[CLASS BUILD] Cipher Ranged, War Bow, Zero Recovery

[Jaryn]

My favourite class in Pillars of Eternity is Cipher. This build felt to me quite powerful and fun throughout the playthrough. Ciphers have single target damage, AoE damage, buffs and debuffs.

They don't need to rest to refresh their spells. They instead gain focus from a portion of their weapon damage during combat and use it to cast spells.

 

Difficulty: PotD
--------------------------------------------------------------
Class: Cipher
--------------------------------------------------------------
Game Version: 3.0+
--------------------------------------------------------------
Race: Wood Elf
--------------------------------------------------------------
Background: Old Vailia - Colonist
--------------------------------------------------------------
Skills: Survival 12 (base 10, +2 Colonist), Lore 10 (base 6, +1 Cipher, +3 Viettro's Formal Footwear), Athletics 4

 

Might                    13
Constitution         10
Dexterity              15 (14 + 1 Elf)
Perception           15 (14 + 1 Elf)
Intellect                15 (14 + 1 Old Vailia)
Resolve                10

 

---

Ciphers get to select two new spells every odd level. One new spell and one new talent every even level.

Level  1: Whisper of Treason, Eyestrike
Level  2: Soul Shock, Bitting Whip
Level  3: Mental Binding, Phantom Foes
Level  4: Recall Agony, Weapon Focus Adventurer
Level  5: Ectopsychic Echo, Secret Horrors
Level  6: Puppet Master, Draining Whip
Level  7: Silent Scream, Pain Block
Level  8: Going Between, Marksman
Level  9: Tactical Meld, Borrowed Instinct
Level 10: Ringleader, Apprentice's Sneak Attack
Level 11: Amplified Wave, Disintegration
Level 12: Mind Plague, Penetrating Shot
Level 13: Time Parasite, Stasis Shell
Level 14: Mind Lance, Bear's Fortitude OR Bull's Will
Level 15: Defensive Mindweb, Reaping Knives
Level 16: Wild Leech, Bear's Fortitude OR Bull's Will

---

Whisper of Treason can be useful in the early game. Afterwards I stop using it.

Mental Binding is great for majority of the game. It costs 20 Focus only.

Phantom Foes is one of your main spells. It activates a lot of extra damage to your auto-attacks.

Ectopsychic Echo can be pretty good. Especially against enemies immune to piercing damage.

When enemies are immune to Paralyze, then Silent Scream might stun them. Also nice raw damage on top in AoE.

Pain Block and Going Between will significantly help your tank.

Tactical Meld and Borrowed Instinct mainly for accuracy. I rate Tactical Meld higher. It will always hit and has fast cast.

Use Ringleader when you get angry at the game and want to solve a difficult fight.

Amplified Wave feels unfair for time to time. Only a little though. Bang this spell on Edér, Pallegina, Itumaak or anyone in good position.

It's game over when you get Time Parasite. You will reach 0 recovery every fight thanks to this spell.

Cast Stasis Shell on annoying enemies to get them out of the fight. But, to be honest, I rarely use this.   

If you have too much focus and don't know what to do with it, you can cast Reaping Knives and keep not knowing what to do with all that focus.

Defensive Mindweb is nice but I feel like I rarely need it.

You can also take Outlander's Frenzy and later respec when you get Time Parasite. Or instead just drink Potions of Deleterious Alacrity of Motion and use Angio's Gambeson.

---

Weapon Set 1: Cloudpiercer, later Rain of Goddath Field
Weapon Set 2: Estoc or something that is not Piercing damage

Edér starts with a War Bow in his 2nd weapon set. Take it.

Cloudpiercer is a reward for siding with the Dozens. Alternatively you can buy Borresaine and side with the Doemenels for The Merciless Hand talent (+0.3 Crit damage multiplier). But I think that Cloudpiercer is the better bow and Mob Justice talent (+5 Accuracy when attacking same target as an ally) from the Dozens is not bad either.

Rain of Goddath Field is the best option because of the speed enchant and the fact it's already superb quality.

Head: White Crest's Helm
Armor: Angio's Gambeson, later Vengiatta Rugia
Neck: Mantle of the Excavator
Hands: Gauntlets of Swift Action
Boots: Glanfathan Stalking Boots, afterwards Viettro's Formal Footwear
Belt: Girdle of Eoten Constitution
Rings: Gathbin Family Signet, Pensiavi mes Rèi, Ring of Protection, Ring of Thorns (before you get Viettro's Formal Footwear)

Essentials are Glanfathan Stalking Boots or Vengiatta Rugia and Gauntlets of Swift Action. The rest is up to you. Most important stats are Int, Per, Dex.
Durganize Rain of Goddath Field and Vengiatta Rugia.

---

I think that Grieving Mother can use this build. I have never tried playing her with this build myself though. Her only downside is low Perception.

Phantom Foes (applies Flanked) + Apprentice's Sneak Attack + Glanfathan Stalking Boots or Vengiatta Rugia + Survival 12 = +45% Damage

Get addicted to Potion of Deleterious Alacrity of Motion - crafted from Skaenbone, Opal, Primal Wind.

Angio's Gambeson has Deleterious Alacrity of Motion once per rest.

There is also a PoE1 speed calculator. Just look online.

Start your fights by casting Phantom Foes (if you have enough starting focus). Auto-attack to get focus. Spend focus. Repeat. If you don't have Time Parasite yet, drink Potion of Deleterious Alacrity of Motion.

If you get engaged in melee, you should have something up your sleeve to deal with it. Ciphers have access to Charm, Dominate, Paralyze, Stun, Prone and more. If you want another option, there are cloaks enchanted with the Escape ability. Also this is not a solo build. You are playing with a party. So use them to help you.

 

Have fun!

Edited May 9, 2025 by Jaryn

[Ghost Waltz]

I am playing this build and really enjoying it! Thanks for your work!

[Jaryn]

On 10/4/2025 at 7:38 AM, Ghost Waltz said:

I am playing this build and really enjoying it! Thanks for your work!

Cheers mate!

[compact]

Hi, I have been using your companion builds. Love it. Would you mind also doing Maneha and Zahua? I tried to DM you but this forum is absurdly restrictive. I am allowed to send 0 messages.

[compact]

Oh, I just realised you uploaded the six builds you used on your own run. Nevermind, then.

[Jaryn]

Sorry for not responding sooner. I played Zahua and Maneha ages ago. I have a one barbarian build saved for Maneha.

 

Maneha

Ring of Searing Flames + Heart of Fury
Bittercut + Purgatory / Resolution OR Weapon + Badgradr's Barricade / Dragon's Maw

Abilities at lvl 1.3,5,7,9,11,13,15:                      Talents at lvl 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16:

Barbaric Yell                                                    Veteran's Recovery

Savage Defiance                                            Two Weapon Style OR Weapon & Shield Style 

One Stands Alone                                           Weapon Focus

Frenzy                                                              Accurate Carnage

Threatening Presence                                    Vulnerable Attack

Heart of Fury                                                   Stalwart Defiance OR Bear's Fortitude

Dragon Leap                                                    Greater Frenzy

Thick-skinned OR Echoing Shout                   Superior Deflection    

 

The most fun ability is Heart of Fury, if I remember correctly. The reason I didn't post any monk or barbarian builds is that I haven't really play them that much and I don't feel confident enough to give advice on them. Monks and barbarians are strong actually but I prefer different classes.

 

---

Zahua

I can't find the build I used for Zahua. It was like 8 years ago .

I remember wearing a plate armor and using fists the whole game.

Abilities like Swift Strikes, Torment's Reach, Turning Wheel, Stunning Blow, Duality of Mortal Presence, The Dichotomous Soul. Monk is just strong.

Talents - Weapon Focus Peasant, Two Weapon Style, Lightning Strikes., Apprentice Sneak Attack

I think I would go for constitution, dexterity, perception.