User:Evil4Zerggin/Build guide: Pyroclastic Flow

Summary

Offense: Use Molten Strike and to . Melee supports both increase the number of spirits and their individual effectiveness.

Defense: High block and spell block, Cloak of DefianceCloak of Defiance
Lacquered GarbEvasion: (1144-1645)
Energy Shield: (236-340)
Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 52, 76 Dex, 76 Int(300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
+(100-150) to maximum Mana
Regenerate 1% of Mana per second
Mind Over MatterWhen the throat roars,
As eyes weep,
When the hand grips hard
With trembling fingers,
When belly twists
Yet legs stand strong,
That is the work
Of the Defiant Heart., and Arctic Armour.

Ingredients

Passives

Passive tree. This is built for 1.2.

Originally I built this as Scion, but I think it would work better as Witch. If you opt to use daggers, take Nightstalker.

Gear

Mandatory

• Rathpith GlobeRathpith Globe
  Titanium Spirit ShieldChance to Block: 25%
  Energy Shield: (147-200)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 68, 159 Int(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (120-160)% increased Energy Shield
  10% increased maximum Life
  Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill
  5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life
  5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum LifeThe Vaal emptied their slaves of beating hearts,
  and left a mountain of twitching dead.. With up to 60% block chance applied to spells, this is one of the best broad-band defensive items in the game.
• RainbowstrideRainbowstride
  Conjurer BootsEnergy Shield: (36-42)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  +(40-60) to maximum Mana
  +20% to all Elemental Resistances
  20% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
  Some men have a longer stride than others."
  - Gaius Sentari. Another source of spell block, Rainbowstride also has decent resists and move speed.
• The AnvilThe Anvil
  Amber AmuletRequires Level 45+(20-30) to Strength(10-15)% Chance to Block Attack Damage
  10% reduced Attack Speed
  10% reduced Cast Speed
  +(400-500) to Armour
  (34-48) Life gained when you Block
  (18-24) Mana gained when you Block
  +3% to maximum Chance to Block Attack Damage
  Reflects 240 to 300 Physical Damage to Attackers on BlockForge your Perseverance on the Anvil of Faith.. The increase to block helps cap things out, and the block perks are immense. At 75% block with Mind over Matter, you will regain 180 hit points on average per hit you take. To get past the movement penalty, we will use Leap Slam (or if using a dagger) to move around.
• Cloak of DefianceCloak of Defiance
  Lacquered GarbEvasion: (1144-1645)
  Energy Shield: (236-340)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 52, 76 Dex, 76 Int(300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
  +(100-150) to maximum Mana
  Regenerate 1% of Mana per second
  Mind Over MatterWhen the throat roars,
  As eyes weep,
  When the hand grips hard
  With trembling fingers,
  When belly twists
  Yet legs stand strong,
  That is the work
  Of the Defiant Heart.. With so much ES gear involved in spell block, and given that the Mind Barrier passive is near Eldritch Battery, Mind over Matter is a natural choice to get maximum mileage out of all that mana.
• The weapon. A dagger (ideally a top AmbusherAmbusherDagger
  Physical Damage: 19-74
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.10%
  Attacks per Second: 1.50
  Weapon Range: 1.0 metresRequires Level 60, 113 Dex, 113 Int30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance) offers the best offense both directly and via the Nightstalker cluster, but high-end daggers tend to be expensive, and daggers cannot Leap Slam so you will need to use . Claws can offer a helpful life gain on hit (ideally Tiger's PawTiger's PawClaw
  Physical Damage: 23-43
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.60
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 43, 88 Dex, 61 Int1.6% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life) but are also limited to for movement. If you want to Leap Slam you will want to use a sceptre or sword (ideally a Karui SceptreKarui SceptreSceptre
  Physical Damage: 37-55
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.50
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 56, 96 Str, 96 Int26% increased Elemental Damage, Corsair SwordCorsair SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 20-80
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.55
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 58, 81 Str, 117 Dex40% increased Global Accuracy Rating, Jewelled FoilJewelled FoilOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 32-60
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.50%
  Attacks per Second: 1.60
  Weapon Range: 1.4 metresRequires Level 68, 212 Dex+25% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier, or similar).

Recommended

• Thief's TormentThief's Torment
  Prismatic RingRequires Level 30+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances(10-16)% increased Quantity of Items found
  Can't use other Rings
  +(25-40)% to all Elemental Resistances
  Gain (40-60) Life per Enemy Hit with Attacks
  Gain 30 Mana per Enemy Hit with Attacks
  50% reduced Effect of Curses on youThe ring I stole,
  My finger they took,
  A shrouded mind,
  Cut their curses short,
  As I drained their spirit
  And stole their soul.
  A blessing is often a curse.. implies a fast attack rate, and the life and mana gain on hit from Thief's TormentThief's Torment
  Prismatic RingRequires Level 30+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances(10-16)% increased Quantity of Items found
  Can't use other Rings
  +(25-40)% to all Elemental Resistances
  Gain (40-60) Life per Enemy Hit with Attacks
  Gain 30 Mana per Enemy Hit with Attacks
  50% reduced Effect of Curses on youThe ring I stole,
  My finger they took,
  A shrouded mind,
  Cut their curses short,
  As I drained their spirit
  And stole their soul.
  A blessing is often a curse. gives extreme sustain and utterly trivializes half/no regen maps. The curse resistance is also very helpful in mapping. You will give up quite some potential resists and life, however.

Leveling

• Ungil's GaucheUngil's Gauche
  Boot KnifeRune Dagger
  Physical Damage: (14.4-16) to (61.2-68)
  Elemental Damage: 3-30
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.30%
  Attacks per Second: 1.59
  Weapon Range: 1.0 metresRequires Level 20, 31 Dex, 45 Int30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance+12% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
  +(10-20) to Dexterity
  (80-100)% increased Physical Damage
  Adds 3 to 30 Lightning Damage
  10% increased Attack Speed
  50% increased Global Critical Strike ChanceUnwieldy and garish became graceful
  and deadly in Ungil's nimble hands.. Dual-wielding these can get you a long way while you build up access to enough shield nodes to approach the cap.
• BrightbeakBrightbeak
  War HammerOne Handed Mace
  Physical Damage: (19.5-22.75) to (46.5-54.25)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.25%
  Attacks per Second: 2.10
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 20, 71 Str10% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold(50-75)% increased Physical Damage
  45% increased Attack Speed
  25% increased Critical Strike Chance
  +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance
  +(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance"I know how to say 'faster' and 'attack' in Karui, Marak and Ezo."
  - Voll of Thebrus + Crest of PerandusCrest of Perandus
  Pine BucklerChance to Block: 31%
  Evasion: (51-66)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 8, 26 Dex3% increased Movement Speed+(60-80) to maximum Life
  Regenerate (5-7.5) Life per second
  +30% to Lightning Resistance
  0.6% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life
  +5% Chance to Block"With piety and justice."
  - Perandus family motto. Delivers lots of crits, and allows you to Leap Slam. Meanwhile, the Crest is one of the best and earliest defensive shields in the game.
• Stone of LazhwarStone of Lazhwar
  Lapis AmuletRequires Level 5+(20-30) to Intelligence(12-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (15-20)% increased Cast Speed
  +(40-70) to maximum ManaYou are slow, foolish and ignorant.
  I am not.. Useful for spell block before you have a Rathpith GlobeRathpith Globe
  Titanium Spirit ShieldChance to Block: 25%
  Energy Shield: (147-200)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 68, 159 Int(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
  (120-160)% increased Energy Shield
  10% increased maximum Life
  Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill
  5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life
  5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum LifeThe Vaal emptied their slaves of beating hearts,
  and left a mountain of twitching dead..
• Tabula RasaTabula Rasa
  Simple RobeMovement Speed: -3%Has no Attribute Requirements or Energy Shield (Hidden)
  Has 6 Linked White Sockets (Hidden). Like all builds, this build is highly dependent on links. A Tabula RasaTabula Rasa
  Simple RobeMovement Speed: -3%Has no Attribute Requirements or Energy Shield (Hidden)
  Has 6 Linked White Sockets (Hidden) can tide you over until you can acquire a 5- or 6-link Cloak of DefianceCloak of Defiance
  Lacquered GarbEvasion: (1144-1645)
  Energy Shield: (236-340)
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 52, 76 Dex, 76 Int(300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
  +(100-150) to maximum Mana
  Regenerate 1% of Mana per second
  Mind Over MatterWhen the throat roars,
  As eyes weep,
  When the hand grips hard
  With trembling fingers,
  When belly twists
  Yet legs stand strong,
  That is the work
  Of the Defiant Heart.

Skills

• Molten Strike, , . Top supports are:

• . Increasing the accuracy of the Spirits is very effective, and it saves you from having to find accuracy on gear.
• . Although it does not apply to the magma balls, and 's cooldown prevents each splash from triggering more than one cast, the increase to effectiveness of the individual Spirits is immense.
• . More attacks mean more procs, and this will make your Spirits attack faster as well.
• . Ditto.

• Tempest Shield, , . This allows you to gain Power Charges automatically. At lower levels, may be helpful in bootstrapping the charging process.
• Leap Slam or , . For movement, is out of the question because you are taking a duration cluster. BrightbeakBrightbeak
  War HammerOne Handed Mace
  Physical Damage: (19.5-22.75) to (46.5-54.25)
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.25%
  Attacks per Second: 2.10
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 20, 71 Str10% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold(50-75)% increased Physical Damage
  45% increased Attack Speed
  25% increased Critical Strike Chance
  +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance
  +(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance"I know how to say 'faster' and 'attack' in Karui, Marak and Ezo."
  - Voll of Thebrus in swap is not a viable option since swapping turns off Tempest Shield.
• , , , . The standard CwDT setup. With a duration cluster, this ensures that every physical hit above 440 damage that you take will either trigger or be blocked by it.
• . If you have an extra link, use or mix it in with Tempest Shield, but this is not strictly necessary.
• Arctic Armour. You may consider with this.

Analysis

Offense

• The key to this build's offense is that melee supports can both increase procs of as well as the effectiveness of the individual Spirits.
• Since the game is balanced around 75% resists and Raging Spirits don't resist anything except Fire, they tend to die a lot against non-Fire damage. In this case, Minion Instability helps ensure you get at least a little value out of them.
• Reflect is a non-issue, since your direct attacks do little damage, cause life and perhaps mana gain on hit, and are likely to be blocked on reflect.