The Ice King
Werewolf/Hellhound
Pet Hybrid
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Grimtool
Fangs of Asterkarn
prerelease theorycraft
First theorycraft of the build i am going to aim at when “Fangs of Asterkarn” launches.
Here we have a dedicated hybrid set (in that case player and pet focused stats)
that allows a playstyle as a melee werewolf with four cold damage “Hellhounds”
ravaging ferociously in a pack through the Asterkarn wilds.
It looks promising to be a viable and very fun build to play.
May not be a top scorer in terms of SR and Crucible clear times
but still seems potent enough to clear anything the game offers
and I would guess it’s able to farm SR 30/31 consistently.
This is our set that enables the build with its incredible modifiers to Hellhound, conversions and massive amounts of cold damage % to pets. We are able to summon up to 4 hounds and one cast summons 2 at a time, although they get a huge -30% total damage reduction for obvious balancing reasons. The Amulet gives an on Attack trigger which buffs and heals the player and the hounds. Furthermore we get modifiers as 50% extra weapon damage to Feral Claws and a 30% chance on Attack to reduce the cooldown of Summon Hellhounds by 10 seconds. This means we can aggressively make use of the Blazing Death ability to explode our pack and deliver therefore good chunks of burst cold damage.
The gearing besides the set is very flexible. As we focus on player and pet stats we can’t ever get enough of both. The beauty of those hybrid builds is to balance your setup just as you see fit between more player or pet focused items. Still there are strong choices which one can hardly argue against, picking them as “Best in Slot”.
The new shoulder, pants and boots items added by “Fangs of Asterkarn” seem like a good choice as they work very well together giving important elemental, aether and chaos pet resistances. They have interesting “on Attack/when Hit” effects and are just plainly the new toys to play with.
On the pants, belt and medal slot we could use “Monster Infrequents” with possibly having “bonus to all pets” affixes fitting to the setup you are running.
Equipment Overview
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Shoulders:
Mythical Fiendflesh Mantle
Alternatives:
Mythical Mantle of Blasphemous Rituals
double rare Kra’vall Shoulderguards
The new "Mantle of Blasphemous Rituals just can’t hold up to the classic “Fiendflesh Mantle”. Although it has great cold damage % and a nice offensive on Attack effect, we rather take the darely needed skill bonuses. A well rolled “Kra’vall” ones can serve you well too.
Gloves:
Rimefrost Plagueguard Grips of Kings
Alternatives:
Mythical Bonescavenger’s Deathgrips
Mythical Overlord’s Iron Grip
The one with “bonus to all pets” miss important “attack speed %”. A double rare craftable is most likely the best with a ton of diverse stats and CC-resistances (crowd control). “Bonescavenger’s Deathgrips” offer ghost pets you might like.
Belt:
Mythical Shadowfiend’s Cord
Alternatives:
Mythical Rimespark Cord
double rare Calcified Sash
Another classic that is hard to beat. Here we especially embrace the “Pierce Resistance” for our wolfes and the “bonus to all Occultist skills” is always welcomed. The new “Calcified Sash” could also be very interesting if you have a well rolled one.
Pants:
Mythical Runebrand Legwraps
Alternatives:
Mythical Eldritch Schemer’s Legwraps
double rare Bysmiel-Sect Legguards
They just fit perfectly and offer on point bonuses. Freeze and Stun Resistance are too good and unbeatable. The new “Eldritch Schemer’s Legwraps” are easily outclassed although the heal effect on hit and the “Mend Felsh” for the “Summon Familiar” are quite decent.
Boots:
Mythical Jackal’s Step
Alternatives:
Galewind Treads
double rare Intrepid Warboots
These boots are insane! Incredible stats with a highly defensive on hit effect. They open up so much room to other slots, sadly no offensive player bonuses at all. Double rare crafts coud easily outpace those especially if trying to maximize player damage.
Rings:
Bysmiel Chilling Seal
Alternatives:
Deathguard Sigil
Mythical Band of the Eternal Haunt
Sigils of the Executioner
double rare Bloodsworn Signet
double rare Preserver Ring
Cheap, efficient and thematically perfectly fitting. Only bonuses to skills are missing. There aren’t any competetive alternatives. One “Band of the Eternal Haunt” could be swapped for its “Resist Reduction” effect. Alkamos pose a pricey option that isn’t really that good in this case. Double rares could potentially shake up the whole setup being Best-In-Slot.
Medal:
The Overseer
Alternatives:
Mythical Mark of Unlife
double rare Halion’s Crest
The “33 crit %” and “100% Slow Resistance” make our unstoppable fleshripping wolfes even more dangerous. The “Mark of Unlife” and the “Monster Infrequent” can be a reasonable swap for the medal slot.
Relic:
Amatok’s Grip
Alternatives:
Aurora / Serenity
Mogdrogen’s Ardor
Budget:
Bysmiel’s Domination
“Amatok’s Grip” is a offensive power house. Helping us to maximize the damage output from the player side and giving valueable “plus to all skills to Berserker”. “Aurora” and Serenity" can be preferred by “Hardcore” players. “Bysmiel’s Domination” is easy to craft and really strong as well.
Annotation: My pet focused setup uses 3 piece Bysmiel trinkets with Bonescavenger’s Deathgrips as gloves. It conflicts a bit with conversions but adds additional pets wich is very nice visually and they pack a decent enough punch to not feel obsolete.
Skills
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Werewolf - Voracity - Recklessness
( max - softcap - softcap )
Amatok’s Pact - Bloodfrenzy - Icebound
( max - 1 - 1 )
Battle Surge
( 1 )
Rallying Cry - Impulse
( 1 - 1 )
Untamed Rage
( 8 )
with bonus skills
Leap
( 1 )
Bonechilling Cry
( softcap )
Heart of Asterkarn
( max )
even number
Form of the Beast
( max )
even number
Curse of Frailty - Vulnerability
( x - max )
Summon Familiar - Mend Flesh - Storm Spirit
( 1 - 1 - 1 )
Solael’s Witchfire - Second Rite
( rest - 1 )
Summon Hellhound - Ember Claw - Hellfire - Infernal Breath
( max - max - 1 - max )
Blood of Dreeg - Aspect of the Guardian
( 1 - softcap )
Bonds of Bysmiel - Manipulation
( 1 - 1 )
Devotion
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Leveling
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If starting fresh it would be best to level as a Werewolf, especially if you wanna fit into this builds theme while doing so. You can go “Chaos” with the Werewolf-transmuter “Blight of Chthon” and there are many other options for “Monster Infrequents” that have “conversions” for Werewolf skills. A “Two-Hand” or “Dual Wield” playstyle is being encouraged by the item support and skills we possess.
Furthermore you can level in “Normal/Veteran” without the need to switch early into higher difficulties as most areas scale to the players character level. If you are a experiencend player you can start right at “Elite/Ultimate” and do not need much help anyway.
~ General hint ~
You can use the crucible to have access to the smith
and the inventor even before enabling them in the campaign.
Around level 20 you can upgrade your gear
with various components listed below.
Important Components around lvl 20:
Weapon - Riftstone or Hollowed Fang
Gloves - Consecrated Wrappings
Head/Belt - Antivenom Salve
Pants/Shoulders - Silk Swatch
Rings - Corpse Dust / Frozen Hearts
Amulet and Medal - Wardstone / Aether Soul / Black Tallow
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- Max Werewolf
- Max Voracity
- 1 point into Amatok’s Pact, Battle Surge, Rallying Cry and Untamed Rage
- 1 point into Impulse, Leap and Recklessness
- Max Blood Frenzy and then go for Occultist to Max Solaels Witchfire
- 1 point into Blood of Dreeg, Second Rite and Aspect of the Guardian
- Max Possession
After that point you should have finished the Main Campaign and be around level 40+ if you haven’t gone straight into the “Fangs of Asterkarn” expansion at “Fort Ikon”. Now you can focus on maxing Resist Reduction from Bonechilling Cry and Vulnerability (Curse of Frailty).
At last put points into Form of the Beast and Untamed Rage giving you more damage and sustain in tough situatuons. You could even do this before going for Possession or maxing “RR”, especially if you are not still set on the second class and want to drag it a bit more out before committing.
The remaining points go into Recklessness, Rallying Cry, Impulse, Second Rite, Blood of Dreeg and Aspect of the Guardian. Dump those points there where you see fit first. You can spread them a bit out across those skills, shouldn’t matter that much in detail.
Leveling Devotion
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We are starting out with Eye of the Guardian followed by Ghoul, Fiend and Solaels Witchblade for its great “RR-Resist-Reduction” effect trigger. Then pick Sailors guide to reach Kraken. Do not forget to respec the points from the “Crossroads” starting position.
Tier 3 Abomination is reachable through points into Fox, Eagle, Toad and Revenant. Behemoth trigger is also taken with spare points along the way.
Leveling Diary
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Grimtool lvl 20 after killing Kyzogg for the “Waking to Misery” quest in “ultimate difficulty” (with “Saviors Merit” activated and 5 devotion points farmed in “Crucible”):
This is a setup with which I started out in “Ultimate” wearing Miss Gazer Man and double Leovinus Rings as level gear, aswell having consumed all “Faction Writs”. “Headhunter’s Trophy” is also from my shared stash. You need prepared gear at certain treshholds or it will be very hard or impossible to progress through “Ultimate difficulty”. “Elite” should be mostly doable as SSF (Solo Self Found). As a beginner I would recommend just going with a “normal difficulty” playthrough. If a bit more challenge is wished for you can still try “veteran” mode.
Grimtool lvl 38 after the first few quests on “ultimate difficulty”, up to “The Foggy Bank” area:
The early champions you meet are sturdy as hell (the Zombie Brothers and Viloth the Corruptor). A good weapon makes it much easier, check vendors frequently for the most damage Two-Handers. With “Potion of Clarity” (+100% Experience gain) you end up at level 38. As I haven’t any good “leveling weapons” in my “shared stash” prepared I head back to elite difficulty with a really good experience headstart. From there it should be easy going as I have already unlocked the Possession skill.
Grimtool lvl 51 after defeating Warden Krieg on “elite difficulty”:
Warden Krieg - tankable if you have high Aether Resistance
Got a very good weapon from a totem inside “Warden Cellar”. Use an “Aether Soul” component if low on Aether Resistance. Battle against Krieg should be pretty easy even on “elite difficulty”. The Werewolf form has great sustain and “Ghoul” devotion should also be finished, heading for “Fiend” next. Cronley’s Gang is doing trouble and we have no time to wait till midnight.
Grimtool lvl 56 after defeating Darius Cronley on “elite difficulty”:
Darius Cronley - Kill crystals, reposition away from aether ground and run while he is invulnerable
Thought I would keep the “Empowered Bladefurry” a bit longer but nope, something even better dropped while killing Cronley’s crew. Lost the +2 to Berserker skills but gained massive damage and a really nice on Attack “Warp Blast” chaos trigger with 3 sec cooldown. There isnt much else to say here. Can smell some crusty bones getting gnawed very soon, lets keep it going.
Grimtool lvl 60 after reaching “Homestead”:
Kilrian - Reposition quickly and be prepared to disengage, he got me once
Voldrak - Do not get hit by his heavy blows, it will blow your mind!
Ikrix - That nasty little bug. Don’t get frozen underneath a poison ground effect
Died 3 times in a row against an Undead totem, don’t ask how. Anyway got at least Lokhor’s Visage as a nice helmet waiting to get equipped.
Grimtool lvl 65 after defeating the Amalgamation on “elite difficulty”:
The lack of armor from “Miss Gazer Man” starts to show. Swap it earlier if you have troubles surviving physical hits. The various buffs to bosses in patch 1.3 are felt hard, glad I am not playing “Hardcore”.
Herald of the Flame - No problem if aether resistances are fine, good leech gets you through
Swarm Queen Ravna - 1st phase no problem, just jump to her and tanking should be easy, 2nd phase I got killed once after taking the rocks plus getting hit at the same time
The Amalgamation - Got greedy and killed just before being able to finish it off… yep yep
Pretty lucky to not take even more deaths along the way and finally swapped the armor. Choice went between Lokhor’s Raiments and Rune Armor of Ignaffar and decided to take the former, enjoying the 2 piece set bonus. The Combustion Band is from my shared stash. Finally traveled to “Honored” faction vendors and realigned components, the setup looks well for the road ahead!
Grimtool lvl 71 after defeating Loghorrean on “elite difficulty”:
Zaria - Good resists and high leech makes it a no-brainer
Karroz - Some reposition as usual, not a big deal if having high chaos/vit resists
Lucius - Dodged the “Aether Air Strike” and afterwards jumped heroically into the shotgun ability… † (75% Aether Resistance weren’t enough)
Loghorrean - Went really smooth, dodge the “chaos balls” and just deal damage
Pretty satisfied with how the run went along. Werewolfs are simple and very beginner-friendly to build and play. At the moment i am not locked into how I would progress further. Maybe some devotion and faction farming first.
Grimtool lvl 85 after completing “Ashes of Malmouth” expansion:
Kra’vall - Frequent reposition, its hard but doable. Got Wrath of Tenebris as a drop from the chest.
Ekket’Zul - Dodge the volcanos and sunder, no problem
Theodin Marcell - Didn’t even drink a single potion. Dodge everything that could kill you! lol
Ready to switch back to “ultimate difficulty”. Farmed all the remaining devotion in normal, done some faction vendor gearing and upgraded setup with “Augments”. Resists are mostly capped and our damage potential is quite decent for the time being.
Grimtool lvl 94 after reaching “Homestead” in “ultimate difficulty” and heading towards “Forgotten Gods” expansion:
Progression should be self-explanatory, no major issues at all. After tinkering a bit with dropped loot and “Augments” I thought I could head straight into “SR-Shattered Realms” and demonstrate how you can already start farming lower ones. You need to finish the first quest and join one of the three “FG” factions to be able to enter SR’s. One run through 3 “chunks” plus boss room done twice at SR 20/21 nets you around 7 Mythics. Getting better items makes it possible to raise the stakes till you can comfortably farm SR 26/27, which really is a sweet spot for the difficulty to drop ratio. If you struggle to find a good weapon the “Monster Infrequent” Voidcarver Blade is a really good option you can farm inside the “Fangs of Asternkarn” expansion. Bloodsworn Scepter from Cultists and Gruldir’s Tainted Cleaver are also a really good alternative if going “dual wield” is preferred.
Don’t be afraid to die as a beginner.
It’s all part of learning the different bosses and nemesis with their unique attack patterns and how to dodge whats dangerous to you. Piloting your build and knowing your enemies is a substantial part of succeeding, especially true if your character isn’t yet well equipped or lacks too much damage.
Check out “Faction Vendors” for their great offers and farm some “Reputation” if needed. As a beginner take your time and get to know the game and its world really well.
If having problems make a thread, share your uploaded build with the awesome Grimtool and ask for help. Someone in the community will most likely give you some valueable feedback on how to further hone your build.
~ General hint ~
SR 20/21
around 2400 OA/DA
+80% Maxed Resistances
+20% Overcap
+50% CC Resistances
Crowd Control (Stun/Freeze/Slow)
How it turns out the blueprint for the “Ice King Adornments” set
just dropped on the second run.
What a joke, call me lucky
