Which Solo build should I play?

In my last article, we reviewed which classes in Season 21 reign supreme, now it’s time to talk about Solo GRs.  The ultimate test of armor, weapons, and skill vs the most destructive hordes of demons the underworld can spew at you.  Last season the Aegis of Valor/Heaven’s Fury Crusader build reigned supreme.  Will the new Demon Hunter GoD Arrow build be able to surge past the Crusader to become King of Solos? Which builds should you use to claim solo bragging rights? Stay awhile and listen to find out.

*Disclaimer* This list is based on the current solo leaderboard upon writing this article and is subject to change throughout the season.

Starting our list at number 10 we have:

10. Shadow’s Mantle/Impale Demon Hunter

Shadowy Demon Hunter seeks revenge.

With the full Shadow’s mantle set, you gain all the rune effects of Shadow Power along with boosted melee weapon damage and a 75,000% boost to impale.  This Demon Hunter build is an extremely agile build focussing on singling out and gunning down targets.  It is most effective as an Elite Hunting playstyle.  It is effective in Solo under the command of a skilled player but is not the ideal Solo build.

Pros:

• Added knives and damage for Impale
• Reduced damage received from Elites plus added damage to Elites
• Reduced damage is taken while moving/Increased damage dealt while still
• After using Impale, Vault is cast for free for 2 seconds
• Additional damage to enemies above 75% health

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/demon-hunter-shadow-impale-build

9. Unhallowed Essence/Multishot Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter vaulting into action.

The leaderboards are currently flooded with Demon Hunter builds.  This build, unlike the Shadow’s Mantle/Impale build, relies on AoE skills to spread loads of damage across a horde of enemies.  While this playstyle will not kill Elites like the one before it, it will handle all of the other enemies effectively.  For this reason, it too is a very successful Solo build.

Pros:

• Multiple Damage boosts reward you for long-range play
• Damage boosts for both spending and generating resources
• Multi-shot is faster and does more damage
• Multishot also hits weakened enemies twice
• Crowd control effects boost damage while slowing opponents and allow for easy ranged play

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/demon-hunter-unhallowed-essence-multishot-build

8. Pattern of Justice/Tempest Rush Monk

Monk readying himself for battle

The Patterns of Justice Tempest Rush build is a fun build that has a more liquid play style as it focuses on health and resource regeneration.  Pair this with cooldown reductions to dish out sustainable amounts of damage.  Easy and Effective this build is a solid contender for Solo play.

Pros:

• Captain Crimson Set generates 6000 life per second
• Tempest Rush reduces damage and increases spirit regeneration
• Sweeping wind gains effect of all skill runes
• Lots of Crowd Control options with additional damage
• Pylon-effects last twice as long

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/monk-tempest-rush-build-with-patterns-of-justice

7. Inna’s Mantra Monk

Monk Class image from Diablo 3.

Our second Monk build that is doing well on the leaderboards deals even more crowd control effects yet also focuses on damage reduction and health generation.  This build will probably be overtaken by other more aggressive and tankier build as the season wages on.  

Pros:

• Inna’s Mantra grants all four runes to Mantra of Healing which adds life, boosts heath generation, provides a shield and also reduces damage taken at low life
• Captain Crimson’s Trimmings add life per second and decrease damage taken while increasing damage dealt
• Born’s Command set also add life, and boost experience 20%
• The Star of Azkaranth in Kanai's Cube grants immunity to fire damage and heals you for 12% of the prevented damage
• Gogok of Swiftness and Illusory boots combo allows quick unhindered movement on the battlefield.

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/monk-support-build-with-inna

6. Legacy of Dreams/Poison Scythe Necromancer

Necromancer raising the dead.

The first Necromancer on this list is one that faced many changes coming into this season.  Haunted Visions Amulet causes Simulacrums to drain 1% of life and last forever and also duplicate Grim Scythe instead of Skeletal Mage.  This change in effects gives us the Poison Scythe build which is a known trash collector in addition to a build that plays easily in Solo.  Focusing on Poison attacks and few cooldown times this is a very fun and aggressive build.

Pros:

• Stackable Poison Buffs from Nayr’s Black Death in Kanai’s Cube increases poison damage for every poison skill used and lasts 15 seconds.
• Blood and Bone Simulacrums cast Poison Scythe and last forever
• Simplicity’s Strength increases Cursed Scythe’s (already Poison) Damage 25%
• Swift Harvesting increases the attack speed of Cursed Scythe
• Ice Climber boots grant immunity to freeze and immobilize effects

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/necromancer-poison-scythe-build-with-lod

5. Mundunugu’s Regalia/Spirit Barrage Witch Doctor

Witch Doctor voodoo ritual.

With a wide array of castable spells paired with Mundunugu's Regalia set, the Witch Doctor can be customized to play a wide variety of roles.  This Spirit Barrage build focuses on the exact timing of spells based on their cooldowns for explosive results.  In the hands of a patient and skilled player, this build is exceptionally deadly in Solo play.

Pros:

• Mundunugu’s set causes Spirit Barrage to deal a base increased damage of 26,000% with an additional percent equivalent to 5x your Mana regeneration per second.
• The Barber Ceremonial changes Spirit Barrage so that a target accumulates damage and explodes as 428% of the accumulation to all enemies within 15 yards
• Gazing Demise adds the effect of Phantasm and increases the damage of Spirit Barrage another 120%
• Captain Crimson’s set adds 6000 life per second
• Multiple effects grant 1% maximum life regeneration per second

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/witch-doctor-spirit-barrage-build-with-the-mundunugus-regalia-set

4. Horde of the Ninety Savages/Frenzy Barbarian

Rare image of Barbarians that are not mid-whirlwind.

As expected, there is a Barbarian build in the top five (two to be exact).  This Barbarian build is quick and efficient at one on one takedowns.   With the buffs from shouts and tanky aggressive nature of the Barbarian, this is a solid Solo build.

Pros:

• Double Effectiveness of Shouts with Ninety Savages’s set plus Feared, Frozen and Stunned Enemies take double damage.
• Frenzy lasts twice as long and for each stack deals 1000% more damage and reduces damage taken 6% each; stacking up to 10 times
• Mortick’s Brace adds every rune effect to Wrath of the Berserker granting life per fury spent, 50% reduction in damage taken and increased damage given
• Frenzy also takes on all rune effects
• Oathkeeper increases primary attack speed and adds 179% weapon damage

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/barbarian-frenzy-build-with-the-horde-of-the-ninety-savages-set

3. Wrath of the Wastes/Whirlwind Barbarian

Barbarian in epic battle.

A legendary build for Solo play, this Barbarian set up is known for abusing the leaderboards and demons by combining a careful weapon selection with the Wrath of the Wastes set.  This build is made for quick, aggressive, and close-quarters playstyle.  For Solo play, “Whirlwind Barb” dominates enemies with loads of damage and doesn't flinch in the fiercest combat.

Pros:

• Wrath set increases Whirlwind damage 10,000%
• Whirlwind also takes on Dust Devils, spinning out tornadoes with 180% weapon damage while allowing critical hits to heal 1% maximum life
• Wrath of the Berserker gains effect of every rune (See above)
• Bul-Kathos set adds 45% attack and movement speed
• The flavor of Time makes Pylons last twice as long

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/barbarian-whirlwind-gr-build-with-wrath-of-the-wastes

2. Gears of the Dreadlands/Hungering Arrow Demon Hunter

Brooding Demon Hunter staring at an Arrow.

I wanted this build to be #1 but to be #1 You have to clear 150 in Solo.  So, even though there are a TON of GoD Arrow builds flooding the top 25 currently they just don't quite cut it as King of Solos.  This build is incredibly fast, insanely agile, and let’s not forget immensely powerful.  This build is by far my favorite ever and is a sure contender in Solo.

Pros:

• Hungering Arrow with GoD set gets damage buffs from multiple pieces in the build totaling well over 10,000% increased damage
• Additionally, Strafe will automatically shoot last used primary
• Skills and weapon/armor effects balance between killing elites and slaying trash
• Odyssey's end can be substituted to enhance damage to enemies snared by Entangling shot
• Dealing 40% additional damage to enemies above 75% plus the above buffs bring foes to their knees

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/demon-hunter-hungering-arrow-build-with-god

1. Aegis of Valor/Heaven’s Fury Crusader

Aegis of Valor Crusader Set

The king of Solos remains The Heaven’s Fury Crusader, despite continued nerfing.  This build is a straight-up TANK and dishes just as much damage as it can take.  It is an INSANE option for Solo because of the stand your ground and destroy everything playstyle.

Pros:

• Fist of Heaven and Heaven’s Fury BOTH receive 20,000% increased damage
• Attacking with Fists of Heaven grants a stackable 1% damage taken reduction up to 50%
• Captain Crimson’s set gains 6000 life per second
• Pylons last twice as long
• Shield of Fury further buffs Heaven’s Fury by damaging enemies already damaged by Heaven’s Fury 26% (stackable 10 times)

Full Build Details: https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/crusader-aegis-of-valor-heavens-fury-build

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