[3.7] Armageddon Brand + Cremation easy game. Uber Elder/Atziri + co. Super safe HoGM.

For any questions regarding this build, please use this thread. If you see any mistake in the guide, please notify me about it. Also if you have any suggestions for improvement, feel free to post them here. Do not PM me, others may have same question. Read FAQ!

3.7 changes

Got slight HP pool nerf due to removal of mana nodes behind MoM. Somewhat compensated with Dynamo and 8% mana/10% mana regen behind Arcane Will. The new Insightfulness cluster is bad replacement, since this build doesn't care about ES.

Here PoB with updated tree https://pastebin.com/1NuizwMe. 3 trees inside, base for lvl 82, lvl 94 and lvl 100.



1. Intro

Combining strength of self casting and totems, while eliminating its weaknesses.

This is a short guide for my take on Armageddon Brand.

The build is amazing. I could do almost all content(chayula is still alive, no stone yet) with ease. Very forgiving to mistakes. Can be easily customised for more tankyness or crit. With crit variant can also use storm brand. Still could get much higher DPS.

I chose to use Cremation as a complementary skill, because i felt i needed to be able to do something else, while brand is active. Firestorm is another great option, but the build loses its great mobility. Fire Trap may also work. If opting for crit, could use any possible skills, since crit variant does not scale any particular element.

This build will work with Armageddon Brand as the only damage skill. If you would like to drop cremation, replace Elemental Focus with Combustion. Or you can find another way to ignite and apply the Combustion debuff.

I encourage you to be creative and adapt the build to your needs. it would be nice of you to post ur variation here, if you do so. May inspire others or give me something to think about.

2. Pros/Cons

Pros:
- tanky
- mobile
- good dps(single target and clear speed)
- super fun to play
- scales well with gear
- there are absolutely no needed/enabling items
- SSF friendly
- HC viable

Cons:
- ele reflect maps (can do it with balefire, if really needed. Done t14 like that, was very tedious, but doable)

3. Videos

4. Gear

This part is too important to put it together with the rest of possible variants/upgrades.

Only a helmet with at least lvl 20 Concentrated Effect AND lvl 20 Immolate AND the ability to craft +1 AoE gems is better, then 6L in body armor. Originally i got the helmet as a bridge item till 6L carcass. I got it back at the time for 1.5ex where 1 ex was 90c. 6L good roll carcass was at least 4x that. But later i found the master craft and seen, that it is actually slightly better, then 6L carcass and kept it.

If you gonna use brand in the body armor, optimal 6th link is dependant on your current gear. I would recommend to go with either Faster Casting or Combustion. Immolate is also possible, but other 2 supports will give better consistency for about the same DPS. So the 6L would look like this:

Armageddon Brand - Concentrated Effect - Controlled Destruction - Elemental Focus - Fire Penetration - Combustion/Faster Casting

In this case helmet can be replaced with better options:

I personally would recommend The Tempest's Binding. If it is used, use Hypothermia as the 6th link for Armageddon Brand. Also keep Cremation in the helmet for occasional innervate buff.

So the links would be:

Armageddon Brand - Concentrated Effect - Controlled Destruction - Elemental Focus - Fire Penetration - Hypothermia

Cremation - Combustion - GMP - Concentrated Effect

This is also general 4L cremation for all other gear choices. For a 6L(for example if 6L staff and 6L carcass is used) add Controlled Destruction + Fire Penetration or Hypothermia, if The Tempest's Binding is used.

Other good, but lesser options are, 2 abyss socket Lightpoacher or Hale Negator, Hrimnor's Resolve, Crown of the Tyrant or a rare Scorched Fossil crafted elder helmet with Concentrated Effect and/or flat fire dmg to spells.


5. Passives

6. Leveling/Gearing Tips

7. Possible variants/upgrades.


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Another one of my up-to-date guides Ignite Flameblast Elementalist, if you would like something off meta, but capable.

Hey, build looks sick!

Can you just tell me what stats I should be prioritizing for the gear?

"

SKT1K wrote:

Hey, build looks sick!

Can you just tell me what stats I should be prioritizing for the gear?

For defense: life, mana, life regen, mana regen

For dps: cast speed, flat fire dmg, increased dmg.

Abyss jewels r usually better for dps.

Armageddon + Cremation combo is definitely a unique idea.
Everyone thought Armageddon with Scorching Ray Totem or Decoy Totem.

I've watched the two videos and they're rather impressive. Thanks for the build!

Hi I am a relative new player (started to test 2-3 chars late in the last league and have one lvl90 summoner in this league) and there are many things, that I don't fully understand yet.

I am looking for a new build and this one looks really interesting (reasonable budget, fun play style, end-game viable).

1) Whats the purpose of coldsnap, lightning trap and stone golem in this build?

2) Why are the nods around runesmith, Shaman's Dominion or breath of flames not worth it?


3) Would a 2h weapon like searing Touch be a useful alternative / option?

"

PathoftheHempel wrote:

Hi I am a relative new player (started to test 2-3 chars late in the last league and have one lvl90 summoner in this league) and there are many things, that I don't fully understand yet.

I am looking for a new build and this one looks really interesting (reasonable budget, fun play style, end-game viable).

1) Whats the purpose of coldsnap, lightning trap and stone golem in this build?

2) Why are the nods around runesmith, Shaman's Dominion or breath of flames not worth it?


3) Would a 2h weapon like searing Touch be a useful alternative / option?

1. Cold snap has 2 purposes, 1st and main to chill enemies for defense and 2nd to give frenzy charges while clearing to shield charge faster.

Not just lighting trap(just the trap is not used), vaal lightning trap, puts shocked ground which makes enemies take 20% more dmg on it. Plus with it i can use crafted mods on boots and/or same but with onslaught(which is slightly better, but i didnt had it at the time and didnt wanted to recraft). It is used to burst down bosses or other tough mobs.

Stone golems gives 105 life regen, is pretty good.

2. Runesmith is way too far, not worth it(if u would go crit, u would go that direction, then can take it as well). Shaman's Dominion is for crit, if u want to go crit, then u take it. Breath of Flames is only worth taking, if u do some kind of ignite/burning dmg build. This build doesnt care about burning dmg.

3. Searing touch is same as Breath of Flames. Other 2h weapons r theoretically possible. I didnt rly looked into that, cuz only 2 melee(for fortify) movement skills r usable with staves, leap slam and charged dash. Leap slam sux, if u dont have good atk speed and i just dont like dash. If u would say, u dont care about fortify and use only warp/flame dash, then a good +3 fire staff should be good.

"

1337fun wrote:

"

PathoftheHempel wrote:

Hi I am a relative new player (started to test 2-3 chars late in the last league and have one lvl90 summoner in this league) and there are many things, that I don't fully understand yet.

I am looking for a new build and this one looks really interesting (reasonable budget, fun play style, end-game viable).

1) Whats the purpose of coldsnap, lightning trap and stone golem in this build?

2) Why are the nods around runesmith, Shaman's Dominion or breath of flames not worth it?


3) Would a 2h weapon like searing Touch be a useful alternative / option?

1. Cold snap has 2 purposes, 1st and main to chill enemies for defense and 2nd to give frenzy charges while clearing to shield charge faster.

Not just lighting trap(just the trap is not used), vaal lightning trap, puts shocked ground which makes enemies take 20% more dmg on it. Plus with it i can use crafted mods on boots and/or same but with onslaught(which is slightly better, but i didnt had it at the time and didnt wanted to recraft). It is used to burst down bosses or other tough mobs.

Stone golems gives 105 life regen, is pretty good.

2. Runesmith is way too far, not worth it(if u would go crit, u would go that direction, then can take it as well). Shaman's Dominion is for crit, if u want to go crit, then u take it. Breath of Flames is only worth taking, if u do some kind of ignite/burning dmg build. This build doesnt care about burning dmg.

3. Searing touch is same as Breath of Flames. Other 2h weapons r theoretically possible. I didnt rly looked into that, cuz only 2 melee(for fortify) movement skills r usable with staves, leap slam and charged dash. Leap slam sux, if u dont have good atk speed and i just dont like dash. If u would say, u dont care about fortify and use only warp/flame dash, then a good +3 fire staff should be good.

thank you. top explanation.
I am going to try this build and come back with my experience once I reach the later stages of the game.

Build is super dope, took me a bit of time to get accustomed to the play style, but I'm loving it now!

Can you take a look at my gear and see what I can improve on?

"

SKT1K wrote:

Build is super dope, took me a bit of time to get accustomed to the play style, but I'm loving it now!

Can you take a look at my gear and see what I can improve on?

Besides obviously getting better gear itself.

U could buy a 21/0 cremation, is better then 20/20 and cost like 1-2c. Instead of just mana, enchant ur amu with either mana + % of dmg taken gained as mana, or AoE + AoE dmg.

I also updated the guide with some possible variants for gear/gems. Check it out.

Working this build up nicely. But so far AB clears everything, dont have time to cast cremation so i wonder where it is needed?