Class record
Venomblade
Striker / Controller
- Tier
- 2
- Difficulty
- 2 / 5
- Main role
- Striker
- Secondary role
- Controller
Rules reference
Class mechanics
Entry requirements and the complete level-by-level advancement path.
Entry
Requirements
Alchemist, Culinarian, Cultivator, Farmer, Forager, Maid, Pierrot, Rogue, Ranger or Mycomancer mastered.
Advancement
Progression
- UnlockKey ability
- Level 2Ability 1
- Level 3SkillsYou gain +5 skill points to spend in Athletics, Stealth, Deception, Roguecraft, Medicine, Survival or Common Knowledge. You can exchange any skill point for 2 expertise points, but must spend them in these skills.
- Level 4Ability 2
- Level 5HeartYou gain +1 to Cunning.
- Level 6Ability 3
- Level 7SoulYou gain +1 to Focus.
- Level 8Ultimate ability
Identity & lore
Class overview
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The normal and constant sounds of the swamp were silent, allowing the drops of viscous poison falling from her needles to be clearly audible. Ruo Shui tapped her chin as she stared at the gasping trio in front of her. Shiny needles protruded from gaps in their armor or through their clothing, the dense magic infused venom eating away at them from within. They were fighting it off but it was making their movements sluggish as they turned energies inward to purge it, making them increasingly easy targets. One of their number, their fourth, was already face down in the swampy water, unmoving, his cat tail drifting in the stagnant water like a moldy stick. A wannabe assassin that had tried to take her by surprise.
“This didn’t need to happen,” she said as she stepped easily through the knee deep water. “You were warned to not trespass in Hei lands, you were warned to turn back. And now you’ve paid your price.”
She stopped over the man in heavy armor as he definitely stood to his full height, the fresh venom she’d inflicted on him finally being overcome by his own magic.
“You killed our friend! You killed Iolo!”
Ruo Shui stared at the man for a long moment. “He literally tried to stab me in the back while we were talking. I feel like it’s a little bit deserved, don’t you?”
The man clicked his tongue in irritation and shifted to look back at his other two companions. They were worse off than he was, exhausted and looking ready to collapse into the water.
“Fine,” he said eventually through gritted teeth. “Let us get our friend and we’ll leave.”
He took a step to do just that.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” she said. He froze, his guard coming up. “You can leave, you and your pretty little lady friends. But your…Iolo, was it? Well, he belongs to the swamp now. And the swamp is Hei land…and you wouldn’t be intending on stealing from us…would you?”
Ruo Shui watched in satisfaction as the reduced party staggered away, retreating back toward…wherever it was they came from. Probably from the south and Sarjes. There was a new crop of explorers coming from there recently. Once they were fully out of sight and the sounds of the swamp began to return to normal, she turned to the body of Iolo. She honestly didn’t care about him, he could rot in the swamp. But…those knives of his on the other hand. Those had been masterfully made and had delightful little mechanical devices attached to them. She wondered what other trinkets and items he might have on him. Any edge was an edge she’d secure for her people.
Translator’s Note: “Iolo” is a catfolk traditional name and is pronounced “Yolo” in the common tongue.
Tactical guidance
Playing Venomblade
The venomblade is a striker/controller class that slowly kills an enemy by being really annoying. Your damage can be avoided, but an enemy's action economy will be hampered a lot if they choose to do so.
Envenom weapon is a weapon buff similar to those of a spellblade, but it instead just add 1 poison dmg to every attack. Worse if you like doing heavies, but most of your attacks in this class will be lights.
Venom Strike is your basic poison application. It's rapid, so you can spam it if needed though the mana cost on that will be quite costly if you do. The poison damage by itself isn't great, but that's why you have other abilites such as Deadly Venom.
Deadly Venom is a mana less ability that adds a stack to your poison which increases the damage by a decent amount. Your main goal is to build to 3 stacks with this.
When an enemy is at 3 stacks, you can hit them with Outbreak. Outbreak is just a light attack, but against an enemy with maximum poison stacks it adds 3d6 full pierce damage which is a decent amount. You can then combo that with Maximum Dose to guarantee 18 full pierce damage on the hit.
