[3.6]Trickster "Ethereal Knife" IIQ clearing theory.

Ethereal Star MTX!

Just a simple skill dealing Phys, Projectile and Spell damage.

The projectile range itself isn't that far, so scaling Projectile speed and Projectile mechanics(Pierce/Fork/Chain) are both important for improving clearing speed.

Even it's damage have been increase a bit in 3.6 version, the damage and mechanic itself aren't good enough compare to other Up-tier phys spells.

Thanks to the Killed-Explode items, our skill itself can be high focus on
range. In 3.1, the King Impulsa's birth, the EK CS build became a thing even in HC league.

Unfortunately, With the stupid beast and the Syndicate lag-generators go into the core game, even CS build needs some boss-killing tactics. But EK needS to invest some mechanics to improve clearing, so if using EK itself for bossing, your CS rate will be slow down, balancing CS and encounters might be a big problem.

So, this is why the Elade Kortex exist!

In 3.6, even Blade Vortex's damage has been nerfed, but with the new support gem Unleash's help, you gain high(full with enough gem level) stack of BV and available to cast Ethereal Knife in a period.

Even BV is not my main link(link in my Helmet), it's enough for facing Syndicates and stupid beasts.

BV has a Vaal version in 3.3, Vaal BV is also a good skill for out-screen mob killing, remind that Vaal skill itself can't be support by unleash.

https://pastebin.com/HtxriiQ3


You have less ES for EBMOM right?
Yup is a bit less ,but thanks to the Ghost Dance's rework, you gain tons of ES when been hit, so non-chaos DOT damage might be a problem due to it can bypass your Ghost Dance recovery, try avoiding the ground DOT effect and using flasks to immune burning.

https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAYCAAQHBLMG5wceCPQJIA5IDlwPqxBREZYV7RZvFr8aOBpyG7QbyBzcHRQfAh8YH0EkqiaVJy8rCCycLR8tqS_WMtEzozY9NsU26TlJOlhFR0V-SVFJsUpASp9Mg0yzUftUvVVLVcZWSFgxWfNb01xAXfJh4mKsZlRmnmdxakNq-mvbbIxtbHDUcYVyD3SBf8aCHoKbg9uFMom8jDaPGo9Gj_qQVZMnlG-VIJUulouYU52qoOahL6IAoqOi2aQFpwitO67_sNi1SLc4vOq9Xb6KwGbB880Wz93QH9Wm1bnXz9gk2jvbC9-g3_PjYuNq6-7siu-I7-vwH_DV8Yr5N_mk-tI=?accountName=fdbug&characterName=EzunoKai
Can I crit?
Yes, but with IIQ gear, I give up crit.
And Patient Reaper is a good clearing choice compare to Swift Killer in my opinion, so there's no Power Charge generate, If you need Power Charge, try Assassin's Mark or Intuitive Leap
on the left-top side of Shadow passive's start.

CI is the meta I want CI
Sure you can, but the same reason, IIQ gear gives no ES.
If MS is not your problem, Occultist.

I don't like Trickster, its TOO meta!
Pathfinder, Inquisitor, Elementalist or even Occultist also works, depends on the style you like.
Have tried building Deadeye but have trouble with survival.


EK SUCKS
Pick out all the phys passives and play IIQWO.

Helnet

Using mini-6link for BV setup, here I can give some choice and advice for gearing or even maximizing your helm:

The Tempest binding is a basic mini-6link with enough life and a bit res, if you can't afford shaper/elder ones with enough life/res, try this.

For Shaper/Elder version, you can speed check the explicit mod which benefit for BV below:
Shaper base:
PRE:INC Area
SUF:Base Crit(If you focus on crit)/Hypothermia(Recommend if Elementalist)/Innervate/Essence 30% more elemental damage/Essence 50% phys added to lightning

Elder base:
PRE:CONC Effect
SUF:Essence 30% more elemental damage/Essence 50% phys added to lightning

PS:AOE Gem +1 craft is a Prefix.

Body armor

Yup, not The Eternity Shroud and QOTF.
QOTF will slow you down without huge evasion stack, Fox fortune gives 10% MS and some decent abilities, so it's my last choice.

For links, choose Fork instead of others due to Fork have a potential to kill off-screen, using Pierce or Chain is no problem if you prefer each of them.

Belt

Bisco's Leash is enough for clearing
Maximize? You know it.

Ring/Amulet

If you don't like Bisco's collar or you might lack of defence, i85 Shaper base amulet wtih 10% IIQ+Multicraft is a choice, or even a simple rare amulet is ok.

Weapon

Most important is the explode base.

Offhand

Esh's Mirror has been used in most CS builds, even this one.
Decent (E)Hp + awesome kill effect, No one hates it.

Other gear slots

For sustaining res and life, convertion is a prefix.
Convertion craft + Wrath's Watcher's eye convertion + P2L = 100% Convertion.

Jewel

If your Watcher's Eye get some decent effect of other auras, you can change the aura setup.

Corroupted blood vaal makes different against stupid beasts.

Other jewels I focus on Life and Chaos res to counter Atzoatl flower pot and some Syndicate encounters.
Other explicit for rare jewel: Damage/Spell damage/Minion damage/Cast speed/Crit multi if you go on crit/Onslaught on kill.

Flasks

If you have no corrupted blood immune, replace the burning ones.
Burning immune works well against THICC-map modified Synthesis rares.

Kill all if non-crit
Alira if going crit with lack of res.
Prefer Lunaris and Garukan for decent defence for mapping and MS.

Just farmed 53exa to buy HH in T16 BC Sac set + 4sextant loop and NO doctor card drop let me feels like no-IIQ BC farmer, I'll not play the IIQ build in recent league :(

And thanks for watching, welcome for questions.