Ok first off I have made several characters and I understand all mechanics besides pets. This will be sort of long I’m sorry I want to make op builds like some of you build experts on here.
My question is about defense.
I see build guides of a druid for example and it does high level content. From the mastery it gets percent absorb flashbang and blast shield. Seems squishy. How do they shore them up besides adcth?
I feel restricted when making builds as I am always gravitating to soldier cause it has strong defenses. I feel uncomfortable with a build that doesn’t get flat and percent absorb and physical resist from masteries.
I made a foi purifier cause I love the skill and it was fine but it was a bit too squishy and he was geared well had adcth high da obviously flat absorb physical resist was not great and armor was low but had high armor absorb had great circuit breakers. Feels like I’m squishy if I dont go blue white in devotions
So how do ppl make builds with strong defenses as a caster or without soldier?
Soldier is decent defensive class but by no means is a must if you want solid class.
So if you play caster is important to have multiple layers of protection.
One of the best way to protect yourself is by having multiple sources of absorb. Maiven, Inquisitor seal, Blast shield skills. Also prismatic diamond and seal of ancestry components. Boots or other item procs. Devotions like Phoenix and crab.
Damage reduction is also vital. Aura of Censure for instance.
Also sustain through bat or weapon damage skill, combined with life steal. Ghoul can also help you a bit. Health regeneration isn’t the best form of sustain but can be part of you defense, especially with Giants’ blood. Other healing procs aren’t that good but still can be useful.
Casters also need physical resistance since they rarely can achieve high armor numbers. And also overcaped resistances.
Casters btw can be very solid defensively and actually classes like Mage hunter or Purifier are tankier than pure melee.
So layered defenses from gear is what I seem to be missing the point on then. I’m assuming physical res is acquired mostly through gear then cause occultist and inquisitor and primal strike are the only sources from masteries besides oathkeeper circuit breaker if I remember correctly.
What is currently the strongest non pet build right now? I know I’ve been talking defenses but what build has super high damage and can take a hit? I know retal warlord was great before they nerfed it idk how good it is now.
Physical resistance mostly comes from gear and devotions. Some sets and armor provides it.
I can’t say which build is strongest, if there’s definite answer, build making will not be that interesting.
Damage wise you can’t expect retal Warlord to be number one. Retaliation Warlord gives you excellent survivability though. My best bet on top damage dealers will be some of the fire/lightning casters. For example Mad Lee Infernal knight Shieldbreaker or my Sorceress using the set, lightning Cyclone casters like Elementalist, Druid, Shieldbreaker, Pyram is mega damage dealer but super glassy. Also you can choose Dark one set for balance between damage and good defense. But ultimately it boils to players preference. Also there are three excellent ranged builds- Valduun, Desolator and Dagallon Purifiers. Some decent melee and pets.
So you can choose the build, which you like or experiment.
