New Moon: Critical Hybrid

/ fentalyne

This build is a modified version of a build published in YouTube.
Original creator: Asleep in the Fantasy
Original build/video: (Link)


General Skills: Griffin School Techniques or Cat School Techniques

Equipment:

Gear: Venomous Viper Swords & New Moon gear + Nilfgaardian Guardsman’s Gauntlets
Min. level requirement:
(Level 59 + 25 Places of Power = 84 Skill Points)
NG+: Level 34 + 50 Places of Power = 84 Skill Points
Recommended:

  • Glyphs: Igni
    • Glyphwords: Levity or Balance
  • Runestones: –
    • Runewords: Severance
  • Potions: Thunderbolt, Petri’s Philter, Tawny Owl, Swallow
  • Decoctions: Water Hag, Katakan, Ekimmara, Ekhidna

Summary:

Recently I found this YouTube -video showcasing the capabilities of the New Moon armor set which was introduced in Hearts of Stone DLC. That video fired up my inspiration for a character build which would be a real “CRIT Machine”!

All in all, this build combines the innate attribute of the different swords and armor with element of elevating critical hit chance and critical hit damage bonus. Although the original creator had this in standard playthrough, I took it to one step further: I implemented the scenario of playing in New Game+ and having those extra skill points needed to finish the build!

How it works:

  • The main goal of this build is to make critical hits occur as often as possible
    • +10% chance from Venomous Viper swords
    • +22% chance from New Moon gear
    • +10% chance from Precise Blows / Crushing Blows
    • With additional buffs from Katakan decoction and possibly Thunderbolt potion, critical hits happen in almost every slash of a sword!
  • Taking advantage of high critical hit occurrence, the critical hit damage is buffed by…
    • +75% bonus from Venomous Viper swords
    • +110% bonus from New Moon gear + Nilfgaardian Guardsman’s Gauntlets
    • +75% bonus from Precise Blows / Crushing Blows
    • +100% bonus, if Cat School Techniques is used
    • All this combined with other damage boosting factors (like blade oils, potions…), the damage is extremely high for a mixed build!
  • Rend is your main damage dealer, but Whirl is also recommended
    • Severance runeword helps to keep the distance between you and the enemy safe
    • Both offer massive damage when landing a critical hit
      • See how effective those are from the video!
    • Whirl is “a real fodder slayer” in this build when using against weak enemies
  • Petri’s Philter makes your Igni and Aard always cause their special effect
    • High damage potential from Igni (look from the video!)
    • Aard offers relieving knockdowns and one-hit-kills
  • Acquired Tolerance allows the usage of decoctions and potions for great effect
  • Synergy buffs the Attack Power and Sign Intensity to highly needed level
  • In my opinion, there is two big choices for this build…
    • Enchant New Moon -armor with Levity
      • Combine this variant with Cat School Techniques
      • Higher damage from swords, lower sign damage and stamina regeneration
    • Enchant New Moon -armor with Balance
      • Combine this variant with Griffin School Techniques
      • Higher sign damage and stamina regeneration, lower damage from swords
    • Choose the one you prefer!
  • This build is for experienced players who are accustomed to dodging, because…

Pros and Cons:

+Hybrid build offers the needed variability in gameplay
+Extremely satisfying when landing those multiple critical hits
+The gear looks sexy as f***

-This build is the real definition of “glass-cannon”, for experienced players only!

 

 

 

 

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