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Baruuk:

Baruuk 

TL;DR

Baruuk is all about building up that passive, no passive, no damage and that half of what you do.  Everything is about that passive with Exlated melee weapon deseret wind being the reward.

This frame is resource management, want to keep that passive as high as possible whilst using that passive as fuel. Therefore when game added overguard which are immue to crowd control lull spam build of the past became much worse. If you play in a mission with tons of overguard building your passive becomes a pain or impossible. Strengh remains he can still put out silly numbers, but is bit worse than before. Lost certain helminth options due nerfs effecting loot frames, you do access to something I never thought would be used here.

Good news is you have ways to build it outside of lull. Bad news shtat means

When game added overguard it made crowd control far weaker and sadly old method used lull CC which is now quite a bit worse. Which means we have to change how we’re building this character and that means adding more range. Overguard heavy missions will ruin your day and makes playing this really annoying otherwise. Therefore

Introduction

Baruuk is a pacifist monk who masterfully balances defense and offense, embodying the philosophy that the calm before the storm is just as powerful as the storm itself. His Restraint mechanic fuels his exalted melee weapon, Desert Wind, delivering devastating wave-like attacks through his ultimate ability, Serene Storm.

Defensively, Baruuk offers exceptional utility, including damage reduction, projectile evasion, enemy disarmament, and crowd control through sleep effects. Offensively, Desert Wind takes center stage, capable of clearing entire rooms and tackling Steel Path content with ease. Baruuk shines in high-density missions, where his Restraint can be depleted and regenerated rapidly, granting frequent access to Serene Storm.

Counters

Hard Counters:

  • Nullifiers and Ability Shutdowns: These prevent Baruuk from using Desert Wind effectively or depleting Restraint.
  • Low Enemy Density: Missions with sparse enemies slow down Restraint depletion, limiting access to Serene Storm.

Soft Counters:

  • Damage-Over-Time Effects: Persistent damage, such as toxin or slash procs, bypasses his defenses.
  • Melee Attacks: Close-range hits are dangerous despite his defensive toolkit.

Build Path: Desert Wind

Note: Build recommendations will follow after testing post-Techrot Encore update. Current testing involves a hybrid slam attack build with gas damage, subject to major changes.

Baruuk’s abilities and Desert Wind are central to his playstyle, focusing on managing Restraint.

Playstyle Variants:

  • Low Duration: Ideal for spamming Lull to quickly deplete Restraint, maximizing uptime for Serene Storm.
  • High Duration: Slower but safer, focusing on sustained defenses and steady Restraint management.

Core Focus Areas

  • Power Strength: Enhances Desert Wind’s damage and improves ability effects.
  • Range: Increases the reach of Lull, Serene Storm, and crowd control abilities.
  • Efficiency: Reduces energy costs for spamming abilities like Lull.
  • Duration: Impacts Lull’s effectiveness and the pace of Restraint depletion.

Core Mods

  • Reactive Storm (Augment): Adapts Desert Wind’s damage to enemy resistances, improving versatility.
  • Primed Flow: Maximizes energy reserves for sustained ability use.
  • Fleeting Expertise: Boosts efficiency for spamming Lull, but reduces ability duration.
  • Blind Rage: Increases power strength significantly, compensating for efficiency loss.
  • Stretch / Augur Reach: Boosts range for Lull and supports shield gating.
  • Aura Mod – Steel Charge: Increases mod capacity and provides an initial combo multiplier.

Flex Mods

  • Primed Sure Footed: Grants knockdown immunity, ensuring uninterrupted combos.
  • Nira’s Hatred: Adds slam attack damage, bonus health, and duration.
  • Precision Intensity: Further increases power strength, perfect for Serene Storm.

Helminth Suggestions

Replace Elude, which provides minimal utility, with a more effective option:

  • Tharros Strike (Styanax): Strips enemy armor and shields while restoring health and shields.

Key Synergies

Arcanes:

  • Molt Augmented: Scales power strength over time for higher damage.
  • Arcane Strike: Increases attack speed, enhancing the fluidity of Serene Storm.

Companions:

  • Dethcube: Provides energy regeneration to counteract energy costs.
  • Wyrm: Blocks lethal status effects for improved survivability.
  • Adarza Kavat: Increases critical damage, amplifying Desert Wind’s output.
  • Panzer Vulpaphyla: A versatile choice that enhances utility and survivability.

Archon Shards

Recommended Setup:

  • Crimson Shards: Prioritize critical damage and power strength; duration is also viable.
  • Amber Shards: Improves casting speed for better ability transitions.
  • Violet Shards: Boost melee critical multipliers but require full energy thresholds.

Conclusion

Baruuk combines defensive mastery with overwhelming offensive capabilities, seamlessly blending both into a unique and powerful playstyle. When optimized, Serene Storm becomes a devastating exalted weapon, capable of shredding enemies at the level cap.

The Tharros Wraith build fully unlocks Baruuk’s potential, turning him into a calm yet unstoppable storm. With this setup, you’re not just riding the storm—you are the storm.