I'm going to have to promote my keeper once I get to lvl 20. I wasted points on some pretty worthless stuff early cos I had no idea what I was doing.
I plan on sticking with Fade step, Chain lightning, and Barrier, but I'm still undecided about the fourth ability.
@Shinnyshin
The problem with Static Cage is that you can easily use it at the wrong time and you will certainly not have a second chance during that skirmish. For an organized group it can prove essential, but for any group not optimizing its potential it can be entirely lackluster. For the sake of clarification, how are you optimizing Static Cage for Perilous and what is your Keeper's preferred skill setup?
@Shinnyshin
The problem with Static Cage is that you can easily use it at the wrong time and you will certainly not have a second chance during that skirmish. For an organized group it can prove essential, but for any group not optimizing its potential it can be entirely lackluster. For the sake of clarification, how are you optimizing Static Cage for Perilous and what is your Keeper's preferred skill setup?
I play primarily with premades often in Skype. We've done a few hilarious/cheesy things like Stealth + Leaping Shot a Static Caged target since if the initial hit crits then the proc will also crit...but mostly our Keeper throws it out whenever it's up and we all marvel at how good it is. It feels, for us, universally good enough that it's just flat out worth using at all times.
We've got a few of us who've been taking our Keeper shifts, almost exclusively during Perilous. Two are running Disruption Field, Static Cage, Barrier, and Chain Lightning. One guy was talking about dropping Chain Lightning for Fade Step. I've just respecced and am doing the first option, I think. Worth noting we almost never lack a Legionnaire. It's probably the favorite character of...three of the people I regularly play with. Legionnaire tends to make Cage/Disruption, already solid options, absolutely god-tier.
http://i.imgur.com/BSZoYUF.png
Keeper is an extremely strong class. Most people here have posted some, imo, boring builds for the class where you just hang back cast CL, SC, and DF. Instead, I use a constant spam build where you're constantly on the move and spamming spells. The idea is to spam spells with the passive CleanBurn so that you have near 100% uptime on your barrier. You can easily tank all of threatening at higher levels. In my screenshot, you can see me soloing threatening at L11. I have done it back at L9 but didn't bother taking SS. The earliest I can complete threatening somewhat efficiently is at L8 and I'll do it next promote. Even at L11, my build only included 3 usable abilities on my bar which are fadestep, CL and barrier. I'm rushing for Barrage so I don't bother with a 4th ability until I get Barrage. I prefer barrage over a shorter cd spell like fadecloak because it's more damage and each projectile can proc my staff's veilstrike.
At L20, I can solo most of perilous but it's just not efficient enough to spam as threatening. My staff is a rare ilvl23 with a 2% chance to proc veilstrike on hit. It's nice but I'm still praying to rngesus for the ilvl 23 purple staff with the walking fort proc.
http://i.imgur.com/BSZoYUF.png
Keeper is an extremely strong class. Most people here have posted some, imo, boring builds for the class where you just hang back cast CL, SC, and DF. Instead, I use a constant spam build where you're constantly on the move and spamming spells. The idea is to spam spells with the passive CleanBurn so that you have near 100% uptime on your barrier. You can easily tank all of threatening at higher levels. In my screenshot, you can see me soloing threatening at L11. I have done it back at L9 but didn't bother taking SS. The earliest I can complete threatening somewhat efficiently is at L8 and I'll do it next promote. Even at L11, my build only included 3 usable abilities on my bar which are fadestep, CL and barrier. I'm rushing for Barrage so I don't bother with a 4th ability until I get Barrage. I prefer barrage over a shorter cd spell like fadecloak because it's more damage and each projectile can proc my staff's veilstrike.
At L20, I can solo most of perilous but it's just not efficient enough to spam as threatening. My staff is a rare ilvl23 with a 2% chance to proc veilstrike on hit. It's nice but I'm still praying to rngesus for the ilvl 23 purple staff with the walking fort proc.
Is Energy Barrage any good? I'm thinking of investing in it, rather than static cage or disruption field. I don't think they'd suit my playstyle.
Is Energy Barrage any good? I'm thinking of investing in it, rather than static cage or disruption field. I don't think they'd suit my playstyle.
Yes. it is great single target spell. Only annoyance with the spell is in some narrow corridors or if you're standing by a wall or doorway or pillar, the projectiles will hit those things and bounce away resulting in it never reaching your target. But once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. And as I've mentioned, each projectile from Barrage has a chance to proc your weapon's proc.
Static Cage and Disruption field are nice spells but they just have too long of a cooldown. Plus, why do you need CC when you have perma barrier for the team?
Edit: I'm talking about threatening here. I would usually consider dropping Barrage for SC for Perilous farm runs because improved SC just does so much with your group vs higher hp mobs and larger amount of mobs where you can't simply one-two shot with Barrage/CL/fadestep combo.
Yes. it is great single target spell. Only annoyance with the spell is in some narrow corridors or if you're standing by a wall or doorway or pillar, the projectiles will hit those things and bounce away resulting in it never reaching your target. But once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. And as I've mentioned, each projectile from Barrage has a chance to proc your weapon's proc. Static Cage and Disruption field are nice spells but they just have too long of a cooldown. Plus, why do you need CC when you have perma barrier for the team?Edit: I'm talking about threatening here. I would usually consider dropping Barrage for SC for Perilous farm funs because improved SC just does so much with your group vs higher hp mobs and larger amount of mobs where you can't simply one-two shot with Barrage/CL/fadestep combo.
@Reginald Cousins
That was my previous build (Barrier, Chain Lightning, Energy Barrage & Fade Step) and while it offered some good DPS, it is basically a weaker Arcane Warrior. Switching to a build with Fade Cloak and Stasis Field (instead of Fade Step and Energy Barrage) has improved my survivability and also made me one of the toughest classes in the game to kill (save for Legionnaire). While my DPS is slightly reduced by losing Energy Barrage, Fade Cloak actually improves my DPS over Fade Step, and Stasis Field allows me to focus on dealing damage since bosses can be shut down and projectiles are no longer a problem. I certainly enjoyed my previous build but I think that an AW just does it better so I switched to a build that only the Keeper can achieve. So far I feel that the Keeper plays better and is much better for Perilous games.
@Reginald Cousins
That was my previous build (Barrier, Chain Lightning, Energy Barrage & Fade Step) and while it offered some good DPS, it is basically a weaker Arcane Warrior. Switching to a build with Fade Cloak and Stasis Field (instead of Fade Step and Energy Barrage) has improved my survivability and also made me one of the toughest classes in the game to kill (save for Legionnaire). While my DPS is slightly reduced by losing Energy Barrage, Fade Cloak actually improves my DPS over Fade Step, and Stasis Field allows me to focus on dealing damage since bosses can be shut down and projectiles are no longer a problem. I certainly enjoyed my previous build but I think that an AW just does it better so I switched to a build that only the Keeper can achieve. So far I feel that the Keeper plays better and is much better for Perilous games.
I can't play without fade step. All that walking around is for peasants. Gotta go fast 
And I want/need more DPS. Survivability isn't an issue (for threatening). Though I can try that build out for perilous. Is your build solo perilous tested? If so, how is it?
Ok. I invested the last point at lvl 20 to Energy Barrage, and it felt kinda lacking. I'll try it out for a couple more games, before promoting. I've invested in 7 abilities so far. Smh.
Ok. I invested the last point at lvl 20 to Energy Barrage, and it felt kinda lacking. I'll try it out for a couple more games, before promoting. I've invested in 7 abilities so far. Smh.
Do you have passives like Restorative Veil and Mana surge? To constantly spam the 3 spells which all cost 50 mana each, you'll need those to help you.
I typically run Chain lightning / Disruption / Static / Barrier. I find this to be the most effective set-up for threatening but especially perilous, as it allows me to lock down boss minions and entire groups of enemies, which gets very important on perilous.
I actually find static far more useful than disruption, which only really gets used when a dangerous enemy gets up close or on the final boss. That said it really shines on the bosses, esp demon commander.
I think if you want a dps mage really the role to play is elementalist. Keeper brings some pretty awesome CC, which is basically god-tier with either a legionnaire and/or Arcane Warrior on your team.
@Reginald I just got keeper back to 20 trying to make an optimized solo threatening build and I have 1 point left for any of the following:
Veilstrike upgrade (went for stormbringer so I already have the base skill)
Unupgraded static cage
Unupgraded energy barrage (also have EB ring)
Unupgraded stasis field
About to test it without the last point spent and I'm curious which you'd pick.
Also, I have a lvl 20 walking fortress staff, is there another 23 one or is this the one you mentioned wanting? (Staff of the void)
Oh oops, I thought it was an ilvl23 item. My mistake.
As for your build for threatening, I'd probably use the last point for upgraded SCage because EBing/staffing the mobs caught in up'd SC would be more damage than upgraded EB I would think. And as for up'd Field, I don't think you'll need it with cage, walking fort procs and barrier.
Oh oops, I thought it was an ilvl23 item. My mistake.
As for your build for threatening, I'd probably use the last point for upgraded SCage because EBing/staffing the mobs caught in up'd SC would be more damage than upgraded EB I would think. And as for up'd Field, I don't think you'll need it with cage, walking fort procs and barrier.
i only have 1 point though, so i cant get the upgrade for cage.
to get the upgrade i'd have to promote again and im not sure what i'd drop in order to pick it up...i'd probably have to lose stormbringer and i still really like having it since its passive dps for keeper.
Do you have passives like Restorative Veil and Mana surge? To constantly spam the 3 spells which all cost 50 mana each, you'll need those to help you.
i only have 1 point though, so i cant get the upgrade for cage.
to get the upgrade i'd have to promote again and im not sure what i'd drop in order to pick it up...i'd probably have to lose stormbringer and i still really like having it since its passive dps for keeper.
Ah I misread your list. Thought you listed the abilities you already had and wanted to know which to upgrade.
I'd go EB so you can proc your Walking fortress even more. I'm assuming you're using fadestep or cloak for kiting purposes. Otherwise you'd need/want Cage.
Ah I misread your list. Thought you listed the abilities you already had and wanted to know which to upgrade.
I'd go EB so you can proc your Walking fortress even more. I'm assuming you're using fadestep or cloak for kiting purposes. Otherwise you'd need/want Cage.
yeah thats what i was thinking too, but its a tough decision ><
and yeah im using upgraded fade step for kiting/escaping/dps (first time using the upgrade, pretty impressed with the damage it adds along with stormbringer)
just finished my first attempt at solo threatening with the build, still have the 1 unused point.
got demons.
i won.
guess it doesnt really matter where i put the point lol
edit: and as im watching the video of the run, im starting to more seriously consider just grabbing the upgrade to veil strike.
running this build i try to make the most of the Conductive Current passive (5% damage bonus per 10% missing mana) by first casting barrier and then immediately casting chain lightning for a 25% damage bonus. the 65 mana cost of EB is really off putting since it would potentially not have a spot in my ability rotation...
whereas the upgrade to veil strike reduces the mana cost to only 20 mana and helps with crowd control.
i may just put the point there...
edit2: doh EB only costs 50 mana. it would fit perfectly.
hmm....DECISIONS ><
@Reginald Cousins
I'll be honest, I haven't played much Perilous as I have been experimenting with other classes/builds. Still, I don't have a lot of time to play each night so I group with friends and almost never solo unless testing a mechanic. I'm sure there are other players who like to solo and can comment on using Stasis Field on Perilous. As noted, your current build was my previous one and it does work well; I just found that an AW or even Elementalist could deal higher DPS than the Keeper so I decided to take a different approach.
I actually really like Barrage on my Keeper. Disruption Field is amazing if you get Demons though, it can hold the Commander still.
I think the best thing about Energy Barrage is its upgrade for reduced magic resistance for the magic type of your staff. It may be good for a more aggressive keeper build than barrier/DF/CL.
@veramis
Chain Lightning and Energy Barrage are complimentary. Energy Barrage will never replace Chain Lightning since one is strictly for a single target and the other Is designed for small groups. Both are certainly viable but if you can only take one I'd still go with Chain Lightning.
update: after putting my final point in the upgrade for veilstrike, im not disappointed.
i never feel like i need the extra single target damage that EB would have provided, and im loving the low mana cost / cooldown of veil, plus its ability to put mobs to sleep after hitting them with chain lightning (shocked + weakened combo)
in groups this also allows nightmare combos to go off.
i never expected to like veilstrike, and i only even had it in the first place because i wanted stormbringer, but im actually quite happy with it.
*this post was made after 2 out of 2 successful perilous pug runs using this build. no static cage, no disruption field*
2 stalkers going after a teammate at the same time?
*VEILSTRIKE* SIT DOWN
reaver planted flag in zone 5 and died on the way back?
*CHAINLIGHTNING VEILSTRIKE* GO TO SLEEP
rez incoming
good times.
update: after putting my final point in the upgrade for veilstrike, im not disappointed.
i never feel like i need the extra single target damage that EB would have provided, and im loving the low mana cost / cooldown of veil, plus its ability to put mobs to sleep after hitting them with chain lightning (shocked + weakened combo)
in groups this also allows nightmare combos to go off.
i never expected to like veilstrike, and i only even had it in the first place because i wanted stormbringer, but im actually quite happy with it.
*this post was made after 2 out of 2 successful perilous pug runs using this build. no static cage, no disruption field*
2 stalkers going after a teammate at the same time?
*VEILSTRIKE* SIT DOWN
reaver planted flag in zone 5 and died on the way back?
*CHAINLIGHTNING VEILSTRIKE* GO TO SLEEP
rez incoming
good times.
I quite like it too surprisingly, and think I'll stick with that for the 4th ability.
Makes me wanna go with that Barrier/Disruption/veilstrike and chain lightning build I was talking about on the previous page. Gotta get 8 levels and promote again. 
Retour en haut
