GrimTools: Archon, Level 100 (GD 1.2.0.3) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Bloodswarm is a bleed damage based pets and dual-wield melee hybrid build. It’s quite fun! Lately I’ve been exploring hybrid pet builds, and this is one of the latest explorations. The goal of this build was to provide a decent amount of bleeding damage to a range of pets, to try and get the pet bleed stacks up. I think this is not a bad attempt at doing so.
Of particular importance is finding ways to get Bleed Duration up for the pets. This is achieved in three ways:
- +50% increased duration from Mythical Heart of the Sand King
- +50% increased duration from Mythical Beastcaller’s Tasliman
- +66% increased duration from Blood Pact (Wendigo Totem modifier)
Additionally, the build provides a number of additional bleed damage auras in various forms:
- Devouring Darkness (chest piece buff)
- Presence of Virtue (for flat bleed damage, buffed by both of the axes)
- Blood Pact
- Mythical Heart of the Sand King
The player’s bleed dot ticks get up to around 220k. This isn’t huge for a bleed dot build by any means, but I believe the pet dot ticks get up to around 300-400k, although the numbers of pet dots never show, so this is just by a loose calculation. Combined, that means this build has around 500-620k bleed dot ticks at max which is still mediocre for a bleed dot build, but it’s a fun exploration none the less. 
Some other fun things about this build include:
- +17% lifesteal to all allies
- +50% Healing Effects Increase to all allies (which affects the lifesteal )
Having 4 swarmlings, 3 eldritch webweavers, the Briarthorn and an Eldritch Hound (affectionally referred to as the Spicy Goat), there are 9 sources of buffed bleed damage being applied to enemies, not including the player’s own.
Having a briarthorn able to take aggro is incredibly helpful for the survivability of any build.
Here’s a video of SR 75 to give you an indication of the playstyle:
Anyway, for a concept build, it’s pretty fun! If you like having a swarm of pets but also want to get your hands dirty and dive in amongst them, give this build a spin.
Enjoy 