The Handler: Why WD is not a summoner

[tronimrich]

Okay, I know a lot of people post regarding input about builds, but give mine a look: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculato...VTj!TWd!ZcccZZ

In general, I aim at creating a versatile build that excels in close-quarters and solo-play.
Firebomb - main single target ranged ability. Simple enough, doesn't punch as hard as alternatives for single target, but that isn't this build's intention. Using roll the bones for the extra damage.

Zombie Bears - My cleanup ability. After my dogs and gargantuan have created enough distraction, my hopes will be to stand behind them and spam bears. General purpose AOE.

Zombie Dogs Leeching Beast - Self-explanatory for a handler build. Leeching beasts adds to dogs longevity as well as causing a juicy heal upon sacrifice.

Sacrifice Provoke The Pack - Using sacrifice for groups of five+ or elite packs (when needed). Choose PtP over next of kin because the 20% buff from dogs will also increase my gargantuan's damage. This coupled with my garg. enraging upon groups of 5 or elites will create (adding in veil bonus damage) a nice buff.

Gargantuan Restless Giant - Bodyguard.

Mass confusion Devolution - My backup zombie dog creator. If my dogs are on cooldown and I feel I'll need more to sacrifice, this is my virtually guaranteed option. It also serves as a nice general purpose CC.

Grave Injustice - This is the must have. After playing beta I was convinced this would be one of the best WD runes. Every monster dead reducing cooldown on dogs and confusion makes sacrifice incredibly strong.

Zombie Handler - Another must have. 1100% damage on sacrifices is juicy.

This rune is a toss up to me. Either get Pierce The Veil in hopes that I won't be mana starved or get jungle fortitude to better help my dogs survive. This will depend on gear.


If I were to self-assess my build I would notice I don't really have an oh-sht button spirit walk/horrify or overpowering firepower like rush of essence builds. I would also notice that bosses may be difficult as I have no single-target "auto-aim" nuke like Haunt.

[z00t]

Looks like a fine build, even with the lack of an 'Oh-shi' button - you do have both Dogs AND the Gargantuan, plus Mass Confusion for if things get hairy.

I think that Plague of Toads (maybe with Toad Affinity so you have unrestricted mana regen) would work so well with this build since you intend to be up-close and personal, and that's where Plague of Toads really shines. It'd definitely be more effective at killing enemies at close-range than Firebomb, since Plague of Toads' close-range power is balanced around it being less effective at longer ranges (due to the longer 'ramp up' time and inability to be accurately aimed like Firebomb). Plus, you intend to be in range to benefit from Grave Injustice, anyway.

Maybe you could then change the Zombie Charger to Acid Cloud's Corpse Explosion rune to deal with enemies further away when you really need to? If you use Toad Affinity, you can spam your toads without slowing down your mana regen, making the occassional Corpse Explosion quite a realistic ability, I think.

I reckon you'd be ok against bosses given the amount of pets you have. Bosses may be locked down long enough for you to spam enough toads for them to be effective. Firebomb would be fine too, though.

I would also *consider* switching Pierce the Veil for Jungle Fortitude. Since you're so close-ranged to the enemy and reliant on your pets to act as CC since you don't have another oh-shi button, I think that that passive may benefit you more than the +20% damage.

BUT these are just minor nitpicks/alternatives for you to consider. Like I said, the build looks fine to me.

[pcguy]

The title has nothing to do with the content of the original post.

Your build should be fine, though.

Tanks alleviate the need for crowd control because they essentially are crowd control, especially if you use runes such as Black Blood or Bruiser.

[Dnttryme]

Not sure I like the "Restless Giant" rune for Gargantuan because it says it can only occur once every 120sec. I guess it depends on how long it lasts, if the effect lasts 30-45sec then maybe it would be okay, but if it is less than that I think other runes would be better for that skill.

[tronimrich]

Not sure I like the "Restless Giant" rune for Gargantuan because it says it can only occur once every 120sec. I guess it depends on how long it lasts, if the effect lasts 30-45sec then maybe it would be okay, but if it is less than that I think other runes would be better for that skill.

I completely agree. It also depends on the frequency of five normal mobs grouped opposed to stumbling upon elites. If the situation holds that groups of five mobs will be very common the attractiveness of Restless Giant decreases, as the likelihood of needing RG after finding an elite will be high, while still cooling down from a random pack.

I believe it has been datamined that RG lasts 15 seconds.

If I were to choose a different rune it would be Bruiser, even without knowing the rate in which he slams.

*sorry about title, I meant to save a space for me to explain what I meant by handler*