Finished game with Vanquisher, now need Destroyer advice

[Daniel]

I just finished TL for the first time. I used a Vanquisher, playing on "hard". My build was based on using lots of summoning spells and then hanging back and shooting with explosive shots. I think I may have stumbled on the easiest way of beating the game. I maxed out ranged weapon proficiency, charm spell, and pet mastery, with some points in other stuff (notably explosive shots). When I won I was level 34. The final fight was somewhat challenging but I just kept running around with haste and spamming high level summons of skelies, zombies, archers, with some lightning traps and occasionally stopping to shoot explosive shots.

Anyway I have no interest in doing the bonus dungeon, so I started a Destroyer (also on "hard). Right away I noticed the game goes much more slowly. He walks slow and does everything slow. I don't want to use summons this time, so I don't see how I will survive later when the mobs are swarming on me. Some of the skill descriptions are very vague and I don't want to waste skill points, so I'm not sure how to proceed. So far I am using slash, stampede and stun stomp (or whatever it is called). Any advice on which skills to avoid would be appreciated.

[Mortal]

There is a build that can make your destroyer go fast.

Devastate skill benefits from casting bonus and speed. You actually move around while using this skill. Use haste and dervish spells to speed it up.

Edit: This should give you an idea about what it looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFmP3csMDY

[Daniel]

Thanks, I will definitely be using devastate with haste and dervish. I also want to use some stunning attacks, and I don't like the cheap way he is using devastate in that video (quick click hits instead of holding down the button as intended).

[Middlemoor]

There's many ways you can proceed. I think the important thing to remember is that you'll get a lot more powerful later on. Also look out for % Faster Move Rate items.

[Embodiment]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFmP3csMDY

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[Daniel]

I am disappointed to discover that life stealing and mana stealing only work on normal attacks. That is a very strict limitation. I guess I should not have put more than one point in slash?

[Middlemoor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFmP3csMDY

σ_σ

oh man. nice video. almost turned me on. in fact it did.

[streetp]

destroyer is really boring, the other two classes have more varied skills. but anyway, i had a lot of success maxing doomquake, its a good ranged+crowd control option. put slash attack at 3 so it does 100% dps. MAX FROST SHIELD, it halves all incoming damage. everything else is up to you.

[Daniel]

destroyer is really boring, the other two classes have more varied skills. but anyway, i had a lot of success maxing doomquake, its a good ranged+crowd control option. put slash attack at 3 so it does 100% dps. MAX FROST SHIELD, it halves all incoming damage. everything else is up to you.

I got my destroyer to level 26 and now he has the build I want. I use a lot of different active skills, so I stay very busy and it's not too boring. With Haste V, movement is fast now, so that's not an issue. I do most of my damage with slash and devastate, with an occasional stampede to close the distance. Most of my points are in passive skills, for maximum versatility. Against bosses I also use amp damage (or whatever they call it in this game) and dervish. The only thing that seems to threaten me at this point are instant hit, ranged elemental attacks, but I haven't died yet.

I have a question: Does the reduce enemy armor mod work only on normal attacks? I know that's the case with mana and life steal.