Tempted to give this a go as my final char for the league. Not sure if it'd be easier to build for in SSF or trade, kinda leaning trade but attempting to craft my own stuff.
What would you recommend to level to be able to transition into this build?
If you're in trade, just pick any ranger starter, there's plenty of them. You should only transition into this build after level 70-75 and when you have at least a starter wand. In SSF just level with RoA, LA, or even TR, just grab the big ranger bow wheel, you should be able to respec it later on with just the points you get from campaign.
hey man just scored a prime regarding lens. what would u use it on?
Honestly not much for alt qual in this build, you can maybe go for anomalous Kinetic Blast for some additional clear. Or Precision for mana reservation efficiency.
Last edited by 100purified on Sep 26, 2023, 3:49:59 PM
I need some advice what should I fix in this
https://pobb.in/d1KhDtRT
A lot of the time I got easily deleted by some uniques and bosses (i.e some essences mobs and harvest mobs)
I do notice my HP aint that high but im not a crafter and really hard to get gears that gives HP mods more than I have (without sacrificing the more important mods).
I need some advice what should I fix in this
https://pobb.in/d1KhDtRT
A lot of the time I got easily deleted by some uniques and bosses (i.e some essences mobs and harvest mobs)
I do notice my HP aint that high but im not a crafter and really hard to get gears that gives HP mods more than I have (without sacrificing the more important mods).
Should I just get some HP from tattoo?
Also dps is a bit lacking too.
You have a really good fractured wand base, try rolling t1 added cold on top of it now. Also you are really lacking a lot of HP from gear, some of it doesn't even have a life roll. Other than that you might want to look into tatoos like +1 power charges.
Last edited by 100purified on Sep 30, 2023, 1:59:37 PM
You have a really good fractured wand base, try rolling t1 added cold on top of it now. Also you are really lacking a lot of HP from gear, some of it doesn't even have a life roll. Other than that you might want to look into tatoos like +1 power charges.
Im not actually crafter so I dont really which craft method the best to use to add cold damage there.
Also been trying to find other gears with more +Life (with other required mods) is hard. I really need to learn how to craft/roll my gear I guess.
You have a really good fractured wand base, try rolling t1 added cold on top of it now. Also you are really lacking a lot of HP from gear, some of it doesn't even have a life roll. Other than that you might want to look into tatoos like +1 power charges.
Im not actually crafter so I dont really which craft method the best to use to add cold damage there.
Also been trying to find other gears with more +Life (with other required mods) is hard. I really need to learn how to craft/roll my gear I guess.
I'm not a huge crafter either, but I think you have two options here:
1. Just spam essences of Hatred, that way you guarantee the added cold mod - then you're pretty much only looking for crit chance as your other mod and you're set.
2. Alt spam until you get the t1 added cold mod. Regal -> if the regaled mod is a suffix, you need to annul it (50% chance to do so, if you fail then start over). If it's a prefix, leave it. Then just add multimod on it, with crit chance and spell damage. There, you have a great wand for the build.
Last edited by 100purified on Oct 1, 2023, 3:33:10 AM
3.22 update
Short answer: IS IT DEAD? - NO
Build is unchanged
RIP Vengeant cascade, you will be missed. The new Returning Projetiles Support is not really that great for Power Siphon, because we're running Point Blank. It is still good for Kinetic Blast, since the returning projectiles can pass through multiple enemies so despite Point Blank we're still getting a big damage multiplier. Other than that, no changes, build is still extremely strong with more than 8m single target DPS.
What is this?
Different take on a semi-regular wander build, running as Raider instead of Deadeye, utilizing Power Siphon barrage for single targets and Kinetic Blast for clear. Fast, has great clear and quite good single target (about 8-9m with good gear, not counting the return projectiles from Vengeant Cascade - hard to calculate those, but they make up quite a decent chunk of damage). Uses not only evasion, but also armour for defenses, unlike most wander builds. 3.21 made this build double in fun - the new Vengeant Cascade annoint is completely broken and insanely fun. Play it while you can - I really don't think Vengeant Cascade will survive the next league patch. I've played it all the way from start of the league to level 100 in SSF Crucible as well as up to level 98 in SSF Sanctum.
The good and the bad
Spoiler
Good:
+ good for SSF
+ good single target damage
+ decent survivability, but is not a facetanker
+ clears at an amazing speed
+ only wants one unique which is quite common
+ has Armour, Evasion and about 90% spell suppresion
+ ailment immune
+ lots of hits + new "10% of Leech is insant" mastery = ridiculous amounts of life gain on hit
Bad:
- it's possible to leaguestart it (I did), but its very very weak early on - wander really needs items to shine
- can't do elemental reflect
- can cause seizures
- two curses that you have to cast every 11 seconds for single target
- turtle speed in town and at start of maps - the build moves fast, but only after you kill your first pack and get all frenzy charges
PoB:
Spoiler
Base:
https://pastebin.com/PcmY6EDT
With helmet enchant (no Enlighten):
https://pastebin.com/3CH6c8Yx
With level 4 Enlighten (no helmet enchant):
https://pastebin.com/Tfhhpxzq
END-END game setups - for tradeleagues
Spoiler
Full DPS setup with The Pandemonius:
https://pastebin.com/bhRi7U8G
More defensive oriented with Aul's Uprising Grace or Determination mod:
https://pastebin.com/Arqu2zYM
The only mandatory unique for this build. It's quite a common drop, you will usually drop multiple of it throughout the league. Although not extremely strictly required, it gives a lot of dps and movement speed.
Purely a mid-game item - not required by any means. It's just a good mid-game wand and its completely outshined by well crafted rare ones.
Again, not required, but a good mid-game armour. Boost damage, provides great armour and evasion as well as pretty much perma onslaught. In the endgame replaced by a hunter rare chestpiece with +critical chance and +1 curse.
While a Blizzard Crown is pretty much the best we can get, a Heatshiver is a very close match. It makes it a bit harder to gear, because you don't get life, strength or +1 pierce on it, but it matches the DPS you get from a Blizzard Crown. Completely optional item.
POSSIBLE ENDGAME UNIQUE UPGRADES:
There are two possible choices here:
- an Aul's Uprising with Determination or Grace mod - this will let you run both Determination and Grace and make you very tanky,
- The Pandemonius - best amulet for pure DPS, provides a lot of damage and blind.
Map mods:
Spoiler
Can do everything except:
- ele reflect,
- no leech.
Monsters steal charges mod is SUPER annoying, but still quite doable.
General tips
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield. If you don't want to use that mod on your shield, this jewel is another option to cap your ailment avoidance:
Put Steelskin (or Molten Shell) in your left click hotkey, so it's automatically cast whenever it's off cooldown. Steelskin and Molten shell are pretty much equivalent for this build, so feel free to use whichever one you prefer.
You generally don't need to cast any curses for anything outside of bosses, your automatic mark on hit is enough for clearing.
You can also use regular Dash instead of Flame Dash as your movement skill if you prefer. Regular Dash takes one more gem slot though since you also want it supported by Second Wind.
For maximum damage (because of Point Blank and Vengeant Cascade) you need to stay very close to the boss. While you're there, cast Vortex every couple seconds, it further increases damage taken of the enemy. Vortex is an instant cast skill so you can use it even while you're attacking. In case of Vengeant Cascade and Sniper's Mark, you need to stand almost right on top of the boss to double your amount of hits. If you decide to use Assassin's Mark instead, staying close-ish to the boss will be enough.
Vengeant Cascade is absolutely bonkers in 3.21. It increases your already good clear speed and also provides a significant single target damage boost. It doesn't actually "double" your DPS - you might get double the amount of hits, but they're significantly less powerful on their return flight, because of Point Blank. It is still a massive damage boost and massive clearspeed boost nonetheless.
Early game you can grab some Mana reservation efficiency mastery and use another aura, a Defiance Banner. Late game when you have level 4 Enlighten and a helm enchant, you can replace it with Herald of Ice or any other 25% reservation aura that you like.
Have at least 100 mana unreserved for your gameplay to feel good, any less than that and you might occasionally run out of mana and autoattack instead of casting your skill. If you're having mana issues, try grabbing the one point Life mastery "Skills cost Life instead of 30% of Mana" - it helps greatly with mana issues.
The BiS helmet for this build is a Warlord influenced Blizzard Crown with +1 to power charges. Heatshiver is also a good replacement for it, proved similar damage, but its a bit less defensive option, since it doesn't provide any life.
Bring your chaos res to at least around 0 or positive number, it really boosts the survivability of any build.
You can swap your Silver or Diamond flask to Quicksilver during mapping, if you want to go really really fast. Personally I think Quicksilver is an overkill and I don't use it.
Example Gear:
Spoiler
3.21 Gear
Spoiler
ENDGAME example gear
Spoiler
3.22 gear
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield.
Your best wand choice is Imbued Wand - it has the best attack stats out of all wand bases.
In terms of shield bases, Cardinal Round Shield for base build or Colossal Tower Shield if you're running an Aul's Uprising or you just feel like you have enough evasion and need more armour.
Gloves eldritch mods: you always want Eater's "Projectile Pierce an additional Target", and then whichever you prefer for Exarch: Gain 1 Rage on hit or chance to Intimidate enemies on hit.
You absolutely also want +1 pierce mod on your helmet - you could also get it on gloves, but gloves are already prefix starved as they are.
How to craft +attack crit chance/+1 curse body armour:
Spoiler
1. Get a Hunter influenced high armour/evasion base of a least item level 84.
2. Use Harvest bench to Reforge with an Attack mod - this is guaranteed to include the "Attacks have +X to critical strike chance" mod.
3. Spam this Harvest mod until you get tier 1 crit and two other SUFFIXES of your interest (usually 2x resistances) and AT LEAST ONE open PREFIX.
4. Benchcraft "Suffixes cannot be changed" - costs 2 Divs.
5. Use Harvest bench to "reforge with a caster mod" - this guarantees +1 curse prefix.
Ascendancy, bandits, anointment and Pantheon:
Spoiler
Ascendancy order:
Way of the Poacher - Avatar of the Slaughter - Quartz Infusion - Avatar of the Veil
Bandits: 2 passives.
Amulet anointment:
Wandslinger.
Pantheon:
Upgraded Soul of the Brine King for stun mitigation. Small pantheon is whatever.
Outdated - On the note of Vengeant Cascade Sniper's Mark vs Assassin's Mark:
Spoiler
Assassin's Mark on paper will make your projectiles hit single targets more reliably as they pass through your target and then come back straight to you. Sniper's Mark will make the projectiles fire in random directions from the target, then return to you - if you stand right on top of your target, most of the projectiles should still hit.
You can use either mark - personally I don't want to abandon the utility of Sniper's Mark, so I'm sticking to that one.
To sum up:
Asassin's Mark:
- slightly weaker in terms of pure damage early game than Sniper's Mark
- falls off in terms of damage hard in the endgame when we achieve near 100% crit rate
- more reliable Vengeant Cascade returning hits - can stand slightly away from boss and have all the returning projectiles hit pretty much all the time
Sniper's Mark:
- stronger early game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- way stronger late game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- brings utility in terms of reliably hitting multiple enemies with your single target skill (extremely useful e.g. in Maven invitations)
- less reliable hits from Vengeant cascade - need to stand right on top of the boss for all your returning projectiles to hit.
Videos:
Spoiler
General mapping - day 6 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/gy0qNKMW):
https://youtu.be/8iP9nNPN754
General mapping - day 12 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/SH5pAcmf)
https://youtu.be/BAPyeESBDBA
Sirus - day 7 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/efWyz2Vi)
https://youtu.be/MrztZtsN5Gw
Maven - day 11 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/pQ6h4wHs)
https://youtu.be/1KKuVacVGeI
Uber Elder - day 14 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/8yisXSiE)
https://youtu.be/NVPCqeIE0so
how to craft the wand? the helmet and etc? if it possible to add to the guide tips would be awesome, new ssf enjoyer here do not know how to craft properly yet :/
3.22 update
Short answer: IS IT DEAD? - NO
Build is unchanged
RIP Vengeant cascade, you will be missed. The new Returning Projetiles Support is not really that great for Power Siphon, because we're running Point Blank. It is still good for Kinetic Blast, since the returning projectiles can pass through multiple enemies so despite Point Blank we're still getting a big damage multiplier. Other than that, no changes, build is still extremely strong with more than 8m single target DPS.
What is this?
Different take on a semi-regular wander build, running as Raider instead of Deadeye, utilizing Power Siphon barrage for single targets and Kinetic Blast for clear. Fast, has great clear and quite good single target (about 8-9m with good gear, not counting the return projectiles from Vengeant Cascade - hard to calculate those, but they make up quite a decent chunk of damage). Uses not only evasion, but also armour for defenses, unlike most wander builds. 3.21 made this build double in fun - the new Vengeant Cascade annoint is completely broken and insanely fun. Play it while you can - I really don't think Vengeant Cascade will survive the next league patch. I've played it all the way from start of the league to level 100 in SSF Crucible as well as up to level 98 in SSF Sanctum.
The good and the bad
Spoiler
Good:
+ good for SSF
+ good single target damage
+ decent survivability, but is not a facetanker
+ clears at an amazing speed
+ only wants one unique which is quite common
+ has Armour, Evasion and about 90% spell suppresion
+ ailment immune
+ lots of hits + new "10% of Leech is insant" mastery = ridiculous amounts of life gain on hit
Bad:
- it's possible to leaguestart it (I did), but its very very weak early on - wander really needs items to shine
- can't do elemental reflect
- can cause seizures
- two curses that you have to cast every 11 seconds for single target
- turtle speed in town and at start of maps - the build moves fast, but only after you kill your first pack and get all frenzy charges
PoB:
Spoiler
Base:
https://pastebin.com/PcmY6EDT
With helmet enchant (no Enlighten):
https://pastebin.com/3CH6c8Yx
With level 4 Enlighten (no helmet enchant):
https://pastebin.com/Tfhhpxzq
END-END game setups - for tradeleagues
Spoiler
Full DPS setup with The Pandemonius:
https://pastebin.com/bhRi7U8G
More defensive oriented with Aul's Uprising Grace or Determination mod:
https://pastebin.com/Arqu2zYM
The only mandatory unique for this build. It's quite a common drop, you will usually drop multiple of it throughout the league. Although not extremely strictly required, it gives a lot of dps and movement speed.
Purely a mid-game item - not required by any means. It's just a good mid-game wand and its completely outshined by well crafted rare ones.
Again, not required, but a good mid-game armour. Boost damage, provides great armour and evasion as well as pretty much perma onslaught. In the endgame replaced by a hunter rare chestpiece with +critical chance and +1 curse.
While a Blizzard Crown is pretty much the best we can get, a Heatshiver is a very close match. It makes it a bit harder to gear, because you don't get life, strength or +1 pierce on it, but it matches the DPS you get from a Blizzard Crown. Completely optional item.
POSSIBLE ENDGAME UNIQUE UPGRADES:
There are two possible choices here:
- an Aul's Uprising with Determination or Grace mod - this will let you run both Determination and Grace and make you very tanky,
- The Pandemonius - best amulet for pure DPS, provides a lot of damage and blind.
Map mods:
Spoiler
Can do everything except:
- ele reflect,
- no leech.
Monsters steal charges mod is SUPER annoying, but still quite doable.
General tips
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield. If you don't want to use that mod on your shield, this jewel is another option to cap your ailment avoidance:
Put Steelskin (or Molten Shell) in your left click hotkey, so it's automatically cast whenever it's off cooldown. Steelskin and Molten shell are pretty much equivalent for this build, so feel free to use whichever one you prefer.
You generally don't need to cast any curses for anything outside of bosses, your automatic mark on hit is enough for clearing.
You can also use regular Dash instead of Flame Dash as your movement skill if you prefer. Regular Dash takes one more gem slot though since you also want it supported by Second Wind.
For maximum damage (because of Point Blank and Vengeant Cascade) you need to stay very close to the boss. While you're there, cast Vortex every couple seconds, it further increases damage taken of the enemy. Vortex is an instant cast skill so you can use it even while you're attacking. In case of Vengeant Cascade and Sniper's Mark, you need to stand almost right on top of the boss to double your amount of hits. If you decide to use Assassin's Mark instead, staying close-ish to the boss will be enough.
Vengeant Cascade is absolutely bonkers in 3.21. It increases your already good clear speed and also provides a significant single target damage boost. It doesn't actually "double" your DPS - you might get double the amount of hits, but they're significantly less powerful on their return flight, because of Point Blank. It is still a massive damage boost and massive clearspeed boost nonetheless.
Early game you can grab some Mana reservation efficiency mastery and use another aura, a Defiance Banner. Late game when you have level 4 Enlighten and a helm enchant, you can replace it with Herald of Ice or any other 25% reservation aura that you like.
Have at least 100 mana unreserved for your gameplay to feel good, any less than that and you might occasionally run out of mana and autoattack instead of casting your skill. If you're having mana issues, try grabbing the one point Life mastery "Skills cost Life instead of 30% of Mana" - it helps greatly with mana issues.
The BiS helmet for this build is a Warlord influenced Blizzard Crown with +1 to power charges. Heatshiver is also a good replacement for it, proved similar damage, but its a bit less defensive option, since it doesn't provide any life.
Bring your chaos res to at least around 0 or positive number, it really boosts the survivability of any build.
You can swap your Silver or Diamond flask to Quicksilver during mapping, if you want to go really really fast. Personally I think Quicksilver is an overkill and I don't use it.
Example Gear:
Spoiler
3.21 Gear
Spoiler
ENDGAME example gear
Spoiler
3.22 gear
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield.
Your best wand choice is Imbued Wand - it has the best attack stats out of all wand bases.
In terms of shield bases, Cardinal Round Shield for base build or Colossal Tower Shield if you're running an Aul's Uprising or you just feel like you have enough evasion and need more armour.
Gloves eldritch mods: you always want Eater's "Projectile Pierce an additional Target", and then whichever you prefer for Exarch: Gain 1 Rage on hit or chance to Intimidate enemies on hit.
You absolutely also want +1 pierce mod on your helmet - you could also get it on gloves, but gloves are already prefix starved as they are.
How to craft +attack crit chance/+1 curse body armour:
Spoiler
1. Get a Hunter influenced high armour/evasion base of a least item level 84.
2. Use Harvest bench to Reforge with an Attack mod - this is guaranteed to include the "Attacks have +X to critical strike chance" mod.
3. Spam this Harvest mod until you get tier 1 crit and two other SUFFIXES of your interest (usually 2x resistances) and AT LEAST ONE open PREFIX.
4. Benchcraft "Suffixes cannot be changed" - costs 2 Divs.
5. Use Harvest bench to "reforge with a caster mod" - this guarantees +1 curse prefix.
Ascendancy, bandits, anointment and Pantheon:
Spoiler
Ascendancy order:
Way of the Poacher - Avatar of the Slaughter - Quartz Infusion - Avatar of the Veil
Bandits: 2 passives.
Amulet anointment:
Wandslinger.
Pantheon:
Upgraded Soul of the Brine King for stun mitigation. Small pantheon is whatever.
Outdated - On the note of Vengeant Cascade Sniper's Mark vs Assassin's Mark:
Spoiler
Assassin's Mark on paper will make your projectiles hit single targets more reliably as they pass through your target and then come back straight to you. Sniper's Mark will make the projectiles fire in random directions from the target, then return to you - if you stand right on top of your target, most of the projectiles should still hit.
You can use either mark - personally I don't want to abandon the utility of Sniper's Mark, so I'm sticking to that one.
To sum up:
Asassin's Mark:
- slightly weaker in terms of pure damage early game than Sniper's Mark
- falls off in terms of damage hard in the endgame when we achieve near 100% crit rate
- more reliable Vengeant Cascade returning hits - can stand slightly away from boss and have all the returning projectiles hit pretty much all the time
Sniper's Mark:
- stronger early game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- way stronger late game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- brings utility in terms of reliably hitting multiple enemies with your single target skill (extremely useful e.g. in Maven invitations)
- less reliable hits from Vengeant cascade - need to stand right on top of the boss for all your returning projectiles to hit.
Videos:
Spoiler
General mapping - day 6 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/gy0qNKMW):
https://youtu.be/8iP9nNPN754
General mapping - day 12 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/SH5pAcmf)
https://youtu.be/BAPyeESBDBA
Sirus - day 7 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/efWyz2Vi)
https://youtu.be/MrztZtsN5Gw
Maven - day 11 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/pQ6h4wHs)
https://youtu.be/1KKuVacVGeI
Uber Elder - day 14 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/8yisXSiE)
https://youtu.be/NVPCqeIE0so
how to craft the wand? the helmet and etc? if it possible to add to the guide tips would be awesome, new ssf enjoyer here do not know how to craft properly yet :/
Helmet is nothing special, just use essences of greed on it, as for the wand - find one with fractured t1 attack speed, then use essences of hatred on it, then possibly multimod crit chance and spell damage on it. None of the gear requires a specific way of crafting, except the chest armour, which is explained in the guide.
3.22 update
Short answer: IS IT DEAD? - NO
Build is unchanged
RIP Vengeant cascade, you will be missed. The new Returning Projetiles Support is not really that great for Power Siphon, because we're running Point Blank. It is still good for Kinetic Blast, since the returning projectiles can pass through multiple enemies so despite Point Blank we're still getting a big damage multiplier. Other than that, no changes, build is still extremely strong with more than 8m single target DPS.
What is this?
Different take on a semi-regular wander build, running as Raider instead of Deadeye, utilizing Power Siphon barrage for single targets and Kinetic Blast for clear. Fast, has great clear and quite good single target (about 8-9m with good gear, not counting the return projectiles from Vengeant Cascade - hard to calculate those, but they make up quite a decent chunk of damage). Uses not only evasion, but also armour for defenses, unlike most wander builds. 3.21 made this build double in fun - the new Vengeant Cascade annoint is completely broken and insanely fun. Play it while you can - I really don't think Vengeant Cascade will survive the next league patch. I've played it all the way from start of the league to level 100 in SSF Crucible as well as up to level 98 in SSF Sanctum.
The good and the bad
Spoiler
Good:
+ good for SSF
+ good single target damage
+ decent survivability, but is not a facetanker
+ clears at an amazing speed
+ only wants one unique which is quite common
+ has Armour, Evasion and about 90% spell suppresion
+ ailment immune
+ lots of hits + new "10% of Leech is insant" mastery = ridiculous amounts of life gain on hit
Bad:
- it's possible to leaguestart it (I did), but its very very weak early on - wander really needs items to shine
- can't do elemental reflect
- can cause seizures
- two curses that you have to cast every 11 seconds for single target
- turtle speed in town and at start of maps - the build moves fast, but only after you kill your first pack and get all frenzy charges
PoB:
Spoiler
Base:
https://pastebin.com/PcmY6EDT
With helmet enchant (no Enlighten):
https://pastebin.com/3CH6c8Yx
With level 4 Enlighten (no helmet enchant):
https://pastebin.com/Tfhhpxzq
END-END game setups - for tradeleagues
Spoiler
Full DPS setup with The Pandemonius:
https://pastebin.com/bhRi7U8G
More defensive oriented with Aul's Uprising Grace or Determination mod:
https://pastebin.com/Arqu2zYM
The only mandatory unique for this build. It's quite a common drop, you will usually drop multiple of it throughout the league. Although not extremely strictly required, it gives a lot of dps and movement speed.
Purely a mid-game item - not required by any means. It's just a good mid-game wand and its completely outshined by well crafted rare ones.
Again, not required, but a good mid-game armour. Boost damage, provides great armour and evasion as well as pretty much perma onslaught. In the endgame replaced by a hunter rare chestpiece with +critical chance and +1 curse.
While a Blizzard Crown is pretty much the best we can get, a Heatshiver is a very close match. It makes it a bit harder to gear, because you don't get life, strength or +1 pierce on it, but it matches the DPS you get from a Blizzard Crown. Completely optional item.
POSSIBLE ENDGAME UNIQUE UPGRADES:
There are two possible choices here:
- an Aul's Uprising with Determination or Grace mod - this will let you run both Determination and Grace and make you very tanky,
- The Pandemonius - best amulet for pure DPS, provides a lot of damage and blind.
Map mods:
Spoiler
Can do everything except:
- ele reflect,
- no leech.
Monsters steal charges mod is SUPER annoying, but still quite doable.
General tips
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield. If you don't want to use that mod on your shield, this jewel is another option to cap your ailment avoidance:
Put Steelskin (or Molten Shell) in your left click hotkey, so it's automatically cast whenever it's off cooldown. Steelskin and Molten shell are pretty much equivalent for this build, so feel free to use whichever one you prefer.
You generally don't need to cast any curses for anything outside of bosses, your automatic mark on hit is enough for clearing.
You can also use regular Dash instead of Flame Dash as your movement skill if you prefer. Regular Dash takes one more gem slot though since you also want it supported by Second Wind.
For maximum damage (because of Point Blank and Vengeant Cascade) you need to stay very close to the boss. While you're there, cast Vortex every couple seconds, it further increases damage taken of the enemy. Vortex is an instant cast skill so you can use it even while you're attacking. In case of Vengeant Cascade and Sniper's Mark, you need to stand almost right on top of the boss to double your amount of hits. If you decide to use Assassin's Mark instead, staying close-ish to the boss will be enough.
Vengeant Cascade is absolutely bonkers in 3.21. It increases your already good clear speed and also provides a significant single target damage boost. It doesn't actually "double" your DPS - you might get double the amount of hits, but they're significantly less powerful on their return flight, because of Point Blank. It is still a massive damage boost and massive clearspeed boost nonetheless.
Early game you can grab some Mana reservation efficiency mastery and use another aura, a Defiance Banner. Late game when you have level 4 Enlighten and a helm enchant, you can replace it with Herald of Ice or any other 25% reservation aura that you like.
Have at least 100 mana unreserved for your gameplay to feel good, any less than that and you might occasionally run out of mana and autoattack instead of casting your skill. If you're having mana issues, try grabbing the one point Life mastery "Skills cost Life instead of 30% of Mana" - it helps greatly with mana issues.
The BiS helmet for this build is a Warlord influenced Blizzard Crown with +1 to power charges. Heatshiver is also a good replacement for it, proved similar damage, but its a bit less defensive option, since it doesn't provide any life.
Bring your chaos res to at least around 0 or positive number, it really boosts the survivability of any build.
You can swap your Silver or Diamond flask to Quicksilver during mapping, if you want to go really really fast. Personally I think Quicksilver is an overkill and I don't use it.
Example Gear:
Spoiler
3.21 Gear
Spoiler
ENDGAME example gear
Spoiler
3.22 gear
Spoiler
Number 1 most important mod on your shield is at least 30% chance to avoid elemental ailments. This, along with your ascendancy and passives makes you immune to all ailments. Get this mod ASAP, it's a number 1 priority on your shield.
Your best wand choice is Imbued Wand - it has the best attack stats out of all wand bases.
In terms of shield bases, Cardinal Round Shield for base build or Colossal Tower Shield if you're running an Aul's Uprising or you just feel like you have enough evasion and need more armour.
Gloves eldritch mods: you always want Eater's "Projectile Pierce an additional Target", and then whichever you prefer for Exarch: Gain 1 Rage on hit or chance to Intimidate enemies on hit.
You absolutely also want +1 pierce mod on your helmet - you could also get it on gloves, but gloves are already prefix starved as they are.
How to craft +attack crit chance/+1 curse body armour:
Spoiler
1. Get a Hunter influenced high armour/evasion base of a least item level 84.
2. Use Harvest bench to Reforge with an Attack mod - this is guaranteed to include the "Attacks have +X to critical strike chance" mod.
3. Spam this Harvest mod until you get tier 1 crit and two other SUFFIXES of your interest (usually 2x resistances) and AT LEAST ONE open PREFIX.
4. Benchcraft "Suffixes cannot be changed" - costs 2 Divs.
5. Use Harvest bench to "reforge with a caster mod" - this guarantees +1 curse prefix.
Ascendancy, bandits, anointment and Pantheon:
Spoiler
Ascendancy order:
Way of the Poacher - Avatar of the Slaughter - Quartz Infusion - Avatar of the Veil
Bandits: 2 passives.
Amulet anointment:
Wandslinger.
Pantheon:
Upgraded Soul of the Brine King for stun mitigation. Small pantheon is whatever.
Outdated - On the note of Vengeant Cascade Sniper's Mark vs Assassin's Mark:
Spoiler
Assassin's Mark on paper will make your projectiles hit single targets more reliably as they pass through your target and then come back straight to you. Sniper's Mark will make the projectiles fire in random directions from the target, then return to you - if you stand right on top of your target, most of the projectiles should still hit.
You can use either mark - personally I don't want to abandon the utility of Sniper's Mark, so I'm sticking to that one.
To sum up:
Asassin's Mark:
- slightly weaker in terms of pure damage early game than Sniper's Mark
- falls off in terms of damage hard in the endgame when we achieve near 100% crit rate
- more reliable Vengeant Cascade returning hits - can stand slightly away from boss and have all the returning projectiles hit pretty much all the time
Sniper's Mark:
- stronger early game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- way stronger late game DPS than Assassin's Mark
- brings utility in terms of reliably hitting multiple enemies with your single target skill (extremely useful e.g. in Maven invitations)
- less reliable hits from Vengeant cascade - need to stand right on top of the boss for all your returning projectiles to hit.
Videos:
Spoiler
General mapping - day 6 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/gy0qNKMW):
https://youtu.be/8iP9nNPN754
General mapping - day 12 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/SH5pAcmf)
https://youtu.be/BAPyeESBDBA
Sirus - day 7 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/efWyz2Vi)
https://youtu.be/MrztZtsN5Gw
Maven - day 11 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/pQ6h4wHs)
https://youtu.be/1KKuVacVGeI
Uber Elder - day 14 of 3.21 SSF Crucible (PoB: https://pastebin.com/8yisXSiE)
https://youtu.be/NVPCqeIE0so
how to craft the wand? the helmet and etc? if it possible to add to the guide tips would be awesome, new ssf enjoyer here do not know how to craft properly yet :/
Helmet is nothing special, just use essences of greed on it, as for the wand - find one with fractured t1 attack speed, then use essences of hatred on it, then possibly multimod crit chance and spell damage on it. None of the gear requires a specific way of crafting, except the chest armour, which is explained in the guide.
