[3.0] NeverSink's ♣ INDEPTH Tornado&Archer Guide ♣ Beginner friendly ♣ Rapid clear ♣ All bosses

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Addister wrote:

Just wanting to see how everyone playing in the Closed beta is fairing.

Ive been doing well, a bit rough at the start ofc.

But after a bit i made some currency, got a Deaths harp, a 4link chest, found some slitherpinch gloves.

got roughly 1.8k dps on GMP at lvl47

Bulking currency, so when i can use a decimation bow i can get a nice high physical

So far I haven't even really noticed the ondars nerf.

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Baelkeas wrote:

I think i'm doing something wrong.
My DPS is really low, 697.7 with HoI and HoA at level 52 (and ice golem)...
I know it is not a build problem.

Can someone help me please ?
My equipement is not garbage, i think. (I don't even know how to link it grr ><)

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NeverSink wrote:

Hi guys,

I've been playing the beta during the last days (got to level 80) and here are my impressions. Obviously all of this is subject to change and I'll keep you (and the thread) updated:

click to dispense feedback

Leveling: Leveling is a slightly harder now. Mobs on normal have more HP and damage, increased multipliers do MUCH more work for you than the minor more multipliers in the first levels.

Act4 (spoiler warning!): Difficulty-wise its on the same level as act 3 so far, not much to be said here, nothing particulary deadly for bow builds. Just dont try to facetank daresso/voll/kaom on merciless.

Jewels: Rare jewels can be VERY worth the skillpoints, but are very hard to get (good ones). Intuitive leap is somewhat worth it. Lionseye's fall is not worth it (for rangers at least, I didn't find a good spot for it in the current game/current radius).

Skills: OH BOY did much change here.
-Tornado shot in it's current form is actually VERY strong. It's slightly weaker in cruel, but becomes WAY stronger once you gain a 4L/merciless
-Due to the way all attack gems scale right now %increased damage from the tree is worth a bit more tahn before.
-Nearly all relevant gems have LEVEL-SCALING MORE multipliers similar to the base damage of TS (Lightning arrow, ice shot, split arrow, GMP, LMP, Chain, slower projectiles, all of those have level-scaling more/less multipliers)
-High levels gems provide tons of damage
-Due to the way gems scale now links have become much more important. I was running a tabula with: TS->FasterAttacks->GMP->PPAD->WED->FireDamage/Chain/PTL.
-Ice Arrow / Lightning Arrow / Split arrow are just as viable, each of them having it's own advantages.
-Tornado shot doesn't need a single target attack, provides decent utility and decent aoe damage
-Split shot (8-9 additional arrows on high levels and scaling base damage, similar to TS) works wonders with chain, but needs a decent single target. From the tested gems I liked split show the least compared to TS/LA/IS
-Lightning arrow has scaling base damage too now. I was running a LA->GMP->PPAD->Chain->WED->Faster attacks and could 1-shot clear packs
-Ice arrow is my absolute favorite in the beta with LA->GMP->PPAD->Chain->WED->Faster attacks i could clear packs extremly fast and very very safely (permafreezy).
-My weapon was horrible and i was BREEZING through content (i had a tabula though)
-Frenzy charges are INSANE right now. They provide 4% more damage on top of the old benefits
-Frenzy is my single target of choice in the beta
-I was actually running blood rage. Yes charges are this good.
-With a <200DPS harbinger with 8% crit and no uniques (except for wurms bolt and tabula), with both chain AND gmp, my ice arrow/tornado shot still had 7000+ DPS and my frenzy 16000+ DPS with 3 power and 6 frenzy charges. My clearspeed was insane for that level of gear.
-Ondals got nerfed but is still a must have
-CWDT got nerfed hard. I was using CWDT assassins mark.
-War cries are effective but have a cast time
-Ice golem provides a decent benefit, but you have to resummon him here and there
-You can use all arrow skills with nearly the same skill tree right now
-Reflect is single target now, not an aura, but reflects a lot more. Can be very dangerous

TL;DR skills:
-A lot more damage. A lot more viable alternative skills and passives. Less defense!

Items: Barely any changes. The new bows suck. Harbingers are still the way to go. Decimation bows have 1.2 attack speed, instead of 1.1

Skilltree: Barely anything changed. You have 3 more skillpoints. However, you want frenzy charges now

TL;DR:

I'll be rewriting the guide in 2.0 as a general ranger-archer guide, with the focus on TS, but with options for Ice arrow / Lightning arrow / Split Shot / RoA. I expect changes to the current balance though.

I also did some streaming, might highlight / upload some moments to visualize what i mean later on