User:Ayxmirdyrer/Karyst Build

The Karyst is deceptively powerful, featuring the second highest elemental damage in the game, and of a type that combines into so many useful types. Being a dagger, one can equip the Covert Lethality mod for a significant increase to its base damage, as well as an instant one-shot for stealth finishers. However, what if one is caught in the open, without the option to kill the target stealthily?

Overview
This build uses 2 Forma.

The "No-Brainers"
Pressure Point and Covert Lethality increase the base damage, which will in-turn, increase the elemental damage added by the elemental mods.

Stance
Homing Fang is one of those awkward stances that doesn't have a single weapon with a matching stance polarity. Initially, this build was simply designed to test this stance, however, it proves quite useful at dealing with multiple targets. Its Lashing Forward combo inflicts a guaranteed  proc on the fourth attack (the quick dash forward); this is relevant because the weapon does not have any of the base physical damage types, but more on that in a second.

Regardless of how it is modded, the Karyst deals Procs on any slam attack it does; conveniently, Life Eater (Pause) has a slam attack at the end of its combo. So one has several options to deliver damage over time; however, late-game enemies have a lot of health, this is where viral damage comes in.

Elementals
This build aims for a pure viral (+) damage weapon, using its 50% health status effect to cut enemies down to size. Fever Strike is more of the same damage. Virulent Scourge boosts this further, as well as increasing the status chance central to the build. North Wind and Vicious Frost combine for damage, which helps compensate for the inherently low damage of daggers with its proc. One could also do the same for (Shocking Touch & Voltaic Strike instead of the cold mods) or  ((Molten Impact & Volcanic Edge). This makes the weapon only have one status effect to inflict, increasing one's chances of the desired proc.

Alternatively, one can use the status mods mentioned to further increase the status chance to 51%, albeit it at the cost of diluting the chance of the single status.

Minimizing weaknesses
The Karyst is considered one of the slower daggers, so Fury helps to compensate for that. Many players just find daggers too short, and so a Reach or a Primed Reach can help to amend this. Alternatively, if one finds the range or speed acceptable, one of these slots can be switched with a Spoiled Strike.

Final Thoughts
Admittedly, this is the first time I've ever done a write-up on one of my crazy builds, I hope you found it interesting. The Karyst is surprisingly versatile, whether one wants to make use of the Covert's instant kills, or dive into the fray, using status effects to whittle enemies down to size. Happy hunting!