Blade VortexSpell, AoE, Duration Level: (1-20) Cast Time: 0.50 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 30% AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 12This spell creates ethereal blades which orbit in an area around you, dealing damage every 0.6 seconds to all enemies in their radius. As more blades are added, the damage becomes greater and more frequent.Deals (7-123) to (10-185) Physical Damage Base duration is 5 seconds Can have up to 10 active spinning blades 10% increased Critical Strike Chance for each blade 35% increased Hit Rate for each blade 35% more Damage for each blade +(0-4) to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
Blade Vortex (often referred to as BV) is a spell that creates an ethereal blade that spins around the caster that deals physical damage, each blade lasting for the minimum duration of 5 seconds.
Blade Vortex's base damage is boosted by Physical Damage, Spell Damage, Area Damage, and Damage.
Physical Damage: Because Blade Vortex deals physical damage, it can be boosted by supports and skills that are more commonly used to modify attacks, such as the Added Fire Damage SupportAdded Fire Damage SupportFire, Physical, Support Icon: F Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Requires Level 8Supports any skill that hits enemies.Supported Skills gain (25-39)% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Fire DamageThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. gem and the HatredHatredAura, Spell, AoE, Cold Level: (1-20) Reservation: 50% Mana Cooldown Time: 1.20 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 36Requires Level 24Casts an aura that grants extra cold damage based on physical damage to you and your allies.+(0-1.9) metres to radius You and nearby allies gain (16-25)% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage You and nearby allies deal (14-18)% more Cold Damage
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (2-40)% increased Area of EffectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. aura.
Spell Damage: Despite the fact that it does physical damage, Blade Vortex is a spell and not an attack. It does not utilize weapon damage in any way. Blade Vortex is one of several skills that work in this manner. The others include Ethereal KnivesEthereal KnivesSpell, Projectile, Physical Level: (1-20) Cost: (5-20) Mana Cast Time: 0.60 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 220% Projectile Speed: 1300Fires an arc of knives outwards in front of the caster which deal physical damage.Deals (7-949) to (10-1423) Physical Damage Fires (10-13) Projectiles
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Fires +(0.1-2) ProjectilesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., BladefallBladefallSpell, AoE, Physical, Duration Level: (1-20) Cost: (12-23) Mana Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 140% AoE Radius: 12Requires Level 28Ethereal weapons rain from the sky, dealing damage to enemies in a sequence of volleys. Enemies can be hit multiple times where these overlap.Deals (43-595) to (65-893) Physical Damage Base duration is 6.00 seconds Leaves a Lingering Blade in the ground for every Volley 5 Volleys Maximum 40 Lingering Blades can be left in the ground at a time
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: +(0.05-1) VolleysPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., and Shockwave TotemShockwave TotemTotem, Spell, AoE, Physical, Nova Level: (1-20) Cost: (21-39) Mana Cast Time: 0.60 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 110% AoE Radius: 24Requires Level 28Summons a totem that shakes the earth around it, knocking back and damaging nearby enemiesDeals (33-412) to (65-765) Physical Damage Totem lasts 8 seconds 25% chance to Knock Enemies Back on hit Summons a Totem which uses this Skill Base radius is 2.4 metres
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: +(0.01-0.2) metres to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..
Its damage can be amplified by Spell Damage on items and passives from the skill tree, as well as support gems that increase spell damage.
Leech: Leech effects that apply to Spell damage and to damage types dealt by Blade Vortex (Physical by default) will work as usual. Note that leech effects which apply to attacks do not apply to Blade Vortex because it is a spell, not an attack.
Area of Effect: Increases and decreases in to Area of Effect from support gems, passives, and equipment will augment the radius in which the skill deals damage (e.g. Increased Area of Effect SupportIncreased Area of Effect SupportSupport, AoE Icon: E Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 38Supports any skill with an area of effect.Supported Skills have (30-49)% increased Area of Effect
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Area DamageThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Concentrated Effect SupportConcentrated Effect SupportSupport, AoE Icon: o Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 140%Requires Level 18Supports any skill with an area of effect, regardless of whether that skill deals damage.Supported Skills deal (25-39)% more Area Damage Supported Skills have 30% less Area of Effect
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Area DamageThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. and Carcass JackCarcass Jack Varnished CoatEvasion: (851-1085) Energy Shield: (173-222) Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 62, 96 Dex, 96 Int(120-150)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(50-70) to maximum Life +(9-12)% to all Elemental Resistances (40-50)% increased Area of Effect (40-50)% increased Area Damage Extra gore"...The discomfort shown by the others is amusing, but none can deny that my work has made quite the splash..." - Maligaro's Journal).
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% increased Cast SpeedThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Spell Echo SupportSpell Echo SupportSpell, Support Icon: k Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 150%Requires Level 38Supports spell skills, making them repeat when cast. Cannot support Vaal skills, totem skills, channelling skills, triggered skills, instant skills, blink skills, or skills with a reservation.Supported Skills deal 10% less Damage Supported Skills Repeat an additional time Supported Skills have (40-54)% more Cast Speed
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Spell DamageThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., and Cast Speed from passives and gear will increase the rate at which blades are generated.
Duration:Increased Duration SupportIncreased Duration SupportSupport, Duration Icon: D Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 31Supports any skill with a duration.Supported Skills have (45-64)% increased Skill Effect Duration
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% increased Skill Effect DurationThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Less Duration SupportLess Duration SupportSupport, Duration Icon: d Level: (1-20) Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 31Supports any skill that has a duration.Supported Skills deal (10-19)% more Damage Supported Skills have (40-49)% less Skill Effect Duration
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% less Skill Effect DurationThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., and duration-modifying passives and equipment will affect the duration of the blades (including Temporal ChainsTemporal ChainsSpell, AoE, Duration, Curse, Hex Level: (1-20) Cost: (16-33) Mana Cast Time: 0.50 secRequires Level 24Curses all enemies in an area, lowering their action speed and making other effects on them expire more slowly.Base duration is (5.00-8.80) seconds +(0-1) metre to radius 50% less Effect of Curse against Players Cursed Normal and Magic Enemies have (15-29)% less Action Speed Other effects on Cursed enemies expire 25% slower Cursed Rare and Unique Enemies have (9-18)% less Action Speed
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Curse DurationPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. on yourself [1].) It is possible to have multiple blades active at the same time, up to a maximum of 10 blades. Once the limit is reached, creating a new blade will simply remove the oldest existing active blade, similar to Summon Raging SpiritSummon Raging SpiritSpell, Minion, Duration, Fire Level: (1-20) Cost: (4-16) Mana Cast Time: 0.50 secRequires Level 4Summons a short-lived flaming skull that rushes at nearby enemies and attacks them rapidly, converting all its physical damage to fire. Enemies will not directly engage these spirits, and can pass through them.Maximum 20 Summoned Raging Spirits Base duration is 5.00 seconds Minions cannot Taunt Enemies
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1.5-30)% chance to summon an extra MinionPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..
Visual effect: Blade vortex's visual effect does not scale with Area of effect modifiers. Instead, to give a rough indication of radius, there are several versions of the knife effect, each rotating at a different radius. The skill will always try to have one knife using the largest-radius effect that's not larger than the actual radius of the skill, but that skill results in discrete visual changes where you need to reach a certain threshold before the next wider effect can be used. The full radius is always used mechanically. [2]
Gem level progression
Level
Mana Cost
Physical Damage
Radius
Exp.
Total Exp.
1
12
33
6
3 to 5
N/A
0
0
2
15
39
6
4 to 6
N/A
15249
15249
3
19
48
7
6 to 9
N/A
41517
56766
4
23
56
8
8 to 12
N/A
81983
138749
5
27
64
9
11 to 16
N/A
147968
286717
6
31
73
9
14 to 21
N/A
250557
537274
7
35
81
10
18 to 27
N/A
405086
942360
8
38
88
11
22 to 33
N/A
447718
1390078
9
41
94
11
26 to 40
N/A
615318
2005396
10
44
100
12
32 to 48
N/A
834639
2840035
11
47
106
12
38 to 57
N/A
1570760
4410795
12
50
113
13
45 to 68
N/A
1633987
6044782
13
53
119
13
54 to 81
N/A
2151030
8195812
14
56
125
14
64 to 96
N/A
2812189
11008001
15
59
132
14
76 to 114
N/A
5099360
16107361
16
62
138
15
90 to 135
N/A
9400731
25508092
17
64
142
15
101 to 151
N/A
15273366
40781458
18
66
146
16
113 to 169
N/A
26286582
67068040
19
68
151
16
126 to 189
N/A
62890590
129958630
20
70
155
16
140 to 211
N/A
212046017
342004647
21
72
159
17
157 to 235
N/A
N/A
N/A
22
74
N/A
17
174 to 262
N/A
N/A
N/A
23
76
N/A
18
194 to 291
N/A
N/A
N/A
24
78
N/A
18
216 to 324
N/A
N/A
N/A
25
80
N/A
18
241 to 361
N/A
N/A
N/A
26
82
N/A
19
267 to 401
N/A
N/A
N/A
27
84
N/A
19
297 to 446
N/A
N/A
N/A
28
86
N/A
19
330 to 495
N/A
N/A
N/A
29
88
N/A
20
367 to 550
N/A
N/A
N/A
30
90
N/A
20
407 to 610
N/A
N/A
N/A
31
91
N/A
20
429 to 643
N/A
N/A
N/A
32
92
N/A
20
451 to 677
N/A
N/A
N/A
33
93
N/A
21
475 to 713
N/A
N/A
N/A
34
94
N/A
21
501 to 751
N/A
N/A
N/A
35
95
N/A
21
527 to 791
N/A
N/A
N/A
36
96
N/A
21
555 to 832
N/A
N/A
N/A
37
97
N/A
21
584 to 876
N/A
N/A
N/A
38
98
N/A
22
615 to 923
N/A
N/A
N/A
39
99
N/A
22
647 to 971
N/A
N/A
N/A
40
100
N/A
22
681 to 1022
N/A
N/A
N/A
Calculating DPS
Blade Vortex's in-game tooltip DPS gives the average damage of one hit from one Blade Vortex instance, multiplied by casts per second. This value is misleading primarily because Blade Vortex can hit more than once over its duration, thus not cast speed must be used, but hits per second (rounds per second, spin rate), over the duration of the stacks.
Math and tables
Base spin rate of Blade Vortex is 600 ms. Blade Vortex hit more frequently with more stacks it has.
As gem says: 35% increased Hit Rate for each blade. So spin time is calculated as
Assuming spin rate increases for 10% for each stack, we have the following data:
Stacks
Spin time, ms
Rounds per second
0
600
1.667
1
545
1.833
2
500
2.000
3
462
2.167
4
429
2.333
5
400
2.500
6
375
2.667
7
353
2.833
8
333
3.000
9
316
3.167
10
300
3.333
Each stack of Blade Vortex increases hit damage with the following formula:
Where is per-stack damage increase factor.
Then we need just multiply hits per second with hit damage.
Assuming 30% damage increase per stack, then using base hit damage as 1, we would expect the following per-hit damage increases:
Stacks
Damage per hit
Damage per second multiplier
0
1.0
1.667
1
1.3
2.383
2
1.6
3.200
3
1.9
4.117
4
2.2
5.133
5
2.5
6.250
6
2.8
7.467
7
3.1
8.783
8
3.4
10.200
9
3.7
11.717
10
4.0
13.333
Finally, to obtain sustained DPS from tooltip use the following formula:
or in expanded form
Item acquisition
Blade Vortex can drop anywhere.
Recipes
Blade Vortex can be created from the following recipes:
Amount
Part
Description
Meta
13
The CataclysmThe Cataclysm13Level 21 Spell Gem CorruptedThe mighty warriors traded in blows, the nimble archers in arrows, yet it was the brazen thaumaturgists who would bring catastrophe to all.
Random corruptedlevel 21 Spell gem
A
6
The FoxThe Fox6Level 20 Gem"Masters of wit, strength and cunning. To survive the harsh winters, you must be like the fox." - Ezomyte Proverb
Random level 20 gem
A
3
Gemcutter's PromiseGemcutter's Promise3Gem Quality:+20%"I swore to use my position to help the people. What good is power when it just accumulates on the already-powerful?" - Erasmus, Imperial Gemcutter
Random gem with 20% quality
A
1
Gemcutter's IncubatorGemcutter's IncubatorStack Size: 10Adds an incubated Quality Gem item to an equippable item Item drops after killing {0} monstersRight click this item then left click an item to apply it. The Incubated item drops after killing a specific number of monsters.
Random gem with 1–20% quality
A
1
The VoidThe Void1Reach into the Void and claim your prize.
Random divination card set exchange
A
Quest reward
This item is given as a quest reward for the following quests:
Note that helmet enchantments are no longer obtainable since version 3.23.0 and can only be obtained in permanent leagues as already enchanted items from before this patch.
Blade Vortex's "More Damage per Blade" modifier has been changed to apply only to spell damage instead of all damage types. This will remove a double-dipping effect that should not have been occurring.
Blade Vortex has been refactored. Instead of separate hits for each active blade, the blades now increase the frequency at which all enemies in the radius take damage, and the amount of damage they take. The skill now has a base hit frequency of 600ms and has 10% increased hit rate per active blade. Its damage has been reduced by 30% at all levels and it deals 30% more damage per active blade.
Extra Gore now doesn't trigger every time Blade Vortex hits.
Fixed a bug where some of the visual effects on Blade Vortex weren't being updated when swapping in and out support gems which modified the area of effect.
Fixed a bug where some of the effects of Blade Vortex weren't finishing their animations smoothly.