Shadow Impale Demon Hunter
Diablo 3 Patch 2.6.4
Shadow Impale is the top tier Demon Hunter build for solo GR pushing in Seasons 16 and Patch 2.6.4. Impale build provides one of the highest single target DPSs out of all Demon Hunter builds. Shadow Set base damage bonus had been multiplied by 5 in the current Patch, greatly increasing this build's potential.
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Table of contents
- General information
- Recommended items
- Recommended skills
- Best builds for other Diablo 3 classes
General information
The entire build is based on the Shadow's Mantle set which provides the following bonuses:
- While equipped with a melee weapon, all damage is increased by 6000% (Demon Hunter Only) (2/6)
- Shadow Power gains the effect of every rune and lasts forever (4/6)
- Impale deals an additional 75,000% damage to the first enemy hit (6/6)
Shadow Impale is an extremely powerful build both early and late game. The two-piece bonus provides impressive damage buff and makes Shadow Set the best starter set for Demon Hunters.
Putting early game aside, the build relies on the extremely high Impale's DPS deal to the first enemy hit, granting it one of the best single-target DPS. The gameplay mechanics are rather simple - It is all about keeping your buffs up, grouping enemy packs and taking down elites and rare monsters to progress in the Rifts.
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Recommended items
| Equipment |
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Head - Shadow's Mask
Stat priorities:
1) Critical Hit Chance
2) Dexterity
3) Increased Impale damage
4) Vitality
5) Secondary res.
Socket:  |
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Chest - Shadow's Bane
Stat priorities:
1) Dexterity
2) Vitality
3) All elemental res.
Sockets:  |
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Pants - Shadow's Coil
Stat priorities:
1) Dexterity
2) Vitality
3) All elemental res.
Sockets:
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Gloves - Shadow's Grasp
Stat priorities:
1) Dexterity
2) Critical Hit Chance
3) Critical Hit Damage
4) Attack speed
5) Area damage% / Vitality
6) Secondary res. |
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Boots - Shadow's Heels
Stat priorities:
1) Dexterity
2) Vitality
3) Increased Impale damage
4) All elemental res. |
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Pauldrons - Shadow's Burden
Stat priorities:
1) Dexterity
2) Vitality
3) Cooldown reduction
4) All elemental res.
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Bracers - Nemesis Bracers
Stat priorities:
1) Critical Hit Chance
2) Lightning damage%
3) Dexterity
4) Vitality
5) Secondary res.
Special power:
Shrines will spawn an enemy champion |
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Amulet - Traveller's Pledge
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Critical Hit Chance
4) Lightning damage%
5) Dexterity
(Part of the Endless Walk set)
Set bonuses:
- While moving, all damage taken is reduced by up to 50%
- While standing still, all damage dealt is increased by up to 100%
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Ring - Compass Rose
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Chance
3) Critical Hit Damage
4) Attack speed
5) Dexterity
6) Vitality
(Part of the Endless Walk set) |
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Ring - Elusive Ring
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Chance
3) Critical Hit Damage
4) Attack speed
5) Dexterity
Special power:
After casting Shadow Power, Smoke Screen, or Vault, take 50-60% reduced damage for 8 seconds
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Belt - The Witching Hour
Stat priorities:
1) Critical Strike Damage
2) Attack Speed
3) Dexterity
4) Vitality |
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Weapon - Karlei's Point
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) High average damage
3) Damage%
4) Dexterity
6) Attack speed%
Sockets:
Special power
Impale deals 300–375% increased damage and returns 15 Hatred if it hits an enemy already Impaled
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Off-hand - Holy Point Shot
1) Lightning damage%
1) Critical Hit Chance
2) Attack speed
3) Dexterity
4) Increased Impale damage
5) Area damage% |
Bonus Items for Season 16
(thanks to built-in Ring of Royal Grandeur power) |
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Aquila Cuirass
1) Dexterity
2) Vitality
3) All Elemental Resistances
4) Armor
Special power
While above 90–95% of primary resource, all damage taken is reduced by 50% |
| Kanai Cube powers |
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Dawn
Reduce the cooldown of Vengeance by 50–65% |
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Chain of Shadows
After using Impale, Vault costs no resource for 2 seconds |
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Convention of Elements
Gain 150–200% increased damage to a single element for 4 seconds. This effect rotates through the elements available to your class in the following order: Arcane, Cold, Fire, Holy, Lightning, Physical, Poison
Can be freely replaced with Elusive Ring in the equipment slot - depending which ring rolls better stats |
| Legendary Gems |
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Bane of the Trapped
- Increases damage done to enemies under the control-impairing effects by 15%
Upgrade: +0.3% additional damage per Rank
- Gain an aura that slows the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30% (Requires Rank 25)
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Bane of the Stricken
- Each attack you make against an enemy increases the damage it takes from your attacks by 0.8%. Upgrade: +0.01% damage per Rank
- Gain 25% increased damage against Rift Guardians and bosses (Requires Rank 25)
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Pain Enhancer
- Critical hits cause the enemy to bleed for 2500% damage as Physical over 3 seconds. Upgrade: +50% damage as Physical over 3 seconds (+10% per second) per Rank
- Gain Blood Frenzy, granting 3% increased Attack Speed for each bleeding enemy within 20 yards (Requires Rank 25)
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Recommended skills
| Active Skills |
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Impale
Throw a knife that impales an enemy for 750% damage as Physical
Ricochet
Changes damage type to Lightning. Also after hitting the first enemy, it can ricochet to up to two nearby enemies (cannot hit the same target twice)
Your main DPS skill. It causes enormous damage to the first enemy hit, so remember to always aim at the Elites/Rares first |
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Vault
Tumble acrobatically 35 yards
Tumble
After using Vault, the next Vault you use within 6 seconds has its' Discipline cost reduced by 50%
Your main mobility skill |
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Companion
Passive: Summons a raven companion that pecks at enemies for 100% damage as Physical
Active: Your raven deals an additional 500% damage on its next attack
Wolf companion
Summons a wolf instead of the raven. Upon activation the skill grants 15% increased damage to your and your nearby allies for 10 seconds
The skill grants very decent damage buff to you and your party members. Picking up the Boar companion is an also good option for more defensive purposes |
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Fan of Knives
Throw knives out in a spiral around you, dealing 620% damage as Physical to all enemies within 20 yards. Your knives will also Slow the movement of enemies by 60% for 1 second
Bladed Armor
Grants 40% increased armor for 6 seconds after use
Uses solely for the amazing armor buff |
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Vengeance
Increases damage done by 40%, and summons weapons that shoot projectiles whenever you perform an attack. Those include Side Guns that shoot four projectiles dealing 60% weapon damage each and Homing Rockets that shoot two rockets for 80% weapon damage each
Dark Heart
Changes Vengeance damage type to Lightning, and reduced damage taken by 50% for the duration
Mandatory Demon Hunter skill. Grants fantastic offensive and defensive buffs for the duration. At around 34% Cooldown reduction, you can have 100% uptime on Vengeance (with Dawn equipped) |
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Shadow Power
Draw in the power of the shadows, gaining 26821 Life per Hit for 5 seconds. Life per Hit granted is additionally increased by 25% of the Life per Kill
All runes(granted by four pieces set bonus)
Night Bane: upon activation slows the movement speed of enemies within 30 yards by 80% for 5 seconds
Blood Moon: doubles the Life on Hit effect of Shadow Power
Well of Darkness: reduces the Discipline by 40% (down to 8)
Gloom: reduces all damage taken by 35% while active
Shadow Glide: grants +30% increased movement speed for the duration
A permanent buff when using the Shadow Set. Can be recast for the extra slow in emergency situations, and to crowd control enemy packs |
| Passive Skills |
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Ambush
You deal 40% extra damage to enemies above 75% Life |
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Awareness
Upon taking fatal damage, you do not die, but rather have Smoke Screen cast on yourself, rendering you invisible for 2 seconds and healing back to 50% of maximum Life
This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds |
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Cull of the Weak
Increases your damage done by 20% to enemies affected by slow and chill effects
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Numbing Traps
Enemies affected by your slow and chill effects, or hit by Fan of Knives, Spike Trap, Caltrops, Grenades, and Sentry have their damage reduced by 25% for 5 seconds |
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After shutting down Auction House trading is no longer possible in Diablo 3. Items can only be traded with party members within 2-hour time frame. This significantly increased popularity of Item Farming, Boosting and Greater Rift carry services in Diablo 3. All of which can be found on Odealo marketplace.
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We hope you enjoy this Season as much as we do. The small differences between each Tier, classes, and builds make this one of the most exciting Seasons ever. Hope to see you soon in the world of Sanctuary!
If you have any ideas how this suggested build could be improved, or if you believe the Shadow Impale Demon Hunter is no longer fit for the "title", please let us know in the comments below.
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