[3.1][HC/SC] Scorching Cascade

The basic idea here is to use Scorching Ray debuff to get fire penetration and extra damage. The default cast rate on Glacial Cascade is .80. With Cast While Channeling, it starts at .40; it only gets better from there.

We convert our damage into full fire utilizing two of the new thresholds for Glacial Cascade(The Long Winter) to convert 40% of our physical damage into cold, then a Cold to Fire support in our main link setup. The rest of the damage is converted to fire via Avatar of Fire on the tree. My other version of this build lost a bit of damage (probably 5% or so) by not converting the physical all the way to cold. The Long Winter should also make clearing a bit easier, since the cascade will reach further.

Path of Building: https://pastebin.com/agN7JbzQ
The pastebin above has all of the leveling trees included as well.

26 points
47 points
62 points
80 points
113 points

Bandits: Kill All

For leveling I went DW Cleave into DW Sunder. If you choose to do the same, find a RRG linked item for Sunder - Added Fire(swap to melee physical at lv 18) - and Faster Attacks(18). Use the whetstone recipe to keep your weapon updated (whetstone + weapon + magic/rare rustic sash).

Around level 25-30, you can start looking for a 4L BBBR for your Scorching Cascade setup.

After doing the library quest, you can pick up the gems required for the build (Glacial Cascade, Cold to Fire, Scorching Ray, Controlled Destruction). You'll need other ones such as Orb of Storms but you don't have to stress over it right after the start. It's just important to pick up the ones for your main damage setup so they can level in your offset.

At lv 38 after defeating Kaom/Daresso, you can start transition into the build. The 47 point tree is the transitional period. Prerequisites for transitioning are Avatar of Fire, and specing out of all the melee nodes.

You don't have to follow the skill trees I have linked above point for point. If you're in Hardcore, for example, you might want more life than I have speced on the tree for that point in the game. Use your own judgement on these things; I'm simply providing a baseline.

Cast while Channeling - Scorching Ray - GC - Cold to Fire - Controlled Dest - Inc AoE

Decoy Totem - Enduring Cry - Flame Dash

Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call - Inc Duration - Flammability

Orb of Storms - Arcane Surge(6) - Curse On Hit - Flammability

Shield Charge - Faster Attacks - Fortify

Hatred(Essence Worm)

Swap Inc AoE for Conc Effect in main setup for bossing. Some of the links are personal preference. Do what you will.

Berserker:
Pain Reaver - Crave the Slaughter - Aspect of Carnage - Preference

Pantheons:
Major: Brine King (until you get Kaom's Roots) into Lunaris
Minor: Gruthkul (if reflect is somehow a problem in 3.1, swap to Yugul)

This was my gear on my HC Chieftain during Mayhem. Belt of the Deceiver no longer gives spells a more damage multiplier so I won't be using it. I'll probably just use a rare belt with life/res's.

As you can see, it's nothing special. I dropped the Tabula farming Blood Aqueducts. Up until Sun and Moon I had been using the same four link (CwC - SR - Cold to Fire - GC) I recommended to start using at lv 38.

Ideally I'd want a Doon Cuebiyari or a Doryani's Catalyst. I have somewhat ideal gear included in my Path of Building pastebin located in the Skill Tree section. That being said, the gear is pretty cheap and pretty self-obtainable. Even if you're SSF and you can't chance a Doon Cuebyari or farm yourself a Doryani's doing Atziri runs, you can make due with a rare sceptre with fire/spell damage and some cast speed.

Bubbling Divine of Staunching - Experimenter's Quicksilver of Warding - Catalysed Eternal Mana Flask of Staunching - The Wise Oak - Experimenter's Granite of Iron Skin

Run an "of Heat" Granite or whatever you prefer in that slot until you get Kaom's Roots.

Clear Mind, The Long Winter x2.

Shoot for Fire/Spell Damage applies to both Scorching Ray's Damage and Glacial Cascade, on top of a life roll. If you have to settle for damage that only applies to GC (such as Cold and Area Damage), it's okay. And if you have to settle for a jewel without life, no worries. You can always upgrade later.

Cast Speed is super nice quality of life, as it increases the turning speed of Scorching Ray. Settling for this isn't even bad if you pair it with a nice life roll.

I'll be updating this during War for Atlas as I level and progress the character to maps. For now, there are some videos of my Scion version of the build (imagine the build doing 40% more damage and you'll get the picture xD)

Innocence
Kitava(Act5)
Arakaali
Doedre(Act8)
Sun and Moon
Kitava(Act10)
Beach Map

So far, the build's been super enjoyable. I haven't had this much fun with a build since my Cast on Crit Ice/Shock Nova Elemental Equilibrium character. The feeling you get while whirling the Scorching Ray around and shooting out Glacial Cascades is nothing short of euphoric. Sure, it takes a bit of getting used to, and some time to get going, but playing your character at lv 38 (compared to some builds that transition at 60 plus) is rewarding.

If you have any questions at all regarding the build, feel free to drop by my Twitch. I'm always happy to answer questions ;3