Caveman Minotaur Brawler

Open this build in the planner

The planner opens Horned Vanguard with the tree and the attributes of this guide. Its Damage tab gives a damage per second estimate for your own gear and target.

Level 25 gives 48 points; the last 12 come from first boss kills.

A player's build tier list in the balance channel puts the Minotaur Brawler "Caveman Style" alone at the top and mentions a Goblin King clear of about 13 seconds. In the talk around it, players point to crits, Frenzy uptime and a Ripping set as the parts that matter. The original tree was shared as a picture, so this guide follows the idea and is not a copy of that tree.

• Build and balance messages that name the Caveman build: 5
• Messages that name Frenzied Slashes: 34
• Messages that name the Ripping set: 100
• Build and balance messages that name Frenzy: 50

Counted on our copy of the official Dimraeth Discord, bot messages left out. A count shows how much players talk about a build, not how strong it is.

• Crit chance turns into attack speed through Deadly Rhythm, and more swings mean more crits, so each one keeps the other going.
• The damage comes from many places at once: basic attacks, Strike spells, Whirl of Gore spins and set bonuses. Players say this is why the build is hard to nerf.
• Bleeding is not the damage source here. It is there to switch on Whirl of Gore, Gorehorn and the crit nodes against Bleeding enemies.
• Most tree points go to general crit and attack speed, so the build works before you have good gear.

The nodes that make it work

The first line under each node is the game text.

• FrenzyPress to cast. Gain 5 Rage and 50% increased Attack Speed for 2 seconds.Frenzy is the button you press on cooldown. It is the burst window of the build.
• Deadly RhythmOn Critical Hit, gain +25% Attack Speed for 3 secondsThe core of the build. With enough crit chance this buff is up almost all the time, so your attack speed stays high between casts.
• Whirl of GoreWhen hitting a Bleeding enemy, there is a chance to trigger a spinning AOE attack that deals Strike Damage. The chance increases for each Bleeding stack on nearby enemiesExtra spinning hits while Bleeding is on the pack. Players report that these spins can crit, which is why the build keeps Whirl of Gore.
• Child of the BloodhornIncrease the maximum Bleeding you can apply by 3. Increase your Critical Chance against Bleeding enemies by 8%Crit chance against Bleeding enemies, and a higher Bleeding cap for more spin chances.
• Sight of the BloodbullIncrease your Attack Speed by 9% Increase your Critical Damage against Bleeding enemies by 18%Attack speed and Critical Damage against Bleeding enemies in one node, on the way to the keystone.
• Critical Damage IncreaseIncrease your Critical Damage by 18%The biggest Critical Damage node on the tree. Take it as soon as crits are common.

• FrenzyFrom the skill tree · cooldown 12 sYour burst and your Rage. Cast it on cooldown, about every 12 seconds, and swing through it.
• Frenzied SlashesFrom Spellbook Frenzied Slashes · cooldown 6 sLearned from a spellbook, not the tree. It puts Bleeding on the whole pack, which switches on Whirl of Gore, and the Ripping set makes it bleed much harder.
• Quick JabFrom the skill tree · cooldown 4 sA cheap hit with a short Physical Damage buff. Weave it between basic attacks.
• Cornu ChargeFrom the skill tree · cooldown 12 sYour way in and out. Use it to reach the next pack and to dodge big hits.
• Tendon SliceFrom Spellbook Tendon Slice · cooldown 4 sThe fifth button. It is a cheap slice that applies Bleeding, with a cooldown of 4 seconds. Use it to put Bleeding on a single target when Frenzied Slashes is on cooldown, so Whirl of Gore and the crit nodes against Bleeding enemies stay on.

Slot 1Frenzied Slashes

Slot 2Frenzy

Slot 3Tendon Slice

Slot 4Quick Jab

Slot 5Cornu Charge

Dash keyDash

Defensive keyRetaliation

The spell bar has five slots, then the dash and the defensive spell of your race on their own keys (the game HUD: Spell1 to Spell5, DashSpell, DefensiveSpell).

Pet

Carrion Parrot · casts Carrion Sweep every 8 seconds

The Carrion Parrot swoops on Bleeding enemies and adds more Bleeding to the target and one enemy nearby. More stacks mean more Whirl of Gore spins and fewer gaps when Frenzied Slashes is on cooldown. Players in the build channels often run a War Cat for Rage instead, but nothing in this tree spends Rage.

A pet can reach level 8 while you are level 25: one pet level per 3 of yours, and never above 20.

Item bar

The item bar has 4 slots.

• Lesser Health PotionA healing draft brewed with enchanted water and herbs.Your main heal. This build has little defence in the tree, so drink early in a boss fight, not at the last moment.
• Lesser Stamina PotionA revitalizing tonic scented with mint and wild herbs.Dashes and blocks both cost Stamina. When a long fight drains it, this keeps you able to dodge.
• Poison CureAn herbal tonic designed to purge harmful toxins from the body. Trusted by seasoned explorers.Treant fights put Poison on melee players. Cure it and keep swinging instead of backing off.
• Hunter's StewA warm, nourishing stew slow-cooked with care. Often shared at village hearths after long days of labor.Eat before a boss for more max health and Stamina for a long time. Only one food buff can be active.

Each level gives 2 skill points, and the first kill of some bosses gives one more. The level shown is the first level with enough points for the step, before any boss point.

1. Level 7 12 points

   Go up the Brawler Strike Damage and Critical Damage line to Frenzy. These nodes raise every hit you make, so they help from the first level. Until then, fight with basic attacks, Quick Jab and Cornu Charge.

   The nodes of this step

   Health Boost, Strike Damage Increase, Strike Damage Increase, Strike Damage Increase, Berserker Blood, Critical Damage Increase, Critical Damage Increase, Critical Damage Increase, Blood Fury, Blunt Damage Increase, Blunt Damage Increase, Frenzy

2. Level 12 10 points

   Put three points into the Frenzy attack speed buffs, then clear the crit branch to Deadly Rhythm. Crit chance is what turns on Deadly Rhythm, so this branch comes before anything else. From here every crit speeds up your next swings.

   The nodes of this step

   Frenzy Attack Speed Increase I, Frenzy Attack Speed Increase II, Frenzy Attack Speed Increase III, Critical Damage Increase, Critical Damage Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Deadly Rhythm

3. Level 15 6 points

   Walk the attack speed nodes into the ring and take Whirl of Gore. It only works on Bleeding enemies, so craft the Frenzied Slashes spellbook after the Goblin King falls, then every pack you open is ready for it.

   The nodes of this step

   Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Sight of the Bloodbull, Whirl of Gore

4. Level 21 12 points

   Open the Minotaur side for health and the attack speed line up to Unbroken Advance. The enemies after the Goblin King hit much harder, and this is where the build gets its health.

   The nodes of this step

   Health Boost, Health Boost, Health Boost, Minotaur Blood, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Attack Speed Increase, Unbroken Advance, Spell Haste

5. Level 25 and 4 boss points 12 points

   Take Child of the Bloodhorn and the crit nodes against Bleeding enemies around the ring, then the flat crit chance behind Xwin's Might. With Bleeding on every target, these act like plain crit chance and Critical Damage.

   The nodes of this step

   Child of the Bloodhorn, Critical Chance vs. Bleeding, Critical Chance vs. Bleeding, Critical Chance vs. Bleeding, Critical Chance vs. Bleeding, Xwin's Might, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Strike Chance Increase, Critical Damage vs. Bleeding, Critical Damage vs. Bleeding, Critical Damage vs. Bleeding, Critical Damage vs. Bleeding

6. Level 25 and 12 boss points 8 points

   Spend the last points on Strike Damage, Skullbreaker's Toll for Critical Damage, and damage against Bleeding enemies. These are the smallest gains, so they come last.

   The nodes of this step

   Strike Damage Increase, Strike Damage Increase, Physical Damage Increase, Critical Damage Increase, Skullbreaker's Toll, Increased Damage vs. Bleeding, Increased Damage vs. Bleeding, Increased Damage vs. Bleeding

Most points go to Strength: each point gives 1 Physical Power, the most of any attribute. The rest go to Agility: each point gives 0.5 Physical Power and 0.5 percent attack speed, and it is the only attribute with attack speed. That Agility also covers what Tendon Slice asks for. Everything else stays at its start value.

Points are trained cheapest first: each one goes to the attribute whose next point costs the least XP at that moment. The whole plan costs 123832 XP. The same points in the order the guide started from cost 125032 XP.

Stat priorities

• Strength is the main attribute: 1 Physical Power per point, twice what Agility or Adventure give.
• Agility is second here, not skipped: 0.5 Physical Power and 0.5 percent attack speed per point. Attack speed feeds Deadly Rhythm, so it is worth more to this build than to most.
• On gear, crit chance first until Deadly Rhythm is up nearly all the time. Every character starts at only 0.02 crit chance, so the tree and gear must supply the rest.
• Then Critical Damage and attack speed. Critical Damage rolls high per stat (8), and each crit you add also makes the Critical Damage worth more.
• Physique only if you keep dying. Each point gives 10 health on top of a base of 150, which is small next to health rolls on the undercoat and belt.

The planner link trains them in this order up to level 25. A point costs base x (1 + (points above your start - 1) / 3) ^ 1.1 + 100 x your level in XP, so the order changes the total.

Every slot, as a target: Mythical, 3 stars, forge level 12. That is the best piece a player can own in this version of the game. The planner link carries this gear, so the planner shows its totals and damage.

Damage slots chase crit and attack speed. Crit chance rolls at a base of 3 and Critical Damage at 8 per stat, so the amulets take crit chance as the main stat and the badges take Critical Damage. Attack speed rolls at 3 per stat and feeds the whole loop, so it sits on the bracers, one ring and as an extra wherever the pool allows. Physical Piercing on the rune and rings helps against the late bosses, which have 30 Physical defence. The undercoat, belt and charm can only roll health, armor or Stamina as the main stat, so they keep you alive and pay for dashes and blocks.

The stat values follow the game's forge rule for each piece's stars and forge level. The planner uses the same rule.

• Rune · Gorehorn · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 16.5 Strike Damage
  Extra stats: 8.2% Physical Damage, 6.2 Physical Piercing, 10.3% Attack Damage, 9.8 Strike Piercing, 5.6 Attack Speed, 14.1 HP
• Under-coat · Gorehorn · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 HP
  Extra stats: 12.4 Armor, 12.4 Resistance, 12.4 Strike Armor, 11.8 Blunt Armor, 14.9 Stamina, 14.1 Stamina Regen
• Belt · Gorehorn · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 HP
  Extra stats: 12.4 Armor, 12.4 Resistance, 12.4 Strike Armor, 11.8 Blunt Armor, 14.9 Stamina, 14.1 Stamina Regen
• Charm · Ripping · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22 Stamina
  Extra stats: 16.5 Stamina Regen, 16.5 HP, 12.4 Armor, 11.8 Resistance, 5.6 Spell Haste, 10.6 Strike Armor
• Ring 1 · Gorehorn · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3 Attack Speed
  Extra stats: 8.2% Physical Damage, 6.2 Physical Piercing, 10.3% Attack Damage, 11.8 Strike Damage, 9.3 Strike Piercing, 1.8 Max Bleeding
• Ring 2 · Gorehorn · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 16.5 Strike Damage
  Extra stats: 8.2% Physical Damage, 6.2 Physical Piercing, 10.3% Attack Damage, 5.9 Attack Speed, 9.3 Strike Piercing, 1.8 Max Bleeding
• Amulet 1 · Ripping · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3% Critical Rate
  Extra stats: 16.5% Critical Multiplier, 6.2 Attack Speed, 12.4 Strike Damage, 7.8% Physical Damage, 14.9 HP, 10.6 Armor
• Amulet 2 · Ripping · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3% Critical Rate
  Extra stats: 16.5% Critical Multiplier, 6.2 Attack Speed, 12.4 Strike Damage, 7.8% Physical Damage, 5.6 Spell Haste, 14.1 HP
• Badge 1 · Ripping · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22% Critical Multiplier
  Extra stats: 6.2% Critical Rate, 6.2 Attack Speed, 12.4 Strike Damage, 7.8% Physical Damage, 14.9 HP, 10.6 Armor
• Badge 2 · Ripping · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 22% Critical Multiplier
  Extra stats: 6.2% Critical Rate, 6.2 Attack Speed, 12.4 Strike Damage, 7.8% Physical Damage, 14.9 HP, 10.6 Resistance
• Bracer 1 · Pitfighter · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3 Attack Speed
  Extra stats: 8.2% Physical Damage, 10.3% Attack Damage, 16.5 HP, 11.8 Armor, 5.6 Spell Haste, 14.1 Stamina Regen
• Bracer 2 · Pitfighter · Mythical · 3 stars · +11 (forge level 12)
  Main stat: 8.3 Attack Speed
  Extra stats: 8.2% Physical Damage, 10.3% Attack Damage, 16.5 HP, 11.8 Armor, 11.2 Resistance, 5.3% Guard Efficiency

While levelling

• Levels one to ten: wear anything with Physical Damage, Strike Damage or health. Pitfighter and Rumbler pieces come early from goblins and Goblin Cave chests, and a Pitfighter pair already gives a bonus.
• Once the wolves of the Wildwood are on your route, start collecting Gorehorn. Both Wildwood Wolf and Wildwood Aetherfang Wolf drop it. Three pieces give Physical Damage and attack speed, which is enough to carry you to the Goblin King.
• After the Goblin King falls, craft the Spellbook Frenzied Slashes with Hoard King Tooth and start farming Ripping from his bounty. Every Ripping piece he drops has the highest star count.
• Target: Ripping 5 in the charm, amulets and badges, Gorehorn 5 in the rune, undercoat, belt and rings, and a Pitfighter pair of bracers.

A character wears 12 runes. The bonuses listed are the ones these piece counts switch on.

• Ripping 5 pieces

  Made for Frenzied Slashes: at 3 pieces the spell keeps slashing and bleeding for a while after the cast, and at 5 pieces it applies twice the Bleeding. This keeps Whirl of Gore firing. The set drops only from the Goblin King, and players call it the hard part of the build. It takes the charm, both amulets and both badges.

  • 3 pieces: Riptear: Frenzied Slashes continues for 3 seconds after the initial cast, dealing Strike Damage and applying Bleeding every second to nearby enemies
  • 5 pieces: Bloody Slashes: Frenzied Slashes has twice the Bleeding application

  Where it drops: Goblin King: 55.56% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

• Gorehorn 5 pieces

  Physical Damage and attack speed at 3 pieces, then crit chance and more damage to Bleeding enemies at 5. Our drop tables list Gorehorn only as rune, undercoat, belt, charm and ring pieces, so the full set is out of reach and 5 pieces is the target.

  • 3 pieces: +6% Physical Damage, +4 Attack Speed
  • 5 pieces: +6% Critical Rate, Bloodfrenzy: Bleeding enemies take +12% increased Physical Damage from you

  Where it drops: Wildwood Wolf: 5% per kill; Wildwood Aetherfang Wolf: 3% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

• Pitfighter 2 pieces

  Neither set above has a bracer piece, so both bracers come from Pitfighter. At 2 pieces it adds max health and Physical Damage, and its bracers can carry attack speed as the main stat.

  • 2 pieces: +3% HP, +5% Physical Damage

  Where it drops: Dryad Beastwarden: 33.33% per kill; Dryad Beastwarden Corrupted Beast Key: 33.33% per kill.

  Where to farm it · Every source in the drop finder

Everything the tree and the target gear add, stat by stat. Tree nodes give a flat amount or a percent; gear counts each piece at its target stars and forge level, plus the set bonuses the piece counts switch on.

Conditional stats (against Bleeding, Burning or Stunned targets) only count against those targets. Spell upgrades and keystones are not stats and are listed under the key nodes.