u/SUJ1R3N

So an interesting thing about Beastmaster class in general, is that the class seems to function best as some kind of hybrid dps / support / utility type of build.

Looking for itemization options Phalar Aluve and Harold stand out as excellent utility choices. Apply Bane with Harold, Shriek with Phalar Aluve for double debuff.

Now of course, I'm aware you don't actually need to swing Phalar Aluve to make use of it's Shriek ability. However, having Bonus Action attack from GWM , would be actually quite useful during turns where you don't need to cast Hunters Mark/ Ensnaring Strike.

What are your thoughts on this? Worth or nah.

I've beaten this game multiple times with different builds and also have done a fair share of casual pvp on the side.

My biggest complaint when it comes to builds in this game, both in PVE and PVP is that everything that isn't some sort of big weapon like a Greatsword/ Halberd etc just feels kinda useless?

With fast weapons it feels semi impossible to stance break the boss and the bosses in this game are generally too aggressive, so you can't really find big enough windows to attack the bosses to really take advantage of that extra attack speed

Meanwhile , every time I did a playthrough with some sort big weapon, the game suddenly becomes easy mode. You literally just Bonk the boss with 5-6 hits and they are already rolling on the ground, backstab, repeat.

More or less same thing in pvp, with 90% of duelists using some sort of great weapon.

Just finished Season 1, and during the end credits they Show some card girl , Reading X fortune with Tarot cards ( same ones used in persona) and X awakens his powers shortly after.

X's card was also "The fool", which is the standart for Persona protagonist, and X fits the type as being seemingly ordinary person, prior to gaining his powers.

The same ending credits show this Tarot girl as some kind of villain/ godlike figure fighting the Heroes, which really fits the whole Persona series wibe, where the true final villain is a Godlike figure, that main character already interacted with prior.

If they used Virus to take down Homelander I would have been fine with it, at least it's a new concept.

But all they really did is spent 2 full seasons walking in circles, only to land on same exact finale, as in Season 3 using Soldier boy's blast ( This time through Kimiko) to Depower Homelander.

Like what was even the point beyond just milking the show?

6 Wildheart Bear Barbarian, 4 Rogue Thief, 1 Monk, 1 Druid.

Astarion Origin for the happy buff and eventual Vampire Ascendant buff.

Feats: Tavern Brawler, Alert.

Starting stats 17 Str, 16 Con, 14 Dex.

Eventual full gear:

Shattered Flail, Swire's Sledgeboard, Hellrider's Longbow, Horns of the Berserker, Adamantite Scalemail, Helldusk Gloves, Linebreaker boots, Fey Semblance Amulet, Cloak of Protection, Crusher's Ring, Ring of Protection.

Ideas behind this monstrosity of a build:

6 Wildheart Bear Barbarian for resistance to all damage, because I need to be tanky. Taking Stallion aspect at level 6, which I will explain below.

4 Rogue for cunning Action Dash, Sneak Attacks ( Can proc sneak attack by throwing Finnese weapons from inventory and using pet allies like Shovel , Scratch , Us) and extra bonus action.

Bonus Action dash enables to constantly refresh Stallion aspect for survivability, while also amping up the melee weapon damage by charging wrath with linebreaker boots.

1 Monk is a bit weird, but basically it's for Unarmed strike, because I wanna use 1 Handed + Shield for this build, but still have ways of doing additional attacks via bonus action.

1 Druid is also a bit strange, but basically I want built in access to longstrider, since this is Solo build. After respecs and eventually making this the starting level, it also gives valuable Int/ Wis saving throw proficiency to defend against spells.

Shattered Flail is the main weapon to have built in sustain.

Sticking to medium Armor because I hate wasting class features. So instead of Magic Plate + Heavy Armor master, the goal is to eventually utilize force Conduit for survivability, and just kiting enemies around with huge movement speed and Stallion Aspect.

Main concept ideas. This party needs to be durable, easily win most dialogue checks, without save scumming, have all the important buffs/ debuffs built into the party , without hirelings, or being too over reliant on consumables. It also needs to have a lot of actions , for each character because more actions equals more fun.

Party Team comp:

Wyll as 10 Swords Bard, 2 Sorcerer.

Learns Haste and Mass Healing Word through Magical Secrets.

Feat: Sharpshooter, Crossbow Expert.

20 Dex from Hags Hair and the Mirror.

Gear: Phalar Aluve, Adamantite Shield, Hellfire Hand crossbow, Hand crossbow+2.

Helmet of Grit, Bhaalist Armor, Brain drain gloves, Desintegrating Nightwalkers, Amulet of Greater Health, Strange Conduit Ring, Ring of Whispering promise.

Karlach as 5 Wildheart Bear Barbarian, 4 Light Cleric, 3 Rogue Thief.

Feat: Great Weapon Master, Polearm Master. 20 Str with Everlasting Vigor and Mirror.

Gear: Dancing Breeze, Hellrider's longbow, Helm of Balduran, Armor of Agility , Gloves of Power, Linebreaker boots, Fey Semblance Amulet, Crusher's Ring, Cloak of Protection, Ring of Protection.

Minthara: 6 Vengeance Paladin, 6 Wild Magic Sorcerer.

Feat: Alert, Warcaster. 20 Cha with Patriarch's memory and Bard's memory.

Gear: Infernal Rapier, Adamantite Shield, Wavemother's Cloak, Pyroquickness hat, Potent Robe, Daredevil Gloves, Helldusk boots, Necklace of Elemental augmentation, Ring of Arcane Synergy, Band of the Mystic Scoundrel.

Tav: High Elf with Booming Blade/ 12 Stars Druid.

Feat: Alert, Tavern Brawler, Warcaster. 20 Wisdom with Khalids gift and Mirror.

Gear: Markoheskir, Swire's Sledgeboard, Darkfire Shortbow, Diadem of Arcane Synergy, Armor of Moonbasking, Luminous Gloves, Boots of Stormy Clamor, Thunderskin Cloak, Khalid's gift Calous Glow Ring, Coruscation Ring.

Party synergy:

Star druid Omens, Bend Luck, Bardic Inspiration, Guidance, Enhance Ability. Everyone has a means to contribute to Tav passing dialogue Checks.

Everyone has at least 1 extra action that they can use for something in addition to full party haste every fight through Wyll and Minthara.

Stars Druid has 3 attacks + leap as an Owlbear,.

Minthara can get an additional bonus action from casting Firebolt with Daredevil Gloves / Pyroquickness hat, and then burn that bonus action on spells with mystic scoundrel or buffing with Soul branding.

Karlach is Warding bonding entire team, gaining all Resistance herself through Rage and using extra Bonus action from Thief to do GWM+ Polearm master attacks or bonus action Dashing to charge Wrath.

Wyll just melee handcrossbow Archery with Helmet of Grit.

All the key Cleric buffs are split between all 4 party members. Heroes feast on the Druid, 5th level Aid on the Paladin, Warding Bond on Barbarian and Mass Healing word+ Whispering promise on Bard.

Debuffs for days. Phalar Aluve, Bane, Mental fatique, Ability Drain, Reverbaration, Radiating Orbs , Bend luck, Omens etc.

Thoughts?

Like I understand, Berserker gets an extra bonus action throw through Rogue multiclass, but more actions does not always equal better Dps.

Lets run some quick math for fun.

For the purpose of this math, I'm gonna assume both builds use identical gear , the main difference outside of their subclass features being that Berserker goes 6 Barbarian, 4 Rogue, 2 Fighter , while Giant goes 10 Barbarian 2 Fighter.

At Barbarian level 9 Rage bonus increases to +3 , and Giant Barbarian gets double rage bonus to their throws, which essentially means it's getting +6 flat dmg from Rage, while Berserker has +2.

If we add Elemental Cleaver on top of this, Giant Barbarian on a average will have 5-10 damage per throw over Berserker, that's nothing to sneeze at.

Now if we attempt to calculate the maximum Nova for both classes, again assuming identical gear otherwise:

Attack + Extra Attack + Action Surge to repeat the Sequence + Bloodlust Elixir+ Haste+ Terrazul+ Bonus Action throw + Bonus Action throw ( Helmet of Grit)

Berserker always gonna have that 1 additional throw through Rogue multiclass over Giant Barbarian, so using above Nova example it's 9 throws for Giant Barbarian, 10 throws for Berserker.

9* 5-10 dmg = 45-90 extra dmg for the Giant subclass vs 1 extra throw.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I genuinelly don't see how Berserker is beating out the extra 45-90 dmg with just a single offhand throw.

And these comparisons are under the assumption that we are using action economy of an Honor mode. Pre Honor mode Giant vs Berserker is not even close.