Update - most of my older builds have been removed from the OP due to being severely out of date by this point.
Sad times for fans of Skeleton centric builds. All links to any Cabalist builds have been removed from your list.
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Skulls & Bones - Pet Cabalist this still “works”, more or less…
It is just that the build uses 6 items with rather specific affix requirements and is still mediocre outside of Crucible.
I tend to go 
regarding builds that can’t reliably do superbosses. So, I am having a hard time justifying Skeletons Cabalist in the current patch when Conjurer and Ritualist (without Skeletons) seem to be so much better.
I have even changed the list from “my pet builds” to “my best builds”, because the best build I have atm is a Vitality Caster 
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I’m used to the bar set by the conjurer.
Here I still need to clarify, I am a very bad pilot. I have difficulty pressing many buttons and avoiding dangerous situations.
And my main character completely covers the content, and even does it with his face.
I’m currently trying builds, including those that are praised, that are in the top, and it’s difficult to kill Lokarr with them, and shards deeper than 80 - you can only fantasize about them.
And those heroes who can fight the Ravager and Callagadra must show miracles of balancing.
And I always have this thought in my head: “Oh damn, guys, are you serious? You’re setting the bar very low."
I’m glad your builds are consistently strong.
I want a facetanking of Callagadra and shards 100+
Today I will continue to realize my fantasies.
In the Name of the Mogdrogen, and of the Ravager, and of the Holy Crate.
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Hi Maya,
Which one is the vitality caster??
Im still trying to finish up with the fluffy caster!
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This is the Vitality Caster - Nocturne – "Pet" Conjurer 
(though tbh, calling it a caster is a bit weird since it mostly relies on player scaled “pets” like totems and such)
Well, you do have to cast though to get them working so …
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ah! let me take a look and see if i have the time to do up another conjurer!
Thanks Maya!
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Thanks, this is very helpful.
For my first character I wanted to aim towards the fluffy squishy but after getting Salazar’s Blade and Og’Napesh’s grimoire I’m looking for a build with a lot of pets. Did you ever make a build like that?
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Ty and welcome to the forums
Regarding builds with lots of pets, the issue is that I mostly tend to focus on fighting superbosses and they tend to tear through pets. Item granted pets like Og’Napesh for example tend to have long cooldowns, so you would end up with it dead for most of the fight.
You can still go for those if you prefer though. And there is also Skeleton based Cabalist which tend to have like 15+ pets (but skeletons are rather fragile)
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Ok, so assuming Playtest doesn’t really see any pet nerfs, potential release changes and the new top 3 mayaTM pet builds -
- Fluffy Squishy - Conjurer, Level 100 (GD 1.2.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Obviously this was gonna be here, but going back to Elemental Trinkets instead of Beastcaller. No more crazy Tankiness sadly, but is lazy and comfortable to play still.
-
Ishtar - Ritualist, Level 100 (GD 1.2.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Everyone probably expected to see this one as well. Is still good old Diviner Reap Spirits, but is full on DPS mode now, with acceptable Tankiness. Can still kill superbosses comfortably, so no issues there. -
Inanna - Ritualist, Level 100 (GD 1.2.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Exploding Ghol Blightfiends making a comeback. It has been really good so far, so kind of had to put this here
__
Now, for those wondering what happened to Briarthorns, Skeletons and Hellhound, they are still fine. But…
Briarthorn and Beastcaller were both hit by nerf after nerf and the build no longer retains its past glory. If I try to make it tanky, it ends up severely lacking dps. If I try to go the dps route, then not enough tankiness to feel comfy. So, gonna have to remove it from top 3.
Skeletons have been doing pretty good to be honest. But… too much item investment to make them competitive (in the lazy maya way) against superbosses like Callagadra and Mogdrogen.
Hellhound still feels like it is being held back by Lost Souls set blocking all the good doggo items. So, while it is fun, it is unlikely to have a chance at making into the list anytime soon.
Generic pet question for Maya, not related to any specific build here, but I figured still the right place to ask…
I’m confused by Lightning strike.
It’s in the Summon familiar line of skills… but the description calls for % weapon damage.
Is that your weapon ? Does that skill scale with pet bonus but uses your weapon ? Or that skill scales with player bonuses ? or do pets have an internal “Weapon damage” value ? (And if so, is it different from “Pet base damage” ? )
Please help 
It is the flat damage that pets get from various sources, like say for example Storm Spirit, Mog’s Pact, Hellfire, etc. Nothing to do with player’s weapon damage.
It is also not unique to familiar and melee pets like Briar and Hellhound also have auto attacks with 100% weapon damage.
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So, just to make sure I understand correctly:
Pets have a “Base pet damage” which is the equivalent of any average weapon or something.
They then stack flat damage from various source on top of it.
And then their individual attacks are modified by things like “125% weapon damage” which is 125% of the base damage + the flat damage they get from elsewhere.
Is this correct ?
If so, what is the base damage ? (Surely, pets with no bonus at all still deal some damage ?)
afaik, 0 for Birb (based on what grimtools pet database shows and yes, it varies from pet to pet)
Think of it more like, Lightning strike for example deals the amount of damage listed in the skill itself and a percentage of any flat damage bonus to pets from sources like devotions, items and auras.
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That makes a lot of sense, thank you!
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@Maya Hello! I’m starting to play for the first time. I want to try pet. Please tell me what should I choose? I want to play as a necromancer. Should I choose a ritualist? The fact that I don’t see a cabalist in the list of guide, why? And where can I find a guide on how to level up from the begining?
I really hope for your help.
First of all, welcome to the forums and to the game
If starting for the first time, I would recommend Conjurer (shaman + occultist), since Necromancer is a bit more advanced.
Regarding guides, the pdf at the top of the thread is the only one I have. Rest are all endgame builds that contain very little info for new players.
Cabalist, I am not a fan of atm due to heavy item investment required to make it perform adequately, to my standards.
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Update for the current Playtest build. (Note that this is based on my experiences with my own builds)
First things first, Zantai essentially wrote a love letter to pet builds atm.
Now, Beastcaller, Trinkets, Diviner are all performing similarly for me.
Ghol Blightfiends feel like they took a heavy nerf (based on kill time vs callagadra)
Lost Soul Skeleton Cabalist has went on to become my best pet build atm with 1:50 min callagadra kill and around 5:20 min naked Crucible with extra spawn (both using mogdrogen’s elixir however)
Bleeding Boners are here!!
The Calcium kind -
(around 3 minute callagadra and 5:30 minute sr75-76 with lucky mutators)
Ever wanted to play with Skeletons, but Cabalist just didn’t vibe enough with you?
Ever wanted to play as a Pet Ritualist, but not a fan of smelly Zombies?
Introducing, Bleed + Vitality Skeleton Ritualist -
Ritualist, Level 100 (GD 1.2.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
.
Note - was tested on current playtest patch, so subject to changes in the future once patch goes live
.
Edit - also 5:30 minutes for Crucible 150-170 without Blessings/Banner/Beacon and with Extra Spawn
