Vaal Arc

Just came in to say that I have a pure arc build and vaal arc is a complete waste of a gem slot. Its not even mildly entertaining anymore. I literally feel unsafer using it. Spamming my main skill is actually more powerful and safer than taking the time to stop and fire that one thing.

I find this to be hilarious fun, but not all that practical. It is at its best against genuinely dangerous blue packs or at strongboxes (when they return), and at its worst against ele reflect packs, packs with a Corrupting Blood rare, and single powerful mobs.

If you are getting overwhelmed by trash at any time, Vaal Arc will always save you, but so would Vaal Summon Skeletons.


That said, if you have never set this off - get one and use it in Docks sometime. It is fun.

It's been more than a year since the last post in this section, and very little has changed for this forgotten vaal gem. Here some mechanincs' interactions different from the past: Herald of thunder is always triggered by Vaal Arc; the introduction of Innervate has created a free way to get the onslaught buff through Vaal Arc; elemental reflect has become easier to deal with; Elemental Proliferation has been killed by balance changes. Two common features of Arc casters are that they scale their damage through cast speed and that they struggle with single target. Vaal Arc doesn't benefit from cast speed and works well only against large packs. I would like to see Vaal Arc becoming a viable option for casters against bosses, because in its current status is very disappointing.

Vaal arc was made when you attack it to prolif and shock stack the entire screen.

I propose that is this gem has nothing else it could be given that gimmick back. That shocks dealt with Vaal Arc are at 60% effectiveness but can be stacked 3 times.

Does anyone use this skill?