Aloth: To Multiclass or not to Multiclass?

[jtbehnke]

I've been wondering how to build Aloth in Deadfire.  From what I understand, wizards are a class that DOES have strong benefits for staying single-class, namely some VERY powerful spells in the top tiers.  On the other hand, multiclassing is pretty darn fun, and some companions can become quite powerful when they multiclass, as Pallegina and Tekehu demonstrate in the excellently written Tuono e Fulmine and Tāwhirimātea, The God of Storms builds (P.S. You're awesome Ascaloth!).

 

So...what about Aloth?  Is it better to keep Aloth as a single-class wizard?  Or would it be better to convert him to a Battlemage (multiclassing him with Fighter) or Spellblade (multiclassing him with Rogue), and if so which of the two multiclasses is better?

Edited August 22, 2018 by jtbehnke

[fgalkin]

I always keep him single class. Yes, mutliclass wizards are great, but I want my Wilting Wind and empowered Minoletta's Missile Barrage, damnit.

[Theosupus]

I also keep him single class normally, if I use him. There's just too much utility and dps with a wizard.

[Clerith]

I also always keep him as a single class wizard. No subclass single class wizards are great, for a stealth wizard or melee wizard you'd really rather have a rogue/fighter subclass.

[Dorftek]

I'm playing a ranged rogue/wizard right now and it's really cool, great bow dmg and spells, love it!

[Achilles]

Spellblade Aloth is a lot of fun. Not too hard to make Riposte do the heavy lifting.

[thundercleese]

He can make a decent tank as a Battlemage, or a decent ranged weapon DPS as a Spellblade, however if your primary goal is for him to cast spells then you definitely want to keep him pure.

[Verde]

I always keep him single class. Yes, mutliclass wizards are great, but I want my Wilting Wind and empowered Minoletta's Missile Barrage, damnit.

This. Wilting Wind and Meteor Shower ftw.

[Ascaloth]

Thanks. 

 

Aloth is a rather vanilla Wood Elf with vanilla class choices, so either of the three choices would work just as well provided you know what you're doing. If you're planning to keep Aloth focused on the spellcasting, then yes, keeping him a pure Wizard is the way to go.

 

For a Battlemage Aloth, I actually have a proven build on hand which I'd codenamed Nine-Tailed Fox, on account of being specialized in Burn damage and Illusion spells. I simply haven't bothered to post it up on these forums because Aloth is just too vanilla; unlike Pallegina or Tekehu, he doesn't offer anything special that a custom hireling can't replicate, even execute more effectively than he himself can manage. That said, I can post it up here on this thread or in its own, if you really want me to. 

 

As for a Spellblade Aloth, I'm running one in my current playthrough at the moment. That said, I've yet to figure out an effective synergy for him so far, so I'm afraid I'm no help here, at least for now. 

[Boeroer]

My Aloth is nearly always a Spellblade because of Infuse + Spirit Lance + Arterial/Gouging/Toxic Strikes - which is so much fun. Spirit Lance with Riposte is great as well: AoE Riposte.

 

Good alternatives are Watershaper's Focus (+Ondra's Wrath) or dual mortars or Minor Blights + mortar.

[wolfrider100]

Aloth in my game right now is single classed, his main role being to cast spells (wizard). For my second

 

playthrough, I'm not sure if I want to multiclass him as a spellblade or battlemage yet.. choices, choices.

Edited August 23, 2018 by wolfrider100

[InsaneCommander]

I haven't had him in my party all the time, but he is doing really well as a single class. And I think I'll keep him single class on my next playthrough too, but then I'll focus more on crowd control.

[Dr. Hieronymous Alloy]

I've been having a lot of fun with Spellblade Aloth. All you need is mirror images and he can be a very effective deflection tank with just the martial masteries grimoire equipped. Then switch out a Disruption grimoire and he's a perfectly effective caster counter, too. You don't really need the top-end Wizard powers; they;re nice but also a bit gratuitous.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Dr. Hieronymous Alloy

[thundercleese]

Yeah I got bored and abandoned my Evoker playthrough because it just got boring - send in tank, pre-buff, drop a nuke or two (depending on enemy composition and positioning), move on.

[Dr. Hieronymous Alloy]

One question I had actually was whether or not you could get higher defensive values with a Battlemage Aloth than with a Spellblade Aloth. It seems like you *should* be able to but a lot of the fighter active abilities -- vigorous defense, conqueror stance, etc. -- may not stack with Mirror Images, Llengrath's Displaced Image, etc.

[bigwillystyle]

One question I had actually was whether or not you could get higher defensive values with a Battlemage Aloth than with a Spellblade Aloth. It seems like you *should* be able to but a lot of the fighter active abilities -- vigorous defense, conqueror stance, etc. -- may not stack with Mirror Images, Llengrath's Displaced Image, etc.

 

Of those, Vigorous Defense does stack specifically with Mirror Image.  I did not test with Displaced Image.  A Battlemage or a Swashbuckler (Trickster) can hit some wild deflection values.

[Boeroer]

Vigorous Defense stacks with all buffs that only address a single or two defenses seperately - like Mirrored Image, Wizard's Double and Llengrath's Displaced Image. It doesn't stack with Llengrath's Safeguard (the defense buff, the +AR works). Because Llengrath's Safeguard works like Vigorous Defense. Same stacking group as Circle of Defense (Priest).

Refreshing Defense will spare you a spell use and can last a long time. So I find this a rather pleasant combo with Wizard's deflection buffs.

[Dorftek]

Yeah, most importantly it stacks with arcane veil!

[Vorad]

I opted to multiclass him since Pull of Eora, + Citzal's Lance + Citzal's Martial Power are all available if you multi and remain solid spells even during late game.

[Lampros]

I had the same question here as well, but I am determined to make Aloth a ranged DPS at least for this preliminary run. So what works best with Wizard as a ranged DPS? Rogue multi-class? Paladin multi-class?