Face Tank Ninja

Build focuses on exploiting Ninja's Evading Strikes passive (bonus damage after evade). AOE weapons benefit from facetank positioning: Aura provides 360° coverage, Sword creates overlapping swings. Any weapons work but AOE preferred. Tier 1 is weakest - prioritize obtaining weapons early, then focus on tome/item scaling. Keep upgrading weapons for survival.

Phantom Shroud (Epic) is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY - grants double damage post-evade + speed buff, perfectly synergizes with Ninja's Evading Strikes. Mirror (reflects damage + brief invulnerability) for survivability. Toxic Barrel (releases poison gas when hit) pairs with facetank playstyle. Spiky Shield adds thorns. Also obtain Thorns from shrines for passive damage reflection.

Priority order: (1) XP Tome first for rapid leveling, (2) Armor Tome to ~60% only (diminishing returns after), (3) Bloody Tome for lifesteal, (4) Any Damage Tome. Don't over-invest in Armor past 60%. Once scaled in Area 2, faceplant strategy activates: Evading Strikes + Reflects + Poisons + Thorns combo melts enemies. Obtain luck from shrines.