[solo potd 1.2] "The Faceless Dancer" Bleakwalker/Trickster Retaliation Tank

[1TTFFSSE]

Not modded PotD upscaled test:

 

 

Potd upscaled+Deadly Deadfire Hardcore version:

 

 

Ok after doing extensive tests of this build on Potd with Deadly Deadfire+ installed, I feel I have come to understand how to build the most effective and viable paladin-rogue retaliation monstrosity. 

 

And before you say it yes, a Paladin-Streetfighter is probably the more "op" combo just because of street fighter, but bear in mind if you want to be a bit more future nerf proof, and have more overall utility and playstyle options thanks to trickster bag of illusory tricks try it out. Also, fundamentally the two rogue classes play totally differently as streetfighter wants to live on the edge and be bloodied, but trickster wants to stack high deflection and not get hit/retaliate. You can do that with streetfighter too, but trickster can get you much higher deflection.

 

Anyways this build stacks very high defenses as you will see in the screen shots bellow and has a cheap per resource solid offense thanks to bleakwalker Eternal Devotion 1 zeal cost and rogue crippling strike also 1 guile cost. After going through a phase (recommended) of weapon+shield where we stack up our deflection and defenses at the start of the fight, we can switch to dual sabers/magran's favor+tarn's respite, or a good aoe two handed weapon like Wahai Poroga or Engoliero de Espirs to kill stuff. Also we will be maxing arcana to 15 so we can take advantage of scroll of avenging storm (great on retaliation build), and any good fire spell scrolls like Shining Beacon because it will work well with the ring of focused flame and Scion of flame talent we may take.

 

Stats:

 

Race: Human - still tier A because it is a really good general buff

          Fire Godlike - tier B but an ok choice

Attributes:

 

Might - Leave flat 10

Con - Leave 10 or go to about 13 at most 

Dex - I like it at 13-14 leaving Con at 10 but if you want more con leave Dex at 10

Perc - max recommended, no less than 15

Int - max, most important stat as you want long buffs

Res - max

 

Background - anything with + to intimidate, athletics, arcana and history is most useful

 

Skills - Arcana to 15, Intimidate to 20, rest split between mechanics (1-2 points), athletics and alchemy

 

Sacrifice: Devil of Caroc as you want extra penetration against tough kith enemies. 

 

 

Abilities Taken:

 

General:

-Weapon and Shield Style

-Two-Weapon Style

-Bear's Fortitude

-Snake's Reflexes

-Bull's Will

-Scion of Flame/ Backstab* = choose one

 

Paladin:

Flames of Devotion (start with it)

Deep Faith

Lay on Hands

Divine Purpose

Inspired Defenses

Zealous (auras)

Glorious Beacon

Eternal Devotion

Greater Lay on Hands

Inspired Beacon 

Virtuous Triumph

Stoic Steel

 

Rogue:

Backstab* if you forfeit Scion of Flame

Crippling Strike

Escape

Blinding Strike

Dirty Fighting*/ or Sworn enemy

Arterial Strike

Gouging Strike

Riposte

Persistent Distraction

Shadow Step

Deathblows

 

As you see above overall this kit has the best mix of defense and offense imo, you can't take everything you want unfortunately but it is the best mix from both trees.

*I take shadow step instead of shadowing beyond because I just use potions of invisibility when I solo and shadow step gives a nice paralyze on enemies (more cc). Also I do not take devastating blow as my time is spent spamming more cost effective crippling strike+eternal devotion. If you really like devastating blow (or the withering strike ability) take it instead of blinding/gouging strike. You can sacrifice Dirty fighting for backstab and not give up scion of flame, that is also an option.

 

Also I take Glorious Beacon because Inspiring Beacon deflection does not stack with the trickster spells, and +40% damage to enemies in aoe with Wahai Paroga is nice.

 

Quick Item bar:

 

1. Health Potion - just in case

2. Scroll of Moonwell

3. Potion of Invisibility

4.Scroll 2 slot - Shining Beacon, Avenging Storm are good options here

5. Misc.  - Potion of Spirit Shield/Piercing Strikes

 

Drugs- use any at your discretion

 

Equipment:

 

Headslot

Option A: Pearlescent Rhomboid Helstone

 Option B: Rekvu's Fractured Casque (in battles with lots of interrupts)

 

Neck

Strand of Favor

 

Chest:

Casita Samelia

 

Ring 1

Ring of Focused Flame

 

Ring 2

Ring of Minor Protection

or Entonia Signet

 

Boots

Boots of Stability (Fortitude is your lowest save, needs a boost)

 

Belt:

Upright Captain's Belt (concentration is good and just in case I use a scroll of pull of eora)

 

Gloves:

Bracers of Greater Deflection

 

Cape:

The Gifbearer's Cloth (Technically a cloak of protection is better on this toon but I need the extra weapon and item slot)

 

Weapons:

 

Slot 1 weapon+ shield (high defense)

I recommend Squid's Grasp (immune to flanking) + shield

Shield is tricky as you will be using different shields in different fights, but Cadhu Scalth is probably best for what you are doing with this slot which provides you defense while you buff yourself with trickster spells+moonwell to go without a shield after you buff enough deflection

 

Slot 2 - dual weapons (high single target dps)

I recommend Tarn's Respite (best saber) + Magran's Favor (best for build), or Tarn's+Aldris (best looking)

 

Slot 3 - Aoe weapon

Wahai Paroga, Whispers of Endless Paths, or Egeliero de Espirs

 

The Red Hand* buff it to +20% damage and carry it with you for ranged opening salvos if you want.

 

 

 

*If penetration is still a problem on certain targets consider using Animancer's Energy Blade which bypasses armor on target and does raw damage. 

 

 

Strat:

 

stealth to enemies and hit with a quick alpha strike, switch to weapon+shield and buff your deflection, after that switch to an aoe weapon (a weapon that has aoe attack) and watch riposte in action. 

 

stats after a few buffs

 

 

maximum deflection (about 220) after shadow step

 

two-weapon style ready for battle (deflection would be 170+ as I forgot coral snuff here)

 

 

when you need to turtle up

Edited July 12, 2018 by 1TTFFSSE

[1TTFFSSE]

btw, if someone knows how to easily raise fortitude save another 20 points let me know. that is week point of the toon and I'd be more comfortable with a fortitude save at 150+ and not 135. 

[Kaylon]

Please explain how do you get 169 deflection without shield because without buffs you can have barely over 120.

[Waski]

I think there is a pet with + 8 fortitude, or you can go with + 2 resolve pet and that club that gives +4 deflection but dmg will suffer I suppose.

[Manveru123]

Emo Arya XD

 

Very similar to what I was planning on running in 2.0, assuming the patch doesn't ef up Riposte.

 

EDIT: There is no need to use Avenging Storm scrolls, you can buy a helmet very early that lets you use that spell.

Edited July 11, 2018 by Manveru123

[mant2si]

201 with shield and 169 with DW (I assume that 139 without Buff), 17 armor and all that defenses mixed with Rogue offensive skills and Paladin healing, insane

But still didn't match Arcane Knight efficiency against multiple targets, I'm not sure if you can constantly make Dragons take stealth attack bonus
 

Did you already try it solo on DD, I assume that only Dragons can hit you with maxed buffs :D

I completed first solo PoE run with defensive pal. build, but in PoE pals lack of offensive, now with multi-classing they look like tank monsters 
 

Edited July 11, 2018 by mant2si

[Vonmara]

I have a few doubts:

 

Why gouging strike? It's a 2 guile single target that applies an affliction not much better than distracted, which you get for free from persistent distraction.

 

Why casita samelia instead of Gipon prudensco, which gets you the same Deflection bonus you might get from having max intimidate + immunity to flanking? Is it because of the retaliation? And of that's the case, with 210 Def how much does it even proc?

 

Why is the extra slot needed? Aren't two slots enough if you plan the fight beforehand?

 

Doesn't Bronlar Phalanx provide more Deflection than Cadhu with Max athletics (which you won't get because you're maxing arcana)?

 

Other than that, nice one.

[Kaylon]

201 with shield and 169 with DW (I assume that 139 without Buff), 17 armor and all that defenses mixed with Rogue offensive skills and Paladin healing, insane

 

But still didn't match Arcane Knight efficiency against multiple targets, I'm not sure if you can constantly make Dragons take stealth attack bonus

 

Did you already try it solo on DD, I assume that only Dragons can hit you with maxed buffs :D

 

I completed first solo PoE run with defensive pal. build, but in PoE pals lack of offensive, now with multi-classing they look like tank monsters 

 

The armor gives only 10 deflection with 20 intimidate - your numbers are completely off...

[Manveru123]

Why casita samelia instead of Gipon prudensco, which gets you the same Deflection bonus you might get from having max intimidate + immunity to flanking? Is it because of the retaliation? And of that's the case, with 210 Def how much does it even proc?

 

Gipon requires you to get hit, Casita gives you all Deflection upfront.

[1TTFFSSE]

Please explain how do you get 169 deflection without shield because without buffs you can have barely over 120.

Ok No shield

 

Example:

 

20 Base

57 Level (can be more with empower potion maybe?)

10 resolve

15 Deep Faith

7 Greater Deflection

10 Hylea's Food

10 Moonwell

11 Casita Samelia

30 mirror image

5 corral snuff

 

total: 175

 

or -30 (mirror image) but +10 llengarth's displaced image = 155

 

 

To the question of armor Prudesco vs Samelia:

With items that boost stats you can boost deflection higher with Samelia and I like the extra AR stacking (with Rhamboid helm proc and Spirit potion +3 you can get a maximum of 19 AR I believe after stoic steel procs and under Zealous Endurance)

 

 

To the Question of Blinding strike etc:

 

In the end I value the upgrade Gouging strike which applies a dot until the end of combat a lot. On an aoe weapon like Wahai Paroga this dot will be applied to all enemies hit. For someone else Withering Strike or Devastating Blow may be better but for my playstyle and purposes, those abilities are overkill as I apply the gouging strike dot to enemies (blind them in the process) and have their misses against me because of the blind turn into more hits against them because of riposte. 

[mant2si]

Where did you get bracers  with +7 to deflection ?

[Kaylon]

 

Please explain how do you get 169 deflection without shield because without buffs you can have barely over 120.

Ok No shield

 

Example:

 

20 Base

57 Level (can be more with empower potion maybe?)

10 resolve

15 Deep Faith

7 Greater Deflection

10 Hylea's Food

10 Moonwell

11 Casita Samelia

30 mirror image

5 corral snuff

 

total: 175

 

or -30 (mirror image) but +10 llengarth's displaced image = 155

Coral snuff doesn't stack with mirrored image/ llengrath's displaced image. Also Llengrath's displaced image decreases with each hit which means your 30 deflection aren't very reliable. Moonwell has very short duration and I don't think you can count on it very often...

[Manveru123]

Well if you remove MI, Moonwell and drug but add Llengrath's then you get 140. Respectable amount of Deflection I'd say.

[mant2si]

Well if you remove MI, Moonwell and drug but add Llengrath's then you get 140. Respectable amount of Deflection I'd say.

But not 169 :D 140 you can stack with fighter 

Edited July 11, 2018 by mant2si

[1TTFFSSE]

Ok At most you can get dual wielding without mirror image+moonwell is with ripple sponge drug (+3res, and rubyuna escort bonus +2res=+5total) 

 

you get 145 for over a minute that way with the intelligence you have. 

 

 

if you are desperate to stack more you can

-sacrifice a +1 res companion (not recommended as I think +1 kith penetration is better than another +1 in deflection)

-take upgrade of enduring beacon instead of inspiring beacon give another +5 total but for 20sec or so at most = not worth it)

for a total of 150.

 

Meh before doing that I would do this: rogue "escape" costs 1 guile, you use it, have +50 deflection for 7 sec and 190 deflection or so total when dual wielding, hit stuff with eternal devotion (1 zeal point), retaliate, if you come under pressure hit escape again it only costs 1 guile. 

[1TTFFSSE]

 

Well if you remove MI, Moonwell and drug but add Llengrath's then you get 140. Respectable amount of Deflection I'd say.

But not 169 :D 140 you can stack with fighter 

 

the difference on defense is small I think it is total +15 deflection on paladin base with passives, +9 on fighter.

 

Paladin has higher AR stacking I think. 

 

Offensives are a bit apples and oranges. Paladin feels more like a melee "spellcaster" with Inspiring Beacon aoe spell, flame attacks atc (which benefit greatly from +10 accuracy flame ring).

 

Fighter is more a warrior type with knockdowns/engagement locks.

 

I think the 1 zeal cost Flames of Devotion is better 1 resource ability than Knockdown in the end, especially on Bleak Walker with the extra corrode damge. With dual sabres, 1 hit can shred a target. 

[Dorftek]

Does moonwell stack with mirrored or snuff? However, the priest spell circle of protection seems to stack with everything. They are available as scrolls as well. I think it's +15 all defenses iirc

[Vonmara]

Does moonwell stack with mirrored or snuff?

Moonwell stacks with mirror image, tested on my trickster.

[1TTFFSSE]

Added demonstration videos of gameplay.

 

As you see the Pollaxe (in the second video) is overtuned with this build at the moment. Just use Whispers of the Endless Paths, Engoliero de Espiers or something else if you feel like you don't want to "cheat wohai paroga to win" at the moment. 

 

Also I used cloak of deflection because the bracers of deflection although better in terms of slot allocation arte a mystery to actually get in the game at the moment.

 

Also, I think instead of scion of flame I took arm's bearer just because I want 3 weapon sets before getting the cloak from the fampyr cave. If you can play with two weapon sets take scion of flame and get more mileage from your fire attacks. 

 

I realized in the original post I was overtuning defenses so instead of taking stuff like bull's will I took deep cuts for more dots. Enjoy.  

 

 

EDIT: I just tested Wahai Paroga on the new beta patch where it was "fixed". It is still overtuned on the retaliation build....so if you want cheese play it.

Edited July 12, 2018 by 1TTFFSSE

[mant2si]

Added demonstration videos of gameplay.

 

As you see the Pollaxe (in the second video) is overtuned with this build at the moment. Just use Whispers of the Endless Paths, Engoliero de Espiers or something else if you feel like you don't want to "cheat wohai paroga to win" at the moment. 

 

Also I used cloak of deflection because the bracers of deflection although better in terms of slot allocation arte a mystery to actually get in the game at the moment.

 

Also, I think instead of scion of flame I took arm's bearer just because I want 3 weapon sets before getting the cloak from the fampyr cave. If you can play with two weapon sets take scion of flame and get more mileage from your fire attacks. 

 

I realized in the original post I was overtuning defenses so instead of taking stuff like bull's will I took deep cuts for more dots. Enjoy.  

Pollaxe was fixed today in beta patch 

 

Could you record queen fight or Ukaizo ? If you want good AOE riposte take monk shield and summon minor blights

Edited July 12, 2018 by mant2si

[Amentep]

Thread pruned.

 

If you don't like a build or strategy here, please close the thread and move to another thread which may offer something more to your tastes.

 

If you think another poster is trolling the thread, please report the post rather than trying to respond to the post.

 

Or put another way, Ne pascere troglodytis saevis.

[Gigajew]

Attributes:

 

Might - Leave flat 10

Con - Leave 10 or go to about 13 at most 

Dex - I like it at 13-14 leaving Con at 10 but if you want more con leave Dex at 10

Perc - max recommended, no less than 15

Int - max, most important stat as you want long buffs

Res - max

 

 

 

How is it possible to max Per, Int, and Res while leaving Might, Con, and Dex, at 10? The game doesn't provide that many attribute points. 

[1TTFFSSE]

 

Attributes:

 

Might - Leave flat 10

Con - Leave 10 or go to about 13 at most 

Dex - I like it at 13-14 leaving Con at 10 but if you want more con leave Dex at 10

Perc - max recommended, no less than 15

Int - max, most important stat as you want long buffs

Res - max

 

 

 

How is it possible to max Per, Int, and Res while leaving Might, Con, and Dex, at 10? The game doesn't provide that many attribute points. 

 

with barath blessing you can.

 

if you are not using them go 10 might, 10 dex, 12 con, 15 perc, 16 int (with vaillain background) , rest into resolve

[Gigajew]

 

 

Attributes:

 

Might - Leave flat 10

Con - Leave 10 or go to about 13 at most 

Dex - I like it at 13-14 leaving Con at 10 but if you want more con leave Dex at 10

Perc - max recommended, no less than 15

Int - max, most important stat as you want long buffs

Res - max

 

 

 

How is it possible to max Per, Int, and Res while leaving Might, Con, and Dex, at 10? The game doesn't provide that many attribute points. 

 

with barath blessing you can.

 

if you are not using them go 10 might, 10 dex, 12 con, 15 perc, 16 int (with vaillain background) , rest into resolve

 

 

Why didn't you mention that in your original builld? There is no mention of "Berath" or "Blessing" on the build page. Or better yet, why not put the exact starting stat numbers to remove confusion? How are people successfully following your build without this important information?