemental (ultos build) most damage source: Lightning Strike
example: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RZRGbv9N (item only)
-poison (blight build) most damage source: Blight Burst
example: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/M2gDzzyV (item only)
-vitality (lost soul build) most damage source: Skeletal Servant
example: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/4ZDQyypN (item only)
-chaos & fire (unholy build) most damage source: Flame Torrent
example: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/L2J0vvRZ (item, skill and devotion)

And for summoner it's better to have high spirit you can ignore OA if you an Cabalist and focused on dot damage or curse since it will never miss.

if you want learn more about your pet :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1261008232

[deathcaster]

well I figures out what I was doing wrong.... I was playing a pet build. level 50 cabalist with all green items and getting killed all the freakin time.

so now I have a level 20 commando with 7 blue items already that actually work for my build, and 0 deaths so far.

It just seem like gear for a pet build is much harder to find, and so far the commando seems way more powerful. just my opinion as a newbie player.

[Faust Wither]

Originally posted by deathcaster:

well I figures out what I was doing wrong.... I was playing a pet build. level 50 cabalist with all green items and getting killed all the freakin time.

so now I have a level 20 commando with 7 blue items already that actually work for my build, and 0 deaths so far.

It just seem like gear for a pet build is much harder to find, and so far the commando seems way more powerful. just my opinion as a newbie player.

usualy, my cabalist at level 50 already had Bond of Bysmiel 12(maxed), Blood of Dreeg 8, Aspect of the Guardian 12(maxed), summon familiar 1, Storm spirit 12(maxed). but at malmouth they gonna died because aether damage, you can stop it by using Mender's Powder in each of your accesory till you find more item to support thier resistance.