3.8 New Queens Escape + Baron - super fast physical skeletons + zombies

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grimlock9999 wrote:

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Can i suggest you to update first post ?

It's in there under the 'levelling tree' subheading. I'm trying to find a way to hyperlink in these forums, but no luck so far.

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Rhilnix wrote:

Hello.
Can i suggest you to update first post ?

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which gem in this build needs 21/20 asap? asking for leveling backup gems

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guess what I found in incursion league? A TABULA RASA!!!

I also have a Baron ready but I can't seem to get it RRBB. it's eating all my chromes. I hope 4 linking the helmet is a bit easier.

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I don't know his build, I've just seen it's less life and uses zombies which I think are awful in a skeleton build.
Baron builds also force you into very specific items if you wanna get the most out of it, I like having more freedom of choice.

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grimlock9999 wrote:

Hey Sighlight,

The short answer is that lifting nerd is an expert at min/maxing and synergising builds, as well as explaining them. I love his videos too, so if he thinks skellies only are better, they probably are overall. That answer from the build creator seems right too: Zombies are optional, and that build gets more pure life.

I've been following that skellie only build from the start, and it is really good. I think in a SSF HC build, the Skeleton only version is better than including zombies (this build). It would just be easier to adapt to the items you find.

On the baron: If you use it trying to get 1000 strength, then yes, you are definitely limited in item choice. We use it for a damage buff, to allow us to get strength (life) ourselves, for more zombies, and to keep our Guardian and Spectres alive. So this build does allow you lots of flexibility as long as you don't aim for 1000 strength (I'm happy with 600 strength, since our life regen is really high anyway).

The reasons stated for not using zombies are valid, but are really more a matter of preference. The cons of using zombies: They provide a chance for projectiles to chain more and hit you, they take gem slots, they are not great at targeting the enemies you want, there is definitely more life for you if you take kaom's heart instead of a 6 link chest.

The pro's of fast zombies are: more consistent DPS, more pure physical damage reduction, more meatshield, more taunts, more minions taking aggro, better synergy of global buffs like minion speed, minion life, minion chance to blind on hit. Of course the main pro for me is that you get 600K AOE DPS without any button pushing, and even if your placement of skeletons is terrible, the zombies will stay close and kill things nearby. Since laziness is why I play summoners at all, I think this build wins on laziness :)

The main difference in the two builds lies is the cold damage. Cold damage is great, in that it gives you chill, chance to freeze, and the chance to use auras which help your party.

BUT, There are a lot of factors that need to come into place before that cold damage hits maximum. To get 1.9 Mill DPS you need to cast your lightning skill and hit with it to proc EE, minions need to be be in range of your aura, you use your mana to buff cold damage, use grip of the council as gloves, maybe allocate EE and aura node on the tree, possibly cast offerings, use at least 2 gem slots for hatred and generosity, and give up blasphemy and enfeeble.

This build simply needs frenzy charges, which you can reasonably expect to be up 90% of the time. We lose zero damage if the enemy is a boss, guardian or shaper, and need no other factors to align to get our maximum DPS. We can be miles away and the minions still hit just as hard. Also note that the skellie only build has fast attack speed, so if the enemy moves, the DPS goes down faster than our slower attack speed, higher single hit option.

The defensive consideration is this: an optimised Kaom's heart build has 9.5K life, this build fully optimised has 8K life and enfeeble, phasing and an aura slow. For end game bosses, the effect of enfeeble is about 10% EHP (effective health pool), say 800 health. For normal mobs, the EHP is above 30%, say 2400 EHP. Add on the extra flat physical reduction from zombies, the slow, the phasing and the resistance aura keeping our minions alive and we're not too far behind. I'd still say that flat life is better though because this game has lots of explosions that only life can save you from.

Also, since I love movement speed, on both minions and ourselves, not having it is a huge con. Again, minion movement speed is a huge boost to our effective damage, but not our tooltip damage. That's why I choose queen's escape over Femur of the saints.

Of course, all of this is just a mental exercise. Both builds have similar playstyle, use similar items and gems, similar passive tree...It's just fun trying to see what will be bestest and considering new items, new bosses, new corruptions. That's why we love this game!