[outdated] Caustic Arrow Solo Map MFer (20/300+)

As far as nerfs go, with what we know so far from the development manifesto, there's no nerf to CA. The extra passives make it incrementally better, in fact.

But, we'll have to wait for the patch notes to know for sure.

As for speed, you don't have to listen to me, but various people who follow this thread have said that as far as solo MF goes, this is the fastest build they've played.

Granted, I haven't played EVERY other option out there, but the only one I played previously that ever was as fast as CA is now, was Flameblast prolif.

Prolif itself (the gem) is getting a radius buff from 12 to 16. Its previous max radius was ~32? So while +4 isn't a lot, it might be enough to recover the build. Used to be able to prolif basically half a screen, so to be able to get a similar radius to the CA cloud now should make it somewhat reasonable.

Like I mentioned last night, I'll be testing it out at some point during the course of 2.3 to see if it's worthwhile to do FB prolif MF again.

That said, CA generally speaking has more advantages than FB does. CA can do Atziri, has no issues with reflect, etc.

Flameblast's only real advantage is that it absolutely MURDERS bosses by comparison.



But yeah, I've been MFing at the start of leagues since..... Ambush? So a little over two years now? I went 7/8 in challenges that season, and I've gone perfect 8/8, 8/8, 8/8, 8/8, 32/32, and 40/40 since then, with the latter three leagues done with CA MF to start.

Gets your wealth built up, challenges completed, other builds funded, map pool started, etc.

I appreciate all the info you provide! I am most likely going to give this a shot and see where it lands me. From what I have read, as you said, people play this then fall in love. I can't see me not loving it from the sounds of things. Again thanks for all the responses.

No problem, best of luck. Don't hesitate to come back and ask more questions if you have some.

Hey, Serleth!
Thank you for this build, it is extremely good for a relatively new player like me. I've done cruel lab few days ago (after 5 attempts, thanks to my game crashes at final Izaro battle), got Deadeye and finally switched to CA in 5l +2 bow. Man, this is what clear speed jump is called! From ~1.5k dps (self-found split arrow leveling gear) to ~6k insta-horrific-acid-death-for-everything-on-screen-dps :-D
Another thing I love with this build is that you can shoot 2-3 times and do whatever you need - dodge attacks, refresh totem/golem, loot drops - and still inflict you full dps in background. Very safe and convenient!
Looking forward for next league, I will start with this build.

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Sutyrin wrote:

Another thing I love with this build is that you can shoot 2-3 times and do whatever you need - dodge attacks, refresh totem/golem, loot drops - and still inflict you full dps in background. Very safe and convenient!

This right here, is exactly why I chose to make a build around CA. Fire-and-forget dps =D

Glad you're having fun with it. Good luck with Prophecy =)

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Serleth wrote:

I just try strike a reasonable balance between life and damage from the tree as I'm progressing with Firestorm / Flame Totem.

What do you think about the Spark/Orb of storms combo for the leveling? You have very early access to the gems. Both Spark and Flame Totem benefits from the early use of projectile damage nodes in the tree but the minimal usage of Mana for the Flame Totem might give it a nudge over the Spark? With Spark you can use Bow/Quiver which you might carry over and only replace the gems later plus the pierce chance is a good buff to the damage. With Flame Totem you can use daggers and with it using Whirling Blades which gives you better mobility and faster clearing/leveling. I'm just thinking (out-writing?) here and any input is much appreciated.

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Serleth wrote:

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Sutyrin wrote:

Another thing I love with this build is that you can shoot 2-3 times and do whatever you need - dodge attacks, refresh totem/golem, loot drops - and still inflict you full dps in background. Very safe and convenient!

This right here, is exactly why I chose to make a build around CA. Fire-and-forget dps =D

Glad you're having fun with it. Good luck with Prophecy =)

I believe that this build copes with some bosses rather well, because ist easy to run and shoot, while the Boss keeps getting damage. This (and ica armor, probably) makes the Boss of the chateau map particularly easy. I do miss the knockback, though, that my previous char had and that this one does not.

[Quote] you think about the Spark/Orb of storms combo for the leveling? You have very early access to the gems. Both Spark and Flame Totem benefits from the early use of projectile damage nodes in the tree but the minimal usage of Mana for the Flame Totem might give it a nudge over the Spark? With Spark you can use Bow/Quiver which you might carry over and only replace the gems later plus the pierce chance is a good buff to the damage. With Flame Totem you can use daggers and with it using Whirling Blades which gives you better mobility and faster clearing/leveling. I'm just thinking [/Quote]

Spark / Orb was what I used with this char when I started it. However, I had two of those low level unique twigs at hand. starting into a new league might not be as comfortable. So, while it was a good start then, i'll be looking for something different this time. I am pretty sure, though, that Spark / Orb would do the trick, too.

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Hvakhshathra wrote:

What do you think about the Spark/Orb of storms combo for the leveling? You have very early access to the gems. Both Spark and Flame Totem benefits from the early use of projectile damage nodes in the tree but the minimal usage of Mana for the Flame Totem might give it a nudge over the Spark? With Spark you can use Bow/Quiver which you might carry over and only replace the gems later plus the pierce chance is a good buff to the damage. With Flame Totem you can use daggers and with it using Whirling Blades which gives you better mobility and faster clearing/leveling. I'm just thinking (out-writing?) here and any input is much appreciated.

I enjoyed using spark/orb for leveling. In pathing I went for the Duelist projectile nodes, and then the Ranger start projectile nodes. It felt really smooth up to Normal Dried Lake, when I found a +1 4L bow and switched over. I might do the same thing again in Prophecy, as the gems are easy to get and crafting a +1 lightning dagger/wand/scepter is cost effective.


While I do not think it will go in a completed build I'd be interested in playing around with this new ammy. It comes from a prophecy chain so it would be later in game to get one, but if I am still running a blue +2 it could be fun to see the effect it has on returns. The rarity with a normal item equipped just seems like too harsh a trade off, given resistance capping.

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ChronoExile wrote:

The rarity with a normal item equipped just seems like too harsh a trade off, given resistance capping.

Maybe switch one Andvarius with white gold ring (they are available through Orb of Scouring - just checked)? Looks like we will net around (95-70) = 25% IIR and free +20 elemental resists.

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ChronoExile wrote:

While I do not think it will go in a completed build I'd be interested in playing around with this new ammy. It comes from a prophecy chain so it would be later in game to get one, but if I am still running a blue +2 it could be fun to see the effect it has on returns. The rarity with a normal item equipped just seems like too harsh a trade off, given resistance capping.

I'm just reposting this picture since I can't actually see it in your post but I know what you are talking about.



I think I'll give it a go in Prophecy league with a bow like this:


Wanna get a feel for it before I decide if a white ring is worth it to me.

edit: ah after looking closer I had the IIQ/IIR flipped in my head. If we are netting IIR by using a white then there is no reason to run the andy since all it would do it give us less IIR and resistances. I guess this makes up for the ammy having no stats. It's just a matter now of whether we can live with the hit to our life pool (since no life on ammy), although if we stick to mid tier maps it won't be an issue.