Witchblade vs Commando questions

Grim Dawn Classes, Skills and Builds
1

Hello everyone!

I’ve been enjoying this game for some time and the first build that I really liked (and properly tried) was the Blade Arc Oleron - themed char. I am only finishing epic atm (Blade Arc tooltip 8-10k), but think I can make it in Ultimate too.

I am using Commando, after long-long doubting of which 2nd class to pick. The build is smth like this

grimcalc.com/build/sarWGf
(Sorry, can’t post links properly yet, new to forum!)
With remaining points either going to Blast Shield (Demolitionist) or to Forcewave + max Internal Trauma (Soldier) for +1 DoT (they stack with Blade Arc, right?). I really like Blind Fury from Oleron too.

However I was fairly diappointed with Demolitionist opportunities, as apart from Flame Touched -> Temper I am not really using anything. Flashbang is not bad for tough situations or to allow more proc of Blind Fury on bosses, but I am not sure it is really worth it.

Then I started to look for what to better combine soldier with for supreme Bleeding and/or Internal Trauma and/or Physical Blade Arc build. And I realized that Witchblade is probably going to give much more supreme result because of % dmg resist reduction of both Bleeding and Physical (thus increasing int trauma dmg too)!

Thus I came up with this build:
grimcalc.com/build/yfuTzF

I thought of switching to Rend (Huntress) in constellations, but all the Offensive ability I can get (including maxed Blood of Dreeg) and no benefit from Attack Speed suggest I should be better off with same Oleron Blind Fury (and thus exactly the same devotion choices, which also give me some bleeding dmg)

Now as far as I understand, this build is going to deal insane mixture of all 3 types of damage, just as I am doing now with Commando, but *2 because of Curse of Frailty!!! (and I also maxed Vulnerability for -defensive ability, kind of like a minor Flashbang built-in).

It seems to me that it’s better to have damage spread around 3 types each e.g. 400% inc rather than having one type with 1000% inc (ofc armor slightly reduces efficiency of such spread, but main part of my dmg is bleed and int trauma anyway). This also makes me less gear-dependent (e.g. originally I went for Rwowan’s sceptre constellation, but then Guillotine drop, and I switch to using it without problems, just change devotion), so good build to start game and accummulate some good items too.

Btw % attack damage converted to health is AWESOME with Blind Fury and Blade Arc!

Let me know if the second build for Witchblade is significantly superior, please. If you think it is, I might as well make a new char for even faster clear speed. :rolleyes:

2

With commando, you want Fire strike, not Blade arc. More precisely, Static strike and Brimstone, which deal massive elemental damage. Soldier gives you offensive ability and survivability, as well as some attack speed.

Pick up a relic that allows you to dual wield and get 2x Stormheart (search the forums for how to get it), or pick up a shield and use the Anvil + Boar devotions for extra damage.

Alternatively, go dual guns with Empowered Gunslinger’s jacket.

As for the Wtichblade, grab a 2-hander and put Falcon swoop on your Blade arc. You’re welcome. Assassin’s mark can be triggered trough one of the Occultist spells or maybe Blitz if you feel you don’t need it that often. Oleron constellation is a waste of points unless you go shield, because the purple ones give you nothing of value otherwise.

3

With commando, you want Fire strike, not Blade arc.

This sounds as if there is only 1 viable build for Commando :slight_smile: Thank you for advice, I indeed thought of using Fire strike for one other build, here I am more interested in Blade Arc/Physical/Bleeding/Internal Trauma discussion.

Anvil + Boar constellations is reasonable with shield, thanks.

As for the Wtichblade, grab a 2-hander and put Falcon swoop on your Blade arc

I was using it all the way through until I got Oleron’s Blind Fury, but it is stronger than Falcon Swoop now.

Assassin’s mark can be triggered trough one of the Occultist spells

Now this is interesting: does Assasin’s mark -% phys resist stack with Curse of Frailty -%? or does only the strongest work? Also, do any of these stack with Break Morale, which gives flat reduction? If so, what applies first, % reduction, or flat reduction?

Thank you for your suggestions!

4

It’s not that something else isn’t viable at all, it’s just that Static strike and Brimstone are miles ahead in damage output than anything else commando has available.

And I don’t know why you would expect a physical damage Blade arc commando to work, when you are not using any physical damage skills.

I was using it all the way through until I got Oleron’s Blind Fury, but it is stronger than Falcon Swoop now.

They are not even comparable, Flacon is around 400% weapon damage if you are close enough to your target, Bling fury is 75%. You get more aoe with Blind fury, but you don’t need it with Blade arc. Oleron doesn’t give you anything you need in the 30 points you have to invest, Falcon is 5 points.

Now this is interesting: does Assasin’s mark -% phys resist stack with Curse of Frailty -%? or does only the strongest work? Also, do any of these stack with Break Morale, which gives flat reduction? If so, what applies first, % reduction, or flat reduction?

Thank you for your suggestions!

Yes, they stack, so does the Black matriarch ring. Neither is multiplicative, the all add up to around -70 resistance. Break morale is not worth the investment though, unless you are using full Markovian set for cooldown reduction. You can get -20% enemy damage trough the Kymon’s will augment.

5

Thanks a lot for clarifying!

The only physical skill I am using is actually Blade Arc itself, which at 19/16 deals ~140% weapon dmg, and - phys resist helps get more internal trauma too. Basically, all my Bleed/Phys/Int trauma are around 400-600% inc, and somehow it works, giving me that 8-10k tooltip (and that not counts DoT after first tick, I assume).

I also agree that Break Morale is not worth it, but atm I don’t have anything else with -phys resist, as I decided to avoid Assasin’s mark, because my crit rate on single targets is not big enough. The best thing about Blind Fury is that it calculates the crit separately on each mob you hit (I suppose), and I am not sure if this is the case with Falcon Swoop, which is 15% on attack… This brings me to 70-80% chance to proc Blind Fury when I hit 7+ mobs. This means I just rush into midst of everything, hit Blade arc, Blind Fury procs and I am healed to full hp instantly with my Guillotine and can then either War cry or Flashbang or just run around. Single-target is a bit weaker, but I’d rather run around for 10 secs wating for heroic mob to die, hitting it every 3 seconds, rather than go for huge on-hit dmg and then be forced to stay close and hit. This really helped with Logghorean btw, just blitz, hit, run away, repeat.

I think Blind Fury gives 85% weapon dmg at lvl 10 (can’t check in-game atm), but also slows attacks and reduces armor, dealing massive internal trauma and bleeding dmg. Falcon Swoop’s bleeding damage does not stack per falcon that passes through target, and the pure 400% weapon damage is not that much, as I deal 3/4 or even 4/5 of my total damage from bleeding and int trauma. I did use Falcon Swoop a lot, and actually have it on Blitz atm, it’s a great skill, just Oleron’s constellation also gives so much other things, like flat internal trauma damage for example, huge physical increase, some resists… the only thing I wish I could also grab would be Unknown soldier with it’s bleeding dmg and % attack gained as health, but Chariot is more important I think for ultimate.

Anyway, I finished Epic without problems and hope I can go through ultimate with this char before switching to trying your suggestions! (just need some legendaries).

Thanks again for all the help.