Necromancer/Ronin build?

[Mortaeus]

Hey guys! I'm really new to the game, and I've been having trouble with my necromancer/ronin character. I'm just really confused with what stats to invest in, and I want to increase my crit damage from 144% to at least 225% but I don't really know how. I know this is probably a stupid question, but if anyone can help me with stat and equipment recommendations, I'd really appreciate it. I'm level 60, now, and while I fare just fine in normal questing PvE I've been struggling against bosses and the like. Thanks in advance!

[Doehardt]

225% CRIT DMG at level 60 is a long living dream as a Scythe. The CRIT DMG push follows on level 65 with the gold-quality bottom sets "Lethal Beast " (many CRIT +2% and CRIT DMG +5%) and "Lion's Roar" (CRIT DMG +10% per armor piece and 25% from having all three parts).

If you want to increase your CRIT DMG somehow, you change your envoy path somehow so you get the 3 CRIT DMG increasing envoys on your way and with the newly added "Weapon Specialization" you can get up to 20% more CRIT DMG by investing points into it which you get by leveling your weapon path (levels like normal levels but quicker). Getting the +15% Move SPD however is also very important as it basically allows you to dodge red carpet attacks faster.

For armor at level 60, I recommend Titan Warrior or Devourer set for the top (Helmet + Torso) and Revelation or Devouer set for bottom (Belt + Gloves + Boots). You should ask for help by a guild you might be in for getting to those sets or something to compensate for it if you have trouble even doing SOLO Otherworld: Alabastren Temple, Gydaie Glen and Miner's Steppes.

Besides, the fact that you started off as a Scythe and even followed using a Tachi sub means you chose some of the least beginnerfriendly classes overall. I would recommend doing a second character that is either Guardian, Ravager, Duelist or Grenadier so you understand a bit more about the other classes.

[Mortaeus]

Hey! Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it! I maybe wasn't entirely clear enough - I've been having a lot of trouble with survivability, in particular. My damage is fine, I can basically just lean back behind my Purgatory Bats and chill, it's just that I have next to no defense (XP) so it doesn't take much for me to struggle in boss fights. I started a second character pretty much immediately after I posted - also a necromancer, because I really like the class and I had no trouble before I chose my subclass (which wasn't until level 45 anyway - I put it off). I was thinking of making this character a Necromancer/Sorcerer, with this proposed envoy's path: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370405/Simulator.html?l1601e21be0800f0010010070030

Please note that I'm basing this off the assumption that I should invest points in damage and health, and rely on equipment and envoy's path to give me boosts in crit and defense.

Looking good? I'll be the first to admit that min-maxing stats and the like is not my forte. I had another character (warbow) but she was deleted during my long absence when the servers were merged.

[Doehardt]

Hmm, I looked into it a bit. Considering you want to SURVIVE MORE - I think putting points into SPD till you have around 40% to refresh Bone Shield when down would help a lot in this case. For the envoy path, it is a bit messy. I would skip the move spd envoys since they are a tad too far and you lack other good envoys, like the stat reducing envoy bottom left.

With a Sorcerer sub, you are very likely to stay alive. With Frozen Tomb, Shadow Bolt and Sleep Totem at your disposal + having Soul Draw lifesteal and Rejunvination Mantra for cleansing debuffs and regenerating yourself, plus the high SPD enabling to use Bone Shield a lot more, you are able to survive a lot longer while maintaining HP and putting up a fair amount of DMG. You will feel more "well-rounded". No excessive DMG, no supah hot tanker, but a good thing in between, similar to a Survival Duelist.

Also noteworthy: Do NOT get comboclass skills from the envoy path. You have too many things to get first, if not fully using all 25 points for it, and skills cooling down after 30+ seconds are very inconsistent. You are better off using other methods to get out of a fight or end it quickly.

[Mortaeus]

Wow! Thanks so much! I have to admit I usually just use the same skills in the same order, and I can understand your point of not getting the skills from the envoy path - will probably leave that until they raise the level cap again, then?

I should invest in speed? I have to admit it never occured to me (XP) so thanks for the advice! I'll get started on that now. Just to clarify: don't invest points in defense - get it from equipment?

I really appreciate the advice! It's been super helpful! Thanks again!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370405/Simulator.html?l0601ec1b80801f0110110070010

[Doehardt]

Not investing points into defense is a yes and no simultanously. You should put points into DEF if you don't have gear strong enough to give you at least 60-65% without points into it, including fortification levels. If your DEF is 65%-70% or higher, putting a mix of HP-DEF or full HP is acceptable then. You do not benefit as much from high HP as like guardians who passively gain more DMG for more HP (center envoy = 15% of HP -> DMG, followed by Best Defense mastery, which is 1-3% of DMG into DEF.) It certainly allows you to stay alive longer, but without DEF, you should not aim for it.

Glad that I could give you a new idea with increasing SPD on Necromancer. It is a generally good idea to do it on classes that have like a certain skill that is effective when spammed (Phalanx on Guardian, Boneshield on Necromancer, Meteor Shot on Wizard, etc). Besides, I got a question to you:

I know that Envoy path simulator for a while now, though every time I try to use it and copy a link out of it, it copies the link of the envoy path I used before to open it, so I cant send any paths to buddies for help. How do I extract the link properly? It constantly resets my path to Ronin.

Last but not least, skip the purgatory bats envoys and the shade spell. The demon buffs up there are no good.

[Mortaeus]

Honestly - I've never had a problem with the envoy's path simulator. As long as you copy and paste the link from the top of the screen it should be good. The link itself incorporates the changes you make, if my understanding is correct. Just make sure to right click, copy and then paste that link to use. If you keep having trouble, please tell me and I will see if there's anything I can do!

Thanks again! I really appreciate it!

[Mortaeus]

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370405/Simulator.html?l0201ec1b80801f0110110078010