Power Virtuoso

July 2023

Introduction

Power Virtuoso is a strong ranged DPS build that is also forgiving for new players. Careful rotation optimization during encounters also rewards skilled players, making this build a great long-term choice for Power DPS.

The Greatsword variant currently offers slightly higher DPS than Sword/Focus, but both versions are more than capable of handling End-Game Content. Sword/Focus provides a bit more utility, which may be beneficial in certain encounters.

Both variants have access to a good amount of built-in defensive utility thanks to Bladeturn Requiem and Bladesong Distortion.

Build Fundamentals

Upkeep Deadly Blades to increase your damage by using Bladesongs. Once 5 Blades are ready, alternate between using Bladesong Harmony and Bladesong Sorrow. Other Bladesongs can be used with fewer blades to upkeep Deadly Blades.

Use Phantasmal Swordsman at the start of your Dagger/Sword loop, then use it again before swapping to your other weapon set to maintain Fencer's Finesse and increase your DPS. Swap back to Dagger/Sword as soon as possible to ensure uptime of this buff.

Build Specifics

Stock blades quickly with Bloodsong by summoning phantasms (Phantasmal Berserker, Phantasmal Disenchanter, and Phantasmal Swordsman) that apply Bleeding via Sharper Images.

Use Signet of the Ether to reset the cooldowns of Phantasmal Berserker and Phantasmal Disenchanter to be able to use them twice in a row.

Once Deadly Blades and Fencer's Finesse are both active, use Power Spike and Thousand Cuts off-cooldown. They’re both instant-cast and you won’t lose anything by doing so. Don’t use the second charge of Power Spike unless the boss is about to phase, die, or there will be downtime, so there is time to recharge it.

It’s worth practicing segments of the Rotation involving Mind Stab and Signet of the Ether as they can easily interrupt your other skills and significantly lower your DPS.

Bladesong Distortion can be used to upkeep Deadly Blades, but is also a fantastic emergency button that allows you to become invulnerable and ignore many high damage abilities.

Crowd Control

• Illusionary Wave
• Illusionary RiposteCounter Blade
• Bladesong Dissonance
• Signet of Humility – replace Thousand Cuts with this if you need more CC

Alternatives

Replace Rain of Swords if you need to bring more utility such as:

• Blink for personal mobility
• Portal Entre for group mobility
• Feedback for projectile reflection
• Mantra of Concentration if your group is lacking Stability

Gear

Superior Sigil of Accuracy can be changed to Superior Sigil of the Night or a Slaying Sigil for encounters where this increases DPS.
To do this, make the following adjustments to your gear:

• Assassin’s Weapons, Amulet, and Chest piece.
• Use Writ of Masterful Accuracy as Nourishment.