[CLASS BUILD] The Golden Dragon (barbarian tank)

[Boeroer]

Huh? I don't get it...

[Boeroer]

Did I say that? Can't remember that... :-o

[Boeroer]

ROFL - I reread my build and found it. I really can't remember why or when I wrote that. Man... my brain is really degenerating.

[Boeroer]

Need more sleep I guess. But a certain 5 month old crybaby has something against it... :/

Edited November 22, 2016 by Boeroer

[QuiteGoneJin]

My last Barb solo build that I shelved, since it was getting interrupted too much, was a healing based two-hander concept - I think it would work better as an alt one hander and shield concept to this one.

 

Essentially, if you take 19 Con (14 + Iron Circle + Rymyrgand's Boon) you hit 2500+ health, take Wound Binding and you hit 5000+ in a single encounter with any kind of healing bonuses that hit x2.5 (which is not hard to do). Couple this to 21 Might, take a healing item (x1.25) ad then the x1.8 healing modifier (Survival) and you get a x3 healing bonus.

 

For Attribute changes, take Coastal Aumaua. What you need to hit end game is Might 21, Con 19 and Int 16 minimum (from testing 16 will consistently hit a target directly behind you if you're attacking a target in front) - dump whatever else you need to hit those numbers, preferably Resolve. As Boeroer has mentioned, this build has crazy defences already, including Deflection, and the reason why my version of a healing build didn't work IMO was a lack of both Deflection and Concentration with the slow Tidefall (when you get critted, the enemy Interrupt sky-rockets, but if they don't as is the case when you have suitable Deflection, then very low Concentration is fine).

 

I would change the weapon from Bittercut to Purgatory for the healing, with the x3 healing modifier you actually get 60% of any damage dealt with it rather than 20% (I'm not sure on the rate of Dragon's Maw Taste of the Hunt procs - Boeroer would know more on that - but let's say hypothetically if it doesn't proc too often then with the two healing-ish weapons around 40% of enemy health is endurance regen for you). From this I would drop Spirit of Decay and go for the precious Wound Binding.

 

For other equipment, the Lost Periapt of the Winding Path, He Carries Many Scars, Belt of Bountiful Healing, Maegfolc Skull and Shod-in-Faith (possibly, maybe the Deflection is too high, it is any crit after all) do great. Remember that Dragon's Maw also carries another massive Savage Defiance heal, which can be switched into when you back above 50% to receive it (from my testing) so you can always use a different weapon if you like and switch.

 

How do you get 20 Survival for the x4 healing modifier? 1 (Barbarian) + 2 (Colonist) + 2 (any Survival item) +2 (Warden's Lodge - outweighs the bonus from +3 Might with the healing modifier reached) +1 (Rymyrgand's Boon), for the remaining 12 use 78 skill points out of your 90 total. Additional skill cost breaks can be managed by using a relevant prostitute boon, but for me it'd be too tedious to backtrack to the Gift all the time and the boost is only good for one camping bonuserest unlike the Warden's Lodge bonus.

 

This idea is untested, but I'm 95% sure it would work. I was originally intending to have all those heals as well as the Dragon's Maw Savage Defiance as a switch bonus, but the interrupt ruined the build Act III upscaled using Tidefall so I didn't pursue it - with the shield used continually I really think it would work even on solo (5000+ health after all, with moderate to good Defences). You can take Lore 1, and get Lore bonuses from resting, prostitutes or equipment - enough for 4 and Scrolls of Defence which is why I think this would work solo.

 

I was going to call the build the "Healasaurus Rex" (I know, a weird title, and yes it is a little similar to the Accident-prone Squire but with healing on steroids), so I guess consider this the Healasaurus Rex variant - and again entirely untested so use at your own risk. I've now got another Barbarian build in mind, so rather than retread much the same ground as Boeroer I'm going to do that instead, but I am convinced these suggestions will work. Have fun!

How does wound binding work in combat? heals health but not Endurance? If so am I mistaken in thinking that's rarely useful?

[Jojobobo]

How does wound binding work in combat? heals health but not Endurance? If so am I mistaken in thinking that's rarely useful?

It works as normal during combat, healing health but not endurance. What this means is you have much more health to allow for healing endurance, because if your separate endurance heals greatly outweigh your health pool then they're no use. As this variation hits the x1.8 Survival modifier, and has the Belt of Bountiful Healing, the heals you are going to see will be massive - and I wouldn't imagine a 2500 health pool would accommodate them. If someone does test this variation, and finds something you're only healing 4000 endurance points per match then post it up so the CON can be fiddled to allow for that.

 

As to how useful it would be, it's hard to say. During dragon fights I would say it would work pretty well, it's already pretty tanky so for even a boss monster to overcome 5000 health is no mean feat. Even if the talent doesn't see loads of use, it's quite cool conceptually to have so much health and endurance healing as it's a take on being an ultimate tank - substituting the high defences of things like the Monk and Paladin for good defences and ludicrously high health and healing.

[QuiteGoneJin]

interesting ty, I know I ask a lot of derpie questions but I have a huge knowledge gap compared to you vet posters and I'm always curious.

[prototype00]

Is there perhaps some way to combine the equipment/tankiness of the Golden Dragon and the expanded buff period of The Leech? I really do want to equip the soulbound shield.

[Boeroer]

Sure. Just grab Spelltongue and use it as your main weapon. It's the main point of the leech build. Make sure you pick all the items, talents and abilities that have durations that can be expanded (if you want them), like Savage/Stalwart Defiance, Shod-in-Faith, Vet. Recovery and so on.

Edited December 30, 2016 by Boeroer

[prototype00]

But I'll probably have to boost Dexterity to make use of the Spelltongues Duration increasing attacks won't I? I'll think about it and see if I can't post a hybrid build here to make use of both Spelltongue and some of the Golden Dragon stuff...

[Boeroer]

You could do that and respec after you get HoF. Because 1 HoF at the start with Spelltongue in a big group will give you enough duration for the rest of the encounter.

[cmpunker]

Hi I'm new to the game and I'm almost done with my first playthrough. I think I'm going to start a second one with this barbarian as my main on hard, but I'm not sure I want to start with those stats. My plan is to start 2 handed by following this guide and eventually to respec. But what items should I own in order to respec and start using this guide without much trouble?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Boeroer]

Once you can have Stalwart Defiance and a decent armor I would change to weapon & shield. He's a tank after all. You don't need to dump CON. This guy also plays well with a lot of CON. The real magic begins once you can have Heart of Fury and Badgradr's Barricade.

[cmpunker]

Once you can have Stalwart Defiance and a decent armor I would change to weapon & shield. He's a tank after all. You don't need to dump CON. This guy also plays well with a lot of CON. The real magic begins once you can have Heart of Fury and Badgradr's Barricade.

 

Well I won't modify this build by touching CON as I'm not sure where I should take the points out - but that's not an issue, I can start as a 2 hander and respec using this build once I have Stalwart Defiance (and Sanguine Plate I guess), or try this build right from the start by using some of the suggestions you gave in this thread.

 

Two more question: I'm going to make a party using some of the npc companions I haven't used yet, basically Pallegina, Maneha and Hiravias, and  I will also hire a ranged priest. How could I use these classes and their abilities/spells to complement my barbarian? Keep in mind that I never used paladins and barbarians, so I know nothing about them. Also what class should I hire for my sixth party slot?

 

Thx

[Boeroer]

There's a nice build for Pallegina that's called "the Fire General". Paladins have good heals as well, so use Lay on Hands to prevent team mates from going down. With Zealous Focus you can raise the party's accuracy which is especially good in the early game.

 

Hiravias as a druid has nice CC spells like Returning & Relentless Storm. Those will prevent enemies from hitting your front line. He also has Moonwell which is very nice for your barb tank and he also has Form of the Delemgan which is very nice because it's DR stacks with other sources and makes your party more sturdy.

 

Priest as usual: buff your frontline with Devotions of the Faithful + Inspiring Radiance. This will give them all +30 ACC. Together with Pallegina's Zealos Focus that's +36 ACC.

 

You can build Maneha as you like - but since you already have a barb tank you might want to build her into a dual wielder with sabres or battle axes. I also love Hours of St. Rumbalt (great sword) on a barb. Use Blood Thirst + Blood Lust + Frenzy.

 

As the sixth member I personally would use a wizard. Expose Vulnerabilitites + Combusting Wounds are so good when combined with Heart of Fury.

[cmpunker]

Thanks for the feedback

[smjjames]

Anybody tried this with Maneha? It's the only low dex barbarian build that I see on here. Going to try it myself however.

[Boeroer]

Should work OK.

 

With Maneha you can also go two handers with Frenzy + Bloodlust + Blood Thirst. Low DEX is not a problem with those abilities. I really like Hours of St. Rumbalt with a barb.

[masterty66]

Just wanna say I've been using this and I am enjoying it a lot. My parties on POTD are usually offensive in nature. I never realized how good shield deflection can actually be though. I'm in WM1 right now and this guy just does not get hit very often. Even with the low con it's just not a concern because with the high surviv + deflection he can regen fast even when hits do get through (which are rare).

 

I'm not even close yet to his ideal power since I don't have HOF or all of the other goodies. But with exceptional plate + thick skinned + fear shout every fight and painful interdiction every fight he just doesn't get touched much. Can only imagine how strong he'll be once I've got the ability to do real damage with him too thanks to HOF and the Maw shield.

 

For anyone trying this he pairs really well with Kana/Durance (or hireling Chanter + Priest). I mean what doesn't, right? But the heal chant + painful interdiction is a potent combo when you've also got the fear shout going off every fight. This guy just won't get hit much even early on thanks to his high deflection once you have a good shield for him. 

[Boeroer]

Hi. Glad you like it.

 

Yes, frightening + dazing + high deflection add up pretty nicely.

[masterty66]

Hi. Glad you like it.

 

Yes, frightening + dazing + high deflection add up pretty nicely.

Yeah I gotta say it's giving me a new found respect for shields/high deflection. Usually I eschew those things in favor of a party that focuses on offense. This guy isn't so great on offense yet since I'm not level 11 with HOF/the right gear but he survives so well and his debuffs help team defense as well.

 

I mean even at low levels he still contributes at least a little on offense thanks to carnage (albeit slowly) but the high defense makes him a great tank even early on with that + fear shout. 

[Boeroer]

Yes, before lvl 11 (with HoF + bashing shield) his offense is nothing special, albeit better than the offense of a pure fighter or paladin tank with the same stats.

 

With HoF the whole offense thing will improve a lot. HoF doesn't profit from DEX or attack speed, not damage per second or whatever. It's pure damage per hit that counts and HoF favors high MIG, INT and PER, DR penetration and also accuracy in general. Because of that, at that point it doesn't matter that this char has low DEX and is superslow with auto attacks. His HoF will be impressive - even though his main role is a tank.

To be honest this is all this build is about: being very tanky while also be able to shine in offense with HoF, circumventing his sluggishness.

 

Then also durgan steel on weapon, shield and armor will start to speed his auto attacks up a fair bit - so he doesn't feel as slow anymore.

 

Sadly - with a whole party at lvl 11 - you won't deperately need this sudden rise of effensive power because most encounters will be too easy for your party anyway. But it's very convient to eradicate whole groups with a tank (!) and end encounters much quicker than before. It even helps in dragon fights because all the ads can be killed faster and your party can concentrate on the dragon sooner.

Edited May 7, 2017 by Boeroer

[masterty66]

True. Once you beat WM1 and start to hit level 9-11ish the game becomes easy if you know what you're doing and that's no matter what build you've got. 

 

But still looking forward to seeing that uptick in power . And this build is solid because unlike some other builds it feels strong enough even from the start. Yes your DPS will not be great early on but with carnage you will still contribute and with the high defense stats you'll still be a very respectable tank even in the early going. This is not one of those builds where you have to hold its hand until it gets its goodies. Sometimes I'll try a build that is supposed to be great at level 13 or 11 or whatever and I'm like yeah that's all nice but that's maybe 1/3rd of the game. What about the rest of it? So this build is nice in that regard and my preference is always that a build at least holds its own at low levels even if it takes a while to reach its heights.

 

I'm about to tackle Durgan's and I think Ive been knocked out maybe twice at most with this guy so far? Pretty impressive. And that's with a rotating cast of party members. I don't always take the most optimal allies because I like to mix it up and use all the classes. 

[Dalnor]

First , sorry for my english , I am French.

 

I wanted to ask something , i'd like to do this build because i really want a tank who can do more than just be a punch bag .

 

I thought of Fighter or Barbarian , but I love Eder so.... ^^

 

But for me , even with the hp of barbarian , i'd like to max const , i'd want a hero with good resolva/Const ( max it ) and i don't know where take it in this build , maybe something like :

 

MIG: 11
CON: 19
DEX: 03
PER: 10
INT: 16
RES: 18

 

My character , human from Rauautai in this build ( i really want a human for this one ^^ ) but the country can change.

 

So if someone pass by here , can you help me a little , i finished the game at launch one time with a fighter and i restart with a chanter gunner , but i really want a tank too , so i need some help

 

Thank you all

[Boeroer]

Yes, you can do that. No problem at all. Your self heals and damage will be weaker - but your endurance and health pools will be way bigger. But this will not turn the build concept upside down or so.

 

Just don't get frustrated if you can't hit a lot in the early game. With 10 PER it will take some levels until you don't miss and graze a lot with carnage. That's a normal thing with a barb and gets better with every level you gain.