Detailed suggestions on improving Spectre Builds diversity

First off, a quick shout out to the Dev team for the QOL tweaks with regards to Spectres being able to revive after dying as well the removing the Accuracy hit rating for them.

That being said, while the QOL improvements were great. Build diversity sadly congregates to 2 specific archetypes involving either Wretched Defilers or Forged Frostbearers.

The goal of these suggestions is to bring more diversified builds without impacting the meta ones. And the way forward is with transfigured Raise Spectre gems.

The current transfigured Raise Spectre of Transience is fine, but a bit too generic and clunky and is more general in use case.

Instead I am suggesting a couple of new Transfigured Skill Gems which hopefully helps to improve that build diversity.

Edit: I don't expect much out of this post. Hopefully, someone high up sees it, and is able to draw inspiration for ideas if and when they decide to create new Raise Spectre gems.

Edit 2: Made changes to Raise Spectre of Ritual Permanence. Now more restrictive to only Ritual Spectres, but with more Ritual Spectres. Added in 2 more Spectre gems.

Edit 3: Added in an additional Spectre gem, this one focused on the Passive Tree itself for builds and restrictions.

Edit 4: Added in 2 more Spectres gems and 2 Tattoos that instead replaces Major Ascendancy Nodes.

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1. Raise Greater Spectre / Raise Spectre of the Master.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill Gem starts with a base Spectre limit of 0.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit is not affected by your equipment or Passive Tree.
This Skill Gem gains +1 Spectre limit for each Minion related Unique Equipment you have.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit still counts towards your Global Spectre limit.
You cannot use non Spectre socketed Skill Minions.
This Skill Gem cannot be supported by Minion Support Gems.

A. Spectres gain % Maximum Energy Shield based on Maximum life.
B. Spectre Level.

Gem Level : A : B
01 : 01 : 33
02 : 02 : 36
03 : 03 : 39
04 : 04 : 42
05 : 05 : 45
06 : 06 : 47
07 : 07 : 49
08 : 08 : 51
09 : 09 : 53
10 : 10 : 55
11 : 11 : 57
12 : 12 : 59
13 : 13 : 61
14 : 14 : 63
15 : 15 : 65
16 : 16 : 67
17 : 17 : 69
18 : 18 : 71
19 : 19 : 73
20 : 20 : 75
21 : 22 : 76
22 : 24 : 77
23 : 26 : 78
24 : 28 : 79
25 : 30 : 80
26 : 32 : 81
27 : 34 : 82
28 : 36 : 83
29 : 38 : 84
30 : 40 : 85
31 : 44 : 86
32 : 48 : 87
33 : 52 : 88
34 : 56 : 89
35 : 60 : 90
36 : 64 : 91
37 : 68 : 92
38 : 72 : 93
39 : 76 : 94
40 : 80 : 95

Gem Quality : Spectre gains 0.1% Energy Shield Leech from Damage per 1% Gem Quality.


A character can hold up to 10 equipment/armour at a go, which means the theoretical limit is a full 10 Spectres for this gem, the price being attributes and resistance suffering greatly which will need a dramatic adjustment of how you plan your Passive tree to accommodate this deficit.

Not being able to use non Spectre socketed skill minions is a huge drawback, but its not all encompassing. While not able to use mainline summons like Golems, Skeletons, Zombies, and Raging Spirits, summons from equipment like the Void Spawns from Servants of Decay will still work.

The Gem Progression is also different. Instead of scaling Spectre limit, it grants Spectre's Maximum Energy Shield based on its Maximum life. It also gains +5 Spectre levels compared to the base Raise Spectre Skill Gem.

As you can see, the gem cannot be slotted in directly into the meta builds, as it is totally incompatible, instead a new build and setup is necessary to make this works. The Spectres from this tree while stronger requires the player to make huge sacrifices in order to raise the spectre limit efficiently.

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2. Raise Spectre of Ritual Permanence / Raise Spectre of the Ritualist.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

The Skill Gem has a base limit of 3 Spectres.
This Gem can only raise Ritual Spectres.
Spectres respawn 16 seconds after dying.

A. Spectres leech A% of its damage as energy shield to the player.

Gem Level : A
01 : 0.1
02 : 0.2
03 : 0.3
04 : 0.4
05 : 0.5
06 : 0.6
07 : 0.7
08 : 0.8
09 : 0.9
10 : 1.1
11 : 1.1
12 : 1.2
13 : 1.3
14 : 1.4
15 : 1.5
16 : 1.6
17 : 1.7
18 : 1.8
19 : 1.9
20 : 2.0
21 : 2.2
22 : 2.4
23 : 2.6
24 : 2.8
25 : 3.0
26 : 3.2
27 : 3.4
28 : 3.6
29 : 3.8
30 : 4.0
31 : 4.4
32 : 4.8
33 : 5.2
34 : 5.6
35 : 6.0
36 : 6.4
37 : 6.8
38 : 7.2
39 : 7.4
40 : 8.0

Gem Quality : +0.1 Maximum Spectre per 1% Gem Quality


This gem is not as restrictive as the 1st gem, but is catered specifically towards Ritual Spectres, being attractive to players who only intend to use Ritual Spectres, whether as support or as mainline DPS.

Gem Progression is slightly different. While Spectre Level progression remains the same, the Spectre limit is afforded to this gem at the baseline instead. Also provides a much needed energy leech support for minion players from a minion source.

This gem can integrate into meta builds but only in a support role capacity.

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3. Raise Spectre of Obsession / Raise Spectre of the Obsessed.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill Gem starts with a base Spectre limit of 1.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit is not affected by your equipment or Passive Tree.
This Skill Gem gains +1 Spectre limit for each linked minion support gem linked to it.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit is doubled if you are not using any other socketed non Spectre Minion Skill gem and there are 5 linked minion support gems linked it it.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit still counts towards your Global Spectre limit.

Spectres are immune to burning damage.

A. Spectres gain A% Damage Reduction.

Gem Level : A
01 : 0.5
02 : 01
03 : 1.5
04 : 02
05 : 2.5
06 : 03
07 : 3.5
08 : 04
09 : 4.5
10 : 05
11 : 5.5
12 : 06
13 : 6.5
14 : 07
15 : 7.5
16 : 08
17 : 8.5
18 : 09
19 : 9.5
20 : 10
21 : 11
22 : 12
23 : 13
24 : 14
25 : 15
26 : 16
27 : 17
28 : 18
29 : 19
30 : 20
31 : 22
32 : 24
33 : 26
34 : 28
35 : 30
36 : 32
37 : 34
38 : 36
39 : 38
40 : 40

Gem Quality : +2% Spectre Chaos Resistance per 1% Gem Quality


The 3rd gem is a mix of the 1st 2. Not as restrictive as the 1st yet not as lax as the 2nd. Primarily focused on the use of the minion support gems.

This caters to alternative minions builds, which the immunity to burn damage, allows for spectres to be attached to the infernal legion support gem without repercussions, yet allow for the spectre minions to inherit the infernal legion support trait.

This does not prevent the use of non minion support gems but penalizes the number of spectres when this occurs.

The spectres from this gem has a lower damage potential but will be able to tank more damage given the % Damage Reduction.

This gem also does not play well into current meta builds.

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4. Raise Spectre of Diverse Delusions / Raise Spectre of the Delusional.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill Gem starts with a base Spectre limit of 2.
Spectres deal 10% less damage.
For each Spectre type this Gem has raised, Spectres deal 20% more damage.

A. Spectres gain A% Damage Penetration.

Gem Level : A
01 : 01
02 : 02
03 : 03
04 : 04
05 : 05
06 : 06
07 : 07
08 : 08
09 : 09
10 : 10
11 : 11
12 : 12
13 : 13
14 : 14
15 : 15
16 : 16
17 : 17
18 : 18
19 : 19
20 : 20
21 : 22
22 : 24
23 : 26
24 : 28
25 : 30
26 : 32
27 : 34
28 : 36
29 : 38
30 : 40
31 : 44
32 : 48
33 : 52
34 : 56
35 : 60
36 : 64
37 : 68
38 : 72
39 : 76
40 : 80

Gem Quality : +1% Spectre Crit Multiplier per 1% Gem Quality


This gem works like this.

Say this Spectre limit is 10 and all 10 are Wretched Defilers (WD). Each WD deals only 90% of the damage output.

With the same 10 limit, if there are 5 WDs, and 5 Forged Frostbearers (FB), each of these Spectres deal 110% damage.

With the same 10 limit, if there 4 WDs, 4 FBs and 2 Primal Crushclaws (PC) each of these Spectres deal 130% damage.

This gem encourages players to slot as many different types of Spectres onto 1 gem to maximise damage output.

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5. Raise Spectre of Unbridled Greed / Raise Spectre of the Greedy.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill Gem starts with a base Spectre limit of 3.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit is not affected by your equipment or Passive Tree.
This Skill Gem gains +1 Spectre limit for each 10 player character levels.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit still counts towards your Global Spectre limit.
You cannot use non Spectre Minions.

For each Spectre raised from this gem beyond the 3rd, you and Spectres from this and other Spectre Skill gems deal 15% and 10% less damage respectively.

For each non minion related, non influenced non unique equipment player has equipped, reduced the damage penalty by 10%.

A. The gem grant A% item rarity to the player for each Spectre.

Gem Level : A
01 : 0.5
02 : 01
03 : 1.5
04 : 02
05 : 2.5
06 : 03
07 : 3.5
08 : 04
09 : 4.5
10 : 05
11 : 5.5
12 : 06
13 : 6.5
14 : 07
15 : 7.5
16 : 08
17 : 8.5
18 : 09
19 : 9.5
20 : 10
21 : 11
22 : 12
23 : 13
24 : 14
25 : 15
26 : 16
27 : 17
28 : 18
29 : 19
30 : 20
31 : 22
32 : 24
33 : 26
34 : 28
35 : 30
36 : 32
37 : 34
38 : 36
39 : 38
40 : 40

Gem Quality : +0.5% Item Quantity granted to player per Spectre per 1% Gem Quality


This gem is a double edged tool and much more restrictive. It grants player arguably the easiest access to numerous spectres, yet penalizes heavily, forcing absolute focus on it, while impacting both player and spectre damage if not geared appropriately.

Say a level 100 player has 13 Spectres raised to this gem, with no damage penalty reduction. He and his spectres are dealing essentially 0 damage!

Even with 10 non minion related, non influenced non unique equipment, player damage is still only 50% of his output, with minions dealing normal damage. But bear in mind, such equipment is 100% non minion related, so spectre can only rely on the player's Passive Tree to augment them.

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6. Raise Lesser Spectre / Raise Spectre of the Meek.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill Gem starts with a base Spectre limit of 2.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit is not affected by your equipment.
This Skill Gem gains +2 Spectre limit for each Minion related non unique non cluster Jewel attached to your Passive Tree.
This Skill Gem's Spectre limit still counts towards your Global Spectre limit.
You and your Spectres (from this gem) deal 10% less damage for each each Spectre raised (from this gem).
You and your Spectres deal 10% less damage for each unique Jewel attached to your Passive Tree.
For each minion related non cluster non jewel non ascendancy non keystone node allocated in your passive tree, reduce this damage penalty by 2%.
You cannot use non Spectre Minions.
This skill gem cannot be supported by Awakened or Corrupted Support Gems.

A. Spectres gain Ward based on A% of (Spectre's) Maximum life

Gem Level : A
01 : 01
02 : 02
03 : 03
04 : 04
05 : 05
06 : 06
07 : 07
08 : 08
09 : 09
10 : 10
11 : 11
12 : 12
13 : 13
14 : 14
15 : 15
16 : 16
17 : 17
18 : 18
19 : 19
20 : 20
21 : 22
22 : 24
23 : 26
24 : 28
25 : 30
26 : 32
27 : 34
28 : 36
29 : 38
30 : 40
31 : 44
32 : 48
33 : 52
34 : 56
35 : 60
36 : 64
37 : 68
38 : 72
39 : 76
40 : 80

Gem Quality : +0.05 Maximum Spectre per 1% Gem Quality


Another easy to use yet hard to maximise gem. While it has the lowest barrier to obtaining many spectres early game, the penalty for usage is arguably even greater than the previous gem.

The gem is built more with a greater focus on the Passive tree as well as easy to obtain Rare Jewels. Yet given its restriction on linked support gems, makes it never able to excel out in any particular aspect. This gem is basically a jack of all trades, king of none.

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7. Raise Spectre of Fleeting Fortitude / Raise Spectre of the Martyr.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill gem has a base Spectre limit of 3.
Spectres do not travel between Areas.
Upon creation, each Spectre gets the 'Martyrdom' Buff with a base duration of 20 seconds. (This is affected by both Minion Duration and Skill Effect Duration).

(Martyrdom is a buff which bestows the following benefit. Whenever a player takes damage, 5% of the damage is instead redirected to the Spectre. Whenever a player deals damage, 5% of the damage is also dealt to the Spectre. Multiple instances of this buff stack)

A. +A Maximum Spectres

Gem Level : A
01 : 00
02 : 00
03 : 00
04 : 00
05 : 00
06 : 00
07 : 01
08 : 01
09 : 01
10 : 01
11 : 01
12 : 01
13 : 01
14 : 01
15 : 02
16 : 02
17 : 02
18 : 02
19 : 02
20 : 02
21 : 02
22 : 02
23 : 03
24 : 03
25 : 03
26 : 03
27 : 03
28 : 03
29 : 03
30 : 04
31 : 04
32 : 04
33 : 04
34 : 04
35 : 04
36 : 04
37 : 04
38 : 04
39 : 04
40 : 04

Gem Quality : Spectres recoup (0.5% per 1% Quality) of damage as life or energy shield, whichever the latter is the higher of the 2.


A Hybrid between a Permanent and a Temporary Spectre, this allows Spectres raised in a area to last indefinitely as long as it does not die. Instead, the buff given is a powerful but temporary defensive option, helping to reduce damage taken.

However, it comes with a caveat that the more of this Spectres the player controls, the more the damage the Spectre itself takes from the player. A careful balance will need to be stuck between how many to raise before the Spectre becomes effectively useless.

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8. Raise Spectre of Prodigious Posturing / Raise Spectre of the Prodigal.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill gem has a base Spectre limit of 2.
Spectres abilities cascade if possible. (Works as if a Level 20 Cascade is linked to the gem, but without the Spell or minion restriction)
Basic Minion Bonuses (Minion Damage, Health, Cast and Attack Speeds) from Equipment for Spectres are doubled.
Basic Minion Bonuses from the Passive Tree for Spectres are ignored.
This gem cannot be supported by projectile or elemental support gems.

A. Spectres gain +A% Area of Effect.

Gem Level : A
01 : 01
02 : 02
03 : 03
04 : 04
05 : 05
06 : 06
07 : 07
08 : 08
09 : 09
10 : 10
11 : 11
12 : 12
13 : 13
14 : 14
15 : 15
16 : 16
17 : 17
18 : 18
19 : 19
20 : 20
21 : 22
22 : 24
23 : 26
24 : 28
25 : 30
26 : 32
27 : 34
28 : 36
29 : 38
30 : 40
31 : 44
32 : 48
33 : 52
34 : 56
35 : 60
36 : 64
37 : 68
38 : 72
39 : 76
40 : 80

Gem Quality : +0.05 Maximum Spectre per 1% Gem Quality


An interesting take on Spectres, some Spectres have abilities which are prime for cascading. The damage factor is probably holding it back. This gem tries to restrain it by forcing an different form of gearing which does not play well to gearing to other types of Raise Spectre gems.

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9. Raise Spectre of Pedantic Pride / Raise Spectre of the Prude.


Minions have +30% to all Elemental Resistances
55% more Minion Movement Speed
Minion Movement Speed is Capped

This Skill gem has a base Spectre limit of 2.
Basic Minion Bonuses (Minion Damage, Health, Cast and Attack Speeds) from Equipment for Spectres are ignored.
Non Cluster based, non Jewel, basic Minion Bonuses from the Passive Tree for Spectres are doubled.

A. Spectres gain +A% Maximum Health.

Gem Level : A
01 : 02
02 : 04
03 : 06
04 : 08
05 : 10
06 : 12
07 : 14
08 : 16
09 : 18
10 : 20
11 : 22
12 : 24
13 : 26
14 : 28
15 : 30
16 : 32
17 : 34
18 : 36
19 : 38
20 : 40
21 : 44
22 : 48
23 : 52
24 : 56
25 : 60
26 : 64
27 : 68
28 : 72
29 : 76
30 : 80
31 : 88
32 : 96
33 : 104
34 : 112
35 : 120
36 : 128
37 : 136
38 : 144
39 : 152
40 : 160

Gem Quality : +0.05 Maximum Spectre per 1% Gem Quality


Can be seem as an alternative gearing path for Spectre builds. This gem is best for players who primarily focus on minion bonuses from the Passive Tree.

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1. Grand Tattoo of Spectral Domination


This replaces a Major Ascendancy Node and can be removed with a scouring orb.

Limited to only 1.

-1 Maximum Spectre limit.
+2 Maximum Ritual Spectre limit.
+2 levels to all Raise Spectre Gems.
-2 levels to Non Spectre Minion Gems. (This includes both Skill and support Gems)
Non Spectre Minions cannot be Aggressive. (If you also have the Grand Tattoo of Spectral Protection applied along side this Tattoo, this is ignored)


2. Grand Tattoo of Spectral Protection


This replaces a Major Ascendancy Node and can be removed with a scouring orb.

Limited to only 1.

+1 Maximum Spectre limit.
You gain Maximum Energy Shield and Armour up to your Reserved Life. This is capped at (300 X your number of Active Spectres).
-2 levels to Non Spectre Minion Gems. (This includes both Skill and support Gems)
You cannot use Awakened Support Gems.
Spectre Minions cannot be Aggressive. (If you also have the Grand Tattoo of Spectral Domination applied along side this Tattoo, this is ignored)


The following are not gems but Tattoos. With the introduction of bloodlines, why can't there be Tattoos to replace Ascendancy nodes?

The 2nd Tattoo also works really well with the Midnight Calling Wand, but requires the sacrifice a Major Ascendancy Node.

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