[1.2.0] Dreamfeather: Post-Mortem

I see. I did read that before I could play the patch and forgot when I got back from vacation. I have to keep a closer eye on these sweeping changes. Last time I missed it I sold a boatload of Goldwyrm's before realizing they were legacy :/.

Thanks

WTB Orb of ScourCasualNubOversightQuestions 5 exalts.

I feel like I'm at a loss with what to do with Dreamfeather right now. I've tried a really high level (level 95) physical build (Blood Magic gem, Blood Dance boots, 8 frenzy charges, Blood Rage, various skills), and the damage is horrible! Granted, I don't have a buffed Dreamfeather yet, but I don't have high hopes.

Then there's elemental. You can dish out significant damage with a mana-based build (I tried this tree), but it's more trouble than it's worth (requires high level Enlighten, mana/mana regen on gear, half-regen maps are obnoxious, hard to get enough life).

My most successful attempt so far in The Awakening has been this Ice Crash build, but I have some pretty good (and unusual) gear, I get pretty much the same tooltip dps by using two Doryani's Catalyst, and survivability is wonky, even with Fortify and Taste of Hate active, in comparison to 1.3.

Maybe there's something I can do with Frost Blades and projectile damage... I'm just not sure. I'm disappointed with results so far. Has anyone else had success?

Edit: A Dreamfeather + Soul Taker elemental build is actually pretty awesome... except for the cost. I've switched over to this combo and I'm loving it.

Think they meant for us to use Mantra of Flames with low reservation skills and stack Static Electricity to compensate for the loss of aura+heralds.

That sounds pretty depressing though. I was really hoping for a better dual wielding skill.

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Lyralei wrote:

Think they meant for us to use Mantra of Flames with low reservation skills and stack Static Electricity to compensate for the loss of aura+heralds.

That sounds pretty depressing though. I was really hoping for a better dual wielding skill.

Static Electricity only helps a little when you focus on lightning damage, and I don't think it's worth it to use more than one of that jewel (better to focus on defenses if you have extra jewel slots).

The fact that leveling gems now grants attack damage instead of physical damage sort of makes up for the loss of Inner Force, but it's a double-edged sword since mana sustain is now a problem, which is why I've resorted to Blood Magic or Soul Taker. I will say that my current level 87 Deamfeather + Soul Taker build is comparable in damage to my old level 95 dual Dreamfeather character (at least when frenzy charges are running), so there is more damage potential now, but Soul Taker is not cheap, and survivability is down from 1.3. Survival is kind of tricky for pure evasion melee characters. Life Gain on Hit is amazing if you have a red gem slot to spare. I guess you could manually cast Enduring Cry if the frequent clicking of that on top of potions doesn't bother you. Or there's Hyrri's Ire if you don't mind the loss of life and resists.

I need to get my hands on Mantra of Flames. That could have potential on its own. In a fire-focused build, it has the problem of gem coloring (and needing decent physical damage) if you want to make the most of it with pure evasion gear (Anger, HoA, Added Fire, Fire Penetration).

Maybe there's a solution in not going pure evasion... But if you don't go pure evasion, why use Dreamfeather?

I'm sure there's more waiting to be discovered. I have to take a hiatus for a month or so while I study for exams, but I'll be back on the case after that!

After some more testing, I think Dreamfeather is in a better spot than I initially thought. I can get over 50k tooltip dps with auras activated in a 6L (over 40k in a 5L), and over 100k dps with frenzy charges, flasks, Blood Rage, and Vaal Haste. That's fun :) I'm also using my old Dreamfeather, so I haven't experienced the physical damage boost yet.

The issue that's stopping more people from trying the sword is that the meta doesn't favor evasion-based melee builds because you can't safely kill from a distance and damage that gets through is ridiculous is high level maps, but it's manageable once you get around 4500 life and have Taste of Hate or a nice Granite flask. Still, I wouldn't use Dreamfeather in hardcore unless I really wanted a challenge.

I updated my build page, although lately I've been running around as a Scion, which works just as well.

Been thinking about a Dreamfeather + shield build that uses 3x Stibnite Flasks + Blasphemy Enfeeble + Acro + Arrow Dancing for near invincibility (I know, I know physical spell damage). I just did a similar build with The Goddess Unleashed (without the Stibnites, cause that sword blinds the whole screen on its own) and have been very impressed with the survivability of a dodge/evade based character when augmented with all the other little tricks.

Starting as a Shadow, and given the current state of the tree, I'm tempted to go Poison + Cleave for AoE and Viper Strike for single target. Any thoughts on that?

i like the concept of dreamfeather but making it a lv 66 item kills it, this is one of those uniques that need a very specific build and leveling such build to lv 66 with something else is a huge pain in the rear.

item level should have been close to pillar of the caged god or whispering ice at most, may be rise the "per 450 Evasion Rating" to 400 to make up for the base damage lost but it would be much better as a level 20-30 sword.

I found a shaped shield with "Gain Endurance, Frenzy or Power Charge when you Block", then got 3 Powerlessness jewels. I thought when there is no Power Charges, other Charges would appear more often. But instead of it I saw that it gain no Endurance or Frenzy Charges on block at all. I checked it when Riposte triggered. So how does this work?

Might be a bug. Can you link the item?