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The Rogue’s Rapid Fire-based build inDiablo 4is one of the most popular thanks to its unique mechanics that set it apart from other ranged Rogue builds. Using the Improved Rapid Fire skill, Rapid Fire restores Energy if it hits a vulnerable target, meaning you can essentially use it forever.
Related:Diablo 4: Penetrating Shot Rogue Build Guide
This unique mechanic means you don’t have to fall into the traditional energy generator and energy spender trope like most other builds. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about building a Rapid Fire Rogue, including skill tree, Paragon Boards, gear, and more.
As mentioned above, the concept of the Rapid Fire build is pretty straightforward. Using the Improved Rapid Fire skill,15 Energy is restored with each cast of Rapid Fire, as long as you hit a Vulnerable enemy. This means that thecost to use Rapid Fire is instantly refundedif the target is Vulnerable. This interaction makes up the core of the build.
When paired with theAspect of Repeating, which allows Rapid Fire’s arrows to ricochet to nearby targets, Rapid Fire canefficiently clear packs of enemieswhile retaining high single target damage.
The setup for this build is pretty simple, but it relies on a few different synergies to enable the Energy refund for Rapid Fire.Shadow Imbuementand theExploit Glyphare the two main methods for applying Vulnerable, with Poison Trap being a backup option.
Dash and Shadow Step are used for mobility, allowing you to quickly move to the next pack of enemies or reposition out of danger.
Finally,Shadow Cloneis a great Ultimate Skill for this build, especially because we are using Preparation as our Specialization Skill. This Specializationreduces the cooldown of your Ultimate for every 100 Energy you spend, and resets all other cooldowns when you use your Ultimate.
Because Rapid Fire refunds its Energy cost, blowing through 100 Energy is very easy, meaning we haveconstant cooldown reductionfor all of our skills. In turn, this makes applying Shadow Imbuement easier, and gives you more up time on Dash and Shadow Step for mobility.
Augments
Rapid Fire
Enhanced: Each subsequent arrow from Rapid Fire has 5% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Improved: Gain 15 Energy when hitting a Vulnerable enemy with Rapid Fire.
Shadow Step
Enhanced: Damaging an enemy with Shadow Step increases your Critical Strike Chance against them.
Methodical: Stun enemies damaged by Shadow Step for 2 seconds.
Dash
Enhanced: Damaging an enemy with Dash increases your Critical Strike Damage against them.
Disciplined: Damaging an enemy with Dash Slows them for 3 seconds, upgraded to Dazed if they are already Slowed.
Poison Trap
Enhanced: Knock Down enemies in Poison Trap’s range when it activates.
Countering: Poison Trap has a 30% chance to reset the cooldown of all Imbuement Skills.
Shadow Imbuement
Enhanced: You have 15% more Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies affected by Shadow Imbuement.
Blended: Shadow Imbuement’s explosion makes damaged enemies Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
Shadow Clone
Prime: After casting Shadow Clone, you are Unstoppable for 5 seconds.
Supreme: Your Shadow Clone deals an additional 20% of your damage, for a total of 80%.
Due to the way the Skill tree works in Diablo 4, you willhave to put at least two points into a Basic Skillin order to activate the rest of the tree. We have two points in Puncture for this reason, even though we don’t use this Skill at all.
Paragon Boards
Starting Board
Go up the right side, slotting Ranger into the Glyph Socket and buying all of the Dexterity Nodes within range, as well as both Rare Nodes.
No Witnesses
Slot in the Exploit Glyph, buy enough Strength Nodes to activate it, and pick up the Training, Knowledge, Ruin, and Recuperate Rare Nodes, as well as the Legendary Node.
Cheap Shot
Put Efficacy in the Glyph Socket and buy as many Intelligence Nodes as you can within range. Grab the Safeguard, Oppress, Wiles, Devious, and Spearhead Nodes, as well as the Legendary Node.
Exploit Weakness
Socket in the Combat Glyph, and buy Intelligence Nodes within range. Across the board, get the Dosage, Artifice, and Hunter Killer Rare Nodes, and make a path to the Legendary Node.
Deadly Ambush
On the final board, make a path straight to the Glyph socket and slot in Turf, then buy just enough Strength Nodes to activate its additional effect. Grab the Engineering and Cunning Rare Nodes, and finally make a path to the Deadly Ambush Legendary Node.
Glyphs
Ranger
Marksman Skills deal more damage for every 5 Dexterity within range.
You take 10% less damage when wielding a Ranged weapon.
Exploit
Deal increased damage to Vulnerable targets for every 5 Strength within range.
When you damage an enemy, make them Vulnerable for 3 seconds. This can only activate once per enemy every 20 seconds.
Imbuement Skills are 20% stronger.
Combat
Core Skills deal more Critical Strike Damage for every 5 Intelligence within range.
Skills that Critically Strike restore a portion of their Energy cost.
Turf
Deal increased damage to Close targets for every 5 Strength within range.
Gain 10% Damage Reduction against Close enemies.
As you progress through your Paragon Board,prioritize activating the additional effects of Ranger and Exploit first, withExploit being the most important. Exploit is what allows this build to function, so its imperative to have its additional effect as soon as possible.
Recommended Gear And Stats
This build will take a bit more investment to work properly, but doesn’t have that many essential Legendary Aspects.Repeating Apsect, Blast-Trapper’s Aspect, Accelerating Aspect, and Edgemaster’s Aspect are the most important to have, while all others provide nice bonuses.
Keep in mind thatRepeating Aspect can not be obtained from the Aspect Codex, so you’ll have to find an item with it and transfer it to your preferred Ranged Weapon for the added power.
Aspect of Corruption
Critical Strike Chance, Critical Strike Damage
Inner Calmis another Legendary Aspect that can work well in this build, mainly for boss fights where you can stand still for longer periods of time.
Uniques
This Rapid Fire build does not feature any essential Unique items, but thePenitent Greavescan be a great help for some additional damage. These boots create a trail behind you as you move that Chills enemies, and increase your damage against Chilled enemies.Penitent Greaves aren’t essential, but can provide some good Crowd Control and bonus damage, if you have them.
Playing A Rapid Fire Rogue
The general gameplay of this build is quite simple. Because most of the build operates passively, all you really have to worry about isactivating Shadow Imbuement and Shadow Clone when they are off cooldown, and use Rapid Fire to clear groups of enemies.
Use Dash and Shadow Step as needed to reposition around enemies, or use them proactively to Crowd Control key targets like Elites.
Shadow Imbuement is mainly used for applying Vulnerable to groups of enemies, while Poison Trap is saved for boss fights. Because theExploit Glyph only makes enemies Vulnerable for three seconds, and in most cases the boss won’t die in just three seconds, you need another source of Vulnerable application to continue using Rapid Fire.
This is where Poison Trap comes in handy, making use of the Blast-Trapper’s Aspect to increase the chance of the enemy becoming Vulnerable. If Blast-Trapper doesn’t activate, however, you’ll need to run around for a few seconds to regenerate Energy in between uses of Rapid Fire until Exploit or Poison Trap are off cooldown.
