Intro
First, this build is not meant to be a "clear Inferno" build although I have seen videos of similar builds doing it. Instead, this build is meant to be a fun alternative to the more cookie cutter builds out there.
When they first announced that DH, I couldn't have been happier. I really thought that the dark trapper was the exact class I was looking for. However, the bow aspect of the class never really attracted me. So, I had originally planned on playing that class focusing more on the trap and tactical aspect of the class. I created a build completely around the idea of not using a bow at all.
Skills http://us.battle.net...YSdT!VUb!YabYZZ
The main idea behind this build is to utilize skills that do not require a bow. Instead, traps and other gadgets would be the main focus.
Grenades (Stun Grenades) - Grenades is really the only choice to a spammable attack without a bow. Adding the stun rune can help you keep the monsters at bay while you attack.
Chakram (Twin Chakram) - Chakram is a great non-bow attack that will allow you to mow down numerous monsters quickly. The twin rune helps with the lack of targeting with the skill and doubles the damage.
Caltrops (Jagged Spikes) - Slowing down the enemy is essential for the class and the jagged rune helps add a little extra punch.
Spike Trap (Lightning Rod) - A key trap to inflict some heavy damage. Lightning rod helps spread out that damage instead of forcing them in the AoE.
Vault (Rattling Roll) - An essential skill to help move around. Rattling roll is good to help add some extra stun to get away.
Companion (Bat Companion) - Extra hatred to spam Chakram and Spike Traps.
Alternatives -
There are a few other skills we have at our disposal that one may chose to use instead of the ones listed above. If you are fine with your hatred consumption, you can get rid of companion. Caltrops would be the other skill I would drop since the dmg is not much and kiting is never fun for me.
Fan of Knives - A strong damaging skill when you are in the middle of a horde.
Sentry - Good for a quick lay down and let it attack as you are as well.
Marked for Death - Good for bosses or elites to add that extra damage.
Passives
There are not a lot of passives that are useful without a bow; however, the few remaining are helpful for this build.
Numbing Traps - With the use of Caltrops and Spike Trap its useful to help stay alive.
Vengeance - Extra hatred for spamming more damaging skills.
Gear
Since this build is directed at having fun, gear is not that important. Finding a strong one-handed weapon is important to keeping your DPS up. Along with a shield with plenty of DEF and VIT to help you stay alive. The ever important DEX and VIT are always useful with this build. IAS can also be helpful to spam more grenades and chakram faster.
Tactics
The tactics to this build remain similar to most DH builds. Go in the middle, lay a caltrop, vault out. Then place your three spike traps. After that, just spam grenades and chakram to clear the horde. Recast spike traps when needed and caltrops when kiting.
Its best to spam chakrams if you have the hatred. After depleting it from spike trap and chakram, switch to grenades to regain hatred. Rinse and repeat.
Pros and Cons
The first pro for this build is resource management. There is a good spread of hatred generators, hatred spenders, and discipline spenders. You are never really at a disadvantage when out of resource. You can quickly switch tactics to still do damage while regaining resource. Another pro is with the use of a shield and numbing traps, your defense is a lot better for survivability.
Cons are simple, you can't use any of the bow skills. If you are playing this build as a purist the grind to 12 can become a bit boring and difficult with no real skill to spam. You also miss out on many other skills that are useful. Another con is the lack of direct targeting. Many of your skills cannot be directly targeted to a single monster and aiming/targeting can take some time to get use to.
I'd take Steady Aim. It doesn't depend on weapon type, and is a sizeable damage boost. It's not against the theme either, since you do have to aim your Chakram and your grenades.
Grenadier is another option, for more hatred generation. Or even culling the weak for the caltrops combo.
Anyway, I applaud anyone who's willing the think outside the box. I wish that more builds like this were viable in the later Acts in the same gear that the typical builds are.
First, this build is not meant to be a "clear Inferno" build although I have seen videos of similar builds doing it. Instead, this build is meant to be a fun alternative to the more cookie cutter builds out there.
When they first announced that DH, I couldn't have been happier. I really thought that the dark trapper was the exact class I was looking for. However, the bow aspect of the class never really attracted me. So, I had originally planned on playing that class focusing more on the trap and tactical aspect of the class. I created a build completely around the idea of not using a bow at all.
Skills
http://us.battle.net...YSdT!VUb!YabYZZ
The main idea behind this build is to utilize skills that do not require a bow. Instead, traps and other gadgets would be the main focus.
Grenades (Stun Grenades) - Grenades is really the only choice to a spammable attack without a bow. Adding the stun rune can help you keep the monsters at bay while you attack.
Chakram (Twin Chakram) - Chakram is a great non-bow attack that will allow you to mow down numerous monsters quickly. The twin rune helps with the lack of targeting with the skill and doubles the damage.
Caltrops (Jagged Spikes) - Slowing down the enemy is essential for the class and the jagged rune helps add a little extra punch.
Spike Trap (Lightning Rod) - A key trap to inflict some heavy damage. Lightning rod helps spread out that damage instead of forcing them in the AoE.
Vault (Rattling Roll) - An essential skill to help move around. Rattling roll is good to help add some extra stun to get away.
Companion (Bat Companion) - Extra hatred to spam Chakram and Spike Traps.
Alternatives -
There are a few other skills we have at our disposal that one may chose to use instead of the ones listed above. If you are fine with your hatred consumption, you can get rid of companion. Caltrops would be the other skill I would drop since the dmg is not much and kiting is never fun for me.
Fan of Knives - A strong damaging skill when you are in the middle of a horde.
Sentry - Good for a quick lay down and let it attack as you are as well.
Marked for Death - Good for bosses or elites to add that extra damage.
Passives
There are not a lot of passives that are useful without a bow; however, the few remaining are helpful for this build.
Numbing Traps - With the use of Caltrops and Spike Trap its useful to help stay alive.
Custom Engineering - Again useful with all of our traps.
Vengeance - Extra hatred for spamming more damaging skills.
Gear
Since this build is directed at having fun, gear is not that important. Finding a strong one-handed weapon is important to keeping your DPS up. Along with a shield with plenty of DEF and VIT to help you stay alive. The ever important DEX and VIT are always useful with this build. IAS can also be helpful to spam more grenades and chakram faster.
Tactics
The tactics to this build remain similar to most DH builds. Go in the middle, lay a caltrop, vault out. Then place your three spike traps. After that, just spam grenades and chakram to clear the horde. Recast spike traps when needed and caltrops when kiting.
Its best to spam chakrams if you have the hatred. After depleting it from spike trap and chakram, switch to grenades to regain hatred. Rinse and repeat.
Pros and Cons
The first pro for this build is resource management. There is a good spread of hatred generators, hatred spenders, and discipline spenders. You are never really at a disadvantage when out of resource. You can quickly switch tactics to still do damage while regaining resource. Another pro is with the use of a shield and numbing traps, your defense is a lot better for survivability.
Cons are simple, you can't use any of the bow skills. If you are playing this build as a purist the grind to 12 can become a bit boring and difficult with no real skill to spam. You also miss out on many other skills that are useful. Another con is the lack of direct targeting. Many of your skills cannot be directly targeted to a single monster and aiming/targeting can take some time to get use to.
Game Play
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Nice build btw.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Grenadier is another option, for more hatred generation. Or even culling the weak for the caltrops combo.
Anyway, I applaud anyone who's willing the think outside the box. I wish that more builds like this were viable in the later Acts in the same gear that the typical builds are.
Great build man, I used to love laying traps when I was leveling, I should give a trapper build a shot.