3.23 EXPLOSIVE ARROW BALLISTA ELEMENTALIST - League-Start to End-Game. Easy mode.

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guilz1 wrote:

Hello, guys! me again xD

So, I've solved the problem with survivability thanks to Headtourist and now I have some divs to use and try to improve my damage, but rn I am not sure what to go for, I feel like I dont need anything else and now I would just change what I already have to something equal but with better stats, but where to start?

I know my rings isnt great so I was thinking about them but they would not improve my dps, and even if I would to change them I am not being able to think how a better ring would look like.

So if you guys could help me telling what I should be looking for now, I would rly appreciate it :D

heres my pobb:

https://pobb.in/qEx8lb41Q4QI

Also, I am not rly sure what this build is rly good on, rn I am doing basically everything, specially maps and delve, but for maps for example I dont know what kind of mechanics would be more smooth for me to do... rn I am only avoiding blight and expedition on atlas skills end expending my points on small passives and delve passsives (I liked delving a lot), but overall my atlas skill tree is a bit of a mess. So if you guys could also give me some tips about this would be also great

Thank you!!

Hello. Just a few small optimizations i see :

On the damage side :
- get yourself a 21/20 EA gem
- allocate DOT mastery (1 point, probably remove the bow mastery) for 15% duration.
Defense side :
- You really wanna get 100% suppression, maybe remove the bow damage cluster node for now and allocate another spell suppr node
OR if you allocate magebane you can now remove spell suppr on gloves and get global accuracy instead (also you can probably upgrade gloves since you got some currency, check mine they're basically the same but better (accuracy)*

For mapping, death rush ring that's been mentioned a few times now could be a good replacement (instead of sorrow nail) both for survivability and dps, although you'd lose some hit chance [*if you go for the magebane/upgraded gloves/gloves implicit route, it's negated]
While i'm on items, i think a 42% dyadian belt (catalysts) is still (a bit) better than your corrupted one with implicits). You can even get one with nicer hp/res while you're at it.

{On the expensive side, there would potentially be the double elevated blizzard crown but it would require to rework resistances, would be annoying. There's also the devouring diadem path but it's an even bigger rework (since no evasion on it, gotta rethink everything...). I'll pass}

---
Also if you get rid of blood rage (say you did all the changes i mentioned) to get lifetap instead on that item, you can level your precision to level 12 or something.
On paper it shouldn't impact you as your fuses will be a lot higher than now and you already have frenzy (so it's about the 15% as, pretty much), but no idea how it would translate to ingame mapping.

---

To recap, something like that : https://pobb.in/YIiBT4AcFzB2
Also note that the covered in ash doesnt currently apply to regular monsters (only on rare/unique enemies). Still, i don't think it's worth it to bring polaric devastation back IF you get the death rush ring.

---

Regarding gameplay i'll let others answer (especially since i'm not on the league), I like the one-trick-pony thing, not being cornered in something specific, just do what you want when you want. Of course a dedicated mapping character can do better mapping, a dedicated bosser can do better bossing etc.

"

Wilson_Chan wrote:

They are cheap (a few divs)

I am still wondering when or if I will get to the point where I will see this as cheap. Less than 1 div is cheap for me. 1 div is getting somewhat expensive and more than one is what I would consider expensive!

Any ideas how I can get my precision rating higher? If I compare my build to the build on page 1 from 3.21, I don't see many differences.
- Global accuracy rating instead of flat accuracy rating on the helmet (changing that would give me -1% hit rate)
- 570 accuracy rating on the gloves compared to my 370 (+2%)

Jewels are the same. I finally want to change my precision into grace since I'm starting to struggle with survivability but that will cost me a lot of hit chance.

I mean... the question behind all of this would be "how to improve my build in general?" which is a good question, but I can't always ask everyone else instead of trying to find out myself.

"

Vacoh wrote:

Any ideas how I can get my precision rating higher? If I compare my build to the build on page 1 from 3.21, I don't see many differences.
- Global accuracy rating instead of flat accuracy rating on the helmet (changing that would give me -1% hit rate)
- 570 accuracy rating on the gloves compared to my 370 (+2%)

Jewels are the same. I finally want to change my precision into grace since I'm starting to struggle with survivability but that will cost me a lot of hit chance.

I mean... the question behind all of this would be "how to improve my build in general?" which is a good question, but I can't always ask everyone else instead of trying to find out myself.

Hey. The build on page one is not up to date (enchants mostly). There's a global accuracy mod on the belt (enchant) that you can't get anymore.
Still, i see you at 95% hit chance, you're fine there (as long as you're around 95%, even 90%+, consider you're fine on that side.

Now, regarding upgrading :
- i think i'd get myself a hyrri's ire chest. Losing some physical max hit on that, but capping suppression and a lot more evade. Pair it with life mastery (+15% max life) you'll even compensate for the hp. And on top of that : about 10% more damage.
- farm currency to craft yourself the bow, i may have already mentioned it. Since you are looking at Brunowas PoB, you can see his bow is like 19% more dps on you.
- keep levelling aw burning damage, also qual your gems, of course
- quality your belt with turbulent catalysts to get it to 42% instead of 35.

- there's a world where you get your auras in the 6L instead of lts setup. Your own pref but this would allow you to get grace aura too (with enlighten 4 gem, you can still have precision at level 9 then
Ok also just noticed the flammability ring. Take a look at my gem links, (except purity of elements -> determination on your side ; also steelskin -> molten shell on your side). Only issue, you'll have to pick between frenzy and blood rage.
Bonus : you'll be able to get rid of that coral ring, to get a nice one instead (accuracy, chaos res, ele damage/fire damage, hp...)

Then it's the usual when you'll get some more currency/levels, a watcher's eye (attack speed when precision should be cheap for starters), a good lethal pride (on bottom of tree : 17648, 12824...), if you go to say level 97+, impossible escape for nice nodes.

etc etc :)

Edit : also didn't mention charms.

"

Headtourist wrote:

Still, i see you at 95% hit chance, you're fine there (as long as you're around 95%, even 90%+, consider you're fine on that side.

It is only that high because I still use precision, and I want to get rid of it. Without it's at 84% which is not enough by a long shot.

"

Headtourist wrote:

Now, regarding upgrading :
- i think i'd get myself a hyrri's ire chest. Losing some physical max hit on that, but capping suppression and a lot more evade. Pair it with life mastery (+15% max life) you'll even compensate for the hp. And on top of that : about 10% more damage.

I was actually thinking of getting this one next, but saw that getting grace would give me more ehp which is why I didn't get it yet.

"

Headtourist wrote:

- farm currency to craft yourself the bow, i may have already mentioned it. Since you are looking at Brunowas PoB, you can see his bow is like 19% more dps on you.

I decided to do this once I get some upgrades which don't have me gamble. So that bow will happen, but for now with my limited budget of about 6 divine orbs, I want to get something safer first.

"

Headtourist wrote:

- quality your belt with turbulent catalysts to get it to 42% instead of 35.

Didn't know that, will do!

"

Headtourist wrote:

- there's a world where you get your auras in the 6L instead of lts setup. Your own pref but this would allow you to get grace aura too (with enlighten 4 gem, you can still have precision at level 9 then.

That gem is way too expensive for me as of now, which is why I want to get rid of precision so I have enough reservation for a lvl 3 enlighten.

"

Headtourist wrote:

Ok also just noticed the flammability ring. Take a look at my gem links, (except purity of elements -> determination on your side ; also steelskin -> molten shell on your side). Only issue, you'll have to pick between frenzy and blood rage.
Bonus : you'll be able to get rid of that coral ring, to get a nice one instead.

I actually like that flammability on hit. This build has way too many buttons to press anyways. I was even thinking of linking enduring cry to CWDT just because I never use it as an "additional life flask". I always forget.

"

Headtourist wrote:

Edit : also didn't mention charms.

What charms would this build use? I looked at all of them and can't find anything that was worth it to put on so I didn't bother for that.
Edit: I just realised that charms are what you socket into one of the Affliction trees not the trees itself.

Hello, in pob (it says 3.21 too) act 4 points top left totem mastery. I dont see "totems taunt enemies" in current version of the game. Any suggestion to pick what?

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signon7384 wrote:

Hello, in pob (it says 3.21 too) act 4 points top left totem mastery. I dont see "totems taunt enemies" in current version of the game. Any suggestion to pick what?

Hey. Just ignore that node, it's been gone since 3.22.

"

Vacoh wrote:

That gem is way too expensive for me as of now, which is why I want to get rid of precision so I have enough reservation for a lvl 3 enlighten.

Indeed, never seen enl.4. that expensive before. May be due to reservation charms, and also the divine rain on this league.
Still, i PoB'd everything yesterday, and i do believe that keeping precision (even at a low level) is beneficial for its accuracy (+ the supposedly cheap as/precision watcher's eye later).

Now more generally speaking, I probably can't convince you to build the way I told you to, I was just trying to help, and I hope others can come up with ideas you'll wanna follow.
Still, if you're curious, try to modify your PoB with the things I wrote, and you should see how everything fits together well. Cause yeah I didn't post a PoB but i did that yesterday.

Now, to show good faith and try to make you reconsider, i'll show you what my PoB would be in affliction league, removing everything i got from my own league, and without the benefits of affliction league things :

https://pobb.in/jotSccb3A9pc

(Note : damage is set to uber pinnacle, the number you see is 70% reduced from what it would be against regular content/although there's the dot cap so it can't go for more than 36M dps against any other content).

About charms, some i've seen (but again, not playing the league) :
- free banner (gives you some mana to allocate in precision levels btw)
- covered in ash (allows to replace polaric devastation with something better)
- onslaught (don't remember the details)

Edit : i edited the content with a PoB. And i know that it's an expensive build, i'm just trying to show that it's very viable and not a waste to go for that route.

Regarding buttons, my setup :
- q is ballista
- w and e are brand and lst (and i don't use them while mapping unless i'm facing something very tanky)
- r is flame dash
- t is blood rage (i don't really have to use it often either considering my output)

Mouse left is movement (with steelskin on it, that would be molten shell on your char)
Mouse right is enduring cry (very usable as a pot on right click)
Scroll button is vaal grace (i actually back then swapped from grace to vaal grace cause i had a button left i could use from time to time)

Edit again : i meant that precision level 2 or 3 with enl 3 is still useful. Don't need level 4. But if you get free banner or something you can get a few more levels on it too.

"

Headtourist wrote:

"

Vacoh wrote:

That gem is way too expensive for me as of now, which is why I want to get rid of precision so I have enough reservation for a lvl 3 enlighten.

Indeed, never seen enl.4. that expensive before. May be due to reservation charms, and also the divine rain on this league.
Still, i PoB'd everything yesterday, and i do believe that keeping precision (even at a low level) is beneficial for its accuracy (+ the supposedly cheap as/precision watcher's eye later).

Now more generally speaking, I probably can't convince you to build the way I told you to, I was just trying to help, and I hope others can come up with ideas you'll wanna follow.
Still, if you're curious, try to modify your PoB with the things I wrote, and you should see how everything fits together well. Cause yeah I didn't post a PoB but i did that yesterday.

I do try to follow your tips. But I just can't see myself pressing even more buttons than I already do.
But as soon as I get the money, I will, don't worry!

Also I'm already about 200 essences into crafting the bow. No luck so far. I think I might get close to the point of being better off if I just bought the bow. :D

"

Headtourist wrote:

"

guilz1 wrote:

Hello, guys! me again xD

So, I've solved the problem with survivability thanks to Headtourist and now I have some divs to use and try to improve my damage, but rn I am not sure what to go for, I feel like I dont need anything else and now I would just change what I already have to something equal but with better stats, but where to start?

I know my rings isnt great so I was thinking about them but they would not improve my dps, and even if I would to change them I am not being able to think how a better ring would look like.

So if you guys could help me telling what I should be looking for now, I would rly appreciate it :D

heres my pobb:

https://pobb.in/qEx8lb41Q4QI

Also, I am not rly sure what this build is rly good on, rn I am doing basically everything, specially maps and delve, but for maps for example I dont know what kind of mechanics would be more smooth for me to do... rn I am only avoiding blight and expedition on atlas skills end expending my points on small passives and delve passsives (I liked delving a lot), but overall my atlas skill tree is a bit of a mess. So if you guys could also give me some tips about this would be also great

Thank you!!

Hello. Just a few small optimizations i see :

On the damage side :
- get yourself a 21/20 EA gem
- allocate DOT mastery (1 point, probably remove the bow mastery) for 15% duration.
Defense side :
- You really wanna get 100% suppression, maybe remove the bow damage cluster node for now and allocate another spell suppr node
OR if you allocate magebane you can now remove spell suppr on gloves and get global accuracy instead (also you can probably upgrade gloves since you got some currency, check mine they're basically the same but better (accuracy)*

For mapping, death rush ring that's been mentioned a few times now could be a good replacement (instead of sorrow nail) both for survivability and dps, although you'd lose some hit chance [*if you go for the magebane/upgraded gloves/gloves implicit route, it's negated]
While i'm on items, i think a 42% dyadian belt (catalysts) is still (a bit) better than your corrupted one with implicits). You can even get one with nicer hp/res while you're at it.

{On the expensive side, there would potentially be the double elevated blizzard crown but it would require to rework resistances, would be annoying. There's also the devouring diadem path but it's an even bigger rework (since no evasion on it, gotta rethink everything...). I'll pass}

---
Also if you get rid of blood rage (say you did all the changes i mentioned) to get lifetap instead on that item, you can level your precision to level 12 or something.
On paper it shouldn't impact you as your fuses will be a lot higher than now and you already have frenzy (so it's about the 15% as, pretty much), but no idea how it would translate to ingame mapping.

---

To recap, something like that : https://pobb.in/YIiBT4AcFzB2
Also note that the covered in ash doesnt currently apply to regular monsters (only on rare/unique enemies). Still, i don't think it's worth it to bring polaric devastation back IF you get the death rush ring.

---

Regarding gameplay i'll let others answer (especially since i'm not on the league), I like the one-trick-pony thing, not being cornered in something specific, just do what you want when you want. Of course a dedicated mapping character can do better mapping, a dedicated bosser can do better bossing etc.

Thank you again, Headtourist, you are amazing :D gonna follow ur tips and eventually let you know how it went for me.

I just got this with the essences. Can you craft the bow with this as a start, too?
I obviously didn't use my annulments on it yet but what if I got rid of the crit and the mana on kill?