[2.3] KrazyEd's CA Occultist- 3-4 Curse DoT Resistance Crusher. Atziri Down!
 KrazyEd's CA solo/support Witch- Quad curse, minus enemy chaos res, and chaos explosions *DISCLAIMER!* This is my first build guide so I'm sure there's a lot I can improve upon. If I'm missing something please let me know and I will try and add it as soon as I can. *UPDATES* 6-23: Added a Build overview to the video section 8-25: Updated Equipment, Q and A, and Passive Tree What is this build about? Wreaking havoc through chaos damage (which as of now there are still no map mods for!) and lots of curses on enemies. In the title I mention solo and support as a style but I'm confident you can carry with this build as well in a small group. Maintaining 3 curses should be no problem and 8 is theoretically possible if you want to go full on curse support, but I think that would turn into a completely different build. There are a few requirements for this build but you're able to tier into them as you build currency so it's not too bad. It's not like you need everything all at once for the build to start "working". With that being said... to be able to do red maps and other hard content and really let the build shine it will take some currency investment on your part. But that's not much different than most other builds out there.
Damage and Defense Screenshots
Defense stats in Dried Lake  Damage with a lvl26 CA (21 CA + 3 bow + 2 Empower lvl 3 (from bow))  Here's some gameplay video's or you can check out my youtube page
Spoiler
Chateau Map (+2 Bow) Triple Damage No regen Canyon (+1 bow) un-ID'd torture chamber (lvl77, +1 bow) Build Overview (You're probably going to have to turn the volume up... It's really quiet.) **Important Disclaimer!** Caustic Arrow is not available to a witch... EVER! If this will be your first build in a new league you will need to start a mule ranger or shadow, complete the "breaking some Eggs" quest (the roah nests in mud flats), and maybe pick up a dex amulet to drop in your inventory before starting this one. If you're fast this should only take about 10 minutes. You can also do this later and buy multiple CA gems to level if you want to use another spell like freezing pulse or firestorm to level till you can equip your +1 bow. Skills and Gem Links
Spoiler
This builds primary attack is Caustic Arrow (CA) but it also uses Frenzy (F) to gain frenzy charges and blink arrow for movement. Here are my how I link my skills
For a 4th Curse remove Enhance for your 6th link in chest or put Grace in an unset ring and add a low level one to your cwdt setup. *Less Duration is actually preferred to faster attacks but linking less duration in the same setup as IC lessens the IC duration and having it in the same links as the Blashpemy increases the mana reserved for the curse. There are 2 ways around this...
Passive Tree, Bandits and Ascendancies
Tree's
40 pts.
80 pts.
Final
My Current Tree (92)
Note
In this tree I have spec'd 5 points out from the Whispers of Doom wheel. I am only running 3 curses. If you want to run 4 simply remove the points from the Shadow starting chaos damage nodes or get another +1 Curse on boots, ring or amulet.
Bandits
Normal- Oak for +40 Life Cruel- Point from Eramir Merc- Point or Kraityn for Frenzy charge
Ascendancy
I choose Occultist because the -20% chaos res, access to the additional +1 curse, and enemies take 10% more damage when cursed by you. The occasional chaos explosion can add some clear speed and help on areas with exploding porcupine's and necromancers. With that said the order in which I get the the points is as follows:
I did the normal lab after normal Malachai but waited to do cruel until about lvl65 and merc at lvl75 mostly because I was trying to level quickly and get to maps. I've still yet to find all my trials for end game lab but will do it as soon as I can for the lootz and enchants. OTHER Ascendancy Options Deadeye and Trickster are both good options as well. They will need a +1 curse ami, doedra's ring, and/or spend the 5 skill points to make up for the Occultists Malediction ascendancy.
Gearing
Spoiler
Gear is the most important aspect of this build since we will eventually want that +3 bow. Try to get a +1 bow with a 4-5 link as early as possible. I found a 3-link +1 cold wand early so I dual wielded wands with Freeze Pulse-added cold- and controlled dest. until about level 30 supplementing with a 3-4 link ED on rare's and bosses.
Weapon
Marketh is the best base because of the +6% move speed but they can be a bit more expensive and bought up faster than a thicket (fastest attack speed) or Steelwood (4% movespeed). I leveled with a 5-link +1 bow (2C)from the low 40's till about level 80 so that should give you plenty of time to farm currency and maps for a 6-link base. Here are the crafting method's to get a +3 bow. I've stolen them from Sarleth's guide because I feel it's the best list, but there are youtube video's, forum and Reddit posts describing and discussing +3 crafting method's. I suggest you really look into the process because it will be cheaper to craft your +3 bow then buy one already crafted out.
Method 1
Method 2
This is the method I plan to use once I get Caterina to lvl8
Method 3
This method attributed to Sarleth is more expensive and complex but can be used to craft a bow with +3 gems, leo DoT mod, and Dual res
Armor
When I equip the Cospri's over a 100 HP armor I lose ~250HP and some resists but hexproof maps are no longer an issue and you can spec out of the 5 points to Hex Master if you don't want to run 4 curses. I also have enough resists on my other gear (even with unset rings) to be Ele. Weakness capped while wearing a Cospri's.
Quiver
Drillneck, BIS. 100% increased damage with life and some bonus evasion. It can be corrupted with +1 arrow for a GG one but I got mine for a chaos.
Gloves
They have 12-16% increased life which can give you more than a perfectly rolled pair of rare gloves and can have up to 50% cold res. Since the casutic cloud doesn't hit it's drawback is a non-issue. I use these to easily get my RRBB 4 link for my wither totem.
Other Gear
All your other gear should have good life rolls and fill out your resistances. Aim for 30% MS on your boots and try to have a belt with free prefix open for bonus movespeed from Tora as well. Also try and get strength wherever you can to help with base life and stat requirements for a higher level spell totem and flame golem. *If you have the funds and resists on your other gear Atziri's Step boots are probably BiS.
Jewels
Your jewels can be whatever you need and should be the last thing you pickup. They would also be one of your most expensive items as 3 mod jewels will run ~20-40C and 4 mod jewels can be an Ex or two depending on the rolls. They can however be a HUGE boost and if you already have some put points into jewel slots earlier than later. Jewel mods to look for are:
Perfectly rolled Jewels can have either 7% max life and 37% increased CA damange or 49% CA damage.
Enchantments
There are a lot of good enchantments you can get for helmets, gloves and boots. Try and get any helm enchant for Caustic arrow and an on kill effect for gloves. For boots movement speed when not hit recently is my preferred but spell dodge on taking spell damage is nice as well. Q and A
Spoiler
Q: My CA doesn't do enough damage. I feel like something is wrong!
A: If you're in a 5 link make sure that Empower is not in the equation and Conc Effect is. Even though Conc Effect doesn't show on the tool tip you will notice a significant difference when you start playing with it. Also make sure your pierce chance is 100%, that you're keeping up with your vulnerability on hit/Frenzy charges and using wither totem on bosses. Q: Can this build do deathless Atziri? A: Yes! I've done over 30 runs and most of them deathless. Q: Can this build kill Uber Atziri??? A: I believe it can but the setup will have to change some. I will update this guide in the future when that happens! Credit's and Thanks I'd like to thank Sarleth, ComradeSerge, Grocery and anyone else who's taken their time to put together CA guides in the past. They've really given a fantastic base of knowledge to build upon while also shown how strong and versatile a skill it is. Thanks. Last edited by KrazyEd#6036 on Sep 7, 2016, 11:18:54 AM Last bumped on Aug 25, 2016, 5:41:17 PM
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How about tooltips or any other stats mate?
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" Added them just between the Intro and video section. |
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Added a new video in video's section.
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Updated Gear, my current tree, Q and A, and my current stat's. Plus I've been farming Atziri and will have a Core video up soon.
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