viable Shadow builds

[Aphexii]

In the past 6 months I tryed a more or less defensive shadow build and it worked fine so far, most of the time in the top 10 (expect some abysmal placings during skill changes, if you wanna change skills grab those free 200 skillpoints at the lower ranks!!)

Lets call it a "Drain Shadow" build and in my opinion its a very viable build. I hope that 6 months are enough to call them safely a viable build for BG.

As it turned out, the most successful build was a mixed build with a 60/40 win ratio (drain/damage).
The 2 most used weapons are tridents in (offense and defense) and nets mostly for defense.

The second best was a high defensive build with lots of "Defense" from equipment and dropping "dual strike" for another passiv skill. Sadly that build is very weak against trixsters (cheating bastards) which are always lurking in the top spots and ultimately spoil the last week of the season with many defeats....

There are basically two sets of strategies for the howl season. Either you tune your strats against all but trixsters or you dedicate all your 5 slots for trixsters and hope for the best.
I know it would be wise to have at least 3 sets of strategies, 1 basic for the first 2 weeks and 2 other depending on the current 20 glads around yours.

Long story short, a defensive shadow build is viable and able to win a season. Now its time to dive into a more violent build and go full offense.

I will try to update this thread with more "viable" builds and hopefully some exotic unexpected variants. As for now the next update should be about offense ;)

[weaw]

It's ok as a battlefield report.
As a newyear [and hidden] gift to You for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWo-51v-SFA
There is no method to surely destroy a trixter for Shadow. I mean too low damage. Only a chance.

[Tyrst]

Heavily offensive shadow builds are definitely more than capable of winning consistently against Trixters. Yes, more traditional "drain" shadow builds typically lack the firepower to outlast "cheating bastard" equipped Trixters, but I also feel that is due to the majority of those builds also being defense oriented. Aside from HH who is a heavily offensive "shadow form" build, I have been experimenting with another shadow build Skin Walker that I would term as a heavily offensive spec touch/entangle/chilling aura glad because he is just as capable of killing by damage as he is drain. Results have been surprisingly better than I anticipated, but there are still a ton of quirks to sort out and experimenting and tweaking left to do.

Anyway, I figured I'd share a couple of fight results between HH and some BG Trixters, including one of own Ivar X, who is a royal pain to kill.

R O U N D 1
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 1
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 1
HONGI HIKA rapidly spins around while attacking.
Wicked slash slices open IVAR X's chest...heart and lungs pureed, sickening! (+327 Damage)

>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
HONGI HIKA decides to attack with the other hand.
HONGI HIKA fluidly flicks his ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS.
HONGI HIKA attacks twice in rapid succession! (-Dual Strike-)
HONGI HIKA lands a strike on IVAR X's bicep inflicting magnificent wounds! (+632 Damage)

IVAR X gets knocked off balance by the strike and falls to the ground!
IVAR X's arm might never fully heal!!! *** Serious Injury ***
IVAR X readies a strike from the ground.
IVAR X sneaks in an off handed strike.
IVAR X looks to hurt HONGI HIKA with his ANCIENT NET OF THE BLOOD GODS.
IVAR X aims for HONGI HIKA's torso
IVAR X lands a strike on HONGI HIKA's abdomen causing intense damage! (+66 Damage)

IVAR X attempts to strike from the ground.
IVAR X lashes out with weapons spinning.
An unimpressive injury occurs on HONGI HIKA's butt. (+13 Damage)
R O U N D 2
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 4
IVAR X gets back up!
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 5
HONGI HIKA bounces hurriedly around his enemy.
HONGI HIKA attempts to hurt his adversary with his ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS.
IVAR X vanishes in a cloud of smoke! (-Vanish-)
IVAR X circles HONGI HIKA like a starved vulture, looking for an opening.
IVAR X attempts to scrape HONGI HIKA with his barbed ANCIENT NET OF THE BLOOD GODS.
HONGI HIKA deftly redirects the attack and counters! (-Riposte-)
HONGI HIKA moves swiftly to action.
HONGI HIKA advances on IVAR X and attempts to crush him.
IVAR X kicks sand into HONGI HIKA's eyes! (-Dirty Tricks-)
R O U N D 3
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
HONGI HIKA is no longer affected by Dirty Tricks
HONGI HIKA strikes at IVAR X and attempts to skewer his opponent.
A serious injury is hit and magnifies the damage!
HONGI HIKA smiles after the monstrous hit to IVAR X's shoulder! (+983 Damage)

HONGI HIKA whips around with his off hand.
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS dances through the air, striking at IVAR X with deadly force.
The blow to IVAR X's armpit lands with crippling force! (+327 Damage)

HONGI HIKA looks to maim his opponent with his ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS.
A serious injury is hit and magnifies the damage!
HONGI HIKA smiles after the beastly hit to IVAR X's forearm! (+396 Damage)

IVAR X attempts to cut HONGI HIKA with his ANCIENT TRIDENT OF THE BLOOD GODS.
Weak slash to the lower back. (+38 Damage)
IVAR X moves furiously trying to gain the advantage.
IVAR X seeks to hurt his opponent.
IVAR X aims for a tender and vulnerable location! (-Trick Shot-)
In a blur of motion, HONGI HIKA slides out of harms way! (-Uncanny Dodge-)
IVAR X rams into HONGI HIKA and seeks to hurt his adversary.
Savage lunge above HONGI HIKA's waist punctures a kidney and destroys all healthy tissue in the blades path! (+156 Damage)

Resisted Can Not Defend Effect!
R O U N D 4
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 3
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 5
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS screams through the air with a bloodthirsty crack.
Herculean slash to IVAR X's arm leaves it limp and mangled! (+228 Damage)
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 4
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 3
R O U N D 5
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
>> IVAR X SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
HONGI HIKA makes an off handed attack.
HONGI HIKA whirls around with deadly speed.
IVAR X vanishes in a cloud of smoke! (-Vanish-)
IVAR X races uncontrollably around his enemy.
IVAR X clashes with HONGI HIKA and tries to slash his opponent.
IVAR X looks to entangle HONGI HIKA! (-Entangle-)
In a blur of motion, HONGI HIKA slides out of harms way! (-Uncanny Dodge-)
HONGI HIKA moves with unbridled energy.
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT TRIDENT OF THE BLOOD GODS darts toward IVAR X with unbelievable speed.
HONGI HIKA attacks twice in rapid succession! (-Dual Strike-)
Savage lunge above IVAR X's waist punctures a kidney and destroys all healthy tissue in the blades path! (+1046 Damage)

IVAR X cringes as his weapon drops to the ground after the strike!
Resisted Stun Effect!
HONGI HIKA howls as his finishing blow is intercepted by the Enforcer!
The fight lasted 52 seconds!

[Tyrst]

Hope you don't mind me using this one Julez (love ya :o), these are the only 2 Trixter fights in my 10 fight history. I really need to unlock the scribe in my stable.

R O U N D 1
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 1
>> NICEQUEEN SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 1
HONGI HIKA tries to cut his opponent with his ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS.
NICEQUEEN vanishes in a cloud of smoke! (-Vanish-)
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS screams through the air with a bloodthirsty crack.
HONGI HIKA aims for NICEQUEEN's torso
HONGI HIKA connects with his ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS inflicting monstrous wounds! (+387 Damage)

Resisted Stun Effect!
HONGI HIKA looks to injure NICEQUEEN.
Deep cut into NICEQUEEN's arm opens the floodgates of blood! (+296 Damage)

NICEQUEEN moves with uncontrolled energy around the arena.
NICEQUEEN makes a vicious underhanded thrust with his TRIDENT OF VOZQ-THU.
Stomach is torn open by the mighty blow! (+240 Damage)

HONGI HIKA flies right at his enemy.
HONGI HIKA viciously lashes out with his ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS.
HONGI HIKA's weapon rips into NICEQUEEN's back inflicting horrific damage! (+407 Damage)

NICEQUEEN charges forward his bloody barbed PRIMEVAL NET OF THE BLOOD GODS viciously whirling in front of him.
NICEQUEEN aims for a tender and vulnerable location! (-Trick Shot-)
NICEQUEEN's PRIMEVAL NET OF THE BLOOD GODS disappears into HONGI HIKA's gut! (+122 Damage)
NICEQUEEN nearly trips himself as he lashes out with his PRIMEVAL NET OF THE BLOOD GODS.
NICEQUEEN casts his PRIMEVAL NET OF THE BLOOD GODS at HONGI HIKA! (-Entangle-)
R O U N D 2
HONGI HIKA untangles himself!
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 4
HONGI HIKA overruns NICEQUEEN and looks to slash his opponent.
HONGI HIKA aims for NICEQUEEN's head.
NICEQUEEN kicks sand into HONGI HIKA's eyes! (-Dirty Tricks-)
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 3
NICEQUEEN moves and springs around the arena.
NICEQUEEN's TRIDENT OF VOZQ-THU jabs at his opponent.
NICEQUEEN's TRIDENT OF VOZQ-THU drips with a black inky substance! (-Foul Play-)
In a blur of motion, HONGI HIKA slides out of harms way! (-Uncanny Dodge-)
NICEQUEEN charges furiously back and forth.
NICEQUEEN makes a vicious underhanded thrust with his TRIDENT OF VOZQ-THU.
Massive blow punches a hole through HONGI HIKA's chest! (+169 Damage)

R O U N D 3
>> HONGI HIKA SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 2
HONGI HIKA is no longer affected by Trick Shot
HONGI HIKA is no longer affected by Dirty Tricks
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS dances through the air, striking at NICEQUEEN with deadly force.
HONGI HIKA connects with his ANCIENT WHIP OF THE BLOOD GODS causing gigantic damage! (+397 Damage)

NICEQUEEN gets knocked off balance by the strike and falls to the ground!
>> NICEQUEEN SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 5
HONGI HIKA darts around as if on fire.
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS lashes out with serpent like speed.
HONGI HIKA lands a strike on NICEQUEEN's belly causing massive wounds! (+524 Damage)

HONGI HIKA looks to cut NICEQUEEN.
HONGI HIKA's ANCIENT LASH OF THE BLOOD GODS tastes victory and inflicts massive damage on NICEQUEEN's upper arm! (+377 Damage)

>> NICEQUEEN SWITCHES TO STRATEGY 3
HONGI HIKA yells in anger as the Enforcer saves NICEQUEEN's life!
The fight lasted 29 seconds!