Iratus Spellcaster playthrough

[synnworld]

Hey, I remember reading somewhere (or a combination of different sources) about using minions as full support while the main focus of winning battles were using Iratus as a spell caster/blaster necromancer. Has anyone actually successfully pulled this off?

I'm assuming such a playthrough would require a combo of essence of mind, shade, and rushed iratus statue to keep mana up.

[Bumc]

The midgame spellpower-spelldamage Destruction builds do work on lower difficulties, but once enemies start having higher Vigor pools you start running into problems.

Finger of Death is the one that can actually work once you get enough mana base to disable 1-2 enemies right at the start of the fight. Its still probably easier to finish the rest with minions than try to spellblast everyone.

Probably the most broken build available utilizes lich sacrifice -- conjure shadows loop and some items that scale your minions with allied deaths (mainly cannibal's jaw) to achieve first turn kills on pretty much anything.

Iratus statue doesn't really contribute to the build as you can often stall the fight a bit and restore the mana at the end of it.

[MasterBLB]

I have design of such team started, yet it is not done; I think the key for such party is ability to cast two spells in turn, have a way to get mana back, and pump up Iratus's spell power.

For double cast possible choices are:
1. Lost Soul - can have high initiative(10), however her ability requires 50 wrath to cast.
2. Vampire - her Mesmerise in addition restores some mana, sadly she has low, and impossible to increase initiative, so to use her you have to put a minion with at most 3 base initiative to ensure you'll have opportunity to cast 2nd spell.
3. Lich - its feature increases spell power, but Cruel Sacrifice requires to kill own unit; theoretically the spell Conjure Shadow can be used, but the goal of such team is to cast offensive spells.

Pumping up spell power:
Lich(feature) and Reaper(skill Reap Power and class item) are the best candidates. In addition items for minions, like Unholy Water.

Regaining mana:
Essence of Mind is great, however it requires a minion to deal damage. Sadly, practically there are no other viable options. Yeah, the Reaper can restore 10 mana using Reap the Maelstorm, but that's laughable amount for casting Finger/Bone Obelisk.

Other stuff:
Besides the above, your team still would need some kind of tank able to take aggro on it, as casting Battle Eternal is too situational.
Moreover, minions while not being main damage dealers they should help to remove wards from enemies, opening them to spells

There is a plenty to ponder on, so far I haven't succeed. The best possible outcome probably will be a mixed team, which deals damage more or less equally via spells and via minions.

[synnworld]

This is interesting thanks for the replies..

[Ichthyic]

Originally posted by Bumc:

The midgame spellpower-spelldamage Destruction builds do work on lower difficulties, but once enemies start having higher Vigor pools you start running into problems.

Finger of Death is the one that can actually work once you get enough mana base to disable 1-2 enemies right at the start of the fight. Its still probably easier to finish the rest with minions than try to spellblast everyone.

Probably the most broken build available utilizes lich sacrifice -- conjure shadows loop and some items that scale your minions with allied deaths (mainly cannibal's jaw) to achieve first turn kills on pretty much anything.

Iratus statue doesn't really contribute to the build as you can often stall the fight a bit and restore the mana at the end of it.

this. I tried this years ago and it was great, if you just slowly pare down your party to just the lich as you gain enough power and spells to support it. by the end of floor 2, I was nuking everything with just that single lich and summons as fodder for it. It really does work, though it can be a bit hair raising on higher difficulties, especially in the beginning.

[Pretty Kitty]

Just finished Eternal Harvest 1 with only one death the whole way through using, right from the first turn: Reaper, Reaper, Reaper, Widow. This is the most OP team, you use "Reap the Maelstrom" To give Iratus 12 spellpower and 10 mana. Use the widow to remove ward with "Fatal Bondage" and her special "Poisoned Web". Get the Reaper-specific items that allow the reaper to increase spell power each time Iratus casts a spell. (with three reapers, if you us Maelstrom x 3, then cast a spell, you will increase spellpower by about 80 each turn, plus add 30 mana.)

This team is strong start to finish, as every time you kill with a reaper, the whole team heals, the widow can self heal and the widow can reduce resistance if needed, remove all wards and blocks, and has a nice dot that on the final boss does almost 100hp / tick.

On higher difficulties the key is preserving mana and health, so you do not have to use too many parts. This team allows you to do just that, and they get stronger, as the reapers get to 20 armor by late game.