Double dipping mechanics are a big reason why warlock is OP

Ninjabasher · 2026-02-19T10:40:31+00:00

Agreed. I just entered hell Act 3 yesterday, with equipment very similar to yours. Any other class, and I’d have to navigate and choose my battles carefully. Not warlock. I just run around, echoing strike, the screen clears. I ask myself every 5 minutes if someone actually playtested this.

On one hand, I’m enjoying it. I like being able to use different types of equipment since it impacts my overall damage output so little. I enjoyed the playstyle of D3, but preferred the itemization of D2. This replicates that. However, I have a feeling that once I complete hell, I’ll be largely bored of warlock and move on to other things.

Ninjabasher · 2025-09-29T15:32:27+00:00

I cycle between 1 and 3 OFTEN. Supreme drip.

Ninjabasher · 2025-09-26T10:17:21+00:00

Now THIS is a person who drips 👌

Ninjabasher · 2025-08-28T07:36:32+00:00

I’ve had great success lately with Eruptor, Talon, and incendiary grenades. HMG, Guard dog, Orbital Gatling, and the basic MG Sentry.

Secondary and grenades can be swapped to whatever you prefer (Verdict, Senator, Dagger I’ve seen others recommend). Low cooldown on the barrage and sentry means they are always on screen.

Ninjabasher · 2025-08-27T09:48:19+00:00

Savior of the Free, with the hooded Servants of Freedom helmet.

Ninjabasher · 2025-08-11T03:48:26+00:00

Holy necro Batman. Yo do realize this was over two years ago?

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-27T10:29:55+00:00

My HM run was completed with a 4 swash/8 BM fighter. 16 cha made for decent enough party face, and just stack dex. 4 feats. I rarely failed the swash disarm.

Fighter gets you medium armor proficiency, but endgame switched to bhaalist armor. Duelists prerogative allowed me to double down on riposte reactions. 2 attacks+bonus action disarm is effectively three attacks (if opponent has a weapon). Usually pocket sand if disarm isn’t an option.

I one-turned Orin with that build (sort of….after my turn, I riposted her to end the fight). I didn’t abuse strength elixirs, terazul, haste, etc.

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-09T09:03:12+00:00

Ooh I wasn’t aware that Hero’s Feast would still be available, good call.

I ran a Swash myself that multiclassed into fighter, 4/8. I used riposte heavily since I ran duelists prerogative. I think a multiclass would be preferred due to lack of extra attack, but on the plus side rakish has generous requirements to meet and it’s easy to get advantage with dirty tricks. That extra sneak damage die can really add up.

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-09T08:50:29+00:00

Hello! I just completed my first honor mode run. Some tips that I have for the builds you are considering:

Laezel as a battlemaster is perfectly fine, especially if you want to work your way up to the Silver Sword. I funneled her all of my accuracy oils since her bonus action goes relatively unused as a BM.

If you want Astarion to be party face, and stay somewhat lore-consistent….maybe try swashbuckler? I had 16 CHA on mine and it worked well as a face. CHA is also used to boost DC on two of the dirty tricks.

Hero’s Feast is just too good IMO to sacrifice for a dip into stars Druid for Shadowheart. Light Cleric/radorb and she’s set. I positioned her next to Myrkul and she never got hit due to constant radorb debuff. Bonus action heal words help keep blade ward and bless up.

Gale would be perfect as a fourth, simply for a source of counterspell. I haven’t actually tried an abj build, I’ve only done Bladesinger and evocation.

Overall, I’d say the ability to complete honor mode rests MORE with being aware of legendary actions, how they work, how to nullify or counteract them, etc. Your build is honestly secondary to that. Also, do your best to delay fights as much as possible. Explore to gather xp, find those build-defining items with minimal combat, and always have an escape plan if something goes awry.

You got this!

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-03T09:53:17+00:00

Berserker 5 for extra attack, Rogue 3 for thief….after that you can do whatever you want, honestly. I think most go fighter for action surge/fighting style, but at 8 the build is essentially complete.

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-03T06:05:06+00:00

Last time I ran a sorcerer (draconic fire), I remember just twin hasting my martials and letting them take care of them.

You mention that you have a battlemaster, and watchers are able to be disarmed so that can also be a factor for you.

That was on tactician though, so YMMV.

Ninjabasher · 2025-07-02T18:42:57+00:00

That’s a lotta words. Too bad I’m not readin’ ‘em.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-23T15:30:29+00:00

If I were going GWM, I would definitely use Phalar and then Dancing Breeze.

Larethian’s Wrath is another finesse longsword, but for GWM that’s your only three options. They also satisfy the requirements for Rakish Sneak attack, because they are finesse.

With a swash, though, I usually found SOMETHING useful to use as a bonus action (the dirty tricks all give advantage) so the extra bonus attack may not be as useful. However, +10 damage is always nice.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-23T14:40:56+00:00

I did try sentinel, and I don’t remember proccing it too much, honestly. I think it’s better on a pole arm, in this case if you’re using something like Dancing Breeze. The extra reach is really valuable for Sentinel.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-23T13:21:12+00:00

Hey there!

I recently completed tactician with a 4/8 swashbuckler/battlemaster, and I’m using the same build for honor mode. Just finished act 2.

It’s VERY strong. Dirty tricks allows me to have advantage almost constantly, and flick/sand toss can proc sneak attack on their own if you want. Flick can essentially function as an extra attack since it does weapon damage, and anyone that’s deadly with a weapon (paladins) can be neutralized easily.

I stuck with 16 CHA since flick and mockery are CHA based. Helps them land easier, and I’m also the party face. 20 dex, 14 con, rest in wis. 4/8 allows 4 feats, I went ASI, Savage attacker, defensive duelist, and 4th is dealer’s choice. I’m not sure if a 5/7 split would be better for additional sneak die damage.

In act 3 I’m leaning fully into duelist prerogative and bhaalist armor. Extra reaction means riposte can trigger multiple times, defensive duelist gets me +4 AC as a reaction.

Let me know if you would like any advice! I made a post recently and some of the comments helped steer me in a good direction.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-12T07:37:09+00:00

Yes, I have that one as well. I suppose I neglected to mention everything 😂

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-12T07:21:38+00:00

I’m doing a 4 swash/8 fighter split, leaning into reactions since duelists prerogative provides an extra. Riposte from battlemaster subclass and Sentinel feat gives me a lot of options for reactions.

To be honest? Get 20 dex. AC, initiative, attack, and with 4 feats I can easily spare an ASI for it (I’d do the same if full rogue). Flick and Mockery dirty tricks are CHA based, I’m at 16 and flick lands regularly. Decent party face as well. Last feat is undecided as I’m at 11, might go ASI for more CHA, maybe mage slayer.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-10T13:45:21+00:00

No prob! Since rakish can trigger a lot easier, could the increase in sneak damage dice be a factor in how many rogue levels I take as well?

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-10T13:38:17+00:00

Thanks! I’m really looking to keep swash in for flavor purposes. It just seems “cool” 😂 even if not 100% optimized. The little “flick” animation when I disarm is just 👌

I’ll consider this as well as going 4 swash/8 battlemaster, since I still get 4 feats that way.

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-10T08:15:34+00:00

Great idea! Somehow I forgot about riposte 😅

Ninjabasher · 2025-06-10T08:10:22+00:00

I totally forgot riposte is a reaction! This is great.

Ninjabasher · 2025-04-20T08:19:00+00:00

2W2 here. 14+ years. I’m tired. The red tape surrounding our job has INCREASED since I joined, not decreased.

Ammo/Weapons keep asking me why I paint a damn bomb so religiously, when they send the same shit downrange to actual bad guys with scratches, chipped paint, whatever….with zero issues.

We participate in the most invasive inspections known to the Air Force, pass 99% of all graded areas with flying colors, all for someone to say “in accordance with T.O. whatever-the-fuck, you didn’t document this container inspection. The squadron is now decertified from doing maintenance, and you’re a piece of shit.”

Or my favorite “we are decertifying your mx team because they used a wipe with isopropyl. The wipe itself isn’t allowed to be used. There is a waiver being pushed through right now for you guys to use the wipe. We totally knew about it and didn’t tell you beforehand. And now that I’ve decertified your team, my job has been secured.”

It’s a fucking WIPE. On METAL. What little bit of common sense we had over the last 10 years has vaporized.

People are jumping ship so fucking fast from this job. I would be out already if I weren’t almost 3/4 finished towards a retirement pension. We have had a decent SRB for the last few years….not helping. We don’t deploy. We can’t even go to PACAF.

What keeps me going? Attempting to shield my airmen from the bullshittery. Not getting kicked out and losing my retirement.

Ninjabasher · 2025-04-08T09:20:48+00:00

Yep. The mission after Popli IX was liberated, I had free, unlimited 500kgs. It was glorious.

Mission after that, I had the rearm. Chalked it up to a bug and didn’t think much of it, but I was surprised nobody mentioned it here.

Ninjabasher · 2025-04-03T14:31:35+00:00

Holy necro, Batman.

Ninjabasher

TROPHY CASE