Zoda

Main tank will be Edér, but this playthrough my watcher is going to be ranged, so I wanted a 2nd character that can hold the line. Yes, I pretty much always have Edér as my main tank with a build like that. 2nd pet slot (Nalvi usually) + Heart Defender Scales makes me pick him over a hireling. Although it sucks that I can't pick subclasses for him.

My take on the the disengagement focused build was that if I want to maximize the damage output, then I better not use a shield. That's what I meant by being thorn on Unbroken. I was debating going Unbroken and switching between sword and board and dual wield/two handed depending on the fight, but ultimately decided that I commit to Willbreaker + Devoted fully. The +1 engagement +1 AR is pretty vanilla, but I guess those are great bonuses, and I did play plenty of unbroken builds (Tuotilo's + Gladiator Sword Unbroken Trickster was a pretty decent blend of tanky dps for example with strong riposts).

I did trickster ripost tank a bunch of times already, I just wanted to experiment with something new (although I very much prefer to use Ryngrim's on tricksters nowdays over the defelction buffs). I wanted to do steel garrote a bunch of times, but always ended up on the conclusion that Kind Wayfarer just selfheals better. That's sort of how I envisioned it, with mid/high con, all the AR buffs etc. Death's Maw is pretty good idea, I always forget that helm exists. I'm a bit thorn on Unbroken. I love the idea, and thematically it's the subclass probably closest to what I like, but that +1AR is not all that much, and even on a build dedicated to proccing disengagement hits I chose Devoted instead (my last paythrough was devoted/trickster with Willbreaker). That said I used unbroken plenty of times, I just find that it could use a bit of a buff.

I started a new run where I aim to make my watcher a ranged single target dps guy by the endgame (Soulblade + Shattered Pillar, with the plan to use Chromoprismatic Quarterstaff + Instruments of Pain). I want a 2nd Tank to hold the line beside Edér, and I'm thinking about a human Steel Garrote + Streetfighter combo. The plan is to keep a dynamic balance of health right around the bloodied mark, but not sure if I could make it happen as I'm planning to, so I'm asking for your experiences. The plan would be to wear all the engagement gear: Reckless Brigandine + Kapana Taga + Last Word + Champion's Helm for most engagements (Akola's Apex Ward, Thaos' Headdress, Sungrazer and a number of other weapons also kept at hand). I would keep a reasonable CON, so being bloodied is less risky. Edér would be geared for deflection. He would also be supported by Herald healbot (troubadour + shieldbearer), with the possibility to also chant Old Siec Has anyone tried such a lifedrain tank? Can it actually survive on lifedrain in tougher encounters? Also is lifedrain affected by + healing done enchantments? Thanks for your answers

I definitely want Soulblade. It is amongst my favourite subclasses, and I never played it with an AOE weapon, and I never played a WOTEP watcher either. I considered ranger also because of Beast's Claw (and stalker). It could certainly get away with the great sword modal more easily than most combinations (which works on SA damage, if I'm not mistaking). Stalker/Soul Blade sounds pretty fun considering this, and the watcher could actually deal damage with offensive parries while buffing up the animal companion so it can take a bit more punishment. I could get even more focus from the stealthed opening shots of The Red Hand with Driving Flight too. Typing this out, I might just have found my build. Probably still a lot weaker than mindstalker, but thematically I absolutely love it Goes really well with an offensively built herald too (kind wayfarer + troubadour), the bear would get a lot of extra armor and easy heals from white flames. Then Edér for the extra pet slot + Heart Defender Scales, a celebrant and a ranged striker (hard for me to not pick seer or wildrhymer, but maybe I'll try geomancer Maia or a Frostseeker savage).

I know the SA scaling with rogue is great, I just wanted to do something different this time. Might just do it like that I guess. I've read your build guide, and I agree its a great build I really shy away from most classic casters in crpgs, I just enjoy strikers more. I love chanter/cipher in PoE a lot luckily. I haven't had a single wizard/cleric/druid in my 5-6 POTD runs so far Even if I do go for a caster eventually, I don't want to use Salvation of Time or Wall of Draining. It just feels super cheesy to me.

Hi All, So I'm nearing 100% on my current Devoted/Tricster + Willbreaker run (Dorudungan, Auranic and Ukaizo left), and it was a pretty fun build, and I enjoyed it a lot, but I was stuck with a single weapon for the entire playthrough. Obviously comming back to Deadfire again I want more I'm planning to play WoTeP for the first time on my watcher (did some trickster/garrote run up to like lvl 10 or so, but was unimpressed with it). My idea is to not rely solely on WoTeP. I'm plannig to: - start the fights I can from stealth with a double FoD from The Red Hand (hopefully triggering inspiring triumph too) - then switch to WoteP without reloading, already with some focus to Soul Anihilate - for big solo bosses I'm planning to use The Willbreaker + modal and desintegrate Stat allocation is pretty rough for this build: needs near max RES, INT with high PER and at least some might and dex, but I guess that'll be managable. Probably gonna have a buddy chanter (or two). Not 100% sold on Steel Garrote yet, late game a Trickster multiclass would probably be stronger, but I just played trickster. I honestly have very little experience with WoTeP, but considering how stretched on stats this build is going to be, a 2nd tanky character is probably in order. I usually have Edér, but it is kinda boring to have him on literally the same build every playthrough, so this time I might go for a different companion cast from my trusty Edér + Seer + Wildrhymer + Herald (full healbot). Was thinking about covering heals with a Kind Wayferer + Troubadour built offensively and spamming buffed FoDs (although might compete with the Watcher for ring of inner fire, but I guess I can live with that). Add a tactician/priest for buffs and emergency heals and also some damage output. The kind wayfarer could use Grave Calling to kill of some skeletons to spawn chill fog for easy Brilliant Tactician trigger too (or just have the watcher cast Phantom Foes). As for the rest of the party, I'm not set on yet. Maybe a Troubadour/Psion, as I never played Psion and some high range autoattacker to interrupt casters. I usually use Spearcaster on a Wildrhymer for that, but since I want to change it up... maybe a Frostseeker using savage (arcane archer/mage slyer). Aim is the same, POTD with all megabosses. Could this work? I'm normally worried about WoTeP builds vs the big endgame boss fights, but maybe this build would still be flexible enough to do well in the toughest encounters.

I noticed I have Reckless Brigandine's "Into the Breach" and "Go not Quitly" bugged on Edér (he is not wearing it). Is it a display bug, or is it stuck to him? Is there a way to remove it? I don't like abusing bugs

I played up to lvl 16, and the build is working out nicely. Can tank a lot with Unbending and Mob Stance + disengagement hits keeps the watcher firmly in front of the party's damage scores (with a scout Maia with her dedicated support chanter). This is the point where I usually start to get bored of builds especially that Devoted + Willbreaker pretty much limits what I can do. So I want to try a new one obviously. Anyone has experience with a Streetfighter/Steel Garrote life drain tank? Can Steel Garrote actually stay ahead of Kind Wayfarer in selfheal? I used souldblade/kind wayfarer with Magran's Favor + Sun and Moon as the go to combo and it worked out very nicely, but if I can make it a bit better I will I also considered Sun and Moon + Magran's Blessing combo on a Soulblade + [something] who could benefit from a shield + two weapon style while only spamming Soul Anihilation hits of Sun and Moon (2nd hit of the flail always generates focus). Not super proficient in setting up the AI of my characters, can I just set it so it spams Soul Anihilation instead of auto attack?

I'll probably drop DOCB, it's just super convenient early on a multiclass with the +2 power pool. I kinda would like to use Reckless Brigandine to engage a lot of enemies in cleaving stance (with Hold the Line and Persistent distraction) then terrify them, but not sure if I'd like the recovery penalty yet. Maybe later on with armored grace and mob stance. Probably gonna make a trip soon to pick up Nalvi and Heart Defender Scales for Edér, will see when I get some more time to play

I'm a dwarf guy Will see how the mask goes with various equipment, and how it performs in combat. I picked up Helm of the Falcon on my way to steal the Willbreaker, guess I'm heading to The Gullet soon enough for the mask. Also gave myself Thaos' Headdress with the console, so that'll be a pretty good choice too.

After cycling through a million different builds, I finally came to stick with Devoted + Trickster with The Willbreaker. Planning to play it something like this: stealth for the initial backstab strike (Clear Out eventually), debuff will, cast Ryngrym's, hopefully get some disengagement hits if the enemy attempts to flee. I wanted to have more damage without disengagement than an Unbroken and The Willbreaker synergizes nicely with a trickster. Probably not an OP build or anything of sorts, but I don't enjoy playing the truly OP stuff so much, so going with this for now Already snuck into Crookspur for the stick, so probably gonna play this build a while, before rerolling to another one Now, I haven't played Deadfire in a couple of years, so I can't really remember all the best gear. What would you recommend I pick up for this build? Apparently I messed up with my custom history, so I don't have Thaos's Headdress, but I kinda sorta prefer the Helm of the Falcon anyway. Still sucks not having the headdress, it is one of the nicer helms, especially that I have Edér also as a fighter/rogue. What armor goes best with such character? Devil of Caroc? Reckless Brigandine? I picked up Cloak of Greater Protection, seems to be a pretty nice cloak for now. Iirc there was a cloak that gave extra damage from stealth, but honestly I might be mixing up gear pieces in my head with PoE1 items Not sure which was in which game anymore Also a question on The Willbreaker's upgrades: is it worth spending the 4 Adra Bans on making it legendary? Iirc you couldn't get unlimited Adra Bans, and there are some special upgrade items to certain tiers (after the dragon fight I think there is one).

I might make an exception for my no monk rule so long that it doesn't use fists. I did Steel Garrote/Tricster already, although admittedly not with Voidwheel. It was an offensive parry WOTEP build, so probably very different.

So... I started a Shepherd (Stalker + Kind Wayferer). Not dead set on it, honestly I never played a ranger that wasn't a Ghost Heart, neither one that was melee focused so I kinda want to try one. I hope the White Flames and the bonus armor can keep the animal companion alive. Gonna have Edér with Heart Defender scales + Shieldberer/Troubadour healer keeping up the bear with LoH if required. The other two party members are going to be a Seer with Essence Interruptor + a Wildrhymer with spearcaster (at least that's the plan for now). As I said, I never tried a non-ghost heart ranger, is it possible to keep the bear alive, and get good value out of it, or will it become a nuisance later on?

This is actually a build I considered I'd probably play it is a regular berserker/troubadour early with int affliction resistence from Devil of Caroc Breastplate, and let the confused kills loose when I can chant Many lives. I wonder if there is a way to reach 20 int wile confsed without sacrificing too much in return (I would like double chants). I played a very similar character with Gladiator's Sword + Tuotilo's palm as an Unbroken/Trickster. I tried to abuse the unbroken disengagement attacks with Ryngrim's Repulsive Visage. Can't say I remember clearly, but iirc the combo wasn't super reliable. I think I haven't finished that run (but did play the build later on a hired adventurer on a run that I did finish). Your more straight forward take might actually work better, and I could actually use a shield that looks cool (big plus!) Now I'm thinking about doing the Unbroken/Trickster again with The Willbreaker as main setup, and a 2nd setup with an actual shield vs bosses. I would very much love an unbroken build that could reliably trigger supercharged disengagement hits, but not sure if there is a way to do that. This sounds pretty strong, not sure where I would put it flavourwise, but sounds like an egaging build to play on your main character

Hello everyone, Comming back to do another (maybe another few) playthroughs of the game, and I'd like a new build to do it Completed many POTD runs in many different ways (solo, duo, full party), and a variety of builds, and looking for something new (maybe). I have a few self imposed rules: no monk (maybe shattered pillar), no wizard, no potions, no scrolls. On the fence about priest too, but I guess it can slide, but only if it does mostly melee I like martial/half caster builds, and non to very little cheesy stuff. That kinda limits what I would play for POTD My most recent playthroughs (about 3 years ago) were with a dual wielding kind wayfarer + souldblade, a ghost heart + ascendant with firearms (mostly), a herald (solo), and a tactician + soulblade. At least these are what I remember, but did a bunch of other playthroughs and played many builds up to lvl 10-12. So what I'm looking for my watcher's build is a frontliner that's fairly tanky (read: can tank most encounters, even if not solo tank bosses), but still does good damge. I really like high sustain builds, like the kind wayfarer + soulblade with Sun and Moon was one of my favourite builds to play. Looking for suggestions on what build I should play next. Was thinking along the lines of mixture of fighter/barbarian/paladin/rogue/chanter/cipher. Big plus if the build uses a shield (Tutilo's Palm doesn't count) and still manages to dish out good damage. Like if there is a realiable way to force disengagement on an Unbroken. I remember trying to terrifiy enemies, but I think I did not find it super reliable. For ranged builds I like firearms (Eccea's Arcane Blaster with one handed style being my favourite flavourwise). I'll probably have a Kind Wayfarer with dual pistols somewhere in the party, maybe even the watcher with a multiclass to... probably ranger (I don't like giving up driving flight). Also considering a whildrhymer with Spearcaster, but that can pretty much go on a hireling. For items to build around, I'd love a build around: Amra, dual pistols, Lord Darryn's Voulge (maybe), The Willbreaker, Last Word (with Guardian Stance + Reckless Brigandine. Pairing it with Kind Wayfarer would be cool, but then I need to dual wield pretty much). I aim to also kill the megabosses (I actually never tried the Sigilmaster). I browsed through the forums a bunch of times, and watched many youtube videos, so I'm familiar with most well known builds, so what I'm looking is suggestions along the above lines. Pretty familiar with most game mechanics, but might not have perfect memeory about all the cool build around items or abilities anymore I started a sabre Devoted/Skald Warcaller, but not sure if it is for me. Thanks to anyone who managed to read all my rambling, if anyone can give me some cool flavourful build ideas I'd very much appreciate it

Essence Interruptor usully does the job there fairly easily if you have a decent tank. Sometimes I hire a devoted/ghost heart for the early game to just autoattack through the first few levels with Essence Interruptor. Lord Darryn's Voulge also comes in handy there.

I never really considered The Best Defense. Honestly I haven't even read it properly it seems, just dismissed it as yet another bashing shield that's not Tuotilo's (I think I only ever did the Seeker path on one playthrough). Never noticed that it has damage scaling instead of deflection. Also Terrifying to Face seems super convenient for such a build, I think you might have just sold me on this one, and then Unbroken it is. The occasional riposts being being better is just icing on the cake. Shame that it comes fairly late.

I played an unbroken/trickster as a hired adventurer, but that build focused on pumping deflection and procing Riposte and since Riposte is a full attack, I used Tuotilo's Palm. I actually regret not going Devoted on that build in hindsight. Now obviously focusing on both terrifying enemies and deflection/riposte at the same time is a pretty big nonbo, so lower deflection would sufice. As for the subclass, Unbroken's +10 pen is surely huge, however I can't terrify everything, and I would already have a lot of engagement slots + persistent distraction. At that point Tactician starts to become appealing, as it would allow to spam abilities. On the other hand, Unbroken could turtle up very effectively when terrifying is not an option. I think both have their merits. The Tactician/Trickster is more universal though, and could completely change layout without respeccing, if terrifying is not an option. As you said, high damage per hit weapons would be most beneficial, and I remember reading your post about acquiring Citzal's great sword. Now normally I don't like to exploit the game engine, but this time, I might make an exception, as it feels like the ideal weapon here. Overbearing Guard + One Dozen Stood + great sword modal would resul in huge (and accurate!) disengagement attacks. Now that I mention it, a greatsword devoted/trickster focusing on riposte could be fun, and could also use WOTEP to change it up Voidwheel + Refreshing Defense should also be a fine combo.

Some more questions came to mind... 1. Instruments of Pain + Wotep: does it increase the cone by +500% to a giant cone? That'd be kinda nice with Soul Anihilation. Do the secondary AOE hits proc Hearthbeat Drumming? 2. If I create a Fighter (not set on subclass yet)/Trickster that's focusigin on terrifying enemies to proc disengagment, how reliable would it be, would they actually have to move out of engagement range? I sort of know how the mechanics work on paper, but would like to hear about it from someone who has seen it in practice. 3. This is once again a question of how something works in practice. The build would be Steel Garrote/Streetfighter, with a chanter also chanting for additional 12% drain. I'd go human and aim for Voidwheel to get bloodied as soon as possible. Eventually only use Voidwheel until I get bloodied, then switch to Chromoprismatic. With all the recovery reduction, it could activate qstaff modal for +20 deflection (Nalvi on Edér + Abraham + probably Contender's armor and Helm of the Falcon). Reasonably high CON so being bloodied is still not horribly low hp. Could a build like this function as a main tank with proper setup?

I'm in the middle of a Stalker/Soulblade playthrough, and I have to say I really prefer Ghost Hearth for the later parts of the game at this point. Initially the bear was truly beastly, but as encounters get harder and harder, it gets very tedious to keep it alive, and I try to do everything to passively boost its defences: troubadour chanting, endurance aura, Shining Beacon, Hearth Defender's Scales (I massacred Junvik Vilage). The engagement immunity in particular is what I really miss (I always rolled ghost hearts before - or Maia obviously). Not sure if Stalker bonuses are better than having Ghost Hearth at this point, even if I do focus on the AC and go melee with it. I really think the passive bonus should scale a bit. Spending bond to resummon is no different than spending it on healing, and not having to deal with grief/dilemma is also a big upside. Meanwhile Maia is running on AI, Ishiza stays stealthed and ever since she got Driving Flight, she is taking over my watcher in overall damage done. Will see what happens when I get to Takedown Combo + Desintegration. Maybe I'm just mad, because I couldn't do Memories of a Mad Man trial with a lvl 15/14 party in 2 tries

This sounds amazing actually, never noticed that Divine Retribution says ally and not party member (this kinda makes me wanna roll SC paladin). I have a followup question. Do effects that specify party member count animal companions? Specifically thinking about abusing Ghost Heart with it of course (with Neriscyrlas' Hope and Burden and whatever other effect I find if I start researching it). A quick note on the build I outlined: it feels amazing on easy to moderately hard encounters, but in the really hard ones I'm crying for my usual turtle Herald with the Shieldberer LOHs.

I like herald because in most cases it spares me the trouble of having to deal with healing in most fights altogether. Just stands around with endurance aura, ancient memory, mercy and kindness and maybe throws in an occasional emergency LoH (Shieldberer LoH is kinda OP too, especially on a Herald, pretty much a full heal, and insanely fast cast), if someone eats a big crit. I don't like having to bother with actual healing spells, that's why I chose herald. This Kind Wayfarer version is fun though, punching stuff for AOE heals is way more entertaining than actually healing. I ditched the bashing shield momentarily in my ongoing playthrough. Herald not having access to Monastic Training takes away a lot from their (and I mean Tuotilo's) effectiveness. So it's Sasha's and Sun and Moon for now.

So I always ran a shieldberer/troubadour when I wanted to have a strong healer in the party, max res/mig/enough int to reach 20 (16 base usually) for the double linger, evened out dex/con. It is a great build, and I'm sure many of us used it, but it is kinda boring, does nothing but heals, occasinoaly can cheese a fight with Brand Enemy and that's about it (then you reload anyway, because real men don't cheese fights). Upside is that it can function as an afk tank in emergencies. Then last playthrough my watcher was a kind wayfarer (never played that subclass before), and my idea of a healbot started to shift a bit. I still think the AFK version is great, but there are merits to using a kind wayferer troubadour that actually hits stuff. White Flames AOE would be pretty reasonable with 20 INT + Ring of Overseeing (although a case can be made for Chameleon's Touch, Focused Flames is kind of mandatory), then buff its output with Physicker's belt and Footprints of Ahu Taka (and Mercy and Kindness in the lategame). Obviously we would need it to do the full attack with dual wield, so a bashing shield is in order (any works really, maybe have multiple setupts, in case if medium shield modal is needed). Dual wielding actual weapons is an option too obviously, but I like my healers as sturdy as possible. The focus is not on the damage so any of them work. Ring of Focused flames, and Gauntlets of Greater Reliability to make sure the attacks have good hit chance. Then the weapon of choice. Obvious one is Sun and Moon, but I actually think with the combination of Devil of Caroc breastplate, and the action speed aura upgrade, Sasha's Singing Scimitar is an amazing here. Sasha's also allows lower dex (+2 dex from the boots too). Self mending is a nice touch on top of its base stats. Then upgrade Flames of Devotion to Shared Flames. This together is big boost to the party's dps output, and the shorter the fight, the less healing is needed, so even better. The focus should not be on doing damage (not directly at least), so if needed a club/flail/hatchet can be used for the modal. All the key pieces are there from Nekataka too. I've been stalking these boards for a while and never really bumped into a herald build like this, so I figured I share my idea (admittedly, I never reasearched healer builds, so it might be out there).

I started Tactician/Druid, made it to Nekataka, before having an urge to roll up a stalker. My planned earlygame combo of WoTeP + Taste for the hun will have to wait a bit. Will switch back to it eventually, doing parallel playthroughs is fun. Will still take Tekehu for the watershaper chill fog, so it's a full druid experiment The stalker is a bit squishier than expected, but still fun. Ectopsychic echo was better on Ghost Heart where I could just let the pet rush in without engagement or fear of bonded grief, but it's still a fun combo. Maybe I should just use it on Ishi, since I do take Maia, but that would lessen the roleplay. Rushed to Sayuka for Stalker's patience to have constant dot applied for the bonus pet damage, using Thaos' Headdreass and microing the pet to always flank, pretty fun, does way more damage than expected. I'm just a sucker for Seer, even if this is the first time I play it as melee.