Any good Spear Builds?

[Heretek1914]

I'm looking to utilize the spear because I think my lizard looks pretty cool with it. I saw one build, but it was a hybrid ranged-close quarters that used up an action on weapon switching and I'd rather not do that if it can be avoided.

[Hobocop]

Look up any 2h Strength build, and replace all instances of Strength with Finesse. That's pretty much it, with the added benefits of being able to use Chloroform and having slightly more melee range.

You can also use the guide for that hybrid bow/spear build, remove the Huntsman skills and put the points elsewhere.

[Chaoslink]

I mean, any two handed STR build can be played with a spear. However, the neat thing about spears is their range. Find one with cleave, preferably the 50% cleave. This will make your regular attacks hit everything in range. That range is about that of a regular whirlwind attack.

One neat trick you can do, which requires some setup, is to have an ally cast shackles of pain on an enemy, like a boss. Then (preferably) cast the resist death spell on that character. With that character close to the boss, you can attack your ally directly, hitting the boss with the cleave effect. If you boost your damage using death wish and are at 1hp yourself, or simply attack normally, this will transfer 100% of the damage your attack normally does to the boss, while also hitting them for the 50% cleave. Doing so effectively allows you to raise that character's attack damage by 50%, with death wish having... quite the potency on that. Since death wish increases your damage by the % of your missing health, if you're missing 99% and do this, you're effectively doubling your damage, and since you're hitting the boss or whatever for 150% using this method, it technically boosts that to 300%.

While not being very practical, it is a little thing I came up with awhile back after realizing the effectiveness of a spear's cleave. Another interesting build idea is to make them an elemental weapon fighter. Using venom coating (combine a Geo and Scoundrel book) and sparking swings (Warfare and pyro), you can deal pretty respectable magic damage on your attacks. Boost that even more with the application of poison to the weapon via crafting as well as hoping you get RNG luck getting innate magic damage or a rune slot on a 50% cleave spear (or the dream roll of all three) and you can deal quite a lot of magic damage per swing. I never tested if sparking swings creates a spark to every target hit in the cleave, but either way, your magic damage will be quite high all things considered. Pair this character with a mage and you'll have some interesting synergy between physical and magic damage.

Another nifty thing to abuse is root effects like spider legs and worm tremor (with torturer). When fighting melee range enemies, you simply get within spear range but outside their weapon range and then root them in place. Doing so will allow you to attack them freely (even get a free haste with spider legs if you're in the web) while they cannot attack you back. Add in a smoke effect to prevent them using ranged stuff as well, very potent against archers or other ranged attackers.

[Pyromus]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

. I never tested if sparking swings creates a spark to every target hit in the cleave,

It does. Quite the powerful combo with grouped up enemies. I liked using 2 single handed weapons each with cleave, but a spear having an easier time hitting more enemies will also work wonders. Obviously, it gets much better with the source variant.

[Chaoslink]

Oh well there ya go then. Grab a spear, grab sparking swings and some magic damage ont he weapon and you're set. Go light ♥♥♥♥ up.

[[N63] chrisragnar]

Wish spears could use razortooth knife and sever tendon aswell. Sparks sounds fun tho.

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by N63 chrisragnar:

Wish spears could use razortooth knife and sever tendon aswell. Sparks sounds fun tho.

Eh, they're not a scoundrel weapon just because they scale off finesse, its still a warfare weapon. The purpose is to offer a melee option with a more balanced armor value. Personally, I can't see a reason to run a STR 2H build over spears other than the more ready supply of weapons, spears are harder to come by. Otherwise a spear build is better in every way. For efficiency sake, STR builds have worked their way out of my team setups completely. Finesse builds are just better.

[[N63] chrisragnar]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Originally posted by N63 chrisragnar:

Wish spears could use razortooth knife and sever tendon aswell. Sparks sounds fun tho.

Eh, they're not a scoundrel weapon just because they scale off finesse, its still a warfare weapon. The purpose is to offer a melee option with a more balanced armor value. Personally, I can't see a reason to run a STR 2H build over spears other than the more ready supply of weapons, spears are harder to come by. Otherwise a spear build is better in every way. For efficiency sake, STR builds have worked their way out of my team setups completely. Finesse builds are just better.

Eh.

Also tentical lash

[Chaoslink]

Tentical lash hits hard even without a STR build and is hardly enough reason to go for a STR build alone. It’s good, but not that good.