@Merlin I'm sorry to ask for more of your time, but your two builds (below) are really helping me to review my current ranged template.
So I'm guessing your Wraith Archer is the below?
120 Archery
120 Tactics
120 Anatomy (10 Talisman?)
120 Chivalry
120 Resist Spells (15 jewels?)
120 Spirit Speak (15 jewels?)
040 Focus
And your ABC Thrower is:
ABC Thrower:
120 Throwing
120 Tactics
105 Anatomy (120 with Bracelet)
100 Chivalry
115 Resist Spells
090 Bushido
070 Healing
As per
our convo on a different thread I'd settled on my ABC archer, but found that it doesn't outshine my sampire's single target DPS as it couldn't maintain constant AI... which is surely the raison d'etre for an ABC?
Having read the JOAT Wraith Archer build (great idea) I'm currently I'm dancing somewhere between the two builds. Maybe I'm trying to have it all? I know that less is more but I've not understood the key ingredients.
I've found that lowering bushi to 50 and raising SS to 70 (allowing modest wraith leech and honour) isn't
quite enough to chain 100%, maybe...80% as lower bushi means the chain AI costs 5 more mana each.
My theory-crafting suggests that Wraith Archer is the role to play for pure DPS vs bosses (Peerless, champs, captains, exodus) - which I believe is the goal of an Archer in the current meta?
Having reviewed your own efforts to work through template updates I believe that your builds are constructed with purpose and based on experience.
Therefore my questions are:
1) Assuming the aim is pure DPS which build do you find to be more effective and have a more valid role?
NB: If your answer is "different horses for different courses" - then, which do you find more satisfying to play?
2) What would do you make of the below build and what suggestions would you offer in relation to balancing the ~210 points invested into Bushido/SS/Healing?
3) Do you find that Chiv is negatively impacted through the use of Necro abilities on the wraith?
Currently my build is:
Archery | 120 |
Tact | 110 (Work to 120?) |
Resist | 110 (Reduce to 100?) |
Chivalry | 100 (Work to 120?) |
Anatomy | 100 |
Heal | 90 (Remove or replace?) |
SS | 70 (Work to 100?) |
Bushido | 50 (Remove?) |
Total | 750 |
Using HH + Soldier's Medal | +30 Skills |
Theory crafting:
Hitting with AI for 100 damage with 50% LMC
Assuming 50% HML, weapon leech average = 10 [Average of random amount from 0 to 20 (100 * 0.5 * 0.4)]
Bushi 120, Spirit Speak 0
Doubled AI cost 25
wraith leech 8
weapon leech 10
Total average net Mana per AI -7
Benefits - LS, High Confidence, Honour, less reliant on wraith form/target mana pool, more flexible
Weakness - RNG dependant AI
Bushi 50, Spirit Speak 70
Doubled AI cost 30
wraith leech 14
weapon leech 10
Total average net Mana per AI -6
Benefits - Honour, flexible
Weakness - SS/Confidence/Curse Weap heals unreliable, performs neither role well
Bushi 0, Spirit Speak 120
Doubled AI cost 30
wraith leech 24
weapon leech 10
Total average net Mana per AI +4
Benefits - Long Curse Weap, overleech negates RNG fluctuations
Weakness - No honour bonus, Drains target mana quickly and then cannot sustain AI, niche
Sorry for the delay in reply...
Here is my Wraith Archer skill set up:
Skills in left column are real, skills to the side are what I am adding from items on my suit and jewels.
For the Wraith Archer build, the character is a human. That way it can stay in Wraith Form without having any Necromancy since it gets 20 passive skill points from JOAT.
The purpose of that build is simple: stay stationary and chain Armor Ignore as much as possible for max damage.
I use potions to get my Strength to the 150 max mark, but keep my Stamina about 212 on the suit without relying on pots. That helps me maintain a bigger mana pool. By having Spirit Speak above GM, it helps to leach back considerably more mana. Also, Spirit Speak acts as a stand alone healing spell, which is really great in a jam.
I have 20+ Mana Regeneration on the suit as well and hit mana leach on all the weapons. I run Bone and Studded for the 55 LMC bonus. At one point, I had healing on this character, but I exchanged it for Focus to give that mana regeneration an even greater boost since I can use Spirit Speak or Close Wounds to heal. I run super slayer bows, but don't have all the matching cameos for this build just yet. That doesn't matter much since what I typically use this guy for doesn't have specific slayers on the boss, so it does well getting the benefit from Chivalry's Enemy of One spell. This build works really great on Exodus or any Peerless content where I am running with a larger group and can stay stationary to hit the main target without having to worry much about spawn or other mobs. It's a great build for DPS and maximizing mana use.
The downside of this build is that it's not very mobile, and if I run out of Strength pots, I have somewhat low hit points. It's use is really spectacular for certain hunts, but it's not a build meant for Felucca or spawning or Shadowguard.
In terms of answering your questions...
1) In comparable scenarios, I would put that Wraith Archer I shared above up against almost any other build in terms of pure damage. But... it also has more content limitations, especially if you're playing content that requires alot of movement. The ABC Thrower that I shared on that other thread we were discussing... that character is a bit more nimble. It can do PVM as well as PVP. It can do champ spawns and hold its own versus raiders. I play both builds somewhat equally... I have lots of different templates so that I can mix it up as I please. So I leave it to your own testing and playstyle to see what fits you best.
2) Again, depending on content, I would suggest something closer to what I shared above. I don't think you need Bushido on the build. I also would question what are you using Healing with bandages for if you can use Spirit Speak, Close Wounds, drink potions and use Hit Life Leach, if needed. Same with Resist Spells... I personally find that 100 is more than suffice in consideration of what I use the build for. Between 100 RS, Remove Curse from Chivalry and Enchanted Apples, I have options to resist most any affect from PVM casters. So right there, that would free up some points for you to play around with. My main suggestion for you would be to put more points into Spirit Speak... the extra mana you leach back goes far. Especially if you're having any mana management issues when chaining AI down to zero mana again and again, this allows you to top back up very quickly.
3) Aside from casting Wraith form, I'm not using other Necro abilities. And because I play Exodus frequently on this build, it provides a really good Karma boost simply on entering the main encounter.
Hope that helps! Keep me posted if any other questions