Upped shaled ribcracker enough to make a decent ninja/warrior-monk?

[LtDrebin]

Just wondering if this weapon would be enough, or is a shield absolutely necessary? Or should I just make a phoenix striker or TS/DTail build? The main problem I would have, other than having no shield, is AR. I have 1 ravenfrost, but that won't help when using blade fury as my CTH is pretty bad on all of my other melee chars in hell, even my fury druid. I can't use the angelic combo because all of my leeching comes from my jewelry.

FYI, I also have verdungo's, shako, and that's about it... I have a Butcher's Pupil, but it really only supplies 35% DS and decent speed.

My merc can have an Insight Bec-de-Corbin, Tal's helm, and Haemosu's Adament. I also have the runes needed to make a Duress, but Treachery looks like a very tasty one as well...

I will be following JanusJones' guide more or less, maxing DTalon, BF, and Venom, then whatever else I need (probably SM as my gear is less than stellar).

[Xena1985]

I am personally building the same thing. right now I'm still in the leveling phase of things but I'm gonna use an fleshripper (mods on fleshripper are simply ridiculous for the price) with storm shield if you use this with guillans you'll have 60% CB more is redundant with a 6 frame attack.
also do not max BF at level 20 it will add give or take 150dmg ?? if it only points in BF gave % AR bonus ......... can't have everything

cheers @ JanusJones for creating wonderfull guide level 35 and she was overpowered from level 1

[ilkori]

*twitch*

NEVER MAX BLADE FURY! Gah.


Ok, I'm over it. Carry on.

(By the way, JJ's guide is only for those too rich to know how to spend their wealth. There are other ways to build a VERY effective kicker, trapper, or blade fury assassin - and even a hybrid of the three.)

[phool]

2 handed weapons aren't really suitable for bf because the damage is something like 3/8 instead of 3/4 I think, so ribcracker's better on other builds. Also be aware upping them reduces the base weapon speed. I can't see why you're putting an insight on your merc? Obedience is almost as cheap and does way more damage. A reaper's is also very good.

[JanusJones]

*twitch*

NEVER MAX BLADE FURY! Gah.


Ok, I'm over it. Carry on.

(By the way, JJ's guide is only for those too rich to know how to spend their wealth. There are other ways to build a VERY effective kicker, trapper, or blade fury assassin - and even a hybrid of the three.)

Ah, Ilkori. C'mon now, I have an EXTENSIVE - some would say even over-the-top - guide to gear, including options for mid-wealth, no-wealth, and every other level of wealth in-between.

Ilkori IS right. Read my guide again, and you will notice I say very clearly that you only need ONE POINT in Blade Fury - no more. NEVER invest more. EVER.

In answer to your other questions, no, you don't absolutely need a shield. It will help you immeasurably with survivability in hell (block, resists, and DR go a long way towards keeping you alive), but with careful strategic play and a wise selection of gear you can absolutely use an Eth Ribcracker. You'll want to use your shuriken liberally, and Dracul's Grasp will be a must for Life Tap. Likewise Guillaume's Face and Myrmidon Greaves are necessary - up some nice rare greaves if you can find a good pair. If you're rich enough to Zod your Eth Ribcracker, though, you might be able to afford a pair of Shadowdancers or upped Gore Riders. If you can't find a nice rare pair, just hunt up some basic, non-magic Myrmidon greaves for Charsi to enchant, or try making a pair of crafted boots with the Safety recipie.

Yes, you can run about with an eth weapon on a kicker, since neither Blade Fury nor kick skills lessen your item's durability. However, you may find yourself swinging your staff when you run into a pack of mana drainers, so I advise care when you play - pay close attention to your weapon's DR so that you don't risk breaking it by accident!

Phool is right, however, about the damage dealt by 2-handed weapons. If you go with the Ribcracker, you'll be relying on it's speed and Crushing Blow to make your kicks nasty. Your shuriken will also do reasonable damage as well, though not as much as with one of the more powerful one-handers. I also agree that Insight, while quite cheap rather deadly in an eth polearm, can be replaced by Reaper's Toll, Obedience, or another powerful option at your discretion. It won't, however, cripple you. Personally my kicker does without a merc at all; even in Hell, when properly equipped, a Shadow Master and the occaisional Mind Blast provide more than enough crowd control.

Good luck!:thumbsup:

[LtDrebin]

In answer to your other questions, no, you don't absolutely need a shield. It will help you immeasurably with survivability in hell (block, resists, and DR go a long way towards keeping you alive), but with careful strategic play and a wise selection of gear you can absolutely use an Eth Ribcracker. You'll want to use your shuriken liberally, and Dracul's Grasp will be a must for Life Tap. Likewise Guillaume's Face and Myrmidon Greaves are necessary - up some nice rare greaves if you can find a good pair. If you're rich enough to Zod your Eth Ribcracker, though, you might be able to afford a pair of Shadowdancers or upped Gore Riders. If you can't find a nice rare pair, just hunt up some basic, non-magic Myrmidon greaves for Charsi to enchant, or try making a pair of crafted boots with the Safety recipie.

So basically, the answer is no. It's not an eth ribcracker, my best boots are infernostrides, my best gloves are frosties, and I don't have any good sources of crushing blow outside of ribcracker. Phoenix strike it is :)

Also, I'm using insight because it's my most damaging weapon. I have the runes for obedience (but that'll take huge chunk out of my savings...) but they're spread across my chars and xferring by yourself is very tedious and dangerous work :undecided: