This Diablo 3 Demon Hunter Build Is Overpowered on PTR

This Diablo 3 patch 2.4.1 Demon Hunter build is blasting into Greater Rifts in the 90s on the Public Test Realm. Here’s how you can kick ass with it, too.

Note: This build was created on the Public Test Realm, where balance changes may still occur. Check back in the future for any updates to this guide in accordance with balance changes.

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Patch 2.4.1 is seeing buffs coming to the Demon Hunter’s Marauder set and The Shadow’s Mantle set. Marauder’s 4-piece bonus damage is being increased by 33 percent, while the Shadow’s 2-piece bonus damage is being doubled. This build takes advantage of both of those buffs to showcase the power of these combined sets on the Public Test Realm.

1. Gear

To run this build, you need four pieces of [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/marauders-visage’ item=’Marauders’] and two pieces of [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-shadows-mask’ item=’Shadows’]. It doesn’t matter how you mix-and-match the equipment slots, so long as you have the 4/2 split to benefit from Marauder’s 4-piece bonus and Shadow’s 2-piece.

The [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/sword-of-ill-will’ item=’Sword of Ill Will’] is essential, as it will make our Chakram deal more damage for every point of Hatred we have. The [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/bombardiers-rucksack’ item=’Bombardiers Rucksack’] will allow us to have more sentries out while giving us a huge buff to our sentry damage.

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/zoeys-secret’ item=’Zoeys Secret’] will serve as our main source of survivability. Combined with a [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-cloak-of-the-garwulf’ item=’Cloak of the Garwulf’] in our Kanai’s Cube, we will have a total of seven pets out, granting us up to 63% damage reduction. To further that damage reduction, we’ll be using the [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-cloak-of-the-garwulf’ item=’Wraps of Clarity’].

We want to work [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/focus’ item=’Focus’] and [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/restraint’ item=’Restraint’] into this build in order to more than double our damage, and a [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/artisan/jeweler/recipe/hellfire-amulet-of-dexterity’ item=’Hellfire Amulet’] would be our best-in-slot neck choice. A cubed [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/dawn’ item=’Dawn’] will enable us to maintain permanent Vengeance, while a cubed [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/convention-of-elements’ item=’Convention of Elements’] will grant us a sizable damage buff.

Click through these images for all the gear pieces you want equipped and the optimal stats on each. Wherever possible, get a secondary resistance.

2. Skills

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/bolas’ item=’Bolas’] with the Bitter Pill rune will help us maintain Discipline. [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/vault’ item=’Vault’] is a huge part of a Demon Hunter’s toolkit, enabling you to both move quickly throughout a rift and avoid death, but since this build doesn’t use [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/preparation’ item=’Preparation’], we need another way to recover discipline. Bitter Pill lets us recover some Discipline on hit.

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/chakram’ item=’Chakram’] will be our main attacking skill, and the Razor Disk rune – while not as powerful as some other options – allows us to position the Chakram’s better than any other rune, thus maximizing our damage through better accuracy.

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/sentry’ item=’Sentry’] is essential to this build, and while Polar Station is the most popular rune in this slot, Guardian Turret and Spitfire Turret are also sometimes seen. Polar Station has the benefit of slowing enemies around it, enabling you to trigger your Bane of the Trapped gem and Cull the Weak passive. Spitfire Turret will deal more damage, and Guardian Turret will protect you. Polar Station sentries need to be placed near enemies to slow them; Guardian Turret sentries need to be placed near you and your allies for protection; Spitfire Turret sentries can be placed anywhere.

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/active/vengeance’ item=’Vengeance’] with the Seethe rune gives you a huge damage buff and enough Hatred regeneration to spam Chakram endlessly.

For passives, you’ll want [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/cull-the-weak’ item=’Cull the Weak’], [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/custom-engineering’ item=’Custom Engineering’], [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/steady-aim’ item=’Steady Aim’] (which is now multiplicative with other damage sources), [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/awareness’ item=’Awareness’], and [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/ambush’ item=’Ambush’]. If you are not running Polar Sentry, then swap out Ambush for [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/thrill-of-the-hunt’ item=’Thrill of the Hunt’] in order to slow enemies. If you are running Spitfire Turret, then swap out Steady Aim for [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/demon-hunter/passive/ballistics’ item=’Ballistics’] for extra rocket damage.

3. Legendary Gems

[d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/bane-of-the-trapped
‘ item=’Bane of the Trapped’], [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/zeis-stone-of-vengeance
‘ item=’Zeis Stone of Vengeance’], and [d3=’http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/bane-of-the-powerful
‘ item=’Bane of the Powerful’].

4. Paragon Points

Start by getting your Move Speed up to 25, including what might be on your boots, then max out Resource to get the most out of our Sword of Ill Will. Dump the rest into Dexterity. Under Offense, prioritize Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, and then Attack Speed. For Defense, start with All Resist, then Life, then Armor. For Utility, Resource Cost Reduction, Area Damage, and Life on Hit.

5. Playstyle

At least once every five seconds, fire off a Bola in order to trigger your Focus & Restraint and Wraps of Clarity. Lay down turrets according to what rune you’ve selected (see above), and try to keep your distance from enemies – your Zei’s Stone of Vengeance gives you increasing damage the further away you are, maxing out at approximately half a screen away.

Remember to maintain constant Vengeance, and trigger the active on your Companion right before a big fight.

CJ Miozzi is a Senior Editor at The Escapist and is also known as Rhykker on Youtube. You can follow his livestreams on Twitch and Tweet to him @Rhykker.