Lol the “effective against ranged” ret build that troll refers to is literally any good ret build you fin anywhere (like this) and then you edit some .dll file (I don’t really know what file and how to edit) to make retaliation work against ranged. Bam, ret’s much better after that. You won’t even need reflect 
thanks both for the replies.
any updates to the threadstarter build then ? since now capped level is 100.
Retaliation builds can work fine against ranged enemies too, you just need other tools; reflect is one, but as noted Crate decided, for some weird reason, that it shouldn’t be “too” effective, so that leaves us with on-hit procs. And one of the best you can get is probably Counter Strike, which happens to be buffed a lot by the Lightseeker set, that also increases retaliation and reflect, so probably you’ll need it to make any such build work.
Take a look at this build for example:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RVvK63mZ
This is pretty much what I’ve been aiming to once I saw the new Mythical Lightseeker set, but that guy makes it look pretty great. No idea how it would work on pure ranged bosses like Karroz though (but can’t be much worse than the 25 minutes it took me) or obviously against lightning-resistant ones like Valdaran - or how viable it’d be in Hardcore, for that matter, but it looks tanky enough.
Also, you can actually force some ranged enemies to melee you by using skill disruption, which is why I always put one point in Break Morale for retaliation builds. It doesn’t work on everything you’d want, but it sure makes the likes of Myrmidons easier to deal with.
So quick question about Retaliation… I see plenty skills offering % Retalation damage increase, but HOW can you get the base, flat retaliation damage itself? I don’t know many skills that have that. You get it from shields? How does it work?
You get it from equipment and components, or devotions (like Hound or Messenger of War), basically. There are a handful of skills that give some as well, like Blood of Dreeg, but most will come from your equipment.
Thanks! Yeah I know about Blood of Dreeg but was surprised there are so few skills giving that to you, unlike other flat damage types. Guess then it is mostly from shields and devotions.
Not only shields, almost every piece of equipment can roll retaliation (well, weapons probably can’t, not sure about jewelry). There’s also a lot of unique items with retaliation of various elements: at least two sets give lightning retaliation, another one gives acid, there’s a well known pants with piercing, boots that can proc internal trauma…
Okay, I get it now - after I started such a character. Thing is, until I can get proper retaliation damage up, he is really weak, has good defense but kills slowly. I think I will need to invest heavily into Cadence to last until then. Also, Bloody Pox so far isn’t doing much - am I supposed to spam it? Plus it does mostly vitality and bleed damage as opposed to poison or acid. Or it is only useful with the transmuter? I had occultists before and I could never figure out what that skill is good for - damage isn’t that high and it oddly has no cooldown despite being a damage over time skill.
I’ve never tried a Spellblade so I’m not sure how all of this works, but I think the point of Bloody Pox in a Retaliation build is to use Fevered Rage to make enemies attack MUCH faster and get more retaliation and procs; you’ll probably need Wasting too to mitigate the increased OA in that case.
It’s a Witchblade (Soldier+Occultist) but yeah I am thinking that’s what the skill is good for. For now I am pushing to get to Blood of Dreeg and max it.
Still undecided whether to max the Soldier or Occultist tree and either get Menhir’s Bulwark for shield defense, or Possession for more Acid/Poison damage.
Is there an up-to-date version of this build?
If you’re looking for a Retaliator, take a look over these:
[1.0.2.1] The Immortal Retaliator - Avenger of Cairn Tactician (Full Tank)
[Retaliation Battlemage] Avenger - Retaliation, Reflect, “Counter-Hit” Build
[1.0.4.1] Lightning Reflector Vindicator – Damage Reflection + Lightning Retaliation
Thank you! It seems Autentist is going to update his build soon so I think i’ll follow that for now until it is
I was on a different build when I felt I wanted a nice passive build. Then I found your thread and followed the instructions from the beginning. Now I’m on level 29. I actually didn’t like the wendigo totem until I’m finally at the highest level of wendigo totem. Wow, now I rarely use potion. I love how the skills are helping me going through the game. Thanks for your build guidance 
So is this build, or a similar, still worth to play? Heard many voices saying ret builds not worth anymore. Would like to play a ret warder with my 2 mates (maybe only skill soldier mastery and wait for the oathkeeper, who knows). but I’m afraid that 1. It will suck or 2. It’ll be to boring to play.
Btw same thoughts about a pet necro…
Retaliation builds are boring anyway and atm can’t really deal with ranged foes very well. OK should help that somewhat when FG is released.
Cabalist would probably be more fun, but skellies tend to lose their potency later in the game so if you want a pet build Conjurer is better.
Can we get an update on this?
And don’t tell me it sucks. I’m really having fun with it for now. And yes, that may change later
Wouldn’t hold your breath. Squib hasn’t posted since last year and was last here back in April. Still maybe the changes to retaliation will draw him back again to update this when FG comes out.
Hopefully
Maybe someone will come along and give some pointers in the meantime.
While it doesn’t “suck” per se, what I can tell you is that it is incredibly slow against ranged/casters and Crucible is nearly impossible on challenger/gladiator.
But that is a problem with every single build out there that relies on retaliation to kill.
The upcoming expansion however should give retaliation some love 