Curse

Sab · May 25, 2008, 11:45 AM // 11:45

This is a three-hero team build which I've used to complete much of Hard Mode - namely Guardian, Vanquishing (including 4-man), and dungeons. Small variations are needed for each area, but the three basic templates are resilient and versatile enough to tackle most zones.

As the player, I recommend bringing some sort of damage. If you happen to play a build that overlaps with any of the heroes, then consider switching out that hero for a damage-dealer. I'll leave it to you to make a bar for that.

Hard mode is generally completable with a two-monk backline (the N/Rt Resto counting as a Monk). For unfamiliar or more difficult zones, you can sacrifice an offensive character for a third Monk. Fill up the rest of the henchmen slots with Warriors and Eles.

If you're playing with a friend, I suggest he/she bring some physicals to take advantage of Barbs/Splinter. Paragons are ideal, and a Broad Head Ranger is excellent for caster shutdown. I don't have a 6-hero build planned out, so again I leave it up to you to make those bars.

I'll be maintaining this thread and updating it from time to time. Feel free to ask questions here or PM me ingame (not on Guru because my inbox is full).

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8-man version

N/Rt Curses
[build prof=N/Rt sou=8+1 cur=12+1+1 cha=10 res=2][Spiteful Spirit][Enfeebling Blood][Barbs][Rip Enchantment][Defile Defenses][Splinter Weapon][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/build]

Insignias: Tormenter's or Survivor's on all.

Equipment: 20/20 Curses wand, 20/20 Curses offhand.

The SS Necro is a toolbox character, with strong physical support, AoE debuffs and a decent hard res.

If you don't mind a bit of micro, consider bringing Rigor Mortis instead of Defile Defenses. It's best to keep Rigor and the enchantment removal disabled so it's available when you need it (otherwise the heroes will use it on random targets). Mark of Pain, Insidious Parasite or Reckless Haste is also a good option for this slot.

Rip is interchangeable with Rend Enchantments.

Barbs enables the melee henchmen and minions to blow up targets. Heroes tend to use Barbs almost on recharge, so ping key targets, especially if you're playing a physical yourself.

Don't forget the bar isn't secondary-specific. For Frostmaw's Burrows, for example, I used N/Me with Inspired/Revealed Hex to deal with Wurm Bile, and slotted Splinter on the Resto healer.

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N/Rt Healer
[build prof=N/Rt sou=12+1+1 res=12][Weapon of Remedy][Weapon of Warding][Mend Body and Soul][Spirit Light][Protective Was Kaolai][Life][Foul Feast][Death Pact Signet][/build]

Insignias: Tormenter's or Survivor's on all.

Equipment: 20/20 Resto wand, 20/20 Resto offhand.

Standard N/Rt Resto Healer, combining powerful bars-go-up with strong party healing, and the option to function as a hybrid heal/support character.

I sometimes replace WoR or Foul Feast with a second copy of Splinter (i.e. one here and one on the SS). On occasions where the hench Monks are adequate and I don't need a third healer, I run a Motigon or a Cruel Spear Paragon in place of this character.

Be sure not to overlap Foul Feast with the MM if you're running the second MM build.

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N/Mo Jagged Bomber, Main Build
[build prof=N/Mo death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 pro=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Shambling Horror][Animate Bone Fiend][Putrid Bile][Death Nova][Protective Spirit][Aegis][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]
Variant:
[build prof=N/Mo death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 hea=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Bone Minions][Death Nova][Putrid Bile][Infuse Condition][Foul Feast][Dwayna's Sorrow][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]

Insignias: Bloodstained on hands, Tormentor's, Minion Master's or Survivors on the rest.

Equipment: 40% HCT, 20% longer enchanting Death staff.

The Jagged Bomber turns a constant stream of dying minions into energy for all three Necros.

The minions double as defensive wall, drawing damage away from party members. Shambling + Fiends can tank and do more damage, while Bone Minions are better to bomb with Death Nova. Play with both and decide which summons you prefer.

If you're not running Save Yourselves!, a user-controlled Protective Spirit is the best thing you can bring to Hard Mode as it saves you from big damage. Ideally you want to keep Prot Spirit disabled and micro it only when it's needed, but the hero tends to have enough energy you can let him run wild with it. The hero will not use Prot Spirit on minions unless all party members are at full health.

I typically find hex removal to be useless on heroes for a couple of reasons, the main reason being that hexes in PvE are generally non-threatening. While there are zones with dangerous hexes, heroes cannot prioritize removing those over junk hexes. However, if you do need hex removal, this character is where you'd slot them in.

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For 4-Man areas, ideally you should bring a source of Daze, as this will help take down enemy Monks in a fraction of the time. Knockdowns and hex shutdown can also fill in this role. Else, bring damage, or if you're a healer, replace the N/Rt with damage-dealer of your choice.

4-Man version

[build prof=N/Rt sou=10+1 cur=12+1+1 res=8][Spiteful Spirit][Insidious Parasite][Enfeeble][Barbs][Rip Enchantment][Weapon of Warding][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/build]
[build prof=N/Rt sou=12+1+1 res=12][Reaper's Mark][Weapon of Warding][Mend Body and Soul][Spirit Light][Blind was Mingson][Life][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/build]
[build prof=N/Mo death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 hea=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Shambling Horror][Animate Bone Fiend][Death Nova][Patient Spirit][Dwayna's Sorrow][Cure Hex][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]

Mitchel · May 25, 2008, 11:56 AM // 11:56

I'd prefer Defile Defenses over Rigor Mortis on the SS

traeskapa · May 25, 2008, 12:09 PM // 12:09

This is awesome, just awesome.

Kurt · May 25, 2008, 12:35 PM // 12:35

A bit different from the older version I use. I'll try this new one, thanks

Miska Bow · May 25, 2008, 01:06 PM // 13:06

I run Sabway with a friend and as he runs the original builds i try some little variants and adaptation depending on the area we're doing.

-On my MM i swap [jagged bones] for [discord]. Olias seems to love spamming it.

- I also use the [reckless haste][price of failure] combo on MoW who is the SS necro. He also run with [Icy veins] instead of [spiteful spirit]

Since this gives us a total of 18 minions i [pain inverter] is a staple on my bar. Ele boss in HM just goes POUF!!!

I D E L E T E D I · May 25, 2008, 02:03 PM // 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchel

I'd prefer Defile Defenses over Rigor Mortis on the SS

Agreed with this. I dont like microing Heros and Defile is spammable, Rigor Mortis isnt.

Konig Des Todes · May 25, 2008, 02:39 PM // 14:39

I will be sure to try out your new builds Sab. Also, a suggestion for a 3rd hero if your a necro and run one of the builds.

[build prof=Rt spawning=6 cha=12+1+2 res=11+1][Bloodsong][Ancestor's Rage][Essence Strike][Spirit Burn][Spirit Rift][Mend Body and Soul][Offering of Spirit][Death Pact Signet][/build]

Insignias: Radiant on all.

Runes: 1 Recovery, 1 Attunement, 1 Vigor *I'm using Minor, but doesn't really matter*, 1 other *minor Spawning power or attunement is best*, 1 Major Channeling, 1 Minor Restoration.

Equipment: Insightful Channeling Staff of Mastery, +5 energy^50% inscription.

Razah seems to work very well with the build, and it helps healers a tad with conditions and allows a good amount of damage that goes past blocking, and even the elites like [Obsidian Flesh] and [Spell Breaker]. The [Essence Strike] and [Offering of Spirit] skills are only there for energy management, so those can be replaced if need be.

Razah doesn't seem to use [Offering of Spirit] when there isn't a spirit as well so he shouldn't be losing health. Also, this build provides an extra spirit for the healer with its use of [Mend Body and Soul] and [Spirit Light].

Just a thoughtful suggestion for adding to the selection. That's at least the hero I usually take with my necromancer when running Sabway.

Edit: Added runes and weapon info on what I use, I'm sure there is better stuff out there to use though.

-Lotus- · May 25, 2008, 03:15 PM // 15:15

yay for a clean thread! these look good, as usual. but you messed up the template for the MM variant. im assuming you want healing, not protection.

distilledwill · May 25, 2008, 03:34 PM // 15:34

Hehe, pressured into a new thread eh?

I usually keep Reckless rather than Rigor Mortis on the SS, take the MM with Dwayna's but with Blood of the Master rather than Putrid Bile and then the N/Rt is usually quite variable. Im currently messing around with spirit rits and Ether renewal rodgort spammers, but I might go back to the signet mes at some point, i love that build.

Kurt · May 25, 2008, 04:51 PM // 16:51

for the Jagged Bomber variant it says 9 prot prayers but is has to be 9 healing for Dwayna's Sorrow

Fuzzy Taco · May 25, 2008, 05:53 PM // 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchel

I'd prefer Defile Defenses over Rigor Mortis on the SS

Quote:

Originally Posted by I D E L E T E D I

Agreed with this. I dont like microing Heros and Defile is spammable, Rigor Mortis isnt.

one burst of damage from a cheap spell can't compare to letting 10 Barbs-buffed minions go wild on a blocking target.

FlamingMetroid · May 25, 2008, 08:09 PM // 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Taco

one burst of damage from a cheap spell can't compare to letting 10 Barbs-buffed minions go wild on a blocking target.

Enemy AI is retarded; by the time the put up a block, defile defenses can pretty much kill them or get them close.

I D E L E T E D I · May 25, 2008, 08:42 PM // 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Taco

one burst of damage from a cheap spell can't compare to letting 10 Barbs-buffed minions go wild on a blocking target.

And that happens once every 20 seconds which you have to micro. Defile is for the lazy man. Not like you need Rigor to kill stuff with this build anyway.

DarkSpirit · May 25, 2008, 09:32 PM // 21:32

I see that if you use the variant MM, then you either need to equip Protective Spirit and Aegis on your own character, or risk not bringing these 2 skills to HM.

Since we are already using a MM, why not bring 2?

[build name="Curse Channeling Necro" prof=N/Rt box sou=8+1 cur=12+1+1 res=2 cha=10][Spiteful Spirit][Splinter Weapon][Barbs][Enfeebling Blood][Rip Enchantment][Defile Defenses][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/build]
Replace Spiteful Spirit with [[Weapon of Fury] if you prefer.

[build name="Heal MM" prof=N/Mo box death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 hea=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Bone Minions][Infuse Condition][Foul Feast][Cure Hex][Dwayna's Sorrow][Heal Area][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]
Heal Area is for keeping some minions alive when moving from mob to mob.

[build name="Protect MM" prof=N/Mo box death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 pro=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Bone Minions][Death Nova][Taste of Death][Putrid Bile][Protective Spirit][Aegis][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]

or if you prefer a mix of higher level minions,

[build name="Protect MM" prof=N/Mo box death=12+1+3 sou=9+1 pro=9][Jagged Bones][Animate Bone Fiend][Animate Shambling Horror][Death Nova][Putrid Bile][Protective Spirit][Aegis][Signet of Lost Souls][/build]

Fuzzy Taco · May 25, 2008, 09:54 PM // 21:54

so, pretty much, if you don't mind microing, then Rigor is good, but if you want the ease of never needing to touch your heroes' skillbars, with effectiveness to boot, Defile is good. after looking a bit closer, the choice is clear to me.

Konig Des Todes · May 25, 2008, 10:23 PM // 22:23

Dark Spirit, the reason why you don't bring 2 MMs is for the healing. There are so few heals on your MMs that I don't think they would last that long, unless your a supporter yourself. Also, the Foul Feast icon needs updated.

DarkSpirit · May 25, 2008, 10:47 PM // 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azazel The Assassin

Dark Spirit, the reason why you don't bring 2 MMs is for the healing. There are so few heals on your MMs that I don't think they would last that long

The healing has always been enough for me in HM with 20 minions and Dwayna Sorrow. And I only bring Mhenlo as the only other healer, Lina is usually not needed.

angmar_nite · May 25, 2008, 11:34 PM // 23:34

Just a note, as my mindblast ele, when i'm not going splinter support (as with this build I wouldn't) I bring my own dwayna's sorrow and heal party. I think I can micro it better than a hero, and with it, I can target a dying minion out of battle so as to heal the others. This frees up the mm to bring Aegis and PS, the spam of which i've grown quite fond of.

DarkSpirit · May 25, 2008, 11:40 PM // 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by angmar_nite

Just a note, as my mindblast ele, when i'm not going splinter support (as with this build I wouldn't) I bring my own dwayna's sorrow and heal party. I think I can micro it better than a hero, and with it, I can target a dying minion out of battle so as to heal the others. This frees up the mm to bring Aegis and PS, the spam of which i've grown quite fond of.

You may be better off controlling the PS and let the hero spam DS and heal party instead.

Sab · May 26, 2008, 03:48 AM // 03:48

Oops, changed Prot -> Healing for the MM template.

Defile Defenses is ok, but I prefer microing Rigor on a blocking target and forcing a kill (with me + two Warrior hench + minions), than hoping the hero will Defile the right guys. I'll add this as an option though.

Azazel The Assassin: Rits are pretty useful, though I wouldn't overload on the direct-damage spells. Paragons would be better if you wanted a mostly-offensive character with little support. Rits are usually stronger as a support/healing hybrid like:

[build prof=Rt/ ][Offering of Spirit][Splinter Weapon][Ancestors' Rage][Weapon of Warding][no skill][Protective was Kaolai][Life][Death Pact Signet][/build]

The difference between a 10-spec and a 14-spec Splinter is *huge* so whatever you do, definitely slot that in.

DarkSpirit: I'm not a big fan of two-MM builds (outside of Vizunah and the like) as it banks *too much* reliance on corpses. From my experiences, one MM cycles corpses enough that there won't be any left over for a second MM.