Axlett's Endgame Dragon Disciple Cold Melee/Caster Hybrid
36pt
20
AasimarLawful NeutralEnd GameHeroic CompletionistRacial CompletionistEpic CompletionistDPSSupportTwo Weapon FightingSpells
Description
Many years ago, I set out to make a character that cast spells and fight in melee and excel at both. 75 lives later and I settled on this build...
This build hits 34 Bonus Imbue dice, 850~ Cold Spellpower (~900 with arcane warrior stacked, ~1150 with meta's turned on, and another +100 after U81 gear updates), 115 Breath/Burst of Glacial Wrath DCs (roughly 10 more with U81 gear).
For Defense, we're at roughly 3k HP with 43 dodge cap, ~300 AC, 95+ on all saves with no fails on 1, 220 PRR, 115 MRR- basically enough to not instantly die all the time.
Utility-wise, Hand of Healing is a no maximum cast range AoE heal, Burst of Glacial Wrath plus double Draconic Devastation for some CC, Cold Immunity Strip, Vulnerability Stacking plus Jade Strike damage amp, and (everyone's favorite) Time Stop.
This build has AoE for days with dragon breaths, Energy Vortex, and Magus Mantle, but still has great single target damage with unarmed TWF (roughly 2k damage per-hit from just the imbue damage).
Is this the strongest build in the game? No. Is it the best? Debatable. Is it really cool and thematic? You bet your sweet bippy.
Unique Requirements
Tomes: STR 8, DEX 8, CON 8, INT 8, WIS 8, CHA 8
Racial AP: 3
Universal AP: 4
Extra Destiny Points: 15
Past Lives
Class: Alchemist ×1, Artificer ×1, Barbarian ×1, Bard ×1, Dark Apostate ×1, Druid ×1, Favored Soul ×1, Fighter ×3, Monk ×1, Dragon Disciple ×1, Paladin ×1, Ranger ×1, Rogue ×1, Sorcerer ×3, Warlock ×1, Wizard ×1
Race: Aasimar ×3, Dhampir ×3, Dragonborn ×3, Drow ×3, Duergar ×3, Dwarf ×3, Eladrin ×3, Elf ×3, Gnome ×3, Half-Elf ×3, Half-Orc ×3, Halfling ×3, Human ×3, Shifter ×3, Tabaxi ×3, Tiefling ×3, Warforged ×3, Aasimar Scourge ×3, Purple Dragon Knight ×3, Shadar-kai ×1, Deep Gnome ×1
Epic: Ancient Knowledge ×3, Arcane Alacrity ×3, Eclipse Power ×3, Enchant Weapon ×3, Energy Criticals ×3, Ancient Blessings ×3, Block Energy ×3, Brace ×3, Power Over Life and Death ×3, Ancient Tactics ×3, Doublestrike ×3, Fortification ×3, Skill Mastery ×3, Trap Damage Absorption ×3, Ancient Power ×3, Colors of the Queen ×3, Doubleshot ×3, Fast Healing ×3
Base Stats
36-Point Build
STR8
DEX16
CON14
INT12
WIS18
+2 = 20
CHA8
Ability Level-Ups
Lvl 4WIS
Lvl 8WIS
Lvl 12WIS
Lvl 16WIS
Lvl 20WIS
Lvl 24WIS
Lvl 28WIS
Lvl 32WIS
Lvl 36WIS
Leveling Path
Lvl 1-20Dragon Disciple
Feats per Level
level <1> (Dragon Disciple): Aasimar: Fallen Bond (Aasimar Bond), Two Weapon Fighting (Dragon Arts), Quicken Spell (Standard)
level <2> (Dragon Disciple): Precision (Dragon Arts)
level <3> (Dragon Disciple): Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light (Monk Philosophy), Maximize Spell (Standard)
level <4> (Dragon Disciple): Form of Pain (Alter Dark Gift)
level <6> (Dragon Disciple): Swords to Plowshares (Dragon Arts), Empower Spell (Standard)
level <9> (Dragon Disciple): Improved Two Weapon Fighting (Standard)
level <12> (Dragon Disciple): Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons (Standard)
level <15> (Dragon Disciple): Greater Two Weapon Fighting (Standard)
level <18> (Dragon Disciple): Past Life: Arcane Initiate (Standard)
level <21> (Epic): Eerie Aim (Epic Feat)
level <22> (Epic): Perfect Two Weapon Fighting (Epic Destiny Feat)
level <24> (Epic): Intensify Spell (Epic Feat)
level <25> (Epic): Epic Spell Power: Cold (Epic Destiny Feat)
level <27> (Epic): Burst of Glacial Wrath (Epic Feat)
level <28> (Epic): Arcane Warrior (Epic Destiny Feat)
level <30> (Epic): Embolden Spell (Epic Feat), Scion of the Plane of Air (Legendary Feat), Enhanced Form of Pain (Dark Gift Upgrade)
level <31> (Legendary): Embodiment of Law (Epic Destiny Feat)
level <33> (Legendary): Piercing Cold (Epic Feat)
level <34> (Legendary): Enhanced Elemental Dice (Epic Destiny Feat)
level <36> (Legendary): Epic Piercing Cold (Epic Feat)
Enhancement Notes
Enhancements are pretty straight forward.
41 Points in Dragon Disciple: Grab the imbue, the imbue dice, the wisdom, and the SLAs. Also, you'll want to grab the Fortitude- that's this build's major struggle. Put your Reaper saves in Fortitude also or else you're always going to get stunned in Relentless and that's just embarrassing.
25 Points in Shintao: Hand of Healing is OP, Greater Hand of Healing is super convenient, Jade Strike and Quick Strike are crazy good damage boosters... Shintao is just really strong.
14 Points in Ninja Spy: We really just want haste boost and dodge cap. Take the threat reduction and either +1 to hit/damage or the sneak attack dice. Don't bother with the cores unless you like hitting another buff every 60 seconds- the incorporeal buff is overrated imo.
4 Points in Inquisitive: We have universal tomes, inquisitive is the only universal tree that gives +4 to hit and we need as much accuracy as we can get.
20 Points in Aasimar: The Fallen form is edgy and cool, heal amp feels good, positive spell power for Hand of Healing, that's really all we're looking for.
Note: You could also run this build as a Dragonborn and get slightly higher DCs and bonus Max Caster Levels for cold spells which is likely slightly higher damage, but you lose some accuracy and a lot of heal amp. Both are strong, I just like Aasimar a little better after running both.
Enhancements
[Dragon Disciple]
Core:
Draconic Studies (1), Way of the Mighty Dragon I (1), Way of the Mighty Dragon II (1), Fist of the Dragon (1), Way of the Mighty Dragon III (1), Draconic Apotheosis (1)
Tier 1:
Lesser Draconic Burst (1), Power in Practice (1), Study of Scales (3), Draconic Devotion I (1)
Tier 2:
Acolyte's Breath (1), Power Begets Power (1), Discipleship I (1), Innate Arcana (1)
Tier 3:
Draconic Burst (1), Way of the Dragon: Channel the Enlightened Dragon (1), Clear Your Mind (3), Draconic Devotion II (1), Ability I: +1 Wisdom (1)
Tier 4:
Secret Power (1), Discipleship II (1), Draconic Devotion III (1), Ability II: +1 Wisdom (1)
Tier 5:
Draconic Devastation (1), Peace in Destruction (1), Perfect Disciple (1), Shining Scales (1), Flawless Breathing (1)
[Shintao]
Core:
Bastion of Purity (1), Protection from Tainted Creatures (1), Iron Hand (1), Argent Fist (1)
Tier 1:
Disciplined Training: Deft Strikes (3), Fast Hands: Melee (3)
Tier 2:
Iron Skin (3), Quick Strike (3)
Tier 3:
Jade Strike (1), Hands of Mercy: Hand of Healing (1), Ability I: +1 Wisdom (1)
Tier 4:
Greater Hands of Mercy: Greater Hand of Healing (1), Ability II: +1 Wisdom (1)
[Ninja Spy]
Core:
Basic Ninja Training (1)
Tier 1:
Ninjutsu I (1), Subtlety (3)
Tier 2:
Agility (3), Action Boost: Melee/Ranged Power: Haste Boost (3)
Tier 3:
Ability I: +1 Wisdom (1)
[Aasimar]
Core:
Stronger Bonds I (1), Ability I: +1 Wisdom (1), Stronger Bonds II (1), Ability II: +1 Wisdom (1)
Tier 1:
Fight the Wicked I (1), True Resilience: Fallen (1), Improved Recovery I (1)
Tier 2:
Fight the Wicked II (1)
Tier 3:
Fight The Wicked III (1), Blessing (3), Improved Recovery II (1)
Tier 4:
Ascendant Bond: Fallen (1), Improved Recovery III (1)
[Inquisitive]
Core:
Inquisitive (1)
Tier 1:
Eye for Accuracy (3)
Epic Destiny Notes
Our main trees (in order of importance) are Magus, Draconic, and Machrotech.
Magus of the Eclipse gives us a ton of utility with Spell Threat reduction, Cold Light of the Moon granting some incorporeal miss chance plus 5% freeze chance on mobs that take damage in the zone, no fail Will Saves, Nullmagic Aura (really nice for the new beholder quest), and Time Stop. The Frostlight Mantle does decent aura damage, strips enemy buffs, silences enemy casters, and gives us a little bit of MRR and MRR cap. Also shooting a Zero Degree Comet at monsters is rad as hell.
Draconic Incarnation gives us a butt-ton of spell power, no fail Fortitude Saves, extra imbue dice, 360 temp hp when using Breath attacks (it literally procs all the time), all Breath attacks get a 25% chance to paralyze monsters (no save), and, most importantly, Dragon Breath Energy Vortex for more aura.
Machrotechnic is definitely the weakest of our trees, but beats out everything else by giving some melee power, double strike, no fail Reflex Saves, more imbue dice, and some extra universal spell power.
~~~~~~~~
There's an argument to be made for using Primal Avatar instead of Magus. This tree would net higher single target damage with the Primal Mantle's bonus imbue dice and on-hit damage and you could even get Mass Frog from T5, however I prefer the utility from Magus (plus the Magus aura looks super rad).
Epic Destinies
[Draconic Incarnation]
Core:
Draconic Bloodline: Draconic Bloodline: White (1), Draconic Heritage I (1), Elemental Blood (1), Draconic Heritage II (1)
Tier 1:
Draconic Perception (3), Dragonhide (3), Dragon Breath: White Dragon Breath (1), Dragon Scales (1), Arcane Studies (3)
Tier 2:
Draconic Presence (3), Coalescence (3)
Tier 3:
Daunting Roar (1), Arcane Spellsword (3)
Tier 4:
Improve Dragon Breath: Energy Vortex (1)
[Magus of the Eclipse]
Core:
Touched by the Moon (1), Deepening Arcana (1), Nullmagic Aura (1), Nightwind (1)
Tier 1:
Imperceptible Casting (3), Moonbeams: Moon Lance (1), Cloak of Silver (3), Frostlight (1), Self or Summons: Impregnable Mind (3)
Tier 2:
Moonlight: Cold Light of the Moon (1), Frostlight Improvement I: Chill Aura (1)
Tier 3:
Lunar Imbuement (1), Starlight (3), Frostlight Improvement II: Nullmagic Strike (1)
Tier 4:
Nullmagic Protection (1), Greater Beams (1), Lunar Studies (1)
Tier 5:
Total Eclipse (3), Lunar Power (1), Time Stop (1), Full Moon's Magic: Zero Degree Comet (1), Enhanced Metamagics: Intensify (1)
[Machrotechnic]
Core:
Maker's Touch (1), Metamagic Capacitors (1), Warding Inscriptions (1), Armored Augmentation (1)
Tier 1:
Solid Footing (3), Blast Shields (3)
Tier 2:
Radiant Prison (1)
Tier 3:
Spell Focus: Evocation (3), Technique Drive: Speed Drive (3), Arcane Imbuement (3)
Tier 4:
Galvanic Attunement (1)
Skills
Max out Spellcraft, Concentration, Tumble and put some ranks into UMD and Jump.
Spells
[Dragon Disciple]
<1> Longstrider, Shield
<2> Acolyte's Breath: White, Blur
<3> Displacement, Greater Elemental Weapons
<4> Draconic Devastation: White, Protection from Elements, Mass
Gear
[Current Gearset]
{Legendary University Sentry's Helm}
{Legendary The Shadow's Emptiness}
{Topaz of Deadly}
{+2 Festive Constitution}
{+2 Reaper Ability Scores}
{Curse of the Mechanical Marvel}
{Legendary Black Dynamo}
{Melancholic Wisdom (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Accuracy (Legendary)}
{Wraithborn Emerald}
{+2 Festive Wisdom}
{Lunar Gem of Spell Difficulty (Legendary)}
{Legendary Heartshard}
{Melancholic Constitution (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Quality Constitution (Legendary)}
{Miserable Physical Resistance Rating (Legendary)}
{Sapphire of Protection}
{Tough Shields}
{Solar Gem of Spell Critical Chance (Legendary)}
{Legendary University Duelist's Cloak}
{Legendary The Shadow's Emptiness}
{Legendary Swordcrossed Topaz}
{Ravil's Book of Legendary Recipes}
{Curse of Major Combatant}
{Legendary Waistwrap of Wild Wisdom}
{Tough Shields}
{Lunar Gem of Wisdom (Legendary)}
{Curse of the Power of Body}
{Legendary Goggles of Dusk}
{Esoterica}
{Legendary Gloves of the Nimble}
{Sapphire of Greater Heroism}
{Diamond of Spellcraft}
{Lunar Gem of Accuracy (Legendary)}
{Legendary Boots of the Battlemaster}
{Topaz of Feather Fall}
{Globe of True Imperial Blood}
{Lunar Gem of Physical Protection (Legendary)}
{Perfected Jidz-Tet'ka}
{Topaz of Melee Power}
{Essence of Pomura's Memento}
{Tough Shields}
{Curse of Minor Reflex}
{Legendary University Bulwark's Outfit}
{Legendary The Shadow's Emptiness}
{Sapphire of Dodge}
{Diamond of Insightful Constitution}
{Legendary Calamitous Handwraps}
{Melancholic Chill (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Arcana: Cold (Legendary)}
{Miserable Arcana: Cold (Legendary)}
{Woeful Frostbite (Legendary)}
{Facet of Psionic Intrusion}
{Facet of Coalesced Impacts}
{The Time Taken}
{Melancholic Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Miserable Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Woeful Cold Spell Crit Chance (Legendary)}
{Essence of Dark Diversion}
{Esoterica}
{Curse of the Shadowed}
{Legendary Ring of the Altered Soul}
{Wraithborn Emerald}
{Esoterica}
<Filigree> {Celerity/Vigilance +2 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Snowpeak's Gifts: +1 Imbue Dice}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +1 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Reverberation: +6 Universal Spell Power}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +9 Cold Spell Power}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +3 PRR}
<Filigree> {Reverberation: +3 PRR}
<Filigree> {Eye of the Beholder: +1 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Eye of the Beholder: +6 Universal Spell Power}
<Filigree> {Eye of the Beholder: +3 MRR}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Celerity/Vigilance +2 Wisdom}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Snowpeak's Gifts: +1 Imbue Dice}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Frozen Wanderer: +1 Wisdom}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Eye of the Beholder: +1 Wisdom}
[U81 Gearset]
{Legendary Crown of Ioun}
{+16 Constitution}
{Sapphire of Natural Armor}
{Touch of Power}
{Solar Gem of Imbuement (Legendary)}
{+2 Reaper Ability Scores}
{Legendary Black Dynamo}
{Melancholic Positive Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Deception (Legendary)}
{Sapphire of Good Luck + 3}
{Esoterica}
{Lunar Gem of Evocation (Legendary)}
{The Bloodstained Letter}
{Melancholic Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Miserable Cold Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Woeful Cold Spell Crit Chance (Legendary)}
{Sapphire of Protection}
{Topaz of Melee Power}
{Solar Gem of Doublestrike (Legendary)}
{Legendary Gravekeeper's Mystic Cloak}
{Melancholic Doublestrike (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Quality Wisdom (Legendary)}
{Legendary Wraithborn Emerald}
{+2 Festive Constitution}
{Solar Gem of Wisdom (Legendary)}
{Legendary Waistwrap of Wild Wisdom}
{Essence of Pomura's Memento}
{+2 Festive Wisdom}
{Lunar Gem of Wisdom (Legendary)}
{Curse of the Power of Body}
{Legendary Scientist's Sights}
{Melancholic Positive Spell Critical Damage (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Healing Amplification (Legendary)}
{Sapphire of Resistance}
{Esoterica}
{Solar Gem of Spell Critical Chance (Legendary)}
{Legendary Gloves of the Nimble}
{Sapphire of Greater Heroism}
{Globe of True Imperial Blood}
{Lunar Gem of Accuracy (Legendary)}
{Legendary Boots of the Battlemaster}
{Legendary Moment to Legendary Moment}
{+2 Festive Dexterity}
{Lunar Gem of Physical Protection (Legendary)}
{Curse of Major Imbuement}
{Legendary Bodysnatcher's Bracers}
{Melancholic False Life (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Quality Accuracy (Legendary)}
{Sapphire of Accuracy}
{Esoterica}
{Lunar Gem of Spellpower (Legendary)}
{Legendary Downcast Robe}
{Melancholic Plating (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Voidwheel (Legendary)}
{Miserable Rebellion (Legendary)}
{Woeful Sacred DCs (Legendary)}
{Legendary Sapphire of Riposte}
{Touch of Power}
{Solar Gem of Physical Resistance Rating (Legendary)}
{Legendary Calamitous Handwraps}
{Melancholic Chill (Legendary)}
{Dolorous Arcana: Cold (Legendary)}
{Miserable Arcana: Cold (Legendary)}
{Woeful Frostbite (Legendary)}
{Facet of Psionic Intrusion}
{Facet of Coalesced Impacts}
{Baphomet's Reign}
{Emerald of Arcane Empowerment}
{Essence of Dark Diversion}
{Sapphire of Dodge}
{Legendary Vizeran's Band}
{+16 Wisdom}
{Touch of Power}
<Filigree> {Celerity/Vigilance +2 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Abiding Path/Elemental Avatar +2 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Snowpeak's Gifts: +1 Imbue Dice}
<Filigree> {Reverberation: +6 Universal Spell Power}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +1 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Elemental Avatar: +1 Wisdom}
<Filigree> {Reverberation: +3 PRR}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +9 Cold Spell Power}
<Filigree> {Frozen Wanderer: +3 PRR}
<Filigree> {Elemental Avatar: +9 Cold Spell Power}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Celerity/Vigilance +2 Wisdom}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Abiding Path/Elemental Avatar +2 Wisdom}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Snowpeak's Gifts: +1 Imbue Dice}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Elemental Avatar: +1 Wisdom}
<ArtifactFiligree> {Frozen Wanderer: +1 Wisdom}
Other Notes
I am currently running the pre-U81 gearset while I farm out all the new gear. Main notes for the new gear:
Legendary Crown of Ioun (rare) will very likely become the best in slot helm for most builds for a long time due granting 4 elemental absorptions plus a flexible +16 stat. The only issue with this item is that the catalyst is on the rare loot table so I'm expecting to run Tower of Vengeance ~200 times.
Baphomet's Reign will also probably become the best in slot artifact for most melees for a while. This ring grants 11 Quality Sheltering (BOTH PRR and MRR), +15% HP (RIP Heartshard), and No Save knockdowns on Vorpals (Fun fact: Unarmed TWF attacks really fast)
The Legendary Downcast Robe (rare) is one of the less important items to farm. It's a definitive spell DPS upgrade and probably the best in slot item for this build, however we can survive on one of the other Lammordia cloth armors until we get it.
The rest of the items are trying to hit every stat we need (and we need a LOT). As a hybrid we have to fit in Spell DCs, Spell Power, Spell Crit Damage, Accuracy, Double Strike, Sheltering, Wisdom, Constitution, Saves. I also like grabbing Dexterity for this build to hit no fail Reflex Saves (plus 300 AC is super cool).
Augment-wise we want:
Sapphires of Accuracy, Dodge, Protection, Riposte (For Insightful AC and Saves), Resistance, Natural Armor, Good Luck (literally grabbing anything to get higher fortitude), Greater Heroism.
Topazes of Melee Power and Moment to Moment
Emeralds of Imbue Dice, Wraithborn, and Pomura's Memento
Set Augments: Esoterica and Touch of Power (mmm spells)
Sun and Moon augs just aim to hit higher spell DCs, shore up some defenses, grab some more imbue dice, and hit higher spell crit.
Filigrees are also pretty straight forward- Get Wisdom, Get Imbue Dice, Get Spellpower. We're at an odd Wisdom score so one Wisdom filigree can probably be swapped for spell power.
Fully geared, we should be sitting at 111 Wisdom, 190+ To-hit, 915~ Cold Spell Power, and 69% Cold Spell Crit (nice)
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