This is a build centered around staying alive and healing the party.
Using strength elixirs throughout the game allows me to keep it low, should probably wait until you can respec at withers to do this though.
Main reason for 1 shadow sorcerer over 1 bard for healing word and inspiration, is that you get a second fatal hit to live, booming blade (this procs the heal twice because of reasons, same for any smite) and shield in case even you can’t evade something.
Throughout act 1, my equipment is:
- Wapira’s crown, nice for bonus healing.
- Chain mail+1.
- Hellrider’s pride. While you can’t apply blade ward to yourself until act 3, it is nice for your teammates.
- Boots of aid and comfort, though this can be switched out for boots of speed once you get them.
- Periapt of wound closure, extremely important as this will guarantee you 6 health every time you proc Yeenoghu’s gift.
- The whispering promise, helps with important events that need a saving throw by just drinking a potion beforehand.
- Ring of arcane synergy, helps with the low overall damage you’ll deal as this applies your charisma modifier to it.
- Shattered flail, the item that brings the whole build together. Never unequip this.
- Safeguard shield, for if you couldn’t hit anyone.
Permanent buffs to be getting are the Necromancy of Thay for if you couldn’t attack, Loviatar’s love just because you can stay alive for so long and awakened, the most important one as this will let you transfuse health as a bonus action.
Entering act 2, I changed my gear to:
- Wapira’s crown, honestly never really unequipped this until I got to act 3.
- Vivacious cloak, having 8 temporary hit points whenever you use (not land) booming blade is very helpful with staying alive.
- Rippling force mail, extremely useful with warding bond (on someone else) and heavy armour master as it essentially reduces damage you take into single digits.
- Boots, amulet, rings and weapon remain the same.
- Adamantine shield, at this point you should have aura of protection and safeguard shield wouldn’t be much help. Not getting crit is very useful as this means you’ll generally not die from using transfuse health.
- Darkfire shortbow. While there aren’t many instances of cold or fire damage in the game, it helps in general. Having a free haste cast is also quite nice.
Finally, in act 3:
- Helm of Balduran, this guarantees you will be THE guy that stays alive. No crits or getting stunned, self-heal to proc blade ward and bless and +1 AC and saving throws makes this an essential item.
- Vivacious cloak as there’s no real replacement.
- Helldusk armour, mainly for taking 3 less damage from ALL sources.
- The reviving hands, gives you blade ward on self-heal.
- Boots, amulet and rings stay the same, although until you get the Helm of Balduran I suggest using the ring of regeneration in place of the whispering promise.
- Swires’ Sledboard, keeping force conduit on you without needing the Rippling force Mail.
With this build, you can heal allies for half your hp and remain alive without issue.
