(credit for the picture goes to Littlecrow on Devianart)
Foreword (forrrrrrrworrrrrrrd)
This build was a sudden blip of inspiration, I never really intended on playing a trickster, since all good trickster builds rely on Korba set and have already been discovered in one way or another. But I always wanted to make use of Wildblood set. And then I saw that the weapon has huge casting speed bonus. I also remembered how everyone on forum was making a PB reaper or Witch Hunter based on godly Demonslayer set and how I thought that I would not play around this skill and this set since it’s so overused. Well, at least I avoided Demonslayer set, I thought, making a draft for the build in Grimtools. I made a Phantasmal Blades build that I am pretty sure noone has made before (or at least posted here).
Build Concept
Massive AoE and fast clearing times
Due to the piercing nature of build’s core skill - Phantasmal Blades, build is capable of clearing huge crowds of monsters very fast. It also covers pretty huge areas with steroided Grasping Vines that deal with white trash monsters swiftly. And the best mobility skill from Nightblade tree.
Insane life leeching ability
I don’t like playing builds that are squishy, and because my playing skill level is below average, I try to make builds that are really hard to kill. It’s a bit tricky with this mastery combo (pun intended) but with huge life leeching synergy from Phantasmal Blades, Will of Rattosh constellation and life leech debuff from Devouring Swarm (granted by Wildblood set) we are leeching unprecened amounts of health from any kind of opponent.
Crowd Control buffed by Wildblood set
Grasping Vines are more than 1 pointer cheap CC proc machine. They actually do some damage, at least enough to clear white trash mobs. They also leech life and energy, which is in theme with the build. And Devouring Swam debuffs mob’s life leech resistance, which is pretty huge.
The build
1.1.2.0 Update (provided by user Volek)
<<<<<GRIMTOOLS>>>>> (Crucible spec, to be used with Ulzuin’s Pact blessing)
<<<<GRIMTOOLS>>>>> (Main Campaign spec)
Gear
Wildblood set is the core of the build although it doesn’t provide any buffs to Phantasmal Blades, it does offer huge vitality damage and up to 30% casting speed on a weapon. It’s also a very common and affordable legendary set. For helmet I chose Ravager’s Dreadgaze, not easy to get or farm, but we need +1 to all skills on it to take Phantasmal Blades to 24/16 (where 6th projectile is added). Good alternative would be Clayrvoiant Hat. Chest was a tough choice to make. I tested a lot with Dread Armor of Azragor, but energy problems were making build much less fun to play, so I decided to use caster’s armor and Dark One’s chest suits our need perfectly, even converting some Chaos from Nether Edge to Vitality. Tranquil Mind Pants are just perfect for this build, I wouldn’t use any other item in this slot, every stat on them (except movement speed) is what this build needs (spirit helps us to equip our chest and adds some damage, slow resist is insanely valuable for max attack speed caster). Jewellery pieces buff our main skills, amulet is just gorgeous for our particular build (up to 11% health and 105 OA on it). Boots slot is flexible, boots I got (provided by my friend Seemann) are bis or close to bis. But all we really need is “of Featherstep” affix or just any affix combination that has stun resist and gives some kind of additional resist(s) that is Vitality/Aether/Bleeding or Pierce. Try and craft Mogdrogen’s Ardor relic with %da bonus, second best option would be stun resist.
Skills and Devotions
It’s all obvious with skill choices, except we distribute skills differently for Crucible and for Campaign. For Crucible we use Primal Bond, because we need to be able to stand our ground against multiple Nemeses and we don’t need additional points in Mogdrogen’s Pact because we don’t have energy problems with Ulzuin’s Pact. For Campaign we drop few points into Mogdrogen’s Pact for better energy regeneration (we also use a ring with Soul Shard instead of Runebound Topaz) and we use Stormcaller’s Pact because nothing can really kill us in Main Campaign.
Leveling and Attribute points distribution
Level as Shaman with Devouring Swarm untill you reach level 15-20, then respec into transmuted Primal Strike. At level 50, equip dual Crescent Moon axes, respec into Shadow Strike (with Night’s Chill and Raging Tempest), that should be good untill you reach level 94.
Put enough points into Spirit to equip our chest piece, put around 25-30 points into Cunning and rest into Physique.
The Showdown
How to Play
Straightforward in Main Campaign, except you want to manage that Energy. I suggest using Royal Jelly extract (it’s very cheap to make) and not spamming every trash mob frantically with PB, usually dropping Vines and debuffing with Swarm is enough to kill any crowd of white mobs. Of course in some cases you have to remember that you are a caster and reposition a bit (like versus Grava’Thul nullifying projectiles or versus Kraval’s big blizzard bursts or don’t stand in Kuba’s leeching pools). Also you have quite a bit of range since you don’t have to be within Night’s Chill radius (of course for maximum burst melee range is prefered, but few targets require maximum burst).
In Crucible positioning is the key, as you can see in the video below. Try to position in a way that your Phantasmal Blades pierce as much mobs as possible, always drop Wendigo Totem near you and cover ground with Grasping Vines. Always leave Kubacabra for last. Sometimes you need to backpedal and reposition, but don’t just kite, run and take short bursty stands near your totems, as soon as 3 or more Nemeses surround you or you are being chased by Mad Queen and there are still a lot of hero packs on the maps, move backwards and choose new position. Avoid mobs with Skill Disruption (Grava’Thul can be nasty). Reaper is pretty harmless to us (25% damage reduction from Beasts).
Don’t play Crucible of Sands, of Grove or of Void, terrain there eats up half of our damage output.
Stats:
Crucible Spec, all permanent buffs + Pneumatic Burst
Crucible Spec, Magical (with Wendigo Totem and Hungering Void)
Phantasmal Blades tooltip (with Wendigo Totem and Hungering Void)
Builds Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Huge Damage, both AOE and single Target
- Close to being unkillable in the right hands
- Very quick: 200% casting speed with Hungering void and up to 60% slow resist
- Up to -147% resist reduction with all debuffs active
- Fun to play
Cons:
- Need to manage Energy while playing in Main Campaign
- Vitality damage is one of the weaker types of damage, despite all the resist reduction some mobs are still very very resistant to it
- Requires some piloting skill to play
- Certain terrain or obstacles prevent us from doing damage
- no 3800 DA or Forcewave inside of overcapped Inquisitor’s Seal
Videos
1.0.7 150-170 test run
10 seconds Mad Queen kill NEW!
150-170 4 buffs/no banners 9:34 minutes run (this time 100% leveled) NEW!
150-170 4 buffs/no banners 11 minutes run (only half leveled Manticore devotion and 14/15 level Will of Ratosh and missing a skill point from final quest. Will post a better run once I finish Main Campaign)
Trial of Corruption
Gargabol fight (I think I missed some damage by not getting point blank to the tree guy)
In Conclusion
Honestly build turned out to be much stronger than I expected. Although min-maxing and choosing the right gear/devotions was a bit of a painful process, but it all started clicking in the end. I want to thank my friend Seemann for leveling with me and for providing me with a pair of those beautiful boots.
