Build Advice/Stat Distribution

[Zydrate]

There's only two guides on this game and they're both rather specific. One of them even talks about having 200 in all but two stats in order to take down the King.
I'm at Rep8 (619% experience) and I only get to around level 115 before hitting another wall (Typically in the "Flight of your Life" area) and am wondering how people get stats that high.

1) Are there any stats to avoid?
2) Are there any specific builds?
3) What's the maximum level?
4) Do companion builds matter? (Mostly giving my Orc lady the heal and loot chance)

I'm sure I have other questions but let's start with those first.

[JackSamEss]

1. I would avoid Crit Chance and Attack Speed for the most part because they have diminishing returns after a certain point. I usually put at least 20 in attack speed.

2. A defensive build is going to be slow, but will get you the furthest. At 0 retirements you can even take down the boss after "Flight to your Death".
After a few retirements and you can hit max level easily with a defensive build, switching to an offensive build will get you to max level quicker for retirement purposes.

3. 120 last time I played.

4. For stats I always prioritze their damage then split the crit chance and attack speed. From what I remember some of their talents are broken in that they hinder you instead of helping. I always get the loot one and the healing one as you said.

[Zydrate]

...I can reset skills? Tell me how :(
Also wouldn't switching to offensive stuff destroy my surviveability in the late-game?

[JackSamEss]

I've never done it but after a fresh retirement there should be an option to reset your companion's skills, I think it's on the companion screen.

Use an offensive build to retire quicker, defensive build to advance further. The futher you get stats are less impactful than gear.

[Zydrate]

If there any specific time I should push for retirement? I had considered pretty much spamming retire to get a few quick 50%'s, but so far I've been trying to push.

[JackSamEss]

Retiring at level 120 yields the most rewards, but grinding to that level the first couple of retirements will take some time, and is much quicker if you are able to take out the boss after "Flight to your Death".

Farming for good gear is also part of advancing past some bosses.

[Zydrate]

I'm mostly making it to ~118 before the exp gain comes to a crawl. At retirement 12 right now and following the guide regarding Baal and it's serving me well. I found that ignoring HP was an odd choice but indeed, this gets compensated by gear later on.
So far I've been able to chip around 60mil off Baal but he does ~130,000 per hit and can typically 3 shot me...
What stuns him, by the way? I can get a long string of hits in because he gets staggered. I assume critical hits?

[JackSamEss]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1577681815

0 retirements and downed Baal. I disagree with this guide's info.

I'm not sure exactly how stunning enemies works but it seems like a random chance, high attack speed helps. It doesn't appear to be from crits.

[Zydrate]

Jesus, how'd you manage that without all the bonus stats? :(

[JackSamEss]

Defensive build with a little attack speed to interrupt attacks.

You want high HP for the three skills that scale with HP; one gives you more attack, one gives more defence, and one give HP regen.

[Zydrate]

I'll try that build after this run. 0 in attack is wierd, but with that damn fine sword from that end area (~495k) probably covers most of that.

[tH4b0Mb]

I just try to get crit to 100% and go from there

[Zydrate]

Got Baal! With a high Defense/Attack distribution. I guess enough bonus stats helped.
My new wall is the ice area, even with the OP daughter companion. I can't sustain enough damage to allow her to carry the waves.

[Domador de Capivaras]

I can't pas teh ice zone too. With build you recomend, guys?

[shadowfangds]

start at your strengths and be creative game is a bit tactical do give up to be strong only allow weakness at the end I have accepted my own type of love

[shadowfangds]

or best result on a long run would be your weakness's I say crit/defense atk/speed and hp/atk can anyone understand why def is the best stat listen to the song I just sung with the / in between