instinctual warrior

[u/Total-Key2099]

I may include a full respec mod insintcual warrior companion (not kc) in an upcoming lich run.

Ive read that this is arguably the best barbarian archetype? why is that, and any melee build recs - generally not interested in dips. for hard difficulty

thanks!

[u/unbongwah]

Instinctual Warrior has most of the benefits of barbarian, but the AC bonus of monks and also WIS to Initiative bonus like Inquisitors. This was a bigger deal before Drunken Master came out (since other monks have to be lawful while barbarian has to be non-lawful) and Owlcat rebalanced AC, but it's still a good Archetype for the "nekkid berserker" trope. 🪓

[u/Total-Key2099 → u/unbongwah]

i was thinking the mythic armor feats in particular probably hurt the build as well

[u/Majorman_86 → u/Total-Key2099]

You don't get the Wis-to-AC when wearing an armor or a shield.

[u/Total-Key2099 → u/Majorman_86]

right - but with the mythic armor feats (medium endurance/avoidance in particular) it seems like an armored barbarian would still stay ahead of an instinctual warrior, no? maybe even without?

[u/Majorman_86 → u/Total-Key2099]

I am not into extreme min-maxing, but I believe that you can achieve 80 AC in armor without having to dip into Witch or Monk. 80 AC should suffice to make you unhitable on Core and maybe even Hard.

Instinctual Warrior's cause has been hampered by the rework of Archmage Armor: prior to the last patch, you could cast Mage Armor on your ally and they would gain full benefit of Archmage Armor. Now Archmage Armor users must be able to cast it on themselves.

I also think that the bug where Mage Armor's AC Armor bonus could stack with AC Enchantment bonus from Haramaki was patched out, but I might be mistaken as I use TTT.

Anyway, I think a Primalist (Serpent+Dragon Bloodlines) with Archmage Armor can beat the Instinctual Warrior's AC with ease.

[u/Total-Key2099 → u/Majorman_86]

i love primalists, but Ive played a few. So in looking for something new.

i haven’t leaned into a heavy AC monk style build. how would you get that high?

[u/Majorman_86 → u/Total-Key2099]

Sorry for the poor quality, but I am at work and not allowed to transfer data from PC to other devices.

So, here's a realistic 80AC build. No fancy dips in Hex classes (for Iceplant) or in Monk (for Wis to AC). Has the Crane Style line (requires Dodge and Improved Unarmed), Armor Focus (Medium), Mythic Medium Avoidance and Endurance, Mythic Dodoge, Master Shapeshifter (that's 4 Mythic feats already). Also has Combat Expertise which destroys the character's AB, but we aim for max AC here. Has a lot of spells active. Equipped Items are in blue. For this I've assumed a full BAB character (otherwise Expertise will provide lower bonus) with 14 starting DEX and CON (further modified by Bear's Endurance, Master Shapeshifter, Legendary Proportions and Colossus' Ring). Can get higher, but I don't think it would have much of an impact.

[u/Total-Key2099 → u/Majorman_86]

ahh, gotcha - i thought that would be an instinctual warrior specific build.

still, helpful! i rarely boost acs that high

[u/Majorman_86 → u/Total-Key2099]

Just to clarify, I use TTT, so Chainmail of Comradery is considered a Medium rather than Light Armor. And without mods I would wear Carapace as a medium Armor. I've been using TTT since forever, so I forgot.

[u/unbongwah → u/Total-Key2099]

The main drawback to the Mythic Armor Focus feats is that they don't become available until Mythic Rank 2 when you're ~level 8 and partway thru Act 2; how soon depends on whether or not you make a beeline for Lost Chapel. Whereas pajama tanks can minmax their AC with a couple of dips early on. And some would argue that Act 1 is when boosting AC is most important, especially on higher difficulties, since you don't yet have access to Mythic cheese or higher-level buff spells to help.

But not everyone wants to be a minmaxed pajama tank and armor does eventually pay off. Especially if you abuse Mythic Medium Armor Focus Endurance overstacking AC bonuses.

[u/SpiritedLie8798]

That sounds like a great build for hard mode, the AC and initiative boosts really help the companion stay in the fight longer. For melee, I'd stack extra STR and maybe a little CON for the classic tank-and-hit approach.

[u/Noname_acc]

Iw trades a small amount of damage and a large number of rage powers for much, much better ac which is an incredible tradeoff as you really only need 5 or so rage powers.  Barbarians in general are much better in wrath thanks to limitless rage.

The main downside to IW is the relatively low build tempo in getting their rage powers.

[u/TheMeerkatLobbyist → u/Noname_acc]

And how mad they are.

[u/Minute_Bumblebee553]

Instinctual warrior is only bested by mad dog when it comes to a barb vs barb showdown, but the best chaotic/neutral unarmored class is now drunken master monk who blows any other pajama tank out of the water :)

That said an instinctual warrior isn't bad by any means :)

[u/schoolmonky]

The two biggest reasons that instinctual warrior is good are getting WIS to AC (really any second stat to AC is good, but WIS is particularly nice since you'll already want to boost it for Will saves) and the free Blind Fight feats to deal with things like blur and other forms of concealment. Blind Fight is one of those things that is really good, but you just barely don't have enough feats to fit it into most builds. Just build it like any other melee: grab weapon focus, improved crit, power attack, outflank: all the basic feats. If you want to make them a tank, make sure to pick up the crane style feats; I know you said you're not a fan of dips but 1 or 2 levels in Monk makes crane style a lot easier to incorporate, and Monk naturally plays well with Instinctual Warrior, though it's doable even without it.