Build talk:N/W Sufferer Soul Taker

Honestly a pretty decent bar. Most of the variants I was able to think of are covered. I could see this build as being the more offensive yet more difficult to operate corollary to Build:N/D_Soul_Taker_Scythe. The quick damage spikes with this build are pretty insane, especially when you consider Dark Aura @18/19. I'd give this a great rating. Btw, has there been work done toward providing a hero team which provides Dark Aura? Maybe I'm overthinking it - I assume you just take an MM and sub one skill? Us3r1OO425457 (talk) 14:15, 23 December 2020 (UTC)
 * I haven't yet done serious tests with team builds tailored towards a soul taker player build. I'd presumably go for N/P dark aura, 3x mesmer, BiP heal, ST prot, arbitrary second spot healer.
 * If you think the build should be in the Build namespace, feel free to move this page or submit a copy of it. Same for most other builds in my user subpages that wouldn't be a dupe of an existing page. --Krschkr (talk) 15:30, 23 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Me Gusta Willarddog (talk) 11:58, 11 April 2021 (UTC)
 * @Us3r1OO425457 you bring up a good point regarding a team comp. We're starting to see a few of these that a team comp centered around supporting soul taker [insert weapon] could be made. I have a braindead team comp on my userpage which requires zero microing outside of SoH: User:Willarddog/Soul Taker Dagger Team Willarddog (talk) 12:00, 11 April 2021 (UTC).
 * We're still missing the proper non-PUG N/D Soul Taker that uses offensive flash enchantments and a support hero/player. That would be the most worthwhile build to design a team build around. --Krschkr (talk) 12:29, 11 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Build_talk:N/D_Soul_Taker_Scythe I posted something like what you're describing here. Regardless, I think that a team build would fit most if not all of the Soul Taker builds. I think that creating different (soul taker player build) pages (like we've already started doing) for the different variants then having them linked to the team build as player build options sounds like a good idea.


 * Besides all that, the great benefit of either Grenth's Aura on the 1st N/D variant or Vigorous Spirit on N/Mo is that self-damage is completely negated.


 * A team which requires microing would obviously be more efficient, as you'd have better control and a more effective team (two N/Rt healers), but if you have the opportunity, check our my micro-less team comp above. It shows dagger spam, but any soul taker builds works. The great thing about Soul Taker is that there are so many great variant options for so many different scenarios. Willarddog (talk) 17:06, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

Other attribute lines besides tactics?
Another point which needs to be taken into theorycrafting here is that you have godly energy management with 16 soul reaping, and you have almost nothing to use it on. IMO Soldier's strike is good at best, and "Watch Yourselves!" sees limited success in today's meta of bringing "Stand Your Ground!" on heros. What about other necro skills? You can easily drop tactics for another attribute line, or split the attribute investment with something else. Skills that come to the top of my head:

Blood Magic: Death Magic: Soul Reaping:
 * Blood Bond - Strong, spammable sustain (bonus - provides a spammable AoE hex to help trigger Unnatural Signet on your mesmers)
 * Blood Renewal - Alternative, spammable sustain (bonus - life sac skill on your bar means your hero will automatically maintain Dark Aura on your at all times)
 * Demonic Flesh - Good synergy with spamming attack skills, especially with a scythe (bonus - cover enchantment!)
 * Unholy Feast - AoE life steal with "In the area" range; Good offensive sustain (ideally you would go 12+1 blood magic)
 * Putrid Explosion - Extremely spammable AoE damage.
 * Masochism - Cover enchant which enables you to trigger Dark Aura on Putrid Explosion use (bonus - slightly improves energy management)

IMO just make skill slots 2 & 3 Optional and list what to fill it with. IMO Soldier's Strike & "Watch Yourselves!" are not main-bar worthy anyways, just decent optionals. Willarddog (talk) 21:02, 13 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Definitely worth a try. Putrid explosion + masochism would also trigger dark aura on using putrid explosion. Doesn't sound bad. --Krschkr (talk) 13:15, 14 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Added to my list above! Willarddog (talk) 14:43, 14 April 2021 (UTC)