Hey all,
So I’ve moved on to a new zero to hero character and went for another underdog type build. Last one was storm totems. This time, I’m doing “bloody bugs.” The build revolves around bleeding damage, but not from the most powerful sources possible as they’re mostly melee based, and instead, taking it to a ranged approach for a caster basically, with a dash of melee application to get top bleed with the build on a single target, like a boss via some specific skills granted by items since they’re not available in the masteries.
Gear is all self found with the character and anything I can craft or get from vendors along the way.
Bleed builds are not very strong right now, mostly because there just isn’t a ton of gear that really benefits it late game, there’s a set or two that help with bleed, but the damage type isn’t nearly as supported as say, poison, or fire, etc. So that made this build a more interesting and attractive way to go, because a zero to hero build doesn’t have access to best in slot gear, so you have to rely on the mechanics of the skills, devotions and what you find along the way. So for that, I figured, I’ll need to kite a lot, so let’s do a ranged bleed caster.
“Blood bugs” comes from what it’s based around which is bleed application via casting Devouring Swarm (bugs) and Pox (even smaller bugs). The devotions apply the big bleeds (Rend, Mog’s Howl, Falcon Swoop). And I have Bloodbath & Behead from items (craftable) for huge bleed application via melee for bosses to speed up things. Frailty and Devouring Swarm, along with Rend, apply a pretty big negative bleed resistance to foes, so even undead drop pretty well. But so far, nothing is immune.
This is to serve as a progression thread. If I can beat Ultimate, then I’ll do a full build write up. I figure, anything can basically make it through normal veteran. And most things can make it through Elite even. Ultimate is where it gets tricky after Act 1, so if I can finish all the game’s quest line through Act 4 with the side quests, then the build is competent for the game. If not, well, then I know I’ve hit the wall with something. This will be the progress of that through Utlimate since Normal & Elite are too easy for any build frankly if played smartly just using the vendor items and potions/oitments/balms/etc.
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The skeleton of the build at least as the idea:
Tools link:
http://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2mmAW2j
But the idea is:
Devouring Swarm: Bleed damage, proc devotion (more bleed damage), life leech (important!) and negative bleed resistance (important!).
Bloody Pox: Bleed damage, proc devotion (more bleed damage), confusion (control).
Vines: Minor bleed damage, crowd control mostly (stun and movement), life leech (handy!) and procs devotions all the time (more damage and some life leech from fangs).
Frailty: Control, negative bleed resistance (important!), and procs Rend so it also deals bleed damage and becomes an attack all on its own (awesome!).
Everything else is support.
Has decent life leech and heals quickly when applying to mobs.
Decent heal regen on its own that works while kiting around.
Looking to push for a good life pool size.
Everything supports resistances & bleed basically for gear.
The devotions are primarily for bleed damage and the procs:
Bat (Twin Fang)
Huntress (Rend)
Mog’s (Howl)
Falcon (Swoop)
Berserker
Fox
Few others for basic resistances and stuff
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Here’s the skills, devotions on the skills, and item gained skills I’m using and where they are right now:
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Current bleed total:
Note, the two axes are Chonag’Ri, found two which was really cool, they just have bleed damage and are axes so they help me keep Berserker devotion option.
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So far, I’m through Normal Veteran at 45, passed Elite at 66 and unlocked Ultimate.
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Now the real test begins!
Very best,