Still feel like a noob!

[Bludbonez]

I still feel like a noob after watching some of the You Tubers. Currently have 10 characters above level 50, 4 above level 60. I play veteran! This is my best build currently and it is beast! https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jJpR42

I have a Lighting spec Warder im working on. But waiting on a couple gear items for it. So, what do you think? Noob or what!?

[Bludbonez]

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

For your build Necromancer seems like a complete waste tbh.

You do mostly Physical,Bleeding and Trauma damage and Necro is mostly Cold and Vitality. You shuold have gone with Shaman or Oathkeeper instead. SHaman when you wanna do the damage yourself and Oathkeeper when you want the enemys to hurt themself while attacking you.

Not exactly! Currently that Deathknight is level 69. Currently much of the damage from Forcewave this day is Aether damage. Retaliation is a wonderful thing! If I were concerned about damage output I would play my lightning warder. Level 56 with a 39.993 dps. Which is overkill IMO.

While I understand your concern. With regards to that Deathknight. It does not matter what damage type it currently puts out. What does matter is the damage itself. Retaliation "Never Misses". Retaliation does not use any damage modifiers except the ones that specifically state "retaliation damage".

As far as using necromancer. The secondary debuff is more important than actual damage from that class. As well as its very strong passive. Thank you for your concern!

Additionally: If that character was level 100. I filled out the soldier tree completely. I would have 26 skill points to allocate into my second class. When designing this character. I took that into consideration. In perspective it would not matter what secondary class I chose at level 10.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

necro is fine for physical dmg
it has Spectral Wrath to reduce enemy physical resist, and while it doesn't have any %phys dmg boosters, it does have multiple flat dmg sources, which can relatively easily be converted to phys dmg either partially or in full

[valium]

Havent been able to play around with spectral wrath much yet, but isnt that a retaliation skill? I think forcewavers prefer to stay at some range.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

depends how you think of a retaliation skill
in grim dawn, retaliation, or retaliation dmg specifically is a, well, specific, thing
spectral wrath is a "retaliatory" effect sure, enemy hits you the proc strikes back, but it doesn't deal retal dmg nor scales from it, and doesn't have retaliation mechanics
*it does do super good dmg early game, and since it's an automated effect it's pretty good for levelling or pseudo retal levelling.
Several skills have the "pseudo" retaliatory effect, some even provide actual retal dmg or adds retal dmg to the attack, like Vindictive Flame or Counterstrike, and it's also possible to build around those skills/make a dedicated non real retal retaliatory build for sure (VF/Counterstrike builds are legit kinda fun even if not going the full retal route too)

[valium]

I meant you need to be hit for it to proc, I would prefer my ranged builds RR to not be tied to such a mechanic.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

i... dont' see the issue?
it triggers on ranged or spell hits too, there is no distance requirement
and you will be "hit" all the time in this game, be it a shot from ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mob or or just tons of aoes/debuffs flying
spectral wrath is one of the best RR in the game because it's passive still, and the application+uptime is fine

[Bludbonez]

Originally posted by valium:

I meant you need to be hit for it to proc, I would prefer my ranged builds RR to not be tied to such a mechanic.

I see you have never tried a Deathknight. You should try it. I intentionally want mobs to hit me. I will actually run up into the middle of a large pack of mobs. Now why do I do that? Well besides the retaliation. The DK is set up to heal when taking damage.

Because of the devotion set up. I heal faster than the enemies can output damage.It is very rare for that character to go below 75% health. Even against bosses. Ranged or not, ranged,mobs do not matter. All that matters is they attack me. Have not kited a boss since my mid 30ies. Have only used a heal pot once since level 40.

The build I made is designed to not have any glass cannon or squishy attributes at all. So I dont have to kite. I could probably make a very high dps build. But that would sacrifice survivability. I am mini-maxing this build so I know what to do when I decide to start running hard core characters.

It will be finishing Forgotten Gods on vet this week. Then will do elite just to unlock ultimate. Elite should be no issue for this character. Ultimate has some very heavy reductions. So optimization is definitely a requirement. But what matters is the play style you enjoy! If you are good at what you do. Do it! Have FUN!

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

necro is fine for physical dmg
it has Spectral Wrath to reduce enemy physical resist, and while it doesn't have any %phys dmg boosters, it does have multiple flat dmg sources, which can relatively easily be converted to phys dmg either partially or in full

Shaman and Oathkeeper are still far superior choices for his "HIT ME IN THA FACE" build. Shamans Thorns even get a percentage of Retaliation added as damage which can turn into pretty nasty damage. And Oathkeeper is the retaliation King no challenge there.

[gNuff!~©~gNom3™]

there is basically no retal in that build
it's a physical FW build
and shaman vines is mainly good for non phys rata because the armour penalty becomes too high these days, shaman isn't that great for actual phys builds because of lacking RR, Warder having no stackable means it ends up lower on dmg even if it's tanky, but it's simple enough to make a DK tanky too, meanwhile it will have more dmg because of actual RR

[Bludbonez]

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

necro is fine for physical dmg
it has Spectral Wrath to reduce enemy physical resist, and while it doesn't have any %phys dmg boosters, it does have multiple flat dmg sources, which can relatively easily be converted to phys dmg either partially or in full

Shaman and Oathkeeper are still far superior choices for his "HIT ME IN THA FACE" build. Shamans Thorns even get a percentage of Retaliation added as damage which can turn into pretty nasty damage. And Oathkeeper is the retaliation King no challenge there.

I dont know about that. I have multiple Shaman characters. 2 above 60. Neither one is close to the retaliation damage my Deathknight can do. But then again, that Deathknight seriously "debuffs" so retaliation output is much higher for it.

It would be very cool if Shaman had some debuffs. Then we would agree.

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

there is basically no retal in that build
it's a physical FW build

I know but tell that OP who said it deals lots of retaliation damage.

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

shaman isn't that great for actual phys builds because of lacking RR,

Remove Forcewave for Cadence, Savagery or Primal Strike. Problem solved. I mean my Warder has over 100k DPS and its not even Lv100 yet let alone having endgame gear. Gven tho its a Crossbow Dude.

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by Bludbonez:

It would be very cool if Shaman had some debuffs. Then we would agree.

Devourim Swarm and Raging Tempest. One for Bleed and Vitality builds and the other for Elemental builds. And for both of them the enemys dont even need to hit you first.

[Bludbonez]

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

there is basically no retal in that build
it's a physical FW build

I know but tell that OP who said it deals lots of retaliation damage.:ImoriBlep:

Originally posted by gNuff!~©~gNom3™:

shaman isn't that great for actual phys builds because of lacking RR,

Remove Forcewave for Cadence, Savagery or Primal Strike. Problem solved. I mean my Warder has over 100k DPS and its not even Lv100 yet let alone having endgame gear. Gven tho its a Crossbow Dude.

100k dps in retal damage?

[Gilver Redgrave]

Originally posted by Bludbonez:

100k dps in retal damage?

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

Given tho its a Crossbow Dude.

I mean.....no.
For Retaliation i would clearly go Oathkeeper and not Soldier. Warden is Soldier+Shaman.

[Bludbonez]

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

Originally posted by Bludbonez:

100k dps in retal damage?

Originally posted by Gilver Redgrave:

Given tho its a Crossbow Dude.

I mean.....no.
For Retaliation i would clearly go Oathkeeper and not Soldier. Warden is Soldier+Shaman.

Is all good my brother! This Deathknight just finished all 3 campaigns on vet. So now moving him to elite to unlock ultimate. I do have other characters to finish off the campaigns with. The FUN of this game. Replay ability with different builds or make your main character a BEAST! Ohh and only two more levels til I start getting Mythic drops !! WOOT!!