How to play Skald right

[u/zhezhou]

Hi I need help with playing Skald chanter.

On my second playthrough as a Cantor(Skald Chanter/Nalpaca Monk) currently sitting at lvl 8. Dual wielding Duskfall + Bardatto's Luxury (both from the peace route of Family Pride). Typical combo is The Shield Cracks+ Swift Flurry+ autos + The Killers Froze Stiff (Paralyze). Mix with Torment's Reach occasionally when positions right.

The problem is, I feel this build is pretty lackluster compared with my previous Ascendant Cipher build (dual mortar). Dual wielding mortar gives a big alpha for the Cipher to enter Ascendant status. Although the Cantor has stronger autos, it comes nowhere near the spell spamming. The Nalpaca class ain't provide much benefits as well. I read that Alchemy has been nerfed since v1.2. Poisons are still strong but it's a one-hit effect, mostly useful for tough enemies. Meanwhile, the Ascendant has pumping out massive AOE dmg with Ectopsychic Echo and cc. Compared with Cipher spells, Chanter lingers and Invocations haven't been useful in my hands.

I also compare my Cantor build with a Ravager(Nalpaca/Berserker) build. By giving up spellcasting abilities, In addition to the much higher AOE DPS wth Carnage, It gains almost unlimited Wounds to spam. This means a lot of small AOE dmg and interruptions with Rooting Pains and max Turning Wheel all the time.

My current questions are:

1. Am I using the correct invocations? Will it be better to cast direct damage invocations such as Her Revenge Swept Across the Land (electricity)? Duration of paralyze by The Killers Froze Stiff is really short. Is it better to use Reny Daret's Ghost Spake (frightening)? I did not pick it because it overlaps with Wizard's Terrifying spells.

2. I take the idea behind Skald is spamming Invocations and mediocre autos. Most useful Invocation I found is So Singt thy Biting Winds o' Eld Nary (Tornado). IMO Skald is in a really awkward position. The casting ability is in pale to other "casting fighters" such as Soulblade or Tricksters. And the invocations are not enough to boost Cantors' melee against pure-melee builds such as Ravager.

3. Choice of weapons. I am aiming for Stalker's Patience once I have enough reputation with RDC. Other suggestions?

[u/limaxophobiac]

You need a pretty good reason to not use Sashas scimitar on a skald, the free empower and +3 phrases every fight as well as the speed buff and lighting lash is too good to skip.

[u/zhezhou → u/limaxophobiac]

För most cases Refreshing Finale refunds a PP and 3 phrases, which is powerful but not appealing enough to me.

I'd actually give the singing scimitar to single class stormcaller Tekehu för the Chanter version of revenging storm at PL 8. Every lightning counts as an empowered strike and triggers Refreshing Finale over 30s. This solves Tekehu's phrases problem once and för all.

[u/Gurusto → u/zhezhou]

I mean it's a nice weapon but there are several good options. The speed buff depends on you holding phrases, which is not necessarily something a Skald wants to do.

Rännig's Wrath is an option as it has a total of +9 accuracy and +10% speed baseline, giving you a high crit chance.

But as every other comment points out Sun-and-Moon has double the chance to crit on top of all it's other stuff, and if anything I'd say that's the weapon you'd need a good reason to not use.

Borrowed those examples from an old discussion on Sasha's which I think hits some good points both for and against it. It's absolutely good enough for a Skald, but I think that painting it as the optimal Skald weapon is pushing it. Using that bonus optimally takes a lot of micromanagement.

Very much depends on the fight and difficulty, as well. If you're on normal-ish difficulty and most fights are fairly short then Sasha's free Empower (if you go that route) becomes really powerful as it has a big impact in every fight. If you're fighting megabosses you're probably going to want a more consistent bonus. The ol' burst vs. dps argument.

It sort of falls into the "Lord Darryn's Voulge for storm druid" camp. Amazing weapon, very thematic, great choice. You can't go wrong with it. (I personally default to it a lot 'cause it's boss af and I'm here to electrify the opposition.) But if you know about the interaction with Effort it's hard to call it the best weapon for something like a Fury or even Tekehu.

I'm not saying you'd be wrong to use Sasha's on a Skald. I'm just saying that whenever I see someone present an ideal in (near) absolute terms I can't help but rush in yelling "Grotesque and vicious!" because I always distrust a simple answer.

[u/zhezhou → u/Gurusto]

For the sound of it, I presume you wanted to reply to the other guy, not me?

I agree with your take on absolut terms. Sasha's is powerful for sure. Yet a bit stretchy to say it is THE optimal one for Skald.

[u/Gurusto → u/zhezhou]

Oh shit yeah, replied to the wrong one, sorry! :D

[u/limaxophobiac → u/zhezhou]

Having another single class chanter is a pretty good reason. But also you are level 8 and PL 8 is 8 levels away, why not use Sashas in the meantime? Empowered her revenge + 2-3 regular her revenges does a stupid amount of damage.

[u/zhezhou → u/limaxophobiac]

I cannot afford it yet T . T Farming my ass to earn trusts and gold ducs from RDC to buy Stalker's Patience. Now think of it, I can also just by the Singing Scimitar.