Spellsword Concept

Hey all,

First time poster here. Having fun with how deep the builds can be on this game. I have messed with a few classes and I understand that having a concept for a build is kind of key. But a concept is one thing..a viable build around that concept is another.

My idea is for a Spellsword kind of character.

The concept:

A sword-oriented mage that wears perhaps chain armor (evasion/energy shield). The class can effectively casts spells but can also be deadly with his sword. The twist is that I like having the minions to assist the Spellsword...these are fallen brother and sisters that now aid the Spellsword in death.

So the main skills needed. Dex. Int. Sword. Crit. ES. Sword. 1h weapon. ...what else?

Any advice is much appreciated. Here is a link to a rough build.

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgYBAhEFOg5IEHsQlxEvEZYTnhfYGdce8CEDIcAi6iW1JpUo-isKLKYvbzIBNAo3ZjeDRARE0kZxTblTNVO4VUtakV3yYetjQ2XxaA5qP2qsbWxte2-ecFJwu3DVdYp5SHpTfjOCx4MJhK-FVYVghxOH24hridOMNoxIjb-PRpMnmZqbJpuhm7WcpJ2jpJGmf6brpwiofarEsbOyGbMOtAy0xbVItve3dbiTu3y-Or-XwFHBAMLswzrFzMk9ykrMvM960DnQ0NP71AXZE9sa3L3jhOjW6rrrFOtj6-7tQe4V8h7yWvLh8-r1S_fX-ej8q_-T

I don't have much advice about the build but just wanted to say I'm always excited to see people having fun being imaginative in this game. Best of luck to you. Cheers!

this could work if you use a crown of eyes (unique that convert spell damage into attack damage)

however your passive build is very bad, you are trying to focus on too many things at once

If you are looking for something to be viable: what you have now, it most likely not going to work. I fiddled around a bit, and I think this might work.



You will need a few things though...
The crown of eyes
Rise of the Phoenix
The Blood dance
(20Q)Righteous Fire
Dagger with high phys damage(and prefer spell damage)

So we get spelldamage from the tree, spelldamage from our weapon(dagger), and spelldamage from Righteous Fire, leading into a high amount of spelldamage we get as physical damage. In order tot sustain the Righteous Fire, we have to use the blood dance, and have a way of gaining charges(I say frenzy as our main attack/single target DPS). And you can have another spell for AoE stuff. Like EK, or freeze pulse, or whatever.

The Crown of eyes and the Rise of the phoenix are both quite expensive, but if you are really going for it, I'm positive you can manage to get your hands on those in the end :)

Gl!

"

exiliox wrote:

The concept:

A sword-oriented mage that wears perhaps chain armor (evasion/energy shield). The class can effectively casts spells but can also be deadly with his sword. The twist is that I like having the minions to assist the Spellsword...these are fallen brother and sisters that now aid the Spellsword in death.

I had several similar ideas; Bow sword warrior, FB caster witch with pair of totems as backup possibly few more.

Mostly those creative ideas do not synergize well into builds of this game.

I'm not discouraging you or claim it can't be done btw, only that it's usually bad start. Builds in this game are designed around trick, around some gimmick or idea either in defense or in offense or in combination that items work with skills and then you minmax the main idea to hell and back.

You have to have and experience in previous builds, for the most part, More chars you had better your understanding of game mechanics will be.

For example; buzzsaw ST scion combines flat bonus auras with ST with very high att spead weapon, no crits - uw stance.

Flubby's build takes it step further using also auras but elemental crit ST as well; making record damage in game.

Lazzy pally templar takes maxblock and good spellblock and you can take whatever for attack.

Blender combines high eva and blind from BoR to defense and dual wield for offense/defense.

Incinerator uses synergies from cybil paw (otherwise not that great) and high att speed of incinerate. He can as well concentrate on maxblock /spellblock.

My welder maximizes critchance and connects as much of spells in ST/LMP combination.

There are many interesting concepts and examples of sucessful builds in this game. You have to fine one you like or make one that works.

Thanks for the awesome replies. I am going to work on massaging my concept based on your helpful feedback. And I totally agree that the more you play the more you learn about the various skills and what works, what you like, and what you want to accomplish...I think I can make this work!

And just some points of clarification...I know that some people will want daggers, or regular shields...but the concept of my Spellsword...at least for now is stay as true to that concept as possible. For instance a Spellsword using a dagger just is not an option. But, I know someone recommended a shield for offhand. I myself have been think since this is a magic/melee class, they strictly use an energy shield in the offhand...however this is an idea that is flexible. The Swordspell could theoretically go: sword/sword, sword/board, sword/energy shield.

Here is the main concept as I see it so far. Please feel free to offer any additional thoughts.

Swordspell 1.01:
- Shadow Class (simply because I'm not crazy about old man templar running around with no pants)

- If Shadow, then Dex/Int build. These are the classes main traits and I think would be too much of a stretch to at STR into the mix.

- If Dex/Int, defense will largely be from evasion and ES

- Sword...that is the only weapon...or two swords. ;-)

- Shield, but ES preffered.

- Minions; I have never been much for pet classes but they are great threat/damage mitigators in PoE. Plus I like the idea of them being fallen comrades that have come to aid the Spellsword.

- Magic use is a must (aura's are fine) or else I'm just a glorified warrior. This is the area that is most muddy for me...what element to focus on? Lighting, fire, cold, can you focus on poison?

- The armor will be the leather variety that offers evasion and ES. This is the one area that bums me out...the Spellsword to me wears heavier armor, but that requires STR, which is more of a Templar build.

Ok...what am I missing? Thanks again!

"

exiliox wrote:

Ok...what am I missing? Thanks again!

I think the most important thing is: synergy. I think you need to get one thing clear: This game does not allow any combination of skills to be viable end game. By just getting a few random skills and or attacks, because they fit a certain char will most likely fail.

Feel free to try it out though, Best experience comes from trying ;)

Your build has a fundamental problem:

Swords are good only for physical damage without critical strikes. They are usually used with Resolute Technique, which is very far away from the Shadow area. They also don't have spell damage modifiers.

Also, you need to pick one damage dealing mechanism and stick to it. Dealing a bit of physical and a bit of magic damage simply won't work.