Bleed Shadow Cascade Bladedancer Build Guide

Smooth Mono Clear

Movement Based Playstyle

Triggers Many Effects Using Only 2 Buttons

Solid Defenses

Melee

Gear Intensive, Needs Uncommon Uniques

'Fair' Damage, Not Overtuned

Mediocre Boss Kill Speed

The damage setup for this build relies on applying many long duration bleeds using a Synchronized Strike -> Shift chain reaction sequence and can follow up by popping the full stack of bleed damage instantly via the Mutilate node from Puncture.

For clear, often all that's needed is pressing Shift on cooldown until reaching the objective. Shifting directly into packs of enemies will maximize the number of hits applied by Shadow Cascade. Synchronized Strike can be used before Shifting to create extra shadows that copy Shadow Cascade and spread damage in a wider area. Puncture is rarely necessary for clear but can be used to quickly dispatch dangerous enemies like Diamond Matrons.

For bosses, the priority is to use Shift on cooldown, with four shadows pre-cast from Sync. Strike, and to maintain the bleed chance buff from the Bloodthirst node in Puncture. The simplest ability order to follow is to Shift then Sync. Strike and spam Puncture until Shift is off cooldown. Using Sync. Strike after Shift has two benefits, it consumes the Jagged Cuts 3/3 buff from Shift more efficiently than Puncture and it means that Shift can be used immediately once it's available without having to time a cast right before Shift's cooldown ends.

Many different attacks and effects occur as part of the Synchronized Strike -> Shift combo sequence. Here is a breakdown of what happens on each use of Shift:

• Gain invulnerability while Shifting
• Spawn a shadow
• Cast Shadow Cascade
• Restore mana
• Buff bleeds for next ability
• Gain short dodge chance buff
• Gain short movespeed buff

By casting Synchronized Strike beforehand, four shadows are spawned that will copy the Shadow Cascade cast by Shift, which triggers another short sequence:

• Each shadow casts Shadow Cascade
• Each shadow leaves behind a Bladestorm from Umbral Blades upon expiration
• Bladestorms seek out and explode on enemies

With ideal gear Shift has a cooldown of around 2 seconds, delivering a constant barrage of damage while swiftly traversing monoliths.

To level as this build take Puncture, Shift and Umbral Blades early on. Add in Shadow Cascade at level 35 and Synchronized Strike or Shurikens at level 50. You can follow the skill order from the build planner or chart your own course. Look for attack speed and bleed chance on weapons and defense gear elsewhere.

This build is very comfortable for farming up to 500 corruption. It's not Shadow Daggers level of overtuned, but the damage is still solid. It can gain high amounts of stability with low effort just by pressing Shift on cooldown as it heads to objectives. Doesn't excel at boss damage, but doesn't totally suck either. It's able to ignore all annoying echo modifiers due to being a DoT build that can apply a dodge chance debuff to bosses.

I was able to push 700 corruption in the time it took me to reach level 100. I wouldn't recommend it for pushing very high corruption due to eHP constraints. It can't realistically run low life due to already using uniques in the boot and glove slots.