Looking for Simple Aether Ray Build

[Pizzarugi]

So I'm picking back up on Grim Dawn after reading the real bad changes coming to Path of Exile, and my boyfriend wishes to play with me. I've already got my own build planned out for a summoner, but we can't find one suitable for my boyfriend.

In his words, he'd like to have a build centered around Albrecht's Aether Ray and doesn't rely on using a ton of other active skills. He'd like to just have auras and similar permanent buffs active and rely almost solely on one active skill to do the brunt of the damage. He doesn't mind having one or two additional active skills for things like damage or defense, but he would like to not have to juggle so many at once.

Finally, because of our build dynamic with myself taking on a more tanky role, he would like to take a more glass cannon role while my minions and I hold the monsters off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[da_venom]

just look on any search engine online
for AAR mage hunter and you get a nice to go to page;-)

[Blinkybubs]

Here are some ideas to skim through and youtube has a bunch of builds as well.

https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/beginner-build-guides-compendium-for-aom-fg-expansions/106137

https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/build-compendium-x-forgotten-gods/49673

https://www.grimtools.com/

[tvance52]

every AAR build I know of seems to be a caster builds with a bunch of active skills. I'm not aware of one that uses only 2 or 3 active skills.

caster builds rely on actives for both offense and defense, usually, since casters are so heavily based on skills and not items like melee builds.

This is the might be the best AAR build out there, as vetted by several top builders: https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/1-1-9-6-behemoth-physical-aar-templar-sr100-4-25-crucible-all-celestials/100262

It's not quite as skill intensive as other caster builds, but still has quite a few active skills so I'm not sure if he would be interested.

Does it have to be AAR as the heart of the build?

What about a build like this: https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/1-1-9-4-pyrans-blazing-light-regen-based-fire-mortars-devastation-stormfire-sorcerer-celestial-killer-sr-75-76-sr-80-gladi-150-170/113405

Mortar Traps and Thermite Mines are pretty easy to use and would work great to support a tank. He can drop Devastation while the mines and mortars do their thing. Playing with a tank, the need to use the active defense skills would be lessened (I think?).

Or this: https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/1-1-9-6-2h-ranged-the-godhunter-harbinger-pyromancer-4-40-crucible-sr75-76-all-celestials/114944

a ranged build based on Fire Strike as default attack with Doom Bolt as a nuke. pretty much a 2-skill build, though there are some options here.

Just throwing out some ideas...

[D-Black Catto]

what he needs is not a caster, but a rifle. he should try playing demolitionist or inquisitor

[¥‎€‎‎$]

chances are high that every AAR build has mirror and nullification

if you go spellbinder, it probably adds ill omen and mark of torment

mage hunter adds word of renewal probably inquisitor seal and some maybe word of pain or storm box

warlock will add blood of dreeg, some have sigil and/or doom bolt

then some builds have active skills from the relic, components or set items

[Neit]

Originally posted by Caustic shrike:

chances are high that every AAR build has mirror and nullification

if you go spellbinder, it probably adds ill omen and mark of torment

mage hunter adds word of renewal probably inquisitor seal and some maybe word of pain or storm box

warlock will add blood of dreeg, some have sigil and/or doom bolt

then some builds have active skills from the relic, components or set items

This is very true, depending on second mastery, each build will have at least 3-5 active skills, sometimes debuff, sometimes support, sometimes survival. Sometimes you even have to pick some random skill just for devotion proc.

[Shellbie]

Originally posted by Pizzarugi:

So I'm picking back up on Grim Dawn after reading the real bad changes coming to Path of Exile, and my boyfriend wishes to play with me. I've already got my own build planned out for a summoner, but we can't find one suitable for my boyfriend.

In his words, he'd like to have a build centered around Albrecht's Aether Ray and doesn't rely on using a ton of other active skills. He'd like to just have auras and similar permanent buffs active and rely almost solely on one active skill to do the brunt of the damage. He doesn't mind having one or two additional active skills for things like damage or defense, but he would like to not have to juggle so many at once.

Finally, because of our build dynamic with myself taking on a more tanky role, he would like to take a more glass cannon role while my minions and I hold the monsters off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Spellbinder

Arcanist

- Max Flash Freeze/Absolute Zero for CC
- 1 point into Mirror of Ereoctes and Nullification
- Max Maiven's Sphere/Conversion
- Max Albrecht/Disintegration
- Max Mental Alacrity/Fabric of Reality
- Max Reckless Power

Necromancer

- Spectral Binding/Spectral Wrath
- Max Mark of Torment
- 6 points into Reap Spirit

[tvance52]

Originally posted by D-Black Catto:

what he needs is not a caster, but a rifle. he should try playing demolitionist or inquisitor

That's what I was thinking. The 2nd build I suggested was a 2-hand ranged Demolitionist for that reason.

I was trying to think of some good Dual Wield ranged inquisitor builds without a lot of active skills. Most of the one's I've seen actually have several active skills, but I'm not sure if they're "panic button" skills for rare occasions or spam skills to use constantly. I just haven't got an Inquisitor build past level 30 yet, as I rarely play them.

Completely random, but I just posted this in another thread. What about a skater build that is mostly just spamming Vire's Might as an attack to run through enemies and stack fire damage...like a fiery ghost just running through people and burning them as you go.
Playing with a tank, he could probably just spam Vire's Might and then leave combat if he gets low on health: https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/1-1-9-3-the-atv-aetherfire-templar-vanquisher/95191

That skater build would require farming equipment, though there's a less equipment intense physical damage version of it if you're interested (by the same builder). Just trying to give some ideas since I really don't think an AAR based build is going to work for someone who does not want a bunch of active skills but doesn't seem interested (?) in melee builds.

Also, if you two don't have a bunch of equipment or experience creating high-level characters, there are some build guides that are really good on how to get to a high-level build. Most people will use a leveling build and then respec their skills into the final build once they get to a very high level. Sorry if you know that already, just not sure what you're experience level is with the game so wanted to make sure you (and any future readers) know what options are out there.

[D-Black Catto]

Originally posted by tvance52:

I was trying to think of some good Dual Wield ranged inquisitor builds without a lot of active skills.

You know, I'm not very much into min maxing builds, that's simply not how I play this game.
But this thing...this thing is exactly what my main character is, and I'm having a lot of fun going through elite difficulty now.

the main ability is fire strike with dual guns. early game(say until level 50) one can easily go just leveling fire strike and it's connected abilities, various passives, and sustained shield abilities like vindicative flame, flame touched etc.

[tvance52]

Originally posted by D-Black Catto:

You know, I'm not very much into min maxing builds, that's simply not how I play this game.
But this thing...this thing is exactly what my main character is, and I'm having a lot of fun going through elite difficulty now.

the main ability is fire strike with dual guns. early game(say until level 50) one can easily go just leveling fire strike and it's connected abilities, various passives, and sustained shield abilities like vindicative flame, flame touched etc.

very interesting.

my only inquisitor build that's almost level 30 is based on Iskandra's Elemental Exchange for the elemental damage. Dual wield pistols with Olexra's Flash Freeze as my "panic button" for the freeze-and-run-away kiting. Hadn't gotten far enough to figure out my next move, I was making it up as I went.

[D-Black Catto]

Originally posted by tvance52:

Originally posted by D-Black Catto:

You know, I'm not very much into min maxing builds, that's simply not how I play this game.
But this thing...this thing is exactly what my main character is, and I'm having a lot of fun going through elite difficulty now.

the main ability is fire strike with dual guns. early game(say until level 50) one can easily go just leveling fire strike and it's connected abilities, various passives, and sustained shield abilities like vindicative flame, flame touched etc.

very interesting.

my only inquisitor build that's almost level 30 is based on Iskandra's Elemental Exchange for the elemental damage. Dual wield pistols with Olexra's Flash Freeze as my "panic button" for the freeze-and-run-away kiting. Hadn't gotten far enough to figure out my next move, I was making it up as I went.

well, it's not a pure inquisitor build. it's a purifier so inquisitor+demolitionist

another good build for not many skills and ranged combat would be, from my experience, a death knight or commando.

commando would be like either fire strike or cadence for main weapon, and then leveling passives and sustained skills(skipping the ones meant for melee weapons for soldier)

and death knight would relay on cadence for main weapon skill, soldier health buffs and necromancer passives, active skills would be pet summoning to keep enemies occupied as you plow them from afar

I am (slowly) grinding both commando and death knight now, according to these ideas. however I've chosen a 2h melee weapon for both of them. however I think it would be perfectly viable to use 2h ranged weapon instead.

[tvance52]

death knights are really strong. I have a melee one at level 68 as one of my very infrequent characters that I'll occasionally play. with the right skills they're almost immortal.

I'd think a well built death knight is near the top, if not the top, for survival ability.