[Polished] Single-Class Ascendant Build (Feedback Appreciated)

[Cyrus_Blackfeather]

I mean Witch is more a Principi character because it is kind of chaotic in nature with the barbarian. 

 

Transcendent would work for Villain because I think monk is more "disciplined" neutral/lawful character by nature. I am testing the turning wheel transcendent currently and it is strong. But I am testing Helwalker so it is actually more squishy than a Witch, which has access to Borrowed Instinct + Savage Defiance (pick one) + lots of Con/hp because of barbarian. Helwalker pretty much melts under any kind of pressure without access to barring death's door or high defensive stats., or paired with a tanky class.

 

I am not quite done with the test but at level 20 in same equipment across toons and stats damage in the cipher shootout is 1.) Witch (Berserker) 2.) Transcendent  (Helwalker)3.) Pure Cipher Asc 4.) Mindstalker (Streetfighter)

 

In a playthrough, you can get away by more extreme min/maxed stats on a Witch than a Transcendent actually if you go helwalker. So I would recommend a Nalpazca unless you are pairing the monk with a "tanky" class. 

 

But this is all at high level when game is practically finished. Having access to amplified wave at like level 11 makes many encounters much more easier earlier. I remember playing Hardcore Deadly deadfire in a party and at level 12 or 13? fights like Hasongo or Fire Dragon (without fire cloak) were pretty challenging for a party with a Mindstalker dps who did not have amp wave yet, when I switched to pure cipher at those levels those encounters were much easier. 

 

If you are unsure which caster to play seriously just load a random save, hire a bunch of adventurers level them up with unity / gear them and play around with them to see what suits you.

 

My default gear for tests are:

-High Harbinger Robes

-Orishia

-Gauntlets of Ogre Might

-Cloak of Greater Protection

-Boots of Speed

-Gwyn's Bridal 

-Kuaru's Prize

-Ring of the Marksman

-Acina's Trihorn

 

For me personally pure cipher kinda hurts because I cannot deny that ability selection after level 6 spells is less than ideal. And it is a cool character with nice animations and flair and decently strong but it feels like it hits its peak when it gets those level 6 spells and from there it kinda fades because for a level 8 spell time parasite cast to freakin last the whole combat to justify being a level 8 spell - and it does not - compare it to blood frenzy which is much more efficient or deleterious alactrity of motion which is a faster cast and last longer (and a level 3 spell!). 

 

And I would say finally that pure ciphers are stronger in wizards in the mid game once you have those level 6 spells (and hence the strongest practical caster for most of the game because they peak relatively early). 

 

That's all a pretty good breakdown, to be honest with you. 

 

I threw a post up talking a little more about the type of character I want to play, and a few ideas for how to convey it. Cipher is definitely one of those, and Transcendent might be a good way to go about it, but there's others as well that might be a little sturdier. 

 

I do agree, Time Parasite needs to last the whole combat. 

[Flucas]

Love this build!

Still have to try single class, currently running with wiz. I'm really fond of all the buffs available (int+con,acc,hit>crit,atkspd) that work before and during ascention. Plus acces to a bunch of defensive buffs and debuffs.

 

Currently testing how to get to ascendant asap: the kitchen stove's buff looks interesting but so far blunderbusses has given me poor results (probably bad penetration). Dual pistols working really well so far (with the modal, which is easily compensated for elsewhere). Im yet to test red hand and A's legacy.

 

Just for min-maxing purposed, would nature godlike make a lot of difference for the +2 PL? EDIT: +1 PL

Edited September 16, 2018 by Flucas

[Haplok]

Nowadays nature godlike is only +1 PL.