[outdated] Caustic Arrow Solo Map MFer (20/300+)

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Serleth wrote:

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skjutengris wrote:

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Serleth wrote:

See Chronodroid's answer. Ranger is the most efficient, Scion a close second (1 point less efficient), but Scion's probably the better option for a Hardcore character.

Is that the HC tree you posted previously?
any changes?

There will be changes yes. I hope to have it refined and posted tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

cudos thanks.
I want to survive to get that gear :)

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Raventear wrote:

First Priorities:
1) 4-Link +2 bow gem to get started (PA,Conc Effect, AOE, Slower Proj)
2) Goldwyrm Boots
3) Aurseize Gloves
2) 5-Link bow (Either +1 all gems or +2 to bow?, which would be better also?) + Empower Gem (Should we corrupt it at level 1 at the chance of getting a level 2 empower off the bat?)

Aurseize first.

Stop if you get +2, because +1 all gems is twice as hard to roll. But if you do get +1, take that instead. With Empower, it's the equivalent to +2 and it gives you the option of trying to corrupt immediately.

If you have enough liquid currency, get two empowers, corrupt one immediately. If it hits level 2, great. If not, put the clean empower in and start GCP'ing it.

+1 all gems is potentially the better option, depending on whether you're willing to gamble. Let's say you're dealing with a level 18 PA and Empower 1.

In a +2 bow, it's a level 20 PA (so, Empower is useless at this point, we'd use Faster Proj). In a +1 all gems bow, still a level 20 PA (Empower 2 = +1 level)

However, the moment your empower levels to 2, in a +2 bow it's a level 21 PA. In a +1 bow (PA +1 = 19, Empower 3 = +2 = 21) *however*, I recommend taking the risk and corrupting at level 2 Empower, which would hopefully make it Empower 3 which = level 22 PA.

If you're not going to corrupt, either option is fine. Use Pierce in the +2 bow if you have Drillneck, Faster Proj if you don't, until your Empower levels to 2.

TL;DR +1 all gem if you're a gambler, +2 if you're not.

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Next Priorities:
5) 4-Link / (5-Link) +3 Bow (is a 4-Link +3 Bow better than a 5-Link +2 Bow? or should I just use the +2 5-Link until I 5-Link the +3?)
6) Drillneck
7) Andvarious Rings

Get one Andvarius before you go for Drillneck. At least one. Probably two.

If you have a Carcass Jack (or have temporarily pathed to Witch AoE) to offset the lack of an AoE gem, 4L +3 is fine. If not, stick to the 5L +2 imho. In the 4L +3 you'll take out +AoE and use Empower instead if you have Carcass Jack.

I just prioritize having AoE over an extra gem level, one way or another. So if we can't get it off Carcass Jack or the tree, I prefer keeping the AoE gem available in the +2, because there's no way we're sacrificing Slower Proj or Conc Effect.

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Edit: Also about the EK Route, I'm not sure if others also think it is a good idea but I like to start with a Witch (Can buy EK + Flame totem after Eggs) and run her quickly to Brutus which only takes around 12 minutes in total. In the end you get:
EK, Flame Totem after eggs
Clarity + Added lightning from Quest Reward + Buy additional Added Lightning
Extra Quicksilver for running 2x Quicksilver with Ranger
Quickly checking Wand Vendors for possible X-Y spell damage wands

And then when you roll your ranger, I like doing these two 3 -Links:
1) Flame Totem - Added Lightning - Added Cold
2) EK - Added Lightning - Added Cold

Also Optionally if you rush to A2 Maligaro's Spike (This took me around 25 minutes total), you can replace the added lightnings with faster casting and can also get a conc effect for your poison arrow

Going all the way to the Spike is bad. You can buy a conc effect for 1 fuse. Not worth the time investment.

What I'm personally going to do is roll Witch to mule Fireball, EK and Flame Totem, and Clarity/Lightning Warp (so, up to Brutus) then reroll ranger.

Then I'm going to roll a +1 3L fire Wand as soon as possible. I personally think dual wielding wands are the best option, so that EK sees the benefit of the implicit spell damage.

The +3 Fire Wand will take added cold/lightning, Fireball, and Flame Totem so that we get two single target skills between FB and FT that both benefit from +1 fire gem.

Then EK will take added cold and added lightning.

Then murder the leveling process.

I will leave the option up to the players whether to go all the way to 64 or switch to PA at 38, but from what I can see quickly so far (currently Chamber of Sins A2N), levelling with EK / FT / FB is going to be the ideal option, since all three skills scale off the proj damage nodes.

Alright, four different leveling options are now complete and posted to Post #2 of this thread, where they will stay due multiple spoilers.

We have:

1) EK / Fireball / Flame Totem (my personal preference). I'm going to continue leveling this up to at least normal Malachai to test it and see if I can find any flaws, probably Cruel Malachai, but it should be done.

2a) The "I Insist On Using Bow Skills" option, with an early switch to PA @ 31
2b) Same, but Death's Harp to 64.

3) Lumps' alternate EK/Fire Trap Combo.

4) Aelm's Firetrap / Lit Tendrils.


Thanks to everyone for the contributions to the leveling process, it's much appreciated. In particular I'd like to thank Aelm for his lit tendrils / firetrap combo, Lumps for suggesting EK in the first place, and a most honourable mention to Raventear for the confirmation that Witch gets everything we need for a pure proj-based EK setup and for all his hard work helping us to confirm some details.

This guide wouldn't be what it is without you all and your hard work (everyone, not just the ones above), questions and suggestions

Thank you all.

Thanks Serleth for all the great information. I think I have leveling down and a good idea of how to get into end-game from your suggestions on gearing up. Really excited for the release and to play this build! See you all at the release of the awakening!

P.S: If any of you are planning on starting late when the expansion is released (like 8+ hours late), send a tell my way (PancakesYum) and I'll hook you up with my leveling gear that I used since I definitely should have transitioned into Poison Arrow by then =).

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Serleth wrote:

Alright, four different leveling options are now complete and posted to Post #2 of this thread, where they will stay due multiple spoilers.

We have:

1) EK / Fireball / Flame Totem (my personal preference). I'm going to continue leveling this up to at least normal Malachai to test it and see if I can find any flaws, probably Cruel Malachai, but it should be done.

2a) The "I Insist On Using Bow Skills" option, with an early switch to PA @ 31
2b) Same, but Death's Harp to 64.

3) Lumps' alternate EK/Fire Trap Combo.

4) Aelm's Firetrap / Lit Tendrils.


Thanks to everyone for the contributions to the leveling process, it's much appreciated. In particular I'd like to thank Aelm for his lit tendrils / firetrap combo, Lumps for suggesting EK in the first place, and a most honourable mention to Raventear for the confirmation that Witch gets everything we need for a pure proj-based EK setup and for all his hard work helping us to confirm some details.

This guide wouldn't be what it is without you all and your hard work (everyone, not just the ones above), questions and suggestions

Thank you all.

by using PA at lvl 31 will it be faster or slower leveling then using tornado shot/split arrow ?

At 31, it's about the same, but you don't have to go to town to rustic recipe another 2-3 bows, so on that front it's a bit faster.

But at 38 when you can use AoE, it takes off and is much better imho.

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Serleth wrote:

At 31, it's about the same, but you don't have to go to town to rustic recipe another 2-3 bows, so on that front it's a bit faster.

But at 38 when you can use AoE, it takes off and is much better imho.

okey thanks for the tip, gonna try it this saturday :D

Hey Serleth, at the moment I do not have drillneck , what advice to use ? also without drillneck it is useful to change the tree ? thanks and execellent build !

Hey

Drillneck is not absolutely needed, but can be worked for. It has a nice impact on cloud damage, yet a rare quiver with life and resistance is absolutely OK to use until you can afford a Drillneck.

Wouldn't change the tree imo, but if you don't plan on using Drillneck, you could spec out of pierce nodes