Minion Master: Tomb of the Priveval Kings (Barrage Team)
From Black Country Role Playing Society
Necromancer/Mesmer (20th level, +30 Attribute Points)
With the release of Factions, Anet destroyed the skill Verata's Sacrifice, and seriously crippled minion masters in general, as a result this build is obsolete.
- Inspiration 10
- Blood Magic 2 (3 with Minor Rune)
- Death Magic 12 (16 with Rune and Headgear)
- Soul Reaping 8 (9 with Minor Rune)
- Curses 1 (2 with Minor Rune)
Equipment
Personally I Use:
- Vile Scar Pattern of Superior Death Magic
- Necrotic Tunic of Major Vigor (15k version)
- Necrotic Gloves of Minor Soul Reaping (15k version)
- Necrotic Leggings of Minor Curses (15k version)
- Bloodstained Boots of Minor Blood Magic
I also Wield an Insightful (+4 Mana) Bone Staff of Fortitude (+24 Health) (Collector Item, Elona Reach)
However you would probably be better off with:
- Vile Scar Pattern of Superior Death Magic
- Chest Scar Pattern of Major Vigor (Superior, if you can find one)
- Arm Scar Pattern of Minor Soul Reaping
- Leg Scar Pattern
- Bloodstained Boots of Minor Blood Magic
Bortak's Bone Staff or an Insightful (+5 Mana) Bone Staff of Fortitude (+30 Health)
Some people prefer a staff which gives +1 death magic 20% of the times, It's a personal preference, but I would go with the faster casting/recharge any day.
Bortak's Bone Claw & Bortak's Bone Cesta are also a popular choice (but very expensive), this combo gives excellent casting speeds and +1 death magic (20%), but doesn't help with recharge times (which can be important with Verata's Sacrifice & Raising Minions).
Skills
- Power Drain
- Animate Bone Fiend
- Verata's Sacrifice
- Animate Bone Horror
- Enfeeble
- Virulence {Elite}
- Mantra of Resolve
- Resurrection Signet
Tactics
While the Minion Master is a vital part of the Barrager team, there is little to do other than raise minions, you will find that your mana levels spike like crazy when the action gets intense, so just keep alternating between fiends and horrors. If you have no bodies, hit a Grasp of Insanity, Scythe of Chaos or Terrorweb Dryders with enfeeble/virulence and let the disease do the rest. If you see a Terrorweb Dryder casting Meteor Swarm then power drain it (a large number of rangers fail to take concussion shot), this will also help your energy levels if they are currently low. Very Important if the party's monk dies, don't hesitate to use the Resurrection Signet on him or her, remember it recharges at the beginning of each level or after you kill a boss.
Mantra of Resolve
You need to be continuously protected by this power if you don't want to be interrupted by the Scythe of Chaos, even if you are casting a spell, activate it, it's a stance and will come into play instantly.
Alternatives
Swap Enfeeble for Rotting Flesh and Virulence for Echo, this will give a shorter cool down period between echos or enable you to keep your minions under a constant Verata's sacrifice (if some stupid git decides to go and prepare/cook/eat a 12 course banquet in the middle of a run, don't laugh it happens!)
Another popular build is to swap out the Mesmer for monk and take heal area, to keep minions alive as long as possible (also some extra healing for the rangers, Important: never heal pets except outside of combat). I wouldn't personally recommend this concept, as interruption is a serious concern, but each to his own.
If you like to mix it up (in combat) you could become a ranger yourself, get barrage, Favourable winds/winnowing (I don't recommend that you take a pet as it disables your skills for a while when it dies), Healing Spring would also go nicely with this build, however I doubt the viability of the concept, bearing in mind the diverse areas for skills necessary and the loss of energy from not having a staff (or wand/gizmo combo), I also suspect that the rangers in the team might be reluctant to take you (but I could be wrong).
