User:BrianG/Me/N Fast Melee Shutdown

Compared to other similar builds, this melee shutdown build uses Mantra of Recovery to double the effectiveness of long recharge skills by allowing them to be cast twice as often. Energy Tap combined with Mantra of Recovery can steal more energy than Energy Drain.

Attributes and Skills
The optional slot can be filled with a Res Signet or one of the variants listed below.

Equipment
Sentry's Insignias are ideal as you should be almost constantly stanced. Otherwise, Radiant or Survivor would be fine.

Because Mantra of Recovery will already halve your recharge time, weapons with HSR mods will effectively have a wasted mod. Its almost impossible to find a wand without this mod, however weaponsmith Sheco will offer a Wailing Wand with a HCT mod instead. For the offhand, its much easier to avoid this mod. You can use an Inspiration focus from Kraviec the Cursed with +30 health and +15/-1 energy mods, or you can create your own focus with whatever mods you choose. HCT and extra energy or health should be priorities.

Usage

 * Instruct your team to leave any melee foes until the end of the battle. You should be able to effectively shut them down, and you will then be able to benefit from the energy provided by Spirit of Failure.
 * Activate Mantra of Recovery and apply Reckless Haste first (hopefully catching more than one target).
 * Apply Spirit of Failure and Price of Failure on top of Reckless Haste. Use Parasitic Bond as a cover hex.
 * Use Energy Tap any time you are getting low on energy, and Ether Feast any time you are low on health.
 * Move on to the next target and apply your hexes. Continue until all melee foes are shutdown.
 * After this you can either shutdown any other attacking enemies such as paragons or rangers, or you can focus on depriving any remaining casters of energy using Ether Feast and Energy Tap.

Counters

 * Hex removal.
 * Heavy caster damage.
 * Backfire or other similar anti-caster skills.

Variants
Variations could add some of the following skills (in the optional slot, or possibly removing Ether Feast or Parasitic Bond):
 * Enfeebling Blood: Large area of effect helps manage large groups of foes.
 * Soul Barbs: Adds some damage capability.
 * Suffering: Spread degen and add a cover hex to multiple foes.
 * Power Drain: Provides an interrupt, and powerful energy management, especially when combined with Mantra of Recovery.
 * Drain Enchantment: Also combines well with Mantra of Recovery due to its long recharge being halved.
 * Feedback: Also combines well with Mantra of Recovery due to its long recharge being halved.
 * Ether Phantom: Energy degeneration and also serves as an effective cover hex.
 * Malaise: Energy degeneration and also serves as an effective cover hex.
 * Spirit Shackles: Effective against bosses, and combines well with Reckless Haste.
 * Well of Darkness: Increase the chance of enemy attacks missing.
 * Well of Weariness: Additional energy degeneration.
 * Defile Enchantments: Provides some damage dealing capability.
 * Gaze of Contempt: Powerful enchantment removal and combines well with Mantra of Recovery due to its long recharge being halved.