Explosive Arrow Marauder (Updated for Release)

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Pastromy wrote:

Cruel=Skill point (though attack speed is also viable)

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Pastromy wrote:

This is my Explosive Arrow build for a Marauder.

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEBxthYY1BQjM_2SF8_VEnnUu8Oud3yL9SPGS4n7ayqcql82fPdWfPAGpBVp4QaOOw4OthN2Ix2njyBbwSzAnEUTaIAZp760h0UmK026eNq9zL460GqFHEOPDpS37-nMBQgUEc26GSjGlVhIYTvdO1672BLBS1AoCFgdPGeuRjbQ5wOrSmlW6_dDfzFZ6CHdkp9LOnK0xm0apPAD4M473w8BZ_fi4zhc-0gRtePRtDQz2VVxsRYJ9X6sepinYAkqhmFGmydrhJpFxxxeQYOA8b9Cw==

The build is generally meant to be used in a HC setting, but would still be viable in softcore.

For the first 25 levels, you will be really weak. The goal is simply to stack hp and hp regen for when you go Blood Magic. So, I like to get the regen and hp from the marauder tree and the templar tree.

At level 24, you will be using your fully functional Explosive Arrow. This requires a 4L. Your gems will be Explosive Arrow, Chance to Ignite, Elemental Proliferation, and Fire Penetration (in that order of importance). When you get more links, you will want to use Increased AoE and Concentrated Effect.

At around level 30, you'll be able to get BM, which you will need in order to be able to sustain your build. This is because, in order to maximize dps, I use Quill Rain--making the mana cost per second extremely high.

After getting BM, I like to get Iron Reflexes--at around level 45. With that, you'll run your single aura (Grace).

Then, I like to get the burn damage nodes in the templar area. After that, its a decision between the aoe nodes and Elemental Equilibrium. To use EE effectively, you'll 5 stack a target, and then you'll use LA with LMP and LoH. This means the explosion will be hitting a lot harder. After the explosion, you'll want to use LA again to increase the burn damage (since the explosion was fire damage). You only need to do this once as burn damage won't proc EE.

This build excels at clearing packs. The burn damage because of EE is exceptional.

I believe the mechanics of explosive arrow itself warrant a bit of explanation.

It only scales off of 3 things: AoE damage, Fire Damage, and Projectile damage. It does NOT scale off of weapon elemental damage--the explosion doesn't at least which is the main damage source of this build.

The progression of the build goes as follows:

30 points:

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEAxthYY1BQjM_2SF8_VEnnUu8Oud3yL9SPGS4n7ayqcql82VnzwBqQVaeEGjjsOFfiMokEsxRNogACcfcy

50 points:

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEAxthYY1BQjM_2SF8_VEnnUu8Oud3yL9SPGS4n7ayqcql82VnzwBqQVaeEGjjsOFfiMokEsxRNogACcfcy-OtBqhRxDjw6Ut-_pzAUIFBHNuhkoxpVYSGE73Tteu9gSwUtZp760g==

70 points:

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEAxthYY1BQjM_2SF8_VEnnUu8Oud3yL9SPGS4n7ayqcql82VnzwBqQVaeEGjjsOFfiMokEsxRNogACcfcy-OtBqhRxDjw6Ut-_pzAUIFBHNuhkoxpVYSGE73Tteu9gSwUtZp760jbp42pAoCFgdPEY20OcDq0ppSSqGYUabJ2uEmkXHHF5HRSYrYM4nYA=

91 points:

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEAxthYY1BQjM_2SF8_VEnnUu8Oud3Uj_IvGS4n7fPdrKpyqVnzfNn3MsAa-OtmnpBVQar60qeEFHEdFDbpGjgGDg48pzCYrSSq42rsOAPGOlIUIBmFV-L9Czbo379QRxpsMolko52uBLMaVRJpFE0CcWEhFxyDOKIAhO9xeZ2A73x07TwFeu-f32BLi4wFLeFzQKDtICFgRtd08RjbQ5xbrw6t3Q0ppfzFZ6CHdkp9j0bQ0M9lVcY=

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xiandrii wrote:

Why do you not use LMP with explosive arrow to spread it to all mobs in the group?

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Pastromy wrote:

Oh... Well, then my post is directed at whomever used that build.

The whole gmp/lmp EA thing is basically suicide. You lose all semblance of control. Also, the scaling is so strong that, even without that, you can still be at risk of death from reflect when 5 stacking something. To counteract that, relying on burn damage is a good option. As I've mentioned, when paired with Elemental Proliferation, you'll get very similar, if not higher, clear speed.

Also, my build has only 20 dps. :P