Bowan Aeroe (AA30 - M9 - W1)

[tomaan]

Haven't seen an updated AA build in a while so here's the one I've been playing.

Arcane Archers got a nice boost in one of last December's flurry of updates, resulting in a pretty significant increase in both damage output and kill rate. You're not going to lead the party in damage/kills every run, but you'll be near the top and your ability to focus damage on your targets' vulnerabilities is a huge bonus when dealing with bosses and the crit immune. I played a DC/OC version but found the damage increase wasn't worth the reduced AB/AC - this version drops those feats so you'll have to replace them with gear.

Goal: balanced damage and survivability
Advantages: good AB, good AC, focused elemental damage, good saves; can play from level 1 (no xp pen)
Disadvantages: no OC/DC (gear dependence), need Phleg tag to use exotic damage bows, vulnerable to flanking/flat-footed

Race: Elf
Sub: Undying

Stats [screen - docks - lvl60+14 - lvl80+16]
Str: 12 - 14 - 28 - 36
Dex: 18 - 20 - 64 - 72
Con: 12 - 16 - 32 - 40
Wis: 14 - 16 - 30 - 38
Int: 12 - 14 - 28 - 36
Cha: 08 - 10 - 24 - 32

Level: start with Monk for saves, any order after that (just save one monk level for a skill point dump at level 20); all stat bonuses to Dex
Artifact: your choice (recommend WIS or CON)
AB: 118
AC: 141
Saves: F78 - R87 - W80

Feats (pre-epic):
Bullheaded
Weapon Focus (longbow)
Point Blank Shot
Greater Weapon Focus (longbow)
Improved Critical
Rapid Shot
Skill Focus: Listen

Feats (epic):
Epic Weapon Focus
Armor Skin
Epic Prowess
Great Dex x 4

Feats (class):
Great Dex x 4

Feats (legendary):
Legendary Weapon Focus (longbow)
Legendary Skill Affinity (Discipline)
Great Dex x 1
Epic Skill Focus: Discipline
Epic Skill Focus: Listen
Legendary Fortitude
Legendary Will

Feats (paragon):
Paragon Weapon Focus (longbow)
Paragon Anchoring (you will make str checks up to 40 by level 80-double demi)
Environmental Adaptivity x 3
Paragon of Stability

Skills:
Concentration: 30
Craft Armor: 56
Craft Weapon: 56
Discipline: max
Hide: 55
Listen: max
Parry: leftover
Tumble: 60




Notes:

• This build uses Undying for its generous stat bonuses, saves feats and +3 skill points per legendary levels. Undying never gets xp pen too, which makes leveling that much easier (...and I hate the Erinyes model)
• Taking Bullheaded/LSA:Discipline and using Able Learner to raise Tumble in legendary levels saves 9 skill points vs. taking Blooded/LSA:Tumble
• Maxing out Discipline helps with back spawns and other situations where you can't get clear of enemies
• Parry skill could be higher; I used Belt of Eternal Preservation for crit immunity when needed, but you could also take points of CA/CW to max out parry
• You have one "open" feat - used it for Paragon of Stability...take whatever you want
• I try to add a little cushion to my skill points in case I'm not able to get the maximum +50

[dopplegang]

its Blooded feat that gives LSA tumble, are you speaking of LSA discipline or LSA tumble that should be used with able learner?

[tomaan]

Jun 23, 2021 21:47:14 GMT dopplegang said:

its Blooded feat that gives LSA tumble, are you speaking of LSA discipline or LSA tumble that should be used with able learner?

Not sure I understand your question? Take Bullheaded/LSA: Discipline and then use Able Learner to raise Tumble skill in legendary levels.

Assuming you max out Discipline at 63 vs. 60 for Tumble, you save 9 skill points compared to taking Blooded/LSA:Tumble

edit: updated build notes to reflect the same

[dopplegang]

that makes more sense, just needed a little clarity