[0.3] Acolyte of Chayula Feedback

In addition to not granting Life Leech from Chaos attack hits, Sap of Nightmares also ignores sources of Mana Leech from Weapon Explicit Modifiers.

My Quarterstaff has a mana leech suffix, but mana leech from Chaos attacks doesn't show up on the skill stats unless I introduce a different source of mana leech (support gem/ring). I haven't tested it with gloves/corrupted amulet yet but it's already safe to say GGG bungled the implementation of Chayula's leech.

Darkness is pointless now, and not just because it takes away spirit.

Darkness needs an offensive purpose or there's no point.

Before Third Edict, I ran a Darkness build.

I did so and enjoyed it because Darkness was a source of chaos damage.
I even took Mind Over Matter in effort to keep my darkness unreserved.
Instead of using Darkness to protect me I built to protect Darkness.
If this build could still be done I'd have submitted it for build of the week, naturally with more detail than casually mentioned here.

But now, I just don't have any tangible reason to want to build Darkness.
If I want a chaos monk I'll be taking the volatilty and ailments path. No reason to pick darkness over spirit.

I no longer have any build ideas where I'd actually want to pick Darkness over access to spirit skills, unless I make a build running Darkness and Kaom's Heart for no further reason than the gimmick existing.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with ascensions including options that serve as defensive elements of build.
Deadeyes have tailwind, Chrono's have recoup, Smith has fancy body armor, Witchhunters have Sorcery Ward, and that's all good.
But Darkness in particular needs to be built for way more than any other ascension defense option, and you lose out on spirit gems.

Those other options are all worth taking just as a defensive option, and people are liable to do so.
For my part I have a Smith build that will put either 6 or all 8 points into Masterwork, as well as a melee Sorc build that intends to make good use of Rapid River and Apex.

But Darkness?
Due to the level of investment and the loss of spirit it's just not worth it as defense only.

Ignoring the massive disparity in offensive capability, Spirit also arguably provides better defensive options than Darkness.

"

Sub44#2155 wrote:

Sap is bugged for life leech? i thought it was the opposite, i get no mana leech at all from it.

Idk what you mean by gimped mage, if you build it correctly it functions just fine. Maybe how YOU approach building one is gimped.

"

DreadlordMephisto#4974 wrote:

"

Sub44#2155 wrote:

Sap is bugged for life leech? i thought it was the opposite, i get no mana leech at all from it.

Idk what you mean by gimped mage, if you build it correctly it functions just fine. Maybe how YOU approach building one is gimped.

The problem is that a Chayula mage build is straight out weaker than playing a class actually dedicated to spells, which is Witch and Sorceress. Whatever a Chayula mage has, Bloodmage/Stormweaver will have more damage without needing to rely on gathering flames. While it can potentially be fun, people want to play a Dark aligned Monk that uses a Quarterstaff, not a wand.

Here's my take on the subject:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3840525

I was running acolyte for a long time both at launch and new league, switched to invoker today for the first time ever and it eclipses acolyte in every single way as far as I can tell.. both defensive and offensive.

I spent sooo much gold to respec and try and make volatility work but it's simply very gimmicky. For some reason they're slamming on the brakes hard with the acolyte.

The difference being colossal is an understatement of alarming proportions