Great Bex_GGG, Thanks!

1) So the Multistrike one is probably the most straightforwardly usable of the three, but also the least interesting imo.

The Ancestral ailment bonus is...janky. Don't think there even is a version of that build that focuses on ailments. Which is interesting. Sure it's niche, but more than that - it might be creating a niche!

The Creeping Frost alternate is...meh. Creeping Frosts' 'creep' mechanic is and always will be janky, and in this case not in a good way.

While none of them strikes me as the sort of drop that'd count as making bank, two of them do at least strike me as options worth pondering over. Nice!


2) Okay, that choice of new supports for the Replica Bitterdream is just... weird. The original one (after all the updates) is far better, more cohesive. Just stick in an Arcanist Brand - Freezing Pulse/Ice Nova - Faster Casting in there, and it makes for a great leveling weapon now (all the way into maps!). The new one lets you apply all three elemental ailments onto enemies, and provides penetration for all so the damage isn't subpar, but I'm not sure if that damage stacks up better than the original manages with just cold. It also requires you to ignite enemies at a low level in order to benefit from Immolate. Is that worth the hassle? Ultimately ailments matter little if the enemies are all dead, which the original accomplishes. Well, at least it's interesting. And gives you more flexibility in how you level with it, instead of being shunted into using Freezing Pulse or Cold Snap as the clear best options.

Will have to see if it can vendor for an Elemental Penetration gem.


3) Alternate quality Blade Vortex is just straight up the better option. Spell damage leeched as life (not ES) is precious nowadays, way better than a bit of AoE. It's not even a contest - that gem is gonna be THE BV gem that most BV builds (save ES ones) seek out (and have the corresponding market price to match).

Alternate Faster Projectiles, meanwhile, is useless. For those who don't know, the Projectiles Return mechanic in PoE is just bad. Like, really bad. It doesn't home in on you like Spectral Throw does. It doesn't pierce as it returns either, like Venom Gyre does. It doesn't trigger if the projectile hits a wall or other terrain. It doesn't trigger at some maximum distance - you need to hit a 'final enemy' i.e. your projectile has to not pierce or fork or chain off of that last mob. Afaik, there's literally never been a build that managed to use it effectively, even though the Vengeant Cascade node has been in the game since Blight league. To top it all off, only a handful of skills even use Faster Projectiles support.

Also, if anyone's wondering, you can Vaal Orb these gems into their Vaal versions (like Vaal Blade Vortex). However, the Vaal skills will keep the old quality effect - you'll end up with a regular skill with the alternate quality effect, and the Vaal skill having the standard quality effect.

4) Replica Tukohama's Fortress is...meh. Additional brands don't translate into more damage the way additional totems do. If it had been being able to attach an extra Brand to an enemy, then it'd be great - in fact too great, that'd make it mandatory (and probably OP). But we already have the ability to cast around half a dozen Brands, which is more than enough for clearing. Adding another on top for a shield slot isn't worth it. I suppose 140% crit chance and 40% Brand damage is something, but is it worth being forced to build around Blood Magic and Mortal Conviction? I don't think so.

This guy above me has a massive wall of text

closed

pog

my wife left me for an alternate quality me

Cool! Looking forward for new ones too!

GET HYPED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for HIGHLIGHTING the distinctions Bex! Makes it much easier to read and communicate!

Will it be possible to get alternate quality on awakened gems?

Edit: Just read the answer is no on reddit in case anyone else was wondering too..