[2.1 Video Guide] Dual Elemental Siege Ballista Build 2x 40k+ DPS [HC/SC & Atziri Viable]

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Orcusorc wrote:

Would taking Kraityn in merciless for 8% attack speed be a bad idea? And if I'm playing on talisman-standard, could I get away with taking some points off life nodes and maybe spreading them to the ranger start nodes for increased attack speed and projectile damage? Something like this

Spoiler

https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwAAOygIZ_KXA5aTOptdbj29J6iaYEO-gBg8GFZ7w4MJ-ehvnkGHykrxs7c-X7BLV4PM_gqbtcDjPC3YvcM6hMXGroNfNZIZiiSLEMzE9pcG-wkPq_6HcqnEovbaFr97IPcyrKqVyLvj35gajyaV-JN82VnzJyH-umJaYeIaOHIP_gl9dVVLkFWUb3GFZp4B0dN-jDYnL2ZUVyn60ljlAF5URzrYRtcXLxZvwxMqExmOpr4yiWTnJKrjalor7YOexHflVdY26aPyCC5d8lfigKTtILaGgpvhc5Z0ogDwHwSz8kU64aZX

Edit: Also, is it definitive that Rain Of Splinters > GMP/LMP? Being reduced damage and not less seems like it would help DPS a lot, and it seems like the gem slot you would gain would outweigh the loss of a jewel.

Edit2: Also what about taking the 4 life nodes from scion start instead of the mana nodes, and the sanctity notable, then using the additional regeneration to run blood rage? Would that be stupid?

1. The kraityn 8% can be replaced by a jewel socket that can grant you up to 12% + various other stats.

2. Rain of splinters by itself is not better than GMP, however Rain of Spliters + LMP is in most cases superior for damage.

3. Blood Rage does not work when using totems unfortunately :)

Ok, thanks for the response LiftingNerdBro. I'll stick to the build instead of adding my ridiculous ideas.

Here are some thoughts I have regarding your 4 link for bosses only. In your build, you use a 4 link siege ballista for boss fights. This 4 link consists of..

Siege Ballista - Faster attacks - weapon elemental damage - Slower projectiles.

If I were to use this 4 link for bosses, it only does a little bit more damage than my 6 link, even with GMP. It is such a small damage increase compared to my 6 link, that I don't even bother using it.

Now, your guide recommends to use mainly a 5 link consisting of

Curse on hit - Frenzy - GMP - Chain - elemental weakness. (and blink arrow if you get a 6 socket)

While this is very nice for cursing everything while farming, I'd say its more of a luxury and that the 5 link or 6 link could be used for something so much better!

I'm running Curse on hit - Frenzy - GMP - and Elemental Weakness in a 4 link. Sure, I don't have chain but it goes the job done.

Since I'm using a 6 link chest, this gives me the option of a 5 or 6 link bow!! Just think, for bosses I could have something like

Siege ballista, Faster attacks, weapon elemental damage, Slower projectiles and Added Lightning damage.

This makes my damage for bosses so, so much higher compared to the 4 link. And if I were to get a 6 link it would just be amazing.



What do you think LiftingNerdBro?

Thanks for taking the time to share this build and answer questions!

I've played this build to level 66 in THC and have some feedback:
- This seems more like an exercise in making SB viable than it is saying it is a strong skill. At 66 and with frenzy charges, night's hold flame totem can be 2x more damage than 4 socketed siege ballista. I'm looking for a new bow but it really takes a lot of gear and support gems to make SB viable.
- The tree is short on dexterity for being a bow build. Higher level bows can be close to 210 dex and this build only has 160 dex in the tree (though you do recommend a 180 dex thicket)

Overall, leveling was easy but the transition to mapping is going to take a good bit of gear shopping. Flame totem is still better IMO. Where with other builds I've been able to play self found but this build requires a lot of specifics that aren't easily found (WED, elemental bow, elemental/attack speed gloves, etc).

Maybe I need to shift my perspective so I've posted here :-)

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MegaGrubby wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to share this build and answer questions!

I've played this build to level 66 in THC and have some feedback:
- This seems more like an exercise in making SB viable than it is saying it is a strong skill. At 66 and with frenzy charges, night's hold flame totem can be 3x more damage than 4 socketed siege ballista. I'm looking for a new bow but it really takes a lot of gear and support gems to make SB viable.
- The tree is short on dexterity for being a bow build. Higher level bows can be close to 210 dex and this build only has 160 dex in the tree (though you do recommend a 180 dex thicket)

Overall, leveling was easy but the transition to mapping is going to take a good bit of gear shopping. Flame totem is still better IMO. Where with other builds I've been able to play self found but this build requires a lot of specifics that aren't easily found (WED, elemental bow, elemental/attack speed gloves, etc).

Maybe I need to shift my perspective so I've posted here :-)

I'm level 87 doing this build. A few things to answer your questions

The build won't really shine at level 66, especially with only a 4 link siege ballista. 5 Link cant definitely do maps, but its much smoother with a 6 link using that added lightning damage.

As for being short on dexterity and Intelligence.. his guide video DOES NOT say to get the +30 int and +30 dex nodes, but on his character sheet he gets them. I had to get the +30 int node as of now just for my curses but I'm seriously considering lowering the level of ele weakness and curse on hit just to free up a point in my tree.

You need a lot of knowledge on what a good ele dmg bow is in order for this build to work. they are hard to come by

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DiabloBlew wrote:

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MegaGrubby wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to share this build and answer questions!

I've played this build to level 66 in THC and have some feedback:
- This seems more like an exercise in making SB viable than it is saying it is a strong skill. At 66 and with frenzy charges, night's hold flame totem can be 3x more damage than 4 socketed siege ballista. I'm looking for a new bow but it really takes a lot of gear and support gems to make SB viable.
- The tree is short on dexterity for being a bow build. Higher level bows can be close to 210 dex and this build only has 160 dex in the tree (though you do recommend a 180 dex thicket)

Overall, leveling was easy but the transition to mapping is going to take a good bit of gear shopping. Flame totem is still better IMO. Where with other builds I've been able to play self found but this build requires a lot of specifics that aren't easily found (WED, elemental bow, elemental/attack speed gloves, etc).

Maybe I need to shift my perspective so I've posted here :-)

I'm level 87 doing this build. A few things to answer your questions

The build won't really shine at level 66, especially with only a 4 link siege ballista. 5 Link cant definitely do maps, but its much smoother with a 6 link using that added lightning damage.

As for being short on dexterity and Intelligence.. his guide video DOES NOT say to get the +30 int and +30 dex nodes, but on his character sheet he gets them. I had to get the +30 int node as of now just for my curses but I'm seriously considering lowering the level of ele weakness and curse on hit just to free up a point in my tree.

You need a lot of knowledge on what a good ele dmg bow is in order for this build to work. they are hard to come by

A 6-link should in no way be necessary for 66+ content. I am currently using a 5-link in tier 10 maps and kill stuff easily =)

It is however as you say all about knowing about how to get a good elemental bow.

Good evening. I think i'll give this build a try, because its like a Blink/Mirror Summoner with Totems, which i play at the moment. And i like this playstyle. I was lucky and found a Drillneck and some other nice stuff i can use for it.

I have one question, i found this bow. Is it worth it to put some currency on it (5 link, attack speed ...) I never played a elemental based build...

Well...you are both agreeing with me while seeming to say I'm not on point.

First off, low dexterity high elemental dps bows are about 1/10th (or less) of available bows. So you are limited in gear.

I bought a 230 elemental dps bow for 5c and my damage got to within about 100 dps of the night's hold flame totem. Then I leveled and the gap widened to about 300 dps. So the build scales better with flame totem than siege ballista.

To further compare, I bought a decent spell/fire damage staff for 2 chance orbs. I created a 4 link with flame totem, controlled destruction, faster casting and fire penetration. The gems supporting flame totem are level 1 and the siege ballista gems are levels 62-65. Tooltip dps is 2700 for flame totem versus 1600 dps for 4 socketed siege ballista.

So...once again...supported by facts...this build is more about making siege ballista viable than it is about showing it as a strong skill.

Ballista is viable just not on elemental. For ele dmg you need high spd to scale it and Ballista has 50% less speed so it's a fail from the start. Second - ele attack builds usually dont have build in penetration because they are using all 3 elements so slotting just one pen is not effective. That means without using curse your dmg can be mitigated by 75% by enemy resistances

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MegaGrubby wrote:

Well...you are both agreeing with me while seeming to say I'm not on point.

First off, low dexterity high elemental dps bows are about 1/10th (or less) of available bows. So you are limited in gear.

I bought a 230 elemental dps bow for 5c and my damage got to within about 100 dps of the night's hold flame totem. Then I leveled and the gap widened to about 300 dps. So the build scales better with flame totem than siege ballista.

To further compare, I bought a decent spell/fire damage staff for 2 chance orbs. I created a 4 link with flame totem, controlled destruction, faster casting and fire penetration. The gems supporting flame totem are level 1 and the siege ballista gems are levels 62-65. Tooltip dps is 2700 for flame totem versus 1600 dps for 4 socketed siege ballista.

So...once again...supported by facts...this build is more about making siege ballista viable than it is about showing it as a strong skill.

No offence mate, but you are comparing tool tip DPS numbers with two VERY different skills. I don't know how new you are to the game, but this is not how things work in Path of Exile. A skill with low tool-tip dps can easily outperform a mechanically weaker skill with a higher dps number.

There is also plenty of skillnodes in the skill-tree that would be inefficient choices for flame totem (I should know, as I have played that build a ton).

I am not sure what to tell you, but your "facts" are wrong.