Stalker http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/demon-hunter#bclTgj!bce!aZaZab The reason I call this build a Stalker is because it maximizes damage by using bow attacks and slow runes coupled with "Cull the Weak" (Damage against slowed enemies increased by 15%). This build is designed for groups in order to maximize DEX in lieu of VIT/DEF. Additionally, it is designed to deal damage mostly to a single target - a boss, unique, or champion. The downside to this build is crowd control although there are a few options should enemies break through the tanks and you get overwhelmed. The build uses a lot of Hatred so maximizing it anyway possible is a good idea. I recommend finding good bows and a good quiver for use with this build. Bows typically do significant damage while a good quiver can provide essential buffs. Passives: Vengeance: This build uses a lot of Hatred so getting an additional 25 Hatred will allow you to utilize your skills better. Cull the Weak: You'll use primarily slow skills so getting 15% additional damage against slowed enemies helps maximize damage. Archery: If you use a bow with as I recommended above, you will get %15 additional damage. Primary: Entangling Shot (Chain Gang) This is really a secondary option for when Hatred is recharging. You want to equip Chain Gang so up to four enemies are slowed and therefore dealt additional damage. Secondary: Rapid Fire (Web Shot) This is the skill you'll use mostly. This skill coupled with passives, the right equipment, and DEX buffs does massive damage. Rapid Fire will focus on a single target and Web Shot will slow the enemy. One down side to this is crowd control. However, in a party setting or even with a follower equipped with lots of VIT, getting overwhelmed is manageable. Additionally, utilizing RF uses lots of Hatred which is why it's good to maximize its quantity and regen effects. Archery: Rain of Vengeance (Dark Cloud) I consider this the "oh crap" button. This is your means of crowd control and acts as cover while you flee. Hit RoV when you or your party starts to get overwhelmed. With Dark Cloud equipped the volley of arrows will home in on targets and you can escape while they are staggering (which happens often due to the quantity of arrows). Hunting: Companion (Bat Companion) Again, maximizing Hatred and Hatred regen is essential. The Bat Companion will regen 3 Hatred every second. Defensive: Option 1: Smoke Screen (Breathe Deep) The rune on this skill provides some good Hatred regen albeit short. Smoke Screen/Breathe Deep will regen 6 Hatred a second for two seconds while you remain invisible to enemies. Use this skill to aid in an escape should you get overwhelmed. Option 2: Shadow Power (Night Bane) The healing effects of Shadow Power are nice – if you are low on HP hit this skill and you’ll get 20% of damage done as life which can amount to quite a bit using Rapid Fire. The real reason for this skill is again, Hatred regen. You get 4 Hatred per second back when this skill is active. Hunting: Marked for Death (Grim Reaper) This is another skill you’ll utilize to maximize damage. Naturally, you’ll try to mark the strongest enemy you encounter (either the boss, champion, or unique). Grim Reaper is useful in packs since it does additional damage to surrounding enemies if you attack the marked enemy. This will also help with crowd control a bit.
I love the synergy of Shadow Discipline: Night Bane with Companion: Bat Companion. This generates almost as much hatred as you need to constantly channel Rapid Fire. With any hatred regen from items, this could be a phenomenal build for bosses, with great CC ability with the focus on Slow. I would think Marked for Death could be swapped in favor of Smoke Screen to get the extra defensive ability you may or may not be missing. Solid idea!
That's the idea! It works remarkably well. I can channel RF through most mobs and the time between gives plenty of opportunity to recharge. In essence, RF is only costing 3 Hatred to channel. You could swap Marked for Death with Smoke Screen (Breathe Deep) to regen more Hatred. This would cause a surplus however when channel RF and is inefficent IMHO. The idea is to break even or minimize the Hatred requirements - not create a surplus. A surplus is useless since there's a maximum Hatred you can regen. Additionally, if you got any sort of Hatred regen from equipment you could break even or come close without sacrificing a skill slot. I don't think Smoke Screen is the best defensive skill either. It really only delays mob attacks briefly - not enough time to regen a significant amount of health. In my experience the skill doesn't provide enough of an opportunity to escape - RoV provides a better opportunity to escape a mob since the constant volley of arrows stager enemies often. Marked for Death is probably one of the most solid skills in the build. The extra damage it provides IMHO is invaluable espcially with Grim Reaper equipped to do radial damage. It's invaluable in mobs - my party even remarks how much they love it. Plus you can mark multiple enemies.
Great points. I didn't realize that Rain of Vengeance was your defensive skill, but now I see how useful it is. Have you considered using Stampede to provide some extra knockback to increase your chance of escape. I also didn't realize this was a party-centric build, in which case Marked for Death is probably the best skill slotted. As for Smoke Screen, in Beta I used it to sneak into an area, and then started the Rapid Fire Channel from far away, giving myself a nice buffer between myself and the mob. But I can definitely see that a "surplus" of Hatred isn't really needed, more that you have enough hatred to channel Rapid Fire until the mob is dead. Good stuff!
The duration of Stampede isn't nearly as long as Dark Cloud and since Dark Cloud is guided you can be sure that it will hit enemies. Stampede is a line of sight attack so if you launch it and move to the side, enemies will follow and you'll have missed the group alltogether. It is a party centric build but it still viable in single player. You just might have to A) switch out some gear to get VIT/DEF and 2) kite a lot more. Also, Smoke Screen got a nerf this morning:
