R.I.P. [2.6] Explosive Arrow - Elementalist Build Guide (multi class + version, in depth theory)

So I'm working through this build in HC which isn't a huge worry for me. Pool and such seem very high so that's fine. My problem is that the leveling part seems a little wonky to me. I swapped over to EA pretty early possible, currently around lvl 35 with a 4L and a rearguard. I'm only hitting for about 80 on initial and 65-95 on explosion. This seems really low and can't quite figure out why that is. I've spec'd out of the spell damage nodes and im working towards blood magic. Is this just the annoying part of the build?

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Torzha wrote:

So I'm working through this build in HC which isn't a huge worry for me. Pool and such seem very high so that's fine. My problem is that the leveling part seems a little wonky to me. I swapped over to EA pretty early possible, currently around lvl 35 with a 4L and a rearguard. I'm only hitting for about 80 on initial and 65-95 on explosion. This seems really low and can't quite figure out why that is. I've spec'd out of the spell damage nodes and im working towards blood magic. Is this just the annoying part of the build?

You took EA too early. I have helped a guy recently, he specked to EA at lvl 52. You may be able to do that sooner, especially if you have some leveling gear. But level 35 is certainly too low.

Please look at the leveling spoiler. Everything is written in detail. I am providing the leveling tree and all. U should be using something like Firestorm for leveling.

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Explosive_Arrow

Look how the damage scales with levels. The low levels start with bad damage but it picks up a lot in higher levels.

Made this character last week and it's coming along pretty nicely. Once I finish leveling and qualitying up the gems, any suggestions on what the largest upgrade might be next (item wise)?

I don't have much currency left and making money is slow but somewhat steady, so I'm hoping to buy something that would give me the biggest damage increase.

I bought a white opal ring and threw some anger essences at it, but none of them came out remotely decent.

Flask wise, would it be worth buying a Taste of Hate for defenses or maybe a Dying Sun for more damage?

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obake1 wrote:

Made this character last week and it's coming along pretty nicely. Once I finish leveling and qualitying up the gems, any suggestions on what the largest upgrade might be next (item wise)?

I don't have much currency left and making money is slow but somewhat steady, so I'm hoping to buy something that would give me the biggest damage increase.

I bought a white opal ring and threw some anger essences at it, but none of them came out remotely decent.

Flask wise, would it be worth buying a Taste of Hate for defenses or maybe a Dying Sun for more damage?

Sulphur flask! You have 3 anti bleed flasks but you don't have a flast to remove curses. You need to reset the fire pen gem in single target. Two tone boots are a bad base essentially. Its much better if you can use normal boots and get a lab enchant. Some boot enchants are very good. Look for more info in the Q&A section in the thread. Winds of change could have a better roll.

It's hard to get a good opal ring that you can actually use. You can try to sell some to make up currency. You will definitely need better rings. Try to maybe use 1 opal ring with essence craft instead of 2.

I'm assuming you are using the grand spectrum tree since you use the prolif gem? If so you should take Mastermind of discord ascendancy instead of Beacon of ruin.

Looks ok otherwise. Good luck.

Thanks!

I just went with whatever flasks I had pre-rolled from other characters at the time.

I will aim to get some better boots, bought those two-toned because they were incredibly cheap at the time of leveling. I was considering just moving to the 12 grand spectrum tree and replacing winds of change with a good rare for maybe more life and resist.

Had a quick question about the single target setup, when I look at path of building, swapping out fire pen for less duration shows a pretty big gain on ignite, but I am assuming that it's looking at the monster with no fire resist as a base?

For Mastermind of Discord, do you just swap a gem in for bosses for that? I'm not sure what I would be using to proc it with the current gem setup or does the vaal lightning trap take care of the proc?

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obake1 wrote:

Thanks!Had a quick question about the single target setup, when I look at path of building, swapping out fire pen for less duration shows a pretty big gain on ignite, but I am assuming that it's looking at the monster with no fire resist as a base?

For Mastermind of Discord, do you just swap a gem in for bosses for that? I'm not sure what I would be using to proc it with the current gem setup or does the vaal lightning trap take care of the proc?

I honestly don't know how calc work on Path of building. :p For Mastermind I just used Vaal lightning trap. There's other options too. Like Lightning arrow, orb of storms. The extra damage is only needed on bosses.

Hi Greengroove/All,

So far loves the build but now started doing maps and I'm clearly doing something very wrong as I'm unable to kill some bosses even on T1, I just don't do any damage.

Build has followed your recommended three and gear + in-game there is no fire damage on my gear.

Normally start with either freenzy for curse on hit or directly start with 5 EA, wait 5 seconds, 5 EA etc. I get the feeling that my arrows does NOT hit high rares or elites.
Is my accuracy the problem? In game it states 82% hit chance, so as long as that's not based on a mob at my level, and my lvl 74 then would require a much higher level I don't understand what's wrong.

Gear below as reference, I have 1 ex in currency to spend but can't afford a 6-link Quil yet.






Highly appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!

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BeastCC wrote:

So far loves the build but now started doing maps and I'm clearly doing something very wrong as I'm unable to kill some bosses even on T1, I just don't do any damage.
Thanks!

The only thing I can see is that you need to get Beacon of ruin. That will help a lot, but not with damage. When you play make sure you keep up all frenzy charges. You only need to spam frenzy to curse unique and rare enemy and of course keep up frenzy charges. If you can I would recommend to swap empower level 3 instead of reduced duration. EA damage scales with level the most. So when your gem will level to minimum lvl 19 it will be much better! You could try and get a higher level EA gem too. Another thing that might help is Doryani's invitation belt (fire variant). Yet another option if you have enough dex is Hrimnor's resolve helmet (optional). Flask of the Wise oak is highly recommended but you need to balance your resistances!!

These suggestions should help you a ton.

You mentioned that you can't kill "some" bosses. Did you see the map mods and bosses to avoid spoiler? In some cases you are supposed to use elemental focus support gem instead of chance to ignite! Keep the gem always handy in your inventory.

Maybe you can tell us if you have any specific boss problem or is it with map mods,...

gl

Hello,
I did not understand at the level of the ascendary, can you tell me which choice is the best?

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Nafelic wrote:

Hello,
I did not understand at the level of the ascendary, can you tell me which choice is the best?

Your Ascendancy points order:

Liege of the Primordial
Shaper of Desolation
Beacon of Ruin
Paragon of Calamity

This is found in the "Leveling the Elementalist" spoiler. Additional information about Ascendancy is also present in the "Ascendancies, Keystone mechanics and curses" spoiler.