Is the Warlock just bad?

[Pinhead Larry]

I've tried and won at least one normal run through the first three maps on the other characters, but I can't even win a single one with the Warlock, even on the first, easiest map.

Does this character shine with only a specific build or something? I thought it was weak and slow to kill anything to begin with and that maybe it'd pick up over the course of a run, but no, it felt awful the entire time and I've never been able to kill anything fast enough to scale faster than the enemy waves.

Is there something I'm missing with the warlock or is it just a trash class in need of a balance pass?

[AquaineBay]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3094530686

Yeah... I would say at the moment the Warlock is the most broken class. 319M DMG, able to abuse the mask, heals faster than probably any character in the game, 150+ summons, etc.

[Remnant Melody]

Warlock is "trash" until you start utilizing summon mechanics like crazy.. couple with what the above poster said- they're a freakin' beast in the right mind set. So no, its not trash tier.. just people need to experiment better. Its not as if the game is that obtuse about what classes excel at.

[🌺💗Tazzamorous💗🌺]

Some classes lend themselves to being straight-forward and simple to play. Warlock is not one of them. Warlock is a class that supports other abilities as opposed to being strong itself. You cannot rely on the main attack to get the job done (like you can with many others). Warlock especially shines with summons though it isn't the only way to play it.

[Ulyaoth]

You can also go full ham into his main weapon to build a Ghost Shotgun.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3091181519
Pair this with an Element, preferable Electric or Frost and you can clear the final map on highest difficulty.

[Soüp]

I struggle to survive for 5 minutes with warlock, he's so weak starting out. I can't even get to the point where he's supposed to start ramping up. It makes me wonder if you basically need to unlock everything else in the game to make him usable.

[❤Kali-mari Ðes Earth™❤]

Its all about the build.

[🌺💗Tazzamorous💗🌺]

Originally posted by ❤Kali-mari Ðes Earth™❤:

Its all about the build.

Well said. It always is.

[Pawk]

warlock goes crazy if you are BALLIN.
literally. orbs with him are busted as hell.

[🌺💗Tazzamorous💗🌺]

Originally posted by PAWKIEN:

warlock goes crazy if you are BALLIN.
literally. orbs with him are busted as hell.

That isn't unique to warlock though. Any class running warlock mark can go nuts with orbs (because orbs aren't affected by force and so warlock primary bonus is useless).

[Soüp]

Originally posted by ❤Kali-mari Ðes Earth™❤:

Its all about the build.

The problem is he's so weak to start, I can't even GET to the part where I can put together a build, at least when playing on Agony. Again it feels like a bunch of unlocks are necessary (items, potions, trait types) for him to even be usable.

[themazingness]

He's the most gear dependent class. Once you've unlocked all the stuff he can be a lot of fun, and shines in Agony when you can get double stats on gear.

I still prefer cleric or archer though.

[Skazz]

I just did the "survive 28 minutes without the main weapon" quest, and the most difficult part was not accidentally triggering the main weapon.

Once you get the right equipment together, the Warlock is absolutely sick. I had like 20 skeletons and imps running around, and fourteen or so orbs shredding everything in my path. I didn't even have to watch where I was going, I could just hold down the button and keep walking.

[aFiend]

can someone post a minion build with gear etc. please
i tried it a few times but i cant make it work. finished agony 5 on frozen depths but i felt really weak.

necromancers clutch 90mio dmg? how?

[RedRune]

Originally posted by aFiend:

necromancers clutch 90mio dmg? how?

Probably an upgraded one. Paired with lots of +base damage, +damage and +summon damage. +summons/spawn and +attack speed. Ah, and appropriate items like the gloves, Mask of Madness and maybe - but not necessarily - the summoner amulet.

[DigitalBlizzNX]

Originally posted by aFiend:

can someone post a minion build with gear etc. please
i tried it a few times but i cant make it work. finished agony 5 on frozen depths but i felt really weak.

necromancers clutch 90mio dmg? how?

Because the rings actually are the the centerpiece alongside the orbs if you build the warlock right. It is gear dependent for a reason and also scales mainly off sheer minion volume from what I have found playing it. With that said, here is the full build I use.
Items are Warlock Mark, Mask of Madness, Shepard's Boon, Necromancer's Clutch, Blood-Soaked Shirt, Invocator's Grasp, Pest RIng (The debuffs offered from the rats outweight the raw damage of the imps.) and the boots are filler. I use Runner Shoes, but you can use Pace Setter or Berserker Boots probably.

For traits, sacrifice all the way, and use two of your doubling potions on the first two levels of it. Proficiency stance pick summon enhancement, and use your third doubling potion on the last level. Dedication bloodletting. Other important traits are force for demonic summoning for even more spawn numbers, and elemental surge fire so the orbs benefit from fire affinity as well as lightning affinity with electrified orbs.

For weapons these are my picks, with level choices in order of priority choices:
Astronomer's Orbs: Mass(1)>Speed(2)>Roughness(3)>Speed(4)>Mass(5)>Roughness(6)>Mass(7)>Speed(8)>Mass(9)>Speed(10)
Summon Golem: Adjustment(1)>Power(2)>Devastation(3)>Power(4)>Acceleration(5)>Devastation(6)>Adjustment(7)>Power(8)>Acceleration(9)>Power(10)
Spirit Warrior: Ruthless(1)>Cunning(2)>Swift(3)>Coverage(4)>Cunning(5)>Swift(6)>Ruthless(7)>Coverage(8)>Cunning(9)>Coverage(10)
Radiant Aura: Strength(1)>Blessing(2)>Blessing(3)>Force(4)>Blessing(5)>Blessing(6)>Strength(7)>Blessing(8)>Blessing(9)>Force(10)
Transfixion: Effectivity(1)>Cadence(2)>Effectivity(3)>Spread(4)>Effectivity(5)>Cadence(6)>Spread(7)>Cadence(8)>Effectivity(9)>Spread(10)

Inner orbit and electrified orbs in that order if possible.
Golem can take either in either order.
Twin spirit to dash impact in that order.
Punitive light to sacred flame in that order.
Painful incision and crippling cuts in that order if possible.

Is it the most powerful class? Not really, but it is my favorite personally and I get if no one wants to use spirit warrior, but I'm a sucker for summoners and this was the full build I've been crafting for awhile. If you want to drop spirit warrior feel free.