Pet Builds in Grimarillion - A Full Guide

[Belzzzz]

I've been messing around with a lightning pet build. The base is sigatrev's Deceiver build:
http://www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76155
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/8NKBeLWZ

The second mastery is Storm instead of Inquisitor, for a very nice addition to the pet damage and a cool invincible aura pet. The ravens hit like a truck.

The second pet build I tried was a WitchDoctor / Nature. It's almost unfair how strong this is. You literally have an army under your control. The WitchDoctor set is quite nice.

[Goober]

These are interesting pet builds but I'm guessing many aren't intended for the Grimmest version?

[thepowerofmediocrity]

Originally Posted by Goober

These are interesting pet builds but I'm guessing many aren't intended for the Grimmest version?

Every build I test is designed for Ultimate Grimmest - if you're asking what I think you're asking, some builds are better designed to play a different build up through Ultimate (or until you have enough skill points) and then respec when obtain equipment / skills that your build is reliant on. Something like Riftstalker + D3 Skellies is something you need to wait until you have enough points to get the 100% Physical to Aether conversion before you try adding Riftstalker to the mix (or even just get it for the buffs / passives and then go for the other skills when you get the conversion). Once you get it, though, you'll plow through even Grimmest content with ease.

The hybrid pet/player builds are more challenge builds than anything, but even then they can go up through at least Log on Ultimate Grimmest (and that includes Hidden Path - Mad Queen is a favorite of mine for build testing purposes). The squishier builds may have a more challenging time on AoM Nemeses, but I can only test so much that I'm likely only going to take my favorite builds out of the 20 or so that I post through AoM + Lokarr. The others are either challenge builds or prompts for Crate / mod devs to buff underwhelming equipment or classes.

I have write-ups for my 3 Riftstalker builds, but I'm going to hold off posting them until I finalize their equipment to make sure I maximize their efficiency and that I'm not relying on too much on OP equipment in the event things like Eurydice's Wedding Bands get nerfed. Like I did for Storm, one will be standard pet build, one will be hybrid pet + player, and one will be full-player build.

[thepowerofmediocrity]

Patch 1.0.7.0 came and went with nothing interesting for classic summoners. All the new green gear with conversion definitely opens up a few exciting options for player-scaled pets, however. Sadly, the changes to Barrelsmith guns and Fleshwarped Shard no longer giving bonuses to Reap Spirit totally nuked two of my builds, but the remaining builds look to be unscathed. I'm definitely excited to try out the new Raise the Dead.

Come see my build compendium for full write-ups of the Riftstalker builds. If you're having a hard time seeing my pictures or need more clarification on things, please let me know and I'll see how I can edit my posts.

[Cocomunky]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for this guide! i'm very new to the game and with how steep the learning curve is, even for vanilla, I was feeling overwhelmed and hesitant to do much of anything. This guide and info is a godsend. You rock!

[Malkavian]

Thanks for the guide! I'm also following your pet builds in the other thread.
Being a noob, I'm experimenting a little before trying to wrap my head around more complex builds.
I'm trying with a Nature/Shaman combination as I like to create a build from a concept, in this case some kind of "caller of the wild". The damage type would be acid/poison.

I'm wondering... Is using Occultist instead of Shaman a more optimal choice in this case?

[thepowerofmediocrity]

Originally Posted by Malkavian

Thanks for the guide! I'm also following your pet builds in the other thread.
Being a noob, I'm experimenting a little before trying to wrap my head around more complex builds.
I'm trying with a Nature/Shaman combination as I like to create a build from a concept, in this case some kind of "caller of the wild". The damage type would be acid/poison.

I'm wondering... Is using Occultist instead of Shaman a more optimal choice in this case?

I haven't tested the Thorn Sprites out, so I can't say much for that. If you're doing a "Caller of the Wild" theme, I assume you're going to incorporate the Nature Dogs as much as you can? If you want the acid / poison theme, Occultist will be much better for you than Shaman. Get Blood of Dreeg as high as you can get, and make sure to get both Poison RR abilities as soon as you can. Heck, if you want to make the theme Dogs with a Poison bite to it, you can replace Occultist with Witch Doctor so you can get 7 Dogs nipping at your enemies' heels.

There's a staff that converts 30% pet's Physical damage into Acid, though it's hard to obtain without you accidentally leveling over the range necessary to get it. Once the new expansion comes out, there will be a new Mythical Set that converts 50% of pets' Physical to Acid; that will definitely boost your pets' Poison capabilities. Heck, replace Occultist with Rogue and you can get 100% of Physical converted to Poison if you combine all three items.

For those watching the other thread as well: 2 new builds are posted - 1 is the Necro + D3 Necro Skelemancer, and the other is a 3rd Player / Pet hybrid build, this time featuring Reap Spirit. No points for guessing what the Necro player-scaled pets are going to be, but I have to get the photos ready before I can post it.

[Malkavian]

Thank you for the suggestion! I have rolled a witch doctor/nature and see what I can see with acid. Can't wait to read your future builds and analysis on the other thread! I'm starting to appreciate Pet builds now.

[Goober]

So sad that D3 necromancer skeletons are so incredibly weak and fragile. I wish this mod included the D2 classes mod. Now D2 Necromancer has sturdy skeletons.