It feels like it's been a while since I remastered a build, and this one is occurring a little bit out of order. While Briar is a relatively recent build, the oracle class that she used was one of those most affected by the remaster and I've had a lot of questions regarding the build since then. I'm responding to those requests by rebuilding Briar a touch early. As always, this build is conceptualized entirely in a vacuum, with choices made in my best attempt to fit the character. These choice may not hold up in a campaign with different themes and should be adjusted accordingly.
Let's get into the remastered rebuild for Briar, the Restrained Hunger from League of Legends!
BRIAR, THE RESTRAINED HUNGER
SOURCE League of Legends
BUILD GOALS
o Briar was a failed experiment of the Black Rose eventually imprisoned and contained by a special pillory that reins in her bloodlust
o A melee diver who fights with kicks and her broken pillory
o She spends health to use her abilities
o Her passive, Crimson Curse, means she has no health regeneration but causes her attacks and abilities to inflict a bleed that heals her
o She leaps at a target with Head Rush, delivering a kick that stuns the enemy
o Briar breaks free of her pillory with Blood Frenzy, making her Berserk and granting her additional attack and movement speed. While Berserk, she can recast this for an empowered attack with Snack Attack
o To leave her frenzied state early, she can channel Chilling Scream, healing and making her resistant to damage. On completion of the channel, she damages and knocks back enemies in front of her, stunning them if they hit a wall
o With her Certain Death, Briar launches the keystone of her pillory in a direction. If it hits a champion, she dashes to them, fears all enemies, and then goes into an enhanced Blood Frenzy against the marked target
Summary of Goals: Briar fights with her feet, claws, and jaws, and send herself into a feral frenzy, savaging and tearing apart foes while drawing succor from their exsanguination until she expels this savagery with a nice, calming scream.
LEVEL 1
Ancestry & Heritage: Razortooth Goblin
o Ability Boosts & Flaws: +Dexterity, +Charisma, +Strength, -Wisdom
o Ancestry Feat: Fang Sharpener
Background: Prisoner
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Charisma
o Skill Increase: Stealth (trained), Underworld Lore (trained)
o Background Feat: Experienced Smuggler
Class & Subclass: Bloodrager Barbarian
o Class Ability Boost: +Strength
o Skill Increase: Acrobatics (trained), Athletics (trained), Intimidation (trained), Medicine (trained)
o Class Feat: Raging Intimidation
o Skill Feat: Intimidating Glare
Details
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +4, Dex +1, Con +1, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +3)
Much of the underlying details of this build will remain the same as the original build for Briar, such as the goblin ancestry, the razortooth heritage, and even the Fang Sharpener ancestry feat. This gnarly bite is intended to resemble the chomp of her Snack Attack, but it will also be her means of attacking for the time being. She also sticks with the prisoner background but she obviously has to switch up her class as the battle oracle has undergone an extreme change in the remaster. It no longer really suits and something that fits her better has only recently released in the form of the bloodrager barbarian. This is a class archetype that was released in War of the Immortals and it starts off by replacing Briar’s instinct. Barbarian is a fantastic fit to begin with, Rage standing in for her Blood Frenzy, but this instinct is even better because it causes her slashing and piercing attacks to inflict bleed – resembling her Crimson Curse. Based on the fear inflicted by her ultimate ability, she takes Raging Intimidation so that she can Demoralize foes even while raging. We’ll expand on that concept as we level her until we can fully resemble that fear effect of Certain Death.
LEVEL 2
o Class Feat: Bloodrager Dedication
o Skill Feat: Quick Jump
o Skill Increase: Religion (trained)
o Spell Repertoire: Cantrips – haunting hymn, needle darts
o Gear: psychopomp mask
LEVEL 3
o General Feat: Toughness
o Skill Increase: Athletics (expert)
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+1), psychopomp mask, cloak of feline rest
LEVEL 4
o Class Feat: Rising Blood Magic
o Skill Feat: Powerful Leap
o Spell Repertoire: 1st – flense
o Gear: slashing claws, handwraps of mighty blows (+1), necklace of knives, psychopomp mask
LEVEL 5
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Charisma (Str +4.5, Dex +2, Con +2, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +4)
o Ancestry Feat: Ankle Biter
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (expert)
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking), slashing claws, bracelet of dashing, necklace of knives, cloak of feline rest, psychopomp mask
As part of using the bloodrager class archetype, Briar has to take the Bloodrager Dedication at second level. This comes with a ton of stuff, granting her divine cantrips (sticking with her spell list from the pre-master), training in the Religion skill, and the ability to Cast a Spell while raging. This also grants her the Harvest Blood action, which grants her temp HP and could be thought to resemble the healing of her Crimson Curse. Casting a Spell leaves her drained, which is a good reflection of the health that casting her abilities costs. From her cantrips, she needs one that has a spell attack, and needle darts has a chance of inflicting persistent bleed, making it a favorable pick. Haunting hymn could be thought to stand in for Chilling Scream, but there will be better options for that later. Building out of this archetype, Briar takes Rising Blood Magic, which will give her more spells as she levels and will increase their damage while she’s Raging. Her first spell from this will be flense, another spell attack that can inflict persistent bleed damage or leave an undead enfeebled.
With two different dashes in her kit that can allow Briar to clear barriers, Quick Jump and Powerful Leap are natural fits from among her skill feats. Toughness gives her some HP to offset the drained effect of her spellcasting and she finalizes the feats of this block with Ankle Biter. This is based on the pre-master build, and lets her slips in an extra Strike.
LEVEL 6
o Class Feat: Siphon Magic
o Skill Feat: Intimidating Prowess
o Spell Repertoire: 2nd – horrifying blood loss
o Gear: +1 hide, handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking), lifting belt, slashing claws, Jack’s tattered cape, necklace of knives
LEVEL 7
o General Feat: Fleet
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (master)
o Gear: ring of the ram, +1 hide, bravery baldric (fleet), handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking), slashing claws, bracelet of dashing
LEVEL 8
o Class Feat: Clawdancer Dedication
o Skill Feat: Terrified Retreat
o Spell Repertoire: 3rd – fear
o Gear: ash gown, lesser dread armor rune, ring of the ram, +1 hide, handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking), lifting belt
LEVEL 9
o Ancestry Feat: Hungry Goblin
o Skill Increase: Religion (expert)
o Gear: +1 resilient hide, ash gown, boots of bounding, ring of the ram, bravery baldric (fleet), handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking)
LEVEL 10
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Charisma (Str +5, Dex +3, Con +3, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +4.5)
o Class Feat: Terrifying Howl
o Skill Feat: Terrifying Resistance
o Gear: armbands of athleticism, +1 resilient studded leather, shock weapon rune, ash gown, ring of the ram, handwraps of mighty blows (+1 striking)
Siphon Magic is a very neat way for Briar to regain spells, but it’s main intent is to fill out her bloodrager feats, so that she can then take the Clawdancer Dedication. Notably, she will need claws for this, which means that she’ll have to lean into her nature as an experiment and give her a slashing claws craft. This archetype gives her the kicks of her normal autoattacks with Talon Stance and then the wild swipes of her Blood Frenzy with Claw Stance. Rather than build more into that, she’s going to take Terrifying Howl. Between this and the Terrified Retreat she takes with this block, or the 3rd-rank fear she picks up, she create an area fear that sends foes running just as it does in League. Her other skill feats further her focus on fear with Intimidating Prowess allowing her to terrify without having to share a language and Terrifying Resistance making her a tad tankier after terrorizing targets. Fleet comes in at this block, along with the furious footfalls class feature from the last block, to replicate the enhanced speed provided by her Blood Frenzy. This block also features Hungry Goblin, a feat that I didn’t take last time but will allow her to gain temp HP whenever she deals persistent bleed damage with her jaws – which is every time she hits while she’s raging.
LEVEL 11
o General Feat: Robust Health
o Skill Increase: Religion (master)
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+2 striking), armbands of athleticism, guise of the smirking devil, +1 resilient studded leather, boots of bounding, cloak of thirsty fronds
LEVEL 12
o Class Feat: Surging Blood Magic
o Skill Feat: Battle Cry
o Spell Repertoire: 4th – vampiric feast*
o Gear: +2 resilient studded leather, handwraps of mighty blows (+2 striking), dinosaur boots, armbands of athleticism, shock weapon rune, swarmeater’s clasp
LEVEL 13
o Ancestry Feat: Chosen of Lamashtu – Unbreakable Goblin
o Skill Increase: Athletics (master)
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+2 greater striking), +2 resilient studded leather, bravery baldric (stoneskin), dinosaur boots, armbands of athleticism, guise of the smirking devil
LEVEL 14
o Class Feat: Sudden Leap
o Skill Feat: Too Angry to Die
o Spell Repertoire: 5th – blood feast
o Gear: keen weapon rune, handwraps of mighty blows (+2 greater striking), moderate dread armor rune, +2 resilient studded leather, dinosaur boots, serrating weapon rune
LEVEL 15
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +5.5, Dex +3, Con +4, Int +1, Wis +0, Cha +5)
o General Feat: Incredible Initiative
o Skill Increase: Athletics (legendary), Diplomacy (trained)
o Gear: +2 greater resilient armor, keen weapon rune, boots of speed, handwraps of mighty blows (+2 greater striking), bravery baldric (stoneskin), greater ash gown
Through Surging Blood Magic, Briar gains two spells that she picked up in the pre-master – vampiric feast and blood feast, which are another pair of great spells to represent her Snack Attack. Meanwhile, Sudden Leap is used to give her a way to fly across the map, per her Certain Death. She can use this to dive into the midst of enemies and then unleash a Terrifying Howl to hopefully scatter them. She gains more Intimidation skill feats with Battle Cry and Too Angry to Die, but deliberately skips Fast Recovery from the survivability options specifically because Briar lacks natural health regen. Robust Health still enhances her survivability without compromising on that idea. Chosen of Lamashtu to give Briar the unbreakable goblin heritage also increases her Hit Points and lets her fall from incredible heights and only take half the damage from doing so. Finally, Incredible Initiative is a small nod to the eagerness with which Briar joins battle.
LEVEL 16
o Class Feat: Swipe
o Skill Feat: Cloud Jump
o Spell Repertoire: 6th – vampiric exsanguination
o Gear: greater shock weapon rune, +2 greater resilient studded leather, greater boots of bounding, keen weapon rune, handwraps of mighty blows (+2 greater striking), moderate dread armor rune
LEVEL 17
o Ancestry Feat: Unbreakable-er Goblin
o Skill Increase: Religion (legendary)
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+3 greater striking), greater shock weapon rune, greater corrosive weapon rune, +2 greater resilient studded leather, keen weapon rune, boots of speed
LEVEL 18
o Class Feat: Exultant Blood Magic
o Skill Feat: Slippery Prey
o Spell Repertoire: 2nd – bone spray; 3rd – organsight; 4th – bloodspray curse; 5th – blood feast*, repelling pulse; 7th – blink charge, repelling pulse
o Gear: bracers of strength, handwraps of mighty blows (+3 greater striking), quickstrike weapon rune, greater shock weapon rune, +2 greater resilient studded leather, greater boots of bounding
LEVEL 19
o General Feat: Diehard
o Skill Feat: Scare to Death
o Skill Increase: Intimidation (legendary)
o Gear: +3 greater resilient studded leather, bracers of strength, dread blindfold, handwraps of mighty blows (+3 greater striking), greater shock weapon rune, greater thunderblast slippers
LEVEL 20
o Ability Boosts: +Strength , +Dexterity, +Intelligence, +Wisdom (Str +6, Dex +4, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +5)
o Class Feat: Hematocritical
o Skill Feat: Titan Wrestler
o Skill Increase: Thievery
o Spell Repertoire: 8th – devour life
o Gear: handwraps of mighty blows (+3 major striking), +3 greater resilient leather, dread blindfold, bracers of strength, bloodthirsty weapon rune, quickstrike weapon rune
I almost forgot, but Briar’s attacks while in a Blood Frenzy damage multiple nearby enemies and she can kind of represent that through the Swipe class feat. Exultant Blood Magic improves the attacks and DCs of her spells, and provides her with a few solid options. Firstly, it allows her to select blood feast as a signature spell. Secondly, it provides her with blink charge, which is another way to create the effects of her Certain Death as she launches herself into the enemy. It also gives her access to repelling pulse that she can use to represent the knockback of her Chilling Scream. As none of the capstone feats really fit her, Briar instead just takes Hematocritical as her final feat, a very cool feat that lets her make a spell following a crit far more effective – by either applying fortune to her spell attack or misfortune to her enemy’s save. Cloud Jump is actually of particular import to this build, as it will allow her to come sailing in from offscreen when she uses Sudden Leap to launch herself at an enemy. Unbreakable-er Goblin and Diehard both increase her survivability in different ways, which is simply important given the peril she will put herself in.
FREE ARCHETYPE SUGGESTIONS: For the remastered build, we skipped the Vampire Dedication due to its rarity and the other complications caused by it, but I’ll suggest it for use in a free archetype game. It’s mainly flavor as she really only wants Predatory Claws and maybe Daywalker out of it though the latter is mostly to undo some of the penalties of the Vampire Dedication in the first place. Alternatively, she could use more feats from clawdancer, such as Abscission Shards for higher persistent bleed damage or Spinning Stand and Claw and Talon Flow for some action compression. Otherwise, the wild mimic archetype is a solid fit with feats such as Rend Mimicry and Roar Mimicry, which features a stun effect that might fit with her Chilling Scream effect.
BUILD CONCLUSION
Briar, the Restrained Hunger is a razortooth and unbreakable goblin bloodrager barbarian with the prisoner background, representing the time that she spent locked up following the Black Rose labeling her a failure. In this take on the character, we represent her feral savagery through the Rage ability and while she starts off with the jaws Strike of Snack Attack, arming her with slashing claws will let her gain the Clawdancer Dedication - granting her the claws and kicks that she commonly uses. As a bloodrager, she can take on the drained condition to cast spells while raging, resembling how her abilities cost health to use. Additionally, this instinct causes her Strikes to deal persistent bleed damage and between that and spells such as flense and bonespray, she's got her Crimson Curse down pat. She can Quick Jump into a Strike for Head Rush or use Sudden Leap while relying on her critical specialization with brawling weapons to inflict the stun of it. As I mentioned, Rage stands in for her Blood Frenzy with Claw Stance resembling her strikes and both furious footfalls and Fleet giving her the speed she's looking for. While she's in this frenzied state, she can use blood or vampiric feast to represent her Snack Attack. Another spell, repelling pulse, covers the knockback of her Chilling Scream, but she could also simply use her Strength and Athletics to Shove foes, knocking them back into walls and the like. She rounds out the coverage of her abilities with blink charge or Sudden Leap letting her fire herself into the fray for her Certain Death, its distance aided by the Cloud Jump skill feat. Once in the midst of her enemies, she can unleash a fear spell or Terrifying Howl with Terrified Retreat to send enemies running for the hills - but even that's not a guarantee they'll escape.
Our excitable extremity extremist enters engagements in an extraordinary example, eviscerating and exsanguinating enemies in an attempt to encourage an enthusiastic exit from existence.
Please let me know what you think and what other builds you'd like to see! You can vote for the next rebuild over on the Discord or YT channel.
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Have a fantastic Friday!
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