Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2011 23:54:19 GMT -5
First of all, kudos to cradock for the Blade guide to help new Blade players.
There is no right or wrong to personal preference, but if I may suggest an alternative build that can effectively solo PVE on elite and run elite lairs such as Therakiel's Temple without being a dead weight to the team.
Note: This build is focused on PVE.
Here's me riding my little car all the way to Therakiel.
Onward my little car~!
Powers:
Level 1: Reaper's Touch
Level 1: Reaper's Caress (R2, R3)
Level 6: Teleport (R2)
Level 6: Thunderbolt Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Way of the Warrior (R2, R3)
Level 11: Scything Blade (R2, R3)
Level 14: Parry (R2, Elusive Monk)
Level 17: Shuriken Throw (Chain Kunai)
Level 22: Form of the Swordsman (R2, R3)
Level 27: Dragon's Bite (R2, R3)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge (Unfettered Strikes)
Level 35: Travel Power - Any preference is fine.
Level 40: Reaper's Embrace (R2, R3)
Talents:
(As with cradock's post)
Power Explanation:
(Changes only)
Reaper's Caress: This power is your bleed stacker. At level 40, you won't even use this other than for legendary or cosmic bosses. I ranked this with the 4APs that are leftover spares so that I can deal more damage as I stack bleeds on bosses. (Feel free to reallocate to other areas or travel powers if you need). It should also be noted the 2nd and 3rd consecutive hit or any hit after consecutively does more damage than the 1st hit. At R3, finishing this combo can deal more than 2.2k damage without crits at lvl 40.
Thunderbolt Lunge: While Nailed to the Ground is essential for flying enemies, I have never once seen Essence Assault activate a stun on elite enemies my level or higher than. Plus, 2 seconds may not be worth 2APs if you are short of them.
Scything Blade: Rank up to R3 for increased damage. With Reaper's Embrace, you will not be waiting around for a bleed to run through 16 seconds for Swallowtail Cut to make a difference because anything below Supervillian dies in 2 to 3 quick successions of Scything Blade tap + Reaper's Embrace charge.
Parry: Take R2 to save yourself from elite mobs. Elusive monk gives you an additional ~10% dodge and ~16% avoidance while you are attacking to keep you alive while dishing out high DPS.
Shuriken Throw: Why I did not choose Crippling Challenge. As far as PVE is concerned only a few bosses use block (namely Baron) and your high DPS already gives you more than enough threat.
Masterful Dodge: Inexorable Tides is just another melee AOE, which Scything Blade already does better. This power helps you out in a pinch, activate it when you are caught in Therakiel's eye beams to buy some time. No need to rank up, as each rank only adds about 2~3% avoidance on my testing. The advantage allows you to use this skill in the offensive to avoid significant damage and continuously dish out DPS for a while.
Reaper's Embrace: Rank up to R3 for your god killer move. No point wasting 2APs on a percentage chance to cause bleed when you can simply tap Scything Blade and finish with Reaper's Embrace.
Stats:
Dex is most important, have this at 200~220
Str is less impportant, but have it at a decent value
Con is also important, have enough to get your health over 6.5~7K
Int: Don't bother
Pre: Don't bother
Ego: 20+ already gives you a nice +~40% severity.
Rec: Have enough to execute 1 full charge of Reaper's Embrace.
End: Semi-important as Blade builds energy fast, and you want a pool of energy to dish out a lot of DPS quickly. Get enough for a pool of 180~200 energy.
Gear:
Now this will make sense only if you follow my build. Get a Primary Defense gear that adds Dodge/Avoidance. I know you lose a lot of stats in doing this. But with dodge gear and elusive monk, your dodge and avoidance becomes high enough to make a difference. A blue (rare) piece of Nanite gear at level 40 will add ~10% more for both dodge and avoidance.
Lastly remember this basic combo, you can vary it and it's very effective to cull weaker enemies:
Scything Blade tap/charge -> Reaper's Embrace tap/charge -> Dragon's Bite tap
There is no right or wrong to personal preference, but if I may suggest an alternative build that can effectively solo PVE on elite and run elite lairs such as Therakiel's Temple without being a dead weight to the team.
Note: This build is focused on PVE.
Here's me riding my little car all the way to Therakiel.
Onward my little car~!
Powers:
Level 1: Reaper's Touch
Level 1: Reaper's Caress (R2, R3)
Level 6: Teleport (R2)
Level 6: Thunderbolt Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Way of the Warrior (R2, R3)
Level 11: Scything Blade (R2, R3)
Level 14: Parry (R2, Elusive Monk)
Level 17: Shuriken Throw (Chain Kunai)
Level 22: Form of the Swordsman (R2, R3)
Level 27: Dragon's Bite (R2, R3)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge (Unfettered Strikes)
Level 35: Travel Power - Any preference is fine.
Level 40: Reaper's Embrace (R2, R3)
Talents:
(As with cradock's post)
Power Explanation:
(Changes only)
Reaper's Caress: This power is your bleed stacker. At level 40, you won't even use this other than for legendary or cosmic bosses. I ranked this with the 4APs that are leftover spares so that I can deal more damage as I stack bleeds on bosses. (Feel free to reallocate to other areas or travel powers if you need). It should also be noted the 2nd and 3rd consecutive hit or any hit after consecutively does more damage than the 1st hit. At R3, finishing this combo can deal more than 2.2k damage without crits at lvl 40.
Thunderbolt Lunge: While Nailed to the Ground is essential for flying enemies, I have never once seen Essence Assault activate a stun on elite enemies my level or higher than. Plus, 2 seconds may not be worth 2APs if you are short of them.
Scything Blade: Rank up to R3 for increased damage. With Reaper's Embrace, you will not be waiting around for a bleed to run through 16 seconds for Swallowtail Cut to make a difference because anything below Supervillian dies in 2 to 3 quick successions of Scything Blade tap + Reaper's Embrace charge.
Parry: Take R2 to save yourself from elite mobs. Elusive monk gives you an additional ~10% dodge and ~16% avoidance while you are attacking to keep you alive while dishing out high DPS.
Shuriken Throw: Why I did not choose Crippling Challenge. As far as PVE is concerned only a few bosses use block (namely Baron) and your high DPS already gives you more than enough threat.
Masterful Dodge: Inexorable Tides is just another melee AOE, which Scything Blade already does better. This power helps you out in a pinch, activate it when you are caught in Therakiel's eye beams to buy some time. No need to rank up, as each rank only adds about 2~3% avoidance on my testing. The advantage allows you to use this skill in the offensive to avoid significant damage and continuously dish out DPS for a while.
Reaper's Embrace: Rank up to R3 for your god killer move. No point wasting 2APs on a percentage chance to cause bleed when you can simply tap Scything Blade and finish with Reaper's Embrace.
Stats:
Dex is most important, have this at 200~220
Str is less impportant, but have it at a decent value
Con is also important, have enough to get your health over 6.5~7K
Int: Don't bother
Pre: Don't bother
Ego: 20+ already gives you a nice +~40% severity.
Rec: Have enough to execute 1 full charge of Reaper's Embrace.
End: Semi-important as Blade builds energy fast, and you want a pool of energy to dish out a lot of DPS quickly. Get enough for a pool of 180~200 energy.
Gear:
Now this will make sense only if you follow my build. Get a Primary Defense gear that adds Dodge/Avoidance. I know you lose a lot of stats in doing this. But with dodge gear and elusive monk, your dodge and avoidance becomes high enough to make a difference. A blue (rare) piece of Nanite gear at level 40 will add ~10% more for both dodge and avoidance.
Lastly remember this basic combo, you can vary it and it's very effective to cull weaker enemies:
Scything Blade tap/charge -> Reaper's Embrace tap/charge -> Dragon's Bite tap
*
