Mythos/Bloodletter builds

Crossbow Builds
Ever wanted to use a crossbow but felt that since no class had a skill specialization specifically for it that it had no merits? With the Bloodletter's skills you can achieve a working bow class.

Build 1
Blinding Focus and Adrenaline Rush provide attack speed while Blood Might, feeding off the Razor Aura tree (or ideally gear that causes bleed), improves your damage. Additional points placed Thick Skin tree for added defenses can be useful, however being ranged this isn't ideal for a build. There isn't really any reason the build shouldn't work - the effects are not biased towards weaponry, but it's only less effective because it doesn't utilize a blade. You won't have large AoE coverage like other builds would, unless you take other forms of attack (Red Mist, Blood Boil, Hemorrhage, etc.), but crossbows naturally pierce enemies, giving you a linear AoE, in essence.

Razor Aura, although it won't work well with the long range you're trying to take advantage of, is an example source of Bleeding. Hopefully you'd be partied up and get more of a benefit out of Red Blessing. Ideally you'll want to find a crossbow that inherently causes bleeding. You can substitute your favorite way to cause bleeding, such as Red Mist, though that ability can work well by itself. If you want to be daring, you can try using Blood Phase to start bleeding. Blood Phase could also be used to help get you into a better position to hit as many monsters as possible per shot.

This build works well with a melee weapon as well, so switching between the two could be an alternative method of play. If you do that, think about using the Piercing Flurry tree, as well as all the blade-based passives, if they're applicable.

Note: Blade Shards will not trigger on ranged attacks.

Build 2
This is a dexterity based, red hand focused ranged build. Considering the large amount of dexterity based summoning gear in the game that seems otherwise useless, combining the basics of a build with high dexterity stats and bloodlings you can achieve a successful build.

To play this build effectively you'll have to harness ranged attacks (with a bow or pistols) backed up summoned pets. Upgrading razor aura is necessary for bleeding your opponents to keep up your defensive and damage buffs. Since you never use mana on your attacks, you are free to use it to keep your bloodling minions alive with rage applied.

If you choose not to reach the last tier of skills, you can use those points in other effective ways. The drawback is that you won't have focus mastery (and thus have slower ranged attacks). The only reason you would choose to use Vampiric Strike is if you needed to heal yourself without potions - in which case you would switch to a spear and use the ability.

Additionally this build would require either some stat points in wisdom or a heavy emphasis on increased mana gear. The razor aura will cut the mana pool in half, and bloodlings with rage will also take a large cut. If you get the equipment to do so, consider exchanging razor aura for red mist. This would enlarge your maximum mana, but make bleeding enemies a bit more costly. The upside is that imp blood mist would give a very valuable slow debuff (very effective using ranged attacks).