I like to hear from you. List the most viable unusual builds that you played.
I have two in my mind but will let you talk first.
Let the fun begin!
Dragoon, Paladin.
Eth repair + cruel rare jav
Fort + phoenix yielded 3k - 6k thrown damage
6k - 14k charge dmg
Jedi sin
Mind blast / psychic hammer
Shadow warrior
Ik barb
15 40 jewels in ik weap bers in other sockets
Very versatile build…
Griswold Zealot
4x Lo runes in weapon
Enough bers to max dr%
Min dmg rare jewels in remaining sockets
Red sc of vita
Yields 3k+ min dmg and 80% deadly strike and massive ar
1 Like
For unusual builds i was going to say Magi Summoner Necro, but you also said viable so that’s out the window…
Frost nova sorc was my go to a while back, but now with sunder charms it’s probably too good to be unusual.
My Enchant Tank Sorc support the (act1 or act5) Merc build was pretty unusual and far above viable, but i’ve been away for a bit and dont know if it’s caught on in popularity.
1 Like
I dont play unusual builds usualy because they are usualy weak and not fun to play for various reason. Most unusual build for me was probably druid summoner i did playthrough with 
2 Likes
So unless a build is op you can’t have fun?
1 Like
It doesnt have to be op, but generaly speaking i dont like to play builds who struggle too much because of bad skill design.
I wouod love to play holy fire/freeze/shock paladins for example but their auras are quite bad.
2 Likes
Any build is viable if setup correctly
1 Like
Doesnt mean its also fun to play at the same time.
1 Like
Mage/Vindicator
Trang armor, helm, belt.
Use fire wall, fire ball and foh with conviction aura. Very funny especially early Ladder pvp.
1 Like
Autocannon - Basically a Bow Enchantress with Demon Machine and Razor. Deals a 6-7k, 100% pierce, zero mana cost, 11 frames explosive arrow. Viable uh… it’s a fun build.
1 Like
back when synergisms first came out i made an Arctic Blast Drude just to go online players 8 and see how people reacted. It was top kek until i got to Act 5 ice caves. Maybe i’ll try another with sunder charms.
to be honest, if blizzard were smart they’d hire me because i’d change arctic blast to work like poison nova. i dont even get paid for these ideas.
1 Like
be easier to say which i havent played and that´s pretty much bearsorc and poison-java.
1 Like
Viable but gear dependent, would be my Bow Assassin. Faith bow, enhanced damage jewels in helm (no IAS needed), fortitude, razortail, ravenfrosts, souldrainers, and mav belt. Might+pride merc, max damage charms.
Like a Bowazon, with a few changes. You don’t have bow skills to add attack rating or damage, so ITD and -defence is needed, and enhanced damage jewels are better than max damage. With burst of speed and faith, you don’t need IAS on gear for max attack speed. Highlords + gore riders for deadly strike and open wounds. You get shadow master instead of valkyrie, and death sentry for AOE. Cloak of shadows improves your chance to hit, and means you can go glass-cannon with high dex and low resists.
It surprised me how well it works. 
2 Likes
2-handed Vengeance. Hits like a truck.
I wish holy shield could apply the defense buff without needing to wear a shield.
1 Like
makes me so mad that the plague jav range is so short compared to lightning fury.
1 Like
i try bow harmony sorceres, with no magic attack skills, its just… wow
1 Like
Phoenix/Phoenix fireclaw werewolf (because werebear frames are horrid now)
Max fireclaw/synergies/synergies for ctc firestorm (which is just fissure in addition)
Huge amounts of -res from Phoenix/Phoenix and potentially a flickering flame if that’s the hat you choose. It’s not super fast, because of the lack or awkwardness of teleport, but it’s fun.
1 Like
Can only speak for myself. I often chose not op builds to have fun in games. The most super optimal op build aren’t always the most fun to play.
But in D2, the difference on the op builds are just too big. There’s limits how much worse the none op builds can be before the fun go away.
1 Like
Attacker takes damage Sorceress was GREAT fun for PVP.
I’ve never seen a zealot die so fast. Roll out there in bear form in a melee duel game and people think you are an enchant bear sorc. Then they commit assisted suicide.
Fireclaw druid werewolf.
Its actually really cheap and really powerful (can farm anything p3 or greater with ease).
Budget build: Obediance in a thresher/giant thresher (-25% fire res!, +level 21 enchant buffs Attack rating, 40% crushing blow), Flickering Flame (ideally a +3 fireclaw helmet), Treachery, Ravenfrost, Fire Sunder Charm → the rest is up to you. Next thing to get are draculs, as you will want the healing from lifetap.
You’ll easily hit for 45k per round (15k per hit) and with a sunder charm + treachery you’ll have perfect res, high DR. ANY merc will work (as you have ~-40% fire res from gear) so you don’t need infinity/lower res on merc (can honestly use Act 1 with vigor for speed, or get insight for mana res), but they’ll help boost your damage.
With max gear your DPS skyrockets - but you can build it quite cheaply, farm anywhere in the game, and the crazy runwalk speed from feral rage gets you around fast!
Before flickering flame, simply use Jalals with a 4/4 firesocket (SUPER cheap) and you’ll do just fine.
1 Like