A Fun Melee Build?

[Mraezk]

*waves*

I've grown somewhat bored with my sorc and necro, and their continuous Bhaal/ Meph runs, so I thought I would try something new. My only experience with a melee build in the Expansion and 1.10 was my Phoenix Strike Assassin, which was quite fun.

So any recommendations towards less then cookie cutter, yet still slightly viable in hell, melee builds or ideas? The various class forums offer some good suggestions, but a good portion of them are pretty MP centric (Get rushed, trade for items, and all of that). A build that could make use of an act 1 rogue would also be quite splendid at this point, since I'm so sick of the Act II fellows. I also generally prefer to play through at least Normal and Nightmare at /players 8, and a good portion of hell too if possible.

I'd really love to try a barbarian or amazon. I did manage to get a Strafer up to around level 40, but she seems pretty boring. Although I still like the idea of playing an amazon since I've never actually killed Bhaal with one. A barbarian with a big heavy weapon, too, sounds like fun. And since I do have a pretty decent stash now, thanks to the two previous characters, some more gear heavy builds should be possible. I've considered a druid as well, but since their were forms look so silly, they've never held much interest to me. That was before learning their elemental tree wasn't entirely useless however.

So far I'm considering,

Barb with big weapon of various amounts of pain. (Scythes would be neat.)
Amazon with a bow (I think I have a Bruiza or whatnot stashed away.)
Melee/elemental druid. (Not entirely melee, but still something new for me.)
A paladin that doesn't spam hammers. (I tried hammerdins, too annoying to aim those suckers.)
Another MA assassin. (I had a lvl 70ish one during the 1.10 beta. It was fun, but repetitive.)

I played barbarians alot in D2 classic (unpatched too I think), but they still seem fun for some reason. Possibly its just fond memories of act II carrying over. Maybe a build specifically geared toward the Ancient tunnels, hrm....

[sunbearie]

I'd really love to try a barbarian or amazon. I did manage to get a Strafer up to around level 40, but she seems pretty boring. Although I still like the idea of playing an amazon since I've never actually killed Bhaal with one. A barbarian with a big heavy weapon, too, sounds like fun. And since I do have a pretty decent stash now, thanks to the two previous characters, some more gear heavy builds should be possible. I've considered a druid as well, but since their were forms look so silly, they've never held much interest to me. That was before learning their elemental tree wasn't entirely useless however.



Not many melee zon skills. For something powerful, yet "non-cookiecutter", try my patented lightning spearazon?
Lightning strike is a powerful melee, powerful and you can use an act I rogue merc(she's complementary being fire/cold) since you already have 2 tanks. Use jab as a back-up for LIs if necessary (even 1pt will do). The equipment can be basic, a +4 skills "honor" mat spear works brilliantly well and thats a very basic weapon.

Other possible builds,
fireclaw bear, rabies druid(with summons), ES enchantress(you be the tank).

[Shagsbeard]

I enjoyed playing a tesladin... basically a Zeal using, Holy Shock active guy with as much - enemy lightnightning resist as you can muster. I had griffon's eye, and a cresent moon phaseblade. He was melee, but when he went back to run some earlier areas, the aura alone is enough to kill stuff. It's kinda fun not even having to target, just walk through and watch stuff fall.

[ChaoticTwitch]

its always good to hear ppl interested in non-cookie cutter builds. as of for my recomendations hmmm... i had A LOT of fun building a tankazon. she can be a bit frustrating at times but is very hell viable with a little of patience. i think there is a guid in the amazon forum or something. Another neat build that was really fun was the Hunter. had more fun with this build than most others ( also a guid aviable for ideas/help if u need it). ive also recently been working on a bowasin. great chalange, and good fun if your into that kinda thing.

cheers, C.T.

[skoolbus]

This is a cookie cutter build, but IMO the funnest char of all time to play, a Lightning fury amazon. It is fun to throw 1 jav and watch a ripple effect happen when the monsters fall down dead :)

[PinkeyandtheBrain]

This is a cookie cutter build, but IMO the funnest char of all time to play, a Lightning fury amazon. It is fun to throw 1 jav and watch a ripple effect happen when the monsters fall down dead :)
IT is so fun, the LF zon is a new and dynamic build for me as it is my first zon try it its really cool.
I think a kinda cool build might be a bash/stun baba with iron skin shout and weap mastry

[RDC]

AXE BARBS!!! My first character to actually win the game was a 2 handed axer and while they are not cookie cutter they are fun!

[Mraezk]

Hmm....hadn't considered a melee Amazon before. A melee one does sound interesting. I think I have a few decent spears as well, hrmm...

Looking through my stashes, I'm really drawn to a scythe using barbarian. Not sure what combat skill to use though, since whirlwind has a high mana cost and frenzy requires two weapons. Concentration might work though. I suppose I'll have decide between a barb with dual Lightsabres or a barb using Reapers (although the high req seems rough), then plan skills accordingly.

[Dodgydave]

Hmm....hadn't considered a melee Amazon before. A melee one does sound interesting. I think I have a few decent spears as well, hrmm...

Looking through my stashes, I'm really drawn to a scythe using barbarian. Not sure what combat skill to use though, since whirlwind has a high mana cost and frenzy requires two weapons. Concentration might work though. I suppose I'll have decide between a barb with dual Lightsabres or a barb using Reapers (although the high req seems rough), then plan skills accordingly.

Be warned a concentrate barb can be very boring. They are the absolute definition of point and click. So if you're looking for fun I'd avoid that build, it just gets very repetitive.

[Cattleya]

If you want to use a Scythe, put it on the character with the best attack rate with it. Only one character can hit 9 frames with a regular attack. The Enchantress!

Come on now, you didn't really think I could see scythe and stay silent, did you? :D

My scythe enchantress is in Act II Hell right now, and I'm hoping to mat her by the end of the month. I won't say it's an easy build, but I had no problems with /p8 in normal and nightmare. Hell is a little trickier due to her low life, so I've been going /p1. She kills well, especially the non-FI beasties. Someone with better equipment might have an easier time of it. The other advantage is that since the sorceress gets a crappy return on investment in vitality, you don't have to feel guilty about lots of points in dex and strength.

[BFD]

My favourite melee build is definately the smiter.

[Mraezk]

Ahh, wow. I forgot all about enchantresses. That sounds really tempting. I'd think they would have a hard time surviving later on without a shield however. Although since I've yet to find a single stormshield, (Stupid Meph) sticking with a non-shield build would be much more enjoyable.

[ChaoticTwitch]

i also recomend the enchantress, very fun!! if you want to use a scyth i aslo recomend a meleemancer. Like the comandomancer and such of the like. A few rune words here and there and u got a melee force to recon with ( can be very expensive though) On the scyth barb question i have a flyingbooyaka (leaper-barb) using the soulhavest right now since he is low lvl. He looks awsome with the scythe, definite stye points :D and rips through anything in his way!!!

cheers, C.T.

[Derrick1001]

I hear that assassin kickers are good fun.

That's one of the builds I'm planning on making sometime. As a nice bonus, they're apparently not only viable, but do quite well.

Smiter was my favorite melee build in 1.09, now not so much.

Leaping Barbs is a really fun build. It can get frustrating when it bugs though. Still, it's fun to bunny hop and the whole room full of monsters flys to the walls :). Great Crowd Control. Damn Heavy Hitters too.

[Hrus]

Frenzy babas are lot of fun! Also I really enjoy playing Blade Fury Assassin. If you want something stronger, go for LF/CS zon (another vote) - I use CS more than LF, so it almost match the melee descritpion.
Or look to your stash of goodies, and find a really good weapon or something that deserves to build a character around it.

[Mraezk]

I'm curious as to if something like a Freezing Arrow (Frost Maiden?) / Lightning Fury Amazon could work. Since Freezing arrow really only has 1 worth while syn, and Lightning Fury doesn't appear to have any (1% damage doesn't seem like much).

So maybe
17 valk (maybe less)
20 Freezing Arrow
20 ice arrow
20 Lightning furry.

With the rest in pre-reqs, and passive skills.

[Hrus]

Yes this hybrid can work very well.

[ChaoticTwitch]

yeah i was playing my leaper when the bug hit him right before getting the last seal in Chaos Sanctuary. I had to fight diablo without my leap attack. took a while but i did it. then i resarted the game, and he worked again! really weird, and sweet since i can still use his LA :thumbsup:

i think that hiybrid would work as well. i havnt built a frostmaiden my self, but from what other ppl say in these forums is that she works very well (and the hybrid versions).

cheers, C.T.

[LprMan]

LF/FA zon works well, I have one at lvl 93

Unleechables and act bosses can ba a problem

Berserker barb is a nice build, some people don't like it though

[XDoomasX]

LF/FA zon works well, I have one at lvl 93

Unleechables and act bosses can ba a problem

Berserker barb is a nice build, some people don't like it though

Yes berserk build is great non cookie cutter.But i dont like the idea of using warcray.So maby cons/zerk barb could suit your needs.20bo,20cons,20shout,
20mastery,rest zerk.Looks sexy.My hc barb is curently using this build :D

[Masas]

Frenzy barbs are quite fun, because of their blazing speed. I'm going to build one in the near future, with some expensive gear.

[DeathMaster]

Build a thrower, a lot of fun.

[LOCO]

Booyakas(leapers) are heaps fun, especially if you like dealing out the hurt in large doses.

failing that, go for the bash barb. they are crazy hard later on but if played right can be heaps of fun.

[Mraezk]

I spent most of the night leveling up an amazon to try the FA/LF thing. I figure with a Buriza, her damage with a xbow should be decent enough throughout most of Nightmare at least. The only problem I can see at this point, is having to port back to town to restock bolts/javs. I'm thinking of trying to keep an act 1 cold merc from normal throughout the game. The very tiresome Act 2 mercs don't seem to offer the build much more then a tank. Although I'm not sure if the Holy Freeze and Might auras are more useful then I'm giving them credit for with such a setup.

I'm considering doing a Barb along side of the Amazon. So far a dual Lightsabre beserker and a slighty crazy leap attack build seem like the most interesting.

[jiansonz]

For a fun melee build, I suggest a Dragon Talon assassin. Versatile, and has great flexibilty in weapon (and other equipment) choice. You can invest four skill points and have a good ranged option too, in the form of Blade Fury.

Doesn´t need twinking to kick butt :D , and can have good use for any of the 12 different mercs (how many character builds can say that?).

[shermo]

Has anyone mentioned a WW baba? The kings of 1.09, and although they have been nerfed in 1.10, I still find them great fun. Once I get an eth hone sundan I plan on making a non-IK ww'er

[Liliel]

Here are some fun, effective, and (as far as I know) non-mainstream melee builds I've tried out.

Dragoon- spear weilding leaper/WW barbarian
Lightning Spearazon- can get away with Act 1 merc
Daggerzon- Passives only, dagger weilding amazon. Can get away with Act 1 merc, though a Blessed Aim Act 2 merc is preferable. Surprisingly effective tank.
2h Axe weilding Enchantress- a bit tough with so many dangerous fire immunes
Avenger/Templar- Paladin with Vengeance, FoH, Holy Bolt and Conviction as main skills
Pack Leader- My own invention as far as I know, a Fury/Rabies Werewolf Druid with Dire Wolf summons; requires Carrion Wind ring, highly recommended to have Trang Oul set glove and Bramble runeword armour. Max werewolf, rabies and dire wolf, 10 Lycanthropy and Oak Sage (or HoW if you prefer), a few points in Fury, the rest can go wherever.

[farting bob]

Fartarian!
Or a more realistic idea would be a zealot or a spearazon. havent tried the spearazon, but theres something intriguing about a woman wearing not much and a 8ft long spear in hand. not to mention her best friend, the valk, likes to get stuck in as well.

[Fafner]

For a fun melee build, I suggest a Dragon Talon assassin. Versatile, and has great flexibilty in weapon (and other equipment) choice. You can invest four skill points and have a good ranged option too, in the form of Blade Fury.

Doesn´t need twinking to kick butt :D , and can have good use for any of the 12 different mercs (how many character builds can say that?).

I'm gonna third this suggestion. Endgame, you need mirrored boots or myrmidon greaves (both can be gambled/shopped Hell Anya by another character). You can also upgrade Goreriders (cost ya a Lem so it aint cheap).

BF is a nice compliment.

With this build you can go a number of directions. Add elemental attack, Add Venom/BF/Blade skills, Add Traps (my favorite) or load up on shadow skills (you'll need to find a PI breaker here (reapers toll, atmas scarab, etc.)).

[Lucky_Seven]

I love my enchantress

Passion Phase Blade 25IAS
Shako 15IAS
Stormshield
GoreRiders
LoH Gloves /Blood Craft 20IAS
Nosferatu Coil 10 IAS
+2 amulet
You Have a 5 hit 7 Frame Zeal

Some pre buffer and you have a powerful and fragile "melee" char, mine does +8k Fire damag

And you can put 20 points in LM and use some lightning charms.

Very, very Funny.

And you can use teleport to direct your Merc(and you) to the monster you want to kill first.