Holy Warrior (PAL 31/4 FTR/5 HS) - DPS Build

[Twilight Semner]

Rationale:

I have seen a lot of builds in game lately that try to optimize damage, but unfortunately err on the side of being too defensive at the detriment to their offensive capabilities. The purpose of this build is to maximize melee DPS (damage per second) against critical-hit immune enemies. It does so by optimizing the amount of physical damage, using a weapon with multiple damage types, taking the maximum possible weapon specialization feats, making use of two-handed damage, and optimizing attacks per round. The use of Fighter and Harper Scout splashes with a Paladin control-class allow for optimal offense, while still allowing for sufficient survivability.

The Build:

Half-Elf
"Pharlan" (secret Beyond UltraRare; adds wings and tail)
- FCs: Cleric, Paladin
- STR +4, WIS +4, CHA +4, free feats: Great Strength I, Great Strength II, Divine Might, able to walk on quicksand, base SR 15 +1/lvl

STR: 14 (20)
DEX: 14
CON: 10
INT: 14
WIS: 12 (16)
CHA: 14 (18)

Class order:

Paladin 1-9 (9 total)
Fighter 10-12 (3 total)
Paladin 14-26 (23 total)
Fighter 27 (4 total)
Paladin 28-35 (31 total)
Harper Scout 36-40 (5 total)

Pre-Epic Feats:

Blooded
Alertness
Iron Will
Power Attack
Divine Shield
Weapon Focus (Halberd)
Improved Critical (Halberd)

Fighter Pre-Epic Bonus Feats:

Cleave
Greater Weapon Focus (Halberd)

Epic Feats:

Great Strength III
Great Strength IV
Weapon Specialization (Halberd)
Great Strength V
Great Strength VI
Great Strength VII
Great Strength VIII

Paladin Epic Bonus Feats:

Epic Weapon Focus (Halberd)
Epic Prowess
Armor Skin

Fighter Epic Bonus Feats:

Epic Weapon Specialization (Halberd)

Harper Scout Epic Bonus Feats:

Great Charisma I
Great Charisma II

Legendary Feats:

Legendary Skill Affinity (Tumble)
Legendary Skill Affinity (Listen)
Legendary Weapon Focus (Halberd)
Legendary Weapon Specialization (Halberd)
Great Strength IX
Great Strength X
Extend Spell

Ability Score Distribution:

Levels 1-32 (All Strength - +8 Total)
Levels 33-60 (All Charisma - +12 Total)

Skill Distribution:

Total Skills: +322

Concentration: +20
Craft Armor: +51
Craft Weapon: +51
Discipline: +55
Listen: +63
Lore: +6
Persuade: +8
Search: +4 (Cross-class)
Tumble: +60

Ability Scores at L60 w/ +14 Items and CON Artifact:

STR: 54 (+22)
DEX: 28 (+9)
CON: 28 (+8)
INT: 28 (+9)
WIS: 30 (+10)
CHA: 50 (+20)

Attack Bonus at L60:

BAB: +20
EBAB: +10
LBAB: +15
Foci: +8
Strength: +23
Craft Weapon: +2
Magic Bonus: +20
Total: +98

Armor Class at L60:

Base: +10
Armor Base: +5
Dexterity: +9
Armor Bonus: +18
Shield: +10
Dodge Bonus: +20
Natural Bonus (with Strongheart): +20
Deflection Bonus (with randomization): +18
Tumble: +12
Armor Skin: +2
Craft Armor: +2
Total: 126 AC (128 AC w/ Girding of the Faithful)

Paragon Feats:

Paragon Weapon Focus (Halberd)
Paragon Weapon Specialization (Halberd)
Paragon Balance
(Your Choice)
(Your Choice)
(Your Choice)

Ability Scores at L80 w/ Double-demigod bonus and +16 Items:

STR: 62 (+26)
DEX: 36 (+13)
CON: 34 (+12)
INT: 36 (+13)
WIS: 38 (+14)
CHA: 58 (+24)

Attack Bonus at L80:

BAB: +20
EBAB: +10
LBAB: +15
PBAB: +5
Foci: +10
Strength: +26
Craft Weapon: +2
Magic Bonus: +20
Total: +108

Armor Class at L80:

Base: +10
Armor Base: +4
Dexterity: +10
Armor Bonus: +18
Shield: +12
Dodge Bonus: +20
Natural Bonus: +20
Deflection Bonus: +20
Tumble: +12
Armor Skin: +2
Craft Armor: +2
Total: 130 AC (132 AC w/ Girding of the Faithful)

Physical Damage:

Level 60:
33 (Strength) + 30 (Divine Might) + 12 (Weapon Specialization) + 2 (Pre-LL) + 3 (Prayer) + 5 (Divine Favor) + 8 (Bard Song) + 16 (Instruments of Faith) + 5.5 (Halberd) = 114.5 (160.3 with 2H bonus)

Level 80:
39 (Strength) + 36 (Divine Might) + 20 (Weapon Specialization) + 2 (Pre-LL) + 8 (Prince Win) + 3 (Prayer) + 5 (Divine Favor) + 8 (Bard Song) + 16 (Instruments of Faith) + 5.5 (Halberd) = 132.5 (185.5 with 2H bonus)

DPS:

Level 60 w/ buffed DB Halberd:
((160.3 + (169 x 1.4)) x (3.85 + (7 x .45 x 2)))/6 = 4028.535/6 = 671.4 DPS

Level 80 w/ buffed 4-element Abyss Halberd and Divine Power Cloak:
((185.5 + (199.5 x 1.4)) x (4.4 + (8 x .45 x 2)))/6 = 5391.68/6 = 898.6 DPS

NOTA BENE: It is possible, using these calculations, to get a DPS value that is significantly higher than this. Note that this build does NOT have Overwhelming and Devastating Critical, nor does it have Weapon Master splash (I will post that build at a later time). This build is specifically designed to maximize DPS against CRITICAL-HIT IMMUNE problem enemies.



Hope you like it!

[Yojimbo]

One note this build doesn't get the full benefits from Holy Sword you need 30 or 31 pre-LL Pld levels for that

[Twilight Semner]

Fixed, thanks for spotting that.

[Raj]

Fighter Pre-Epic Bonus Feats:

Cleave

. Note that this build does NOT have Overwhelming and Devastating Critical

get power attack and move feats a bit, frees up a legendary

[Twilight Semner]

Meh. For some reason I was thinking that Cleave was a pre-requisite for Divine Shield, which is why I took it. I'll move some things around and see if I can fit OC/DC later on today.

[Raj]

Ah the failure was due to the uselessness of cleave, not going for dev crit is not that bad, in hells you really don't need it.

[Torin]

To hit the engine max of 127, more points should be invested into discipline.

I suggest to take (at least) 55 points to hit it at level 60.
127 = 55 (Base Points) + 50 (buff, capped)+ 22(STR modifier)

[Twilight Semner]

Whoops, good catch. I had the strength 2 points higher before and when I changed it, forgot to change discipline accordingly. Thanks.

EDIT: Actually, my math was just bad in general. Was typing up the build fairly quickly in between classes.

[Hercules]

Hi

wouldn't Dex 28 @ 60 w/+14 gear be a tad low for KD checks ( thinking of Spins)
whats the saves like ?


Herc

[Twilight Semner]

Saves are +76F/+70R/+71W. Yes, 28 DEX is a bit low, but that's part of the trade-off you make in order to get more damage. It's always possible to start with a more universal build that isn't two-handed, get it to double-demi and then reincarnate it to maximize damage. However, since I'm thinking you're more interested in making this a hardcore character and reincarnation isn't currently an option, you're probably not interested in that.

I wouldn't suggest lowering STR at all to increase DEX since 54 is already quite low (in fact, the minimum required for critical immunity), so lowering CHA is probably your best bet. You could swap the Harper Scout Great CHA feats for Great DEX feats and put two of your level-up CHA points into DEX to give you a 32 DEX at 60. You lose 4.2 physical damage per hit, 1 shield AC, 2% positive/divine immunity, 1% physical immunity, and 2 to your Fortitude and Will saves, but it could be done.

[supaflytnt80]

Mar 18, 2014 16:39:12 GMT Twilight Semner said:

Meh. For some reason I was thinking that Cleave was a pre-requisite for Divine Shield, which is why I took it. I'll move some things around and see if I can fit OC/DC later on today.

Isn't cleave a pre-req for the wep specializations?

[Lil' Mikey (Msowby2)]

Personally I would drop 4 strength (take GDEX IV instead of strength) for the build to be uni tank. Damage is wonderful and everything but you want to avoid being disabled as a tank; especially as a "squishy" tank like this one (due to ac loss from shield). 2 ab is a good swap for potentially more ac and being immune to throw and KD by Male's +Balors as well.

I notice that your build adds in shield ac for the final ac calculation. Am I missing something or can paladins use shields with halbs now
Also assuming everyone has a strongheart avail is problematic in general So ~115 ac @level 80 without shield. Ouchy

Another option would be using the asmo belt for the +4 but I wouldn't want to rely on that belt for the check increase, cause obviously there are better belts out there.

I like the build overall but without the right gearset it is very squishy and likely will be a possum fodder. Medium weapons do decent damage if you choose the right ones! Just a suggestion from one tankie to another

Mikey


Note: These changes should be implemented [aka reincarnate once you reach both these standards] for BEFORE level 69 (when you get the balance feat) and double demi.

[Twilight Semner]

Cleave is not a requirement for weapon specialization. The requirements are: fighter, +4 BAB, weapon focus.

Control-class paladins and blackguards who don't belong to a quasiclass get CHA mod/2 Shield AC from the Divine Shield feat, so the AC calculations are correct. You could go the 4 Great DEX route if you wanted, but before demigod etc. you're still only going to have a 32 DEX at level 60, which is hardly uni (at level 80 you'd have 40, but you're already taking Paragon balance, so the helpfulness would be somewhat reduced at that point - a point which you've already noted).

I can't say I agree in regards to medium weapons. The damage is simply not comparable. You might deal an "okay" amount of damage, but the loss of 40%, especially for physical damage is a huge loss. If you want to go DPS, you have to either go two-handed or get enough attacks dual-wielding to offset the lack of the 40% bonus. Any sword and board character is going to pale in comparison to either of those two - but of course that's the trade you make if you want to maximize your damage output.

In regards to gear: if you don't have the gear for the build, don't build it. It's not really intended for new character who don't have access to Strongheart and other goodies.

[chirality]

the shield ac is clearly to represent divine shield (cha mod/2 shield ac for toon such as this which meets prereq of lacking monk ac + quasi status); hence it changes from +10 @ 60 (50 cha) to +12 @ 80 (54 cha)

[supaflytnt80]

I remember recently messing around with a build similar to this in the test arena and I dropped cleave but ran into problems taking a feat at higher levels. Sorry, I can't be more specific but it was awhile ago. I do know that it wasn't anything to do with OC/DC line of feats. Well anyway, I'll see if I can replicate whatever I'm talking about. Ignore me