Curse

Cebe · May 24, 2007, 09:26 AM // 09:26

I got back into playing my necro a little over the last week or so and devised this build which I've been using in both PvE and AB:

[skill]Cultist's Fervor[/skill][skill]Vampiric Gaze[/skill][skill]Shadow Strike[/skill][skill]Vampiric Swarm[/skill][skill]Blood Drinker[/skill][skill]Unholy Feast[/skill][skill]Resilient Weapon[/skill][skill]Well of Blood[/skill]

Attributes:
Blood Magic: 12 + 1 + 3
Soul Reaping: 9 + 1
Restoration Magic: 9

Weapon:
I'm currently using a staff (I preder staves over wand/focus sets - they're prettier on the whole) with a HCT(20%) head, HCT (20%) inscription and a 20% Enchanting Wrapping.

Armor:
No Vigor Rune or Vitae Runes, no extra health from insignia.
Personally I'm using Armor +10 (Light Damage Increased by X) armor.

I'm mainly after some input on this build. I feel it could be made better so...any opinions.

Although I usually carry a res on my necro the last spot is I guess pretty flexible. I take Blood Ritual there when needed, and a res can be taken in place of Well of Blood also.

Soul Reaping doesn't seem to be needed much at all for this build to be effective and at 16 blood, with a 20% enchanting weapon Cultists Fervor almost lasts it's recharge.

In PvE Dunkoro is just too darn efficient at removing the bleeding from Blood Drinker, which is the reason for Resilient Weapon, I was considering taking Weapon of Warding for PvE, as Resilient Weapon seems to do more in Alliance Battles.

I had considered going N/R and using Serpent's Quickness to allow me to spam Vampiric Gaze more. A further thought was that i could stay with the N/Rt theme and use Communing rather than Restoration for Binding Chains. Problem is, when there's a wammo around they tend to think "ZOMG he can't move. I... Must... Deal... Damage..."...but the Lifesteal would get around Binding Chains quite nicely.

I'm using no vigor runes, and no fortitude mods on the staff so that I sacrifice less health from Cultist's Fervor, also, I find the double HCT mods to be very useful on skills like Vampiric Swarm and Blood Drinker.

Has anyone tried using a similar build or has any ideas / constructive comments on how this oculd be improved?

Sophitia Leafblade · May 24, 2007, 09:58 AM // 09:58

Well my general blood build is slightly different:

[skill]Vampiric Spirit[/skill][skill]shadow strike[/skill][skill]Blood drinker[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Plague Touch[/skill][skill]Serpent's Quickness[/skill][skill]Awaken the Blood[/skill][skill]Resurrection signet[/skill]

Vampiric spirit gives a great boost in damage and in self healing. Ofc u need to be very close to use this most effectively, the self healing will keep you alive, signet of lost souls helps keep u with energy. Plague touch/blood drinker combo keeps bleeding on ur foe to kill them faster while still triggering Vampiric Spirit. During periods when your skills are recharging (8 recharges on blood drinker) u can cast Vamp spirit again. Awaken the Blood boosts the life steal a good deal use this before engaging the target.Serpents lowers the recharge on the skills to allow u to cast more often.

Using shadow at point blank range will result in 169 life steal(13e), followed up with 136 lifesteal from blood drinker.(8e) Using blood drinker + Vampiric spirit not only is cheaper than Vampiric Gaze but it also steals more life.

While using this build i use Milthuran's Staff which gives me a good 15 energy (handy to make up for the extra energy cost) 20HCT/20SRT which helps cast more often and the chance of +1 blood to increase damage even further.

Attribute wise i use:
Blood Magic: 12 + 1 + 3 (+2 more while under Awaken)
Soul Reaping: 9 + 1
Wilderness Survival : 9

Before i used this i used Unholy Feast and vamp Gaze instead of Blood drinker and plague touch and found i ran out of energy much too fast although it was amazingly good for spiking, but with the reduction in energy gain from soul reaping its much harder to maintain the older build in combat. I also used Barbed Signet to try to reduce some of the energy strain until i got signet of lost souls.

Now for some comments on ur build:

I like the idea behind using Resilient weapon but as u point out ur condition gets removed too quickly. I would change to /R for serpents instead to increase your cast rate.

ryanryanryan0310 · May 24, 2007, 10:03 AM // 10:03

looks fun.....will test later...

Cebe · May 24, 2007, 10:10 AM // 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophitia Leafblade

Well my general blood build is slightly different:

[skill]Vampiric Spirit[/skill][skill]shadow strike[/skill][skill]Blood drinker[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Plague Touch[/skill][skill]Serpent's Quickness[/skill][skill]Awaken the Blood[/skill][skill]Resurrection signet[/skill]

Unfortunately I don't get on well with Vampiric Spirit. I seem to lose energy FAST. I did, however, have Cultists Fervor when I capped Vampiric Spirit. Those two elites combines is pure hax, HAX I tells ya!

There is also the downside that Vampiric Spirit may not always target the foe you're trying to take down, which can also be annoing. Bonus is though it has a faster recharge...it's just the +3 energy which puts me off it.

jrk247 · May 24, 2007, 10:18 AM // 10:18

Seems ok for PvE, but for PvP I could see a lot of problems. And I really don't like that elite TBH.
Here's a build I use that works for PvE and PvP. And of course switch Sig of Sorrow for a rez if needed.
_____

Blood: 12 + 1 + 3
SR: 12 +1

[skill]Awaken the Blood[/skill][skill]Life Transfer[/skill][skill]Life Siphon[/skill][skill]Lifebane Strike[/skill][skill]Shadow Strike[/skill][skill]Vampiric Gaze[/skill][skill]Signet of Sorrow[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill]

It's a pretty basic build, start with casting the degen then spike the foe. If you are taking heavy damage just cast Life Siphon on more than one target and you should be fine. Sig of Sorrow is just a filler skill you can sub in a Rez or Blood Ritual. Note that Awaken the Blood makes you sac more health so try not to bring sacrificing skills. Energy doesn't seem to be a problem with this build. The only draw back to this build is that you really have no self heal unless you are by foes, so conditions are a bad thing and hex removers take away your damage reduction/health regen from Life Transfer/Siphon. Other than that this build has worked for me and is very efficient.

I use a + energy armor set and right now I'm using a wand and offhand. Wand is +5^50 HSR 20% and offhand is +12 +15/-1 HCT 20%. I have 455 Health (Sup Vigor) and 74 energy total with 3 pips of regen.

Sophitia Leafblade · May 24, 2007, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

Unfortunately I don't get on well with Vampiric Spirit. I seem to lose energy FAST. I did, however, have Cultists Fervor when I capped Vampiric Spirit. Those two elites combines is pure hax, HAX I tells ya!

There is also the downside that Vampiric Spirit may not always target the foe you're trying to take down, which can also be annoing. Bonus is though it has a faster recharge...it's just the +3 energy which puts me off it.

+3 energy isnt too bad really, @16 blood Vamp Gaze costs 10 energy for 63 life steal, for 13 energy (cost of casting vamp spirit and Blood drinker) u can do 121 life steal and then u cast blood drinker again (after recharge) on its own for another 121 life steal for 8 energy which works out far more efficient (nearly twice as efficient) than casting vampiric Gaze on its own. That extra damage will kill the target considerably quicker meaning u have to cast less saving u energy.

Using Cultists Fervor means u CAN fight longer, Using Vampiric Spirit means u dont need to. So it all depends which approach u wanna take

If Cultists is stripped your going to run out of energy Very fast with so many high cost skills which will cause problems in long fights (ur gonna become highly dependent on blood drinkers low cost to try to keep ur energy), if Vampiric spirit is stripped the damage output will drop but the rest of the build allows it to continue to fight. (the stripping of it will reduce my energy useage at the cost of my extra damage)

Cebe · May 24, 2007, 11:13 AM // 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophitia Leafblade

+If Cultists is stripped your going to run out of energy Very fast with so many high cost skills which will cause problems in long fights (ur gonna become highly dependent on blood drinkers low cost to try to keep ur energy), if Vampiric spirit is stripped the damage output will drop but the rest of the build allows it to continue to fight. (the stripping of it will reduce my energy useage at the cost of my extra damage)

Fair point. I've not played in areas of high enchantment removal. Perhaps in that instance I should take SIgnet of Lost Souls, which I just don't find a use for if I can keep the enchantment up enough.

Sophitia Leafblade · May 24, 2007, 11:18 AM // 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

Fair point. I've not played in areas of high enchantment removal. Perhaps in that instance I should take SIgnet of Lost Souls, which I just don't find a use for if I can keep the enchantment up enough.

You could drop Vampiric Swarm (with its long cast time and high cost)or Unholy Feast (with high cost and close range requirement) in such areas for barbed Signet(cheap, good damage but with along recharge) to keep damage output slightly higher and reduce energy drain a little.

Pick Me · May 24, 2007, 01:46 PM // 13:46

[skill]vampiric spirit[/skill][skill]enfeebling blood[/skill][skill]oppressive gaze[/skill][skill]unholy feast[/skill][skill]jaundiced gaze[/skill][skill]strip enchantment[/skill][skill]signet of lost souls[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

This is what I've used, you can sub vampiric spirit for culist fervor if you wanted.

Cebe · May 24, 2007, 01:52 PM // 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

[skill]vampiric spirit[/skill][skill]enfeebling blood[/skill][skill]oppressive gaze[/skill][skill]unholy feast[/skill][skill]jaundiced gaze[/skill][skill]strip enchantment[/skill][skill]signet of lost souls[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

This is what I've used, you can sub vampiric spirit for culist fervor if you wanted.

HOW much energy do you have!?!?

Pick Me · May 24, 2007, 02:16 PM // 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

HOW much energy do you have!?!?

Between 40 and 45. By the time things are about 50% health or less, I can use my signet of lost souls. Then things tend to die at the same time, which gives me max energy again to redo my spell combos. I never just blindly press buttons, I do things in moderation. I never just press 1,2,3,4,5 repeatedly, I press 1, then 2, then 3, wait a bit, 4, 5 if necessary or 7 then 5.

I know it seems that it is very costly for my N/Me but it actually does a nice job at killing.

I have a nice staff and energy armor.

ArKaiN · May 24, 2007, 04:07 PM // 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrk247

Seems ok for PvE, but for PvP I could see a lot of problems. And I really don't like that elite TBH.
Here's a build I use that works for PvE and PvP. And of course switch Sig of Sorrow for a rez if needed.
_____

Blood: 12 + 1 + 3
SR: 12 +1

[skill]Awaken the Blood[/skill][skill]Life Transfer[/skill][skill]Life Siphon[/skill][skill]Lifebane Strike[/skill][skill]Shadow Strike[/skill][skill]Vampiric Gaze[/skill][skill]Signet of Sorrow[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill]

It's a pretty basic build, start with casting the degen then spike the foe. If you are taking heavy damage just cast Life Siphon on more than one target and you should be fine. Sig of Sorrow is just a filler skill you can sub in a Rez or Blood Ritual. Note that Awaken the Blood makes you sac more health so try not to bring sacrificing skills. Energy doesn't seem to be a problem with this build. The only draw back to this build is that you really have no self heal unless you are by foes, so conditions are a bad thing and hex removers take away your damage reduction/health regen from Life Transfer/Siphon. Other than that this build has worked for me and is very efficient.

Life Transfer is only halfway decent if the other team has no hex removal. Every time LT is removed it feels like a huge kick in the nuts, and your build is neutered for 30 seconds. In PvE is just doesn't have any use: Place it on a foe, it gets killed, you get sad.
Seriously, its a bad elite.

Dr Strangelove · May 24, 2007, 05:07 PM // 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

[skill]vampiric spirit[/skill][skill]enfeebling blood[/skill][skill]oppressive gaze[/skill][skill]unholy feast[/skill][skill]jaundiced gaze[/skill][skill]strip enchantment[/skill][skill]signet of lost souls[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

This is what I've used, you can sub vampiric spirit for culist fervor if you wanted.

This looks like it could be interesting, with vamp gaze swapped for jaundiced gaze, and cultist's fervor instead of vampiric spirit.

Well of blood might fit nicely in there somewhere, too.

Threll · May 24, 2007, 06:03 PM // 18:03

If you absolutely MUST use Life Transfer, at least bring Arcane Echo.

jrk247 · May 24, 2007, 09:20 PM // 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArKaiN

Life Transfer is only halfway decent if the other team has no hex removal. Every time LT is removed it feels like a huge kick in the nuts, and your build is neutered for 30 seconds. In PvE is just doesn't have any use: Place it on a foe, it gets killed, you get sad.
Seriously, its a bad elite.

Seems to work well with me, Life Transfer isn't really a skill to make or brake the build it's just there for when it's available. And I do have HSR 20% so it's not always a 30 second wait.

And even if it is removed I seem to kill things just fine.

And it's funny to hear someone say it's a bad elite it's recharge sucks that's about it. With Awaken the Blood LT gives 9 degen which is almost full degen add in Life Siphon and it's full degen +an extra 2 incase they start healing and that's just the 2 skills I still have my whole bar of spiking skills.

And you talk about hex removal, just about all the necro elites are either hexes or enchantments so just a little FYI. They can all be removed not just LT.

ZenRgy · May 24, 2007, 10:17 PM // 22:17

Reaper's Mark is the best degen elite, only followed by Corrupt Enchantment.

The recharge on life transfer is what makes it so bad, even with if you get that HSR.

It only lasts 8 seconds, and is in the blood line.

Reaper's Mark runs into soul reaping (which almsot every necro build has a healthy attribute invest into) and synergizes well with the curses line, making it a deadly hex and able to be used to cover other hexes you carry.

Although these hexes can be removed as you said, when they do get removed you're still there sitting for the recharge (which as stated, is long regardless of getting the HSR).

Pick Me · May 25, 2007, 01:48 PM // 13:48

[skill]parasitic bond[/skill] the ultimate cover hex.

[skill]blood renewal[/skill] one of the best cover enchantments that the necro has (would be the best if it weren't for that sac).

ArKaiN · May 25, 2007, 02:00 PM // 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrk247

Seems to work well with me, Life Transfer isn't really a skill to make or brake the build it's just there for when it's available. And I do have HSR 20% so it not always a 30 second wait, and you really do not need it to do damage (or rely on it for damage) it just serves primarily as a damage reduction for me and degen on the foe.

And even if it is removed I seem to kill things just fine.

And it's funny to hear someone say it's a bad elite, go look at Reaper's Mark and then say LT is a bad elite. With Awaken the Blood LT gives 9 degen which is almost full degen add in Life Siphon and it's full degen +an extra 2 incase they start healing and that's just the 2 skills I still have my whole bar of spiking skills.

And you talk about hex removal, just about all the necro elites are either hexes or enchantments so just a little FYI. They can all be removed not just LT.

For one, reaper's mark lasts for 30 seconds at recharge 10, so you can KEEP IT UP on at least 2 people at the same time. For two, it actually pays off to kill things under mark. But mainly, it it's interrupted, it doesn't make you go "OH CRAP time to spam life syphon for -3 degen for 30 seconds"(80% of the time).
You say it doesn't "make or break a build". Elites should. Sure, it has a cute effect if you ignore the recharge. But hey, if you want to ignore recharge, Feast of Corruption is 10 times better.
Just compare its effect to what Spoil Victor does.

jrk247 · May 25, 2007, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Well I guess the main point of LT is so I don't have to spam Life Siphon on up to 3 targets to get the same regen back. And LS is 10 energy as opposed to LT which is 5. I know the recharge sucks, but my build is mainly for spiking down foes one at a time, if I want AoE I'll just go SS. Reaper's Mark works well if you sub it in instead of LT but I like LT because it makes the spike go quicker especially if there is a sin or crazed wamo trying to kill me. If it's interrupted I just cast LS instead and the spike takes a bit longer but not much longer. And by the time one foe has died LT is usually recharged.

ArKaiN · May 25, 2007, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrk247

Well I guess the main point of LT is so I don't have to spam Life Siphon on up to 3 targets to get the same regen back. And LS is 10 energy as opposed to LT which is 5. I know the recharge sucks, but my build is mainly for spiking down foes one at a time, if I want AoE I'll just go SS. Reaper's Mark works well if you sub it in instead of LT but I like LT because it makes the spike go quicker especially if there is a sin or crazed wamo trying to kill me. If it's interrupted I just cast LS instead and the spike takes a bit longer but not much longer. And by the time one foe has died LT is usually recharged.

I'm not arguing favorably to ANY kind of Blood-based degen. I personally use toxic shock, which actually kills people, as opposed to having them spot YOU and kill you. Please don't say +8 regen at armor 60 is enough to tank.
Also, spiking means you do damage. You were thinking of "high degen", not spike. Any kind of halfway decent regeneration and/or healing will counter your wooping 12 seconds of degen. If you want to spike, use vampiric bite/touch. repeatedly. Btw, no matter what you use, if a crazy wammo/sin is on you, you're not safe with your build at all(unless they cant interrupt, daze, knockdown or, well, hit you).
LT needs a recharge of 20 to even be usable. 12s/30s at 16 is freaking pathetic.
Btw> Reaper's mark at soul reaping 14= 5x2x30=300dmg total every 10 seconds
Life transfer at blood magic 16= 8x12x2= 192dmg total every 30 seconds