Post by Shapey on Oct 21, 2022 18:26:42 GMT -5
The Bloodmoon's out in full force (at the time of publishing)! Zombies, undead heroes, and doomlords alike have come to claim the city, but not to worry, we're all heroes, ready to take on any threat, alive or otherwise! ...well, most of us are heroes anyway. Regardless, in honor of those who'd pose a threat to our world, we'll take another dive into supernatural and use their powers again them! In this case, we'll be taking the power of a zombie, or a particularly noxious werewolf!
This build is level-friendly
Super Stats
○ Strength (Primary)
○ Dexterity
○ Constitution
Talents
○ The Master (+10 Con/Dex/Rec, +8 Str)
○ +8 Strength
○ +8 Dexterity
○ +8 Constitution
○ +5/5 Str/Dex
○ +5/5 Str/Con
○ +5/5 Con/Dex
Powers
Energy Builder: Bestial Fury
Power 2: Shred (Penetrating Strikes)
Power 3: Supernatural Power
Power 4: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3) or Pestilence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 5: Thrash (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 6: Aspect of the Bestial
Power 7: Venomous Breath (Rank 2, Infectious Bile)
Power 8: Eviscerate (Messy)
Power 9: Bite (Furor Venenum, Rabies)
Power 10: Resurgence (Unchained)
Power 11: Antagonize (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 12: Mind Wipe
Power 13: Unleashed Rage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 14: Condemn (Corrupting Force, Dark Rune or Redemption Denied), Lash (Rank 2, Decay), or Will-O-The-Wisps (Guide, Ghost Fire)
Specializations
Strength
○ Swole (3/3)
○ Physical Peak (2/3)
○ Overpower (3/3)
○ Brutality (2/2)
Brawler
○ The Glory of Battle (1/3)
○ Ruthless (2/2)
○ Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
○ Flanking (3/3)
○ Finishing Blow (2/3)
Warden
○ Fortified Gear (3/3)
○ Ruthless (2/2)
○ Elusive (2/2)
○ The Best Defense (3/3)
Strength Mastery
Travel Powers
Player's call. As before, this has no lunge, so Super Speed or Athletics would be a good choice. Make sure to rank to 3, as always.
Gear
Starting:
○ Critical Severity Primary Offense (Fort/Merc/Qliph/Nem Piercing, Savage Handguards) with Strength mod(s) and a Gambler's Lucky Gem
○ Defense Rating Primary Defense (Fort/Merc/Qliph/Viko/Nem Defense, Aegis Duster) with Strength mod(s) and an Impact Prism
○ Efficiency or Utility Primary Utility (Fort/Merc/Qilph/Nem Efficiency or Utility) with Strength mods and any core between Impact, Gambler's, or Vital Spirit
○ +20 Dex/Crit Secondary Offense (Acute Belt) and +20/20 Con/Dex Defense and Utility (Acrobatic Bracers/Eyepiece)
Ending:
○ Distinguished Offense Gloves with Strength mods and any combination of Gambler's Lucky Gem, Depleted Uranium Core, Coruscating Might (r7 or higher), or Soviet Guard's Resolution (preference towards crit rate)
○ Distinguished Freedom Armor with Strength mods and Impact Prisms
○ Distinguished Efficiency Helm with Strength mods, Teleiosaurus's Rage, and Veteran's Core of Might, Impact Prism, or Gambler's Lucky Gem
○ Onslaught Slicer Gloves with Str/Dex mod
○ Onslaught Fitness Tights with Str/Dex mod
○ Onslaught Efficiency Helm with Str/Dex mod
Gameplan
This build takes a decent amount of setup, so be patient with the start of your rotation. In mob situations, circle around targets with Venomous Breath; with Condemn, use when targets are close together then proceed with Breath, with Lash, use when targets are near behind your target and your position and continue with Breath, with Will-O, use when all targets are gathered and continue with Breath. Shred can cleave in close range, so when there are fewer targets, get up close and try applying bleed and shredded to multiple targets before picking off with Thrash. In single target, using the Shred combo 3 times will typically get you to 5 stacks of Bleed; watch the Bleed counter and attempt to add more bleeds with Shred if you're uncertain you are at max stacks. Tap Eviscerate to refresh your bleeds, then fully maintain Venomous Breath, followed by your final power to apply Debilitating Poison. Tap Bite to refresh your poisons, then tap Eviscerate again to align those timers. From there, maintain Thrash once, then again for about 2/3rds of the duration (11-12 seconds on your form is a good indicator as well), then tap Bite and Eviscerate to refresh bleeds and poisons. Repeat this until target is defeated. Pepper in Unleashed Rage when you have high energy, preferably after you've refreshed your DoTs. If you have to block for extended durations, always tap Bite and Eviscerate once you let go of block to make sure your timers are fresh. Your Shredded application can get lost on big targets, so if you believe it dropped, complete the Shred combo again, then refresh both DoTs and continue with Thrash. Use Mind Wipe if you get threat from a Tank.
Other notes
This build is a little more intermediate than the ones I've published before, as it's more involved in juggling timers and maintaining DoTs, so if you feel overwhelmed easily, take some time to practice it. This build is also one that has a lot of built-in durability, since Thrash will heal you for having Bleed stacks on the target, moreso at max stacks, as well as not needing to take an energy stat as a Superstat, thanks to Supernatural Recovery's great synergy with Bestial/Infernal maintains, so you can take Constitution. Pestilence is an option for this build, but I do advise that it is the weaker choice--in both Offensive and Defensive senses, offering less damage and no flat damage reduction nor knock/hold resist; however, I acknowledge that it may be a thematic choice, and there is merit in the passive damage functioning as an AoE. It is also worth noting that you must be careful at Kiga, as your Bite will stun dogs if they are bleeding or poisoned. Either avoid using Bite during phase 1, or wait until there has been a successful interrupt or the dog has maximum hold resist stacks. While leveling, prioritize ranking your passive and Thrash before adding in advantages to debuff targets or refresh your DoTs.
And there we have it! Maintain Melee damage builds are pretty uncommon, but they definitely can contend with others. Supernatural has the easiest time making the most of it, and as mentioned above, allows them to even have extra bulk. If you're in the market for a particularly ferocious character, consider giving Thrash a look over.
As before and always, thank you for reading.
Happy Bloodmoon!
This build is level-friendly
Super Stats
○ Strength (Primary)
○ Dexterity
○ Constitution
Talents
○ The Master (+10 Con/Dex/Rec, +8 Str)
○ +8 Strength
○ +8 Dexterity
○ +8 Constitution
○ +5/5 Str/Dex
○ +5/5 Str/Con
○ +5/5 Con/Dex
Powers
Energy Builder: Bestial Fury
Power 2: Shred (Penetrating Strikes)
Power 3: Supernatural Power
Power 4: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3) or Pestilence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 5: Thrash (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 6: Aspect of the Bestial
Power 7: Venomous Breath (Rank 2, Infectious Bile)
Power 8: Eviscerate (Messy)
Power 9: Bite (Furor Venenum, Rabies)
Power 10: Resurgence (Unchained)
Power 11: Antagonize (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 12: Mind Wipe
Power 13: Unleashed Rage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Power 14: Condemn (Corrupting Force, Dark Rune or Redemption Denied), Lash (Rank 2, Decay), or Will-O-The-Wisps (Guide, Ghost Fire)
Specializations
Strength
○ Swole (3/3)
○ Physical Peak (2/3)
○ Overpower (3/3)
○ Brutality (2/2)
Brawler
○ The Glory of Battle (1/3)
○ Ruthless (2/2)
○ Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
○ Flanking (3/3)
○ Finishing Blow (2/3)
Warden
○ Fortified Gear (3/3)
○ Ruthless (2/2)
○ Elusive (2/2)
○ The Best Defense (3/3)
Strength Mastery
Travel Powers
Player's call. As before, this has no lunge, so Super Speed or Athletics would be a good choice. Make sure to rank to 3, as always.
Gear
Starting:
○ Critical Severity Primary Offense (Fort/Merc/Qliph/Nem Piercing, Savage Handguards) with Strength mod(s) and a Gambler's Lucky Gem
○ Defense Rating Primary Defense (Fort/Merc/Qliph/Viko/Nem Defense, Aegis Duster) with Strength mod(s) and an Impact Prism
○ Efficiency or Utility Primary Utility (Fort/Merc/Qilph/Nem Efficiency or Utility) with Strength mods and any core between Impact, Gambler's, or Vital Spirit
○ +20 Dex/Crit Secondary Offense (Acute Belt) and +20/20 Con/Dex Defense and Utility (Acrobatic Bracers/Eyepiece)
Ending:
○ Distinguished Offense Gloves with Strength mods and any combination of Gambler's Lucky Gem, Depleted Uranium Core, Coruscating Might (r7 or higher), or Soviet Guard's Resolution (preference towards crit rate)
○ Distinguished Freedom Armor with Strength mods and Impact Prisms
○ Distinguished Efficiency Helm with Strength mods, Teleiosaurus's Rage, and Veteran's Core of Might, Impact Prism, or Gambler's Lucky Gem
○ Onslaught Slicer Gloves with Str/Dex mod
○ Onslaught Fitness Tights with Str/Dex mod
○ Onslaught Efficiency Helm with Str/Dex mod
Gameplan
This build takes a decent amount of setup, so be patient with the start of your rotation. In mob situations, circle around targets with Venomous Breath; with Condemn, use when targets are close together then proceed with Breath, with Lash, use when targets are near behind your target and your position and continue with Breath, with Will-O, use when all targets are gathered and continue with Breath. Shred can cleave in close range, so when there are fewer targets, get up close and try applying bleed and shredded to multiple targets before picking off with Thrash. In single target, using the Shred combo 3 times will typically get you to 5 stacks of Bleed; watch the Bleed counter and attempt to add more bleeds with Shred if you're uncertain you are at max stacks. Tap Eviscerate to refresh your bleeds, then fully maintain Venomous Breath, followed by your final power to apply Debilitating Poison. Tap Bite to refresh your poisons, then tap Eviscerate again to align those timers. From there, maintain Thrash once, then again for about 2/3rds of the duration (11-12 seconds on your form is a good indicator as well), then tap Bite and Eviscerate to refresh bleeds and poisons. Repeat this until target is defeated. Pepper in Unleashed Rage when you have high energy, preferably after you've refreshed your DoTs. If you have to block for extended durations, always tap Bite and Eviscerate once you let go of block to make sure your timers are fresh. Your Shredded application can get lost on big targets, so if you believe it dropped, complete the Shred combo again, then refresh both DoTs and continue with Thrash. Use Mind Wipe if you get threat from a Tank.
Other notes
This build is a little more intermediate than the ones I've published before, as it's more involved in juggling timers and maintaining DoTs, so if you feel overwhelmed easily, take some time to practice it. This build is also one that has a lot of built-in durability, since Thrash will heal you for having Bleed stacks on the target, moreso at max stacks, as well as not needing to take an energy stat as a Superstat, thanks to Supernatural Recovery's great synergy with Bestial/Infernal maintains, so you can take Constitution. Pestilence is an option for this build, but I do advise that it is the weaker choice--in both Offensive and Defensive senses, offering less damage and no flat damage reduction nor knock/hold resist; however, I acknowledge that it may be a thematic choice, and there is merit in the passive damage functioning as an AoE. It is also worth noting that you must be careful at Kiga, as your Bite will stun dogs if they are bleeding or poisoned. Either avoid using Bite during phase 1, or wait until there has been a successful interrupt or the dog has maximum hold resist stacks. While leveling, prioritize ranking your passive and Thrash before adding in advantages to debuff targets or refresh your DoTs.
And there we have it! Maintain Melee damage builds are pretty uncommon, but they definitely can contend with others. Supernatural has the easiest time making the most of it, and as mentioned above, allows them to even have extra bulk. If you're in the market for a particularly ferocious character, consider giving Thrash a look over.
As before and always, thank you for reading.
Happy Bloodmoon!