Well, this is my first build post here, hopefully it ends up okay.

I've been toying with this build for quite some time, and I'm pretty sure this is some of the best not-20-levels-of-rogue xbow damage you can get. I know other builds may have slightly better dps, but I wanted a toon that would have insane utility and the fun tricks that a technically-wizard can give you.

12 wizard is enough for Wraith Form, which looks really cool and gives a good incorporeal chance. You also have the option of going down the EK tree, which actually does work with ranged weapons. 12 wizard also gives you a huge swath of utility spells, including buffs that you'd miss out on as an only rogue toon. You also get easy access to the repair spells, which I find helpful.

I am playing this out in heroics right now and I really like its feel, EK gives some great survivability options despite being mostly shit, and of course the mech tree is balls-to-the-wall op.

12 Wizard 6 Rogue 2 Arti
Race: Warforged/Bladeforged

Max int, put 18 points in dex (+5 tome or better required), rest in con.

Max Search, Spot, DD, OL, UMD, Repair.

Level order: 2 levels of arti (get rune arm asap), 6 levels of rogue (rush int/dam core enhancement so you can spec out of harper asap), rest wizard.

Arti spells are conjure bolts and enchant weapon.

Wizard spells are anything - 12 levels of wizard is a lot. You'll be able to get GH, though, which is awesome no matter what level you are.

For feats, be sure to pick up improved precise shot by 20, and take extend/quicken for your bonus feats.

So, uh, anyone have any ideas? I would love tips on how to refine this.

Sailias wrote on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 1:02am:


Also you get constant self-healing using Death auras and heal burst with Negative energy burst. You will have less DPS but more survival.

Sailias wrote on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 10:09am:


So heroic past life, ok. I'd say go DC Necro + Enchant PM for more speed. Once you start getting your instakill spells, only thing that slows you down are red named. If this is you're first caster life ever on that character, then SR may be an issue but you will go through mobs faster, unless you're one of those players that does all objectives in every quest.

Seen similar builds and they were all fairly mediocre in my experience, but that's just the power gamer in me I guess.

Sailias wrote on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 10:09am:


I think I can vouch for everybody when I say we all don't like it actually and if I can't, well then at least you're not alone

Sailias wrote on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 10:09am:


That is why, at the very least, a level of Arti is the best option for any xbow build, besides the prof's and reload feats it gives.

Since when does Communion of Scribing/Recon work while in undead forms? Then again, I don't own WF or BF so I wouldn't know but they don't work while you're in undead form to the best of my knowledge lol.

As for the scrolls, you only need 6 - GH, Tele, Fireshield, Tenser, TS, Invis - 5 (maybe even all 6) of which you can UMD earlier during a life than you have access to though I do understand the spontaneous part.

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They don't, but as this is a heroic mostly life, so you don't actually get wraith form until 20. In epics you'll swap your spells to be the undead healing ones, in heroics you'll have your robot spells.

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6 is a lot, but it isn't enough. Maybe I want protection from energy all the time, maybe I want blur/displacement, idk. I started this build with the idea of using the 12 wizard lives as utility, in order to take the inventory management away from me.

If we go to 8 rog 10 wiz we lose some level 6 spells but only get like 1% dodge, and if we go down an arti level we lose rune arms.

I should have clarified this in the OP, but I wanted the best technically-a-wizard xbow build, so anything that changes my past life is a no-go.

Is this just for a heroic wizard life, tring at 20?

11/6/1 seems like the best set up that case.

You could probably drop the arty levels altogether. I assume warforged at 11 wizard levels for reconstruct? leaving you with 7 levels to play with until capping. Front load 6 rogue levels for proficiency with xbows and int to damage. And pile on the wizard levels after, gaining displace, haste and reconstruct as the content gets harder. If leveling early without xbow prof is a pain then add 1 arty level early on while still being able to get reconstruct at level 17 and giving up rogue level 6 until lv 18.

He wants wizard past life Grand. Can't go pure mech.

Rubbinns wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 2:04am:


Here's the thing, though - that second level of arti early on gives me a rune arm slot, which I've grown really accustomed to. Hand of the Tombs basically carries you through wiz-king, which otherwise is sadly a bit of a challenge for me on-level (not very good at this game ).

Rune arms are a lot of functionality - like in the Trackers Trap, not having to swap your spells to fireball to punt the howlers. Plus, it makes it much easier to get through necro 3's shitty rats. It is definitely a dps boost, too, not to mention some nice stats.

As far as leveling is going, taking the 2 levels of arti first, followed by all the rogue levels, the rest wizard does delay reconstruct until later, but it frees up a lot of AP to not have to be shoved in Harper until level 18.

Sailias wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 2:09pm:

you wont get recon until 19 then. skip wiz king if it's too much of a hassle without disruption. scroll flame arrow for 1d6 fire bolts.

Sailias wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 2:09pm:

insightful strikes can be replaced with accuracy items, and you will be having a decent dex score anyhow. shouldnt be an issue to-hit. int to dmg comes from mech cores.

Sailias wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 8:53pm:

you also open up access to assassin trick

Sailias wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 8:53pm:



How do you feed yourself?

Galadriel wrote on Feb 19^th, 2016 at 12:19am:


That's a good call, actually - endless fusillade is pretty great. Weirdly enough, right now most of my AP is in EK for the Mage Armor and Shield SLAs - and the EK toggles actually work for ranged damage, too.

Rogtard.