So my all time favorite archetype for Act 3 is a caster that has incredibly high spell save DC, and goes first.
I believe this setup is class agnostic, as it’s simply about equipping all the items that give you a boost to spell save DC. 12 sorc is probably objectively the best, but I’ve run it with 12 lore bard, 12 wizard, 12 Druid, etc and it’s always similar in impact.
This character always runs these items for +save Dc:
Hood of the weave +2
Cloak of the weave +1
Robe of the weave +1
Helldusk gloves +1 (could do gauntlet of the tyrant too but i usually use helldusk)
Amulet of the devout +2
Ring of feywild sparks +1
Markoheshkir +1
Ketherics shield +1 (or another staff for +1 if I go pure 12 and take dual wielding feat)
Character always gets hellrider longbow for +3 initiative, which with alert and 16 dex means +11 initiative and always goes first
This is +10 spell save dc from items
Feats are always Alert and +ASI to reach 20 with hags hair for +5 to spell save DC, then we go to 22 with mirror of loss for +6
Battlemage elixir for another +3
This Character always gets the Zaithsk buff for bonus action illithid powers, prioritizing black hole and the massive AOE stun, so no need for BoMS on this character. Usually second ring is ring of mental inhibition.
Bonus action black hole is the most broken thing in the game in MY opinion, although of course there are a zillion ways to exploit encounters in this game of course… but this bonus action black hole applying slow on all enemies means I seek out enemy casters that would be able to counterspell my big opening CC spell, and hit them with a black hole to apply slow to remove their reaction.
Against most enemies you will have a 95 or 99% chance to land your spell, and against bosses with legendary action you will have 90%. But this is without needing to get any arcane acquity online. So yea i just love running this setup in act 3, an unstoppable caster with bonus action illithid powers.
On this run its going to be a death cleric, and I am having a hard time deciding if its worth it to forgo the dual welder feat and take a wizard level dip in order to be able to scribe: Circle of Death, Dethrone, and the Artistry of war scroll. Problem is I don’t think I can squeeze out very much int, cause I’m not willing to sacrifice the +2 from hood of the weave to wear the headband of intellect. Unless i sacrifice some dex or con. Wisdom needs to be at 17
I’ve never used circle of death or dethrone, are those spells worth it to try and scribe? Or should I just stick to 12 death cleric all the way