You know, now everyone and their grandma will be pestering you for a fire sorcerer build. Even though you basically included all the relevant items and levels lol.
I’m amazed at my lack of game knowledge having over 500 hours played. Like I knew Aluve and Callous Glow Ring were OP because of stacking damage but I had no idea how they worked. Thanks a lot for the great vid.
Hey Ethan!!! Also a BG3 content creator here, I just found your vods and this is gold, I was aware of this mechanic but u did an amazing job here so I'll try some cool stuff with this method, I will give your channel a shoutout on my vod this is all genius! :) If u want, we can do a session together trying to break the game and experimenting! I'd love to do a co-op livestream or VOD talking about riders & DRS! Let me know if you're interested! :)
Thank you ethan! If you ever going to cover a (cutted) version of some key fights from all the acts during your nightmare run with full min-max party setup - I'd watch that.
Dont think this is as much of a failure as you think. The sheer numbers casual players get from this is a nice surprise and change from normal tabletop. And the serious number crunchers have to go out of their way to perfect impractical builds for fun. Lastly the major mid majority who are competent but not super into abusing numbers, will find out about this and just use whatever they can for their team. Overall, this "broken" system is probably their best selling point, as its as fun or as broken as the player wants to make it, moreso than anything that would ruin any experience.
You can throw ultra heavy chest to kill everyone in one shot in divinity 1 and 2 so bg3 has its own thing - DRS. I never used it but dont have problem with it.
Hello. I'm about half way through this video and you keep mentioning Proc-ing Phalar Aluve while holding two other melee weapons. How is that possible? Sorry if this a dumb question but I don't get how that works.
ethan, wich is your reddit ? do you share your builds in there ? I have complete a honour mode run using one of yours party building template (the Balances Defense one) and I wish to know more about your thoughts and stuffs about the game My plan is to get good to at least play with some nightmare mods like you hehe
Really informative video. Do you know if this was patched for tactician? When I'm testing out stuff I'm not seeing big numbers, though I'm only in act 2 so maybe I just don't have the proper riders and sources yet.
Hah. I was just playing around with Dolor Amarus/Vicious Short Bow/Crimson Mischief combo for a Warlock/Ranger/Paladin build. It is insane! I was planning on going Gloomstalker or Hordebreaker 5/paladin 2 for the extra attack. Is there any reason Paladin 7 is stronger (for dps purposes, so ignoring auras, etc)? I didn't do the Bhaal tribunal so no craterfell gloves. Might want to reload a save to check it out with the gloves. Do you think there is any point in using Bhaalist armor, or will piercing be too low a part of your total damage with all the sources and riders? Also: Do you know if Hunter's mark functions like Hex, or if it acts differently in a build like this. Sorry about all the questions, but you seem to know what you're talking about, and clean information on riders/sources can be a little hard to get by.
I kinda don't agree with this being a failure of larian regarding DRS. This isn't common knowledge and 99% of players aren't going to both study DRS like you and know how to use it properly. This is the kinda thing that happened in Divinty with Skin graph... it just awards people that know the game better than others and then they just mod the game to be harder than base tactian/honor mode- like you do with nightmare mods
It's too bad Scorching Ray never seems to hit as much as it says it will. All jokes aside. This is pretty wild. I had noticed damage scale like this with certain items but never occurred to me to start stacking them lol.
He said you pick up the extra damage riders from joltshooter during setup, so he probably wants you to get 5 lightning charges through attacking with the bow before the battle itself.
Flame of Wrath adds +Prof., not +CHA. I think Elemental Affinity: Damage is actually a +CHA DR (not sure). About Vicious Shortbow and Dolor Amarus, I'm pretty sure they proc with any other main weapon, not only Crimson Mischief (Render of Mind and Body, for example). I've actually heard that Sword of Life Stealing is the superior DRS on a crit, but haven't tested it myself. I'm also pretty sure that the Palock DRSs are wrong, I know that RS procs twice on DSmite and I'm pretty sure it's the same for the gloves (but haven't tested it); and RS doesn't proc Shriek. I think you should put the attack and the smite on the same row and under them one proc of RS, Shriek and gloves for 8 total.
Another minor criticism is that you don't consider Mind Sanctuary, which optimised parties run. TB thrower has 15 attacks with Helmet of Grit and Mind Sanctuary, not 9 (it could be the same for Palock, but you also don't have that many Smites). Also, gaping wounds is another DRS that works with some DR. And finally, a very minor detail is that if you want to consider Bloodlust, you cannot count Hex or HM on one of the attacks unless you have a BA to spare.
The tooltip for flame of wrath seems to be misleading, and it is in-fact adding +CHA. I have a feeling that it's linked to the bug with heat convergence. Elemental Affinity is a DR but it isn't generic. From limited testing, dolor will work with most weapons, it's the bow that will not. Weapon by weapon basis I suppose, though. Yes the Lockadin DRS are 9 off on the top and bottom end, I actually added corrections to the description to account for that. It remains the best martial by far though, just has more burst damage and less sustained damage this way. The use of mind sanctuary is correct, and would change the numbers drastically, but the rankings will remain roughly the same.
@@Marc79999 Same as the sorc variant sadly AFAIK. Whats neat is that it's global, as in any type of damage, as long as it's from Evo school; so it does apply to MM. 48x int per turn (with mind sanc) is no joke.
@@exoethan I redid the math considering Mind Sanctuary and Helmet of Grit, and Palock gets 9·8+6·4=94 sources, at 26 damage each it's 2.496, so it actually beats Sorcerer. None of that matters, because the DR abuser with most single target damage is actually Oil of Combustion Hunter (as long as your single target is surrounded by 10 or more enemies, wink wink). Let me demonstrate: -10 attacks per turn (MS and HoG) · 3 (Shriek and Craterflesh) +1 (ColSlay) = 31 attack Sources. -10 · 2 (Shriek) · 11 (number of enemies) = 220 Oil of Combustion Sources -4 (ArcC) + 2 (CallGR) + 3 (Rh) = 9 generic DR. -6 (TitanSB) + 3.5 (Hex) + 2.5 (PO) = 12 attack DR. -DRS gain: 31·(9+12)+220·9=2.631 Another interesting fact is that you can get infinite damage per round if you have infinite Alchemist Fires, since you can drop them (no action cost) on burning ground and explode dealing damage and applying generic DR.
The first video makes it easy to visualise, but Phalar Aluve can proc multiple times per attack and also proc other effects additional times For example: If you use the effect and then simply attack someone with no other modifiers, you’ll deal 1d10 (I’m assuming you’re 2 handing) +1d4 If you add Rogue’s Sneak Attack, the Sneak Attack will proc the 1d4 Thunder damage an extra time, giving you more damage then you should get If the enemy was also Hexed, then Hex will proc 4 times from this attack. Once from the regular attack, once from Sneak Attack, and twice from the 2 Phalar Aluve procs Stacking effects like this can get out of hand very quickly
@@DaSaint79 Because the pinned comment is literally about people asking for a guide even if all relevant stuff is said in the video. This video describes how you can do multiple times the amount of damage of the HP of even the toughest enemies in thi game. Your starting atributes will literally don't change anything other then overkilling a boss slightly less astronomically.
They did patch a few out already. The lightning dmg from Spellsparkler used to be a source similar to lightning jabber, but got patched. I think a few others were fixed too.
You know, now everyone and their grandma will be pestering you for a fire sorcerer build. Even though you basically included all the relevant items and levels lol.
I’m amazed at my lack of game knowledge having over 500 hours played. Like I knew Aluve and Callous Glow Ring were OP because of stacking damage but I had no idea how they worked. Thanks a lot for the great vid.
I wish you had 50 videos like this breaking down everything you wouldn't know as a casual
yo wtf the og vsauce track, love it
Great explanations, my respect. Now after the Patch 5 fixes I wonder if there are many broken mechanics left
I'm tired of my melee friends making me look weak with their accuracy and crits...this might make our next session interesting. Thanks for the info!
Hey Ethan!!! Also a BG3 content creator here, I just found your vods and this is gold, I was aware of this mechanic but u did an amazing job here so I'll try some cool stuff with this method, I will give your channel a shoutout on my vod this is all genius! :)
If u want, we can do a session together trying to break the game and experimenting! I'd love to do a co-op livestream or VOD talking about riders & DRS!
Let me know if you're interested! :)
Can you contact me via discord?
@@exoethan Done! Let's talk over there!
This is amazing, thank you
Thank you ethan! If you ever going to cover a (cutted) version of some key fights from all the acts during your nightmare run with full min-max party setup - I'd watch that.
Dont think this is as much of a failure as you think. The sheer numbers casual players get from this is a nice surprise and change from normal tabletop. And the serious number crunchers have to go out of their way to perfect impractical builds for fun. Lastly the major mid majority who are competent but not super into abusing numbers, will find out about this and just use whatever they can for their team.
Overall, this "broken" system is probably their best selling point, as its as fun or as broken as the player wants to make it, moreso than anything that would ruin any experience.
You can throw ultra heavy chest to kill everyone in one shot in divinity 1 and 2 so bg3 has its own thing - DRS. I never used it but dont have problem with it.
The Vsauce music is taking me way back
It's a shame Perilous Stakes was adjusted to only target allies. You used to be able to do massive damage with that ability.
Hello. I'm about half way through this video and you keep mentioning Proc-ing Phalar Aluve while holding two other melee weapons. How is that possible? Sorry if this a dumb question but I don't get how that works.
ethan, wich is your reddit ? do you share your builds in there ?
I have complete a honour mode run using one of yours party building template (the Balances Defense one) and I wish to know more about your thoughts and stuffs about the game
My plan is to get good to at least play with some nightmare mods like you hehe
Really informative video. Do you know if this was patched for tactician? When I'm testing out stuff I'm not seeing big numbers, though I'm only in act 2 so maybe I just don't have the proper riders and sources yet.
Hah. I was just playing around with Dolor Amarus/Vicious Short Bow/Crimson Mischief combo for a Warlock/Ranger/Paladin build. It is insane!
I was planning on going Gloomstalker or Hordebreaker 5/paladin 2 for the extra attack. Is there any reason Paladin 7 is stronger (for dps purposes, so ignoring auras, etc)?
I didn't do the Bhaal tribunal so no craterfell gloves. Might want to reload a save to check it out with the gloves. Do you think there is any point in using Bhaalist armor, or will piercing be too low a part of your total damage with all the sources and riders? Also: Do you know if Hunter's mark functions like Hex, or if it acts differently in a build like this.
Sorry about all the questions, but you seem to know what you're talking about, and clean information on riders/sources can be a little hard to get by.
Unfortunately, this video has been obsoleted by today's patch - at least for TB throwing builds.
I kinda don't agree with this being a failure of larian regarding DRS. This isn't common knowledge and 99% of players aren't going to both study DRS like you and know how to use it properly. This is the kinda thing that happened in Divinty with Skin graph... it just awards people that know the game better than others and then they just mod the game to be harder than base tactian/honor mode- like you do with nightmare mods
Hey vsause, michael here!
It's too bad Scorching Ray never seems to hit as much as it says it will.
All jokes aside. This is pretty wild. I had noticed damage scale like this with certain items but never occurred to me to start stacking them lol.
Wait so Piersadim can be even stronger with half orc?
Unfortunately, The Joltshooter only works if you attack with the bow
He said you pick up the extra damage riders from joltshooter during setup, so he probably wants you to get 5 lightning charges through attacking with the bow before the battle itself.
Interesting
Flame of Wrath adds +Prof., not +CHA. I think Elemental Affinity: Damage is actually a +CHA DR (not sure).
About Vicious Shortbow and Dolor Amarus, I'm pretty sure they proc with any other main weapon, not only Crimson Mischief (Render of Mind and Body, for example). I've actually heard that Sword of Life Stealing is the superior DRS on a crit, but haven't tested it myself.
I'm also pretty sure that the Palock DRSs are wrong, I know that RS procs twice on DSmite and I'm pretty sure it's the same for the gloves (but haven't tested it); and RS doesn't proc Shriek. I think you should put the attack and the smite on the same row and under them one proc of RS, Shriek and gloves for 8 total.
Another minor criticism is that you don't consider Mind Sanctuary, which optimised parties run. TB thrower has 15 attacks with Helmet of Grit and Mind Sanctuary, not 9 (it could be the same for Palock, but you also don't have that many Smites).
Also, gaping wounds is another DRS that works with some DR.
And finally, a very minor detail is that if you want to consider Bloodlust, you cannot count Hex or HM on one of the attacks unless you have a BA to spare.
The tooltip for flame of wrath seems to be misleading, and it is in-fact adding +CHA. I have a feeling that it's linked to the bug with heat convergence. Elemental Affinity is a DR but it isn't generic.
From limited testing, dolor will work with most weapons, it's the bow that will not. Weapon by weapon basis I suppose, though.
Yes the Lockadin DRS are 9 off on the top and bottom end, I actually added corrections to the description to account for that. It remains the best martial by far though, just has more burst damage and less sustained damage this way.
The use of mind sanctuary is correct, and would change the numbers drastically, but the rankings will remain roughly the same.
@@exoethan Very good to know, thanks! Do you know if Empowered Evocation is a generic DR?
@@Marc79999 Same as the sorc variant sadly AFAIK. Whats neat is that it's global, as in any type of damage, as long as it's from Evo school; so it does apply to MM. 48x int per turn (with mind sanc) is no joke.
@@exoethan I redid the math considering Mind Sanctuary and Helmet of Grit, and Palock gets 9·8+6·4=94 sources, at 26 damage each it's 2.496, so it actually beats Sorcerer.
None of that matters, because the DR abuser with most single target damage is actually Oil of Combustion Hunter (as long as your single target is surrounded by 10 or more enemies, wink wink). Let me demonstrate:
-10 attacks per turn (MS and HoG) · 3 (Shriek and Craterflesh) +1 (ColSlay) = 31 attack Sources.
-10 · 2 (Shriek) · 11 (number of enemies) = 220 Oil of Combustion Sources
-4 (ArcC) + 2 (CallGR) + 3 (Rh) = 9 generic DR.
-6 (TitanSB) + 3.5 (Hex) + 2.5 (PO) = 12 attack DR.
-DRS gain: 31·(9+12)+220·9=2.631
Another interesting fact is that you can get infinite damage per round if you have infinite Alchemist Fires, since you can drop them (no action cost) on burning ground and explode dealing damage and applying generic DR.
I guess I'm missing something but why is phalar aluve so good? All it does is an aoe 1d4 thunder if activated right?
The first video makes it easy to visualise, but Phalar Aluve can proc multiple times per attack and also proc other effects additional times
For example: If you use the effect and then simply attack someone with no other modifiers, you’ll deal 1d10 (I’m assuming you’re 2 handing) +1d4
If you add Rogue’s Sneak Attack, the Sneak Attack will proc the 1d4 Thunder damage an extra time, giving you more damage then you should get
If the enemy was also Hexed, then Hex will proc 4 times from this attack. Once from the regular attack, once from Sneak Attack, and twice from the 2 Phalar Aluve procs
Stacking effects like this can get out of hand very quickly
Have larian patched alot of these DRS'es or are they still applicable In honour mode?
Other way around. They're patched up (mostly) in Honour, but other difficulty modes? Have at it.
I'm not sure that Hunter's mark works on thrown attacks
I'm gonna need that Sorc Build (starting attributes and leveling guide pls)
Are you joking?
@@deamon6681 Ummm, no?
@@DaSaint79 Because the pinned comment is literally about people asking for a guide even if all relevant stuff is said in the video. This video describes how you can do multiple times the amount of damage of the HP of even the toughest enemies in thi game. Your starting atributes will literally don't change anything other then overkilling a boss slightly less astronomically.
@@deamon6681 Some of us are just lazy... /shrug
Have you tried watching the video?
"will get patched out eventually"
That's a high degree of confidence you have in Larian's competence, I admire that
They did patch a few out already. The lightning dmg from Spellsparkler used to be a source similar to lightning jabber, but got patched. I think a few others were fixed too.
@@platypus547 Yeah this comment aged poorly lmao
in my defense they only patched it out in honor mode!
patch 5 makes this rip :(
Dear GODS…I’m almost to the end of Act 2 and _do not want to know_ if there are enemies that can withstand a build like this! 🫣