[3.6 Video Guide] Volatile Dead Elementalist (or Inquisitor) [HC/SC/Uber Izaro/Shaper]

For gameplay footage & verbally describing the build, check out this video guide: Volatile Dead Video Guide

For the Inquisitor version click HERE! Also to note for the ones curious: Currently (patch 3.1) the VD build is probably the strongest build in the game for Elementalists, though it really can't compare to the strength of an Inquisitor. Hopefully we will see buffs to the Elementalist class within a near future.

Path of Building Link for the build: https://pastebin.com/dH960JkQ
Simply go to "Import/Export Build" > Click the "Import from Pastebin" paste the link in there, and then click "Import"

If you have any questions you can always come to my twitch stream to get them answered or just to enjoy the stream:

Ghazzy's Livestreaming Channel

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Is this build for you?

1. If you are looking for a top tier Elementalist build.

2. A build that is not only viable in both hardcore & softcore, but also Atziri, Uber Izaro.

3. Insanely high eHP with really good clear speed.

4. If you prefer a build guide that has a video linked to it.

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Build Enabling/Enhancing Items:

As you're leveling you can equip yourself with a Nycta's Lantern which will carry you all the way till you can afford a Doryani's Catalyst Scepter, both are great additions to the build and makes it very cheap to run effectively with.

3x Grand Spectrum Cobalt Jewels are there to help you sustain the MoM effect.

Pure Talent Viridian Jewel is insanely effective for this build in the late game stage.

Chernobog's Pillar Ebony Tower Shield is one of many great shields you can use for the build and is my personal favorite for it.

Flask wise there are 2 great options:

1) Atziri's Promise for extra leeching & dmg output
2) The Wise Oak to further penetrate enemy resistances and to get yourself mitigating more incoming damage, it's recommended to balance your resistance for optimal use of this flask.


FOR HIGH BUDGET USAGE:

Simply equip 2x Poet's Pen with the following sockets:
1) Volatile Dead - Controlled Destruction - Elemental Focus
2) Unearth - GMP - LMP

Generally you'd want to go crit if you go with the Poet's Pen aproach but both versions are viable. Also keep in mind that a recent nerf is forcing us to use BARRAGE instead of Frenzy for this strategy to work!

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Defence & Utility

The build either uses a Spell Totem + Skeleton setup or a Decoy Totem to distract harder enemies or bosses from targeting you, besides this it brings enemies down with the full power of your flamy balls.

A simple CWDT setup combined with Immortal Call is there to help you vs Bone Husks & Porcupines.

Here is a link to a downloadable calculator for how much effective HP you'll have with Mind Over Matter: Mind Over Matter eHP Calculator

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Pantheon Choices:

Pantheon List

Major God:

- Soul of the Brine King
Helps you avoid getting chain stunned.

Minor God:

- Soul of Shakari
Makes you immune to poison damage later on.

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Skill-gems & Setups:

Volatile Dead:

- Volatile Dead, Spell Cascade, Controlled Destruction, Elemental Focus, Fire Penetration, Concentrated Effect

Cremation:

- Cremation, GMP, Concentrated Effect, Elemental Focus

Desecrate:

- Desecrate, Spell Cascade, Arcane Surge, Faster Casting

I tend to make sure my Arcane Surge procs on every second cast (usually around lvl 11).

Decoy Targets:

You have 2 options here:

1) - Spell Totem, Summon Skeleton
2) - Decoy Totem


Defence:

- Cast When Damage Taken, Immortal Call

Aura:

- Clarity, Herald of Ash

If you're playing softcore you can have less mana and add both Herald of Thunder & Herald of Ice if you wish.

Stand alone sockets:

- Flame Golem, Lightning Golem

Mobility:

- Flame Dash, Faster Casting


VAAL GEM NOTE:
With 3.3 you could use the Vaal Impurity of Fire (Corrupted Purity of Fire gem) gem to negate fire resistances if you prefer that playstyle!

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Skill-tree & Ascendancy Nodes:

Ascendancy Nodes:
You start of by taking the Paragon of Calamity to then pick up Pendulum of Destruction after this you pick up the Mastermind of Discord to then finish everything of with 2x golems via: Liege of the Primordial.


Leveling skill-tree, 30 points

Leveling skill-tree, 56 points

Leveling skill-tree, 85 points

Finished skill-tree

Note:

1. Once the skill-tree is finished, just focus 100% on more jewel slots.

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Leveling Tips:

Simply use Magma Orb or what ever other ability you prefer till you hit lvl 12 in which case I recommend using Firestorm. This will then be used till you hit lvl 16 in act 2 and pick up the Desecrate skillgem which will now allow you to go back to act 1 and pick up Spell Cascade, those 2 linked together will now allow you to switch entirely over to the Volatile Dead setup which should be linked like this early on:
Volatile Dead - Spell Cascade + either Added Lightning or Added Cold (or both if possible) till you are able to get yourself Controlled Destruction & Elemental Focus which will replace those 2 when available.

During this part of the game it is strongly recommended to have these 4 auras:
Clarity - Herald of Thunder & Herald of Ice, Herald of Ash.
You might be low on Dexterity for all of this so I recommend using a Dexterity increasing amulet such as a Jade Amulet.

You will continue using this till you're lvl 41 in which case you are able to equip the Nycta's Lantern which will carry you to yellow tier maps if not more. You want to move your Volatile Dead setup in there using Volatile Dead - Spell Cascade - Elemental Focus. You don't want to switch away from this till you get a 5L or 6L in which case you want to move in your Cremation in this (yes it's better than a normal 4L) with these links: Cremation - GMP - Conc Effect. Use this till you can afford the end-game weapon Doryani's Catalyst.


Bandits:

- Kill them all, they don't grant anything worth the skillpoints you'd lose

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Gearing & Stat Priorities

What base items to use:

The base items of this build really doesn't matter as we don't care about the base defensive stats such as armour(str), evasion(dex) or energy shield(int). So instead the base items will follow the stat priority listed in this guide.
However, the attribute requirement of the items will base how hard it is to chrome (color) which will be the only thing we will think about when planing our gearing.
So, if you need 4 blue sockets in an item the recommendation is to get an item that has Energy Shield (int) base or a hybrid base which includes Energy Shield (int).

By using this chrome calculating website: https://siveran.github.io/calc.html you can easily track how hard it will be to chrome the colors you need. This YouTube playlist can help a lot for new players and also includes a few tricks when coloring items with the "wrong attribute requirements" for your build: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuu-MdPs0Af8A4e3gSsJ1xDKNNcdFwY1r


Defensive Stats:

1. Life
2. Mana
3. Resistances
4. Strength

Offensive Stats:

1. Elemental DMG
1. Spell DMG
1. Area DMG
1. Fire DMG

Jewels:

Same as the offensive stats unless you need defensive stats, then mix or follow that.

Flasks:

1x Seething Divine Life Flask or w/e suffix
1x w/e prefix Eternal Mana Flask of Staunching
1x The Wise Oak Bismuth Flask
1x Atziri's Promise Amethyst Flask
1x Ample Quicksilver Flask of Heat

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Recommended Unique Items:
Doryani's Catalyst
Chernobog's Pillar
Cloak of Defiance
The Wise Oak
Atziri's Promise
3x Grand Spectrum Cobalt Jewels
Pure Talent Jewel

Recommended LvLing Uniques:
Nycta's Lantern
Wanderlust
Goldrim
Lifesprig
Tabula Rasa

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Outro:

For gameplay footage & verbally describing the build, check out this video guide: Volatile Dead Video Guide

For the Inquisitor version click HERE! Also to note for the ones curious: Currently (patch 3.1) the VD build is probably the strongest build in the game for Elementalists, though it really can't compare to the strength of an Inquisitor. Hopefully we will see buffs to the Elementalist class within a near future.

Before you start posting questions I would recommend checking the video. I am as always available in my stream!

Hope you guys will enjoy the build! Below you can access my other build guides:

Build Guides


//GhazzyTV

* Reserved *


NOTICE:

I've reached a point where I have too many build guides to keep up with responding personally on each comment as I've always done on my threads in the past. I will obviously continue doing this but on the youtube videos instead. I hope you guys will understand, sadly I'm not a fulltime streamer and for me to keep build guides like this posted this was an inevitable result!

Nice guide, what would you recommend dropping in a 5L Cloak?

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RiseToRemain wrote:

Nice guide, what would you recommend dropping in a 5L Cloak?

Conc effect, the support gems are listed in order of efficiency :)

Cheers!

Thought they would be but wanted to make sure, thanks for the ridiculously speedy response :)

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RiseToRemain wrote:

Thought they would be but wanted to make sure, thanks for the ridiculously speedy response :)

Haha, my pleasure I JUST finished this guide so I've been hanging around sorting some details! :D

Hey Ghazzy - was planning on running something VD for the new league on Xbox. Which version would you recommend? Kept in mind gearing is tough on Xbox (almost SSF).

Thanks!

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Shnizers wrote:

Hey Ghazzy - was planning on running something VD for the new league on Xbox. Which version would you recommend? Kept in mind gearing is tough on Xbox (almost SSF).

Thanks!

Elementalist is easier to gear imo :)

Hey Ghazzy, love your guides - Did you leave out the desecrate gem setup?

Hello! How it feels for a SSF? Got good 2h staff +110% fire dmg, +30% cast speed.
Is it possible to farm well t15 maps without supports?