Hey man - since you say in your videos that you read every comment I hope you are reading this one: I just wanted to let you know is that the videos you've produced on baldur's gate have gotten me through a rough spot in my life as I have struggled with depression. the funny thing is I barely even f****** play baldur's gate, but Ive played a lot of DnD, and something about the content you yave produced for this game has been so relatable and enjoyable that Ive looked forward to each one. In lieu of my ability to support monetarily, I hope that you will take this feedback and gratitude as my thanks. ❤
I think it is funny every time I hear you say, "and like every warlock before us we take agonizing blast and devil's sight." While I totally agree with you that these are the proper choices, I vividly remember a time when every warlock build guide said to take agonizing blast and repelling blast.
You are really the best at doing BG3 guides and builds ! I learn so much thanks to you, and I enjoy particularly your party builds. Also the fact that we don't need specific late game stuff to be able to enjoy the build you make are really nice. Please keep doing this amazing job if you can ! I'm specially happy to see this party build, because I have started a game with a similar flavor, I will say, but didn't work really well, specially in early game, so I just stop playing with that save (Im doing honor mod now so, it's fine), but I do want to come back to then, because I have the best idea on the RP side for this play through, and I will be using this builds to make this fun to play ! So thanks so much !
@@Cephalopocalypse For real. One of the things I appreciate most is that you stay away from "breaking" the game. I've checked out some builds from other YT channels and so many of them rely on exploiting stuff like permanent flame blade, etc. Also the more free-form itemization. So many builds out there have super strict itemization needs to make the builds work. Unrelated, but I'm still mad that the Potent Robe means you can't do evil stuff for a good portion of the game, dammit Larian.
Something that would be super appreciated (not sure if there’s audience for it but there’s at least one) would be a brief rundown of an order to tackle things in act 1. Doesn’t need to be super detailed every fight breakdown just kind of a general flow as to not stumble into crazy hard fights without expecting it.
@@medusalem9485 act 3 doesn't really need a guide because you are so strong anyway you do it doesn't matter. I would recommend doing the tower first though, that shit is way too easy especially if you have a guy who can hold person effectively and a melee dmg dealer. Act 1 i think that siding with the goblins, even on an evil run is a miss. Besides the Minthara sex(which is fucking awesome especially on a Durge where you can decide her fate as well) or drunk shadowheart(cool the first time you see it, but its pretty heartbreaking tbh cause i love SH to death, she is such an adorable companion and she is definitely the safest and should be the most used companion in pretty much everybody playthrough simply cause of Guidance, bless and you get her first in act 1after the nautiloid). You can get the full Dammon set and then decide to branch out into evil or good run at the Gaunlet of Shar decision. You don't lose any companion and you get the free set of armor before him dying(don't forget to kill the ox too if you are a fire sorcerer and wants to min max your way in act 2, that helmet is probably best in slot, if its not party face). Remember to save Jaheira too. Never tried, but i believe as the Durge, you can also save nightsong THAN kill isobel at Last light inn. never tried that myself yet though
Perfect. I am almost done w/ my current honour mode playthrough and was wanting to do an evil sorc build. Your timing is always impeccable. E: Oh even better a beast master. I've been wanting to try one.
Broooooo, perfect timing!! Just started my 3rd play through (first DUrge) going full evil party with Lockadin as main last night! Timing could not have been better 😘
Whoa... I'm about to start my honor mode run with another set of your character build videos (Best Party Honor Mode), but this made me question that decision entirely!! Fantastic as usual, but more than usual here!!!
If the Oath-keeper isn’t the party face or isn’t making the decision themselves, will that keep the Oath from breaking? If so, I would likely play the Sorlock so your Cha is still your primary stat, and theoretically your Paladin’s Oath would break significantly less; but probably still semi-frequently.
@@gregoberski5897 That might depend on what it is you did to break it... For example, I remember that killing the hollyphant to become an assassin of Bhaal broke my paladin shadowheart's oath, but when I reloaded and had a different party member land the killing blow, it was fine.
@@Bodehi_The_Archivist as far as I’ve seen the paladin needs to have been the one to actually do the deed (usually the game deciding some cultist of an evil god attacking you was actually innocent bc they have low hp), but if u keep them back it should be fine
Since the sorlock is the one mostly running haste, it's actually best to go sorcerer 5 for haste since the haste you got from warlock is only once per long rest.
for Astarion, I went with arcane trickster up to level 7 and took 5 levels of circle of the land. He was using gaseous form and misty step, transforming into wolves in battle and scaring the piss out of shadowheart 😂 and he really felt like Strahd.
I would love to see some of these parties you create in game play scenarios with your commentary, showing how these builds come into fruition would be super cool. Great work!
currently playing your melee-honormode party build in - well, im a sissy - tactician to get back into the game, enjoying the sheer brokeness of it all come together... my first honormode will feature this builld and the evil route, i did put it off for a long time, but i think im ready and this partybuild is really something i never tried but always kinda wanted :) thanks mate small edit: on my playthrough i was almost in act when i finally dropped this build cause i still had 2 chars without blindimmunity making it really awkward... you might want to adjust for devil sight on all chars untill late act2 if you want to play with darkness a lot, it is very safe and definetly worth it but it also is quite the hassle :) Awesome build tho and thank you for letting me clear my first honormode with all your help through this channel! :)
Yeeessssss these are the most fun builds, and I've been waiting for your take on this party comp. I'll probably still go with your oathbreaker Minthara build if I'm doing an evil run just to save the hassle of constantly breaking the oath. I'm sure that's still plenty effective.
I really wanted to include a shadow monk, but I was finding that a melee character that either has to skip getting early blind immunity or delay your damage by two levels felt pretty rough in practice. In the later game it would be excellent though, and you could easily replace the lockadin with one!
FYI... Beginning with abilities and moving up, rather than starting with cantrips and going down, makes it difficult for us console players to follow along. We can't skip sections while leveling up, so we have to fill in random spells and selections just to reach the abilities section. Then, we have to work our way back as you progress. You may not have been aware of this, but it's a challenge for console players, and it's quite frustrating.
I'm centering my part around darkness this playthrough. 3/4 members dip warlock for devil sight. The last member puts on the sight ring. Sor-lock: 8 Sorceror / 3 Warlock, machine gun blows eldritch blasts and is the primary spellcaster. Bard-lock: Bard 7 / Warlock 5, hunger of hazar user with pack of the blade and ring of mystic scoundrel to hold person bonus action and massive save DC bonuses. Pal-lock: Paladin 7 / Warlock 5, abused warlock spell slots regenerating on short rest and maxing at level 3 for 5 level dip (same as 6 level 3 paladin slots, more than they get with a pure build). Eldritch blast to cover for paladin's lack of ranged and pact of blade to be able to dump strength entirely. Last class is a full light cleric. It has anti synergy with darkness with their AoE channel divinity but the warding flare is a great cleric tool. The standard radiating orb build means popping spirit guardians and/or guardian of faith inside a darkness cloud melts and further lowers enemy hit chance.
@cephalopocalypse i cannot with you sometimes! this is the second time i have started an honor run and your vid is PERFECT for what i'm thinking to do! i just started a durge HM where for the first time i'm going to ***TRY*** to be evil. haha. amazing dude!
Hey man, very intriguing builds! I’d recommend starting the video with footage of the build in action, rather than just minthara’s face. I’m hesitant to try this since I’m not sure how it would be practically
I'd love more thematic party builds. My mind immediately goes to a Reactions based party (Divination Wizard/Lore Bard/Light Cleric maybe even with the Lucky feat). I'd also love to see a Resonance Stone/Psychic damage themed party (Bard for Vicious Mockery, Shadow Monk, maybe a Shadow Blade Ring character).
I like how when you released the lightning/cold party, I thought of this same concept for my Honour Mode Durge. But, since I didn't have this video to give me ideas, I ended up going with crit sorlock durge(with a 2 level dip in tempest cleric instead of fighter), minthara with your paladin assassin build, astarion as a shadowmonk/assassin/fighter and shadowheart as the classic gloomstalker assassin. Yes, I realized I had a team with 3 assassins in it, only the durge being left out... Until i realized this was my Bhaalist run, so my Durge was also an assassin: The Unholy Assassin, Bhaal's Chosen XD
How would you approach Raphael fight with this build since Darkness is not an advantage here? I'm preparing for that and I find it potential run killer.
Based on my limited post-patch 7 testing of eversight ring, helldusk helmet and steel watcher helmet, eversight ring and steel watcher helmet allow ranged bow attacks and spell attacks in and out of darkness but helldusk helmet does not. Helldusk helmet only prevents blindness but does not allow attacks into or out of darkness.
I am trying to understand the use of darkness. Is the advantage from the party being able to fire into it from the outside, or fire from inside out? I think this build will be a great Dark Urge evil play through. Love your videos! Thank you for all your hard work!
Just tried it out and it's such a fun build! Accidentally provoked a fight with an entire goblin camp and was able to dispatch it with a single cloud, no AOE and pretty bad gear. And yeah, if you play durge, you can consider your oath broken by default. Probably best not to pick paladin as your party face. Oathbreaker makes sense thematically, but not being able to respec kinda sucks. I'll probably try it again with your recommended setup :D
Seems fun other than keeping your Oath as an Ancients Paladin doing evil choices. If you’re looking for more party ideas, I’d like to see a charisma-less party build at some point!
Man I've been musing about a party like this for a while and have really struggled with how to fit a support. I love the idea of nature cleric basically just being kindof a shadow druid/control. I wonder about replacing the bm hunter with college of swords bard with lock 2 dip.
Hi Cephalo, I tried to search for a tierlist/explanation video for the illithid powers but I couldn’t find one. In case you haven’t posted a video about it, are you planning to do so? Thanks for your amazing content, it’s helping me a lot throughout my first run
Is it even possible to obtain the Spear of Evening in a 4-player campaign? My buddies and I followed this build guide and found ourselves unable to get it, since it has to be Shadowheart killing Aylin afaik
First of all I really appreciate your content. It's very insightful and enjoyable to listen to. But might not be a good idea to suggest a torch on an honor mode run. I have 4 runs going in higher acts, but my darkness run ended when shadowheart with her torch held high, walked into the explosives room in the goblin camp haha
Thanks for this very helpful because I have trouble using darkness to the best advantage. Coupla questions: sometimes ive noticed that even if a character is immune to blinded they cannot shoot or cast spells out of a darkness cloud. They have to leave the cloud to fire. You mentioned this on the Ranger. but im wondering if there is equipment besides Helldusk Helmet that avoids that problem?so if ithey cant see through darkness what is the benefit from Eversight ring ? - that you don’t get disadvantage from the darkness? Second question: To get advantage in darkness do you have to be in the “hidden” condition - meaning do you have to click Hide? The wiki seems to require you be hiding to get advantage. Thats easy for rogue or gloomstalker but not for most other classes. Thanks again!
There are definitely some bugs with darkness - I think the way the game draws line of sight is at issue here, since it sometimes seems to count the edge of the spell effect as being unable to be seen through even though that should always be visible - others have said the eversight ring works to shoot into darkness for them also, so I don't know what's going on there! To get advantage in darkness you don't have to be hidden at all! You get the "attacking from shadows" modifier if the enemy can't see through the darkness - you can see that happen when I demo it with the ranger
Written version of this guide, hopefully it stops someone Sorloc 1 Sorc D14 C16 W10 Cha 17 Persuasion, Insight Storm Sorceror Shield, Magic Missile Mage hand, friends, minor illusion, ray of frost 2 Warlock Eldrich blast, true strike Fiend Command, hex 3 Warlock Agonizing blast, devil sight Armor of Agathys 4 Warlock Pact of the tome Darkness Replace hex with cloud of daggers 5 Warlock Alert or actor Blade Ward Misty Step 6 Warlock - Hunger of hadar Repelling Blast Cloud of daggers for counterspell or fireball 7 Sorcerer Twinned spell, extend spell, mage armor 8 Sorceror Quickened spell, scorching ray 9 Sorceror Ability Improvement CHA or actor, acid splash, utility spell 10 Warlock Hypnotic pattern 11 Warlock Wall of fire, dreadful word, replace Armor of Agathys for Banishment 12 Warlock Ability improvement CHA (Or Warcaster) Stinking cloud Items - Spell save DC items - Fistbreaker helm (Tarv, Moonrise Towers A2), Ring of Feywild Sparks (Auntie Ethel, A3) Melf's First Staff (Myconid Colony, A1) Robe of Exquisite Focus (Moonrise Towers, Araj A2) Cloak of the Weave (Unlock Helsik’s curated selection, A3) Helldusk Gloves (House of Hope, A3) Amulet of the Devout (Stormshore Tabernacle, A3) Stop from falling items CHA bonuses (Birthright, A3, Sorcerous Sundries) Shield (Kethric’s shield) Locadin 1 Paladin - Oath of Ancients Dex 14 Con16 Wis 12 Cha 16 2 Warlock Great Old One Dissonant Whispers, hex Eldritch Blast, Minor illusion 3 Warlock Agonizing Blast, Devi’s Sight Armor of agathys 4 Warlock Pact of the Blade Darkness Replace dissonant whispers with misty step 5 Paladin Fighting style - Great weapon fighting Command, Bless, Thunderous smite, Shield of faith, protection from good and evil 6 Warlock Additional charisma Bone chill Hold person 7 Warlock Hunger of Hadar, repelling blast, replace Hex with Counterspell 8 Paladin 9 Paladin Ability improvement CHA 10 Paladin 11 Paladin 12 Paladin Items - Initiative gear (Gloves of Dex (Crèche, A1, A'jak'nir Jeera.), soulbreaker greatsword (Creche, looted from Kith'rak, A1) Crit gear Helmet of arcane acuity (Mason’s Guild Basement, A2) band of the mystic scoundrel (Jungle from carnival, A3) Beastmaster Ranger All ranger 1 17 Dex 16 Con 15 Wis Background with slight of hand, stealth, survival Wasteland wanderer - Fire Ranger Knight 2 Archery Hunter’s Mark, Longstrider 3 Beastmaster Enhance Leap 4 Sharpshooter 5 Silence 6 Two levels of warlock to get Devi’s Sight OR Ranger Mage Breaker Wasteland Wanderer - Cold Replace Hunter’s Mark with Spike Growth 7 Pass without trace, or Hunter’s Mark 8 Ability Improvement DEX and WIS 9 Plant growth 10 Sanctified Stalker Wasteland wanderer: Poison 11 Can use the dire raven animal companion, utility spell 12 Ability Improvement - DEX Items Titanstring Bow (A2, Moonrise Towers, Tarv) with elixirs or Club of Hill Giant Strength (Stool in Arcane Tower, A1) Or Deadshot Arrows of Darkness Eversight Ring (A2 Morgue), then Helldusk Helmet (A3, House of Hope) Anything that increases dmg - Flawed Helldusk Gloves (Dammon, Last Light, A2) Medium armor, uncapped agility Nature Cleric All Cleric 1 Wis 17 Con 16 Dex 15 Guidance, produce flame, resistance Nature Domain Shillelagh 2 Sanctuary, Command, Bless, Healing Word, Guiding Bolt 3 Spiritual weapon 4 Alert Blade ward 5 Spirit guardians, glyph of warding, replace guiding bolt with mass healing word 6 Two levels of warlock, OR Cleric 7 Guardian of Faith, Freedom of Movement 8 Ability improvement - WIS and DEX 9 Daylight, aid 10 Blade Ward 11 Hero’s Feast 12 Ability Improvement - WIS Items Hellrider’s pride(Zevlor, A1) , whispering promise (Volo, sacred pool, A1) Dwarven splintmail (Moonrise Towers, A2), heavy armor Shar’s Spear of Evening (Evil SH Quest), Steelwatcher Helmet (A3, Steelwatch foundry) Staff of Arcane Blessing (A1, Arcane Tower) Initiative Shield Misty Step Items - Disintegrating Night Walkers (A1, on Nere) (Luminous Armor(A1), Coruscation Ring(A2), Luminous Gloves(A2), Boots of Stormy Clamour(A1))
Are you meant to fight inside your own Hunger of Hadar? I don't understand what a typical fight is supposed to look like. Hunger of Hadar + an adjacent cast of Darkness from both your Sorlock and Padlock? Or just stand in the HoH and heal up after the fight?
Just beat Honor for the first time today using a Darkness abusing party. I HIGHLY recommend switching the Lockadin for a 10/2 Swords Bardadin using Shars Spear and helmet of arcane acuity. Casting irresistible upcasted Command:Approach prevents you from having to leave the Darkness to do what you want to do and it is absolutely invaluable. Ring of Mystic Scoundrel lets you build up acuity stacks with slashing flourishes and casting control spells on bonus action. It is the most powerful build I've ever played. I also used an OH Monk 6 / Warlock 2 / Thief 4 to kill stuff that really, absolutely needs to die on turn 1. Monk can comfortably afford to dip Warlock for Devils Sight if you're willing to chug strength elixirs all game. Beastmaster Ranger 11 for the Raven is what makes this all work. Free Darkness setup is insane but the Raven gets so much movement and even gets the Help action. Saving downed characters that got demolished by a legendary action or just bad rolls is so important.
I also think the 10/2 Bardadin is better than Lockadin on Honor, but might be better to go warlock in early game for the devils sight until you get some gear (ultimately Shars Spear like you mention). With the Bardadin using arcane acuity helmet / command approach, and the sorlock using fire acuity helmet / scorching ray / hold person/monster, you should have amazing battlefield control. I would run the bhaalist armor on the Bardadin to 2x piercing damage from his spear and the ranger's arrrows I really like the spike growth, plant growth in combo with Hunger of Hadar.
@@jameskelsea6048thats pretty much what I ended up doing. Worth noting that Bardadin gets upcasted Command: Approach as well as Hold Person on bonus actions with insane acuity stacks. You might as well, since its not contested by anything. Let your blaster blast instead.
Perhaps shadow monk is my favorite character in the game, and I want nothing more than to work a character with mostly shadow monk levels into this party. Is there a decent way to make that substitution in your opinion? I saw you mention in a reply to another comment subbing out the lockadin? What's the main problem with that route? Completely separate question, have you ever done a build maximizing taking dual wielder on a caster for two staffs?
I have a very similar party and for some reason the Helldusk Helmet is not working as I think it should. The eversight rings only text is you cannot be blinded and you can shoot in and out of darkness just fine. The helldusk helmet specifies being able to see in magical and ordinary darkness before saying you cannot be blinded, yet for some reason cannot shoot arrows through darkness with it. The steel watch helmet has similar text without specifying magical darkness and that works just fine. Anyone else having this issue? (Test was 6m away so 12m limit is not the problem)
I didn't really go into it in the video but the eversight ring is extremely buggy, and the other darkness immunity items have some issues as well - the ring actually doesn't exist in the accessible game files, unlike every other item in the game!
Yes it's bugged and doesn't allow you to use ranged attacks through the darkness. You can still get melee advantage though. Hunger of Hadar also seems to be bugged because it blinds you even if you have Devil's Sight and/or the Eversight Ring. This whole strategy is kinda screwed up by these issues and these bugs have existed for way too long.
Me after the first half of this video being Pallock and Sorlock: 😐 Me when you rounded those out with the fucking Beastmaster Ranger and Nature Cleric spice 😍😍😍
I've been dying to do a Shadowheart x Minthara duo run, and this might be the perfect setup for that, with the other two party slots filled by hirelings. If this is how I go about approaching honor mode for the fitst time, I would be quite happy with that arrangement. Just will have to find another option for the fourth party member until act 2. Maybe Gale, he does great as a camp companion.
I think a dex based shadow monk with Shar's spear will be a good complement to this build. I know it's item dependent but in act 1 and 2, using the ring that gives immunity to blind will work
Great video, really dig the theme here! Any chance on a mono-class (non-throwing weapons) Eldritch Knight Fighter? After watching your mono-class Arcane Trickster Rouge I'm curious on how you'd tackle another subclass a lot of folks say is not as good. I'm also a huge Eldritch Knight fan, at least conceptually.
Funnily enough, there aren't a lot of 5th level spells you really care about countering - if you can't get to 6th level slots (which warlock can't), you're usually fine staying at 4. The sorcerer levels for the incredible action economy boost are much valuable I find
@@Cephalopocalypse Thanks for the feedback! Am planning my first honor run through now, and just discovered your channel. Love the deeply informative style mixed with your sense of humor!
@@talcooper7606 Those are for dark vision, no? Darkness actually inflicts blindness, I'm pretty sure dark vision isn't enough. PS: The only ways to become immune to blindness / darkness spell are: Shar's Spear of Evening, Steelwatcher Helmet, Eversight Ring, Helldusk Helmet and Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation.
As always thanks for the build guides. Regarding breaking oaths there is no way to respec after you have done so. I could be wrong about this. However, I have seen it on a couple of build guides where they wanted oath of the ancients
If you break your oath, you can buy it back from the oathbreaker knight and then after that you can respec as normal - it costs 1000 gold the first time and more every time though, so be careful!
Hey, not sure if you will see this but I wanted to ask --- I thought Lock/Paladin was very much nerfed in Honor mode. Is it just still very good post-nerf anyway? I figured it would only be good in lower difficulties at this point
It's still great! The nerf was just that you don't get a 3rd attack from stacking Pact of the Blade with Extra Attack anymore - so you're stuck with "only" two attacks each of which does some of the highest damage in the game. It just means other builds can still be competitive with its lategame damage rather than it leaving everything else in the dust, but it's still a top-tier build
@@Cephalopocalypse thank you for the reply! im using a combination from a couple of your videos to do an evil//darkness type of playthrough. doing minthrara bladelock, shar as like a dark war cleric using spear, Tav as a BM ranger, and 4th im stuck between laezel warrior or a gloomstalker astarion
Can someone help me understand how these darkness builds are supposed to be played? It would be helpful in these build videos if you showed a sample combat so we could see how the build is actually played. Especially for these party builds where we're focusing on subtle interactions between different player characters. Anyway, am I supposed to be casting darkness at the enemies so they can't see out of the darkness? Or am I supposed to be casting darkness around my ranged characters' feet so that enemies can't ranged target them and have disadvantage on melee attacks? Or is it both? Because like you said, you need the Helldusk Helmet to shoot into darkness, which seems to make that first strategy completely useless until Act 3. If I'm casting it around my ranged characters' feet, then why would I need so many separate casts of darkness? Couldn't I just have one character cast it and all the ranged characters just hang out around it? How many combats really run longer than 10 rounds? Conversely, if I'm casting darkness multiple times to hit multiple pockets of enemies, 1) how am I supposed to shoot into them before Act 3? and 2) can't the enemies just... walk out of the darkness? It's not that wide of an AOE. And most of the spells that could stop enemies from moving out of the darkness are also concentration spells. Many reasons why it would really help to see this build in action, not just see the character builds on paper but actually see how it works in practice and how it's supposed to be played. Thanks.
Can you make a party around the bards short rest? So maybe a party where all have access to song of rest and also different classes benefiting massively from short rests.
Wait, this is sick... I'm already playing a Dark Urge run with my usual main party having an ancients paladin durge, beastmaster ranger Minthara, and cleric Shadowheart, I can totally use this as inspiration to tweak my builds for more synergy. Nice! Hey, have you ever made a build that focuses around using the tadpole powers? I thought of this bc of the mind flayer in the thumbnail.
Ok I haven't watched this video, in case of potential spoilers, but I'm guessing you've included the Vampire Ascendant. Good or evil run, I would have this version of Astarion any day! Give this version the Crimson Mischief, he can do an insane amount of damage in one turn, with the Bhaalist Armour equipped for the evilest overpowered combination. Him ascending doesn't even affect the game's main story, as it would for Shadowheart killing Nightsong (which I haven't seen yet in my own game, but I read up on what happens if you kill Nightsong). Astarion doesn't even get upset if you choose not to rule over the Absolute. Maybe he was content with domineering the romance instead... (LOL). But it's nothing to feel guilty about in terms of the good fight against the Absolute. Some of a Ranger's Criminal background goals are pretty evil. I mean, stealing the boots from Thulla... Playing Elden Ring has probably desensitised me, because certain innocent/friendly NPCs drop the best gear in the game if you kill them prematurely/out of cold blood.
Is the nature cleric interchangeable with the Broken combo spore druid build ua-cam.com/video/OFHOE92Evxg/v-deo.htmlsi=piLO6yls_Vx-hIGi ? And if so, which would be better and why?
I made a drow darkness party like that instead : Main drow - gloom 5 assassin 4 fighter 3, Astarion (perma disguise drow ) Shadowmonk 6 Thief 4 Goolock2, Minthara Vengeance Pal 2 Bard 10, Drow mercenary - Storm Cleric 2 Goolock 2 white Drake Sorc 8. It was insanely easy in honor mode moded with more encounters and better IA
Hasn't Darkness been nerfed to the ground? On Honour mode, enemies can shoot into it and spell casters can cast the single-target spells into it as well. I just had a fight in Crech Y'llek where gith archers can just shoot normal arrows into darkness. The funny thing is the description and BG3 wiki don't mention anything change about that.
Paladin is a terrible class for evil play because Withers doesn't like oathbreakers respeccing every time Cephalopocalypse drops a new build. Literally unplayable.
It is worth noting that the Dire Raven can fly (& thus use darkness) multiple times per turn. A minimum amount of movement speed is used each time so it is not unlimited but it can cover a LARGE area each turn this way.
I feel like I’m going to take the happiest happy happy characters and make a darkness party. Halsin sorry pal, you’re now a ranger not a Druid. Karlack, you can pull off paladin hybrid, Gale you’re aggressive fake happy most of the time, you can sorc it. Tav you pick up the last slot…weeeeeee!! So much happy….so much darkness.
I just finished an Honor Mode with a very similar theme (Beast Master Darkness TAV/ Minthara Darkness Paladin / Shar Shadowheart) and it was easily my most OP party build by Lvl12. I knew something was up when I was taking out bosses in one turn.
Cool party. Not my thing though because playing around and with darkness just feels too restricted and spending actions on it rather than smashing enemies or controlling feels weird.
Hey man - since you say in your videos that you read every comment I hope you are reading this one:
I just wanted to let you know is that the videos you've produced on baldur's gate have gotten me through a rough spot in my life as I have struggled with depression. the funny thing is I barely even f****** play baldur's gate, but Ive played a lot of DnD, and something about the content you yave produced for this game has been so relatable and enjoyable that Ive looked forward to each one.
In lieu of my ability to support monetarily, I hope that you will take this feedback and gratitude as my thanks. ❤
Hey, thanks so much - glad they're helping! I know how tough that struggle can be, and I hope things start looking up for you soon
I think it is funny every time I hear you say, "and like every warlock before us we take agonizing blast and devil's sight." While I totally agree with you that these are the proper choices, I vividly remember a time when every warlock build guide said to take agonizing blast and repelling blast.
As do I
Repelling Bladt doesn't seem as strong as Devils Sight when abusing Darkness.
You are really the best at doing BG3 guides and builds ! I learn so much thanks to you, and I enjoy particularly your party builds. Also the fact that we don't need specific late game stuff to be able to enjoy the build you make are really nice. Please keep doing this amazing job if you can !
I'm specially happy to see this party build, because I have started a game with a similar flavor, I will say, but didn't work really well, specially in early game, so I just stop playing with that save (Im doing honor mod now so, it's fine), but I do want to come back to then, because I have the best idea on the RP side for this play through, and I will be using this builds to make this fun to play ! So thanks so much !
Thanks very much! I appreciate the kind words :D
@@Cephalopocalypse For real. One of the things I appreciate most is that you stay away from "breaking" the game. I've checked out some builds from other YT channels and so many of them rely on exploiting stuff like permanent flame blade, etc. Also the more free-form itemization. So many builds out there have super strict itemization needs to make the builds work. Unrelated, but I'm still mad that the Potent Robe means you can't do evil stuff for a good portion of the game, dammit Larian.
Something that would be super appreciated (not sure if there’s audience for it but there’s at least one) would be a brief rundown of an order to tackle things in act 1. Doesn’t need to be super detailed every fight breakdown just kind of a general flow as to not stumble into crazy hard fights without expecting it.
@@medusalem9485 damn bro, much appreciated
@@medusalem9485 act 3 doesn't really need a guide because you are so strong anyway you do it doesn't matter. I would recommend doing the tower first though, that shit is way too easy especially if you have a guy who can hold person effectively and a melee dmg dealer. Act 1 i think that siding with the goblins, even on an evil run is a miss. Besides the Minthara sex(which is fucking awesome especially on a Durge where you can decide her fate as well) or drunk shadowheart(cool the first time you see it, but its pretty heartbreaking tbh cause i love SH to death, she is such an adorable companion and she is definitely the safest and should be the most used companion in pretty much everybody playthrough simply cause of Guidance, bless and you get her first in act 1after the nautiloid). You can get the full Dammon set and then decide to branch out into evil or good run at the Gaunlet of Shar decision. You don't lose any companion and you get the free set of armor before him dying(don't forget to kill the ox too if you are a fire sorcerer and wants to min max your way in act 2, that helmet is probably best in slot, if its not party face). Remember to save Jaheira too. Never tried, but i believe as the Durge, you can also save nightsong THAN kill isobel at Last light inn. never tried that myself yet though
@@medusalem9485 Dang, that's a pretty great and thorough breakdown. Where can I subscribe for more excellent write ups? :)
The grove never closes. There is no ticking clock. You can take 100 long rests and it never closes
Bro they deleted it, I was super interested in this
What a super rad concept for a party. Love it ! Your builds are super cool and very intuitive to understand 🎉
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the support! I really appreciate it :D
I really enjoy your party videos. Thinking up parties makes all the mental gears turn in a very enjoyable way. Thanks!
Perfect. I am almost done w/ my current honour mode playthrough and was wanting to do an evil sorc build. Your timing is always impeccable.
E: Oh even better a beast master. I've been wanting to try one.
Broooooo, perfect timing!! Just started my 3rd play through (first DUrge) going full evil party with Lockadin as main last night! Timing could not have been better 😘
Could you please post a Truly OP Party build where each of the four members center their playstyle around True Strike?
That would be so broken. the game would be too easy. He probably wont make a video on that
Legend says if you give all 4 characters in your party true strike the game gives you the win cutscene immediately out of fear
Love the Beast Ranger idea. I've been theorycrafting a Darkness-based party around Shadow Monk, so I'll be adding that one to the list.
Whoa... I'm about to start my honor mode run with another set of your character build videos (Best Party Honor Mode), but this made me question that decision entirely!! Fantastic as usual, but more than usual here!!!
Oat of Ancients evil Lockadin without breaking oath? Better save money to payoff the Oathbreaker Knight
If the Oath-keeper isn’t the party face or isn’t making the decision themselves, will that keep the Oath from breaking? If so, I would likely play the Sorlock so your Cha is still your primary stat, and theoretically your Paladin’s Oath would break significantly less; but probably still semi-frequently.
"Oat of ancients" is a fantastic oatmeal brand.
@@Bodehi_The_Archivist Oaths still break whether they are the player's main character or a party companion.
@@gregoberski5897 That might depend on what it is you did to break it... For example, I remember that killing the hollyphant to become an assassin of Bhaal broke my paladin shadowheart's oath, but when I reloaded and had a different party member land the killing blow, it was fine.
@@Bodehi_The_Archivist as far as I’ve seen the paladin needs to have been the one to actually do the deed (usually the game deciding some cultist of an evil god attacking you was actually innocent bc they have low hp), but if u keep them back it should be fine
Since the sorlock is the one mostly running haste, it's actually best to go sorcerer 5 for haste since the haste you got from warlock is only once per long rest.
for Astarion, I went with arcane trickster up to level 7 and took 5 levels of circle of the land. He was using gaseous form and misty step, transforming into wolves in battle and scaring the piss out of shadowheart 😂 and he really felt like Strahd.
Been binging some of your videos as I come back to the game to trophy hunt. Love the content, pacing and communication. Keep it up.
I never thought about doubling the duration of command. Good idea :-)
I would love to see some of these parties you create in game play scenarios with your commentary, showing how these builds come into fruition would be super cool. Great work!
currently playing your melee-honormode party build in - well, im a sissy - tactician to get back into the game, enjoying the sheer brokeness of it all come together... my first honormode will feature this builld and the evil route, i did put it off for a long time, but i think im ready and this partybuild is really something i never tried but always kinda wanted :) thanks mate
small edit: on my playthrough i was almost in act when i finally dropped this build cause i still had 2 chars without blindimmunity making it really awkward... you might want to adjust for devil sight on all chars untill late act2 if you want to play with darkness a lot, it is very safe and definetly worth it but it also is quite the hassle :)
Awesome build tho and thank you for letting me clear my first honormode with all your help through this channel! :)
I asked yesterday and you delivered. Amazing
Absolutely love this! Gonna definitely use it for my durge 😈
You should call this party “Shar’s Angels”
“Sharlie’s Angels” 😂
Hey, could you make a build that plays around a Dark Urge Tav? Slayer form in particular :)
Definitely on the list!
Swords Bard Duergar.
Yeeessssss these are the most fun builds, and I've been waiting for your take on this party comp. I'll probably still go with your oathbreaker Minthara build if I'm doing an evil run just to save the hassle of constantly breaking the oath. I'm sure that's still plenty effective.
What an intriguing title, never clicked so fast
Ah, it's a darkness party (sad shadow monk noises)
I really wanted to include a shadow monk, but I was finding that a melee character that either has to skip getting early blind immunity or delay your damage by two levels felt pretty rough in practice. In the later game it would be excellent though, and you could easily replace the lockadin with one!
This looks great. Will try this my next run.
Man, I love your content!
The darkness has come! I’m so excited!
awww hell yeah, cephalopocalypse back at it again to help me plan my embrace durge run!!
Keep it up, great job!
FYI... Beginning with abilities and moving up, rather than starting with cantrips and going down, makes it difficult for us console players to follow along. We can't skip sections while leveling up, so we have to fill in random spells and selections just to reach the abilities section. Then, we have to work our way back as you progress. You may not have been aware of this, but it's a challenge for console players, and it's quite frustrating.
So get a pc
I'm centering my part around darkness this playthrough.
3/4 members dip warlock for devil sight. The last member puts on the sight ring.
Sor-lock: 8 Sorceror / 3 Warlock, machine gun blows eldritch blasts and is the primary spellcaster.
Bard-lock: Bard 7 / Warlock 5, hunger of hazar user with pack of the blade and ring of mystic scoundrel to hold person bonus action and massive save DC bonuses.
Pal-lock: Paladin 7 / Warlock 5, abused warlock spell slots regenerating on short rest and maxing at level 3 for 5 level dip (same as 6 level 3 paladin slots, more than they get with a pure build). Eldritch blast to cover for paladin's lack of ranged and pact of blade to be able to dump strength entirely.
Last class is a full light cleric. It has anti synergy with darkness with their AoE channel divinity but the warding flare is a great cleric tool. The standard radiating orb build means popping spirit guardians and/or guardian of faith inside a darkness cloud melts and further lowers enemy hit chance.
I was wondering what type of evil party I should make for this new patch, nice timing!!
@cephalopocalypse i cannot with you sometimes! this is the second time i have started an honor run and your vid is PERFECT for what i'm thinking to do! i just started a durge HM where for the first time i'm going to ***TRY*** to be evil. haha. amazing dude!
haha, awesome - good luck!
Hey man, very intriguing builds! I’d recommend starting the video with footage of the build in action, rather than just minthara’s face. I’m hesitant to try this since I’m not sure how it would be practically
legit just started my evil run the other day this video is perfectly timed
hey it's the only good Smash youtuber what the fuck
Nice - good luck!
I'd love more thematic party builds. My mind immediately goes to a Reactions based party (Divination Wizard/Lore Bard/Light Cleric maybe even with the Lucky feat). I'd also love to see a Resonance Stone/Psychic damage themed party (Bard for Vicious Mockery, Shadow Monk, maybe a Shadow Blade Ring character).
I like how when you released the lightning/cold party, I thought of this same concept for my Honour Mode Durge. But, since I didn't have this video to give me ideas, I ended up going with crit sorlock durge(with a 2 level dip in tempest cleric instead of fighter), minthara with your paladin assassin build, astarion as a shadowmonk/assassin/fighter and shadowheart as the classic gloomstalker assassin.
Yes, I realized I had a team with 3 assassins in it, only the durge being left out... Until i realized this was my Bhaalist run, so my Durge was also an assassin: The Unholy Assassin, Bhaal's Chosen XD
Tempest cleric sorlock sounds fun and interesting. What was the build trying to do?
That does sound awesome!
I just started this same type of group but I’m going with a shadow monk instead of ranger. Thanks for the vid.
What was the background for the sorlock?
How would you approach Raphael fight with this build since Darkness is not an advantage here? I'm preparing for that and I find it potential run killer.
Truest of strikes for the truest of souls ^_^
Based on my limited post-patch 7 testing of eversight ring, helldusk helmet and steel watcher helmet, eversight ring and steel watcher helmet allow ranged bow attacks and spell attacks in and out of darkness but helldusk helmet does not. Helldusk helmet only prevents blindness but does not allow attacks into or out of darkness.
For the first character, I would pick alert over ASI for honor mode. I know you like initiative bonus items, but even so.
Ceph, can you do a short rest party? Warlock, monk, battle master fighter and a bard, how about that?
I am trying to understand the use of darkness. Is the advantage from the party being able to fire into it from the outside, or fire from inside out? I think this build will be a great Dark Urge evil play through. Love your videos! Thank you for all your hard work!
Does anyone know what dye he has on the potent robe? It looks amazing and I can’t figure out which one it is
I think it's the Drake General dye, but I don't remember 100%
Just tried it out and it's such a fun build! Accidentally provoked a fight with an entire goblin camp and was able to dispatch it with a single cloud, no AOE and pretty bad gear. And yeah, if you play durge, you can consider your oath broken by default. Probably best not to pick paladin as your party face. Oathbreaker makes sense thematically, but not being able to respec kinda sucks. I'll probably try it again with your recommended setup :D
Seems fun other than keeping your Oath as an Ancients Paladin doing evil choices. If you’re looking for more party ideas, I’d like to see a charisma-less party build at some point!
Man I've been musing about a party like this for a while and have really struggled with how to fit a support. I love the idea of nature cleric basically just being kindof a shadow druid/control. I wonder about replacing the bm hunter with college of swords bard with lock 2 dip.
Is there a way to start the game as Minthara? Or are you just respeccing her at whatever level you are when you get her later?
Hi Cephalo, I tried to search for a tierlist/explanation video for the illithid powers but I couldn’t find one. In case you haven’t posted a video about it, are you planning to do so? Thanks for your amazing content, it’s helping me a lot throughout my first run
Different creator, but this is one I listened to ua-cam.com/video/QGiyGRFPpco/v-deo.htmlsi=0fCwIwy78TqB4EtS
Is it even possible to obtain the Spear of Evening in a 4-player campaign? My buddies and I followed this build guide and found ourselves unable to get it, since it has to be Shadowheart killing Aylin afaik
First of all I really appreciate your content. It's very insightful and enjoyable to listen to. But might not be a good idea to suggest a torch on an honor mode run. I have 4 runs going in higher acts, but my darkness run ended when shadowheart with her torch held high, walked into the explosives room in the goblin camp haha
Do you use a hireling to fill in the gap for Lockadin before getting Minthara?
Thanks for this very helpful because I have trouble using darkness to the best advantage. Coupla questions: sometimes ive noticed that even if a character is immune to blinded they cannot shoot or cast spells out of a darkness cloud. They have to leave the cloud to fire. You mentioned this on the Ranger. but im wondering if there is equipment besides Helldusk Helmet that avoids that problem?so if ithey cant see through darkness what is the benefit from Eversight ring ? - that you don’t get disadvantage from the darkness?
Second question: To get advantage in darkness do you have to be in the “hidden” condition - meaning do you have to click Hide? The wiki seems to require you be hiding to get advantage. Thats easy for rogue or gloomstalker but not for most other classes.
Thanks again!
There are definitely some bugs with darkness - I think the way the game draws line of sight is at issue here, since it sometimes seems to count the edge of the spell effect as being unable to be seen through even though that should always be visible - others have said the eversight ring works to shoot into darkness for them also, so I don't know what's going on there!
To get advantage in darkness you don't have to be hidden at all! You get the "attacking from shadows" modifier if the enemy can't see through the darkness - you can see that happen when I demo it with the ranger
@@Cephalopocalypse Great to know. thanks ceph!
Written version of this guide, hopefully it stops someone
Sorloc
1 Sorc
D14
C16
W10
Cha 17
Persuasion, Insight
Storm Sorceror
Shield, Magic Missile
Mage hand, friends, minor illusion, ray of frost
2 Warlock
Eldrich blast, true strike
Fiend
Command, hex
3 Warlock
Agonizing blast, devil sight
Armor of Agathys
4 Warlock
Pact of the tome
Darkness
Replace hex with cloud of daggers
5 Warlock
Alert or actor
Blade Ward
Misty Step
6 Warlock -
Hunger of hadar
Repelling Blast
Cloud of daggers for counterspell or fireball
7 Sorcerer
Twinned spell, extend spell, mage armor
8 Sorceror
Quickened spell, scorching ray
9 Sorceror
Ability Improvement CHA or actor, acid splash, utility spell
10 Warlock
Hypnotic pattern
11 Warlock
Wall of fire, dreadful word, replace Armor of Agathys for Banishment
12 Warlock
Ability improvement CHA (Or Warcaster)
Stinking cloud
Items - Spell save DC items - Fistbreaker helm (Tarv, Moonrise Towers A2), Ring of Feywild Sparks (Auntie Ethel, A3) Melf's First Staff (Myconid Colony, A1) Robe of Exquisite Focus (Moonrise Towers, Araj A2) Cloak of the Weave (Unlock Helsik’s curated selection, A3) Helldusk Gloves (House of Hope, A3) Amulet of the Devout (Stormshore Tabernacle, A3)
Stop from falling items
CHA bonuses (Birthright, A3, Sorcerous Sundries)
Shield (Kethric’s shield)
Locadin
1 Paladin - Oath of Ancients
Dex 14
Con16
Wis 12
Cha 16
2 Warlock
Great Old One
Dissonant Whispers, hex
Eldritch Blast, Minor illusion
3 Warlock
Agonizing Blast, Devi’s Sight
Armor of agathys
4 Warlock
Pact of the Blade
Darkness
Replace dissonant whispers with misty step
5 Paladin
Fighting style - Great weapon fighting
Command, Bless, Thunderous smite, Shield of faith, protection from good and evil
6 Warlock
Additional charisma
Bone chill
Hold person
7 Warlock
Hunger of Hadar, repelling blast, replace Hex with Counterspell
8 Paladin
9 Paladin
Ability improvement CHA
10 Paladin
11 Paladin
12 Paladin
Items - Initiative gear (Gloves of Dex (Crèche, A1, A'jak'nir Jeera.), soulbreaker greatsword (Creche, looted from Kith'rak, A1)
Crit gear
Helmet of arcane acuity (Mason’s Guild Basement, A2) band of the mystic scoundrel (Jungle from carnival, A3)
Beastmaster Ranger
All ranger
1
17 Dex
16 Con
15 Wis
Background with slight of hand, stealth, survival
Wasteland wanderer - Fire
Ranger Knight
2
Archery
Hunter’s Mark, Longstrider
3
Beastmaster
Enhance Leap
4
Sharpshooter
5
Silence
6 Two levels of warlock to get Devi’s Sight OR Ranger
Mage Breaker
Wasteland Wanderer - Cold
Replace Hunter’s Mark with Spike Growth
7
Pass without trace, or Hunter’s Mark
8
Ability Improvement DEX and WIS
9
Plant growth
10
Sanctified Stalker
Wasteland wanderer: Poison
11
Can use the dire raven animal companion, utility spell
12
Ability Improvement - DEX
Items Titanstring Bow (A2, Moonrise Towers, Tarv) with elixirs or Club of Hill Giant Strength (Stool in Arcane Tower, A1)
Or Deadshot
Arrows of Darkness
Eversight Ring (A2 Morgue), then Helldusk Helmet (A3, House of Hope)
Anything that increases dmg - Flawed Helldusk Gloves (Dammon, Last Light, A2)
Medium armor, uncapped agility
Nature Cleric
All Cleric
1
Wis 17
Con 16
Dex 15
Guidance, produce flame, resistance
Nature Domain
Shillelagh
2
Sanctuary, Command, Bless, Healing Word, Guiding Bolt
3
Spiritual weapon
4
Alert
Blade ward
5
Spirit guardians, glyph of warding, replace guiding bolt with mass healing word
6 Two levels of warlock, OR Cleric
7
Guardian of Faith, Freedom of Movement
8
Ability improvement - WIS and DEX
9
Daylight, aid
10
Blade Ward
11
Hero’s Feast
12
Ability Improvement - WIS
Items
Hellrider’s pride(Zevlor, A1) , whispering promise (Volo, sacred pool, A1)
Dwarven splintmail (Moonrise Towers, A2), heavy armor
Shar’s Spear of Evening (Evil SH Quest), Steelwatcher Helmet (A3, Steelwatch foundry)
Staff of Arcane Blessing (A1, Arcane Tower)
Initiative Shield
Misty Step Items - Disintegrating Night Walkers (A1, on Nere)
(Luminous Armor(A1), Coruscation Ring(A2), Luminous Gloves(A2), Boots of Stormy Clamour(A1))
Are you meant to fight inside your own Hunger of Hadar? I don't understand what a typical fight is supposed to look like. Hunger of Hadar + an adjacent cast of Darkness from both your Sorlock and Padlock? Or just stand in the HoH and heal up after the fight?
Just beat Honor for the first time today using a Darkness abusing party.
I HIGHLY recommend switching the Lockadin for a 10/2 Swords Bardadin using Shars Spear and helmet of arcane acuity. Casting irresistible upcasted Command:Approach prevents you from having to leave the Darkness to do what you want to do and it is absolutely invaluable. Ring of Mystic Scoundrel lets you build up acuity stacks with slashing flourishes and casting control spells on bonus action. It is the most powerful build I've ever played.
I also used an OH Monk 6 / Warlock 2 / Thief 4 to kill stuff that really, absolutely needs to die on turn 1. Monk can comfortably afford to dip Warlock for Devils Sight if you're willing to chug strength elixirs all game.
Beastmaster Ranger 11 for the Raven is what makes this all work. Free Darkness setup is insane but the Raven gets so much movement and even gets the Help action. Saving downed characters that got demolished by a legendary action or just bad rolls is so important.
I also think the 10/2 Bardadin is better than Lockadin on Honor, but might be better to go warlock in early game for the devils sight until you get some gear (ultimately Shars Spear like you mention). With the Bardadin using arcane acuity helmet / command approach, and the sorlock using fire acuity helmet / scorching ray / hold person/monster, you should have amazing battlefield control. I would run the bhaalist armor on the Bardadin to 2x piercing damage from his spear and the ranger's arrrows
I really like the spike growth, plant growth in combo with Hunger of Hadar.
@@jameskelsea6048thats pretty much what I ended up doing. Worth noting that Bardadin gets upcasted Command: Approach as well as Hold Person on bonus actions with insane acuity stacks. You might as well, since its not contested by anything. Let your blaster blast instead.
Perhaps shadow monk is my favorite character in the game, and I want nothing more than to work a character with mostly shadow monk levels into this party. Is there a decent way to make that substitution in your opinion? I saw you mention in a reply to another comment subbing out the lockadin? What's the main problem with that route?
Completely separate question, have you ever done a build maximizing taking dual wielder on a caster for two staffs?
I have a very similar party and for some reason the Helldusk Helmet is not working as I think it should. The eversight rings only text is you cannot be blinded and you can shoot in and out of darkness just fine. The helldusk helmet specifies being able to see in magical and ordinary darkness before saying you cannot be blinded, yet for some reason cannot shoot arrows through darkness with it. The steel watch helmet has similar text without specifying magical darkness and that works just fine. Anyone else having this issue? (Test was 6m away so 12m limit is not the problem)
I didn't really go into it in the video but the eversight ring is extremely buggy, and the other darkness immunity items have some issues as well - the ring actually doesn't exist in the accessible game files, unlike every other item in the game!
Yes it's bugged and doesn't allow you to use ranged attacks through the darkness. You can still get melee advantage though.
Hunger of Hadar also seems to be bugged because it blinds you even if you have Devil's Sight and/or the Eversight Ring. This whole strategy is kinda screwed up by these issues and these bugs have existed for way too long.
Me after the first half of this video being Pallock and Sorlock: 😐 Me when you rounded those out with the fucking Beastmaster Ranger and Nature Cleric spice 😍😍😍
I recommend Cloak of Cunning Brume until you can get the raven for the ranger. Take thief as a temp multi for disengage spamming.
Hi,
How can you have potent robe as an evil char, when you need to not kill aelfira in both act 1&2?
I've been dying to do a Shadowheart x Minthara duo run, and this might be the perfect setup for that, with the other two party slots filled by hirelings. If this is how I go about approaching honor mode for the fitst time, I would be quite happy with that arrangement. Just will have to find another option for the fourth party member until act 2. Maybe Gale, he does great as a camp companion.
I think a dex based shadow monk with Shar's spear will be a good complement to this build. I know it's item dependent but in act 1 and 2, using the ring that gives immunity to blind will work
Great video, really dig the theme here! Any chance on a mono-class (non-throwing weapons) Eldritch Knight Fighter? After watching your mono-class Arcane Trickster Rouge I'm curious on how you'd tackle another subclass a lot of folks say is not as good. I'm also a huge Eldritch Knight fan, at least conceptually.
Any thoughts on going pure warlock instead of sorlock? Seems like there's a lot of benefit of getting those higher level spell slots for counterspell
Funnily enough, there aren't a lot of 5th level spells you really care about countering - if you can't get to 6th level slots (which warlock can't), you're usually fine staying at 4. The sorcerer levels for the incredible action economy boost are much valuable I find
@@Cephalopocalypse Thanks for the feedback! Am planning my first honor run through now, and just discovered your channel. Love the deeply informative style mixed with your sense of humor!
Love this video.I think Im going to do a version of this. Are the four items for blind immunity the ring,spear , and two helmets?
Transmutation stone and a potion as well
@@talcooper7606 Those are for dark vision, no? Darkness actually inflicts blindness, I'm pretty sure dark vision isn't enough.
PS: The only ways to become immune to blindness / darkness spell are: Shar's Spear of Evening, Steelwatcher Helmet, Eversight Ring, Helldusk Helmet and Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation.
As always thanks for the build guides. Regarding breaking oaths there is no way to respec after you have done so. I could be wrong about this. However, I have seen it on a couple of build guides where they wanted oath of the ancients
If you break your oath, you can buy it back from the oathbreaker knight and then after that you can respec as normal - it costs 1000 gold the first time and more every time though, so be careful!
Myrkul killed my last honour mode run. Will this party be effective in that fight?
Would a dark justicar type chatacter work here ? What could they replace?
Hey, not sure if you will see this but I wanted to ask --- I thought Lock/Paladin was very much nerfed in Honor mode. Is it just still very good post-nerf anyway? I figured it would only be good in lower difficulties at this point
It's still great! The nerf was just that you don't get a 3rd attack from stacking Pact of the Blade with Extra Attack anymore - so you're stuck with "only" two attacks each of which does some of the highest damage in the game. It just means other builds can still be competitive with its lategame damage rather than it leaving everything else in the dust, but it's still a top-tier build
@@Cephalopocalypse thank you for the reply! im using a combination from a couple of your videos to do an evil//darkness type of playthrough. doing minthrara bladelock, shar as like a dark war cleric using spear, Tav as a BM ranger, and 4th im stuck between laezel warrior or a gloomstalker astarion
What’s the true strike joke?
I knew it at first sight: drow are not only the coolest and most badass looking race, they are also very powerful ☠️
Yep! Especially half drow who also get the human proficiencies
@@Cephalopocalypsehow do you get 4 Drow party members? TAV, Minthara and a hireling but who’s the 4th?
Can someone help me understand how these darkness builds are supposed to be played? It would be helpful in these build videos if you showed a sample combat so we could see how the build is actually played. Especially for these party builds where we're focusing on subtle interactions between different player characters. Anyway, am I supposed to be casting darkness at the enemies so they can't see out of the darkness? Or am I supposed to be casting darkness around my ranged characters' feet so that enemies can't ranged target them and have disadvantage on melee attacks? Or is it both? Because like you said, you need the Helldusk Helmet to shoot into darkness, which seems to make that first strategy completely useless until Act 3. If I'm casting it around my ranged characters' feet, then why would I need so many separate casts of darkness? Couldn't I just have one character cast it and all the ranged characters just hang out around it? How many combats really run longer than 10 rounds? Conversely, if I'm casting darkness multiple times to hit multiple pockets of enemies, 1) how am I supposed to shoot into them before Act 3? and 2) can't the enemies just... walk out of the darkness? It's not that wide of an AOE. And most of the spells that could stop enemies from moving out of the darkness are also concentration spells. Many reasons why it would really help to see this build in action, not just see the character builds on paper but actually see how it works in practice and how it's supposed to be played. Thanks.
Both! The more darkness the better, just put it everywhere
@@Cephalopocalypse Thank you!
Can you make a party around the bards short rest? So maybe a party where all have access to song of rest and also different classes benefiting massively from short rests.
Wait, this is sick... I'm already playing a Dark Urge run with my usual main party having an ancients paladin durge, beastmaster ranger Minthara, and cleric Shadowheart, I can totally use this as inspiration to tweak my builds for more synergy. Nice!
Hey, have you ever made a build that focuses around using the tadpole powers? I thought of this bc of the mind flayer in the thumbnail.
i used this build in my Wyll run as oathbreaker7/5 warlock with balduran greatsword for cha+str it was yummers
You seem to have missed that the Dire Raven can fly multiple times in a turn. It's not limited to creating a single area of darkness.
I'd love if you did a summon party composition or maybe a a party of all one class.
Was hoping there’d be a way of shadow monk in here somewhere but this is an awesome party
I ran a full darkness team for my evil run too. Just darkness everywhere and all my champs could see in it. I didn't cheese though with stealth.
I started modding and there are tons of classes/subclasses. Ever think of doing mod content?
Ok I haven't watched this video, in case of potential spoilers, but I'm guessing you've included the Vampire Ascendant. Good or evil run, I would have this version of Astarion any day! Give this version the Crimson Mischief, he can do an insane amount of damage in one turn, with the Bhaalist Armour equipped for the evilest overpowered combination. Him ascending doesn't even affect the game's main story, as it would for Shadowheart killing Nightsong (which I haven't seen yet in my own game, but I read up on what happens if you kill Nightsong). Astarion doesn't even get upset if you choose not to rule over the Absolute. Maybe he was content with domineering the romance instead... (LOL). But it's nothing to feel guilty about in terms of the good fight against the Absolute.
Some of a Ranger's Criminal background goals are pretty evil. I mean, stealing the boots from Thulla...
Playing Elden Ring has probably desensitised me, because certain innocent/friendly NPCs drop the best gear in the game if you kill them prematurely/out of cold blood.
Is the nature cleric interchangeable with the Broken combo spore druid build ua-cam.com/video/OFHOE92Evxg/v-deo.htmlsi=piLO6yls_Vx-hIGi ?
And if so, which would be better and why?
If there even is a viable build, could you please make a cold sorcerer build? Thanks, and love your videos!
I made a drow darkness party like that instead : Main drow - gloom 5 assassin 4 fighter 3, Astarion (perma disguise drow ) Shadowmonk 6 Thief 4 Goolock2, Minthara Vengeance Pal 2 Bard 10, Drow mercenary - Storm Cleric 2 Goolock 2 white Drake Sorc 8.
It was insanely easy in honor mode moded with more encounters and better IA
Hasn't Darkness been nerfed to the ground? On Honour mode, enemies can shoot into it and spell casters can cast the single-target spells into it as well. I just had a fight in Crech Y'llek where gith archers can just shoot normal arrows into darkness. The funny thing is the description and BG3 wiki don't mention anything change about that.
Next challenge: a party where each member has to have at least 3 classes each. Can you still make a bad ass team? No single level dips.
Paladin is a terrible class for evil play because Withers doesn't like oathbreakers respeccing every time Cephalopocalypse drops a new build. Literally unplayable.
I tried robbing the Oathbreaker knight like withers but it is pretty much impossible.
If the paladin isn’t the party face you don’t break oath
@@prodigyj3jessejohnson988well then idk if my game just glitched or what but I’ve broken my party member’s oath twice before.
@@prodigyj3jessejohnson988 Not true.
i just started a honour mode campaign and was planning to just run 4 sorlocks but after seeing this vid im gonna do this setup instead lol
Nice, good luck!
hell yeah
It is worth noting that the Dire Raven can fly (& thus use darkness) multiple times per turn.
A minimum amount of movement speed is used each time so it is not unlimited but it can cover a LARGE area each turn this way.
Just lost my honour run to owlbear :-) I'm not using this party though, I'm stubborn and will try again with my all paladin gang :-))
Can we have a fire themed party... Ice themed party.... All melee party... All dexterity based party?
I feel like I’m going to take the happiest happy happy characters and make a darkness party. Halsin sorry pal, you’re now a ranger not a Druid. Karlack, you can pull off paladin hybrid, Gale you’re aggressive fake happy most of the time, you can sorc it. Tav you pick up the last slot…weeeeeee!! So much happy….so much darkness.
I just finished an Honor Mode with a very similar theme (Beast Master Darkness TAV/ Minthara Darkness Paladin / Shar Shadowheart) and it was easily my most OP party build by Lvl12. I knew something was up when I was taking out bosses in one turn.
Cool party. Not my thing though because playing around and with darkness just feels too restricted and spending actions on it rather than smashing enemies or controlling feels weird.