Neener Neener: The Attack Penalties Handbook

[quote="monkeygentleman"]Neener Neener

After realizing how many methods there are of stacking attack penalties on enemies in this thread, I've decided to put together a guide to put them all in one place for handy reference. I hope you like tables. Also, there will be a stronger focus on at-will attack penalties, because that's more fun.

The beauty of these builds is that a single hit will greatly cripple any enemy without an automatic damage mechanism – if you have good defenses, monsters will only hit on an 10 or better, and if they have a -9 to attack, they're practically helpless bar critical hits. Plus, there's something so satisfying about imagining a rogue dancing around an enemy taunting him with "hit me, c'mon, hit me!".

 

Powers

 

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Attack Class Stat Range Target Keywords Penalty Against Duration Hit/Effect
Enfeebling Strike Paladin Cha vs. AC Melee Creature Weapon -2 if marked All EoYNT Hit + Mark
Overwhelming Strike Avenger Wis vs. AC Melee Creature Weapon [feat]      
Disheartening Strike Rogue Dex vs. AC Melee or Ranged Creature Rattling, Weapon -2 rattling All EoYNT Hit
Beguiling Strands Wizard Int vs. Will Blast 5 Enemy Arcane, Charm,
Implement, Psychic		 [feat]      
Sunspray Dance [feat, human] Highest vs. AC Melee Creature Weapon -2 All SoYNT Hit
Chilling Cloud Wizard Int vs. Fort Burst 1 in 10 Enemy Arcane, Implement -2 in area All EoYNT Effect
Dire Radiance Warlock Cha/Con vs. Fort Ranged 10 Creature Arcane, Implement [feat]      
Eldritch Strike Warlock Cha/Con vs. AC Melee Creature Arcane, Weapon, MBA [feat]      
Biting Swarm Seeker Wis vs. AC Ranged Creature Primal, Weapon, RBA -2 All, adjacent SoYNT Hit
Vicious Mockery Bard Cha vs. Will Ranged 10 Creature Arcane, Charm,
Implement, Psychic		 -2 All EoYNT Hit
Brash Strike Fighter Stre+2 vs. AC Melee Creature Weapon [feat]      
Singing Strike Cleric Wis vs. AC Melee Creature Thunder, Weapon -2 All EoYNT Effect
Dishearten Psion Int vs. Will Burst 1 in 10 Creatures Implement, Psionic, Psychic -2 All EoYNT Hit
Illusory Ambush Wizard Int vs. Will Ranged 10 Creature Arcane, Illusion,
Implement, Psychic		 -2 You EoYNT Hit
Intellect Snap Battlemind Con vs. Will Melee Creature Psychic, Weapon [feat]     Hit, daze
Mantle of the Infidel Invoker Wis vs. Will Ranged 20 Creature Implement -4 Allies Marked Hit, mark
Fallen Needle Monk Dex vs. Reflex Melee touch Creature Implement, Psionic -2 You EoYNT Hit
Ego Whip Psion (7) Int vs. Will Ranged 10 Creature Implement, Psionic,
Fear, Psychic		 -2 All, Def EoYNT Hit

 

 

Feats

 

 

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Name Tier Prerequisite Penalty Against Duration Trigger
Power of Madness Heroic Divine, madness domain -1 All EoYNT Hit with Enfeebling Strike, Overwhelming Strike, Righteous Brand or Visions of Blood
Whip Training Heroic Dex 13 -2 Choice EoYNT Hit with whip
Impending Doom Style Heroic Martial, trained in Intimidate -2 All EoYNT Hit twice with Twin Strike, Hit with Riposte of Riposte Strike
Arena Specialist Heroic Int 13, martial class -2 All EoYNT Hit with Disheartening Strike (one adjacent enemy)
Draji Palatial Practice Heroic Martial, trained in Intimidate -2 All EoYNT Hit with Circling Strike, Deft Strike, Furious Smash, Sure Strike
Sunspray Warrior Heroic Human, Sunspray Heritage -2 All EoYNT Hit with Sunspray Warrior
Underhanded Tactics Heroic Rogue, Sneak Attack -2 All EoYNT Deal Sneak Attack, forgo 1 die
Disheartening Ambush Paragon Rogue, Sneak Attack -2 All EoYNT Deal Sneak Attack, forgo 1 die (rattling)
Mark of Warding Heroic Dragonmark -3 Allies While marked If marked
Eladrin's Challenge Heroic Eladrin, fighter -3 Allies While marked If marked, wielding a longsword or any spear
Daunting Challenge Paragon Fighter, Combat Challenge -3 Allies While marked If marked
Group Defense Heroic Half-elf, Paladin +1 Def Allies While marked If marked
Arcane Familiar – Gallant Hawk Heroic Any arcane -3 Allies While marked, adjacent If marked, adjacent
Ironstar Student Heroic Fighter, ranger, warlord, flail/mace proficiency -2 All EoYNT Hit with Brash Assault, Marauder's Rush, Reaping Strike with CA and flail/mace
Beguiling Enchantment Heroic   -2 You EoINT Hit with charm power
Bloodhunter’s Dread Heroic Tiefling -2 You EoYNT Hit bloodied enemy
Fearsome Flurry Heroic Foulborn Heritage, monk, Flurry of Blows -2 All EoYNT Forgo normal flurry damage
Distracting Shield Heroic Wis 15, fighter, Combat Challenge, shield -2 All SoYNT Hit with CC
Distracting Companion Paragon Ranger, Beast Master -2 You, Beast SoYNT Hit quarry next to companion
Psychic Lock Paragon   -2 Next Ever Hit with psychic keyword
Defending Dabbler Heroic Half-elf -2/3 Allies While marked, EoYNT Hit with Dilettante
Dizzying Mace Paragon Fighter -Con All While dazed Hit and daze enemy with mace
Ulban’s Flare Heroic Warlock, star pact -2 All EoYNT Hit with Dire Radiance with concealment
Hammer Shock Paragon Martial, trained in Intimidate -2 All EoYNT Hit with MBA with hammer (rattling)
Protective Hex Paragon Warlock, Warlock’s Curse -2 Allies EoYNT Hit cursed enemy (against close and melee only)
World Serpent’s Grasp Heroic   -2 All Until stands Hit slowed or immobilized enemy (prone)
Polearm Momentum Heroic Dex 15, Wis 15, fighter -2 All Until stands Push/slide target 2 squares with polearm/spear attack (prone)

 

 

Items

 

 

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Name Type Property
Harmony Blade Heavy blade Hit target with both hands, enemy takes -2 penalty, You, EoYNT

 

 

Other Useful Feats

 

 

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Name Tier Prerequisites Effect
Mindbite Scorn Heroic Warlock's Curse, sorcerer-king pact Extra 1d6 curse damage, psychic keyword
Moonbow Dedicate Heroic Worship Sehanine Use shortbow as implement for divine/arcane powers (for mindiron)
Enlarge Spell Heroic Wis 13, Wizard Add 1 to wizard at-will/encounter blast or burst for -2 damage per die
Resounding Thunder Paragon   Add 1 to any blast or burst with thunder keyword
Arcane Admixture Paragon Any arcane Add acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder keyword to one arcane attack
Versatile Master Paragon Half-elf Dilettante becomes at-will, qualifies for Underhanded Tactics
or Warlock’s Curse, Defending Dabbler

 

 

Ways of getting Psychic keyword for Psychic Lock

 

 

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Name Type Effect
Mindiron Weapon Bows, Crossbows Half the damage dealt with this weapon is psychic damage
Sorrowsong Blade Heavy Blade Half the damage dealt with this weapon is psychic damage
Githyanki Silver Weapon Heavy Blade All damage dealt by this weapon is psychic damage
Mindbite Scorn Feat Adds psychic keyword to warlock attacks

 

 

Class/Paragon Path Features

 

 

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Name Tier Prerequisite Feature
Illusion Apprentice Class Mage Illusion Apprentice: Hit with illusion power, -2 to Next attack roll
Ruthless Ruffian Class Rogue Use club and mace for rogue powers, qualify for dizzying mace
Messenger of Peace PP Cleric, Diplomacy Aura of Peace (16): Enemies within 2 squares of you take a -2 penalty, All, Always
Shadow Assassin PP Rogue Shadow Assassin’s Riposte (11): When missed, deal enemy Dex damage
Devout Warpriest PP Warpriest Transcendent Blessing (Oghma, 11): Singing Strike also immobilizes until EoYNT
Stygian Adept PP Ardent Fearsome Zone (16): Enemies in zones of your psionic powers take a -2 penalty, All

 

 

Other Notes

Dizzying Mace may or may not work with Overwhelming Impact, as “using” a mace may or may not include having a mace in your off-hand. Some rods also count as maces, for adding Dizzying Mace on Warlock implement powers and so on.[/quote]

[quote="monkeygentleman"]

Sample Builds & Combinations

I've been playing around with methods of stacking attack penalties on enemies at-will. Marks and mark-like abilities are good, but preventing hits on all targets is better – and general build practicality is still valued. Here are a few theoretical build frames, two for single target and the one for multiple targets.

The Enfeebler:

 

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Half-Elf Rogue/Paladin
Versatile Master with Enfeebling Strike, Psychic Lock + Githyanki Silver Dagger, Multiclass Paladin with Power of Madness, Underhanded Tactics and Mark of Warding with Defending Dabbler [7 feats]

Enfeebling Strike: -2 (all)
Mark: -3 (allies)
Psychic Lock: -2 (next)
Power of Madness: -1 (all)
Underhanded Tactics: -2 (all)
TOTAL:
-7/5 against you, -10/8 against allies
(the two values represent first and subsequent attack rolls, as Psychic Lock only hinders the next attack)
 

The Disheartener

 

 

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Rogue|Ranger (Beastmaster)
Disheartening Strike with Hybrid Talent: Beastmaster, Psychic Lock + Githyanki Silver Weapon, Underhanded Tactics and Distracting Companion [4 feats]

Rattling: -2 (all)
Psychic Lock: -2 (next)
Underhanded Tactics: -2 (all)
Distracting Companion: -2 (you and companion)
TOTAL:
-8/6 against you, -6/4 against allies
(the two values represent first and subsequent attack rolls, as Psychic Lock only hinders the next attack)

BONUS: Arena Specialist [Arena Fighting] means adjacent enemy is rattled as well
 

The Beguiler

 

 

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Half-Elf Rogue
Versatile Master with Beguiling Strands, Psychic Lock, Underhanded Tactics and Mark of Warding with Defending Dabbler [5 feats]

Mark: -3 (allies)
Psychic Lock: -2 (next)
Beguiling Enchantment: -2 (you)
Underhanded Tactics: -2 (all) [one target]
TOTAL:
-6/4/2 against you, -7/5/3 against allies
(the two values represent first and subsequent attack rolls, as Psychic Lock only hinders the next attack, and the third represents the difference between all targets and one target you chose to hit with sneak attack)

—–

Add Resounding Thunder + Arcane Admixture to make it close blast 6
and/or
MC Fighter + Arcane Implement Proficiency (Glaive) + Polearm Momentum to add prone (extra -2 penalty)
 

The Hammerer:

 

 

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Half-Elf Rogue
Versatile Master with Eldritch Strike, Psychic Lock + [some means of psychic damage?], Hammer Shock, Underhanded Tactics and Mark of Warding with Defending Dabbler [6 feats]

Rattling: -2 (all)
Mark: -3 (allies)
Psychic Lock: -2 (next)
Underhanded Tactics: -2 (all)
TOTAL:
-6/4 against you, -9/7 against allies
(the two values represent first and subsequent attack rolls, as Psychic Lock only hinders the next attack)

*similar to enfeebler, but get to add all the benefits of MBA
 

The Vicious Mocker

 

 

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Half-Elf Rogue
Versatile Master with Vicious Mockery, Psychic Lock, Underhanded Tactics, Beguiling Strands and Mark of Warding with Defending Dabbler [6 feats]

Hit: -2 (all)
Mark: -3 (allies)
Psychic Lock: -2 (next)
Beguiling Enchantment: -2 (you)
Underhanded Tactics: -2 (all)
TOTAL:
-8/6 against you, -9/7 against allies
(the two values represent first and subsequent attack rolls, as Psychic Lock only hinders the next attack)

*like the beguiler, but single target in exchange for more reliable penalty
 

Headspin by Cazzeo
Distracting Warlock by Mellored
Sir Marks-a-Lot by Valenkosh

Add in Shadow Assassin and a mark punishment for added hilarity 😀

What are your best penalty-to-hit machines? Are there more tricks I've missed?[/quote]

[quote="monkeygentleman"]

Ways to combine penalties:

 

  • Psychic damage for Psychic Lock, can use attack with that keyword, add with Githyanki weapon or Mindbite

  • Anything that knocks prone gives a -2 penalty to attack

  • Half-elf Rogue: your Dilettante benefits from Underhanded Tactics and Defending Dabbler

  • Half-elf Warlock: your Dilettante benefits from Mindbite Scorn, Protective Hex, Defending Dabbler

  • Beastmaster Ranger: you can benefit from Distracting Companion

  • Using an MBA: you can use Hammer Shock

    •  

[/quote]

[quote="monkeygentleman"]

Daily/Encounter/Conditional Penalties

Here is the section for penalties that occur daily, per encounter or action point. If you have enough of these, you can easily stack unbeatable penalties for most of each fight – see the sample builds for examples.

 

 

 

Feats

 

 

 

 

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Name Tier Prerequisite Penalty Against Duration Trigger
Imperious Majesty Heroic Tiefling -Cha You EoYNT Hit enemy who hasn't acted yet
Furious Demand Heroic Tiefling -Cha You Save ends Succeed on Intimidate or hit (Daily)
Mantle of Misfortune Heroic Tiefling -2 All EoYNT Within 5 squares

 

 

Paragon Path Features

 

 

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Name Prerequisite Feature
Hexer Warlock Damning Curse (11): Action point, cursed creatures take a -2 penalty, All, EoYNT
Nightmare Weaver Warlock, Intimidate Insidious Curse (11): Cursed enemy dies, Curse nearest enemy, if already cursed slide 2 and -2 penalty, All, EoYNT
Nightmarish Action (11): Action point, slide cursed creatures 1 square and -2 penalty, All, EoYNT

 

 

Powers

 

 

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Attack Class Stat Range Target Keywords Penalty Against Duration Hit/Effect
Bane (Enc) Cleric Wis vs. Will Ranged 10 Creature Implement -(Cha+1) All (& Def) EoYNT Hit
Denunciation (Enc) Cleric Wis vs. Will Ranged 5 Creature Implement -Cha All (& Def, Dazed) EoYNT Hit

[/quote]