Curse

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 12:47 PM // 12:47

Plague Nuker - W/N
Here's a build I've been using as one of my staple since necrosis was released. I'm sure there are variants about, but I feel this has proved to be effective enough to share.
-

Note
Please review the entire OP and then run the build yourself before commenting or making suggestions.
-

Skills:

Original Build

My original build. I find Flurry the most intelligent IAS choice here. It's an excellent charger for FT and as you're spamming a spell (Necrosis) IAS damage is not an issue. It's instant active and the fastest way to build adrenaline for SA.

[skill]Virulence[/skill]Necrosis[skill]Sever Artery[/skill][skill]Flurry[/skill][skill]Final Thrust[/skill]Sunspear Rebirth Signet[skill]Healing Signet[/skill][skill]Consume Corpse[/skill]
-
Attributes: Tactics: 8+1 Swordsmanship: 12+1 Death Magic: 10.

Template Code: OQQTUUKXRaNwvArIw4GEjLAQMAA
-

Build guide
It's pretty self explanatory: Use flurry to build adrenaline, then hit with SA -> Virulence -> Necrosis (twice if recharged before FT is up) -> Final Thrust. If your target has any health remaining after FT then hit necrosis once more. Once target is dead, use CC to recharge energy.

I've entitled this Plague Nuker for fun as with necrosis being so easy to spam, and once Virulence has been establish on the enemy group, you can move from target to target hitting with a combination of Flurry+Necrosis+FT.

-

Build Variants

Main Variance 1

Seems to be the more popular opinion. Takes longer to get Virulence and Necrosis going with Flail which may cause problems when trying to make the initial Virulence spread (and when triggering Necrosis with SA against an uninfected mob during Virulence recharge), but you won't suffer a loss to your IAS as with Flurry.

Also, replacing CC with Gash may lead to some energy management issues.

[skill]Virulence[/skill]Necrosis[skill]Sever Artery[/skill][skill]Gash[/skill][skill]Final Thrust[/skill]Sunspear Rebirth Signet[skill]Healing Signet[/skill][skill]Flail[/skill]
-
Attributes: Tactics: 7+1 Swordsmanship: 12+1 Death Magic: 9. Stength: 6+1

Template Code: OQQUUyoR56RrB+FAGBG3gYc8VBAA
-

Main Variance 2 - UNTESTED

I've run this briefly and it seems quite tricky to use. Maybe useful against bosses more than groups. The simplicity of the original build was what made it so fun for me, this might be overcrowding the core idea. Will review upon further testing.

[skill]Virulence[/skill]Necrosis[skill]Sever Artery[/skill][skill]Gash[/skill][skill]Final Thrust[/skill]Sunspear Rebirth Signet[skill]Flail[/skill]For Great Justice.
-
Attributes: Swordsmanship: 12+1 Death Magic: 9. Stength: 9+1

Template Code: OQQTUyYSZaNwvArIw4GEj7qgvCA
-

Variance Notes
(Thanks for the suggestions regarding anything I may have overlooked.)

Some of the variants have been incorporated above

For non-sword users or for areas with no flesh, substitute Sever Artery and Final Thrust accordingly.

Optional Equipment

Using a zealous weapon is recommended (especially if running with an MM to keep your use of corpses to a minimum), but not (if you're including CC) entirely essential.

Radiant Insignias + Runes of Attunement.

+5nrgy weapon.

Death Focus to switch into for 20% recharge bonus on Virulence.
-

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do, it's a very fun build to run with. Praise, crit and suggestions are all obviously more than welcome.
-

Ps: Is there a specific way of inputting PvE skills to the [skill] tags, or are they just not available on the system yet?

Turbobusa · Sep 12, 2007, 02:32 PM // 14:32

not available. And I know you want gash instead of consume corpse. You said it yourself, with a zealous weapon you shouldn't have any energy issue.

Arkantos · Sep 12, 2007, 02:42 PM // 14:42

Needs gash and a good IAS. I'd replace consume corpse with gash and flurry with flail.

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 03:04 PM // 15:04

Firstly: The entire point of this build is to effect the group with Virulence then bounce around hitting them with Necrosis. Gash is a logial choice, but I find consume to be much more efficient.

Flurry > flail here as you can activate it straight away without having to wait for adren to build. As I said, the -25% doesn't matter as its only use is to build adrenaline. It's much more intelligent choice than flail in this instance; I've tried and tested this for quite a while.

@Turbobusa: I mean with zealous weapon and the build how it is, you shouldn't have an energy issue. If you can manage this without consume, then replace with gash by all means. I don't see any need to as the build works fine as it is and consume is very nice if you like to spam Necrosis (which is the entire point of this build). For larger mobs, when you get down to 10 energy, consume is almost essential or you're shutdown while you wait for your zealous to compensate.

I understand the logic behind your suggestions, but try running the build for a while and you'll see what I mean.

Arkantos · Sep 12, 2007, 03:08 PM // 15:08

I understand you want the adrenaline gain right away, but flurry is a bad skill. Having -25% damage on a damage dealing character is bad. It won't majorly affect your build if you have to take 4 hits before you can activate your IAS, but your damage will always be affected with -25% damage.

Dronte · Sep 12, 2007, 03:16 PM // 15:16

You doesnt deal too much dmg with attacks, this build is based on conditions (edit: and necrosis

), you only use 2 attack skills. Thats enough, been using this build for a few days too

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 03:31 PM // 15:31

I don't want to repeat myself too much, but I have to respond here:

Flurry is an excellent adrenaline building skill that is too often overlooked, imo. It's by no means a bad skill in the correct context.

The damage here is caused by Necrosis mainly. And as you're spamming a spell, you're not hitting as much anyway so IAS damage isn't a major issue. Final is only used to finish off an enemy. Consider FT your battery and Flurry your charger, it's very efficient in this respect.

Edit Thanks for your responses, Arkantos. I might not agree with, but I'm adding your choices to build variants for those that do.

Turbobusa · Sep 12, 2007, 04:07 PM // 16:07

ok so may i suggest using a death focus for the 1/2 recharge on death magic spells you might get?

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 04:42 PM // 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbobusa

ok so may i suggest using a death focus for the 1/2 recharge on death magic spells you might get?

The benefits of +16 armour far outway the 20% recharge.

You only really need to infect the group with virulence once (maybe twice) anyway and by the time it's worn off, the skill is pretty much ready anway.

Also, should you need to use Necrosis and Virulence isn't ready, you can just use SA+Necrosis until it is.

I'm not going to add to build variants as I've found focus use here to not be very beneficial at all.

Shadow Slave · Sep 12, 2007, 04:50 PM // 16:50

You can always switch to the focus to cast, then switch back to the shield.....takes a meer second, and it's what weapon sets are for afterall...

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 05:41 PM // 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow Slave

You can always switch to the focus to cast, then switch back to the shield.....takes a meer second, and it's what weapon sets are for afterall...

I know. I'm not a fan of doing that with this build, but others might find it more efficient.

I'll add it to the variants. Thanks.

neo the tyrant · Sep 12, 2007, 06:16 PM // 18:16

hehe i think this is a cool build, ive never seen a warrior with it. All i can think that you should add would be gash, other than that i think its cool, best of luck with it =D

evilseabass · Sep 12, 2007, 06:46 PM // 18:46

I like it! I'll try the build after work tonight.

For an alternate skill, instead of Gash, I would recommend "Finish Him", a Norn PVE skill. Its a shout that causes deep wound and cracked armor if target foe is under 50% health.

Squishy ftw · Sep 12, 2007, 08:24 PM // 20:24

It sure is an original build.. But just stick virulence + epidemic on your MM and the entire mob has those lovely conditions all over them while you can happily smash away with a somewhat more warrior like build imo

stueyman2099 · Sep 12, 2007, 10:02 PM // 22:02

You're running a warrior with out 12 weapon mastery. This makes me want to type a frowny face.
Also, Flurry is bad. Talk it up as a good adrenaline skill all you want, it's still bad (I mean c'mon, we even have FGJ now if thats really your purpose)

wilderness · Sep 12, 2007, 11:12 PM // 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by stueyman2099

You're running a warrior with out 12 weapon mastery. This makes me want to type a frowny face.
Also, Flurry is bad. Talk it up as a good adrenaline skill all you want, it's still bad (I mean c'mon, we even have FGJ now if thats really your purpose)

I agree about the attribute spread. I've altered the OP accordingly. I also use Minor runes here for a buff so my sword was initially at 12 anyway, now it sits at 12+1. Tactics was only there for heal sig bt with a decent back-line a +100 HS will be fine.

FGJ is down 50% of the time. It's nowhere near as efficient a charger for SA as flurry is in this instance.

The whole point of this build is to be able to activate SA+Virulence as soon as you can. I have added a test build using FGJ, however. I'll review its potential when I have the time.

Thanks for the input.